Talk » There will be some puke on the sideline

Seven years ago, Alex McIntosh made a phone call. He wasnt even sure who, or what, he was calling. He just knew he needed to do something.His son, U.S. Army Cpl. Scott McIntosh, was killed in combat the previous year. Serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, Scott and four other soldiers were the victims of a suicide bomber. He was 26 years old.He was a good kid, had a great heart, his father remembers. Everybody liked Scott. He was one of those people everyone gravitated toward. Nothing ever got him down.When they received the news, Scotts family was understandably devastated. They grieved; they mourned. McIntosh says it took six months before he even felt like living again.Then he decided to do something in Scotts memory.So he made that phone call.A golfing buddy had told McIntosh about an upstart charitable foundation called Folds of Honor. McIntosh didnt know anything about it. Didnt know it assisted families of veterans who were severely wounded or fallen. Didnt know there was an element connected to the game of golf.On the other end of the line was Maj. Ed Pulido, a wounded veteran himself who helped run the foundation launched by Maj. Dan Rooney just two years earlier. McIntosh explained that he wanted to raise money in his sons honor, maybe $10,000 or so that could aid their cause.Within a month, he hosted the inaugural Scott A. McIntosh Memorial Tournament. Donations nearly quadrupled McIntoshs initial idea.Since then, the event has grown massively. Theres a gala the night before the tournament with special guest speakers. A few hundred people attend, and its always sold out.The next morning, theres a ceremony on the driving range. American flags are placed in the ground to honor local soldiers killed in combat during the past year. There are shrines to each of them, lined with dog tags and combat boots. The ceremony concludes with a 21-shot salute to these fallen heroes -- 21 tee shots struck on the range to remember them, followed by the playing of Taps.I dont want people to come to the tournament and just play golf and eat a meal and drink beer, McIntosh explains. When they come to this event, from the moment they walk on property, they are bombarded with emotion and patriotism. I want them to have an emotional connection to the whole experience. The tears flow at our event. If theyre not crying, then were not making the connection that we want to.This week, just days before Veterans Day, they held the eighth edition of the tournament at Houstons famed Champions Golf Club, not far from the familys home.It raised $460,000.Thats just unprecedented for a grassroots event, Pulido says of what has become the countrys largest fundraising golf tournament. Its also one of our most moving events, because it puts the focus on the financial and emotional toll that a family embarks upon when a tragedy of this magnitude takes place.To date, the Scott A. McIntosh Memorial Tournament has generated more than $2.25 million in donations. The funds raised have contributed to more than 12,000 scholarships offered to spouses and children of severely wounded or fallen military service members by Folds of Honor since its inception, covering all 50 states.Just as important, the event has given the McIntosh family a way to honor Scott each year by maintaining the legacy of a soldier killed in combat.Its like ripping the Band-Aid off each year, his father says, but its also therapeutic.It all started with that phone call. The one he made still not knowing what to do, but knowing he needed to do something.I had a sense of panic when my son was killed that nobody would remember him, nobody would care about Scott McIntosh in a few years, McIntosh remembers. Well, I can tell you there are thousands of people who know who Scott McIntosh is. Everybody knows who he is, because hes still making a difference, still out there helping the cause. Thats what makes this all worth it. Calgary Flames Shirts . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. Fake Flames Jerseys .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. https://www.cheapflames.com/ . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. Custom Calgary Flames Jerseys . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Calgary Flames Pro Shop . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. The Hall of Fame Game is a chore for veterans. A nuisance. Just get through a series or two without busting up a knee or ankle, then head back to camp. Thats the drill. But for the rookies and?bubble guys on the roster, this extra preseason game creates an ideal stage to showcase something, anything, in the eyes of coaches and management.After playing in the Hall of Fame Game twice -- at different stages of my career -- I know firsthand that?there are?positives in Sunday nights matchup between?the Green Bay Packers?and?Indianapolis Colts.?Think about reps and opportunity for the guys trying to earn a job -- any job -- in the league. Hey, go make a play when the film is rolling. Here are a few?reasons why the game is vital for young players.Live reps are importantThe established veterans might get 10 plays Sunday night. Maybe fewer. Heck, I wouldnt even dress Aaron Rodgers?or Andrew Luck. Its not worth the risk with four more preseason games to go. Theyll both get enough work in August.But once the vets shut it down for the night, its time for the backups and roster hopefuls to get on the field. And these game reps are going to carry much more weight in the evaluation process.Yes, guys can impress the coaching staff when they show up during one-on-one drills or team periods in training-camp practice. Given the shortened offseason schedule, the elimination of two-a-days and the reduction in padded practices, however, there are only so many opportunities to move up the depth chart in camp. Plus, when the uniform goes on in the preseason, the speed of the game increases dramatically and so does the competition. And every play is graded.Think about it. These cats are fighting for a job -- and money. They are going to get hit.Sure, that applies to every preseason game, but the amount of reps in Canton is the key for the rookies and bubble guys. They are going to play almost the entire game. Thats a ton of film. And a ton of opportunity to audition for more reps in practice and more playing time in the next game.Remember, this is a process, and some seventh-round pick isnt going to make the team based on his film from Canton. But it allows those guys to start building a résumé throughout the preseason. And game reps count. Thats critical when it comes time to trim the roster.Playmakers are noticedYeah, every coach wants to see the roster hopefuls play within the scheme. I get that. That means alignment and assignment and using the coached techniques on the field. Wide receivers running their routes at the proper depth. Footwork along?the offensive line. Safeties reading their keys in Cover 2. But, really, thats just the cover charge to get in the door on an NFL team. And its expected from pro ballplayers.You want to stand out? Make a big play. Do something that excites the room when the film is turned on. Maybe thats a pick on defense, a physical run by a back in a short-yardage situation, a quarterback being aggressive and taking a shot, or an offensive lineman blasting a linebacker on a power play. Pancake that dude. And walk right over hiim.ddddddddddddhese impact plays resonate with the coaching staff when the?film is graded. They stick in the coaches memory. And they also stand out for the rest of the league that will grade this film. As a bubble guy, you are not only trying to make this team, but the 31 other squads that are looking to upgrade their roster as well.And everyone is watching.Special teams is vitalI love watching special teams during the Hall of Fame Game because this is how the bubble guys are going to earn a roster spot. Its that simple. Can you cover kicks, make tackles inside the 20-yard line on kickoffs or bring down a returner in the open field on the punt team?Yes, there are valuable roles blocking on the front line of kickoff return or playing the wing position on the punt team. And the return game creates opportunities for a guy to make a big play. Take one back to the house and people will start talking.But the NFL is always looking for guys who can cover kicks with speed and toughness. Thats the game. And with the league implementing a new touchback rule and?the ball coming?out to the 25-yard line, cover guys are going to once again be a priority on game days. Im talking about players who can get down the field, defeat blocks, play with vision and tackle in space.This is dirty work. And its hard. But its also a way to move up the depth chart. If you can impact the kicking game, the club will find a spot for you. And this game provides the bubble guys with more chances to pop the ball out on kickoff, light up someone or show their ability to tackle. Want more reps next weekend? Then do something in the kicking game out in Canton.The true conditioning testPlenty of teams still have a conditioning test when players report to camp (300-yard shuttles, for example), but thats nothing compared to this game. There will be some puke on the sidelines, and maybe even?in the huddle.Remember, with the established vets calling it quits early, the backups, bubble guys and rookies have to take all the reps. That means offense, defense and special teams.As a second-year player with the Rams, I had to make the team. No guarantees there. None. So the?game in Canton was a great opportunity to get on tape and showcase something on special teams. Plus, with Lovie Smith running our defense in his first year as coordinator, it was all about speed. You better run to the ball on defense and play fast with Lovie watching. Then go cover a kick. Grab a juice on the sideline, then go back out again for special teams and another series of defense. Yikes.If anything, the second half of the Hall of Fame Game shows us who can survive the night. Rookies arent used to the pace (or speed) of an NFL game, and the reps start to add up for everyone playing late into the fourth quarter. Again, its another part of the evaluation process. Can you line up, read your keys and make plays while wearing the pregame meal on the front of your jersey? Good times. ' ' '