Re-introduction

Well I've been rambling on for some years now and it never occurred to me that what if a new person came across my blog how would they be able to relate or know what the hell I'm talking about? Well I will try to sum it up in a short story...

Hello my name is Sammy I am originally from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, I moved to Edmonton 3 years ago it was not by choice call it fate. I came here to live our my life long dream which was to play football, the funny part is that I never actually got to play. Battling politics and coaches who did not like me I managed to keep my career alive despite being release 2 times. I stayed in Edmonton because at the time of being cut because I had a girl friend whom I cared about a lot. As I went back to work and continued to train she lost interests and ended up leaving, I did not take it very well but life goes on. Sept 2010 it was decision to make whether to go back home or try again. All signs pointed to quitting and going back home but I stuck it out and blessed with the opportunity to represent my country for the 3rd time in the sport I love. I am not sure what is going to happen after this summer but the future looks brighter than ever. So if you come across my page for the 1st time welcome, if you have been one of my supporters for a long time I thank you. No of this or what is about to happen would have been possible without you. Blogs are the truest form of expression I find and not one is a like, blogging has been the single reason I been able to maintain focus without getting lead astray. I will do my best to continue to post on a regular basis but life is moving much faster than it once was. I normally write when I am not the greatest moods and do videos when I am happy. If I disappear for longer than a few weeks or so feel free to drop me a message and tell me I am slacking.

Sammy

THE COME BACK

Over 3 years since I last played a meaningful game of football Nov 2007 to be exact. I've been on this war path for sometime it's been a hard fought battle, filled with pain, sorrow, hardship and lots of tears. 100 days and counting it hasn't really sunk in what is about to happen going from the couch to playing on a world stage has left me quite nervous, and anxious. Being removed from football for so long I question in my mind; Can I still play? Can you take a hit? Can you cover? Can you tackle? Did you get soft while u were away? Never that YOU STILL GOT IT OKPRO! Faced with the hardest decision in my life a few months ago either to walk away of try harder. Time has proved me wise... I am on a collision course with destiny and I'll be damned if I let anyone get in my way! All I know is when I finally return to the field there will be hell to pay, someone is going to have to pay the price for making sit this long.  Maybe all my years were meant to come down to this one shining moment in destiny. I've had preminitions of these times in my mind, playing football in a different continent it never made sense until now. As I prep for this moment I ask God that he give me the strength and power handle anything that may come my way and continue to guide me down the right path, as it was him who carried me when I didn't want to walk.

KEEP ON'

If you keep at it long enough eventually you'll see the reward. 3 years since I last played a meaningfull game of football. It still hasn't really hit me but that opportunity that I was seeking has finally come around. I will be representing Canada at the World Championship of American football. http://www.americanfootball2011.com/en/  It is truly an honor and a blessing to be representing my country for the 3rd. The 1st two have left a bitter taste in my mouth so hopefully I can wash it out with helping Canada win this one. I had dreams and visions of playing football overseas they were so real it was like I was in another universe, call it inception. My patience over the years has paid off a major step has been made closer to my dreams my football career shows sings of life. Failures in football has force me to create other dreams while still maintaining my 1st one, they are all staring right at me now it's up to me now to put it all together so that they can all work simultaneously. The hards times I can truly say are over but there is still more work to do. I continue to train but is not as hard now knowing that I am training for something. I feel blessed to be in the postion I am in after so long of a wait. The one thing I learned to this date that the key is believing in yourself because the road is not always full of people that will support you, there were times where I was truly alone on this journey. It was the faith and belief in myself that kept me going don't let anyone steal your dreams!

This blog marks the conclusion of KEEP ON' on deck is THE COME BACK

YOU ARE NOW TUNED INTO -THE U-

KEEP ON'

I'm tiered another 12hr day at work I've haven't been motivated the whole week. I though to remain positive when there is no reward in sight. Someone asked me today if I was an athlete I replied YES, What team do you play for? I told him I don't even know what I am training for, he gave me a blank stare... It was then I truly realized what I was doing maintaining the faith that I will be rewarded without really knowing for sure. This weekend while I was out I saw the man who had cut me last year from the team. No bad blood we had a great conversation I knew that he was just the man that had to do the dirty work. He left me with some great advice "No one is gonna sell you like you sell yourself, No one is gonna fight for your career like you fight for you career!" Everyone loves a winner but when the chips are down your phone doesn't ring as much, no message, facebook is quiet, it's the nature of the beast.  I just try not to pay it any attention and keep pushing. Also, I found out not to long ago that the girlfriend I was with last year cheated on me while we were together. It's funny how news always get's back to me though I did not know the man he knew me. Word traveled and  it eventually got back to me, I am not sure if it's true but I wouldn't put it past her.  I wish her well in all the relationships I messed up I can honestly say I was a good guy in this one. Anyways moving on that part of my life is done and will just chalk it up to experience. These last few weeks have been though consistently drained at the end of the day I don't know where I find the energy to get up every morning and continue to train. My friends back home in Montreal took matters into their own hands to try to get me back on the field They started a fan page and group on Facebook the group is called "FREE OKPREEZY"

I thought they were joking at 1st but they were serious. They even made sample t-shirts I feel blessed to have such great friends that believe in me. It truly keeps me going! As a member of THE UNKNOWN BATTALION we stand for what's on the crest "WHAT MEN HAVE BUILT LET NOTHING AND NO ONE COME IN BETWEEN" God is great and pray he will continue to guide and give me the fuel to stay headed in the right direction.

KEEP ON'

Road trip was good all business when in got the work done no photos were taken. Mind set is just continue to train and be ready for anything that turns up. If all goes well I think this is what I've been waiting for.

A few days later

Lack of motivation today a new friend of mine questioned my work ethic yesterday. He told me "Your attitude so nonchalant about football, like you don't care, like you don't believe in yourself. I would give anything to have half the career you had. He continued you had a great career and it's in the past so what you got dirtied by the Eskimos, all I know is that you could be close to getting your career back on track you should working your hardest right now...Do you even care? How do I believe in you and you don't even believe in yourself. "  

I had no reply I let him continue to ramble on about it. After sleeping on it some of the points he had were valid and some were way off. Though I didn't answer him I will answer his remarks.

The fact that I am still training seriously should be enough to show you that I still care and want to play. Despite how I act I find there is no use getting work up or excited about it. When I was re-signed last year I was so excited inspired only for it to come all crashing down again. An emotional roll-a-coaster I would rather not go on again. So I've chose to stay right in the middle not too happy not too sad. If I come off as nonchalant it because of the experiences I had.

I don't know what the future will hold emotionally drained today I don't know how long I can continue to train like this without any reward. It's been 2 years and counting that I have been training 5days a week 3hrs a day. I guess this is what faith is about continue moving forward into the unknown in hopes that it will pay off some how.