Eric WoodardReading: 4 minutes
The Hall of Fame running back was immortalized outside Detroit Stadium as the first player in franchise history to receive the honor
Detroit – A statue An 8-foot-tall bronze statue of one of the greatest players in NFL history now stands at the corner of Montcalm and Brush streets in downtown Detroit.
On the eve of the first regular season home game against the Seattle Seahawks, detroit lions They immortalized the Running Back Hall of Fame, Barry Sandersthere is one statue outside Ford Field.
Sanders He is the first player in franchise history to receive this honor, and the star humbly thanked the team for this gesture.
“You’ve heard the saying: As long as someone is around you, you give flowers,” he said. Sanders during the ceremony. “I’m not planning on going anywhere anytime soon, I’m just saying this, but if this statue If I can use that metaphor, then I have to say that this is a big bouquet for me, so thank you very much, I appreciate it.
this statue Created by artists Omri Amrany and Lou Cella of Rotblatt Amrany Art Studio.His Illinois-based company also created statue Michael Jordan inside the United Center in Chicago statue A statue of Magic Johnson located outside the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, along with bronze sculptures of many other sports legends.
Sanders I admire his details statuewhich depicts him performing one of his signature moves to evade a defender.
“Little things like the cutting gloves he was wearing and his eyes that were obviously very alert,” he said. Sanders. “I haven’t had a chance to really look at it in detail, but these are some of the things I noticed, and obviously the pose is like he’s in action.”
Attending the ceremony were: DetroitMike Duggan; former head coach Lions ClubWayne Fontes; owner of hip-hop legend Flavor Flav; Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson; Lions Club, Sheila Hamp; and general manager Brad Holmes; as well as family, friends, former teammates and former coaches.A group of subscribers from his gaming days Sanders They were also present at the ceremony.
A tribute video played on the big screen showing his personal journey Sanders and his best performances, along with congratulatory messages from sports stars like Jerry Rice, Peyton Manning, Emmitt Smith and Joe Dumars.
“I’ve always been barry Sandershe paved the way for many of the racers who are racing now since I was young,” Flavor told ESPN. “barry He is that man. That’s why I’m here”.
One of the most compelling players in league history, Sanders He ranks fourth on the all-time rushing yardage list with 15,269 yards in just 10 seasons. SandersNow 55, he retired suddenly in 1999 at the age of 31 before running for election.
Sanders It was recently announced that he will be releasing a new documentary in November in which he will unravel the “big mystery” of why he retired from American football so quickly.
2021, Sanders won statue Outside Boone Pickens Stadium at Oklahoma State University, his alma mater, he’s 9 feet tall but said he doesn’t consider his statue of Detroit I’m late.
“I think it’s perfect timing,” he said. Sanders. “Again, I wouldn’t say I’m pushing for it. If you look at the last 24 years that I’ve been away, I think now is the best time in my mind to make this happen.”
rookie Lions ClubJahmyr Gibbs was selected with the 12th overall pick in this year’s draft and became the team’s first choice. Sanders He was drafted third overall in 1989 after winning the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma State. Gibbs said he was “dazzled” after meeting him Sanders This is the first time this offseason. Before his second game in the NFL, he said he was excited to meet his idol as a member of the team.
“For anyone to have a statue“Gibbs declared ESPN. “This shows that it is Detroit And shows how grateful the city is to him. I am very happy. I hope I can get one one day. “
Just like Gibbs, the third-year receiver Lions ClubAmon-Ra St. Brown is excited to see great things up close.
“I can’t see the game barry “Because obviously he’s a little older than me and he’s so young,” St. Brown said. “I played running back my whole life, until I got to high school, and my dad would always show me running back highlights.” barry. He said he was “the strongest guy.”So when I was little I always barry, barry and Reggie Bush.
“They were my players, and just watching them play, I was like, ‘This guy is crazy.’ Now to be here, he’s got a statue As one of the best players in NFL history, that’s awesome. “It’s great to be able to join this team and see it all first hand.”