Lopez joins a new NFL team this season, but he continues to pay his community in Arizona
Temple, Arizona – It was a Saturday morning with his family, football and 500 children at the fourth annual annual football camp of Roy Lopez Jr. at Marcos de Niza high school in Temple, Alma Mater de Lopez.
The young athletes from kindergarten to eighth year spent three hours practicing exercises and skills before leaving with a new shirt, a loot bag and a lunch provided by the Roy Lopez Foundation.
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The 12sports team has followed Roy Lopez Jr.’s career since he was two -sports athlete in Marcos. He was a member of the All-Fever team and now he is preparing for his fifth season in the NFL.
The coming season will mark a new chapter for Lopez after having signed with the Lions of Detroit as a free agent without restriction earlier this year.
Before his off-season training program started later this month, Lopez returned to his roots in his old trampling field in Marcos where his father, Roy Sr., led for 20 years.
“When we made the decision with the Detroit lions, my father was at home within 20 minutes with a hat of Detroit Lions,” said Lopez Jr. “My mother is here with a cowboy hat who has Detroit lions on the front. We are ready, we kiss him.”
“BTB” means “Be the Best”, which is the motto of the Lopez Foundation. It is a call for action for the children of its fourth annual football camp and a mentality that Lopez adopted throughout his sporting career.
The motto is not exclusive to sports performance; In fact, it is intended to encourage people to present themselves as their best self in all aspects of their lives.
“To be this light for children’s lives, even if it is for a day or even if it is a second, I appreciate it. I know what these days meant for me and my father and my family,” said Lopez. “Being here standing in front of all these children is incredible.”
Lopez began his career in the NFL in Houston, playing for the Texans for two seasons before having the opportunity to play for his hometown team, the Arizona Cardinals, in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
More than 100 members of his family volunteered to work on camp alongside coaches and teammates from Lopez’s past, including the former secondary school, Dennis Gardeck, who is currently a free agent.
While his NFL career removed him from his home, Lopez remains rooted in the valley and continues to give back to the community that has been poured into him.
“He likes to make us proud. Not only his immediate family, but the Superior family, Kearny’s family, the family of the whole state,” said Lopez Sr., fighting tears. “They look at him as” my brother, he did it! ” They know the hours we spend on this field, this rear field, the bodybuilding room … Everyone is proud of this young man. »»
You can expect to see the Lopez family in Ford Field when Lopez takes the ground with the Lions in the fall.
Follow the conversation with Lina Washington on X and Instagram: @Lwashingtontv. If you have an idea of sports history, send an email to Lina to [email protected].
Arizona Sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The Cardinals of the NFL Arizona, Phoenix Suns of the NBA, Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA and Arizona Diamondbacks of MLB.
The cardinals have made the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, their domestic lawn and the footprint center in downtown Phoenix is home to both Suns and Mercury. The Arizona Rattlers of the Interior Football League play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a football team with the USL Phoenix Rising FC, which plays the Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley organizes several major sporting events every year, including the Fiesta Bowl in university football and the guaranteed rate bowl; The busiest event in the PGA Tour, WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events every spring and fall, including the championship weekend in November; And spring training in the Cactus League for 15 major leagues baseball franchises.
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