[Vision2020] A Day in the Life of Columbus (Rick Reilly)

[Tom Hansen]

>From the "Life of Reilly" (by Rick Reilly) column in the November 19, 2007
edition of Sports Illustrated.

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A Day in the Life of Columbus
By Rick Reilly

Marcus Freemen, a star linebacker for Ohio State, wakes up in his princely
room at the Blackwell Room in Columbus, one of the best in the city.
Nothing is too lush for a Buckeye.  The athletic department at Ohio State
leads the nation in spending, at $109 million, more than the GNI of Burundi.
Must work.  No team has won more games in the last two seasons than the
Buckeyes.

Charles Murphy, unemployed carpenter, wakes up by the Scioto River in
Columbus on a folded cardboard box with blankets he traded for two packs of
cigarettes.  Tunes are tough.  Per capita, the state of Ohio led the nation
last year in foreclosures and delinquent mortgages.  He heads to Faith
Mission to get a shower before the other 100 or so men who will be looking
to do the same thing.  "If you don't get there early," explains Murphy, "you
got a very long line."  His shiny days as a linebacker at Columbus's East
High seem a long way off.

Monday through Friday, Freeman, 21, drives his Ford Expedition to his
morning classes.  If he's having any trouble, he can walk over to the
Younkin Success Center and take advantage of the free tutoring.  Then it's
off to change in the Buckeyes' massive locker room (15 plasma screens) ahead
of practice at one of three full-sized outdoor practice fields or the
120-yeard indoor one, none of which are to be confused with the marching
band's own lit practice field.  Afterward, if he's feeling stiff, a training
staff of 13 can direct him to the 20-man hot tub, the cold plunge or the
massage table.  But this is game day, so he'll probably just watch a movie
in his room.  The night before games, there's a first-run film that coach
Jim Tessel picks.  Freeman's scholarship pays him $1,408 for expenses, but
the movie's free.

Monday through Friday, Murphy, 49, waits out front at the Mission and hopes
the temporary-work van shows up.  He usually gets jobs twice a week, often
sorting garbage for a recycling company.  But this is Saturday, so he'll go
up to church to pray "for others that ain't got nothin' to eat," then to the
library to read the free newspapers.  He hopes to be a psychiatrist some
day.  But with no success center to visit, he's on his own.

For luch, Freeman joins his teammates for the usual game-day meal: lasagna,
steak, chicken and a piece of pie.

For lunch, Murphy goes to the Open Shelter, which feeds 5,000 people
annually despite a cash budget of only $250,000 - that would barely pay the
annual cost of three buckeyes basketball players - and stand inline for a
bologna sandwich, chips and a drink.

For fun, freeman can play on the team's private basketball or racquetball
courts, or head up to the players-only lounge and choose from two foosball,
one ping-pong or two pool tables, three video game setups, eight flat
screens or the team juice bar.

For fun, Murphy can go to the community rec center and play hoops.  "I'm
pretty fast," he says.  "I can run 22 miles an hour.  I know 'cause a
policeman chasin' me told me.  He said, 'I clocked you in the car at 22!'
He said, 'Lord almighty!  I thought you was Jesse Owens!  Don't you run so
fast like that again or I'm a have to shoot you!'"

For most away games, Freeman and his teammates fly in a chartered jet.  But
this is a home game, so he buses over to legendary Ohio Stadium - a
federally protected national landmark - and gets ready.  The university has
provided him with every possible tool to win, and it's essential he does.
Last year football turned a $36 million profit, and that helps pay for many
of Ohio State's 35 other varsity sports, the highest count in the nation.
There's a lot of pressure, but Freeman thinks what he gets back is a fair
trade-off.  "Man, when you come running out of that tunnel and 102,000
people are screaming for you, it's an adrenaline rush you'll never forget."

Away game or home game, Murphy gets to the Mission an hour early in order to
get his lucky chair in the first row in front of the TV.  He hasn't missed
an Ohio State football game in so long he can't remember,  He lives for it.
"I love my Buckeyes!  Did you know I used to play touch with [Ohio State
legend] Archie Griffin and his brother?  Sure!  We was raised up together."

After a victory Freeman comes out of the locker room and is greeted by
hundreds of fans.  He signs as many autographs as he can, then heads out to
meet his girlfriend.  Later they might go to a party. "You know, celebrate a
little," he says.

After a victory, Murphy leaves the Mission and heads to the liquor store,
then back to the park to bed down with his box, his blankets and his two
40-ounce beers.

You know, to celebrate.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"Don't tell me why I can't.
Show me how I can."

- Author Unknown