KURTIS THE STOCK BOY AND BRENDA THE CHECKOUT GIRL

In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.

Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible.

He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let's take the kids with us."

She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought. Then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome.

Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary - - - he had a different mindset.

That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with.

A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids.

So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy at a grocery store in Cedar Falls/Waterloo, IA and Brenda the check-out girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona, where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals. It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. He has also been the NLF's Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player. Now he will lead his Cardinals against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the upcoming Super Bowl.


True Story; http://www.snopes.com/glurge/warner.asp

Great story Bill! Another solid reason to root for the Cards.

The whole Kurt Warner story is so unlikely, and so cool. Small 1-AA college, working through as a grocery bagger, working his way up through the Arena league, getting a tryout with the Rams as a backup, thrust into the starters role when Trent Green tore his ACL in preseason, no expectations as the Rams had been doormats for years, and coming off a 4-12 season ... going on and winning the MVP, Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP.

The PERSON Kurt Warner is, is even better. Yes, he is very open with his faith, to the point where it rubs many the wrong way. That said, he doesn't come across as judgemental, hiding behind his Christian faith unlike so many other Christians, and he does so much good with it. He gives so much of himself, both personally and financially, it's truly a great story.

I wish people like Kurt Warner got more play, to let us know that there are a LOT of good people in professional sports. Negativity sells, and when we hear about Terrell Owens' throwing teammates and coaches under the bus, Michael Vick and the dogs, Plaxico Burress and his issues, so many players that AREN'T good people ... people like Kurt Warner and Warrick Dunn, we hear very little.

And now you know.........



.........the rest of the story.

The guy in my fantasy football league who picked up Kurt Warner off waivers back in 1999 ended up winning the league as a result. To date, that was the best pick up in the history of our league.

While I know that Kurt Warner is indeed a good guy, I am bothered at his attempts to constantly sell his religion to others while on TV. The one thing I can't stand is watching sports and being bombarded with political or religious messages from individual players. The same goes for Tim Tebow and his "John 3:16" message on his eye black during the BCS championship. I hope the NCAA puts an end to ALL messages on player's eye black. After all, what if a black muslim player had "Praise Allah" on his eye black? Would the media be giving him props for his values or would they be calling him anti-American or a terrorist? I think too often that the media and the public in general assume that just because someone is a christian that they automatically have values and are good people. Personally, I think those like Tim Tebow and Kurt Warner may actually be insecure in their beliefs, which is why they are constantly trying to sell their beliefs to others at inappropriate venues. Save it for bible study or church services.

In my opinion, there's a time and a place for preaching your personal beliefs, and I don't think the players at the collegiate or professional levels should be allowed to put out religious or political messages for free while on national TV. If you want to get your message on TV, pay for your 30 seconds like Dodge and AT&T do.

I'll be rooting for the Steelers, not because I don't like Warner, but because I'm an AFC guy all the way.

I don't have as big of a problem with people like Kurt Warner or Tim Tebow sharing their religious beliefs, whether it's after a game, in a press conference, or whatever they do than most others ... and here's why.

1) They truly believe in what they are saying. It seems like ALL athletes are thanking God, etc. after a game during an interview, then they go out and roll with the bad boys, picking up hookers, smoking pinners, living the life. That is something you don't have to worry about with Warner or Tebow. They do indeed practice what they preach.

2) While both are very involved in sharing the word with others, whether it's Warner and his philanthropic organizations he heads up and is involved in, or Tebow going overseas or to Florida prisons and spreading the word, neither is judgemental, or forceful. I greatly respect that. I personally have a lot of respect and admiration for a preacher like Billy Graham, who spent his entire life reaching out for the greater good of humanity than I do the likes of Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker and Oral Roberts and their ilk, that used the pulpit for their own self-worth, and to largely spread hate and venom. Tebow and Warner are not like that.

I hate the fake "Thank you God" from people that don't walk that life, it's just a good sound bite for them to sound like they are better human beings than they are. Coming from Kurt Warner or Tim Tebow, it doesn't bother me one iota.