Last yr in LA, at “Radio Row” leading up to the Super Bowl, @aarontaylorcfb went arnd table to table, to talk abt SameHere & our mission.
At that event, Aaron intro’d me to @ryandleaf as he was passing by us on the event floor. Up to that pt, I only knew Ryan from afar – as the “bust” heard rnd the world. 2nd overall pick to the Chargers after Peyton Manning was picked 1st in 1998. Leaf – abt as athletic a specimen as you’ll find, would go on to only play 4 yrs in the NFL – not much of a “career.”
He dealt w personal issues & injuries. After his NFL stint ended, he battled drug abuse which ultimately led to him serving time in STATE prison. If you watch any shows on him – he talks abt childhood – how he was awkward & brash. Overly confident. Not often a fan of opposing teams.
All that – the childhood, the “failure” in the NFL, the drug addictions, – & yet today, Ryan’s turned his life arnd & speaks regularly to others who struggle w addiction. He’s the Program Ambassador for Transcend Recovery Community & also Chairman of the Focused Intensity Foundation which raises scholarship $ to help support those who attend rehab.
Why bring this up now? 2 reasons: 1) slide➡️ Ryan tweeted yesterday on his 8th anniversary of sobriety. But look at his pics: it’s his CONNECTION w his fam that’s his “why.” 2) Mayor Eric Adam’s this wk implemented a law taking homeless ppl off the streets of NY if it “appears” they’re a threat to themselves, & institutionalizing them.
I’ve gotten many DMs from you on this topic. Again a lot of nuance (not suited for a short post)…things like – Who determines? Are they doing it just to remove what they are calling ppl who are “threats” to the “rest” of us?
It just made me think: Ryan…my good buddy @theofleury14 – there are SO many stories of turnarounds when you give ppl RESOURCES to heal. Yes they need to want to do the work. But…throwing ppl into institutions (appearing) bc they’re a danger to others…where’s the rehab? Where are the resources? Where is the help…& where’s the COMMUNITY support?
We know of & HAVE the skills to teach, to make turnarounds possible. Let’s use then. Not condemn.