In 1983, I was a four-year-old burgeoning sports addict living on Cape Cod. As such, the most important people in the world were Larry Bird and Doug Flutie. Larry hung up the kicks in 1992. Doug called it a career this morning.
From BC to the USFL to the NFL to the CFL and back to the NFL, I've followed Flutie the whole way. It's been a blast. I'm sorry he never got to put on a Super Bowl ring, but from THE PASS to THE DROPKICK he's galvanized people in a way that few athletes ever have. Like lots of sports heroes (including the hallowed #33), you certainly heard negative stories of his off-field/off-camera personality, so I can't completely lionize the man (and I won't ever forgive him for crossing the picket line in '87). But every step of the way, he met with criticism and skepticism, and dealt with it by proving himself where it mattered, on the field. The 5-9 guy who would never make it in the NFL retired today at the age of 43 on his own terms. That deserves respect.
He's used his celebrity to raise a tremendous amount of awareness and money for autism and autism research. If you've been entertained by Doug over the years, I admonish you to contibute to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation as a way of saying thanks.
Next time I'm in Natick, I'll swing by the mall to spill a little on the curb of Flutie Pass. I'm sure Doug will have a long productive career on TV (maybe not so much as a drummer), but you only get so many childhood sports heroes, and part of your youth leaves you when they retire.
So long #22. We'll always have Miami.
© Boston Globe
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