Griffin Speaks

MY CONNECTION TO SUPER BOWL XXII

In 1986, I was sitting on my couch watching the Super Bowl with a good friend, Dennis Woodberry. Dennis was a cornerback for the Birmingham Stallions. To this date he is one of the nicest professional athletes that I know. My prediction was that he would one-day play in the Super Bowl even though at the time he was not a NFL player.

Dennis was an unusual athlete. He was very intelligent and frugal. He managed his money well. He lived beneath his means. He was my neighbor at Ski Lodge Three in Birmingham, Alabama.

Soon I would move to Selma, Alabama and practice law. My Birmingham neighbor, Dennis Woodberry would leave the Birmingham Stallions. He joined the Washington Redskins as a Replacement Player during the NFL strike.

The NFL Players Association sent its players on strike after week two. The week three games were cancelled and the league resumed play in the fourth week with replacement players and the few regulars who crossed the picket lines. Week seven saw the conclusion of the strike and the return of the regular players. The Redskins kept Dennis and a few other replacement players. A movie starring Keanu Reeves is loosely based on the 1987 Redskins during this season.

I was sitting in my apartment in Selma, Alabama eating Buffalo wings that my best man, Howie Hodges had taught me how to cook to perfection, watching Super Bowl XXII on the very same couch that Dennis and I had sat on earlier. It was very exciting to see my prediction come true. My friend, Dennis Woodberry would play in the Super Bowl. He would later visit me in Montgomery, Alabama and allow me and my wife to wear his SUPER BOWL RING!

The Redskins exploded for 35 second-quarter points to wipe out a 10-0 Denver lead and take an easy victory, setting a number of Super Bowl records in the process. Doug Williams, the first black quarter back to start a Super Bowl, threw record-tying four touch down passes, Ricky Sanders had a record 193 receiving yards, Timmy Smith gained a record 204 yards rushing, and the Redskins also set records with 602 total yards and 6 touchdowns. The final score was Redskins 42, and Denver Broncos 10. Quarter Back Doug Williams was selected as MVP.

The 73,302 fans in Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California witnessed another of my predictions come into reality. My friend who I predicted a year earlier would play in the Super Bowl when he wasn’t even a NFL player was #46.

Several months ago I wrote an article predicting that Troy King would one day be elected Governor of Alabama. (“GOVERNOR TROY KING”). At the time I wrote the article, Troy King was running for Secretary of State. Troy did not win that election and his many supporters were sad. Some of my readers joked that I was wrong to predict that he would one day serve as Governor. My response was that I didn’t predict that he would be Secretary of State.

Troy King was recently selected by Governor Bob Riley to serve as his Legal Advisor. I predict that Governor Bob Riley will realize that my good friend Troy King is the logical and best person to replace my good friend Attorney General Bill Pryor, who I predict will be appointed and confirmed to serve on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. NOW PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greg Griffin is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at www.greggriffin.com