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After Junior Seau died, Deadspin received an email from Albert Flores Jr., a U.S. Marine Corps captain in Sneads Ferry, N.C. He describes a chance encounter in an Oceanside bar last year with Seau, the former USC and NFL linebacker — and Flores' football hero. When Seau found out Flores was a Marine, he paid his bar and restaurant tab. And more. Here's an excerpt:
After a couple of hours of talking, Junior then began to brag about his musical talent. That he had sat "first chair" in his high school band and that was something most people didn't know about him. I called him on it and he was up to the challenge. Junior said, "You sit right there, Captain, I'm gonna go to my car and get my ukulele. We're gonna spread some joy around here." I didn't know it at the time, but over the next two hours the way in which I look at football players would be changed forever.
Previously on LA Observed:
Junior Seau, former NFL and USC star, possible suicide at 43
