Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Meeting Yashi Rice's Big Brother Simeon Rice

Simeon Rice starred on defense for the Mount Carmel Caravan.  Because he is 9 years younger than me, we obviously did not go to school together.  I did follow his career from the beginning though.
It has been quite a career, too.  After MC, he went on to a stellar career at the University of Illinois.  Then, the Arizona Cardinals selected him with the 3rd pick in the 1996 NFL draft.
He made an immediate impact in the NFL and was named the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.  He went on to play in 3 Pro Bowls and he won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Since leaving football, he has been active in the entertainment industry.  He started his own record label and his first "client" was Yashi Rice, his sister and a star for the Chicago Bliss of the Legends Football League.
During my time covering the Bliss, I had the pleasure of meeting my fellow MC alum.  I recognized him at a game.  I didn't want to draw too much attention to him, but I did get a picture with him and my bud Tommy Else.  I couldn't pass up this photo op.
Meeting Simeon was an unexpected, but pleasant surprise stemming from my association with the Bliss.  I talked a bit to him, but I have actually talked to Yashi a lot more.  Simeon was a stud on the field and so was Yashi.  It was cool watching Simeon succeed from afar, but it was just as thrilling watching Yashi tear up her opponents from my close viewpoint.
They are quite a formidable sibling duo.  The best part is that Simeon was very nice in our one meeting and Yashi was always very sweet and funny during my time with the team.
Tommy Else, Simeon Rice and me in Bridgeview, IL-May 2014.

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