BY: ZACH MCADOO
Another week and another wholesome story coming out of Landover, Maryland (For those of you who don’t know, that is where The Washington Football Team plays). This week though, is not a player but a coach.
Ron Rivera, who was named head coach of the Washington Football Team earlier this year, announced he had squamous cell carcinoma–a form of skin cancer–not long before the start of the NFL season. Rivera never left his team’s side and didn’t miss a game even when he probably should have been home resting.
Instead and with some help, he stood up on the sideline in an attempt to motivate his players (I think). When I first saw that, I thought he should worry about beating cancer instead of his coaching duties. That was before this week.
On Monday, Rivera completed his last chemotherapy session and was greeted by doctors and nurses before ringing the victory bell. It honestly brought a tear to my eye.
I have never been a Rivera fan. I disliked the guy mainly because he was the Carolina Panthers’ head coach, and I despised Cam Newton. When he was announced to be the Football Team’s head coach, I wouldn’t say I liked the move.
That all changed when I read that he was battling cancer. I became a Rivera fan that day and wanted him to kick cancer’s @$$. From August to late October, Rivera never gave the reigns to anyone else. He fought his cancer, and after getting his team their second win of the season, he was able to celebrate in more ways than one.
With how bad the NFC East is this season, they are not out of the playoff picture, and honestly, Washington is my least favorite team in that division, but I want to see Rivera make it after his battle and prove that he still has it.
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