LT Delivers after hearing special news

Mamba · Nov 16, 2009

SAN DIEGO – He had just ripped through the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense with an electrifying 20-yard touchdown run that evoked memories of his prime, and logic suggested that LaDainian Tomlinson(notes) would simply hand the football to the nearest official in the end zone and act like he’d been there before. Because, you know, he had – this was the 146th regular-season touchdown of Tomlinson’s career, more than all but two players in NFL history – and because that’s what L.T. always does.

Sunday, however, was a day of surprises at Qualcomm Stadium.

When the San Diego Chargers’ future Hall of Fame halfback crossed the goal line for the second time to give his team a 15-point lead with eight minutes left in the third quarter, he threw the ball behind him and continued to the back right corner of the end zone, where he saluted his adoring fans with an impromptu crouching pose before chest-bumping fullback Mike Tolbert(notes).

Had the old stadium not been rocking so hard, at least some of the 68,789 fans might have done double-takes, for the 30-year-old Tomlinson has never been one to celebrate conspicuously. This, however, was a special day, and not just because of the milestones he achieved or the 31-23 victory over the Eagles he fueled.

Tomlinson will remember Sunday as the day he learned his legacy would include something greater than individual numbers that are among the most impressive in the history of his sport.

The surprise occurred two hours before kickoff, when Tomlinson arrived at Qualcomm and saw a purple bag in his locker with a note that read “Please Open Immediately.” Inside was a box that he recognized as a present from his wife, LaTorsha.

“I thought it was going to be a necklace,” LaDainian said later. “It was a [positive] pregnancy test. It was pretty special.”

The Tomlinsons met as students at TCU and have been married since 2003. Two years later LaTorsha had a miscarriage, and in the years that followed the couple has apparently been eager to start a family.

After learning last Tuesday that she was expecting, LaTorsha hatched a plot to surprise her husband on game day. “I had no clue,” LaDainian said. “She probably planned it all out [from the start].”

It was a game plan for the ages: After opening the box the stunned halfback called LaTorsha and told her, “You’re amazing. You’re amazing.” His emotion was palpable: “I actually cried for about five minutes,” he said.

Then Daddy put on his hard hat and put in a hard day of work, running with a crispness and authority he hasn’t displayed since late in the ’08 season.

L.T. carried 24 times for 96 yards, increasing his career total to 12,145 while moving past Thurman Thomas and Franco Harris and into 12th on the league’s all-time rushing charts. His two touchdowns (he also had a three-yard scoring run early in the second quarter) pushed him ahead of Marcus Allen; he now stares up only at Jerry Rice(notes) and Emmitt Smith on the TD list.

Tomlinson might not have borne a complete resemblance to the player who tore up the league during his MVP season three years ago, but he was effective enough to provide a jolt to his Chargers teammates and fans, all of whom are beginning to believe that San Diego (6-3) might, in fact, be a legitimate contender.

That notion would have seemed laughable four weeks ago after the Chargers suffered a 34-23 defeat to the Denver Broncos at Qualcomm. At that point Denver was 6-0 and held a 3½-game lead over San Diego (2-3), and the Chargers’ run of three consecutive AFC West titles seemed almost certain to end.

Since then the Chargers have run off four consecutive victories, including a stirring, last-minute comeback triumph against the New York Giants in Week 9. The Broncos, meanwhile, have dropped three games in a row, including Sunday’s 27-17 upset at the hands of the Washington Redskins.

Now the rivals have identical 6-3 records and are tied atop the division heading into Sunday’s rematch at Invesco Field. There’s no question where the momentum lies.

“When you see L.T. doing what he’s doing out there, it tells us that everything’s going our way,” said Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie(notes), who sealed Sunday’s victory with an end-zone interception of Donovan McNabb(notes) on the final play. “It helps out so much, in so many ways.”

The Chargers, who went into the game against Philly with the league’s lowest-rated rushing attack, no longer rely on Tomlinson to carry them. The offense revolves around quarterback Philip Rivers(notes), who had another terrific game on Sunday (20 of 25, 231 yards, two TDs, no interceptions), and coach Norv Turner’s play-calling, which was at its fluid, unpredictable best against the Eagles.

Yet San Diego needs some semblance of a running game to be an elite team, and Sunday was a huge step forward. The truth is that Tomlinson’s biggest impediment is not ineffectiveness as much as it is injury – durability has been an on-and-off issue since the ’07 playoffs, something not uncommon for a back of his age.

Since spraining his right ankle in the Chargers’ season-opening victory over the Oakland Raiders, Tomlinson has struggled to find his stride. The ankle has steadily improved, but he went into Sunday’s game with a bruised hip, which made his strong effort even more impressive.

“I mean, gosh, there’s so much that goes into running the football,” Rivers said. “There are so many different fits and creases and people who could’ve blocked this way or that way. We all know it. L.T. knows it. It’s just a matter of sticking with the running game and getting it to where it needs to be.

“The biggest thing [Sunday] that helped was a 14-0 lead. We got ourselves in good down-and-distance situations and it came together. The guy’s been battling all year – the first thing that happened in Week 1 is he hurt the ankle. It’s been a combination of a lot of things, and very little of it has been L.T.”

Tomlinson undoubtedly hopes that Sunday can be a springboard for a strong second half of the season, a successful playoff run and a chance to continue his career in San Diego until he decides he’s ready to step away. But the man is a realist – the Chargers seriously considered releasing him after last season before bringing him back with a restructured (but not reduced) contract, and there’s no guarantee he’ll return in 2010.

After the previous Sunday’s stirring victory at Giants Stadium, Tomlinson sounded like a veteran who knew the finish line was near. “I’ve been through a lot in my career; it’s hard work,” Tomlinson told the Union-Tribune. “I don’t want to say I’m coming to the end. But I don’t know if I’ll ever be in this stadium again. You cherish certain moments. That’s one I’ll remember forever.”

When I asked him about those comments Sunday, L.T. did his best to downplay the headed-toward-retirement overtones, saying, “I just think year-to-year. As old as I am, the strangest thing is I just keep scoring touchdowns.”

The second one he scored Sunday could’ve been seamlessly spliced into a highlight film from ’06. L.T. took a handoff from Rivers, made a quick cut inside and zipped past a cavalcade of Eagles defenders, two of whom dove fruitlessly at his shadow. It was his longest touchdown run in more than a year – and, of course, it was steeped in personal significance.

As he and LaTorsha prepare to welcome their LaSomething into the world, let the record show that the future father can still play this kid’s game at a high level.

“I think I’m still effective, and I think that’s all that counts,” Tomlinson said afterward. “I still find a way to help this team win.”

That’s a reason for Chargers fans to rejoice. L.T., of course, has something far more important to celebrate.

So forgive the man if he’s a bit emotional. If all goes well, he and his wife will soon be somewhere they haven’t been before.
Click to expand...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...slug=ms-morningrush111609&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Mamba · Nov 16, 2009

It was so awesome seeing vintage LT yesterday. He is still running as hard as ever, but you can tell he isn't that elite back anymore. However, he is still a back who can give you 80-100 yards if you give him the holes to run through. The issue these past two seasons have been nagging injuries and absolutely no holes to run through. If you get LT the holes, he'll get you the yards...he proved it yesterday against a good Philly defense.

Run BJM · Nov 16, 2009

Monta Ellis on having a kid over the summer:

"It's just something I gotta deal with."

Gotta be one of my all-time favorite Warriors quotes, and there's a lot of them.

Mamba · Nov 16, 2009

Did he really fuckin' say that?

Master Shake · Nov 16, 2009

Bahaha!

Run BJM · Nov 16, 2009

Black Mamba said: ↑

Did he really fuckin' say that?
Click to expand...

Yes, though I can't find the article right now. It was during training camp prior to this season.

DP · Nov 16, 2009

I liked seeing those fantasy points from LT. =D

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LT Delivers after hearing special news

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

Master Shake young phoenix

Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

DP He shoots, he scores!

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LT Delivers after hearing special news

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

Master Shake young phoenix

Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

DP He shoots, he scores!

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