Torero Diaries

I am from the city of Oakland, a heavily populated city with a variety of ethnicities and fascinating personalities. I love where I am from and I think if you are linked up with the right people, that it could turn out to be a place where there is always something fun to do.
On the other hand, at times it is a place absent of joy, which means that the thought of peace does not reside within the city on a frequent basis. I consider my hometown an upbeat place to live that has the potential to promote the “fast life.” I grew up in a place where poverty, violence, corruption and drugs pollute the social atmosphere, but that does not mean that everyone in Oakland is a menace to society. I have plenty of close friends that can further affirm this claim. From  Quentin Thomas, who plays football at  the University of North Carolina, Marshawn Lynch who is a premier player on the  Buffalo Bills to my former teammate Josh Johnson and my two brothers Anthony McCrady and Godfrey Smith. We are all from Oakland.
In comparison to those around me, I was fortunate enough to be blessed with a strong family support system, in which I was raised up to become more than a negative stereotype. It was ingrained in me to strive toward success and through that alone, I adopted a certain mentality to try and prove the impossible, fight through adversity and overcome hardships.
My family loves sports, so I had no choice but to fall in love with them as well. I grew up watching Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, then Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, admiring their dynasty and wanting to become  just like them. When I wasn’t watching basketball I tuned in to football, watching my Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers play. I loved the Steve Young and Jerry Rice combination.
I grew up in an athletic atmosphere where everyone was competitive. I remember my mother at the games showing her competitive side within the stands. She was one of my most supportive fans, as well as a great cheerleader. My father used to coach for a local Pop-Warner football team, Semi-Pro football team and a few local basketball teams in the Christian basketball leagues as well. My uncle played college football in Utah at the University of Brigham Young and had a few successful seasons there also. Both of them, along with the help of other family members, coaches and friends, served as true role models by helping me take interest in something positive.
I am proud of those who supported me and encouraged me to stay active. This is how I broke through the glass ceiling enclosing our society.
Originally, I was more of a basketball guy who turned towards football in high school. Back home, we play sports in order to make it out, get an education and become successful in life. I’ve played basketball since I was probably four or five years old, all the way up until my freshman year in college. Even though I was not receiving any quality looks to play basketball, I made a decision to give up that dream and continue on with my career to play football here at USD.