More than 40 legendary pro football and basketball stars will gather next weekend at Landsdowne Resort for the 18th annual Bobby Mitchell Hall of Fame classic. The tournament raises money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Former Redskins player and NFL Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell will be joined by fellow sports legends Art Monk, Darrell Green, Sonny Jurgenson, Oscar Robertson and other notable athletes on the green as they golf to raise money in memory of Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, who died of leukemia at age 23 before being able to play pro football. For more information on the golf classic, visit
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page.adp?item_id=29805.
Mitchell visited washingtonpost.com to discuss the tournament and his years with the Redskins. I'm including some of the more interesting comments he made. In bold, you'll see the question/comment I submitted. I'm totally thrilled that he answered me. Enjoy!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/07/03/DI2008070302242.htmlWashington, D.C.: Bobby, I heard you have all of the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees coming out this year. How did you manage to do that?
Bobby Mitchell: Each year, when the Hall announces the new enshrinees, I immediately get our information to each of them and ask them to help the Society for the coming year. Some can, some can't -- surprisingly a number of guys don't play golf. This year, I've been very fortunate to get all 6 to come, and we're very excited because two of them are our own guys, Darrell Green and Art Monk. But it's a process that you have to fight for them, because other people want them also.
York, Pa.: Thanks for taking my question Bobby;
Being a All-Time great Redskin, doing this tourney with other All-Time 'Skins players, who do you think from the current team should/will stay with the team long enough to be among your ranks? Is there a player on the team that you believe currently has that status?
Bobby Mitchell: I can't think of anyone on the team now who would be considered eventually one of the All-Time Redskins greats. We have two linemen, both tackles Jensen and Samuels, I think both of those guys with a couple more years would be rated up there with some of our Hogs. But I don't see the current roster getting that status. That could change, but I just don't see it right now.
Herndon, Va.: Bobby, why is this specific charity so close to your heart? How did you come to support leukemia and lymphoma in this unique way?
Bobby Mitchell: I was traded to Washington for a young man from Syracuse named Ernie Davis. And as soon as I got to DC and he got to Cleveland, he contracted leukemia. That was the first I heard of it, and I don't think most people had heard of it. And unfortunately he passed pretty quickly.
That stuck in my head and when I was asked to do some things for the leukemia and lymphoma society, I jumped on board. It has a tendency to do real well with volunteers, and I was impressed with how well they worked. We discussed ways to raise money, and I agreed to host a golf tournament. But if I was going to do it, I wanted it to be special, and to me, special means Hall of Famers. I've been very fortunate these guys responded -- they know now what leukemia and lymphoma is all about, they understand the mission, and they love working hard for all these kids, who are are our patient heroes.
Easton, Pa.: No. 49, you were my childhood hero, you could do everything. What was your favorite position? And do you still hate the Cowboys?
Bobby Mitchell: Ha, well, I started out as a running back in Cleveland, and lined up for 4 years with Jim Brown, whom I consider the greatest runner of all time.
When I came to Washington, I was switched to reciever, which I never played, but I ended up doing pretty well there. I entered the Hall as a runner/receiver, but if I had my choice, except the problem of longevity involved, I would rather be a running back than any other position.
And I don't hate the Cowboys, but I don't go around hollering for them. That will always be a rivalry.
Washington, D.C.: Hi Bobby,
Thanks for doing this for all of these years. I actually saw your segment on the Comcast Washington Post Live show last night and it was great to learn more about the tournament. It's such a great cause and I plan to come out this weekend on Sunday with the family. Is there anything else I can do to get involved? Thanks.
Bobby Mitchell: I've said this before, that leukemia and lymphoma is one of the charities that gets tremendous volunteers. Their doors are always open to people who want to come on board to help. If you have a real interest in helping the society, call the office in Alexandria, 703-960-1100 ,and tell them you would like to volunteer with some of their programs. If not my tournament, they have several other programs that are just fantastic. So welcome aboard.
Alexandria, VA: Hi Bobby! What is your favorite part of the tournament each year?
Bobby Mitchell: Oh wow -- I like all of it. We do three strong days. For me of course, my guys are my heart, and we have over 40 Hall of Famers from all over the country, and it's important to treat them well. The big night for me is Friday night, it's a private affair -- we have what we call a fraternity for all the guys and their spouses, and its just a great night to get ready for the weekend events. And that's been No. 1 on the agenda for the guys, as they look forward to seeing each other.
The other highlight is the next night, the gala dinner, which I promised would become one of the biggest gala's in town, and it has. We honor a young patient, we call them patient heroes; we spoil them on Saturday night. So for anyone who wants to have a great time, if their are any tix left, get out to Lansdowne Resort. Call the society office in Alexandria and see if you can still get a ticket. It's a great evening -- all the Hall of Famers are there, all the patient heroes, it's just fantastic. That's how we raise most of our money in fact, so we would love to have you.
Washington, DC: How long have you worked with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and how does each patient hero's story affect you?
Bobby Mitchell: I would say that I've been totally involved about 20 years, 18 of them with the tournament.
It really affects you because we deal with very young people. And to see them fight this battle against various cancers, and what they go through; I've been close to everyone of our heroes, and we've lost some of those. That's been the most painful thing, going to the wakes and the funerals, spending time with the families, the hurt and the agony. But to be able to witness the fight in these young people really fires you up and gets you ready for another year. That's what keeps us going, when we see the cure rate go up some as it has, when we see the kids who are still here, that keeps us going.
The reason I get more Hall of Famers at my tournament than any other event is because they understand what this mission is. They get totally involved with these young people, and their hearts are in it. They just fall all over these kids, and they look forward to getting here.
When Meadowlark Lemon came here for the first time a couple of years ago, he went and visited the kids' schools and some of their homes, it affected him so much.
So, while they have thier own things and their own lives and charities, they make a special effort to come here each year.
Davidsonville, Md.: Thanks for all your work for such a great cause ... just wondering if your feelings toward the Redskins organization have warmed any? Rest assured, every Washingtonian over the age of 30 appreciates what you did and meant to this area and to our team. Hope the event goes great.
Bobby Mitchell: Unfortunately, when I retired from the Redskins, it got off to a bad start, because articles came out that I was angry with the team, which was never the case. A situation upset me, because I didn't think it was fair to give my number to another player to go out on the field. I thought those numbers would be set aside. So I was upset, and it was immediately taken back and put into mothballs. That was the only thing.
But I'm not angry with the Redskins. Some people think there was something that happened with my job in the front office that made me angry, but that's not the case. I was treated very well. Hopefully, eventually, people will understand there's nothing negative between me and the Redskins, and I expect it to remain that way.
Alexandria, Va.: Mr. Mitchell, I never had the pleasure of seeing you play, but my parents did and they LOVED you. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your contributions to an organization that, at times, acted like it didn't want you. I VERY PROUDLY wear your No. 49 jersey to all Redskins games with your name on the back. God bless you!
Bobby Mitchell: Well, if you wear my jersey, you're my man! Thank you. Very seldom do you retire and your number is retained by the fans instead of the more active players. Even Sonny, as much as the people love him, you don't see his jersey as much. You still some Riggo, maybe Darrell, but mostly active jerseys. Any time I see a 49 in the stadium, that's very exciting to me, and I appreciate it. Bobby Mitchell: I have found that each year, in our quest to get more people involved and interested in the mission leukemia and lymphoma society has in finding a cure, it seems like the fight each year gets more heightened, because more people are aware of this dreaded disease. So many people are touched by a family member, a friend, a classmate. There is so much involvement in our effort, it just heightens our resolve to make it work. So we're very pleased when people come out to watch us play. It's only $5, you can walk the courses, get a chance to to talk to the guys and get some autographs. We try to make it fun for everyone, we have contests and raffles -- it's a fun weekend for a great cause, and anyone who wants to join us, come on, we want to have you. And I tell you, you want see a more enthusiastic group of athletes than these Hall of Famers this weekend.
