O.J. Brigance turns 42 on Thursday. If you feel like buying the former Ravens linebacker and the team's current director of player development a birthday present, a donation to the Brigance Brigade Foundation would be a nice gesture. If you are shirtless and have just $29 to your name, consider buying this T-shirt.
A portion of the proceeds will go to the foundation, whose mission is to find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. The foundation also provides financial support for ALS patients and their families, raising more than $500,000 with the help of the Packard Center (at Johns Hopkins).
Brigance, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2007, has dedicated his life to finding a cure for ALS. He can no longer walk or speak, but he can communicate via a device called DynaVox, as Mike Klingaman reported two weeks ago, and he continues to be an inspiration for those inside and outside the Ravens locker room.
The shirt says "inspiration" on the front and has the foundation's logo, which includes a tank with Brigance's No. 57, on the back. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't feel right encouraging you to go buy something from the team's website (nor do you need my encouragement), but the money is going to a good cause.
And the shirt would make a great birthday present -- whether it's for a friend, Brigance or both.