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kenyan_cheena · 07-03-2013, 11:59 PM

LOS ANGELES DAILY MAIL

Monday, 28 April, 2008

Buffalo Bills draft former boxer Sam McVey

Story by Mark Jankowitz

Oxnard native Sam McVey was selected as the 72nd overall pick by the Buffalo Bills at the annual NLF Draft yesterday, held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. More famous for his brief professional boxing career and recently controversial personal life, McVey was actually a star high school running back and was set to attend USC on a football scholarship before turning his back on the sport to become a boxer. Jack Johnson's gold medal win at the 2004 Athens Olympics was the catalyst for McVey to make what many told him was an impulsive, rash decision. However, McVey was quick to establish himself as one of the most talented young heavyweights in the USA, a rise that culminated in him claiming the International Boxing League's Americas championship in February '07 with a victory over Florida's Cheetah Brown.

But within months, things started to unravel for McVey. He suffered his first career loss in June, in his second defense of the championship, a rematch with Brown. He went on to lose his next two fights, to Italy's Francesco Damiani in August and Chicago slugger Frank Childs in October. His life then took a shocking turn in November when he was charged with assault and DUI following a domestic dispute involving his then-fiancee Claudette James and the very same Jack Johnson who inspired him to take up the sweet science. It was soon revealed that McVey had walked in on James, Johnson and his girlfriend Jessica Aguilar while they were engaged in a sex act at a Santa Monica residence, which led to an intoxicated McVey assaulting both Johnson and James and crashing his Ferrari F430 into a stationary vehicle soon after.

McVey's court case concluded in January, with him being sentenced to 100 hours of community service and placed on a two-year probation. He announced his retirement from boxing soon after, saying that his enjoyment of the sport had been "tainted". He also indicated that he would be returning to his first love: football. McVey has severed all ties with both James and Johnson, apparently not contacting either of them since the November incident. He is still close with current world heavyweight champion Ken Norton, who had mentored him for much of his boxing career and has supported him through McVey's recent difficulties. Norton was present in New York with him for the draft, and McVey was reportedly ecstatic when his name was announced as the 8th pick of the draft's 3rd round on Sunday.

It would be true to say that McVey was something of a celebrity going into the draft, following his success as a boxer, but a number of NFL teams cited his complete lack of college experience as a detrimental factor in their decision to pass on him. McVey has displayed tremendous dedication to his new career path during the last couple of months, something which appears to have impressed the Bills organisation enough for them to take a chance on him. General manager Marv Levy was particularly complimentary towards McVey. Even so, McVey is going to have to earn a place on the Buffalo depth chart, as the Bills drafted running back Marshawn Lynch from UC Berkeley in the 1st round of last year's draft, and he went on to rush for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie campaign. Regardless of what eventuates, McVey has at the very least taken the first step towards what could be a successful NFL career.

07-03-2013, 11:59 PM	#1683
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,037	LOS ANGELES DAILY MAIL Monday, 28 April, 2008 Buffalo Bills draft former boxer Sam McVey Story by Mark Jankowitz Oxnard native Sam McVey was selected as the 72nd overall pick by the Buffalo Bills at the annual NLF Draft yesterday, held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. More famous for his brief professional boxing career and recently controversial personal life, McVey was actually a star high school running back and was set to attend USC on a football scholarship before turning his back on the sport to become a boxer. Jack Johnson's gold medal win at the 2004 Athens Olympics was the catalyst for McVey to make what many told him was an impulsive, rash decision. However, McVey was quick to establish himself as one of the most talented young heavyweights in the USA, a rise that culminated in him claiming the International Boxing League's Americas championship in February '07 with a victory over Florida's Cheetah Brown. But within months, things started to unravel for McVey. He suffered his first career loss in June, in his second defense of the championship, a rematch with Brown. He went on to lose his next two fights, to Italy's Francesco Damiani in August and Chicago slugger Frank Childs in October. His life then took a shocking turn in November when he was charged with assault and DUI following a domestic dispute involving his then-fiancee Claudette James and the very same Jack Johnson who inspired him to take up the sweet science. It was soon revealed that McVey had walked in on James, Johnson and his girlfriend Jessica Aguilar while they were engaged in a sex act at a Santa Monica residence, which led to an intoxicated McVey assaulting both Johnson and James and crashing his Ferrari F430 into a stationary vehicle soon after. McVey's court case concluded in January, with him being sentenced to 100 hours of community service and placed on a two-year probation. He announced his retirement from boxing soon after, saying that his enjoyment of the sport had been "tainted". He also indicated that he would be returning to his first love: football. McVey has severed all ties with both James and Johnson, apparently not contacting either of them since the November incident. He is still close with current world heavyweight champion Ken Norton, who had mentored him for much of his boxing career and has supported him through McVey's recent difficulties. Norton was present in New York with him for the draft, and McVey was reportedly ecstatic when his name was announced as the 8th pick of the draft's 3rd round on Sunday. It would be true to say that McVey was something of a celebrity going into the draft, following his success as a boxer, but a number of NFL teams cited his complete lack of college experience as a detrimental factor in their decision to pass on him. McVey has displayed tremendous dedication to his new career path during the last couple of months, something which appears to have impressed the Bills organisation enough for them to take a chance on him. General manager Marv Levy was particularly complimentary towards McVey. Even so, McVey is going to have to earn a place on the Buffalo depth chart, as the Bills drafted running back Marshawn Lynch from UC Berkeley in the 1st round of last year's draft, and he went on to rush for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie campaign. Regardless of what eventuates, McVey has at the very least taken the first step towards what could be a successful NFL career. Last edited by kenyan_cheena; 07-04-2013 at 12:01 AM.