Ruth Bjorklund - Richard Sherman: Shutting Down and Speaking Up

Published in 2018 by Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC 243 5th Avenue, Suite 136, New York, NY 10016

Copyright 2018 by Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC

First Edition

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Bjorklund, Ruth.

Title: Richard Sherman : shutting down and speaking up / Ruth Bjorklund.

Description: New York : Cavendish Square, 2018. | Series: At the top of their game | Includes index. Identifiers: ISBN 9781502628312 (library bound) | ISBN 9781502628428 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Sherman, Richard, 1988-. | Football players--United States--Biography. Classification: LCC GV939.S44 B56 2018 | DDC 796.332092--dc23

Editorial Director: David McNamara Editor: Fletcher Doyle Copy Editor: Rebecca Rohan Associate Art Director: Amy Greenan Designer: Jessica Nevins Production Coordinator: Karol Szymczuk Photo Research: J8 Media

The photographs in this book are used by permission and through the courtesy of: Cover, pp. 46-47 Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images; pp. 4, 38 Christian Petersen/Getty Images; p. 6 Francis Specker/Alamy Stock Photo; p. 8 Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg/Getty Images; p. 10 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images;

p. 15 Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images; p. 19 Carlos Chavez/Los Angeles Times/ Getty Images; p. 22 David Madison/Getty Images; p. 26 Bettmann/Getty Images; p. 28 Jon Soohoo/ Getty Images; p. 33 Connie J. Spinardi/Moment Mobile/Getty Images; p. 37 Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images; p. 41 AP Photo/Darron Cummings; p. 49 AP Photo/Elaine Thompson;

p. 53 Mark Gail/MCT /Getty Images; p. 56 David Madison/Getty Images; p. 58 Mike Morris/ File: Seahawks Secondary 2013.jpg/Wikimedia Commons; p. 60 Ron Antonelli/Getty Images; p. 63 Reuters/Alamy Stock Photo; p. 67 Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images; p. 70 Paul Kitagaki Jr./Sacramento Bee/MCT/Getty Images; p. 75 Tony Overman/The Olympian/MCT /Getty Images; p. 76 Robert Beck /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images; p. 78 Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images; p. 79 Anthony Quintano/ File: Richard Sherman and Pete Carroll in embrace Super Bowl XLVIII.jpg/Wikimedia Commons; p. 81 Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images; p. 82 Kevin Winter/Getty Images; p. 84 The White House ( https://www.flickr.com/people/35591378@N03 ) from Washington, DC/File: Michelle Obama with Richard Sherman.jpg /Wikimedia Commons; p. 86 Beck Starr/FilmMagic/Getty Images; p. 93 AP Photo/Tri-City Herald, Kai-Huei Yau; pp. 94-95 AP Photo/The News Tribune, Dean J. Koepfler.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Opposite: Richard Sherman has become the face of the Seattle Seahawks' secondary from his cornerback position.

F rom a neighborhood where people are wary to walk alone, even during the day, and avoid it at all costs at night, came a young man who made plans to leave town, and to leave it in style. His style, Richard Shermans style, is bold, brash, and brilliant. But for all his success, he never forgot where he came from.

Richard Sherman is a famous (or infamous, depending on who is talking) National Football League (NFL) cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks. Rarely is an NFL defensive player a household name, but Richard Sherman has made his mark, loud and clear. He plays with speed and athleticism and is an avid student of the game. He is dogged, and vocal, in his pursuit of excellence.

As a youth, Richard Sherman was a go-getter. His plans for a future in professional football not only included developing his exceptional athletic skills, but getting the best education possible. In his community, where gangs were in control, brute force over brains was the rule of law. Ignoring any lure of the streets, Richard Sherman set his goals and aimed high. He worked hard, attending inner-city public schools and studying from textbooks nearly a decade old. His diligence and intellect earned him a scholarship to one of the top universities in the country.

Football was the plan, but Richard also played basketball and baseball, and ran track and field. He set school records and won state titles in track and field. As a versatile football player who inspired others with his energy, he propelled his high school football team into the upper ranks of its division. In college, he continued his success, being instrumental in turning a losing team into a national champion.

Sherman is popular with sportswriters and other media reporters who appreciate his humorous and insightful interviews.

Richard was drafted as a professional player after college. He did not come into the game quietly. Working his way up as a rookie from reserve to starter, he talked the whole way. Richard was, and is, a big talker. He is known for nonstop trash-talking on the field but encouraging chatter with teammates, and funny, intelligent, and sometimes very intense interviews with the media.

Richard Sherman is part of a fierce and dominating defensive team. As a vital member of the Seahawks secondary , he is known, and counted on, for the big plays. He is passionate on the field, on the sidelines, on the practice field, and in his personal life.

A game-winner in more ways than one, Richard Sherman, young as he is, has left a legacy for many to learn from and to follow. He is generous with his time and his money, and he spreads his good fortune onto others. He visits schools to deliver inspiring and encouraging speeches, he provides for the needy in his community and in his troubled hometown, and he seeks out young people who want to achieve but are challenged because of the lack of basic necessities. He ardently supports his teammates, his family, and those less advantaged than he is. On the field and off, Richard Sherman is a man to admire.

Opposite. This abandoned and graffiti-covered house is one of many such houses in the neighborhood where Sherman grew up.