Hayden man played in Super Bowl XXXV
Not many, if any, locals can say of Sunday's Super Bowl game, "Been there, done that, got the ring" but former New York Giants linebacker Ryan Phillips of Hayden can. After a successful college football career and earning a degree in Resource Recreation and Tourism from the U of I, Ryan was a third round draft pick by the Giants in the 1997 NFL Draft. He played in the 2001 Super Bowl XXXV, where the Giants lost to the Ravens 34-7.
Ryan practiced with the New England Patriots in 2002 before retiring from the game and moving back to North Idaho to make a life. So what could be better than having an authentic connection to both teams taking the field on Sunday? Actually Ryan had been hoping for a re-match between the Giants and the Ravens this year - with a different outcome, of course. ***
I saw the faces of some of the homeless in our communities last week during the Homeless Connect Project and absolutely fell in love with a darling little girl. While her parents received clothing, food and supplies I enjoyed the company of Mary Jane. She sang the ABC song for me and I sang Teddy Bears Picnic for her. I tucked a few extra cookies in her backpack. I knew she was bright, well-loved and cared for ... her parents happen to have fallen on hard times.It was incredibly moving to be in the trenches with the volunteers, agencies and organizations that do everything they can to prop up families without other resources. For all the rhetoric, debate and good intentions it all came down to a little girl with big brown eyes to absolutely define the issue for me. God bless these families and all of the volunteers and donors.
***American Legion Post 143 Commander John Dunlap has made enormous contributions for veterans in our communities for decades. He's been in ICU since late Friday afternoon when he collapsed in his office at the post. Having known John for years and knowing him to be tough as nails, there still comes a time when even tough guys need the prayers of many. Keep John and his family in yours.
***Happy birthday today to my firstborn, Alyssa and to Jamie Benner, Deedie Beard, Susan Cook and James Ownbey. Tomorrow Randy Medlock turns 60, sharing a birthdate with Donna Wemple, Barbara Swehosky and Seth Yost. Friday's birthday celebrants are Leslie Damiano, Cindy Spence, Jackie Jameson, Howard Martinson and Donna Armbruster. On Saturday Gene Reed, Connie Johnson, Charisse Gross and Cindy Mead are celebrating another year. Feb. 5 birthdays belong to Leslie Deubner, Susan Jacobson, Ray Murphy, Brady Sutich, Ken Gimble and little Sophie Medlock, who's turning 3 years old. Randy Oaks, Rich Morrow, Carole Fredekind, Cris Burnham, Rick Altman, Pat Clevenger, Stephen Scott, Jimmy McAndrew, Chris Burnham and Mike Grabenstein were born on Feb. 6. On Tuesday Amanda Miller, Lori Malin, Angel Duthie and Shawn Aldrich will blow out their birthday candles.***
Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. She was voted Best Local Writer for 2011 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri is on the air Mondays and Wednesdays on 1080 ESPN AM (KVNI). She can be reached at [email protected]