SAN DIEGO -- Imagine catching a pass on the deck of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that's almost as long as the Empire State building is tall, with the football thrown by the ship's commanding officer.
OK, don't.
Capt. Terry Kraft's one attempt atop the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan Friday afternoon sailed long, landing 5 yards over the head of his intended target -- and the guy was open.
Kraft was part of a midday practice that can only be described as unique, with the San Diego Chargers conducting their walk-through on his ship ... with sailors watching ... and Kraft quarterbacking the offense's last play of the afternoon.
"I'm oh-for-one," he laughed.
No problem. This is a town that lived through Ryan Leaf. Besides, Kraft's ship and crew scored anyway when they hosted the NFL club.
The practice, first conceived by Chargers public relations director Bill Johnston, was in observance of the club's annual military night Saturday when the club plays the Green Bay Packers in the first preseason game for both teams.
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| The Chargers get loose in their unusual practice venue. (AP) |
"This is very cool," said running back LaDainian Tomlinson. "Just to be here is a feeling I can't describe. I don't know if I ever will have an opportunity like this again."
I'm betting he won't. I mean, it's not exactly standard procedure to run your pregame walk-through on the deck of an aircraft carrier that houses 6,000 sailors, serves 20,000 meals a day, has 30,000 light fixtures and 1,325 miles of cable and wiring. But the move was a public relations coup by the club, with coaches and players as interested in mingling with the military as officers and sailors were with them.
"I think this is terrific," said coach Marty Schottenheimer. "I feel like an 8-year-old."
Schottenheimer was a popular target for autograph hounds, with one fan waiting out reporters to shake his hand and have her photo taken with him. Afterward, she told him she'd been a loyal follower since Schottenheimer's days of coaching the Kansas City Chiefs and considered him one of the "top five coaches ever."
"I can't tell you how much that means to hear you say that," said Schottenheimer.
Though he didn't have the numbers of fans around him that, say, a Tomlinson did, defensive tackle Jamal Williams was one of the afternoon's most notable guests. His No. 76 is the same one that adorns the Reagan's superstructure in four-story-high numerals, and Williams' jersey -- with Reagan's name on the back -- was a gift from the Chargers to the ship, with the uniform and players' autographs included in a framed set.
Williams was flattered, but he understood who was on parade here -- and it wasn't he or his teammates.
"They have our number," he said of the Navy, "because they're protecting us. I've never seen a ship this size, and didn't realize there were so many sailors. It's just an honor to be here with people who are protecting us."
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