Michael Irvin takes Ralph & Xavier to the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festivities

Hall of Fame 10) Ralph & Xavier Capdevila

Ralph & Xavier Capdevila

Hall of Fame 5) Michael Irvin greeting Xavier Capdevila

Michael Irvin greeting Xavier Capdevila

Hall of Fame 3) Chalews Haley, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin & Xavier Capdevila

Charles Haley, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin & Xavier Capdevila

hofMy goal in leaving a legacy is to share support and salute men who are fathers to be actively involved in the lives of their children. Tom Lundstedt contacted me through my website www.MichaelIrvin.com about Ralph Capdevila’s difficult journey of losing his first son to Brittle Bone disease (Osteogenesis Imperfecta) and then having a second son with the same diagnosis. Tom was so impressed with this fathers’ solid love and dedication that he decided to contact me.

Hearing from Tom about their love and also about the love of the game of football, I invited Ralph and his 5 year old son to this years’ Pro Football Hall of Fame festivities. They were able to attend the Enshrinement Ceremony for the 8 new inductees for 2015, a parade, a concert, and the football game between the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers to kick-off the new 2015 football season.  Here are some memories from the great weekend.

Hall of Fame 4) Ralph, Steve Young, Michael holding Xavier

Ralph, Steve Young, Michael holding Xavier

Hall of Fame 2) Ralph, Jerome Bettis & Xavier

Ralph, Jerome Bettis & Xavier

Hall of Fame 6) Jim Kelly, Ralph, Xavier, Michael

Jim Kelly, Ralph, Xavier & Michael

Hall of Fame 7) Xavier, Michael and John Madden

Xavier, Michael & John Madden

Hall of Fame 8) Michael Xavier and Curtis Martin

Michael, Xavier & Curtis Martin

Hall of Fame 9) Chris Mortensen and Xavier

Chris Mortensen & Xavier

Letter from Ralph Capdevila to Michael Irvin

Dear Michael,

Where can I start, words can’t even explain or describe what you did for me and my son Xavier. I am so blessed to have been able to spend time with you during this amazing weekend. From taking care of our flight and hotel, to also making sure we had every activity planned for the Hall of Fame weekend. Since the moment Xavier saw you his face was priceless, I really feel that you guys bonded this weekend. He kept asking about you the whole way home. I told him we would see you again.

I think 5 years from now he will look back at this amazing weekend and speak about it to his school friends and family. I am so thankful to you for bringing us out, Xavier and I were able to bond, and this is a trip he will talk about with his kids in the future. He might not have known who most of the Hall of Famers were, but he knows now how amazing they were with him and his smile explained his gratitude.

You have a friend here for life my brother. Funny how 28 years ago you impacted my life when I went to my first University of Miami game at the Orange Bowl, and now you have impacted my son’s life with this amazing gesture of kindness!!

I love you my brother, feel free to follow me on Instagram DJDAZ0976 to see all the pictures of the amazing weekend!!

Ralph Capdevila

Hall of Fame 1) Aeneas Williams, Xavier, Michael & Ralph

Aeneas Williams, Xavier, Michael & Ralph

Hall of Fame 11) Michael showing Xavier his 2007 Hall of Fame bust

Michael showing Xavier his 2007 Hall of Fame bust

Hall of Fame 12) Xavier meeting the pilots on his trip of a lifetime

Xavier meeting the pilots flying him back home to Miami on his trip of a lifetime