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“NFL HALL OF FAME–A SAN DIEGO CHARGERS DAY”
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The sun shone brightly in Canton, Ohio, on the steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and inside the old Fawcett Stadium.
It was Hall of Fame Day, and it was a San Diego Charger Day.
Even Chris Berman emphatically mentioned ‘San Diego Chargers’ 4-times in his speech.
It was a day to honor, enshrine, salute and remember Antonio Gates. Big and tough and athletic, he paused often to wipe tears from his eyes, while talking about the career that took him off the streets of Detroit, to a college basketball life at Kent State, thru the San Diego Chargers onto the steps at the Hall in Canton where he stood proudly next to his bronze bust.
And his brothers in arms were there, QB-Philip Rivers, RB-LaDainian Tomlinson, and Chargers legend Kellen Winslow representing yesteryear was on the stage too.
Gates was forceful in his thank you speech, just like he was forceful coming off the line of scrimmage, forcing mismatches, making big plays, chunk yards and all of those 166-TDs on his 955-receptions wearing the Lightning Bolts.
And while ex Viking DE-Jared Allen wore his Cowboy hat and was dazzling and funny.
And while Sterling Sharpe of the Packers gave his Gold Jacket to his brother Shannon.
And while a beloved Eric Allen talks about family-football and all things Fly Eagles Fly.
It really was Gates who stole the show with a 23-minute speech of love-respect-thanks.
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Antonio Gates-Quotes:
..Thank God for my gifts
..Honored by my journey
..Family-Faith-Football shaped my life
..I proved anything is possible
..Dream big-work hard-walk the journey
..Detroit built this Hall of Famer
..I am living proof if you stay on your path
..Kent State took a a raw talent made it a finished product
..I turned potential into purpose
..My coaches protected me from predators
..Chargers redirected my life
..TE legends of the past gave me a path
..Norv Turner-so gracious
..Marty Schottenhiemer-such a leader
..Team I battled with pushed-challenged-won with collective toughness
..We Bolts created a bond
..Rivers was the heartbeat and IQ of this team
..Tomlinson was poetry in motion and a Hall of Fame teammate
..San Diego Chargers will always be home in my heart
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it was a great day for the history of the SAN DIEGO CHARGERS on Hall of Fame Day.
Was too bad they had to show the reviled owner Dean Spanos as part of the festivities.
Great for the fans to cheer SAN DIEGO CHARGERS everytime the name was invoked.
Gone but never forgotten. The Bolts were remembered and saluted at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Our Bolts.
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