This might seem off-base, and a totally “fanboy” post so take it for what it’s worth.

If you want to get a sense of who Vernon Gholston is, read Cimini’s article about his life growing up, his quietness and his taking care of his ailing father at a young age. He’s not had an easy life, and football hasn’t come without it’s bumps.

There’s a quote (I can’t seem to find now, of course) I believe by Dylan Thomas that says “the most important day of a man’s life, is the day his father dies.” As being a person that has been through that myself, I believe it to be absolutely true. I gained a tenderness that I had never had before that day, and as I stood on the street with Gholston, I couldn’t put my finger on why I felt a quiet shyness? humbleness? something like that in him but I did.

As we went through our quick interview in which I was a little to excited and too wired after so much coffee yesterday, I tried to close down the conversation and let him go off to Dave & Buster’s and told him.

“Vernon, seriously, welcome, we’re so excited to have you here in New York.”

At that moment, I could see a sense of beaming pride with some relief of nerves in him, we shook and did the “guy chest half hug” thing and he took off.

He’s not going to be Kerry Rhodes when it comes to a quote, but he’s going to be a quiet determined guy for the team. He’ll lead, but it will be more about his example than by what he says.

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