NFL's Fastest Man

In the 1987 NFL’s Fastest Man competition, Herschel won his first heat before losing the semifinal to eventual winner Ron Brown. Walker finished with the fourth best overall time.

6.095 Ron Brown

6.149 Phillip Epps

6.159 Willie Gault

6.272 Herschel Walker

6.314 Vance Johnson

6.344 Jerry Rice

6.476 Ernest Givins

6.757 Darryl Turner

Later Herschel raced Redskins cornerback Darrell Green, widely considered to be the fastest man in NFL history. Green won, but it wasn’t a blowout. Green recently ran a fast 40 yard dash despite being 40 years old. Herschel is closing in on 60 years old, but could still hold his own against Green.

Why was Herschel invited to these events, and not his contemporaries like Eric Dickerson, Marcus Allen, Tony Dorsett, George Rogers, and Walter Payton? Because Herschel was unquestionably faster.

Friday: worked from before 8 am past 7:30 pm. Finished a big project. Stopped by Kroger and the bank on the way home, so it was well after 8 pm when I got home. Ceil had cooked a chicken and rice dish. Watched another one of those Amish Hallmark movies.

Saturday: cleaned upstairs. The rain started earlier than expected, so I got out and speed cut the grass in the rain. Later did laundry. Met M at Grind House for burgers and fries. A good time. Also watched the Jane Austen Book Club, a decent movie starring Emily Blunt.

Sunday: at Passion City Church Louie interviewed former UGA head coach Mark Richt, who has a new book out. C and I split a sub sandwich and chips. Watched the US Open.

EARLE COMBS [SABR Bio] a future Hall of Famer. In his rookie season, 1924, Combs played center field and hit .400 before breaking an ankle sliding home at CLE's Dunn Field on 15-Jun. Combs had a another serious accident in July 1934. On a 100°+-day in St. Louis at Sportsman's Park, he crashed into the outfield wall going for a fly ball, sustaining a fractured skull, a broken shoulder and a damaged knee.  He was reportedly near death for several days, and was hospitalized for more than two months.  The next season he attempted a comeback but suffered another serious injury.  That injury, coupled with the knowledge that the Yankees were set to bring up rookie outfielder Joe DiMaggio the next season, likely influenced Combs' decision to retire at the age of 36. After retiring from baseball in 1954, Combs returned to his 400-acre farm in Madison County, Kentucky. He served as the state banking commissioner during Governor (and former Baseball Commissioner) A. B. 'Happy' Chandler's second administration (1955–1959).