Post by MOnarchsRule on Feb 25, 2008 5:02:59 GMT -5
Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo had trouble holding his emotions while discussing his wife's battle with cancer with reporters yesterday.
AP - KANSAS CITY It was a much more relaxed and confident Anthony Calvillo who met reporters on Thursday than the teary-eyed one in November who first gave details of his wife's battle with cancer.
The Kansas City Monarch's quarterback's wife, Alexia Kontolemos, has now completed six cycles of chemotherapy and the B-cell lymphoma tumour in her chest has been reduced in size by 95 per cent.
She's taking a breather now and will begin the next stage, radiation therapy, in early March. It will involve treatments five days per week for four weeks, with a new load of potential side effects to deal with.
"She's looking forward to it because everything to date has been going so great," Calvillo told a room full of media at Arrowhead Stadium.
"There were so many unanswered questions at that time (in November). We knew my wife was diagnosed with cancer. We didn't know how she would respond to the treatments. Now, the majority of the thoughts are positive because of the way it's been going. She feels great and she looks great."
Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo enjoys time at home last week with wife, Alexia, and daughter, Athena Sonia.
Calvillo has even begun to gear up for the football season.
After his wife was diagnosed, Calvillo left the team to be with her and their two young children, two-year-old Athena and Olivia, who was barely a month old when her mother's cancer was discovered.
Calvillo has as of now missed all of the off-season workouts since October to be with his wife.
Calvillo say he looks forward to getting to practice.
"I started training in January," he said. "My intention was always to go back to playing football.
"My wife stressed that to me. For the last few months it's been difficult not getting excited about the football season. But we're trying to get back to a normal life as much as possible, and that means football. I know I'm looking forward to getting back on the field."
"We're trying to get back to a normal life," he said. "I'm itching to get back on the field. My intention always was to continue playing ball. That's what I do. I might have changed the time of my workouts, but I haven't changed the intensity. I don't see anything being a problem when we get closer to the season." However, much has changed since he left.
Calvillo is 35, and about to enter his 15th professional football season, 11 with the CFL and the last four in the XFL. The younger, more mobile and athletic Matt Nagy acquitted himself well in the workouts in Calvillo's absence. For the second time since he became the 'Archs undisputed starter in 2004, Calvillo might finally be pushed by someone at training camp, especially with the improved play of back-up Matt Nagy, the release of 3rd-string QB Robert Kent, and possibility of the team drafting a QB this year.
"Over the past three or four years, they've always brought in different quarterbacks ... Jim Kubiak ... Ryan Vena," Calvillo said. "They've always questioned whether I'm the starter. My intention is to start. I'll never lay it down for anyone. I've talked to Coach Henderson. I anticipate competing and starting for 12 (regular-season) games."
The Monarchs came within one game of the X-Bowl, but their nemesis, the Dallas Lonestars, who swept them in the regular season, made it 3 - 3 by beating them 23 - 7 at Arrowhead. As owner Sean Calliard left the stadium, he was heard saying, "This was totally unacceptable. Heads are gonna roll for this."
And that they did. Within 2 weeks after the season, starting MLB and fan-favorite Jeremiah Trotter was a former Monarch, traded to (of all places) Dallas, for 2 drafts picks. He was replaced that same day by NFLFA MLB Buster Davis. Into Arrowhead also came safeties Tony Parrish and Eric Coleman, WR Devard Darling, C Alex Stepanovich, RT Max Starks, and CB Reggie Durden. They recently signed P Brian Morton, when Todd Sauerbrun got into some legal problems and was cut.
"It's something I've never seen, especially in KC where we've been very good about being consistent - maybe losing one or two players here or there," he said. "This is almost a complete overhaul.
"It'll be interesting. We have people coming in with NFL experience and that's the one thing I like. We need people who know this game. I don't care what people think. Football is football. I understand that management wants to win now, and I have to do my part to make it so."
He also likes the fact that Henderson, and Off. Co-Ord. Mike Heimerdinger have included him in discussions on the offensive system they hope to employ. Plus, with Darling, and Starks on the roster, Devin Hester getting more reps as a slot WR, and league rushing-title holder LenDale White in the fold, this will be the most weapons he'll have at his disposal since coming to KC.
Calvillo said he was excited for Nagy's work in the off-season and that his performance was "a huge step for him." But if Nagy wants the starting job this season, he'll have to fight for it.
"My intention is to be the starter," Calvillo said. "I'm never going to lay it down for anybody. It'll have to be earned out there. Like I said, I anticipate coming in and competing and starting for 12 games."
Meanwhile, he will continue to work out - in the afternoon because baby Olivia keeps him awake at night - and take daughter Athena to classes in a neighbourhood program called Mamas and Tots.
"Now it's Daddy and Tots, because I'm the only father in this class," he joked.
The Los Angeles native has taken up cross-country skiing to get through the snowy KC winter. He has resumed public appearances and, after shutting himself off even to some teammates for a time, is answering phone calls and e-mails again.
He thanked the media for keeping their distance while his wife was in chemotherapy and said he is now open to doing interviews again.
And he thanked the many people from across the US and Canada who sent e-mails of encouragement.
"My wife wanted to say how happy she was with the response, not only the organization gave us, but the fans here in Kansas City and throughout the XFL," he said. "We finally got a chance to read all the e-mails sent through the team website.
"It was really touching. It was complete strangers writing in, giving us best wishes and saying they were praying for her."