A Heartbeat Away from Destiny: The Michael Montgomery Story
We promise we won't bore you with a typical football story. Such as "Kid from poverty rises out of his environment". Kid becomes all star athlete, gets the girl, lives happily ever after with picket f…
A Heartbeat Away from Destiny: The Michael Montgomery Story
We promise we won't bore you with a typical football story. Such as "Kid from poverty rises out of his environment". Kid becomes all star athlete, gets the girl, lives happily ever after with picket fences and backyard barbecues. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ This by far is not such a story: Mike Montgomery was not a superstar, nor did he want to be. He was comfortable with his development progress in the sport of football. His families "old world values", along with great athletic genes provided him with unique sports opportunities at an early age. His mother was a well known pro athlete. Her strong influence of family values, humility, and spirituality, provided her son with a very positive insight on his future. This also helped him handle the temptations that lie ahead as a result of instant success, fame, and fortune. His mother Rosie Walker, was blessed with many athletic attributes. Among being one of the top performers of the Women's Basketball League, she was also a Olympian, a inductee in the Hall Of Fame, and representing the United States, at the Pan American Games. What distinguished Rosie from other professional athletes, was her genuine humility, kindness, and work ethic. These great virtues, catapulted her beyond public adulation. Rosie throughly understood and embraced her calling. Her positive public image and influence has assisted many young gifted athletes in order to overcome the temptations of corruption and greed. Montgomery admits, he had a brief career and a quick run in the spotlight. However he is extremely grateful for the experience. Even today, his commitment to what lies ahead is a culmination of all that has made him great. His journey is the definition of "belief in oneself", and in his own words "I have been on a spiritual and centrifugal high." displays his reverence and control of a gifted life. He speaks about his youth and all his joyous memories with such perturbation and enthusiasm, you immediately feel part of his great journey. If this is starting to sound like an Football fantasy story. "It's far from that!" It wasn't always an exciting and joyous journey for Mike Montgomery. His hard work, humility, and passion enabled him to reach his much planned out destiny early in his life. He became not only popular with his team but also a crowd favorite. Just when It seemed like he had it all, and on his way to a great football future. He was taken down hard ! by "the killer within." It was only after an incident which occurred on the practice field. Which made him aware of his condition " WOLFF- PARKINSON WHITE SYNDROME", a hidden heart condition from birth that had already taken the lives of basketball great "Hank Geathers", high school football player "Ronald Rouse", and Olympic figure skater "Sergei Grinkov". This hidden heart disease killer can surface and strike "anyone at anytime." At that practice session, Montgomery was definitely off his game. After several practice drills, he became light headed dizzy, and then ended up in a semiconscious state. He was in complete denial of his condition. He attempted to rise to the occasion and continue practice. Had it not been for the quick and observant actions of DAVID WEIR athletic trainer at Texas A&M University, Mike Montgomery would have joined the list of athletic statistics for this unknown killer. He, and his entire family credits David Weir, for saving his life along with Dr. Gerald Joseph Gallinghouse, an undaunted pioneer in the risky area of athletic heart conditions. Dr. Gallinghouse challenged an unknown area where most medical professionals wouldn't risk a failure of charting unknown waters. Although this intricate surgery was very successful, many doubted that he would ever return to the game. However, his severe determination, and passion, helped him overcome the insurmountable odds of "ever returning to the grid iron." He optimized his energetic forbearance as a weapon to defeat anything that was categorized in the column of negativity regarding his comeback. MONTGOMERY WAS BACK.... BETTER THAN EVER. He was unanimously voted team captain, and led Texas A&M to the Cotton Bowl. He continually acknowledges to his family, friends, and fans. That this part of life was a great gift from the God, and being drafted by the Green Bay Packers was "icing on the cake from above." Regardless of his great athletic achievements, Montgomery was and always will be a fan of all players in the NFL. He throughly understands what it takes to become a pro-athlete. Described by his close friends, and many fans, as a "Gladiator in the Roman Colosseum" he still remains so grateful and a bit starstruck. He humbly boasts of experiencing the such a great opportunity to play with NFL ICONS as " AARON ROGERS, BRETT FAVRES, TRAMON WILLIAMS, KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA " and the list he says "Goes on, and on, and on, and on." It's been a wonderful ride, but the most important thing now is for Montgomery to get the word out and make the public aware of this hidden killer disease. By Bobby Debrino Dan Miller-Ribic
A Heartbeat Away from Destiny: The Michael Montgomery Story
Documentary
Film Details
We promise we won't bore you with a typical football story. Such as "Kid from poverty rises out of his environment". Kid becomes all star athlete, gets the girl, lives happily ever after with picket fences and backyard barbecues.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ This by far is not such a story: Mike Montgomery was not a superstar, nor did he want to be. He was comfortable with his development progress in the sport of football. His families "old world values", along with great athletic genes provided him with unique sports opportunities at an early age.
His mother was a well known pro athlete. Her strong influence of family values, humility, and spirituality, provided her son with a very positive insight on his future. This also helped him handle the temptations that lie ahead as a result of instant success, fame, and fortune.
His mother Rosie Walker, was blessed with many athletic attributes. Among being one of the top performers of the Women's Basketball League, she was also a Olympian, a inductee in the Hall Of Fame, and representing the United States, at the Pan American Games. What distinguished Rosie from other professional athletes, was her genuine humility, kindness, and work ethic.
These great virtues, catapulted her beyond public adulation. Rosie throughly understood and embraced her calling. Her positive public image and influence has assisted many young gifted athletes in order to overcome the temptations of corruption and greed.
Montgomery admits, he had a brief career and a quick run in the spotlight. However he is extremely grateful for the experience. Even today, his commitment to what lies ahead is a culmination of all that has made him great.
His journey is the definition of "belief in oneself", and in his own words "I have been on a spiritual and centrifugal high." displays his reverence and control of a gifted life. He speaks about his youth and all his joyous memories with such perturbation and enthusiasm, you immediately feel part of his great journey. If this is starting to sound like an Football fantasy story.
"It's far from that!" It wasn't always an exciting and joyous journey for Mike Montgomery. His hard work, humility, and passion enabled him to reach his much planned out destiny early in his life. He became not only popular with his team but also a crowd favorite.
Just when It seemed like he had it all, and on his way to a great football future. He was taken down hard ! by "the killer within." It was only after an incident which occurred on the practice field. Which made him aware of his condition " WOLFF- PARKINSON WHITE SYNDROME", a hidden heart condition from birth that had already taken the lives of basketball great "Hank Geathers", high school football player "Ronald Rouse", and Olympic figure skater "Sergei Grinkov".
This hidden heart disease killer can surface and strike "anyone at anytime." At that practice session, Montgomery was definitely off his game. After several practice drills, he became light headed dizzy, and then ended up in a semiconscious state. He was in complete denial of his condition.
He attempted to rise to the occasion and continue practice. Had it not been for the quick and observant actions of DAVID WEIR athletic trainer at Texas A&M University, Mike Montgomery would have joined the list of athletic statistics for this unknown killer. He, and his entire family credits David Weir, for saving his life along with Dr.
Gerald Joseph Gallinghouse, an undaunted pioneer in the risky area of athletic heart conditions. Dr. Gallinghouse challenged an unknown area where most medical professionals wouldn't risk a failure of charting unknown waters.
Although this intricate surgery was very successful, many doubted that he would ever return to the game. However, his severe determination, and passion, helped him overcome the insurmountable odds of "ever returning to the grid iron." He optimized his energetic forbearance as a weapon to defeat anything that was categorized in the column of negativity regarding his comeback. MONTGOMERY WAS BACK....
BETTER THAN EVER. He was unanimously voted team captain, and led Texas A&M to the Cotton Bowl. He continually acknowledges to his family, friends, and fans.
That this part of life was a great gift from the God, and being drafted by the Green Bay Packers was "icing on the cake from above." Regardless of his great athletic achievements, Montgomery was and always will be a fan of all players in the NFL. He throughly understands what it takes to become a pro-athlete. Described by his close friends, and many fans, as a "Gladiator in the Roman Colosseum" he still remains so grateful and a bit starstruck.
He humbly boasts of experiencing the such a great opportunity to play with NFL ICONS as " AARON ROGERS, BRETT FAVRES, TRAMON WILLIAMS, KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA " and the list he says "Goes on, and on, and on, and on." It's been a wonderful ride, but the most important thing now is for Montgomery to get the word out and make the public aware of this hidden killer disease. By Bobby Debrino Dan Miller-Ribic.