Newf
11-29-2009, 03:27 PM
CALGARY -- Whatever happens in Sunday's Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium, it will be just a game and life will go on for Davis Sanchez.
The veteran cornerback for the Montreal Alouettes, who play the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday in the CFL championship game, has learned to put the game he plays in perspective in terms of the bigger picture of day-to-day living.
The health issues of his mother and his first position coach in professional football have helped Sanchez to see the game in a different light.
"At the end of the day, it's a game," Sanchez told Sportsnet.ca. "All the stress and the sleepless nights worrying about your assignments and the game, take a step back and think about it. There's a lot more important things, a lot more stressful, than winning a football game."
Three years ago his mother Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer and she's been in remission for a year and a half and is now healthy. She and Davis' younger brother joined him earlier this week from Vancouver to watch him play in the Cup.
Sanchez lives in Vancouver and every Sunday night the family gets together. His mother and brother come once a year to see him play in Montreal and always come for the playoffs.
His first position coach when he began his Canadian Football League career in 2000 was Tony Proudfoot, the celebrated defensive back who helped the Als win the 1977 Cup when he devised the idea to affix staples to the bottom of his football shoes for better traction on the slippery, frozen field. The whole team followed suit and won the game handily over the Edmonton Eskimos, who literally couldn't get a grip of the conditions.
Years later he received publicity for helping to rescue an injured boy during a riot in which a crazed gunman shot and killed some students at the school where Proudfoot taught.
In the last couple of years, Proudfoot has become known in Montreal as the face of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis -- better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease -- which has rendered him speechless and for which there is no cure. He talks with the use of a computer.
Sanchez is donating money to the ALS Foundation of Quebec based on the performance of his team and his own this year. For every Als win, he donates $100 and $200 for every interception. The Als finished the season with a record of 15-3 and Sanchez had two interceptions. Through his website, www.picksanchez.com, Sanchez has been able to provide additional donations.
"For me, it wasn't the money," he said. "Hopefully it got some awareness out there. That was what we're trying to do."
Sanchez recalled that in his first year as a pro, Proudfoot spent a lot of time with him, which helped cement a friendship. This year in training camp, Proudfoot spent the entire time with the team, inspiring Sanchez and everyone else.
"You know how difficult training camp can be," Sanchez said. "It's long and it's boring and it's tough and Tony was there in every meeting, in every practice. If there was something I could do for him for all he does for us, I just decided on my own to do this.
"For me it's great to see him here," Sanchez added. "He's a part of this Alouettes family. He's been along this journey the whole way with us and it would be nice for him to be able to celebrate with us on Sunday."
The veteran cornerback for the Montreal Alouettes, who play the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday in the CFL championship game, has learned to put the game he plays in perspective in terms of the bigger picture of day-to-day living.
The health issues of his mother and his first position coach in professional football have helped Sanchez to see the game in a different light.
"At the end of the day, it's a game," Sanchez told Sportsnet.ca. "All the stress and the sleepless nights worrying about your assignments and the game, take a step back and think about it. There's a lot more important things, a lot more stressful, than winning a football game."
Three years ago his mother Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer and she's been in remission for a year and a half and is now healthy. She and Davis' younger brother joined him earlier this week from Vancouver to watch him play in the Cup.
Sanchez lives in Vancouver and every Sunday night the family gets together. His mother and brother come once a year to see him play in Montreal and always come for the playoffs.
His first position coach when he began his Canadian Football League career in 2000 was Tony Proudfoot, the celebrated defensive back who helped the Als win the 1977 Cup when he devised the idea to affix staples to the bottom of his football shoes for better traction on the slippery, frozen field. The whole team followed suit and won the game handily over the Edmonton Eskimos, who literally couldn't get a grip of the conditions.
Years later he received publicity for helping to rescue an injured boy during a riot in which a crazed gunman shot and killed some students at the school where Proudfoot taught.
In the last couple of years, Proudfoot has become known in Montreal as the face of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis -- better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease -- which has rendered him speechless and for which there is no cure. He talks with the use of a computer.
Sanchez is donating money to the ALS Foundation of Quebec based on the performance of his team and his own this year. For every Als win, he donates $100 and $200 for every interception. The Als finished the season with a record of 15-3 and Sanchez had two interceptions. Through his website, www.picksanchez.com, Sanchez has been able to provide additional donations.
"For me, it wasn't the money," he said. "Hopefully it got some awareness out there. That was what we're trying to do."
Sanchez recalled that in his first year as a pro, Proudfoot spent a lot of time with him, which helped cement a friendship. This year in training camp, Proudfoot spent the entire time with the team, inspiring Sanchez and everyone else.
"You know how difficult training camp can be," Sanchez said. "It's long and it's boring and it's tough and Tony was there in every meeting, in every practice. If there was something I could do for him for all he does for us, I just decided on my own to do this.
"For me it's great to see him here," Sanchez added. "He's a part of this Alouettes family. He's been along this journey the whole way with us and it would be nice for him to be able to celebrate with us on Sunday."