Wyoming running back Brian Hill grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois, which has long ranked among the world’s most dangerous cities with the highest murder rate in the United States at 101 per 100,000 residents.
To help keep her son out of trouble, Hill’s mother, Tamara Lewis, essentially paid him to play youth football, giving him five dollars for every touchdown and sack he produced.
“I was more focused on playing video games at that point in my life than going out and doing stuff, so she had to bribe me,” Hill said.
Her plan worked, though she had to shell out $35 for one game in which Hill had four touchdowns and three sacks.