APWith the lockout bringing the NFL world to a screeching halt, we’ve seen a number of stories this morning about what players are doing with their time off. David Bruton of the Broncos is working as a substitute teacher. Tennessee’s Jamie Harper is crowded into a three-bedroom trailer with nine family members.
And now we have the feel-good story of the day: Bears rookie J.T. Thomas has served as the date to a school dance to a girl who’s confined to a wheelchair.
The girl, 14-year-old Joslyn Levell, lives in Morgantown, West Virginia, where Thomas played his college football. Thomas met her because she rides the same bus as his brother, who is autistic, and on Friday Thomas escorted her to her end-of-school-year formal dance Friday.
“I’m not used to the attention, but I like it,” Levell told Steve Wyche of NFL.com. “It’s been amazing. I can’t wait to hear what everybody has to say.”
Thomas has been the subject of a lot of media attention since the nice gesture became public, but he says he’s not particularly interested in that.
“This was Joslyn’s night,” Thomas said. “It wasn’t about me.”
But it was a good example of an NFL player finding something good to do with his time off.
Channel Finder
Absolutely beautiful. This made my day.
Glad to see this have its own story page
Cue the Big Ben jokes in….3…2…1….
but seriously, this is a great story. The NFL needs more guys like this on the field.
A man’s Pro!
You rock and I hope Joslyn had a night of her life!
Wish this was the norm for a human interest/NFL story
Story literally made my heart swell.
Good on this young man.
I want to believe that there are more guys like Thomas and less guys like Vick, if the media reported more on these types of things I think we’d find it to be fact.
great story! great young man!
pft and the rest of the media world should report more stories like this
Job well done! Very nice & inspiring story! Now THAT’S a pro athlete who can proudly claim to be a role model!!!
great story! I hope the good karma comes back around for him.
Mike,
Thanks for giving this story the space it needed.
Would appreciate more of this type.
Class act young fellow
I was going to make an off-color joke, but couldn’t bring myself to do it.
What a class act, and a great story.
Classy man. He can not only be a role model for kids but also a role model for other players.
My 7-year old son is about to get a poster on his wall of an NFL player he can be proud of.
Great, heartwarming story. And I agree with other commenters that it would be nice to get more like it. Players throughout the NFL have started charitable foundations, work with underpriviledged kids, raise money for good causes, and spend their time in worthwhile pursuits. But you guys write more about the minority who make nutty comments, go into debt over bling, or get arrested.
Since you love the sport, please focus attention on the many positive stories of NFL players. Yes, the negative stories draw more comments and probably more clicks, which is a sad commentary on our society. But you can still post the positive stuff, too. Thanks.
Just another example of how the players are trying to get public opinion on their side …. oh .. wait never mind.
Anywho good for the player. Better for the kid.
Great Story! That young man is a class act. I wish him all the best in his NFL career as well, even if he is a division rival.
As a Lions fan, I hate the Bears a little less now. This guy is a true role model. Excellent story.
As a Lions fan, I hate the Bears a little less now. This guy is a true role model. Excellent story.
Class act!!!
Joslyn will have a great story to tell for the rest of her life.
Hopefully he didn’t pull a favre/chumura and attend the after party
bsmb says: May 23, 2011 12:53 PM
Classy man. He can not only be a role model for kids but also a role model for other players.
_____________________
how about a role model for other ADULTS?
Maybe it’s a dumb question, but why didn’t his little brother take her? I mean, it’s certainly a nice gesture on J.T.’s part, but wouldn’t it be more appropriate for him to drive the two kids and be the chaperone?
Good for him taking some time to brighten somebody else’s life. Well done young man. I hope the young lady had the time of her life.
Bears fans should be proud to have this kid. I am a J.T. Thomas fan now!
very humble too doesnt want any kinda credit it was all for joslyn, and i love how a young rookie is a better person than pretty much every Vet in the league
kevinfromphilly says:
May 23, 2011 1:53 PM
Maybe it’s a dumb question, but why didn’t his little brother take her? I mean, it’s certainly a nice gesture on J.T.’s part, but wouldn’t it be more appropriate for him to drive the two kids and be the chaperone?
___________________________
Because his brother is 7.
I don’t have anything to add that hasn’t been said better by others but I just wanted to increase the clicks on the story and amount of comments so if those serve as encouragement to seek more of these types of stories, consider yourself encouraged.
I think it’s great that a young man of this age was mature enough to do this type of thing.
Love to see an ‘Eer get some good press!!
This is the best part : “This was Joslyn’s night,” Thomas said. “It wasn’t about me.”
Thomas is a rookie who hasn’t let the his accomplishments on the football field turn him into an entitled pos. Instead he used his status in the Morgantown community to improve some young girl’s life if only for one night.
I’ll be rooting for Thomas throughout his career (unless he plays against Miami of course).
“This was Joslyn’s night,” Thomas said. “It wasn’t about me.”
————————————————————————————
Well said, Mr. Thomas. Well said.
Very classy individual.
This was a great story to read.