ST. LOUIS, MO
The Legends of the Dome flag football game lived up to the hype and then some. The score of the game didn’t matter. There were plenty of hugs, handshakes, and tears shed last Saturday in what was our last time ever stepping in that building to watch football. One of the best moments was the player introduction and I stood right by the tunnel as every single St.Louis Rams player was announced. And I swear it gave me goosebumps watching those guys run through that fog for the last time. It was great catching up with some of the former Rams players like Roland Williams who videobombed me on the field as I was interviewing Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
One of the biggest cheers was for Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace who was honored at halftime at midfield with his family. 101 ESPN Randy Karraker delivered some heartfelt words for Pace who makes his home here in St.Louis. Pace also was taken on the golf cart and waved to the crowd of over 10,000 people and thanking them for support and love.
Some of those guys still look like they can play today. Former Rams cornerback Dre Bly came over to me on the sideline and said,”Please pray for us cause I’m out of shape.” Keith Lyle told me after the game that he hopes this event continues. I think we should try bowling or softball from here on out,” said Lyle. Then he paused for a second when I reminded him it’s hot as can be outside. You right bowling it is, said Lyle as he bent over in laughter next to Jeff Wilkins who was sporting an ace bandage on his foot he tweaked his ankle. Wilkins quipped,”Man this is going to mess up my golf game.”
I also got a chance to interview several prominent figures from the Greatest Show on Turf including Mike Martz and Dick Vermeil. You can watch those interviews on St.Louis American Youtube channel. When the game was over and they started turning off the lights I was still standing on the field and then a stadium employee told me I got 12 minutes to leave. I didn’t want to leave yet. I got so many memories from the double overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers, seeing Larry Fitzgerald first game, or seeing former Big Red wideout Roy Green who was my all-time favorite when I was a kid. As I was walking down that long hallway past the locker rooms for the final time I saw D’Marco Farr we looked at each other and I said,”this is it man I can’t believe it.” Farr shook his head, “I know,” he said.
Bittersweet it was, and maybe this will stoke the fire once again for the NFL, it’s going to take some time for the wound to heal. But, I appreciate what Isaac Bruce continues to do for the city of St.Louis and help provide a chance for all of us to have some closure on the Rams no longer being in St.Louis and this town returning back to a two-sport town again. For more coverage please subscribe to our Youtube page at STLAmerican/Video and you can also follow me on twitter @thelegendkil @NTheZoneShow @NTheZoneNetwork