LaDainian Tomlinson

The crowd chants , "LT!" After seeing the number twenty one be retired in Qualcomm Stadium with the San Diego Chargers. Before the crowed chanted LT it all started with a little kid that loved playing football. LT was from Rosebud, Texas and had an eye for football. LT worked hard and got a scholarship to TCU for football. Then he was determined to make it to the NFl, and to graduate college for his mom. Then, in 2001 in the NFL draft in round one with the fifth pick the San Diego Chargers select LaDainian Tomlinson out of TCU. LT worked hard to make his dreams come to reality. He had a determined mindset to be successful, and also to take care of his family on the way and make his mom proud of him. LaDainian Tomlinson is more than just a football player on field. He is an inspirational hero because of his hard working personality, his determined mindset to be successful, and his caring personality to his family, friends, and community.

LT grew up with a hard working personality from when he started playing Pop Warner football until now. LT really started to learn how to work hard when he was nine years old playing football. "At nine years old Tomlinson joined the Pop Warner League, in which he played until reaching high school." In the early 1990s Tomlinson attended a summer football camp, where he had the chance to meet and learn from Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys. Tomlinson later reported that Smith was one of his most important role models, especially because both Tomlinson and Smith are short in stature when compared to the average football player." When LT was playing pop warner football at nine, he went to a football summer camp. He met the running back for the Dallas cowboys, Emmitt Smith. LT was inspired to be like Emmitt on and off the field. So he looked up to him and worked hard to be just like him on and off the field, and now LT does similar things just like Emmitt. When LT started to grow up and get into his college years he started to work harder because he knew if he did good in college football he would make the NFL. "At TCU Tomlinson was only the second college player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season and 5,000 in a career, and as a senior in 2000, he won the Doak Walker Award as the best collegiate running back in the United States. His 5,263 yards for the Horned Frogs ranked sixth in NCAA Division I-A history at the time he left. The Chargers, who received the fifth overall pick in the National Football League (NFL) draft, selected Tomlinson." When LT started college he started to work harder in college football and his academics. LT started to realize that him working hard in college brought results on the football field and his grades. Then in the first round the fifth overall pick the San Diego Chargers select LaDainian Tomlinson from Texas Christian University and at that moment LT realized all the hard work was worth it to make his dreams come reality. Through LT's years growing up and making it through college and getting drafted he realized that hard work all pays off in the end if you're willing to go through with it and put it in.

LT couldn't have made it in the NFL without having a determined mindset that he was going to be successful. Before LT entered his senior year of high school with zero college scholarships, he knew that his senior year he knew this was gonna be his breakout year and that he could get a college scholarship but LT's mom made a decision and she was gonna move to Dallas so LT asked for one of the biggest things from his mom.  "Tomlinson attended University High School in Waco, where he played four years for the school team. Before his senior year Tomlinson's mother moved to Dallas but allowed him to remain in Waco to complete his senior year. Tomlinson turned in a spectacular season to win most valuable player (MVP) honors and was named Super Centex Offensive Player of the Year. Over the course of his high school career, Tomlinson scored 39 touchdowns and ran for more than 2,500 yards." LT always had a determined mindset, but it really kicked in when LT's mom was moving to Dallas. LT asked if he could move in with his friends to stay in the same high school and have his breakout year. LT's mom said yes and LT moved into his friend's house and had his breakout year, winning MVP and offensive player of the year in the same season. When LT was growing up in a smaller town in Texas, named Rosebud, he had to fight for recognition as a running back. "Tomlinson grew up in out-of-the-way Marlin, Texas, and as a small-towner, the running back had to fight for recognition. He was selected as the top offensive player in central Texas during his senior year at Waco University High School. His scholarship options were somewhat limited, and he chose Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth." LT was determined to be recognized by colleges in his smaller town, so he worked harder in football too make his parents proud. At the end of the season, he was selected as the top offensive player in central Texas. With him getting selected, he got scholarships, but they were limited. He ended up going to TCU, making his mom proud, and not regretting the decision she made. LT was determined to make his family proud, and football helped him do it.

LT always grew up determined and hardworking, but he was always caring to the people around him. LT always grew up loving football, but he always cared about his family. The time LT got with his father was unforgettable.  "Despite being estranged from his father at a young age, LaDainian Tomlinson reported that his interest in football was inspired by the time that he and his father spent together watching football games on television." LT cared about his father a lot. He always bonded with him watching football games learning the sports, and getting to know the players. LT loves is family more than anything, but he also cares about the kids that need help in this world. "Tomlinson has devoted ample time to the San Diego community. "Tons of charities, great with kids, bought his mother a home with his first paycheck, talks up his teammates at every turn," Armstrong wrote. "To hear him tell it, it all goes back to the little town that taught him life's big lessons. That's what molded the man." Tomlinson married his former college girlfriend, LaTorsha Oakley, in 2003." LT cares about the San Diego community especially the kids that need help. LT had made multiple charities to help the people around him, since he knew what it was like not to have a lot of money or help growing up. Throughout LT's life he grew up caring for the people around him like his family, his community, and lastly his football team.

LaDainian Tomlinson is more than a football player on football field. He is a inspirational hero because of his hard working mindset, his determined personality to be successful, and his caring personality to the people around him. During LT's life he fought for recognition as a player coming from a small town. He was more determined and worked twice as hard than anyone to make it big. LT is inspiring by his story, how he got big, and for what he did on the football field. "Tomlinson achieved a career record in the 2005 season by scoring 20 touchdowns but could not help the team to avoid early elimination before the playoffs. The following season, he set an NFL record with 19 touchdowns in six games. He also achieved a league record for yards achieved within a player's first six seasons. Tomlinson reached his peak in the 2006 season when he rushed for 1,815 yards, caught 56 passes for 508 yards, and scored a record 31 touchdowns. As a result, he was awarded the coveted Associated Press trophy as the MVP in the NFL and the Professional Football Writers of America's MVP Award. Tomlinson was also honored with ESPN's ESPY Award for Best Male Athlete." LT's heart for the game and his family on and off the field. This has inspired kids and the new generation of football players to be like him on and off the field.