N.Y. Journal: Mark Gastineau "grows up"

Two stories of redemption interlaced at the New York City Rescue Mission last Monday: one in the lives of destitute men who depend on the luck of the draw for a bed at a mission, and one in the life of a man who made $65,000 a week at the height of his pro football career.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared last week "Souper Bowl Week" to highlight the work of homelessness organizations, and The New York City Rescue Mission brought in former New York Jets All-Pro defensive end Mark Gastineau to help serve food.

The people who come to NYCRM can have a meal with no strings attached, but if they want a bed they have to sit through a chapel service. The mission feeds people for as long as its food supply lasts. But because of its limited space, it has to have a lottery to determine who will stay the night. If it's below 32 degrees, the city authorizes the mission to provide emergency services. Then staff can spread cots and blankets in the chapel, a room with walls adorned with Scripture like "How can we neglect so great salvation?" If it's 33 degrees, the many homeless are out of luck.

Monday's menu included Italian wedding soup with spicy meatballs and vegetables bobbing in broth, chicken noodle soup, roast chicken, and salad. The soup was courtesy of the "Original Soup Man," the company begun by Al Yeganeh, the inspiration for the "Soup Nazi" of Seinfeld fame---a crotchety character on the show but known in real life as a generous man who gave soup away to the homeless and hungry.

One woman, who was impressed, asked if they fed people every night. A regular named John said, yes, "but they don't feed like this every night." Sometimes there is just macaroni and cheese, he added. He said he was a carpenter who had made mistakes but knew it. Just out of detox and now staying at the mission, John spoke of forgiveness and faith: "I'm not religious, but I follow Jesus."

Gastineau has a rocky history himself---a player known for his cockiness on the field, his domestic struggles off the field, and his use of steroids. He spent 11 months at Riker's Island prison. Then, according to ESPN, he attended Times Square Church in New York City as part of a church-sponsored program for first-time offenders. He found Christianity and said, "God gave Mark Gastineau his son Jesus. . . . He died on the cross and I'm forgiven for everything. I could not go on if it wasn't for that. "

But he tells me that he encountered God for the first time much earlier, when he broke his leg at age 10. It got infected---"I could see right through it," Gastineau remembers---and the deep scar is still there. Doctors were afraid he would never walk again, but his mom, who was attending a Baptist church, told him the congregation was praying for him. He went on to walk again---and then become one of the quickest and most-feared pass rushers in the NFL.

"I thought I was God," he said---until he lost his rich accoutrements and found his way back.

And here Gastineau is now, sitting across from a group of homeless men and reminiscing about his glory days on the gridiron. Some of the men are camera-shy but others are thrilled have their pictures taken with him and ask the photographer to send them the photos.

One older man looks at him in wonder: "You got old," he says. "Yeah I did," Gastineau replies. "I grew up."