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ENTRY #1
CHARLES YON
C-Dog was our 3rd pick in the leagues dispersal draft. Right away it was clear that he was an elite CB, with true all around shut down skills, an artist at the art of shutting down WR's.
His skill was matched only by his swagger. He was TEH AWESOME!@ and he knew it, and he'd let you know it too.
Charles played well the first 6 games of his career, effective and solid. But it was week 7 of that initial season that will go down in the anals of sports history forever and ever.
You see, on that cool October day in Busch Stadium, C-Dog did something no other proffesional football player had ever done. He scored 3 TD's on interception returns, totaling 139 yards. He added a 4th Int that did not go for a TD, but Charles would later say that he was simply too tired to run anymore.
That game was the impetus for many things. Maybe the leagues first real star, maybe the leagues first real "player to hate", sure, Oakland owner Jave ran his mouth alot, but nobody on the field was making as many waves as C-Dog. It also began a blood fued between Louisiana and St. Louis that continues to this day, a constant battle for division supremecy.
Yes, C-Dog gave birth to alot of things that day, and for that he should be revered.
But alas, like most objects of majestic brilliance, to burn out was better than to fade away. Charles led St. Louis those first 2 years to the AFC South title and playoff appearances, and while he never repeated the awesomeness of that game, he was one of the most dominant CB's in the league.
Then in 2005, during a week 4 matchup against Cleveland, Charles cut to deflect a pass and his knee buckled. It was revealed as a strain of the MCL and although surgery was suggested, Charles would not abide by the doctors decision, instead opting to simply rehab the knee and prepare for a late season return to the Cardinals, in hopes of helping his team gain that elusive ring.
He made his return to the lineup in Week 16 and promptly intercepted Salt Lake Cities Nigel Booker. The Cardinals lost that game 24-17. It would be the last time that season they would suffer that fate.
In Week 17 he led the defense to a shutdown of, fittingly enough, Louisiana, en route to a 17-13 victory and a 3rd straight Division crown.
During the playoffs he blanketed West Virginias William Simpson, the leagues fastest man.
Against Iowa City he recorded 7 tackles and had a key Interception against Chris Chaplin as the Cardinals pulled the road upset.
In the AFC Title game against favored Norfolk he picked off league MVP Harold Lozier and led a a defense that shutdown the Vipers at home and secured St. Louis a trip to the Imperial Bowl.
The promise he made on that cold October day to return and lead his team to glory was now 1 game away. To the awe of the media and the naysayers, on what was essentially 1 and half leg, Charles Yon was being the prime time player that he was born to be.
The Sunday afternoon of the Imperial Bowl, Charles sat in the Cardinals locker room, alone, his Ipod thumping, his eyes closed, a slight smile on his face, a smile that said "After today, they'll know, they'll never be able to doubt my greatness again".
That afternoon, on that rainy day, on that mushy field in Waco, C-Dog would line up play after play against either Randolph Kennedy or Olin Holst, 2 of the premiere receivers in the league. And play after play they would get no seperation, not an inch.
Ralph Given, Little Rocks QB, a man who had passed for over 4000 yards and 30 TD's that season, would complete only 13 passes that day for a meager 110 yards. For the 5th straight game the Cardinals defense, led by Yon, was shutting down what most experts claimed to be the superior team. At the end of the day Charles not only kept the high powered Little Rock passing game at bay, but also led the team with 7 tackles.
On a 3rd and 12 from his own 33 yard line, with his team down 13-12 and only 2:30 remaining in the game, Ralph Given looked to his left and saw Olin Holst being cornered towards the sidelines by Drew Sandstrom, there was no alley to throw. He checked down to Randolph Kennedy and saw Charles Yon, step for step with him over the middle. In that moment you could see the look of frustration in Givens eyes, a look that had become all too prevelant for Toads fans on that day. Given moved to his right to buy an extra second, but their was none to be had. Louie Maldanado came barreling towards him, wrapping him in his arms and bringing him crashing to the ground. It was Maldanados 3rd sack of the day. It was also the last play from scrimmage that Little Rock would run. A punt and 2 first downs later the Cardinals stood alone atop the Imperial League throne, champions of the world, a promise C-Dog had made, and a promise he kept, against all odds.
Charles continued rehabbing his knee in the offseason. He suffered repeated setbacks but told no one. The truth is that returning for the end of the 2005 season more than likely sealed his fate. The knee held out for as long as it could, for as long as it was willed to, but the damage it sustained was irreversable.
He returned to camp, returned to the field, and returned to the starting lineup. He played well, but he did not talk. Theres an old saying about it always being quiet before the storm, in this case the silence said it all. Nobody talked about the injury, nobody talked about the overwhelming odds that at some point, on some play, on some innocuous cut or plant, the knee would no longer be able to live on will alone.
That moment occured on October 8th 2006 in Busch Stadium.
A simple crossing pattern by Hartfords Maxwell Roush, a simple simple attempt at acceleration by C-Dog, a simple planting of the foot and a burst out of the gates. But not on this day, and not ever again. He didn't fall down, he simply stopped, lowered himself on his good knee and pounded the field beneath him with an angry fist.
Not on a cart but on the shoulders of teamates Robert Yates and Noel Daniels, the men he had helped carry to glory the year before were now carrying him away from it for the last time. After the game the news came down, the MCL was damaged sever. Surgery would be required but the odds of the knee ever being able to sustain the strains of an IFL Cornerbacks duties were slim.
The Cardinals suffered thru the 2006 season, playing below expectations.
and for the first time in team history failing to win the AFC South.
When drills began earlier this week, Charles walked into camp, greeted his teamates and 1 by 1 took them aside to inform them of the news. His playing days were done. A press conference at Cardinals Park, the teams training facility, was held to announce his decision.
Come to Cardinals Park this past week and you would have seen C-Dog out on the field, running drills with CB Tito Anderson and Safety Walter Borja, continuing to impart the knowledge he posses about what it takes to cover a man so tight that he wouldn't be able to scrath his own back, about how to make a man move off his route simply by looking him in the eyes and letting him know, before the balls even been snapped that he isn't getting off the line without eating a facefull of forearm.
The speed is lessened, the cut is gone, but the swagger is back.
Ask him who the greatest Cornerback in IFL history is and he'll tell you, without a seconds pause that you're looking at him.
He won't be on the field in body, but if he has his way he'll be on that field in the swagger of every member of that defense. For a man like Charles Yon, the challenge is what drives him. He did it in 2005 on the field, now he's determined to do it in 2007 from the sidelines.
"Im not back", he said walking to his car this afternoon after passing drills, "but we are."
CHARLES YON
C-Dog was our 3rd pick in the leagues dispersal draft. Right away it was clear that he was an elite CB, with true all around shut down skills, an artist at the art of shutting down WR's.
His skill was matched only by his swagger. He was TEH AWESOME!@ and he knew it, and he'd let you know it too.
Charles played well the first 6 games of his career, effective and solid. But it was week 7 of that initial season that will go down in the anals of sports history forever and ever.
You see, on that cool October day in Busch Stadium, C-Dog did something no other proffesional football player had ever done. He scored 3 TD's on interception returns, totaling 139 yards. He added a 4th Int that did not go for a TD, but Charles would later say that he was simply too tired to run anymore.
That game was the impetus for many things. Maybe the leagues first real star, maybe the leagues first real "player to hate", sure, Oakland owner Jave ran his mouth alot, but nobody on the field was making as many waves as C-Dog. It also began a blood fued between Louisiana and St. Louis that continues to this day, a constant battle for division supremecy.
Yes, C-Dog gave birth to alot of things that day, and for that he should be revered.
But alas, like most objects of majestic brilliance, to burn out was better than to fade away. Charles led St. Louis those first 2 years to the AFC South title and playoff appearances, and while he never repeated the awesomeness of that game, he was one of the most dominant CB's in the league.
Then in 2005, during a week 4 matchup against Cleveland, Charles cut to deflect a pass and his knee buckled. It was revealed as a strain of the MCL and although surgery was suggested, Charles would not abide by the doctors decision, instead opting to simply rehab the knee and prepare for a late season return to the Cardinals, in hopes of helping his team gain that elusive ring.
He made his return to the lineup in Week 16 and promptly intercepted Salt Lake Cities Nigel Booker. The Cardinals lost that game 24-17. It would be the last time that season they would suffer that fate.
In Week 17 he led the defense to a shutdown of, fittingly enough, Louisiana, en route to a 17-13 victory and a 3rd straight Division crown.
During the playoffs he blanketed West Virginias William Simpson, the leagues fastest man.
Against Iowa City he recorded 7 tackles and had a key Interception against Chris Chaplin as the Cardinals pulled the road upset.
In the AFC Title game against favored Norfolk he picked off league MVP Harold Lozier and led a a defense that shutdown the Vipers at home and secured St. Louis a trip to the Imperial Bowl.
The promise he made on that cold October day to return and lead his team to glory was now 1 game away. To the awe of the media and the naysayers, on what was essentially 1 and half leg, Charles Yon was being the prime time player that he was born to be.
The Sunday afternoon of the Imperial Bowl, Charles sat in the Cardinals locker room, alone, his Ipod thumping, his eyes closed, a slight smile on his face, a smile that said "After today, they'll know, they'll never be able to doubt my greatness again".
That afternoon, on that rainy day, on that mushy field in Waco, C-Dog would line up play after play against either Randolph Kennedy or Olin Holst, 2 of the premiere receivers in the league. And play after play they would get no seperation, not an inch.
Ralph Given, Little Rocks QB, a man who had passed for over 4000 yards and 30 TD's that season, would complete only 13 passes that day for a meager 110 yards. For the 5th straight game the Cardinals defense, led by Yon, was shutting down what most experts claimed to be the superior team. At the end of the day Charles not only kept the high powered Little Rock passing game at bay, but also led the team with 7 tackles.
On a 3rd and 12 from his own 33 yard line, with his team down 13-12 and only 2:30 remaining in the game, Ralph Given looked to his left and saw Olin Holst being cornered towards the sidelines by Drew Sandstrom, there was no alley to throw. He checked down to Randolph Kennedy and saw Charles Yon, step for step with him over the middle. In that moment you could see the look of frustration in Givens eyes, a look that had become all too prevelant for Toads fans on that day. Given moved to his right to buy an extra second, but their was none to be had. Louie Maldanado came barreling towards him, wrapping him in his arms and bringing him crashing to the ground. It was Maldanados 3rd sack of the day. It was also the last play from scrimmage that Little Rock would run. A punt and 2 first downs later the Cardinals stood alone atop the Imperial League throne, champions of the world, a promise C-Dog had made, and a promise he kept, against all odds.
Charles continued rehabbing his knee in the offseason. He suffered repeated setbacks but told no one. The truth is that returning for the end of the 2005 season more than likely sealed his fate. The knee held out for as long as it could, for as long as it was willed to, but the damage it sustained was irreversable.
He returned to camp, returned to the field, and returned to the starting lineup. He played well, but he did not talk. Theres an old saying about it always being quiet before the storm, in this case the silence said it all. Nobody talked about the injury, nobody talked about the overwhelming odds that at some point, on some play, on some innocuous cut or plant, the knee would no longer be able to live on will alone.
That moment occured on October 8th 2006 in Busch Stadium.
A simple crossing pattern by Hartfords Maxwell Roush, a simple simple attempt at acceleration by C-Dog, a simple planting of the foot and a burst out of the gates. But not on this day, and not ever again. He didn't fall down, he simply stopped, lowered himself on his good knee and pounded the field beneath him with an angry fist.
Not on a cart but on the shoulders of teamates Robert Yates and Noel Daniels, the men he had helped carry to glory the year before were now carrying him away from it for the last time. After the game the news came down, the MCL was damaged sever. Surgery would be required but the odds of the knee ever being able to sustain the strains of an IFL Cornerbacks duties were slim.
The Cardinals suffered thru the 2006 season, playing below expectations.
and for the first time in team history failing to win the AFC South.
When drills began earlier this week, Charles walked into camp, greeted his teamates and 1 by 1 took them aside to inform them of the news. His playing days were done. A press conference at Cardinals Park, the teams training facility, was held to announce his decision.
Come to Cardinals Park this past week and you would have seen C-Dog out on the field, running drills with CB Tito Anderson and Safety Walter Borja, continuing to impart the knowledge he posses about what it takes to cover a man so tight that he wouldn't be able to scrath his own back, about how to make a man move off his route simply by looking him in the eyes and letting him know, before the balls even been snapped that he isn't getting off the line without eating a facefull of forearm.
The speed is lessened, the cut is gone, but the swagger is back.
Ask him who the greatest Cornerback in IFL history is and he'll tell you, without a seconds pause that you're looking at him.
He won't be on the field in body, but if he has his way he'll be on that field in the swagger of every member of that defense. For a man like Charles Yon, the challenge is what drives him. He did it in 2005 on the field, now he's determined to do it in 2007 from the sidelines.
"Im not back", he said walking to his car this afternoon after passing drills, "but we are."
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