Polar football alum ‘Rio’ hosts a day of thanks to community
Friends turned out to catch up with Mario Sanders poses during a community day he hosted at Hobbs Field. Photo by David Pierini
By Bernard Barnes, North News Intern
It was one of the hottest days of the summer, but Hobbs Field was full of people eager to celebrate Mario Sanders II. Grilled food, music, and games welcomed the community to what he hoped would feel like a homecoming.
The University of Illinois wide receiver came home to North Minneapolis on July 26 and hosted a community day at the North High field, where he played his high school football..
During the festivities, a kid asked Sanders for a photo. He told Sanders that he wanted to be just like him.
“No, you don’t. Be better than me,” Sanders responded.
“I don't want young athletes to have a set point,” Sanders said. “I want them to shoot for more than me.”
Many people who shaped Sanders showed up to his community day. Old classmates, the youth football team from North Commons Park, and his fans and family hugged Sanders throughout the day.
“Rio was the funniest guy in the classroom, always in a good mood. And on game day, he was the best on the field. Could no one lock him up?” A former teammate from North High School said at the event.
North High School students were calling him the next big thing since Tyler Johnson, a North High alumnus currently playing for the NFL's New York Jets.
Sanders said Johnson is a role model of his.
“He's like a big brother to me,” Sanders said. “Seeing him do what he does at the big stage and coming back to host youth camps in the North.”
While friends and family caught up with Sanders, children delighted in tossing footballs into net targets. Photo by David Pierini
Family is a major motivator for Sanders. But so is his love for competition.
“Besides my family, competing keeps me going,” Sanders said in an interview with North News. “You got to show what you can do at this high of a level.”
Sanders said he wanted to help his community since he was young. He wanted to give something back and show what talent was hidden on the Northside “Coming to the University of Illinois, being a division one player, a lot of people don't really know about Minnesota,” he said. “They don't know how many great athletes we have and how good a city we have.
“I want the world or even the Northside to see how many great people and athletes live here. There are so many smart and kind people here.”