Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Wardles and the Neuberts Visit Steve Young

Some time ago, when the Neuberts were still living in the ward (maybe 15 years ago) we were invited to San Francisco 49ers training facility and to meet Steve Young.  Marie Neubert called Sheri wit the invite.  Bryce Neubert, Marie's brother-in-law is a singer and personality in Utah and the Mormon community.  At the time they were putting together an infomercial, informative video, with regards to a group home program out of Utah, and Steve Young was going to be a personality on the program.  They needed children, with whom Steve Young could interact.  We were asked to bring whatever sports equipment we could find.
I found a Denver Broncos football, a soccer ball, and I think another football, but smaller.  We were informed that Steve had sustained a groin injury in the game the previous day, and we weren't to bug him about getting his autograph or such stuff.  Steve rejected the Bronco football, but started kicking the soccer ball to the kids.  My boys, enjoyed this part.  They were big into soccer. 
He then took the other football and started tossing it to the kids.  He tossed a pass to Natalia, who was never my most coordinated child.  However she focused, and actually caught the ball.  She did not catch it in the most graceful manner, as she made an ice cream cone catch, only grabbing the football by its end, with a lot of the ball showing.  But she was very proud of herself. I was proud of her too.
Always since, we have been able to say, Natalia caught a Steve Young pass.  His part with the kids did not last long, and they had gotten all the film they needed.  Bryce then interviewed Steve Young on some bleachers apart from the rest of us, and it was pretty much done.

49er training facility from the ACE Train
I could not tell you the name of the group home, nor did I ever see the finished video.  I don't know if the finished product included Natalia's catch.  But that catch is imprinted in my brain, and I can play it back when I need a smile.

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