Tuesday, July 10, 2007

A TRUE RAMS FAN IS GONE

This article is a little different than my usual defensive slant on the Rams.

In 1973 when I was in 8th grade in Dayton Ohio, a new kid moved to town. My friends and I were playing football one Saturday when the new kid showed up on his bike. He watched us play for a while and then followed us home.

We began to talk about music, sports etc... the typical things that 13 year old boys talk about. During the conversation we both found out that our favorite Pro team was the Rams. What a great thing to have in common especially in Ohio. We instantly became friends.

When we played pick up football games in high school and even later in life, we took on the names of our favorite Ram. He was Jack Youngblood and I was Nolan Cromwell.

When the Rams moved from L.A. we started to go to St. Louis every year with other friends for at least one game. I got a hold of two tickets for the NFC championship game the year the Rams won the Superbowl and I knew exactly who I was going to take. We loved the city of St. Louis, the people and the fans as well as staying at Lacledes Landing.

Every year we went made us feel like we were 13 again.

My good friend, David Gregory Lewber passed away on 6-28-07. He was buried in his autographed Jack Youngblood jersey on 7-3-07.

My friends and I are still planning to go this year to a game, but it will be different since Dave won't be with us.

A true Rams fan is gone.

















"See you on the hit side" #21


~Cromwell's Corner/Randy Riffle~

3 comments:

lovemyrams said...

Nice piece I'm sure your friend would appreciate it.

Sorry for your loss.

Anonymous said...

i didn't know dave long, but met him at rams game, and then met up with him and kelly at another and kept in touch...we were making plans on meeting at another game when he passed...just brutal, miss the guy alot...Ted from New Jersey

browns80 said...

Dave was one of the best. I only knew him as a friend of a friend but he was a true gentle giant. His smile was sincere as he was sincere himself. All too ofter this world loses winners like Dave and that is why we need to appreciate them while they are with us. I looked forward to going to St. Louis to the games on occasion and when my family moved here it was a definite occasion meeting up with the guys when they came to town. He is sorely missed.