Wallace108
Posts : 18260
Join date : 2011-04-03
Location : Y'Town, Ohio
 | | Subject: Steelers safety Clark keeps it in perspective Sat Nov 26, 2011 12:24 am | |
| By Ralph N. Paulk, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Ryan Clark is quick to dust himself off when things go awry. He resists negativity, no matter how dire the situation.
Typically, he's the first to remind everyone that football is only a game — even when the Steelers fall short as they did in a gut-wrenching loss to rival Baltimore earlier this month.
That, of course, is a somewhat sacrilegious stance to take, considering the Steelers are the heart of a city where championship aspirations are loftier than most. But Clark doesn't relent, in part, because he's experienced greater pain than defeat.
He vividly remembers having to be medically cleared to attend the funeral of his best friend in 2007. Clark was recovering after having his spleen and gall bladder removed shortly before Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor died one day after being shot by an intruder to his South Florida home.
Clark remembers, too, the self-doubt that nearly consumed him in 2003, when the New York Giants cut him before he landed in Washington to play alongside Taylor.
"At some point, we're all going to be humbled," Clark said. "My momma always told me it's better to humble yourself before God has to do it.
"I can actually say that the loss to Baltimore — other than the Super Bowl loss to Green Bay — was the first time I've been upset in a long time. You hate to lose, but we understand we have another opportunity.
"I had a real job after I was cut," he said. "I was sitting there as a free agent, and no one wanted me. It's a blessing I'm still here."
On this Thanksgiving weekend, Clark is still counting his blessings.
Read more: Steelers safety Clark keeps it in perspective - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_769152.html#ixzz1emnkFvSN
_________________  If you're going to be a smart ass, you'd better be smart. Otherwise, you're just an ass. | |
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solardave
Posts : 6228
Join date : 2011-09-30
Location : State of Confusion
| | Subject: Re: Steelers safety Clark keeps it in perspective Sat Nov 26, 2011 7:36 am | |
| He's always played for us with that chip on his shoulder. Myself I'd be more upset about being fined $40k in a game where not one but 2 opposing players should have been flagged and fined for the same reason. Of course these 2 non-calls didn't cost us the game. The BS defensive pass interference in the endzone did. I'm mad about having the game taken away by the officials.
I'm sure THAT'S what he's most pissed about. | |
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