Wildwood native leads NFL alumni.
With the New York Giants trailing by 17 points in Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa in 2001, Ron Dixon of Wildwood took the kickoff at the 3-yard line.
It was not long before only the kicker stood between Dixon and a touchdown.
“I was thinking to myself, ‘I am about to show America what speed really looks like. I am about to put it on full display,’ ’’ Dixon said. “As I was crossing the 50-yard line, I caught cramps in both hamstrings so I had to coolly coast on in.’’
With that 97-yard kickoff return, Dixon, 40, was the only Giants player to reach the end zone that night at Raymond James Stadium as the Baltimore Ravens coasted 34-7.
An injury to his left knee ended Dixon’s career, but he is back at full speed, as competitive and busy as ever. He recently became the membership director of NFL Alumni Central Florida.
“The one thing about it, as far as our chapter is concerned, is getting them excited about being part of the NFL alumni,’’ said Dixon, a former wide receiver who played for the Giants from 2000-02. “Once you leave the NFL, I tell people it is almost like an arm or a leg is cut off. When you have been playing football since you were 5 years old, it becomes a part of you.
“Imagine yourself being in a dark, unfamiliar room, and you are searching for the light switch. That is how I sum it up [about] what it is like to find something that can get you as excited or something that can even keep your attention.’’
Dixon is excited about two ventures, an adventure travel show, “2TheMaxx,’’ and an interactive sports app called FireFan that should debut soon. Dixon said “2TheMaxx’’ has received interest from two television networks. As for FireFan? “We think it will be bigger than Pokémon Go,’’ Dixon said.
A potential gamechanger? Dixon knows the feeling.
“What I miss about football is the excitement, that crowd, that adrenaline rush and basically trying to find that,’’ Dixon said. “I wouldn’t say I am an adrenaline junkie. I am just trying to get back to the pinnacle of the pyramid.’’ No child’s play
Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has been proven innocent.
After Zimmer placed stuffed animals around the team’s complex to warn players about being “fat cats’’ after they started 5-0, some of the snuggable toys’ throats were cut and painted them red. Zimmer mistakenly was reported as the culprit.
“I want to set the record straight on an erroneous report that I feel like attacked my character and my reputation,’’ Zimmer said. “Actually, the stuffed animals I did have here were given to charity, to Toys for Tots. It just kind of goes to show you that when one thing gets out there — and it was updated correctly, that I had nothing to do with it — but unfortunately, the headlines still keep coming out, and it bothers me.’’
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