PBP Note: "When Dolphins receiver Davone Bess talked to nearly 200 middle-school students from Palm Beach County about avoiding violence in their lives, he had a horrific tale from his own childhood to relate. When Bess was 10, he was at a family party in his hometown of Oakland when he witnessed the murder of his uncle."
About seeing his Uncle murdered, Bess said:
"I remember it vividly. My dad was throwing my uncle a big barbecue at my grandmother's house and a gunman came out of nowhere and shot him in the chest a couple of times. I remember my uncle falling to the ground, gagging, spitting up blood, gasping for air. That's when my dad came and grabbed my brother and I and we all started running." (PBP)
About trying to learn from the tragedy, Bess said:
"It's something that, when you're sitting at home by yourself, you think about it all the time. It puts you in the mindset of others, makes you ask what you can do to help people who want to do something to someone. What can I do to make this person change his mind, to make a difference?" (PBP)
PBP Note: "Bess, who caught more passes (130) in his first two seasons than any receiver in Dolphins history, received a warm reception from the students, who represented 18 middle schools. The students on hand were finalists in the "Do the Write Thing Challenge," which invited them to write essays describing their experiences with violence and bullying."
Bess said that he wanted to let the students know:
"there's another way out. You're talking with someone who's been on both sides of the ropes, and the other side is really, really ugly. I grew up in a hostile environment, and for me to come out the way I did says a lot." (PBP)
PBP Note: "After accepting a football scholarship to Oregon State, he allowed a friend to put stolen items in his car, was caught and served 15 months in a juvenile facility. Oregon State rescinded the scholarship.
Then he caught a break. A graduate assistant with the University of Hawaii knew Bess' high school coach and encouraged Rainbows coach June Jones to watch Bess work out after his release.
Jones obviously was impressed."
About UH offering him a scholarship, Bess said:
"Next thing I know they offered me a scholarship and I never looked back." (PBP)
PBP Note: "Passed over in the 2008 NFL Draft, Bess signed with Miami as a free agent and finished his rookie season with 54 receptions, two fewer than former first-round pick Ted Ginn Jr. Last year, Bess had a team-high 76 catches, the most by any Dolphins receiver since Chris Chambers caught 82 in 2005."
Happy that they acquired #1 receiver Brandon Marshall, Bess said:
"Any time you get a player of his caliber to be part of your team, you have to be excited. He's going to make everybody better." (PBP)
About how he's not sure about his role this season, Bess said:
"That's the thing about this coaching staff. We just do what we're asked, and the rest will take care of itself." (PBP)
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