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Scout News In San Diego California |
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Monday Sep 06th |
| Time to Say Goodbye |
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| Written by RICHARDSONMIRON and PATRICK CUBEL Scout Staff | ||
| Monday, 09 February 2009 | ||
The former League MVP, and two-time Camp Pendleton Athlete of the Year, has competed on the base’s gridirons for the better part of two decades. But after leading MAG-39’s Mad Dawgs to the All-Base title in his 18th season in 2008, the 40-year-old Martin has decided there won’t be a 19th year in ’09.
While Martin, a master sergeant stationed with Weapons and Field Training Battalion, will certainly lament not being on the field when the ’09 tackle football season begins in August, the news of his retirement will probably bring smiles to his opponents’ faces. During Martin’s 18 seasons, he was picked to the All-Scout team (or as a Golden Helmet selection) 14 times, he said. His greatest individual season may have been ’06, when he led the Mad Dawgs to their fifth straight title and was named the League’s Most Valuable Player. “The Camp Pendleton football league is one of the most competitive football league’s there is,” Martin said when asked about his longevity and success. “... That’s what made it so much fun.” One of his teammates with the Mad Dawgs, Darnell Johnson, believes the loss of Martin will be huge. “Not only does Martin bring intensity (and talent), he brings experience and knowledge of the game,” Johnson said. “I still don’t know what position Martin played. He was just Martin — he could play defensive end, linebacker, drop into coverage. ... It’s like we’re losing three guys without Martin. He just created havoc.” Martin, who has been in the Corps for 22 years and is looking to obtain a teaching credential and coach football once he retires from the Corps, said he has many splendid memories from his years here on the playing field. One of his most cherished recollections was when he went head-to-head with Mike Anderson, the former Marine who went on to star for the Denver Broncos in the NFL. “My favorite memory was crushing Mike Anderson to the ground,” Martin said. This past season, Martin was an integral part of the Mad Dawgs’ resurrection. The squad won its sixth All-Base title in seven seasons. The only year MAG-39 didn’t win the crown was ’07, when the unit was deployed in Iraq. “This season was great for us,” Martin said. “We were back playing football after being gone for a year. We had a talented team full of young players and veterans. We came from behind and won the league’s playoffs.” The fact MAG-39 was upset by MCAGCC Twentynine Palms in the Best of the West Championship put a damper on what would’ve been the perfect ending. In fact, MAG-39 coach Gary Munford says he wouldn’t be shocked if Martin, who also announced his retirement after the ’06 season, is back on the field when the new campaign begins to avenge what happened in the Best of the West. “I think as long as that guy can breathe and has a heartbeat, he’ll want to play football,” Munford said. “He’s one of those guys that just has it in his blood. He’s not content unless he’s on the football field, hitting someone. But if he does retire, we’ll definitely miss him. As a coach, you just love to have a guy like that on your team. You just can’t (replace) his knowledge and experience on the field.” If the Mad Dawgs are looking for a new leader to emerge in ’09 in Martin’s absence, odds are that player will be Damien Mitchell, another veteran who was a teammate of Martin’s for the first time last season. Mitchell says playing alongside Martin was an honor. “I not only looked up to him as a player, but as a Marine and a person,” Mitchell said. “... The No. 1 word to describe (my feelings for) Martin is respect.” |
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