REAL COOL STORIES - 1/13/21
Last Saturday the Buffalo Bills hosted an NFL playoff game for the first time in 25 years. Many Bills fans were not ALIVE when they last hosted such a game. It was a wonderful event as some 6,700 hundred fans were allowed to attend. They were the first fans to witness a home game in Buffalo this year.
Among the fans was expected was Valentino Dixon. His story is real, but not too cool, until recently. Mr. Dixon, a Buffalo native, was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1991. He spent over 27 years in prison until he was exonerated. Several Georgetown University law students helped by re investigating the murder and uncovered vital information that led to his release.
Valentino had struggled in prison until he reconnected with a passion - art. He drew pictures for several hours every day. At one point the warden at Attica Correctional Facility asked Valentino to draw the infamous 12th hole at Augusta National. He had never stepped on a golf course, but used pictures from Golf Digest to create his drawing.
In 2012 a Golf Digest editor (Max Adler) featured Valentino and his drawings in his "Golf saved my life" column. Mr. Adler believed that he was innocent.
Bills running back Taiwan Jones knew the story of the Buffalo native and wanted to help.
“I was already kind of emotional just with everything going on in the world,” Jones told ESPN. “I was reaching out to different organizations within Buffalo to see what I could do to make a difference. When I first read his story, man, it was touching and heartbreaking. I definitely wanted to do something for him.”
Jones said he was “blown away” that Valentino, who had every reason to be angry, was instead adjusting well to life after prison.
“When he called, it was like talking to an old friend. Our conversation was real genuine,” Jones told ESPN. “I think what stood out the most was that he didn’t have any grudge in him. He sounded like he was just real happy with where his life is today. I was just so amazed at where he’s at emotionally and mentally.”
Valentino was offered the chance to see his Bills for the first time since he was 11 years old! He looks forward to spending time with his family.
A real, cool story!