Leonard Floyd (Take 2) - Chicago Bears

1) Leonard Floyd is an outside linebacker wearing #94 for the Chicago Bears who is entering his third season in the NFL. He was selected as the 9th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

2) Leonard was a defensive standout at the University of Georgia where he tallied his best season as a junior when he recorded 72 tackles, 4.5 sacks, three passes defended and one fumble recovery.

3) Growing up in Eastman, Georgia, Floyd was a two-sport star in high school where he competed in football and track and field. In 2011, he was the shot put champion at the Region 3AA meet recording a career-best throw of 14.96 meters.

J: What is your favorite memory of playing in the NFL so far?

Leonard Floyd: Sacking quarterbacks.

J's Follow Up: My favorite Leonard Floyd sack was on Aaron Rodgers during the color rush game on Thursday night football. I'm think he can get 11 or more sacks this year.

Dad: Do you have a favorite player at the University of Georgia that you looked up to?

Leonard Floyd: In my time coming up at Georgia, my favorite player was probably Justin Houston.

Dad's Follow Up: Justin Houston is a favorite of our family too. Jordan once pulled a Justin Houston autographed jersey card from a pack of cards and we've been following his Pro Bowl career ever since. Justin is one of the premier outside linebackers in the NFL and we believe that Leonard Floyd has the talent and drive to reach the same level. 

                

     Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images                  Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

D: What's your favorite fruit or vegetable?

Leonard Floyd: Grapefruit.
D's Follow Up: I don't really like grapefruits that much. I just don't think they taste that good but my mom loves them.

The whole family took a short trip up to Lindenhurst for the Grand Opening of Lake Villa Tire and Service on Saturday, June 23rd to meet Bears star outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. This was a rare opportunity to meet the young Bears superstar during the offseason and we were not going to miss this event. Jordan finished up his flag football game in the morning and we made our way to Lindenhurst to meet #94!

It was a warm and sunny day as we waited to meet Leonard. We had access to great snacks and drinks while we were in line thanks to Lake Villa Tire. The boys brought Chicago Bears rookie cards and two Georgia Bulldogs college cards for Leonard to sign and he was gracious enough to sign all five. Jordan and I had met Leonard at a signing in the mall during his rookie season but this was Jen and Danny's first time meeting one of the new Monsters of the Midway. They were both impressed with how kind and considerate he was to all fans in attendance and he answered all of our questions without hesitation. The only part of the event that left us disappointed was the fact that Leonard didn't sack the little Packers fan before he left.

Leonard Floyd enters his third season with the Bears and he comes into the 2018/19 season with 11.5 career sacks and 67 career tackles. Leonard had his first two seasons cut short due to injury and Bears fans across the country are hopeful he can stay in the lineup for 16 plus games this year. Leonard Floyd has proven that he can be a dominant player in the NFL when he's staring down quarterbacks on Sundays. We wish Leonard a great season this year and we hope to be watching him in the Pro Bowl in February!

AJ Styles - WWE

1) AJ Styles is a professional wrestler with the WWE who is signed to the SmackDown brand show where he is the current WWE Champion (2-time).

2) AJ has wrestled all over the world including Japan, Mexico, and England and competed in over 20 wrestling promotions since making his professional wrestling debut in 1998. AJ Styles has won over 50 championships in his illustrious career. 

3) AJ Styles graduated from Johnson High School in Gainesville, Georgia in 1996 and soon after attended Anderson University in South Carolina on a partial wrestling scholarship. Styles ultimately left college to enter a professional wrestling school because his friends were trying it and he thought he may have a natural ability to compete. 

J: Did you have a favorite wrestler to watch when you were growing up?

AJ Styles: I didn't have a favorite wrestler but I did have a favorite football player. Barry Sanders.

J's Follow Up: Barry Sanders was awesome because he always did a bunch of jukes and spin moves. He was slippery. He's my third favorite running back behind Bo Jackson and Walter Payton.

D's Follow Up: That's awesome. Barry Sanders is one of the best running backs ever.

Photo credit / givemesport.com

The Allstate Arena in Rosemont recently hosted two WWE pay per view events (NXT Takeover and Money in the Bank) on Saturday, June 16th and Sunday, June 17th. We had tickets to both events but unfortunately D was too sick to attend. Jordan and I were able to bring a friend to each event in D's place and it worked out well. These two pay per view events were action packed and full of surprises and left us speechless multiple occasions.  

First up was NXT Takeover and Jordan and I were fortunate to meet the phenomenal AJ Styles the Saturday before Money in the Bank. AJ was as awesome as we had hoped and it was an unforgettable experience to meet one of the greatest wrestlers in the world. AJ is currently the WWE champion for SmackDown and he was on his way to another show in Iowa before defending his title against Shinsuke Nakamura the following night. On Sunday, we were excited to be in the building to watch AJ defeat Shinsuke in a brutal "Last Man Standing" match to retain his title and continue his reign as the top superstar on SmackDown. We hope that AJ can keep the WWE championship title around his waist for a long time to come!

Doug Plank - Chicago Bears Alumni

1) Doug Plank is a former NFL safety who played for the Chicago Bears from 1975-1982.

2) Plank played college football for Ohio State University where he won 3 Big Ten championships and went to 3 consecutive Rose Bowls under College Football Hall of Fame coach Woody Hayes.

3) Former Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan named his legendary defense the "46 defense" after Plank's hard hitting and aggressive style.

J: What is your favorite memory about playing for the Bears?

Doug Plank: During my earlier years, one of the defensive coaches created a defense after my jersey number. That defense went on to win the Super Bowl for the Chicago Bears. Although I never played in the Super Bowl, the "46 defense", which was my number, became the defense they used to win the Super Bowl.

J's Follow Up: It's cool that the coach named the defense after him. Too bad he didn't get to play in the Super Bowl with them.

J: What workouts did you use to stay in shape and become such a hard hitting tackler?

Doug Plank: I used to lift weights and condition and train all the time. I still have dumbbells that I work out with. I'm a big believer in arm strength because there is not any sport I can think of that doesn't involve hand strength. Even in football, everyone thinks you tackle with your shoulders. No, you grab them like this and then you take them down. If you have no grip, you can't tackle anybody. I used to tie a dumbbell to a rope with a piece of wood and move it up and down with my wrists. Those things just made me who I was. Even as a smaller player, if you get 200 pounds going fast you can do some damage. That's what I did with the Chicago Bears. Lined up 10 yards away, ball was snapped and I'm off and running. Even if they were 50, 60, 70 pounds heavier than me I could knock them down with the impact. Whatever sport your in, keep working on it daily. All of sudden it amazes you. Just do the little things. Training and hard work.

J's Follow Up: I think getting better at grip strength will help me in tennis, basketball, golf, flag football and other sports. He wasn't real tall or a big guy but he hit real hard when he was playing. His highlights are crazy. Doug Plank Youtube Highlights

Photo credit / chicagobears.com

Jordan and I attended our first ever midnight flea market at the Grayslake Fairgrounds on May 26th, so we could meet Chicago Bear legend Doug Plank. While we attended the event to meet Doug, we also took advantage of our opportunity to check out some unique antiques. I loved the vintage sports equipment I was able to find and Jordan is big into history and loved looking at all of the old currency that was for sale. 

We enjoyed our time meeting Doug Plank and he spent more time with us talking about his career in college and the NFL than any other athlete we have met. One thing that was certain is that Doug Plank loved being an Ohio State Buckeye, a Chicago Bear, and he remains extremely proud of the seven years he was fortunate enough to wear the navy and orange at Soldier Field. Jordan got a first hand lesson in tackling and got to experience the grip strength that Doug said he worked hard to gain while playing. It was a great experience meeting the Chicago Bears gridiron legend and if the Bears were in need of a safety to suit up in an emergency next season, it looks like Doug Plank can still play... even at 65!