Parking Lot Larry

[tony hipchest]

good stuff from one of our best "free agent" signings of the year (still hard to believe he actually had 1 foot in miami's door).


On the final day fans could watch the team practice at Saint Vincent, safety Ryan Clark put on a yellow staff shirt and called himself Parking Lot Larry. Clark greeted fans by parking their cars and checking their coolers.
"I went out there, parked some cars, went through some coolers, drank some people's water," Clark said. "I bit off one guy's chicken sandwich. I ate some bugels, had some Doritos, signed some autographs when my cover was blown. I enjoyed it. It was the last day for the fans, a day for me to be silly, to have a good time and enjoy the fans."
Clark said only a handful of fans failed to recognize him.
"There were a couple of them that didn't," he said. "They were mean to me because I was just Parking Lot Larry. I told them I was the highest paid camp staffer in America."


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10231/1081082-66.stm?cmpid=steelers.xml#ixzz0x7jEyjkL

[Chidi29]

LOL, that's hilarious!

[Mattsme]

That's so cool. I don't know how else to put it. I've always been a huge fan of Clark's, and really don't feel he gets the credit he deserves. Being the other half of the Polamalu show can't be an easy job.

[tihmtahm]

Wow. Another story of a "real" person. Always proud to be a Steelers fan!

That's sooooo awesome.

[solardave]

He's great. This is the stuff I love to hear about. Down to earth players who enjoy and appreciate the fans.

[SirHulka]

"There were a couple of them that didn't," he said. "They were mean to me because I was just Parking Lot Larry.

Isn't that the way it always seems to go? Why do people have to be so mean? Is it the old master/servant syndrome? Or do they just feel insecure, and have to pick on someone "below their station"?

Luke chapter 6:
27 "But I tell everyone who is listening:
Love your enemies.
Be kind to those who hate you.
28 Bless those who curse you.
Pray for those who insult you.

No matter what your faith (or lack thereof) if everyone lived by these words, the world would be much, much better off.

[Wallace108]

That's hilarious! I'm glad Clark is still here. :nod:

[stillers4me]

I love Ryan, he's one of favorites....I was greatly relieved whern he resigned!!

[HometownGal]

What a great read - thanks! :drink:

Ryan Clark is a down to earth kind of guy and a very good model for what every NFL player should be. I adore him and couldn't be more pleased that he has re-signed. :applaudit:

[Butch]

Love that Ryan chose to re-sign with us, I thought for sure he was a goner but was pleasantly surprised when he came back. I remember when we lost Hope and he came in from Washington. I have to admit I didn't know him and was not sure how well he would do replacing Chris, all those concerns went out the window when I saw how he hit. Him and Troy are two great DB's and it is awsome to have them both in there forming the greatest DB tandem in the NFL. Great stuff to read Tony Hipchest thanks for posting.

[Akagi]

Two years ago, he hung around BEFORE afternoon practice started, probably about 20 minutes, not behind the ropes but right in the middle of the fans, laughing and talking to everyone, both kids and adults, signing autographs, high fiving kids, answering questions, and just generally being a good guy. One of my favorite Steelers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Mosca/IMG_1701.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Mosca/IMG_1704.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Mosca/IMG_1706.jpg

[Hindes204]

" told them I was the highest paid camp staffer in America."



Thats funny.....what a great guy

[SteelMember]

Great. I surprised he wasn't in Connecticut doing some television show. Can't he apply himself to just "the team".

:sarcasm:

The reference goes back awhile, so don't take this serious if you don't "get it". :chuckle:

[cold-hard-steel]

"No matter what your faith (or lack thereof) if everyone lived by these words, the world would be much, much better off. "

One thing i have learned in my tumultuous 49 years, if you look for the bad in everything,thats all your gonna see. Causes you to overlook the good. Clark was a key signing in my opinion. Just sayin.

[7willBheaven]

They have a video of this up on the steelers site...i watched it last night...funny as hell.

http://www.steelers.com/video-and-audio/videos/Ryan-Clark-Joins-The-Camp-Staff/287f8755-416e-422a-afaa-a0a5d15ab935

I sent him a Tweet asking about how "Larry" was doing and this was his response...

"Parking lot Larry got fired today. Something about eating peoples food & drinking their koolaid. Sensitive people!"

-------------------------------------------------------

Also on the training camp diary...scroll down to the 17th and theres a little more about him just walking around with the fans/etc...

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Training-Camp-Diary-/10a96cb0-4bf5-4831-9f59-15a82ff3967b

Ryan has always been one of my faves...the staying out with fans late signing, talking to us, giving away his shoes, etc...haha he's awesome...wish i could have gone to camp more this year to see him.

[SCSTILLER]

That was a pretty good video! What a good guy, and definitely glad that he resigned with the team.

[O'Malley]

Great story. Ryan is a great guy. Hope he has a great year.

[The Duke]

It's always good to have players like Clark on the team

I'd take a hundred ryan clarks over one Revis

[BPS3akaWirels3]

That's why he is the only player that I had sign my case that holds my SB Ring.. He so rocks..

[SteelGhost]

The video is very funny, LOL. Glad Ryan plays for the Black and Gold :tt02:

[stlrtruck]

That was awesome!

[Wallace108]

Great video!!


"I'm like a cop, minus the school and gun and stuff ... and the authority." :lol:

[tony hipchest]

https://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/1084383635/ryan-clark_normal.jpg (https://twitter.com/RyanClark25) RyanClark25 (https://twitter.com/RyanClark25)
To all those who went to STEELERS.COM and saw me as parking lot Larry. I thank you for your continued support. "IM CAMP STAFF" too fun. 3 minutes ago (https://twitter.com/RyanClark25/status/21701389679) via web