I struggled to maintain a straight face and clear eyes as I walked through Toys R Us in Parma. The night I was there, I followed Browns Linebacker Christian Kirksey, as he took childcare on a shopping spree for Christmas.
The children chosen came from families who are experiencing financial difficulties, many of them with single moms trying to make ends meet.
Both Kirksey and I thought the night was simply about making sure these children, received toys and presents during the holiday season but the gift Kirdsey ended up giving one child lacked a barcode or a price tag.
I first noticed Tylin Ross when I was looking for Kirksey. I found the linebacker in an aisle of the story with several people circled around Tylin. Kirksey and some of his friends were videotaping, snapchatting and cheering on Tylin as he sang. And Boy could he sing.
When Tylin was done, Kirksey went up to him and told him that he had talent.
Tylin smiled and said “thank you.”
In that moment there was much more than what met my eye. Tylin was among the children that I interviewed to ask how he felt about shopping with Kirksey.
“The presents weren’t even in my mind at all today,” Tylin told me.
All he cold think about was singing for someone who’s achieved their dream.
“It made me feel special because it made feel like I could be someone, to have someone big famous like that notice me.”
He added, “(He) inspired me to do better and keep up with my work like he told me if I keep going forward and keep pushing and using my talent I can be someone in life.”
His mother Tanika Stanley said, ““It is very important especially dealing with my son who has problems with other people. To have some like Christian encourage him to do better, it is pretty awesome.”
Kirksey’s impact went beyond his own expectations.
“In my mind, I am thinking we are just taking kids shopping; they just have fun getting whatever toy they want. Now it really put things in perspective; I am really a role model to a lot of kids. Just to hear a kid say they want to chase their dreams because I chased mine, it makes me want to do more events like this,” Kirksey said. “It really touched my heart to hear him say that.”
While all too often Browns fans solely focus on the team’s record, in my mind, the team might be losing, but some players are still finding ways to win.
