Football Helped This Bloomfield HS Star During A Tough Time

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The phrase “football is the ultimate team sport” isn’t just lip service to Michael Bsales, a linebacker from Bloomfield High School. In fact, it’s a philosophy that helped him get through a rocky road when his parents divorced, he says.

Bsales was recently named as one of the nominees for the 2019 USA Football Heart of a Giant Award presented by Hospital for Special Surgery and the NY Giants. It’s an award that can net his school $10,000 if he gets enough support from online fans. (Vote for Sbales here)

But more importantly, it’s an honor that recognizes the lessons Bsales has gained through the sport of football: commitment, dedication, will, character and teamwork.

The BHS student-athlete explained how his gridiron experience helped him to get through a tough time in his life:

“During the fall of my sophomore year, my parents began the process of their separation and subsequent divorce. With my father out of the house and my three sisters in college, my mother worked long hours in order to provide for my family. Our home went from six to two quickly and left me without the constant guidance I had watched my sisters receive and had expected throughout my life. The breakup of my family pushed me to become more independent, mature and responsible. My teammates and my coaches without knowing supported me and gave me purpose. The football field was the safe haven for me through a difficult time. The structure and support that my second family on the gridiron provided me with could not be found anywhere else.”

Bsales, who volunteers as a coach for local youth football and has made humanitarian trips to Puerto Rico and California, spoke more about the positive role football has had in his life.

“A classic one-liner by most football coaches is that ‘football is the ultimate team sport.’ It is not an incorrect statement. The countless hours I spend with my teammates on the field, in the locker room, and elsewhere outnumber those with my family especially in the fall. The nature of the sport requires you to focus totally on your responsibility and trust completely in your teammates. The deep trust and time together creates more than just a band of friends and teammates, the team grows into brotherhood. No amount of glory from scoring touchdowns, winning games, or being featured in the newspaper can compare to the feeling of experiencing all of the ups and downs of life with a team of more than fifty brothers. My greatest memories from the gridiron have come from working as a team to overcome frigid temperatures and stacked odds. The relationships are what I enjoy the most and the sport has provided me with strong bonds that cannot be broken.”

The Bloomfield High School student’s effort and positive attitude hasn’t gone unnoticed by his coach.

“Mike Bsales always pays it forward,” Head Coach Mike Carter said.

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