My blog is turning into the "Watch people I know on TV" blog - oh well, I love it, and it is my blog...So...
Sometime late this last summer, the guy in the picture to the left here walked up to me after our worship gathering and introduced himself to me as "Sam." He had just moved to Kansas City and he somehow got word of our church and began attending. Sam went to Liberty University in South Carolina, where he played football and was a pre-med student. Mike King was standing right behind me and as another former Liberty guy I thought it would be cool for them to meet. I ran into Sam a couple more times and had brief Sunday worship kinds of conversations with him.
When we had our 5+1 Celebration in late September I finally was able to connect to Sam on more than a surface level. I found out Sam had moved to Kansas City to play football for the Chiefs. He was a member of the practice squad and was enjoying that and slowly acclimating to life in KC. Originally from Nigeria, Sam moved with his family to South Carolina when he was nine. That Sunday afternoon he also told me he was looking for a roommate. I had just had this roommate conversation with Joel Francis days previously so I introduced the two of them and they really hit it off. I didn't hear anything after that, but assumed that Sam had moved in with Joel. A couple weeks later I asked Joel how it was working out and he said it wasn't - Sam had been cut by the Chiefs. I was really bummed for Sam (and for Joel). I can't imagine what it must be like to pack up your life and move to a strange town for a job that you can be cut from at any time without notice.
Then last week, Tom McIntyre grabbed me and asked me if I had heard about Samkon Gado. He said it so fast it came out as one word. I had no idea what he was talking about. Apparently Sam had been signed by the Green Bay Packers as a third-string running back after being cut by the Chiefs. After both the first and second string RBs were hurt, Sam got the start in last Sunday's game. And he kicked butt. Sam ran for over 100 yards, scored three rushing touchdowns and was named the NFC player of the week. He did fumble twice, but both fumbles were recovered by the Packers so no harm was done. All of the sudden Sam is the talk of the week: "Who's this Sam Gado guy?" "Where did he come from?" Pretty amazing.
Here are a couple links to stories about Sam.
Sam's Bio from the NFL Player's website
A story about Sam on the Packer's site
You can sense Sam's humility in statements like this one:
"I didn't do anything in college to merit being looked at by the pros or anything like that," Gado explained in his soft tone. "I am glad I am here, and I do feel that I can play at this level. Though I don't feel like I should be here, I think I can play and be successful."
Sam and the Packers play tonight on Monday Night Football. It should be fun to watch and I know Joel and a group of folks are gathering to watch it and cheer Samkoon on. Go, Sam, go. And way to go! It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
My blog is turning into the "Watch people I know on TV" blog - oh well, I love it, and it is my blog...So...
Sometime late this last summer, the guy in the picture to the left here walked up to me after our worship gathering and introduced himself to me as "Sam." He had just moved to Kansas City and he somehow got word of our church and began attending. Sam went to Liberty University in South Carolina, where he played football and was a pre-med student. Mike King was standing right behind me and as another former Liberty guy I thought it would be cool for them to meet. I ran into Sam a couple more times and had brief Sunday worship kinds of conversations with him.
When we had our 5+1 Celebration in late September I finally was able to connect to Sam on more than a surface level. I found out Sam had moved to Kansas City to play football for the Chiefs. He was a member of the practice squad and was enjoying that and slowly acclimating to life in KC. Originally from Nigeria, Sam moved with his family to South Carolina when he was nine. That Sunday afternoon he also told me he was looking for a roommate. I had just had this roommate conversation with Joel Francis days previously so I introduced the two of them and they really hit it off. I didn't hear anything after that, but assumed that Sam had moved in with Joel. A couple weeks later I asked Joel how it was working out and he said it wasn't - Sam had been cut by the Chiefs. I was really bummed for Sam (and for Joel). I can't imagine what it must be like to pack up your life and move to a strange town for a job that you can be cut from at any time without notice.
Then last week, Tom McIntyre grabbed me and asked me if I had heard about Samkon Gado. He said it so fast it came out as one word. I had no idea what he was talking about. Apparently Sam had been signed by the Green Bay Packers as a third-string running back after being cut by the Chiefs. After both the first and second string RBs were hurt, Sam got the start in last Sunday's game. And he kicked butt. Sam ran for over 100 yards, scored three rushing touchdowns and was named the NFC player of the week. He did fumble twice, but both fumbles were recovered by the Packers so no harm was done. All of the sudden Sam is the talk of the week: "Who's this Sam Gado guy?" "Where did he come from?" Pretty amazing.
Here are a couple links to stories about Sam.
Sam's Bio from the NFL Player's website
A story about Sam on the Packer's site
You can sense Sam's humility in statements like this one:
Very cool story. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Friar_Tuck | November 22, 2005 at 12:33 PM
He is a great story . . . I had no idea he attended JW, even better story I guess.
ps - my opponet in fantasy football this week has him starting tonight. no disrespect against Sam or the Packers, but I hope he has a horrible game.
Posted by: doug | November 22, 2005 at 02:22 PM
i work in the sports industry. the chiefs o-coordinator told me about this guy that had been hanging around the locker room back in may or june, his name was sam. he was from nigeria originally, and went to Liberty U. thought he must have been some kind of player to be getting a shot with KC, especially at RB. coach said that he was good but that barring a catastrophe wouldn't play for KC. hard to make a team at RB when you're competeing with Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson, and Tony Richardson. so why did he get the chance to come in? because this coach and sam's old coach were good friends. the liberty univ coach said, "even if he doesn't make your team, i guarantee he will bless your locker-room more than you could ever hope!" so coach saunders agreed to bring him to KC. i am legitimately bummed i didn't get to meet sam while he was here. i hope he comes back soon.
Posted by: eH | November 22, 2005 at 06:43 PM
That's way cool, Tim.
Speaking of football. Lindsay and I were babysitting for a family one weekend and it turns out we were watching the kids so the parents could finish buying Kansas City its first arena football team. I should have asked for first pick on season tickets. In fact...
Posted by: Daniel | November 22, 2005 at 07:19 PM
That's freakin' awesome, man. :)
I remember meeting Sam during a service a while ago -- just a "hi" and "how are you" and I had no idea. Huh.
Cool!
Posted by: timsamoff | November 23, 2005 at 08:48 AM
He is the best there is and is lucky to stand next to Breet Farve.He will get 100+ yardds.
Posted by: nick | December 16, 2005 at 10:01 AM
If this is really your site sam hope you doing good in all with the packers holla at me some time bye!come bac to the center sometine if this your site
Posted by: bilal coles | February 03, 2006 at 10:38 AM
Hey!
Me and Sam met after a Packer game and he signed my Gado jersey. My jersey was the first one signed ever by Sam and his highschool coach told me to send photos to Sam's website (www.samkongado.com). Later at another game I had the pleasure of meeting Sam's parents. They said they wanted my family to go on a missionary trip with them to Nigeria, so I gave them my number and email address. Sam is an outstanding man!
Posted by: Trent Brown | April 24, 2006 at 03:25 PM
I want to comment that this person's unselfish work in hospitals is very complimentory. Well done! Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Jim Rezek | May 24, 2006 at 03:19 PM