OJ Brigance in “True Courage”
April 27th, 2009 - 11:49 pm ICT by GDOJ Brigance in “True Courage” from NFL Films on TV tonight tells his story.This longtime Baltimore football fixture currently fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), wants you to join the cause against this debilitating illness through his foundation, Brigance’s Brigade.
As a player, the former linebacker spent seven seasons in the NFL after a standout career in Canadian football. Brigance even won a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in 2001 (fans would remember Brigance making the special teams tackle on the opening kickoff).
As a front office member, Brigance put together a stellar development system for the Ravens, even earning the award for the league’s Best Overall Player Development Program for the past two years and Most Outstanding Internship Program in 2005.
O.J. Brigance sat in his wheelchair, no longer able to lift his arms or use his legs. His boisterous voice — now just a mere whisper — was another outward sign of how much Lou Gehrig’s disease has stolen from the former Rice standout and Super Bowl champion.
What happened to Brigance is no doubt very sad, but he does not wallow in self-pity. He is not only courageous himself but also motivates others to have courage. It is very disheartening to see a performer like Briggance end up with such a sad disease. But like Jason who had a similar fate, OJ continues to live despite the dreadful disease that killed their bodies. They fight and they inspire a lot of us.
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