“She’s had many struggles in her life, and he’s been there for her,” Wanek said. “He told her he’d be at her high school graduation.”
An Associated Press story in 2003 mentioned that Spier befriended Moss during his rookie season of 1998, when Moss took the NFL by storm with 1,313 receiving yards and 17 touchdown catches.
The story describes how Spier in 2003 followed Moss to lunch nearly every day during the team’s training camp that summer in Mankato, with “her tiny hand tucked inside his.”
The fact is, Randy loved kids, no matter the race, no matter the gender. At training camp, at his peak of fame, hundreds would line up for his autograph. He’d zip by adults with two-toned footballs and authentic jerseys and say, ‘Nah, dawg. Too big…” then he’d settle up to a little boy or girl and ask questions while he signed a jelly-smeared napkin with a Crayola marker.
I once got a tip that Randy had a special relationship with a little girl who had battled leukemia. Kassi Spier was greatly undersized for 7, and her squeaky voice caught Randy’s attention during his rookie season. Brief chats transformed into lunches and revelations, like a shared birthday. He gifted her a battery-operated Barbie Jeep and tickets to a half dozen games.
When she was hospitalized and listed in critical condition, Randy visited her and cried when he had to leave.
One year, Kassi insisted then Vikings head coach Mike Tice give Randy a message.
“She came around and said, ‘Coach, coach.’ I said, ‘Yes honey,’ ” Tice recalled. “She said, ‘Will you tell Randy I love him,’ and I almost started crying.”
For all the #### Randy has taken over the years (some rightfully deserved), it is stuff like this that people will never appreciate about him. I highly encourage anyone to watch the ESPN documentary Rand University about Randy's life. Truth is, we will never fully understand Randy Moss. However, he is not the villain he is always made out to be.
A Randy Moss fan for life. A Kevin Williams fan for life.
HardcoreVikesFan wrote:For all the #### Randy has taken over the years (some rightfully deserved), it is stuff like this that people will never appreciate about him. I highly encourage anyone to watch the ESPN documentary Rand University about Randy's life. Truth is, we will never fully understand Randy Moss. However, he is not the villain he is always made out to be.
I actually just caught that Rand University piece. Pretty interesting place he grew up in.
I've never had an issue with Moss....he seems like a real down to earth dude.
One of those guys who I wish could have played for ever.
The Breeze wrote:
I actually just caught that Rand University piece. Pretty interesting place he grew up in.
I've never had an issue with Moss....he seems like a real down to earth dude.
One of those guys who I wish could have played for ever.
I enjoyed reading about this very empathetic and human side of Randy. I thought the Rand University documentary was fantastic and very informative about his life and the difficulties he's dealt with. He's had his unfortunate, immature moments, but overall I think he's got a heart of gold. One of my favorite things about him is how quickly he connected to MN & Minnesotans. He really embraced it as his home, which I think is fantastic.
I enjoyed reading about this very empathetic and human side of Randy. I thought the Rand University documentary was fantastic and very informative about his life and the difficulties he's dealt with. He's had his unfortunate, immature moments, but overall I think he's got a heart of gold. One of my favorite things about him is how quickly he connected to MN & Minnesotans. He really embraced it as his home, which I think is fantastic.
A mercurial figure indeed. Still get chapped at McCombs for trading him away. Would love for him to be on Zimmer's staff.....but I doubt he wants much to do with the NFL these days.
The Breeze wrote:
A mercurial figure indeed. Still get chapped at McCombs for trading him away. Would love for him to be on Zimmer's staff.....but I doubt he wants much to do with the NFL these days.
Man, I hope we have a 98-like season this year...
98 was fun, but I'd rather see a rebirth of the 60's-70's vikings defense. Obviously it would have to be in relative terms since teams can't play D anymore, but I'd like Zimmer to bring a perennial #1 defense back to the Vikings.
I know people remember negative things much easier than good ones. In addition a lot of people
enjoy seeing famous or successful people torn down, so they feel better about their, life situations.
I know personally a NFL player calls a child, that has far out lived his expectations for life,
on fairly regular basis. The child has a disease, which prevents a large amount of the heart from
growing. He has survived all the treatments, they can give him.
I know a lot of players don't advertise these things for the sake of the families privacy and
child's well being. Our so called media, which favors "if it bleeds' it leads, does not help"
Randy Moss was my hero growing up and my mom hated it. I've always heard about stories like this because I've had to defend him for basically my entire life. He had issues and made mistakes, but we all have. I think he has a good heart and I have nothing but love for him to this day.
DK Sweets wrote:In before the negative comments! YES.
Randy Moss was my hero growing up and my mom hated it. I've always heard about stories like this because I've had to defend him for basically my entire life. He had issues and made mistakes, but we all have. I think he has a good heart and I have nothing but love for him to this day.
I never had a problem with him off the field...but I'm a big critic of Moss on the field.
Randy, i find you to be a loud mouth, immature, arrogant, mouth breathing, classless, moronic waste of talent, i found your many antics extremely irratating, and i enjoyed watching you hang your head in defeat, many many a time.
In this instance however, congrats. Im sure what you have done means alot to you, and alot to that girl.
"Follow my lead today, whos goona be the big dog with me?" - Aaron Rodgers, February 6th, 2011
Jordysghost wrote:Randy, i find you to be a loud mouth, immature, arrogant, mouth breathing, classless, moronic waste of talent, i found your many antics extremely irratating, and i enjoyed watching you hang your head in defeat, many many a time.
In this instance however, congrats. Im sure what you have done means alot to you, and alot to that girl.
Do all Packer Backers feel this way? I bet you didn't enjoy what he did to your goal post, eh?
It's cool that Randy Moss stepped up and did something like this. He seems to have a lot of compassion for children.
As for those who don't like Randy's "antics," I can understand. I love Moss but he behaved poorly too many times for some fans.
OTOH, I still suspect the antics that the anti-Randy crowd hate the most are probably his 156 career TD receptions. Or maybe his 15,292 receiving yards. Or his 982 receptions. Moss used to piss off a lot of people that way.
Do all Packer Backers feel this way? I bet you didn't enjoy what he did to your goal post, eh?
I cant speak for all Packers faithful, but id prolly imagine that most dont particularly adore him, it doesnt help that he probably would be the consensus greatest to ever to play the game, if not for that terrible attitude of his, which in my mind, held him back immensley. (Again, i think he the singlemost talented WR to ever play, but a better attitude and work ethic would have made him the very BEST.)
And, no. I definitley did not enjoy him being a disgusting petulant fool during that wildcard game. Like, really. What a freaking idiot.
"Follow my lead today, whos goona be the big dog with me?" - Aaron Rodgers, February 6th, 2011
I cant speak for all Packers faithful, but id prolly imagine that most dont particularly adore him, it doesnt help that he probably would be the consensus greatest to ever to play the game, if not for that terrible attitude of his, which in my mind, held him back immensley. (Again, i think he the singlemost talented WR to ever play, but a better attitude and work ethic would have made him the very BEST.)
A HoF QB would have had an immense impact on his legacy....for sure. But that's a debate that is kinda worn out here.
Jordysghost wrote:
And, no. I definitley did not enjoy him being a disgusting petulant fool during that wildcard game. Like, really. What a freaking idiot.
I can't tell if you're being serious or not.....but if so, it's good to know Randy got under some Packer skin after all.
