Temecula, CA. Future stars at the movies 7 years ago. Circa '08.
Excluding my various nephews and nieces, this guy might be the coolest kid I've ever known. Mason's mom, Shannon, and Sister Jill are BFFs thanks largely to the fact that their boys, my nephew Noah, and Mason, were best pals in elementary school. (Was it 4th grade? 5th grade?) This was back when I was living in Temecula, CA with Team Dewey, where I happily went to my share of pee-wee football, baseball, softball and basketball games. But it was during all our other suburban activities—going to high school homecoming football games, riding bikes around Temecula, clowning in the pool, trips to the movies, camping at San Onofre—that's where we got to see Mason's true colors. Even at a young age it was clear this was a special kid. He was funny, bright, conscientious and could hang with the adults. He was the big kid who always looked out for the little brother, always good to his little sister and parents—especially his mom. Good kid from a good family. When it came to emotional IQ, he was a genius. Little did I know back then, he's also apparently a very hard worker. He must be. Because little Mason has grown into very, very big Mason. (As in 6'6", 265 pounds big, according to this website.) Mason is so big and talented that he got close to 20 Division-I scholarship offers and will playing on the offensive line next year at Arizona State. Where he'll be wearing—you guessed it—#77. And that's how this UCLA grad suddenly became a very, very big Sun Devil football fan. Go, Mason!