Post by 50yardfan on May 6, 2011 17:58:14 GMT -5
Wolves receiver runs from defenders, but not his past
www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110506/A_SPORTS/105060331
STOCKTON - Jasonus Tillery isn't proud of many things in his past. But he's not going to hide from the hard times and hopes others can learn from his mistakes.
Tillery, a wide receiver, and the undefeated Stockton Wolves will play at 7:30 p.m, today against the Reno Barons at Stockton Arena.
Tillery said he is grateful for the chance to be playing and wants to share his story of wasted opportunities, a 28-month prison stay and eventual redemption with local youngsters who may be facing the same challenges he did when he was growing up in a poor section of Newport News, Va.
"I just really want to help kids," Tillery said. "At first, I used to be ashamed of (the past). After I thought about it, I decided I wanted to talk about it. I just want people to use me as an example of what not to do."
Tillery, 29, said he has talked to team officials about trying to set up situations where he can give speeches at schools and youth programs about his experiences. He was a track and football star at Heritage High School in Newport News. But while he excelled on athletic fields, his home life was troubled.
He hasn't seen his father in years and says he never spent more than one hour in the same room as him. His mother had drug problems and didn't provide a stable home for Tillery or his two sisters. Sometimes there wasn't any food or electricity, or good parental advice.
"My mom, I think she did the best she could, but a lot of things she would teach me wasn't any good," Tillery said. "Stealing and stuff like that. We were pretty much poor, and my mom was my role model. If she didn't think anything was wrong with it, I didn't care what anybody else thought. I did a lot of stupid stuff."
He attended four different colleges, and had a son, Jaiden, whose whereabouts are unknown to Tillery. His speed and good hands landed him tryouts with the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers, but behavioral problems kept interfering with any chance he had for success.
"He is truly, deeply, 100 percent a good person, and he's made some terrible mistakes," said Thomas Hunter, Tillery's agent. "He was not taking advice or capitalizing on opportunities. I realize it was never personal or about me, it was something about him that he needed to address in himself. He has done that now."
The worst moment came June 16, 2007, when he was arrested for a combination of drug, gun and credit-card fraud charges in Maryland on his son's second birthday.
He did 28 months combined at two correctional facilities in Maryland, where he spent much of his time talking to older inmates and watching many leave only to quickly return. He also became more religious and knew he had to change his lifestyle.
"I know everybody says that when they go to jail they try to find God, but it's crazy, that's where I found him," Tillery said. "I read the Bible. And the main thing I learned in there was I just had to change how I lived my life."
He was released in 2009. He joined the Wyoming Calvary's indoor football team last season. He came to Stockton this season and has seven touchdown catches in the first three games.
"He's gone through some (adversity), and we preach on this level about responding to adversity and he's definitely a testament to just staying at it," Wolves coach Bennie King said. "You have to make wise choices, and if you don't, they can lead to certain types of repercussions. But we live in a world where you get a second opportunity, and he's used that well here."
When Tillery is not playing, he lives with his girlfriend in Casper, Wyo. While staying in the Stockton area, he said he doesn't socialize with his teammates often, preferring to spend time in his motel room or the weight room, which he called his "salvation."
He said he doesn't know how long he'll play, but King and Hunter are encouraging him to look for opportunities, and Tillery plans to attend a tryout for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the UFL on May 14.
And he's always there to advise those who want to talk to a man for advice, a living embodiment of what can go wrong and how to face your problems.
"I've been through a lot and just hope I can help some people make better decisions than I made," Tillery said.
Today's game
Barons at Wolves
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m., Stockton Arena
Records: Reno 1-1; Stockton 3-0
Information: (877) 996-5837; (209) 373-1700; stocktonwolves.com
www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110506/A_SPORTS/105060331
STOCKTON - Jasonus Tillery isn't proud of many things in his past. But he's not going to hide from the hard times and hopes others can learn from his mistakes.
Tillery, a wide receiver, and the undefeated Stockton Wolves will play at 7:30 p.m, today against the Reno Barons at Stockton Arena.
Tillery said he is grateful for the chance to be playing and wants to share his story of wasted opportunities, a 28-month prison stay and eventual redemption with local youngsters who may be facing the same challenges he did when he was growing up in a poor section of Newport News, Va.
"I just really want to help kids," Tillery said. "At first, I used to be ashamed of (the past). After I thought about it, I decided I wanted to talk about it. I just want people to use me as an example of what not to do."
Tillery, 29, said he has talked to team officials about trying to set up situations where he can give speeches at schools and youth programs about his experiences. He was a track and football star at Heritage High School in Newport News. But while he excelled on athletic fields, his home life was troubled.
He hasn't seen his father in years and says he never spent more than one hour in the same room as him. His mother had drug problems and didn't provide a stable home for Tillery or his two sisters. Sometimes there wasn't any food or electricity, or good parental advice.
"My mom, I think she did the best she could, but a lot of things she would teach me wasn't any good," Tillery said. "Stealing and stuff like that. We were pretty much poor, and my mom was my role model. If she didn't think anything was wrong with it, I didn't care what anybody else thought. I did a lot of stupid stuff."
He attended four different colleges, and had a son, Jaiden, whose whereabouts are unknown to Tillery. His speed and good hands landed him tryouts with the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers, but behavioral problems kept interfering with any chance he had for success.
"He is truly, deeply, 100 percent a good person, and he's made some terrible mistakes," said Thomas Hunter, Tillery's agent. "He was not taking advice or capitalizing on opportunities. I realize it was never personal or about me, it was something about him that he needed to address in himself. He has done that now."
The worst moment came June 16, 2007, when he was arrested for a combination of drug, gun and credit-card fraud charges in Maryland on his son's second birthday.
He did 28 months combined at two correctional facilities in Maryland, where he spent much of his time talking to older inmates and watching many leave only to quickly return. He also became more religious and knew he had to change his lifestyle.
"I know everybody says that when they go to jail they try to find God, but it's crazy, that's where I found him," Tillery said. "I read the Bible. And the main thing I learned in there was I just had to change how I lived my life."
He was released in 2009. He joined the Wyoming Calvary's indoor football team last season. He came to Stockton this season and has seven touchdown catches in the first three games.
"He's gone through some (adversity), and we preach on this level about responding to adversity and he's definitely a testament to just staying at it," Wolves coach Bennie King said. "You have to make wise choices, and if you don't, they can lead to certain types of repercussions. But we live in a world where you get a second opportunity, and he's used that well here."
When Tillery is not playing, he lives with his girlfriend in Casper, Wyo. While staying in the Stockton area, he said he doesn't socialize with his teammates often, preferring to spend time in his motel room or the weight room, which he called his "salvation."
He said he doesn't know how long he'll play, but King and Hunter are encouraging him to look for opportunities, and Tillery plans to attend a tryout for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the UFL on May 14.
And he's always there to advise those who want to talk to a man for advice, a living embodiment of what can go wrong and how to face your problems.
"I've been through a lot and just hope I can help some people make better decisions than I made," Tillery said.
Today's game
Barons at Wolves
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m., Stockton Arena
Records: Reno 1-1; Stockton 3-0
Information: (877) 996-5837; (209) 373-1700; stocktonwolves.com