Illinois Alpha (Northwestern) Phi Sean Jensen graduated with a degree in journalism and started his career covering the Green Bay Packers for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He also covered the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Chicago Bears for the Chicago Sun-Times, and contributed features and columns for AOL Sports, ESPN the Magazine, Bleacher Report and Yahoo Sports, among others.
Last year, inspired by his then six-year-old son Elijah, Sean developed a concept for a book series targeting boys and telling the inspirational childhood stories of famous athletes. The Middle School Rules of Brian Urlacher chronicles the challenges, issues and, ultimately, achievements the legendary Bears linebacker experienced growing up in Lovington, New Mexico. Students will see how Brian handled a bully, competed with his little brother, and initially struggled with teams sports, most notably going winless in 8th grade football. But there’s plenty of lighter moments, too, such as Brian and his brother tag-teaming to play pranks on their older sister and Brian blowing his summer savings at the fair.
“Sean digs into the key moments of Brian’s adolescence—a defining time in many athletes’ journey to success that often gets overlooked—in order to show the next generation that dreams are achieved through hard work and integrity,” says Carlton Garborg, president of BroadStreet Publishing. “His unique sports writing background and relationship with Brian produced a book that’s uniquely entertaining, offering wisdom and inspiration that is valuable to all generations.”
The book will be in stores, including Wal-Mart and Barnes & Noble, on Feb. 17.
