A different perspective on Robert Foster (TBN article)

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Article on Robert Foster's family background and home situation growing up.

Buffalo News, may be paywall. 

Wow, some of the stuff he went through.  Gives me a different perspective on the guy.

 

On June 23, 2011, Foster was part of a group traveling to Florida with a 7-on-7 football team. During a stop in Durham, N.C., Foster and one of his best friends, Darrell Turner, were part of a group that got into an argument with a man at a restaurant. Gabriel Gamez then pulled a gun and shot Turner in the back, piercing his heart. Another teammate was shot in the leg. The bullets narrowly missed Foster.
 

Gamez was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, suggesting during the trial that the shooting may have been racially motivated. A restaurant employee testified during the trial that Gamez told her he would shoot any black person who said anything to him or his family. Turner was black.

Deeply spiritual, Foster dealt with the grief of watching a friend die by dedicating himself to football. He worked out with Caltury multiple times per day. The workouts transformed him into a 6-foot-2, 195-pound freak of nature.

The kid has got grit.  I hope he pulls it together as a receiver. 

 

It's stuff like this that helps me understand McDermott's approach of wanting the guys on the team to know more about each other.  Everyone has a story, everyone has some degree of adversity or family problems to overcome, and it helps to pull for them when you know it.  I'll be pulling for him even harder now.

 

 

[Gugny]

I've been a Foster fan since he made the team.  I wish he'd get more opportunities.  After reading that, I'll also be pulling for him even harder.

[Warcodered]

Jesus how many players on this team have had family/friends killed often time in front of them/dying in their arms?

[JerseyBills]

His straight line speed is incredible. Like to see him get 3-5 catches a game, in space . He can be a game changer

[RobbRiddicksTDLeap]

Where were the adults when this “argument” started?

[Don Otreply]

6 minutes ago, RobbRiddicksTDLeap said:

Where were the adults when this “argument” started?

Not really the point now is it.... you come across as a bit self righteous, Ask yourself this, were were the adults every time there is a school shooting in this country?? Dwell on that RRTDL. 

 

He and DW have been through some harsh times, I root for them all the more because of how they have come through it. 

 

Go Bills!!!

 

 

[machine gun kelly]

1 hour ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

Article on Robert Foster's family background and home situation growing up.

Buffalo News, may be paywall. 

Wow, some of the stuff he went through.  Gives me a different perspective on the guy.

 

On June 23, 2011, Foster was part of a group traveling to Florida with a 7-on-7 football team. During a stop in Durham, N.C., Foster and one of his best friends, Darrell Turner, were part of a group that got into an argument with a man at a restaurant. Gabriel Gamez then pulled a gun and shot Turner in the back, piercing his heart. Another teammate was shot in the leg. The bullets narrowly missed Foster.
 

Gamez was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, suggesting during the trial that the shooting may have been racially motivated. A restaurant employee testified during the trial that Gamez told her he would shoot any black person who said anything to him or his family. Turner was black.

Deeply spiritual, Foster dealt with the grief of watching a friend die by dedicating himself to football. He worked out with Caltury multiple times per day. The workouts transformed him into a 6-foot-2, 195-pound freak of nature.

The kid has got grit.  I hope he pulls it together as a receiver. 

 

It's stuff like this that helps me understand McDermott's approach of wanting the guys on the team to know more about each other.  Everyone has a story, everyone has some degree of adversity or family problems to overcome, and it helps to pull for them when you know it.  I'll be pulling for him even harder now.

 

 

 

Hapless, thanks for sharing as it’s not the $, but on principle won’t pay just to read Bills stories.  Rochester, Toronto, and Syracuse papers, don’t require it.  Funny as my dad work as an exec in advertising for them for 44 years.  His only job except for his bout in the Korean War.  It was my college job too.

 

Appreciate you sharing.  

[Buffalo Junction]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wral.com/texas-man-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder-in-durham-parking-lot-shooting/12404258/%3fversion=amp

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

I was reading some college review of him and he was athletically elite on separating, speed, hips and compared to some of the best. 

 

Would be nice if the light bulb went on and he started playing like that. 

 

 

[LSHMEAB]

He's the most "electric" player on offense. Until Allen figures out his deep ball issues, they should really try to get the ball in his hands in space. I understand that he's not a "complete" receiver, but the fact that the offense can't execute screens is maddening. Bubble screen to Foster properly executed could theoretically be a big play without the need for an accurate deep ball.

[BillsFan4]

Wow, I knew his best friend had died from being shot but I didn’t know the circumstances. I can only imagine how traumatizing it was for foster and everyone else involved. 

[RobbRiddicksTDLeap]

3 hours ago, Don Otreply said:

Not really the point now is it.... you come across as a bit self righteous, Ask yourself this, were were the adults every time there is a school shooting in this country?? Dwell on that RRTDL. 

 

He and DW have been through some harsh times, I root for them all the more because of how they have come through it. 

 

Go Bills!!!

 

 

Really?

 

As a coach, i can tell you that my boys are never far enough away from me, that i can’t be the adult in the room. If ANY of my boys do anything outside of the rules of the team, they understand that there are consequences. Arguing with ANYONE in public, is well within the scope of adult involvement. 
 

If a grown man starts an argument with children, especially ones in my care, I immediately find a way to diffuse the situation. It’s happened on the field, and it’s happened at practice. There is no way in hell that I would ever allow a situation to get so out of hand, that it would come to violence, let alone gun violence. If I have my boys at a resteraunt, and a man says “get those (insert racial epithet of your choice) out of here”, IMMEDIATELY the boys get up and we leave. Safety first, ALWAYS.  If you can’t see that, that’s an even bigger issue to talk about some other time. 
 

Im sorry for Robert Foster. I’m sorry for any child that has to deal with sudden and tragic death. As a man, and as a coach, I’m proud for him that he has found his way. 
 

Typical of our time, you’re creating false equivalency to build up your argument, but also rally others behind you with some good old fashioned virtue signals. It’s a valid question to ask where the responsible adults were in this situation. To say that I’m being self righteous because i asked that question, is just plain sickening. It’s a clear indicator of where we headed as people, when the idea of ADULT SUPERVISION is called into question, and worse, self righteous. 
 

The fact that someone liked your comment is also sad. 
 

Go Bills. 

[FireChans]

1 minute ago, RobbRiddicksTDLeap said:

Really?

 

As a coach, i can tell you that my boys are never far enough away from me, that i can’t be the adult in the room. If ANY of my boys do anything outside of the rules of the team, they understand that there are consequences. Arguing with ANYONE in public, is well within the scope of adult involvement. 
 

If a grown man starts an argument with children, especially ones in my care, I immediately find a way to diffuse the situation. It’s happened on the field, and it’s happened at practice. There is no way in hell that I would ever allow a situation to get so out of hand, that it would come to violence, let alone gun violence. If I have my boys at a resteraunt, and a man says “get those (insert racial epithet of your choice) out of here”, IMMEDIATELY the boys get up and we leave. Safety first, ALWAYS.  If you can’t see that, that’s an even bigger issue to talk about some other time. 
 

Im sorry for Robert Foster. I’m sorry for any child that has to deal with sudden and tragic death. As a man, and as a coach, I’m proud for him that he has found his way. 
 

Typical of our time, you’re creating false equivalency to build up your argument, but also rally others behind you with some good old fashioned virtue signals. It’s a valid question to ask where the responsible adults were in this situation. To say that I’m being self righteous because i asked that question, is just plain sickening. It’s a clear indicator of where we headed as people, when the idea of ADULT SUPERVISION is called into question, and worse, self righteous. 
 

The fact that someone liked your comment is also sad. 
 

Go Bills. 

RACK EM SON.

[Solomon Grundy]

Have a career night tonight Robert Foster!! Your friend will be watching from Heaven.

[PaoloBillsFanFromItaly]

I don't want to sound disrespectful towards the USA, which is a great nation, but every time I heard news like this I always wonder how it is possible that this happens so frequently, I mean, bullets flying everywhere like a crime TV series.

Anyway, my best wishes to Foster.

[Augie]

1 hour ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

I was reading some college review of him and he was athletically elite on separating, speed, hips and compared to some of the best. 

 

Would be nice if the light bulb went on and he started playing like that. 

 

 

 

The strange part is, late last year he looked like that guy! Like a completely different player running a variety of routes well, getting open and catching the ball. I pray he becomes “that guy” again, as I want him to succeed more than ever after reading the above. 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

9 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

The strange part is, late last year he looked like that guy! Like a completely different player running a variety of routes well, getting open and catching the ball. I pray he becomes “that guy” again, as I want him to succeed more than ever after reading the above. 

 

Not sure what his issue is. Either his pro AND COLLEGE btw OC can’t figure out how to use him, or he just another case of arrested development 

[Mike in Horseheads]

4 hours ago, Gugny said:

I've been a Foster fan since he made the team.  I wish he'd get more opportunities.  After reading that, I'll also be pulling for him even harder.

Tough life lousy football player. Hope he does well selling insurance

[Gugny]

Just now, Mike in Horseheads said:

Tough life lousy football player. Hope he does well selling insurance

 

You are BRUTAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mike in Horseheads]

Just now, Gugny said:

 

You are BRUTAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You were my mentor

[Hapless Bills Fan]

30 minutes ago, PaoloBillsFanFromItaly said:

I don't want to sound disrespectful towards the USA, which is a great nation, but every time I heard news like this I always wonder how it is possible that this happens so frequently, I mean, bullets flying everywhere like a crime TV series.

Anyway, my best wishes to Foster.

 

Your puzzlement is shared by most of Europe, and is beyond the scope of this football forum to address.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

3 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

 

Hapless, thanks for sharing as it’s not the $, but on principle won’t pay just to read Bills stories.  Rochester, Toronto, and Syracuse papers, don’t require it.  Funny as my dad work as an exec in advertising for them for 44 years.  His only job except for his bout in the Korean War.  It was my college job too.

 

Appreciate you sharing.  

 

I understand your POV, but increasing numbers of newspapers are going to an online subscriber model as print subscriptions (and thus revenue) decline

 

1) You wouldn’t work for free, so why would you expect reporters, photographers, and editors to do so to provide you with content?

2) If you aren’t paying for a product, remember YOU ARE the product

[Putin]

5 hours ago, Gugny said:

I've been a Foster fan since he made the team.  I wish he'd get more opportunities.  After reading that, I'll also be pulling for him even harder.

It’s harder to get more opportunities when Allen strangles with a long ball !!

Hopefully Allen will get that minor issue fixed 

[Buffalo Junction]

1 hour ago, RobbRiddicksTDLeap said:

Really?

 

As a coach, i can tell you that my boys are never far enough away from me, that i can’t be the adult in the room. If ANY of my boys do anything outside of the rules of the team, they understand that there are consequences. Arguing with ANYONE in public, is well within the scope of adult involvement. 
 

If a grown man starts an argument with children, especially ones in my care, I immediately find a way to diffuse the situation. It’s happened on the field, and it’s happened at practice. There is no way in hell that I would ever allow a situation to get so out of hand, that it would come to violence, let alone gun violence. If I have my boys at a resteraunt, and a man says “get those (insert racial epithet of your choice) out of here”, IMMEDIATELY the boys get up and we leave. Safety first, ALWAYS.  If you can’t see that, that’s an even bigger issue to talk about some other time. 
 

Im sorry for Robert Foster. I’m sorry for any child that has to deal with sudden and tragic death. As a man, and as a coach, I’m proud for him that he has found his way. 
 

Typical of our time, you’re creating false equivalency to build up your argument, but also rally others behind you with some good old fashioned virtue signals. It’s a valid question to ask where the responsible adults were in this situation. To say that I’m being self righteous because i asked that question, is just plain sickening. It’s a clear indicator of where we headed as people, when the idea of ADULT SUPERVISION is called into question, and worse, self righteous. 
 

The fact that someone liked your comment is also sad. 
 

Go Bills. 

“Robert Foster said that after Mr. Gamez pulled a gun, he started running and was back at the hotel to tell his coach about it before he knew anyone had been shot. He heard the gunshots, he said.”

https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2013/04/25/Gateway-teammates-testify/stories/201304250218
 

[Gugny]

11 minutes ago, Putin said:

It’s harder to get more opportunities when Allen strangles with a long ball !!

Hopefully Allen will get that minor issue fixed 

 

Time and a place.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, RobbRiddicksTDLeap said:

Really?

 

As a coach, i can tell you that my boys are never far enough away from me, that i can’t be the adult in the room. If ANY of my boys do anything outside of the rules of the team, they understand that there are consequences. Arguing with ANYONE in public, is well within the scope of adult involvement. 
 

If a grown man starts an argument with children, especially ones in my care, I immediately find a way to diffuse the situation. It’s happened on the field, and it’s happened at practice. There is no way in hell that I would ever allow a situation to get so out of hand, that it would come to violence, let alone gun violence. If I have my boys at a resteraunt, and a man says “get those (insert racial epithet of your choice) out of here”, IMMEDIATELY the boys get up and we leave. Safety first, ALWAYS.  If you can’t see that, that’s an even bigger issue to talk about some other time. 
 

Im sorry for Robert Foster. I’m sorry for any child that has to deal with sudden and tragic death. As a man, and as a coach, I’m proud for him that he has found his way. 
 

Typical of our time, you’re creating false equivalency to build up your argument, but also rally others behind you with some good old fashioned virtue signals. It’s a valid question to ask where the responsible adults were in this situation. To say that I’m being self righteous because i asked that question, is just plain sickening. It’s a clear indicator of where we headed as people, when the idea of ADULT SUPERVISION is called into question, and worse, self righteous. 
 

The fact that someone liked your comment is also sad. 
 

Go Bills. 

 

8 minutes ago, Buffalo Junction said:

“Robert Foster said that after Mr. Gamez pulled a gun, he started running and was back at the hotel to tell his coach about it before he knew anyone had been shot. He heard the gunshots, he said.”

https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2013/04/25/Gateway-teammates-testify/stories/201304250218
 

 

Wow, I guess I should have, but I never expected this to go there and I’m sorry it did.

 

1) I don’t care where the coach was.  I don’t care what the kids said.  It’s unacceptable for an adult (the shooter was >21 at the time) to pull out a gun and shoot a kid in the back, no matter what the kids said

 

2) @RobbRiddicksTDLeap, kudos to you for taking such a proactive and positive attitude to diffuse all situations with the kids in your charge, but it really doesn’t change 1), and tossing in language about ‘virtue signals’ and ADULT SUPERVISION (all caps) does not strengthen the argument, it just kind of makes it look like an underlying agenda.

 

3) People get shot these days who are doing absolutely nothing wrong and nothing to escalate a situation.  So without knowing all the details of the situation you seem to be making a bunch of assumptions.

 

The story is that Foster, for whatever reason, underwent a very traumatic situation of having a good friend who was headed for a positive sports-related activity shot and turned the negative experience into positive motivation for himself.  That is commendable, period.

[Don Otreply]

2 hours ago, RobbRiddicksTDLeap said:

Really?

 

As a coach, i can tell you that my boys are never far enough away from me, that i can’t be the adult in the room. If ANY of my boys do anything outside of the rules of the team, they understand that there are consequences. Arguing with ANYONE in public, is well within the scope of adult involvement. 
 

If a grown man starts an argument with children, especially ones in my care, I immediately find a way to diffuse the situation. It’s happened on the field, and it’s happened at practice. There is no way in hell that I would ever allow a situation to get so out of hand, that it would come to violence, let alone gun violence. If I have my boys at a resteraunt, and a man says “get those (insert racial epithet of your choice) out of here”, IMMEDIATELY the boys get up and we leave. Safety first, ALWAYS.  If you can’t see that, that’s an even bigger issue to talk about some other time. 
 

Im sorry for Robert Foster. I’m sorry for any child that has to deal with sudden and tragic death. As a man, and as a coach, I’m proud for him that he has found his way. 
 

Typical of our time, you’re creating false equivalency to build up your argument, but also rally others behind you with some good old fashioned virtue signals. It’s a valid question to ask where the responsible adults were in this situation. To say that I’m being self righteous because i asked that question, is just plain sickening. It’s a clear indicator of where we headed as people, when the idea of ADULT SUPERVISION is called into question, and worse, self righteous. 
 

The fact that someone liked your comment is also sad. 
 

Go Bills. 

Did you question the adults integrity at the schools that get shot up too, you are not getting the point, but that’s okay, enjoy the game, and merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and yours. 

 

Sorry Hapless, I’ll try harder to bypass this sort of thing in the future. 

 

Go Bills!!!

Edited December 16, 2019 by Don Otreply

[RobbRiddicksTDLeap]

55 minutes ago, Buffalo Junction said:

“Robert Foster said that after Mr. Gamez pulled a gun, he started running and was back at the hotel to tell his coach about it before he knew anyone had been shot. He heard the gunshots, he said.”

https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2013/04/25/Gateway-teammates-testify/stories/201304250218
 

And if the coach had been with them at the restaurant, there’s a very good chance Gamez doesn’t say anything to the boys, and or, the coach would have been able to diffuse the situation. 
 

There is a time and place for children, especially teenage boys, to learn independence and freedom. On a team trip across country is not one of them. 
 

Again, as a coach, the only time my boys would be out of my sight is lights out. 
 

Ultimately, Gamez is responsible for the death of the young man, but an adult on the scene would have been able to do more to prevent it from escalating. 
 

Go Bills. 

14 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

Did you question the adults integrity at the schools that get shot up too, you are not getting the point, but that’s okay, enjoy the game, and merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and yours. 

 

Sorry Hapless, I’ll try harder to bypass this sort of thing in the future. 

 

Go Bills!!!

School shootings and a racist shooting a kid in the back are two entirely different situations. If you can’t see that, then we can’t have a rational conversation. 

[RobbRiddicksTDLeap]

46 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

 

Wow, I guess I should have, but I never expected this to go there and I’m sorry it did.

 

1) I don’t care where the coach was.  I don’t care what the kids said.  It’s unacceptable for an adult (the shooter was >21 at the time) to pull out a gun and shoot a kid in the back, no matter what the kids said

 

2) @RobbRiddicksTDLeap, kudos to you for taking such a proactive and positive attitude to diffuse all situations with the kids in your charge, but it really doesn’t change 1), and tossing in language about ‘virtue signals’ and ADULT SUPERVISION (all caps) does not strengthen the argument, it just kind of makes it look like an underlying agenda.

 

3) People get shot these days who are doing absolutely nothing wrong and nothing to escalate a situation.  So without knowing all the details of the situation you seem to be making a bunch of assumptions.

 

The story is that Foster, for whatever reason, underwent a very traumatic situation of having a good friend who was headed for a positive sports-related activity shot and turned the negative experience into positive motivation for himself.  That is commendable, period.

What he did was exactly virtue signaling. I don’t need to strengthen my argument, but i also won’t allow my words to be twisted into something they are not. 
 

Trying to draw an inference between school shootings and what happened in this story, is a false equivalency. Yes, in both instances people were shot and killed. That’s where the similarities end. 
 

I think between the 3 articles posted, we get a clear idea of what happened. A group of boys on a team trip went for something to eat. They got into an exchange with someone looking for trouble. Because there was no one there to guide them out of that trouble, a tragedy occurred. Does that about sum it up? If this would have just been a parking lot dust up and the worst thing that happened was a black eye and some hurt pride, it wouldn’t change the fact that there was no adult, no coach, present to be the voice of reason. 
 

Again, the fact that any of this needs to be explained or defended, is beyond me. 

[jlgarsh]

You can't be in several places at once.  There was probably more than one place to get dinner by the hotel.  Horrible situation.

[Markaf431]

15 minutes ago, RobbRiddicksTDLeap said:

And if the coach had been with them at the restaurant, there’s a very good chance Gamez doesn’t say anything to the boys, and or, the coach would have been able to diffuse the situation. 
 

There is a time and place for children, especially teenage boys, to learn independence and freedom. On a team trip across country is not one of them. 
 

Again, as a coach, the only time my boys would be out of my sight is lights out. 
 

Ultimately, Gamez is responsible for the death of the young man, but an adult on the scene would have been able to do more to prevent it from escalating. 
 

Go Bills. 

School shootings and a racist shooting a kid in the back are two entirely different situations. If you can’t see that, then we can’t have a rational conversation. 

the flaw in your argument is in your words “and if in adult were there.....”  is nothing more than an assumption. A guy who is carrying a gun and clearly willing to shoot, isn’t necessarily going to care about an adult being there versus a group of teenagers. 

[billsfan_34]

7 hours ago, JerseyBills said:

His straight line speed is incredible. Like to see him get 3-5 catches a game, in space . He can be a game changer

And he can break a tackle unlike McKenzie that dude gets blown on and falls over. Fast as heck and just plain weak.

[Mr. WEO]

Everyone wanted to pull harder for Dareus, who's brother fell off a motorcycle and all 5 of his grandmothers died....

 

Didn't help.

[Don Otreply]

3 hours ago, RobbRiddicksTDLeap said:

What he did was exactly virtue signaling. I don’t need to strengthen my argument, but i also won’t allow my words to be twisted into something they are not. 
 

Trying to draw an inference between school shootings and what happened in this story, is a false equivalency. Yes, in both instances people were shot and killed. That’s where the similarities end. 
 

I think between the 3 articles posted, we get a clear idea of what happened. A group of boys on a team trip went for something to eat. They got into an exchange with someone looking for trouble. Because there was no one there to guide them out of that trouble, a tragedy occurred. Does that about sum it up? If this would have just been a parking lot dust up and the worst thing that happened was a black eye and some hurt pride, it wouldn’t change the fact that there was no adult, no coach, present to be the voice of reason. 
 

Again, the fact that any of this needs to be explained or defended, is beyond me. 

Yes, it is beyond you,

 

10-4 Go Bills!!!

[FireChans]

3 hours ago, RobbRiddicksTDLeap said:

What he did was exactly virtue signaling. I don’t need to strengthen my argument, but i also won’t allow my words to be twisted into something they are not. 
 

Trying to draw an inference between school shootings and what happened in this story, is a false equivalency. Yes, in both instances people were shot and killed. That’s where the similarities end. 
 

I think between the 3 articles posted, we get a clear idea of what happened. A group of boys on a team trip went for something to eat. They got into an exchange with someone looking for trouble. Because there was no one there to guide them out of that trouble, a tragedy occurred. Does that about sum it up? If this would have just been a parking lot dust up and the worst thing that happened was a black eye and some hurt pride, it wouldn’t change the fact that there was no adult, no coach, present to be the voice of reason. 
 

Again, the fact that any of this needs to be explained or defended, is beyond me. 

Call the fight!!!! They have families!!!!