The 2008 NFL Draft Weekend provided enough launches to make NASA envious.
Aside from serving as the launching pad for more than 250 NFL playing careers, the New York City spring weekend kicked off USA Football's Commemorative Ball Tour, christened the re-launch of usafootball.com, and officially began an innovative partnership between the Professional Football Players' Mothers Association - led by Wilma McNabb - and USA Football.
Midway through the draft's first round, USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck and NFL Commissioner and USA Football Board Member Roger Goodell shared a moment on stage in Radio City Music Hall to uncork the Commemorative Ball's tight spiral around the country.
USA Football's Commemorative Ball Tour, a tribute to America and its favorite sport, kicked off USA Football's "Play Football ... it's more than a game" campaign at the NFL Draft in April. The red-white-and-blue football commemorates the game's values and how they are forever linked to America. USA Football personifies this melding of game and country, teaching football's fundamentals and its timeless qualities of leadership, responsibility and teamork.
The eye-catching ball appears at football events nationwide, including the NFL Draft and training camps, college games, Pro Football Hall of Fame Weekend, USA Football coaching schools, officiating schools, and player academies, high school all-star games, and other grassroots football gatherings. Ball photos capturing the game's spirit and strong emotional pull are continually posted at usafootball.com.
Among the first of those to hold the patriotic symbol of sport and values were families, youth football teams, military personnel, firefighters, the top six selections of the 2008 NFL Draft Class, mothers of current and former NFL standouts, and others who believe that football - as the Commemorative Ball states - is "more than a game."
Continue to visit usafootball.com to see where the ball appears next as well as gain insight on all things youth and amateur football.