Draft Day for a man they call Kool-Aid - New England Patriots Forums

bakes781 · 05-02-2006, 03:51 PM

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/spo...1?OpenDocument

After more than three hours of watching and waiting, Laurence Maroney needed to blow off some steam. He had been photographed and feted by about 200 friends and family members at a draft party in his honor Saturday at the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club.

So, he and about a dozen friends from his neighborhood in Hanley Hills and Normandy High moseyed down to the gym for a game of pick-up basketball. Maroney drove the lane, dunked and hung on the rim. He stole the ball from a young cousin, then let the kid steal it back from him. Working up a sweat, he took off his jacket, which held his cell phone.

About 10 minutes into the workout, a relative burst into the gym, urging Maroney to get his phone. Someone - no one was quite sure who - had called Maroney's mom, Terri Terrell, because he got no answer on Maroney's phone.

Maroney excused himself so quietly that the game went on. He picked up the jacket and the phone and talked as he made his way back to the celebration. Terrell met him in the hall, where he was overheard saying "Yes, sir," No, sir," to the phone.

"It's the Patriots, isn't it? You're going to New England!" Terrell said.

"No, Mom," Maroney said. "Just some old friend."

Maroney quietly talked on the phone, stationing himself alone in front of the TV. As Paul Tagliabue walked to the podium, Maroney pointed at the screen, expressionless. Only Terrell was sure that the Patriots had selected Maroney with the 21st pick.

"I knew. He doesn't say 'Yes, sir,' to a friend," she said.

Tagliabue announced Maroney's name and the throng let forth an exuberant whoop. He and his mother hugged for a minute, then Maroney made his way to the hallway in search of a quiet spot and moment. Finding none, he erupted.

"Super Bowl bound! It's a great feeling," Maroney said.

Asked what he knew about New England and coach Bill Belichick, Maroney said, "They've been there. That's all I need to know."

Maroney's nickname has been Kool-Aid since the day he tried to put out a fire with a pitcher of the stuff.

***T-ShirtDynasty*** · 05-02-2006, 03:53 PM

Awesome stuff. Sounds like a character.

***R_T26*** · 05-02-2006, 05:23 PM

my favorite line is he says "Super Bowl bound"

PatsChick87 · 05-02-2006, 05:36 PM

his
Nickname
Is
Kool Aid ????????

Pats726 · 05-02-2006, 05:52 PM

Great!!! Kool-AID!!

patsox23 · 05-02-2006, 05:58 PM

Given our Jim Jones jones for all things Belichick, it's kind of perfect that Maroney's nickname is "Kool Aid."

D-cleater · 05-02-2006, 10:20 PM

didn't all the journalists say that he was in the bathroom when the pats called?

Bostonian1962 · 05-03-2006, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bakes781

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/spo...1?OpenDocument

After more than three hours of watching and waiting, Laurence Maroney needed to blow off some steam. He had been photographed and feted by about 200 friends and family members at a draft party in his honor Saturday at the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club.

So, he and about a dozen friends from his neighborhood in Hanley Hills and Normandy High moseyed down to the gym for a game of pick-up basketball. Maroney drove the lane, dunked and hung on the rim. He stole the ball from a young cousin, then let the kid steal it back from him. Working up a sweat, he took off his jacket, which held his cell phone.

About 10 minutes into the workout, a relative burst into the gym, urging Maroney to get his phone. Someone - no one was quite sure who - had called Maroney's mom, Terri Terrell, because he got no answer on Maroney's phone.

Maroney excused himself so quietly that the game went on. He picked up the jacket and the phone and talked as he made his way back to the celebration. Terrell met him in the hall, where he was overheard saying "Yes, sir," No, sir," to the phone.

"It's the Patriots, isn't it? You're going to New England!" Terrell said.

"No, Mom," Maroney said. "Just some old friend."

Maroney quietly talked on the phone, stationing himself alone in front of the TV. As Paul Tagliabue walked to the podium, Maroney pointed at the screen, expressionless. Only Terrell was sure that the Patriots had selected Maroney with the 21st pick.

"I knew. He doesn't say 'Yes, sir,' to a friend," she said.

Tagliabue announced Maroney's name and the throng let forth an exuberant whoop. He and his mother hugged for a minute, then Maroney made his way to the hallway in search of a quiet spot and moment. Finding none, he erupted.

"Super Bowl bound! It's a great feeling," Maroney said.

Asked what he knew about New England and coach Bill Belichick, Maroney said, "They've been there. That's all I need to know."

Maroney's nickname has been Kool-Aid since the day he tried to put out a fire with a pitcher of the stuff.

Nice find. Great piece.