Tomlinson rushes to help United Way

(June 17, 2005) - San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson didn't think twice about joining the United Way's new television campaign. The campaign focuses on volunteerism and community involvement, which are things Tomlinson knows a lot about.

The star runner began giving back long before he inked his first NFL contract, but his celebrity and good fortune have given him a platform to do even more. Tomlinson and his wife, LaTorsha, recently started the Tomlinsons Touching Lives Foundation, which actively seeks out worthy causes, yet seems to know no boundaries. He hosts football camps, sponsors the LT School is Cool Scholarship and will host the 21 Club at each Chargers home game this year, where he will invite upward of 21 kids from San Diego youth groups and nonprofit organizations to attend the game and then take them out to dinner afterward.
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You'd think that Tomlinson's plate would be full, but it's not. It never is. "We don't put a limit on what we do," he said. "I didn't want to be the only one living the good life. I've been blessed, and as things come my way, I can keep giving back."

Tomlinson is featured in one of the new United Way commercials in a campaign that has been designed to spotlight actual United Way projects and serve as a call to action. Tomlinson's spot highlights the Infant Nutrition program and shows him trying to feed a nursery full of screaming infants. The message is conveyed that even the fastest back in the NFL isn't fast enough to take care of so many kids. Working with the infants seemed to come naturally to him. In fact, one of the bigger problems on the set was that the babies weren't crying enough.

"He's just a natural with the kids," said Tracey Holmes of United Way of America. "I met him for the first time today, and I'm very impressed."

Holmes wasn't the only one. Director Warren Kushner described him as "an absolute pleasure. He's so professional. He has so much expression in his face. He's extraordinary. I've worked with a lot of athletes and not all have the ability to take acting direction but he's more professional than many of the professional actors I've worked with."

LT learned to take direction as a 16-year old boy in Waco, Texas, when he got his first job at Bush's Chicken.
"I learned early on to be responsible," he said. "It helped form my work ethic, which helps me in the NFL."

The Chargers are looking to start over this season after a 20-17 overtime loss to the New York Jets in the first round of the playoffs last year. The playoff upset that ended the Chargers' 2004 season, in which they went 12-4, has taught Tomlinson a lesson that he's looking to apply in 2005.

"It was our first year in the playoffs in a long time and we had to learn to deal with the emotions of the playoffs," he said. "We're more experienced now and we've learned how to channel our energy and how to deal with the peripheral things."

The 2005 season will begin with Tomlinson looking to tie an NFL record (he already holds the team record for career rushing touchdowns with 54). He finished last season having scored a touchdown in 12 consecutive games (a single-season NFL record). A touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys on opening day will tie the overall record held by John Riggins (1982-83) and George Rogers (1985-86).

Tomlinson understands that he can't do it all by himself and gives a lot of credit to his quarterback, Drew Brees, and one of the best tight ends in the game, Antonio Gates. "It's great to have them there," he stated. "They help to open up the running lanes. Teams have to focus on (Gates) so much that they're afraid to stop the run. It's good for me because he is such a threat that they have to put an extra safety on him and that creates more opportunities for me."

Whatever the reason, teams are hard pressed to stop Tomlinson, who ran for 1,335 yards last year and scored 17 rushing touchdowns. He offers a humble shrug when compared to great players such as Eric Dickerson and Earl Campbell.

"Being compared to any of the guys in the Hall of Fame is the ultimate compliment," he said. "They're the best of the best and it's an honor to be compared to them."

With all of his great work in the community and on the field, one of Tomlinson's greatest achievements came only a few months ago when he completed his degree in psychology from TCU by taking general studies courses at home.

"I wanted to be the first one in my family to graduate from college," he explains. "I felt it was important to finish something that I started and show that I didn't go to school just to play football."

He is seriously considering walking in TCU's graduation ceremony in December even though it will be during the season. His eyes light up at the thought.

"It will feel so good," he beams.

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.

By K.J. Sala
Special to NFL.com