WAIKIKI, Hawaii -- On Saturday, May 25th, I sat down with Ashley Lelie, NFL 1st round draft pick with the Denver Broncos. We met at Duke's in Waikiki. Lelie was in town for an autograph appearance at the Hawaii Convention Center as the highlight of a Sports card collector's show organized by a sports cards shop in Aiea.
Ashley is the son of Rene Lelie, a retired Marine who was once assigned to the MCB Hawaii Athletic Office.
At 5 years old, Ashley Lelie knew he was an athlete. By 10 he could hold his own with the big boys (15 year olds), and by 15 he said, "I knew I would be a pro." A natural athlete, Ashley thought it would be basketball that would take him to stardom. At 6-2, he had the height and he was still growing. Basketball "just came easier to me," he said.
He played football and dabbled in baseball until a 70-mile per hour pitch hit him. "That was it for me," he said with a laugh. "I thought it was funny that my parents would discourage me from playing organized football because they didn't want me to get hurt." It's ironic that in all the years he played through high school and college, he never broke a bone or suffered a serious injury.
In his three years at the University of Hawaii, Lelie racked up impressive stats: 194 receptions for 3,341 yards and 32 touchdowns. These are respectable numbers for any receiver, but more impressive is that nearly half of those numbers came in his final year at UH. This was the reason he went so high in the draft. "Everyone was saying he would go in the 1st round," Lelie's dad told me. "Some even had him going in the top 10."
On draft day at his family's home in Beaufort, S.C., he watched intently waiting to hear his name called. After the 10th, 11th, and 12th picks were announced, he began to wonder if he would go at all in the 1st round. "I just couldn't sit around and wait anymore," he told me.
Then it happened. Denver had the 19th pick and they selected him to be their number 1 pick of the 2002 draft. "My mom started screaming, and everyone was so excited" he said.
Ashley Lelie is a humble, soft spoken, respectful young man who grew up in a military family. His dad Rene nurtured him and provided a good balance of discipline and encouragement. Speaking of his dad, he said, "We are very close."
His relationship with his father has helped him to see his future more clearly. Twice, this All-American pondered quitting football. Once in high school, and again during his first year at UH. It was his dad who convinced him to stick with it.
I asked Lelie what he would have done had he not made it in sports, "I always wanted to be a pilot in the Air Force," he told me. Everyone expects this high-flying wide receiver will make an impact on the NFL. "I'm really happy that I was picked by Denver," he said. "They have a great program and I'm learning a lot." Lelie is also happy that his friend and UH teammate, quarterback Nick Rolovich, is in camp in Denver trying out for the team, "I'm really glad that Rolo is being considered, he's a great football player who will fit in well in the NFL."
During the interview, there were occasional interruptions by well-wishers, and admirers, friends, and former co-workers (during college Lelie worked at Duke's tending bar). Lelie's friendly smile and easy personality made everyone feel like his success was theirs.
I left the interview with a good feeling about this young man. His skill as a football player, and his good upbringing, will suit him well in his new career.
Although I will always be loyal to my home team Detroit Lions, now I will have another team to root for.