Steve Gleason may always be remembered most for his blocked punt on the night the Louisiana Superdome reopened for the first time after Hurricane Katrina—a play that stirred an already emotional crowd into a deafening, drink-spilling frenzy. The retired New Orleans Saints folk hero only hopes he can continue to lift people’s spirits by the way he handles what until now has been a private struggle with ALS, a debilitating and ultimately fatal disease for which there currently is no cure. On Sunday, five years to the day after his memorable play became a symbol of a devastated community’s will to carry on, Gleason, 34, went public with his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. “In a way, I see this as an opportunity to continue to be an inspiration, maybe even more so than I ever have been,†said Gleason, a 5-foot-11, former Washington State standout who forged an eight-year NFL career in New Orleans as a special teams leader and reserve safety. Source: Associated Press
This is a sad story. Best of luck to Gleason. He'll always be honored as a Saint, well deserving too.
