Behind the scenes with top draft pick Mark Sanchez
Click on the photo to the right to launch a slideshow of Mark Sanchez’s party.
ANAHEIM Saturday’s biggest news was that the New York Jets traded up to select former Mission Viejo and USC quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft.
But the best story the russell westbrook jersey warmest, most endearing part of his draft day came from the 200 people who wedged themselves inside the screening room at Downtown Disney’s ESPN Zone that night to celebrate the homegrown quarterback’s dream come true.
Sanchez could’ve been in New York City on draft day. He could’ve taken the Radio City Music Hall stage when his name was called, shaken the hand of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and donned the Jets ballcap and jersey in front of his new bosses in his new city.
Instead Sanchez wanted to be home with his family, the friends who caught his first passes, nfl jerseys china the teachers who knew him before he cheap nba jerseys played quarterback, the former teammates who never doubted he’d one day make the NFL,cheap authentic nfl jerseys, and the former USC coach who drove 35 miles south to wish him,cheap authentic nfl jerseys, “Good luck.”
“I wanted to share this moment with everyone who helped me get to lebron james jersey this point,” said Sanchez. “This is the greatest day of my life.”
ESPN nba throwback jerseys Zone reached out to Sanchez, donating a catered dinner and its primary sports viewing room for the private party on a Lakers’ playoff game night that dennis rodman jersey could have been big business. But few players have ever been as tied to Orange County as Sanchez has.
“Granny” Ellen Marmolejo, 92, the pink suited, red haired lady tiny enough to be completely covered by one authentic nfl jerseys of her grandson’s football jerseys clapped from a center booth every time ESPN SportsCenter promos flashed images of the Broadway bound Sanchez.
Brothers Nick Jr. and would end by taking a private jet back to the Big Apple just before midnight.
“He has been crisscrossing the country for two weeks: New York, St. Louis, Detroit and home,” said Brandon, 30, al jefferson jersey who is considering moving to New York to help his brother start his NFL career. “I’m glad he’s here now.”
His stepsister, Carrie Donner,cheap authentic nfl jerseys, decorated the room with clusters of green and white balloons and inflatable Mylar footballs. Friends scribbled messages around a framed Sanchez photo. “Do I hear echoes of Joe Namath?” one wrote.
An uncle handed out freshly hand pressed green and white “Jets Viva Sanchez!” buttons to pin to shirts. Young cousins wore a sports store’s entire supply of $22 Jets ballcaps.
“Mark’s my cousin,” said Allison Robertson, 12,nhl jersey size chart 303, bowing her head to show the bill she already had autographed by the night’s guest of honor. “We’re so mlb jerseys cheap happy for him, but he’s going so far away.”
But Sanchez has never been karl malone jersey forgotten from where he came. He didn’t score touchdowns for most people at the party. He touched their lives,kyrie irving jersey 530.