MarquesDouglas's Blog

21
Nov
Who's Man Enough to Be in My Yard

As much as I would like to believe that Clarke Kent (Superman) will be coming to Candlestick Park some day, not even he could make it in my Yard. But I have seen 53 guys dedicated to changing the culture in the Bay area. You won't find any phone booths in our locker room or any women and children. Instead you will become witness to an environment like none other. You will see men transforming themselves into modern day Glaidators. For a short while the eyes of Christians are blood shot with rage and hate. We tape everything from our ankles, knees, wrist, fingers and various other parts of our body that might get injured. Our shields are our helmets, our armour our pads, and anyone who wears a different uniform are the enemy. As we enter into our arena the fans cheer for big hits, and the bone clinching tackles. No one team leaves the field on Sunday without being somewhat dismantled. Players who enter their training facilities on Monday are greeted by doctors, athletic trainers, and other medical staff ready to put them back together. No matter what our record is, we have to perform. Nobody wants to hear about a sore ankle or a brusied knee. They want to see us compete. If one of us goes down, they will cheerfully applaud your backup. In the NFL it's all about the Players on Sunday. Coaches don't cross the white lines, players do. Sure they are responsible for the game plan and spend over 60 to 70 hours a week to give us information on our opposition. But it is still all about the Players. Fictional characters like Superman, Spiderman, and Blade could never make it in my Yard, because there is nothing fictional about the pain I feel two days after a game, or the temperature of the cold tub after practice, or the way my finger feels after a game. This is my Yard, not too many people choose to enter the gates or even drive by, many just sit and watch and tell what would they do if they were here.
9 Comments
14
Nov
This is Why You Watch the Game?

As a professional I am supposed to at all times conduct myself as such. Even in victory and in defeat we are to carry ourselves with class. I have to be honest, it is hard facing your coaches, family, and fans after a loss. I've seen people crying after a loss, I've even shed tears, because a loss can mean the difference between food tasting good at dinner or bad, the coke tasting just right or flat; bottom line, it affects several things. Like I've stated in previous entries I play the game not for money, fame, or for myself. I play the game for "Respect". Even in defeat, or a close victory, I will always hold my head high because I know, I can leave the field knowing I have given my all. And you don't have to wonder if I did or not, just watch the film. The eye in the sky never lies. The "eye" is the game film. It tells a story much different than what you will see on your favorite sports shows. It makes the all-pros seem "human" the non-drafted players "stand-out". There is one thing that I was taught as a young man, and that is humble in victory and hold your head up in defeat. We all will win but there is another side, failure. It is hard when you lose in the NFL. I don't mind the pain that comes in playing the games. But it hurts even more enduring that pain in a loss. ESPN should come to my house on Monday morning to see me walk after a game or to see me spend hours in the cold tub every week trying to get prepared for our game, or the hours of film me and my teammates watch through the week so on Sunday we can compete at a high level. Yes I am living my dream and I love playing football, but through all the ups and downs, or while I am doing a session at the Juvenile Detenion Center, teaching inmates Life Skills, I love giving back to others, what's been giving to me a chance to be great. I'm paid on Sundays to play great, but I also have an obligation to great to my community.
6 Comments
07
Nov
Why I Play Hard for the 49ers

I remember personally, draft day. My name during that long weekend never got called. While sitting on my parents' couch in Greensboro, North Carolina, I wanted so badly for the commissioner to call my name, but that never happened. While driving back to school, James Harris, Director of Personnel, called and offered me a free agent contract. Later on that week I signed a contract to join the Baltimore Ravens, with no signing bonus. I remember leaving for camp and taking everything I owned because I knew I was not coming home. Through 2 ACL surgeries and NFL Europe, nine years later I am still somewhat waiting for someone to recognize my talent, and we are a pretty good team that has some growing pains. I think Bryant Young said it the best a couple days ago, "There are no moral victories in football". We are supposed to play hard, be on time, and give 100% everyday. When I am on the field, I love playing against guys who were drafted, the big time All-Americans, and other celebrity athletes. At the end of the game, what is more important to me than any paycheck, endorsement deal, and any television camera, is the respect I get from other players; the look I get from coaches when they want to see whose face is under the helmet. The stare from your compettion when you're warming up before the game because they know I play with every ounce of passion in my body. I play hard because players like Willie Roaf and John Ogden made me play that way in practice everyday. I play for the coaches who work 70 plus hours a week. I play for Athletes from smaller schools because I want to pave the way for them, for those fans who can not afford a ticket to the game. I also play for those former athletes who are no longer in the NFL. I remember sitting and watching old NFL highlight films, on VHS tapes at Howard University, listening to John Randle, L.T., Reggie White and others talk about the game. I always thought about what could I do to make it, and be successful. Those thoughts made me realize that I had to be "true to the game", I could not cheat it. I was going to have to come early and stay late, study my compettion, and take advantage of every mistake made by the offense on Sunday. Nine years later I still play for all those reasons. I have a family now, so that means the list only grows, but so does my passion on the field.
12 Comments
01
Nov
The 49ers are Coming?

We are built for the last two months of the season. If you look at our roster we have about 10 guys who have either made the Pro Bowl, or are going to make it, and we have Super Bowl Experience. We have the fastest LB in the game Patrick Willis, the hardest working DB in the Business Nate Clements, the Hardest hitting safety in the Game, Mike Lewis, and a D-line who can match up with anybodys numbers (tackles, sacks). The strongest O-lineman in Larry Allen, and the Best RB in the NFC, the strongest FullBack in the NFL, Two 1,000 yard WR. This is why I know we are coming, we have taken everyone's best shot, and know it's payback time. We are all professionals and we know how to win. Our next opponents that we are coming to face are going to be some good games, they have speed, and the ability to make some really big plays. But when I sit and think about what we have, I like our odds. I'm not a betting man but I have a feeling it's time for some old school football. I can see us playing lights out on Defense, we just have to do it, one play at a time and one game at a time. I give up 3 to 8 inches in height, and 30 to 60 pounds in weight to my opposition every time. On the other hand, they get me, a 6'2 290 pound man who has studied their every move and will play his position like God intended him to.
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Who's Man Enough to Be in My Yard

This is Why You Watch the Game?

Why I Play Hard for the 49ers

The 49ers are Coming?

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