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REST IN PEACE: Robert Redford — the mark of high-school football and his pivot to cinema

Robert Redford – Wikipedia tiếng Việt

The first page of Robert Redford’s journey wasn’t a soundstage—it was the high-school gridiron at Van Nuys (California) in the 1950s. He played American football and was described as a “first-class player,” “fiercely competitive” — a kid who didn’t shy from contact and always bounced back after a hit. That foundation gave Redford rhythm, endurance, and discipline — qualities he later “translated” into acting: feeling the beat of a scene, holding the quiet, and reading an opponent’s intent the way you read a defense.

Redford wasn’t only about football. He played baseball well enough to earn a college scholarship, trained in tennis with legend Pancho Gonzales, and ran track. That multi-sport background shaped him into a natural “all-American” presence on camera: rugged yet graceful, unadorned yet luminous. When life veered—leaving the sports scholarship behind to choose art—Redford carried all that “mental muscle” into painting, the stage, and then film.

It all converged in his turn as Roy Hobbs in The Natural (1984). It wasn’t merely a baseball story; it felt like a thank-you letter to an athletic youth. Redford’s stance, his stride, his eyes on screen suggested a man who truly came from the locker room, who knew the smell of wet grass and the roar of the stands. That’s why his athlete characters never felt like costume—they felt like memory revived.

Had he not swerved off the athletic track, how far might Redford have gone? That question powers the resonance of any remembrance. Perhaps more important is how he brought fair play and the will to rise after contact into a creative life: from iconic performances to the Sundance ecosystem that nurtured new voices. Sport taught him how to take a hit; cinema gave him a place to tell the story of that resilience.

When the final whistle sounds, people don’t remember the scoreboard—they remember how someone played, on the field and on the screen. Rest in peace, Robert Redford.

Eagles Star CB Faces Family Tragedy After Week 5 Game as Military-Trained Skydiving Instructor Dies in Nashville
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean is mourning a profound personal loss following the team’s Week 5 game , as his cousin Justin Fuller a respected military-trained skydiving instructor, died in a tragic tandem jump accident near Nashville.   Fuller, 35, was fatally injured after becoming separated from his parachute harness mid-air during a jump organized by Go Skydive Nashville. His student survived after landing in a tree with the parachute deployed and was later rescued by firefighters. Police confirmed Fuller’s body was recovered in a wooded area off Ashland City Highway. The Nashville Fire Department called it “one of the most complex high-angle rescues in recent years,” commending its personnel for the effort. Justin Fuller, known by the nickname "Spidey," died after a tandem skydiving jump went wrong on Oct. 4, 2025, near Nashville, Tennessee.  (Facebook/Justin Fuller Spidey ) Fuller, known affectionately as “Spidey,” had completed more than 5,000 jumps and trained U.S. military personnel in advanced aerial maneuvers. Friends described him as “fearless, focused, and committed to lifting others higher — both in life and in the air.”   DeJean —whose mother is the younger sister of Fuller’s mother, grew up admiring his cousin’s discipline and sense of purpose. Family members say that influence helped shape his mental toughness and leadership on the field. A relative told local media, “Justin taught Dejean that strength isn’t about being unbreakable — it’s about standing firm when life hits hardest. That’s exactly how he lives and plays today.” In the Eagles’ defensive system, DeJean has steadily earned complete trust thanks to his versatility — working outside at corner, in the slot (nickel), and on coverage units — and standing out for top-end speed, precise tackling angles, and the ability to read quarterbacks. Coaches describe him as “calm, wise beyond his years, and disciplined at the catch point,” consistently maintaining leverage and finishing clean in tight spaces. Through the first five games of 2025, DeJean has played every defensive snap and totaled 36 tackles (26 solo) with five passes defensed, reinforcing his value on the perimeter and inside.  The Philadelphia Eagles have provided time and private support for DeJean and his family, ensuring he can grieve without team-related obligations. Teammates have stood beside him, honoring both his resilience and his family’s tradition of service. An FAA investigation into the accident is underway, while tributes to “Spidey” continue to pour in across social media from military colleagues, fellow skydivers, and fans nationwide.“He taught others to fly — now he flies higher than all of us,” one tribute read. DeJean kept his public remarks brief before being embraced by teammates:“He taught me not to fear the height — only the moment you forget to look down and pull someone else up with you. This week, I’m playing for him.”