The Best Advice I Ever Got

Below is the next blog from Ravens starting center, Matt Birk. A Harvard graduate and 14 year NFL veteran, he is still a student of the game and life. Matt is a husband, dad and a believer. Read how he learned a different perspective in the test of faith. Be blessed everybody!

--O. J.  Brigance

The Best Advice I Ever Got

I can't think of any job I would rather have than being a football player.  It is truly a blessing, but it will  test you.  At times, it pushes you to what you think are your physical and mental limits, and then beyond.  Every year you start out at the bottom of the proverbial mountain, and you have to climb to the top.  There is no easy path to take.  The season is a grind.  If you are in the NFL, you are under the microscope.  And if you are one of the 31 teams that does not win the Super Bowl that year, by the world's standards, you have failed.

Rich, my spiritual mentor and next door neighbor, and I were talking one night.  It just so happened I was leaving the next day for training camp.  He was asking me about what camp was like, and as I explained I'm sure I came off as feeling a little sorry for myself.  I was at a point in my career where I still loved the sport of football, but I knew that playing in the NFL was a job as well.   Nobody, and I mean nobody, loves training camp-  two a day practices, endless meetings, sleeping in dorm rooms away from your family- in fact, I hate training camp.  It's football from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed.  And then wake up the next day and start over.  Training camp is also a lot of pressure.  Its when you either earn or lose your job on the team.  If you don't make the team, you don't have a job, you don't get paid, you don't have the attention that goes along with playing the NFL, and you don't get an opportunity to win the Super Bowl.  Our society places a high value on these things.  So, as I explained these challenges to Rich, he paused, and said very matter of factly, "Well, it's really quite simple.  Training camp is a test of faith."

His summation didn't resonate with me.  I was confused.  After an awkward silence Rich explained- years ago he was a 'hot shot' salesman and he had a meeting with a prospective client. Rich was feeling pretty good about his chances to secure this account, and thus the rewards that would come with it (money, status in his company, etc.).  The day before the meeting his enthusiasm was visible when Rich went to his bible study.  Someone asked him why he had such a spring in his step, so Rich explained.  An older gentleman with some wisdom told him, "It's really quite simple.  This meeting is a test of faith."  The wise man went on to ask Rich whom was he putting his faith in in regards to this meeting- the client or God?  Did he want this account so badly that all he was focused on was getting it?  Or was he going to the meeting to praise God by being prepared and giving it his absolute best shot?

I started looking at training camp differently.  The first meeting we had I pulled out my notebook.  On the top of the page I wrote "Test of Faith".  After I filled the page with notes I went onto the next one and again wrote those three words on the top.  Instead of focusing on the accomplishment, I started focusing on the challenge.  I approached the challenge in a spiritual way.  Even though I didn't like camp, that didn't really seem to matter that much.  Suddenly training camp wasn't so overwhelming.  I had a new purpose for being there.  I believe God has each of us exactly where we are supposed to be, but I often forgot that when it came to my football career.  Football, like all businesses, is results oriented -you win or you lose, you succeed or you fail.  I was focusing too much on the end result-making the team, winning games, winning the Super Bowl- and not enough on the real reason that I was in the NFL.  I gave into the pressure and values that our world deems important.  I forgot I was playing football to honor and glorify God.  I bought into the all the hype.  I was at camp because my faith needed to be tested, and thus, strengthened.

A funny thing happened: with this new approach I started playing better.  I was a better teammate.  I didn't feel the pressure I felt before.  I was happier and more fulfilled at work.  I think it carried over into my relationships with my wife and children.  All of these are great things, but the best thing that happened is my faith grew stronger.  It's a work in progress, but I approach life everyday as a "test".  There are many times when the world will be quick to tell us that we failed, but the Test of Faith is the one that we must focus on, because we must pass it.

--Matt Birk, Starting Center for the Baltimore Ravens

Harder Right by Chad Steele

This week's blog is written by Baltimore Ravens Director of Media Relations, Chad Steele. I asked him to contribute because his story of becoming a better son, husband and father has been incredible to witness. I have been most impressed with his rapport with people. Be blessed by his journey.

-O.J. Brigance

Harder Right

As the son of a Colonel in the Army, moving every few years was part of the deal and something I loved about growing up. I lived overseas for much of my childhood and loved learning about other cultures and experiencing things that most can only read about in books.

As I got older, it got harder and harder to leave my friends and try to make new ones in new cities across the States. One particular move was very hard on me.

I spent my freshman year at Carmel Clay Junior High School in Carmel, IN and moved to Lawrence Central High School for my sophomore year. Playing football at LC was a welcome distraction. Being part of a team helped me with my insecurities and was an easy way to make friends.

Making friends on the team wasn’t the problem. However, it was the kind of friends that I made. Many of my teammates we considered “troublemakers,” and as I was assimilated into the group, I put myself in situations that weren’t beneficial or smart on my part.

As time went by and my ties with my friends grew deeper, I started drifting away from my family a bit. We had always been a VERY close family and were able to share everything with each other. I grew quieter at home and drifted into a selfish place. My family recognized what I was going through and tried to pull me back and help, but as 16-year-olds do, I thought I knew what was best for myself and made decisions that led me down a dark path.

By my junior year in high school, I was getting in more trouble than in my entire 17 years combined. I was in trouble at school, in trouble at home, and then I started losing friends. Some of my friends and teammates passed away, some lost their lives at the hands of a peer at school, and one to a car accident. I was spiraling out of control, and this forced my father to step in and make a tough decision for my family.

My sister had left for college, I was in the middle of my junior year, and my little brother was in middle school. My father got an assignment to work on a project in Fort Leavenworth, KS. He realized where I was headed and made a tough decision to request that he be permanently assigned to Leavenworth to get me out of harm’s way.

This was a decision that affected my whole family, but he knew that if I wasn’t pulled out of that situation, something horrible could happen.

My father and I moved to Leavenworth Oct. 30^th of my junior year, while my mother stayed back in Indiana with my brother so he could finish his football season and his semester in school.

Dad and I lived in the BOQ (Bachelor Officers Quarters) with one bed, a pull-out couch, a small bathroom and a shared kitchen for three months until my mom and brother joined us in the middle of January.

During that time, dad and I turned from a close father and son to best friends. The Colonel (that is what everyone calls my dad) told me, “I will be with you 24/7,” and that was exactly what happened. We would switch off sleeping on the bed – my dad would get it one week, while I slept on the couch, and the next week we would change it up. We also switched off cooking and cleaning. If my dad cooked, I had to clean and vice versa.

Due to the timing of the move, I was not able to join the football team, which devastated me. I didn’t want to do anything, but the Colonel let me know in no uncertain terms that I would be doing something after school, I wasn’t just going to be able to “run the streets,” so, my father saw to it that I joined the basketball team.

To insure that I didn’t blow off basketball to get in trouble, my father came to practice every day to make sure I was attending practice and working hard. Even though I was on the team, I struggled with self-esteem and personal pride.

I was a 17-year-old 6’5”, 170-pound biracial child who was constantly teased about my height, weight and skin color. My two best friends were both biracial and military brats like me, and we were dubbed the “half-breed crew” by the “townies” of Leavenworth.

I was constantly told I wasn’t good enough, cool enough or smart enough, which is not an easy thing to deal with at that age. My grades slipped, my play slipped, and I was in a dark place.

I wanted to quit basketball, I wanted to fight the kids that made fun of me, and my father and I had many talks about how to deal with my personal struggles.

The Colonel, who was the first black football player at West Point, and who at 6’6” 250 pounds in the 1960’s was often a target because of his race and size, he talked with me about his struggles and what got him through.

We talked about a certain verse in the West Point Cadet Prayer: “Make us to choose the harder right, instead of the easier wrong, and never be content with the half truth when the whole truth can be won.”

I physically carried that verse with me in high school. Anytime I faced a tough situation, I would refer to it and “harder right, instead of the easier wrong” was always at the forefront of my mind.

I went on to become the Player of the Year in my league in high school. My grades improved and I was able to earn a full-ride basketball scholarship to Winthrop University, where I earned Presidential Scholar list honors and left the school as the all-time leading rebounder.

But most importantly, I became a better leader, a better mentor, a better friend and a better son. To this day, when I am faced with a hard situation either at work or in my personal life, I always refer back to: harder right/easier wrong.

Along with my wife, that is what I want to instill in my young daughter. We think about that verse almost every day of our lives. It is easy to do the wrong thing, and it is often times harder to do the right thing. But, I know that as long as I choose the harder right, I will make my wife, my daughter, my parents and my siblings proud.

And there is no better “right” than that.

-Chad Steele, Director of Media Relations for the Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Sun: With no voice, Brigance continues to spread his message

Ravens executive has lost most movement to ALS, but continues to hope for a cure

September 13, 2011|By Mike Klingaman, The Baltimore Sun

Each week, we bring you a Q&A with a Ravens player, coach or team executive to help you learn a little more about the team. Today's guest is O.J. Brigance.
O.J. Brigance sits at a table in Sullivan's Steakhouse, speaking with his eyes.
Brigance suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, which has robbed the former Raven of both speech and body movement. Brigance converses via a high-tech device called a DynaVox, which allows him to "talk" by focusing on a computer screen, and blinking, to form words and sentences.
Brigance, the Ravens' director of player development, was stricken with ALS in 2007 and has dedicated his life to finding a cure for the disease, the life expectancy for which averages two to five years. His organization, Brigance Brigade, has raised over $500,000 with the help of the Packard Center (at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.)
A onetime linebacker and special teams' standout who starred in the Ravens' 2000 Super Bowl victory, he is the only pro player ever to win both Canadian and National Football League championships in the same city. Brigance, who will be 42 this month, earned a Grey Cup ring with the Baltimore Stallions in 1995.
In his wheelchair, in the restaurant, he is flanked by caretakers, who monitor his vital signs, and his wife, Chanda. Brigance greets a reporter with a broad grin, one of the few movements he can still muster.

Technology is a wonderful thing – you're able to communicate just by moving your eyes – but how difficult has it really been to continue your mission without speaking verbally?
I have been able to communicate well with my DynaVox, even with the loss of my voice. The only frustration is the inability to communicate real time and conversations. By the time I finish typing, the topic may have changed, so it requires patience. With that being said, praise God I can still audibly communicate.
My inability to speak hasn't affected my mission, because a picture is worth a thousand words. I just have to provide the caption every now and then.

Do people who've been diagnosed with ALS come to you for support and, if so, what advice do you give them?
I have had the opportunity to speak with other ALS patients. My encouragement to them is: Don't stop living in spite of people and circumstances telling you to accept your condition and go peacefully. I find when I speak to others that I am encouraged. Proverbs says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Our trials come to mold us, and encourage those going through similar trials.

What's your opinion of the new safety measures included in the NFL collective bargaining agreement, i.e., no more two-a-days, less full contact drills at practice, etc?
My opinion of the new safety rules in the CBA are mixed. I am pleased that the health and safety of the players has been moved to the forefront.

What was your relationship with former Baltimore Colt and Hall of Famer John Mackey, who died in July of frontotemporal dementia, and how can you compare your lives? Is Chanda, your wife, your own Sylvia Mackey?
I wasn't fortunate to have known Mr. Mackey, but was blessed to benefit from he and Mrs. Mackey's tenacious efforts to advance the rights of players, both on and off the field. The "88 plan" is one example of the fruits of their labor. I think our lives parallel, in that we were blessed to have the opportunity to do what we love to do and to help others through our personal adversities. We were both divinely matched to extraordinary women who have the level of strength tailor-made for anything that would come up in our lives. My queen bee, and Mrs. Mackey, are unique and splendid in their own right.

What is still on your bucket list to do, both personally and professionally?
I have not written my bucket list, but as I think about it, I would like to go to Africa on safari, see Mount Rushmore, and write a book.

How often do you go to work? Do you attend Ravens' practices and games?
I go in to the facility four to five days a week now. During the off-season, it may be less frequent. Barring any unforeseen issues, I try to catch every practice and attend every home game. I enjoy watching the players take what they learned in practice and execute it on game day.

Have you received any speeding tickets for zipping down hallways in The Castle (the Ravens' headquarters in Owings Mills) in your wheelchair? How fast can you drive that thing?
I have not received any speeding tickets lately, because I had to give up my keys. The story is, when I had more dexterity in my hands, some people claimed I sped through the halls, endangering the shins and feet of Ravens' employees. One day, practical joker and running backs' coach Wilbert Montgomery posted speed limit signs all over the facility. There was a set speed to go into and out of the cafeteria, and a different speed for cruising open hallways. I opened up the wheelchair one day and got it up to 3.7 mph, and had to shut her down before she overheated. He (Montgomery) got me pretty good with that one. It was classic.

Ravens' head coach John Harbaugh calls you "the strongest man in the building." Is he right?
Coach Harbaugh may claim that, and I appreciate the compliment, but I would have to defer to the men and women I see at the facility who, despite their apprehensions about seeing me fight this battle before their eyes, still treat me the same. Many people struggle with how to approach or deal with a person with a disability. I had the same uneasiness before I was diagnosed.

Do you think football played a part in your contracting Lou Gehrig's Disease?
It isn't known what causes ALS. It could be one or several factors. Scientists have determined a common gene in familial ALS, which is about 5 percent of the cases. The other 95 percent is called sporadic, and the cause is yet to be determined. People from all walks of life have been diagnosed with ALS.
I don't know if football or environment or diet caused ALS, but I am more concerned about finding a cure.

What, if anything, would the kid from Willowridge High (N.J.) do differently if he had his life to live over?
I would want to change the painful things because no one wants to willingly go through those situations. But without those times, I would not have known perseverance and character. Pruning is not a fun process, but very critical for growth and maturity.

Your whole life has been an uphill climb. People said you were too small to play linebacker, that Rice University football was a joke, that even as a Canadian Football League standout you'd never be good enough to play in the NFL, and that you'd never recover from the back injuries you suffered while playing in Miami. Did those issues help to prepare you for this?
Wait a minute. Who said Rice football was a joke? We went 9-34 over my career there They say losing builds character, and we had more than our fair share. One of my college coaches met with me my senior year, and said I had a good career, and that I should take my degree and enter the work force. I politely declined his offer and was blessed with a 12-year professional career. Every one of the moments you listed were opportunities for me to believe God's destiny, or accept man's limitations.

Do you still wear your Super Bowl and Grey Cup rings?
I do not wear them except for special occasions. They serve as remembrances of God's faithfulness whenever I see them.

Have you grown, as a person, in these last few years?
The last few years have shown me shortcomings and relationships that I had not cared for properly while pursuing some of my life goals. Time is the one thing that is not redeemable. Once it is gone, it is gone. We should make the most of every moment in our relationships and life goals.

That's your mantra, isn't it?
Yes.

What goes through your mind when you see video clips of yourself busting the wedge, making a Ravens' special teams' tackle and doing that oddball celebratory dance you used to do?
What goes through my mind is: somebody should give him a Valium, to come down. In all seriousness, I have great pride when I see clips of my athletic career, because God used me to do what some say couldn't be done. In First Corinthians 1:27, "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things in the world to shame the things which are strong."

You've got those Bible verses down pat, don't you?
Spirit food gives me the strength to press forward.

When you get discouraged, what specific memories, on and off the field, do you recall, to help you bounce back?
When I get discouraged, I remind myself that God will never leave me or forsake me. Every challenge and triumph in my life has prepared me to stand at this moment under the weight of this adversity.
No doubt, ALS has brought clarity and greater purpose to our lives. We are all given a platform and audience to influence, no matter what walk of life we come from. We are seasoned by our adversities to help others experiencing the same difficulties.

How would you describe to the rest of us what it has been like to live these last few years?
I would describe living the last few years as challenging, yet insightful. My wife and I have seen great acts of kindness and disappointments. However. I am most proud that we haven't given up on God, or each other. We have used our trials to try and encourage others.

Do you ever compare life as it is now, to how it might have been?
I do believe that God will help me win this battle, and that I will be made whole. I am winning every day my feet touch the ground. We all need to appreciate the small victories in life, starting with the ability to open our eyes in the morning. It isn't a matter of who is right, but who will I believe. In Proverbs, it says, "So as a man thinks, so is he." In the end, whatever opinion we accept as truth for our lives will become our reality.

You say that, with God's help, you'll beat this disease. Many respect your defiance but say you're in denial. Who is right?
Through life experiences I have learned God is right, and man's finite expectations have no bearing on my healing. I would just classify them as limited.

In 1996, you phoned 28 of the 30 NFL teams before you finally got a tryout with Miami. Is that the kind of last-second, Hail-Mary-pass thinking that you believe is going to cure you now?
The great lesson behind that story is that "no" this time doesn't mean "no" the next time. I called 28 of the 30 teams and received 28 nos. The two teams I didn't call were the Houston Oilers and Miami Dolphins, because they had worked me out, coming out of college. I decided I might as well call the last two teams. and make my rejections a full 30. To my amazement both wanted to sign me. "No" sometimes means "not yet." My hope doesn't rely on the wisdom of man but on the providence of the most high God. My faith is not to "Hail Mary" but to "Hail Jesus."

What does O.J. Brigance want his legacy to be?
I pray my legacy is that I trusted God and made the most of what he entrusted to me. There is still more to be done in me but I thank Jesus I am still in the process.

We know that ALS affects the body and not the mind. Do you often feel trapped inside your head?
I do miss the ability to run and work out. Sometimes I would love to get up and go for a walk, but it isn't possible at this time. I do, at times, feel isolated.

Do you ever dream that you are your old self?
I do dream and see myself walking again, and with all of my senses.

When is the last time that you laughed, and cried?
I actually have good laughs daily. Without the ability to speak, I have become a bit more observant. People are funny about how they approach life.
I have cried twice. Back when I was diagnosed, the weight of the diagnosis and possible outcome was hard to accept. The second time was a few months ago, when it was just one of those tough days.

Access (not for) Granted

Each morning when I pull up to the Ravens facility, the arm at the guard gate rises allowing access to the exclusive life of the NFL. This past Spring there was pessimism about whether or not there would be a 2011 season due to the lockout. Every player was denied access to NFL facilities across America. Many players experienced four months without any type of team organized activities.

This mini sabbatical allowed players and league staff to get a much needed vacation to recharge and renew their love and commitment to a sport many of us have been around since childhood. We all need a break from work at some point. The problem with the NFL grind is that even if we take a vacation, very few are able to disconnect mentally. With the lockout leaving the beginning of the season in limbo, we were all able to disconnect from work and reconnect with family and friends, long neglected due to work commitments. One friend and employee was able to take an extended vacation for the first time in fifteen years.

Now the lockout is a distant memory, as players and football personnel have condensed months of preparation into six weeks of training camp. Every meeting, practice, and pre-season game has come to be one of the happiest days for some and the most disappointing day for others. The final NFL cuts.

I wish I could say I never experienced the disappointment of being released, but every player has been released or will be at some point. Over the last week, 1,184 players were released from NFL rosters. It always amazes me to see all of the names listed in the transaction column of the sports page. So many dreams shattered. I was released for the first time in 23 years by the St. Louis Rams. I didn't expect it and was literally in shock as I left the facility. Strangely to me, all I could do was go home and sleep.

While I was working out at a local gym and waiting for the next team to call, the first airplane hit one of the Twin Towers on September 11th. We all remember the hurt and devastation we felt watching plumes of smoke billow into the air and thousands of people scramble on the ground.

We all gained a greater perspective of what was truly important and the resiliency that lies dormant in the American soul. My moment of direction and clarity from my personal despair came while watching the 9/11 Memorial Service, when President G. W. Bush said, "Adversity introduces us to ourselves."

There will be a time when the realization of our dreams may seem to be derailed, but “not now” doesn't mean “no, not ever.” It has been said that to make it in the NFL you must be with the right team, at the right time, with the right talent. In the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3, talks about the seasons of life. Just as Spring follows Winter, know that triumph and joy will follow adversity and sadness.

For those of you who were blessed to make it on an NFL roster or to work in the front offices, please don't ever take your position(s) of privilege for granted. So many would love the opportunity to do what we are gifted to do. I oftentimes say that I have been fortunate to never work a day in my life. Whatever your occupation is currently, don't ever take your access to gainful employment for granted. Rejoice in God's provision(s) in your life.

As we prepare for the NFL Kickoff Weekend and to honor the memories of the victims of 9/11, celebrate the resilience of the human spirit. Let's never forget to celebrate life each and every day. No matter what season of life you are in, know that God still has you in hand and in his plan. Jeremiah 29:11. Be blessed everybody.

-O.J. Brigance

To Bee or Not to Bee?

Scientifically a bee is too fat to fly. It's not aerodynamic enough and it's wings are too short. But why does it still fly you ask? Because nobody told him he couldn't.
-Anonymous

Hello Family,

For the past week I have been sitting in 90 to 100 degree heat watching the Baltimore Ravens training camp. For the life of me I can't figure out how I played football for 24 years in the heat and humidity of Texas, Maryland, and other stops along the way.

Watching these men persevere through heat, injury and mental warfare made me ask the question, "What are we as individuals willing to do to achieve our dreams and destiny?"

Each of us has been created with talents and gifts to achieve great things in this world. However, somewhere along the way, some person or situation causes us to settle with okay instead of God's best. Please understand that every one of us was brought into this world with a purpose and assignment. The road blocks that we encounter are tools to prepare us for our destiny, not deter us. We all experienced testing while in school. There is never promotion without testing. Life is the same game by a different name.
Unfortunately, we aren't bees so we will always get discouraging reports and run into roadblocks. See them for what they are, opportunities for promotion. "Don't let what you see take your vision. "  Be blessed  and have an outstanding day. Back out to the heat!

O. J.

Transcript of O.J.'s Radio Interview with the Maryland Morning Radio Show

Incase you missed it, below is the transcript from O.J's inspirational interview with the Maryland Morning Radio Show:

Mr. Brigance, thanks so much for speaking with us this morning.

--Mr. Brigance, you have technology that helps you speak, breathe, and eat.  Would you tell us how they work?

First, Thank you Tom and Stephanie for the opportunity to share about living with ALS. I have been extremely blessed to utilize some of the latest technology in my battle against ALS. I can still communicate verbally, email,  and text through my DynaVox computer. The cameras inside the computer track my eye movement allowing me to type on the keyboard on screen. It also has environmental controls allowing me to control the tv and speak over the phone as well. Tom,  you know that the ability to control the television remote was the selling point for me being a man! 

I breathe with the use of One of the latest Puritan Bennett ventilators. It is about the size of a toaster and fits in a backpack on my wheelchair. Battery capacity is excellent allowing me to come and go as I please. 

--As your disease progresses, are there other devices that you expect to utilize—or is this the end of the line in terms of devices?

I am sure there will be other technological advances that will enhance the quality of life for ALS patients and others battling neurological disorders. Upgraded computer technology is coming to allow us to communicate even more efficiently. It is the nature of the electronics industry to make their products smaller and better. I saw a 60 minutes story about how scientists have invented sensors that attach to the scalp to read brain waves to type your thoughts. There are companies that can use a person's own voice recording to create a speaking program in your own voice for your computer. If something becomes available that I deem practical and useful, I will utilize it.   

-- You worked as a professional football player for over a decade, including playing on the Ravens' Super Bowl team in 2001.  You're currently a Senior Advisor to Player Development with the Ravens.  Can you describe your current job with the Ravens?

I was blessed to play professionally for twelve years. I played in 2 Super Bowls and 2 CFL championship games. My athletic experience on and off the field allowed me knowledge and credibility to advise current players in the areas of continuing education, financial education, internships, and players ' assistance programs. Currently, I am in a consulting role with the players and coaches. 

--On your foundation website, it says you're "determined to win [the] fight against the disease."  We spoke yesterday with Jeff Rothstein, who runs the Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins.  He said that it's unlikely that a person diagnosed with ALS today is likely to live to see a cure.  Yet, you remain hopeful.  How do you maintain that hope?

I once heard pastor Myles Monroe say, "If you want to know the purpose of a thing and its capabilities, you have to speak to the manufacturer." With all due respect to Dr. Rothstein, he is not the manufacturer of the human body or Spirit. God is my creator, sustainer and Head of ALS research. I refuse to let anyone's finite knowledge determine the outcome of my attitude and hope. I have been told all my life that certain dreams and circumstances would not be overcome only to see God prove them wrong! I am winning this battle every day I put my feet on the floor. Many thought I couldn't do any more interviews, but by the grace of God here we are doing it. Jesus is my hope and no outside opinion will shake that. And yes, I still believe I am healed physically despite what my current state looks like.  

-- We've been speaking with the writer Dudley Clendinen, who has said repeatedly that he doesn't plan to "stay around for the back half of ALS."  This is clearly a personal decision that anyone with ALS is confronted with.   About 95% of ALS patients, for example, choose not to have a tracheotomy or to make use of a ventilator.  You have chosen a completely opposite path.   Why?  Have you ever considered any other approach to this illness?

I have read Mr. Clendenin's article and respect his decision. For me, the only option was to fight to live. From the time of conception, I was the one off several million sperm cells to make it and be born into this world. I came with a purpose and assignment. Only 0.2% of high school athtetes make it to the NFL. Only 2.4% of college athletes will make an NFL roster. It seems that I have always been in the minority and the exception to the rule. I have been given a tremendous opportunity to make a great impact on my sphere of influence as an athlete and an even greater influence as an ALS ambassador.  I am still needed as a husband, son, brother and friend. I will continue to live and fight the odds as God allows. 

-- It’s a somewhat vague term, but it’s the term that patients and care givers use to quantify a complex mix of factors.  The term is “quality of life.”   How would you describe your quality of life now?

I would define my quality of life as good and getting better as I continue to discover what I can still do and enjoy despite my current physical limitations. I can still go places I used to go, but it requires a bit more planning. It was difficult for me to go from running like the wind to being immobilized in a wheelchair. There are definitely activities I miss like working out and running. But, my motto is make the most of what you got while you got it. I am blessed.  

--The cost of your care is estimated to be about $500,000 a year.  I understand that the Ravens organization has been very supportive to you and your family.  How much of the cost of your care is covered by your health insurance, and if it’s not all covered, do the Ravens pay for the rest of it?

We all realize the significant cost any major illness given the state of America 's health care industry. My family and I have been so moved by the generosity of the Ravens and other friends of the Brigance Brigade. We are blessed to have health insurance and help from several other organizations. No situation is the same, so I would recommend contacting your local ALS clinic, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the ALS Association and any other organizations that have resources and guidance for people with neuromuscular diseases. Lora Clawson and her staff at the Hopkins ALS Center have been angels through out this whole ordeal. To me finances are extremely important, but the getting the right guidance and information about how to cope with the initial diagnosis is just as important. 

-- As Lora Clawson and Dr. Rothstein and others have told us, every person’s journey with this disease is different.    Can you identify anything that has happened during your journey that has surprised you?  Was there ever a time when you found that you reacted to a particular development or a particular circumstance in a way that you might not have thought you would?

My journey with ALS has shown me personal character flaws that needed to be worked on and the tremendous caring and generosity of family and friends. During the 9\11 Memorial service, President G. W. Bush said, "Adversity introduces us to ourselves." When dealt with a fatal blow, there is a clear moment where you discover that you have been prepared for this moment. The diagnosis of ALS has been a very difficult challenge for my family and I. But, there is no doubt I am the man for the job. I can't tell you how many notes I received because I decided to live, someone else was encouraged through their own personal adversity. 

--After you were diagnosed, you formed an organization called the Brigance Brigade, which raises funds to improve the quality of life of ALS, and to support research for a cure.  What made you decide to create it?

My wife and I decided to found the Brigance Brigade Fund to raise awareness and funds for the people who may not have the support system we have. Money is also needed for research to find a cure. I have always felt when dealing with a tough situation, make sure to ask the right question. Why is this happening is usually the first response. Good question,  but the more important questions are, what is God showing me and how can I use my life lesson to help others dealing with the same problem? The Brigance Brigade is our way of assisting others in dealing with the problems of living with ALS.  

--As a star athlete, you have been in the public eye for most of your life.  You have been very public about your battle with ALS.  As a public figure, do you see it as your responsibility to motivate people to support ALS research?

As a public figure, I think the platform was prepared for me to make an impact far greater than I could have as O. J., the night watchman. We all have been given a role to impact the world around us. We should all Get in, where we fit in.  

--What does a person who does not have ALS not know about the disease that you wish he did?

I would like people to know that although our physical body may be frail, know that our mind is still sharp. Look past the equipment and see the warriors who despite the obstacles before us are determined to live! Oh, we aren't deaf so no need to yell! 

Mr. Brigance, it’s a great honor to be able to speak with you.  Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us.

You're welcome and Thank you for the opportunity Tom and Stephanie. Everybody listening please visit our website Brigancebrigade.Org, or Brigance brigade facebook page, or on twitter @ojbrigance. 

You can also listen to the interview at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXkSFo7GfgQ&feature=channel_video_title