Well, let me tell ya somethin’ about this Tommy Mason fella. He was a football player, a real good one, they say. I ain’t never watched him play myself, mind you, but folks ’round here, they talk about him like he was somethin’ special.
Tommy Mason, the football star, that’s what they called him. Born way back in 1939, July 8th it was. He played for some fancy teams, like this Tulane University and then this Minnesota Vikings. Heard they even picked him first, the very first fella they chose for the Vikings, can ya believe that? Must’ve been one heck of a player.
- Born: July 8, 1939
- Died: January 22 (year not specified, but he was 75)
- Teams: Tulane University, Minnesota Vikings
- Position: Running back
Now, I ain’t know much about football, but I know runnin’ back means he was fast, real fast. Like a chicken chasin’ after a bug, that’s how I imagine him, zoom zoomin’ across that field. He played from 1958 to 1960 for that Tulane place down in Lake Charles, Louisiana. That’s down south, real warm down there. He was a star, they say, a real bright light.
Folks talk about him bein’ the first draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings. That’s a big deal, I reckon. Like bein’ the first one picked for a team in the schoolyard, only bigger, much bigger. Imagine all them fellas watchin’, and they pick you first. Must’ve made his mama proud.
Heard tell he passed away, poor fella. January 22nd, they say, in California. Seventy-five years old. Lived a good long life, I guess, but still, sad to see a good man go. His sister-in-law, Suzanne somethin’ or other, she was the one who told folks. He was in this hospice place, which ain’t a good sign, ya know. Means he was real sick.
They say he died in Newport Beach, California. That’s a fancy place, by the ocean. Not like here, where all we got is cornfields and dirt roads. Guess he did alright for himself, that Tommy Mason. From a small town boy to a football star, that’s a story right there.
Tommy Mason’s legacy, they call it. Means people remember him, even after he’s gone. And I reckon they will, specially those football fans. They got these things called stats, numbers that tell ya how good a player was. I ain’t got no idea how they work, but they say his stats were good. Means he did his job well, runnin’ that ball and scorin’ points, or whatever it is they do in football.
It’s funny, ain’t it? I ain’t never met the man, never seen him play, but here I am talkin’ about him. That’s the power of football, I guess, or maybe just the power of a good story. A fella from Louisiana, a star on the field, a name people remember. Tommy Mason. That’s a name worth rememberin’, even if you’re just an old woman like me who don’t know nothin’ ’bout football.
Anyway, that’s all I know about this Tommy Mason fella. A good football player, they say. May he rest in peace.
Tags: [Tommy Mason, Football Player, Minnesota Vikings, Tulane University, Running Back, NFL, Obituary, Lake Charles, Newport Beach, Sports]
