10th Grade; Anthony Munoz Paper; Spanish 3

Living Proof: Famous Hispanic American Anthony Munoz
Nick Bolyard
Professor Moore
Spanish 3 Period 8
21 October 2008

Many people just may see a professional football player as the guys that play on Sundays after Church. But there is more to them then that. Anthony Munoz, founder of the Anthony Munoz Foundation, and a Hall of Fame offensive lineman from the Cincinnati Bengals is living proof that there are more to football players than that.
Anthony Munoz was born August 19, 1958 in Ontario, California. His grandparents were from Chihuahua, Mexico, and moved to the United States. In his childhood years, Anthony was too big to play Pop Warner football. Instead of feeling bad for himself, Anthony became devoted to baseball. He played baseball until his freshmen year of high school. In high school Anthony played football, basketball and baseball for the Chaffey Tigers. After high school, Anthony attended the University of Southern California. At USC, Anthony played football and baseball. In his sophomore year, it became clear that he was better built for football, so he stopped playing baseball. In his senior season, he suffered many knee injuries. Anthony came back at the end of the season, and helped lead the USC football team to a National Championship victory against Ohio State, 17-16.
In 1980, Anthony Munoz was the 3rd overall pick in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft to the Cincinnati Bengals. During his 12 year playing career, all with the Bengals, Anthony had many accomplishments that have marked him as the greatest offensive lineman in the NFL. In his first season, he started at offensive tackle for the Bengals. In his career in Cincinnati, Anthony helped lead the Bengals to Super Bowls XVI, XXIII; he was awarded NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1981, 1987, and 1988. Also during his career, he was elected to the Pro Bowl 11 straight times. He also caught 7 passes, 4 for touchdowns on tackle-eligible plays. He was also awarded All-Pro 11 straight years. Anthony Munoz also received one of the most prestigious awards during his days in the NFL, the Man of the Year Award. In 1998, Anthony Munoz became the first Bengals player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. For his induction, Anthony had his son introduce him. He remains the only Bengals player in the Hall of Fame.
Off the field, Anthony Munoz became an icon and a role model to children in his community. In April of 2002, Anthony Munoz founded the Anthony Munoz Foundation. The entire goal of this foundation was to impact the lives of children mentally, physically and spiritually. During the short six years that AMF has been around, there has been many accomphishments. The AMF annually hosts the Hall of Fame Football Academy and Youth Leadership Seminars. Also, AMF annually presents the Lineman of the Year Award, and Straight “A” High School Senior of the Year. Also during the current time period, AMF has assisted 2 football camps in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Currently, Anthony Munoz can be found living with his family in a place that he has called home for 28 years, Cincinnati, Ohio. He lives with his wife DeDe and their two children Michael and Michelle. He can still be found to this day across the Cincinnati and Mason (suburb of Cincinnati) today. Anthony Munoz is living proof that there is a heart in the body of a football player.