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Today on NESN

Ras-I Dowling Might Be Patriots’ Best Option at Cornerback Alongside Aqib Talib, If He Can Stay Healthy
Stan Musial’s $1.795 Million Home Is As Old-School, Classy As Late Hall-of-Famer (Photos)
‘Gift’ Goals, Sloppy Mistakes Cost Bruins Chance to Close Out Rangers in Game 4 (Video)
Red Sox Honor Terry Francona With Well-Deserved ‘Touch of Class,’ But Focus Needs to Be on Stopping Indians
Ryan Dempster Hopes to Cut Down on ‘Unnecessary Walks’ After Another Shaky Start (Video)
Bruins Blow Golden Opportunity With Ugly Game 4 Loss, But All Is Far From Lost for B’s
Red Sox-Indians Live: Indians Roll to 12-3 Victory in Terry Francona’s Return to Fenway Park

Nelson Valdez a True Inspiration for Paraguay

by Cary Betagole on Mon, Jun 28, 2010 at 11:07PM

Paraguay’s Nelson Valdez is a true rags-to-riches story.

Tuesday, he faces off with his mates in a round of 16 match against Japan. But before he found his name in lights, Valdez struggled to survive on the streets of San Joaquin, Yahoo reports.

"I would put on all my clothes to keep warm at night and curl up the best I could," Valdez told Yahoo.
Now Valdez makes over $1 million playing for Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga. He certainly doesn’t take soccer for granted.

"Everything I have in life … I owe to football," he said. "That I can live somewhere nice and provide for my family, that is football. That I don’t have to sleep outside or under some concrete. That I don’t have to be cold or hungry or worried about the most basic things."