even though I was the sideline reporter standing only 70

"Hes human, after all," is an expression often heard when the armour of the invincible is pierced or the stoic breaks down. Geron Christian Jersey . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. Those moments when he has shown that humanity are the ones I remember most vividly. On January 21, 2014, Calvillo choked up as he announced his retirement from the game which had occupied nearly half of his 41 years. He struggled to find his words while admitting he had never been more nervous in his life. He struggled some more when he thanked his wife, Alexia and daughters, Athena and Olivia. The same held true when he said how much he will miss his teammates, past and present. He was nearly overcome with emotion when he mentioned his late friend, Mike Dawson, who had passed away scant weeks ago. His decades-long association and friendship with general manager and head coach Jim Popp caused the Alouettes executive to break down, almost uncontrollably, once Popp had started to deliver his tribute to Calvillo. Calvillos retirement announcement marked the end of his playing career, but during that storied journey, there were glimpses into the soul of the man which remain indelible in my memory. In late October 2007, Calvillo cried in a media scrum on the practice field outside Olympic Stadium when he revealed that Alexia had been diagnosed with b-cell lymphoma, one week after she gave birth to the couples second daughter, Olivia. The happy ending, of course, was that Alexia would beat her cancer. Seconds after winning his third Grey Cup in November 2010, Calvillo cried during a live interview with TSNs Farhan Lalji as he finally unburdened himself of a secret he had kept for three months: a cancerous lesion was growing on his thyroid gland. The lesion was detected after he sustained an injured sternum in a game against the Blue Bombers on August 20. Only his family and closest friends and teammates knew of his illness while he guided his team to and through the Grey Cup. Joy, relief, trepidation. All were on display once the final gun had sounded in Edmonton that night. A surgical procedure to remove the lesion the following month would lead to another happy ending in the Calvillo familys fight against cancer. My most lasting memory of Calvillo came eight days after he had leapt over Damon Allen to become pro footballs all-time leading passer on Thanksgiving Day in 2011; not the moment itself, even though I was the sideline reporter standing only 70 yards from the decisive catch-and-run by Jamel Richardson which vaulted Calvillo to the pinnacle of his profession. On October 18, Calvillo was invited by the Montreal Canadiens to a game at the Bell Centre so the crowd could acknowledge him for his historic achievement. After the fans in attendance gave him a thunderous standing ovation prior to puckdrop, Calvillo and his family were taken upstairs to watch the game from a luxury box. I was working rinkside for the NHL on TSN broadcast that night, so we secured an in-game interview with him in the suite. It was during that interview that I was privy to Anthony Calvillo -- the family man and the player -- encapsulated in one fleeting moment. Midway through Calvillos answer to one of my questions, Athena (who was six-years old at the time) sidled up to her Dad and planted a kiss on his right cheek. Without breaking stride, Calvillo continued and completed his answer. His legendary focus which was unshakeable under pressure from defensive front 7s for two decades shone in that moment, as did the fibre of his family. A child raised in a deeply caring, nurturing family didnt hesitate to show her playfulness, innocence and adoration of her Dad -- regardless of the circumstances. National audience? Were you on TV, Dad? Waivers. Redemption. Concussions. Championships. Tears. Laughter. Transcendent athlete. Despite the accolades and his place in the history of the game, Calvillo describes himself as a regular guy. At home, he takes out the garbage. He changed his daughters "poopy diapers" when they were infants. Anthony Calvillo. Hes human, like us all. John Lu is TSNs Montreal Bureau Reporter and has covered the Alouettes and Anthony Calvillos career since 2007. Custom Washington Redskins Jerseys . Pedroia reached the milestone with a little panache, hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning and propelling the Boston Red Sox to a 7-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night. Troy Apke Jersey . Louis, MO (SportsNetwork. http://www.redskinsrookiestore.com/Redskins-Paul-Richardson-Jersey/ . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team.Thursday was the first time the Montreal Canadiens hit the ice together this season, and already Habs coach Michel Therrien is testing out some potential line combinations. The players took part in a 40 minute scrimmage, where newly acquired Daniel Briere was playing on the wing alongside David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty. Briere, who spent most of his career as a centreman, mentioned last week that he doesnt mind playing on the wing if need be. Pacioretty and Desharnais have had great chemistry playing together in the past, even dating back to their Hamilton Bulldogs days. However, last season the duo werent able to find the type of success theyve shown in the past. Desharnais, despite his small 57 frame, has been able to prove over the years that he belongs in the NHL. The 2011-12 season was when Desharnais really made a name for himself, scoring 16 goals and adding 44 assists in 81 games. His line with Pacioretty and Erik Cole quickly became the top line on the team. His performance that year is what led Habs general manager Marc Bergevin to sign him to a four-year contract extension worth $114 million last season. Pernell McPhee Redskins Jersey. After underperforming last year, Desharnais hopes to put the struggles behind and start fresh this year. "We want him to be at the net, we want him to be first on the puck, we want him to skate, and that is how he will be successful and he knows it," coach Therrien said. Another line combination Therrien was watching closely was Rene Bourque, Tomas Plekanec and rookie Christian Thomas. The Canadiens traded Danny Kristo to the New York Rangers this summer to acquire Thomas. Hes the son of former NHL player Steve Thomas, and so far he has impressed a number of people. With Brian Gionta questionable for the season-opener on October 1 with a bicep injury, there is a good possibility that Thomas might be the one replacing him. The fact that he was placed on a line with veteran players like Plekanec and Bourque is a good indication that the organization has high hopes for the 21-year-old. Thomas spent last season playing for the Connecticut Whale of the AHL and was called up for one game; ironically against the Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Cheap Predators Jerseys Cheap Jets Jerseys Cheap Ducks Jerseys Cheap Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Sharks Jerseys Cheap Canucks Jerseys Cheap Bruins Jerseys Cheap Sabres Jerseys Cheap Panthers Jerseys Cheap Canadiens Jerseys Cheap Senators Jerseys Cheap Hurricanes Jerseys Cheap Blue Jackets Jerseys Cheap Islanders Jerseys Cheap Rangers Jerseys Cheap Flyers Jerseys ' ' '