Post by 50yardfan on Apr 18, 2011 23:38:19 GMT -5
www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110417/A_SPORTS/104170325
STOCKTON - Lemuel Adams is a father and husband with a full-time job who has also found time to revive his football career.
He's a busy man and he handles his hectic life with a smile on his face and joy in his heart because he has come to understand to enjoy what you have in life.
Five years ago, Adams suddenly went from a healthy athlete to dealing with a life-threatening illness when he suffered a dangerous spider bite. He recovered and played quarterback again before taking three years off, and now he has joined the Stockton Wolves, who host the Utah Stealth at 7:30 p.m. today at Stockton Arena.
At age 32, Adams' dreams are realistic and he appreciates what he has.
"When something like that happens to you, it definitely makes you respect what you have in life and not take everything for granted," Adams said. "You get your priorities straight."
His top priority is family, and he said one of his main motivations for joining the Wolves was a chance to play in front of friends and family. He lives in Sacramento with his wife, Brianna Adams, and his four children - Destiny, 10; Trinity, 8; Lemuel Jr., 7; and Serenity, 6.
His parents, Jennifer and Tom Stamper, have lived in Stockton for several years, and the whole family showed up for the Wolves' first game April 8.
"It's nice to have him home. We can all see him play," Jennifer Stamper said. "The other times he played, he was away."
Adams played at Oak Grove High in San Jose and Florida A&M University. In 2006, Adams was training in Arizona prior to joining the Tri-City Fever of arenafootball2, when he felt a tender spot under his right arm and figured he was sore from working out. But the pain persisted and he began to vomit while visiting his parents in Stockton on his way to Kennewick, Wash., to join the Fever. His mother is a nurse, and his stepfather is a respiratory therapist. Along with Adams' wife, they convinced him to go to Dameron Hospital.
"When he came into town, he didn't look good," Jennifer Stamper said. "We knew something was going on. They weren't sure what it was for a while, but the surgeon figured it out."
The doctors told Adams the bite was from a brown recluse - one of the most venomous spiders - and had happened a week-and-a-half to two weeks prior. His kidneys were beginning to shut down, and there was serious damage to his flesh because of the venom.
Adams spent 10 days in the hospital and lost 12 pounds. He missed some of training camp with the Fever but still suited up for the first game and had success.
"That was a rough time for me and my family," Adams said. "But I was determined to come back. I got in shape and made it back for the first game and had a good season."
He stopped playing arena football in 2008 and is currently a regional admissions manager for Marinello Beauty Schools in Sacramento. But he felt the urge to return to the field.
Adams and fellow veteran Chad Elliott have battled for the No. 1 spot with the Wolves. Elliot got the start in Stockton's 69-24 win over the Las Vegas Barons in its Western Indoor Football Association opener and is expected to start today. Adams played and had a touchdown pass and run against Las Vegas.
"I like him," Wolves coach Bennie King said of Adams. "Florida A&M does a great job developing quarterbacks. Lemuel can play. It just comes down to who's going to execute best to what we want to do against our opponent."
Adams said he is enjoying himself and figures veterans such as himself and Elliott can help a young team in several different ways.
"We know we are closer to being on our way out of this game than just getting into it, and we're OK with that," Adams said. "I tell the younger guys whether you're playing for 100 (dollars) or one million, take advantage of this stuff. We're one of the very few who can play on the professional side."
STOCKTON - Lemuel Adams is a father and husband with a full-time job who has also found time to revive his football career.
He's a busy man and he handles his hectic life with a smile on his face and joy in his heart because he has come to understand to enjoy what you have in life.
Five years ago, Adams suddenly went from a healthy athlete to dealing with a life-threatening illness when he suffered a dangerous spider bite. He recovered and played quarterback again before taking three years off, and now he has joined the Stockton Wolves, who host the Utah Stealth at 7:30 p.m. today at Stockton Arena.
At age 32, Adams' dreams are realistic and he appreciates what he has.
"When something like that happens to you, it definitely makes you respect what you have in life and not take everything for granted," Adams said. "You get your priorities straight."
His top priority is family, and he said one of his main motivations for joining the Wolves was a chance to play in front of friends and family. He lives in Sacramento with his wife, Brianna Adams, and his four children - Destiny, 10; Trinity, 8; Lemuel Jr., 7; and Serenity, 6.
His parents, Jennifer and Tom Stamper, have lived in Stockton for several years, and the whole family showed up for the Wolves' first game April 8.
"It's nice to have him home. We can all see him play," Jennifer Stamper said. "The other times he played, he was away."
Adams played at Oak Grove High in San Jose and Florida A&M University. In 2006, Adams was training in Arizona prior to joining the Tri-City Fever of arenafootball2, when he felt a tender spot under his right arm and figured he was sore from working out. But the pain persisted and he began to vomit while visiting his parents in Stockton on his way to Kennewick, Wash., to join the Fever. His mother is a nurse, and his stepfather is a respiratory therapist. Along with Adams' wife, they convinced him to go to Dameron Hospital.
"When he came into town, he didn't look good," Jennifer Stamper said. "We knew something was going on. They weren't sure what it was for a while, but the surgeon figured it out."
The doctors told Adams the bite was from a brown recluse - one of the most venomous spiders - and had happened a week-and-a-half to two weeks prior. His kidneys were beginning to shut down, and there was serious damage to his flesh because of the venom.
Adams spent 10 days in the hospital and lost 12 pounds. He missed some of training camp with the Fever but still suited up for the first game and had success.
"That was a rough time for me and my family," Adams said. "But I was determined to come back. I got in shape and made it back for the first game and had a good season."
He stopped playing arena football in 2008 and is currently a regional admissions manager for Marinello Beauty Schools in Sacramento. But he felt the urge to return to the field.
Adams and fellow veteran Chad Elliott have battled for the No. 1 spot with the Wolves. Elliot got the start in Stockton's 69-24 win over the Las Vegas Barons in its Western Indoor Football Association opener and is expected to start today. Adams played and had a touchdown pass and run against Las Vegas.
"I like him," Wolves coach Bennie King said of Adams. "Florida A&M does a great job developing quarterbacks. Lemuel can play. It just comes down to who's going to execute best to what we want to do against our opponent."
Adams said he is enjoying himself and figures veterans such as himself and Elliott can help a young team in several different ways.
"We know we are closer to being on our way out of this game than just getting into it, and we're OK with that," Adams said. "I tell the younger guys whether you're playing for 100 (dollars) or one million, take advantage of this stuff. We're one of the very few who can play on the professional side."