I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Mrs. Coretta Scott King. My first thought was to immediately contact Martin Luther King III, my Morehouse College classmate and friend to express my condolences. I decided to wait. I called my best friend Howie Hodges and he informed me that his wife, Elizabeth, the daughter of the late Maynard Jackson had already spoken with Martin and Dexter. They were doing as well as could be expected. I also placed a call to Martin’s close friends Jeh Charles Johnson and Sheila Cook-Pierce, and Bernice King’s close friend Rev. Byron Broussard. I had spoken to Byron recently and he thought that Mrs. King would make a full recovery. I was totally shocked to learn from the media that she was suffering from advanced ovarian cancer.  I had so many wonderful memories of this great family. The thought of Mrs. King no longer with us was almost too much to bear. 

I immediately remembered the evening that I spent in her home at Martin’s invitation to view the movie “KING”.  I sat beside Mrs. King on the couch in her den while Bernice King sat between her legs eating popcorn. I recall Mrs. King turning toward me and saying, “Cicely is portraying me so nicely.” I also remember keeping the fork as a souvenir from the meal that we ate. My son Christopher admonished me when I told him about the fork. He said “Daddy I can’t believe that you stole Mrs. King’s fork.” I told him that I didn’t steal it, I preserved it for historical purposes. 

Mrs. King was a wonderful woman and mother. I am forever grateful for the moments that I shared with her and members of her family. I am particular happy for the opportunity to know her mother and father. I frequently visited her father Mr. Obedia Scott. To this day he remains one of my favorite people. I recall visiting his home with a friend who had a camera. My friend wanted to take a picture inside his home. I objected because I thought that it would be frowned upon. Mr. Scott told my friend to go ahead and take a picture. He told my friend: “This is my House!” I am equally grateful for the wonderful children that she reared, two of whom I know very well, Martin Luther King III and Dexter King. The King family is certainly in my thoughts and prayers at this sad time. By the time this article is published I would have attended at least one of the many memorial ceremonies celebrating this great woman’s life. 

Today I am sitting with family and close friends enjoying Super Bowl XL (40). I recall 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. 

Today I am pulling for the Pittsburgh Steelers because the family of my former law school classmate, Rita Marie Rooney, owns them. Rita sat next to me in my Estates and Trust class while I matriculated at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She was a delightful person.  Rita Rooney married the world-renowned Cardiologist Dr. Lawrence A Conway. They reside in Milton, Massachusetts. I will always remember how genuine and nice she was even though she was the granddaughter of the legendary Art Rooney and the daughter of the beloved Dan Rooney. Extreme wealth did not tarnish the character of Rita. She was one of the most wonderful people I had the opportunity to know. 

Well Debra is telling me that the hot wings are ready so I must go now. The Steelers are winning 21 to 10 and we are happy!

In the words of my dad, “If you don’t have money at least have class!”

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com