They say for every loss there is a hidden gain.
Newly acquired linebacker D.J. Lalama gained a new perspective on life after nearly losing his own in 2018.
After an eye-opening health scare and two years away from playing a football game, he is ready to take the field in 2022.
Stamps Associate Digital Producer Makayla Berze caught up with Lalama for a Q&A:
BERZE: If you’re comfortable talking about it, could you walk me through your health scare? What happened?
LALAMA: For sure. In 2018 I was in training camp with Montreal and I ended up getting a shoulder injury that needed to be operated on. I came home to Winnipeg to get operated on and five days after the surgery I basically had a mini cardiac arrest. I lost vision, my whole body seized up, I couldn’t breathe, got rushed to the hospital and they found a blood clot in my right lung. They had to do a bunch of tests, put me on blood thinners and check out a bunch of stuff, and kind of let it dissipate. There was six months of blood thinners; I couldn’t really play football or anything that would cause bleeding for that period of time. They told me not to play contact sports anymore and being somewhat stubborn I chose to not listen to them fully and come back and play. So going into 2019 there was a little uncertainty, you don’t know how your body is going to react. You are worried a little bit I guess of the complications and what that could mean, but I have a great support system around me in Winnipeg and Montreal, and they did everything they could to make me feel comfortable. It creates a new appreciation for what you’re going through and none of this is promised, none of this is guaranteed and you have to enjoy the moments that you can create for what they are. That’s why I think football is a little bit more fun. It’s not promised. It’s not something that everyone gets (the opportunity) to go through at this level so I’m very grateful and appreciative for another opportunity to keep playing.
BERZE: You’ve been very active on social media; I think it’s fair to say you’re excited to join the team? Where does that excitement come from? What are you most looking forward to?
LALAMA: That’s a good question. I think the excitement just comes from the passion I have to play the game and be around people that share that passion. When you look at the Calgary organization top to bottom, they’ve always been the standard in the league and being here and being a part of that… (The excitement) is genuine. You’re excited to play in a market that cares and an organization that cares about its players. To have that opportunity after a couple years of Covid, some personal struggles, it’s great to be in that type of environment and I think what I’m most excited about is to share a locker-room with like-minded people in a market that football means a lot to and hopefully we can bring a lot of smiles and a lot of wins and hopefully a big trophy when it’s all said and done.
BERZE: Is there anyone on this Stampeders roster that you’re looking forward to learning from or just playing with in general?
LALAMA: I mean the entire offence. It’s nice that you can finally be on the same side and you know, not have to be in opposition playing against Bo Levi and Kamar and everyone else there. You know again, they’re the standard in the league. I think defensively, a guy like Elie Bouka. We played against each other in college and are both coming in as free agents; it’s going to be exciting to play together in both of our new chapter. I think someone like Thurman, just being able to get in and see what’s made him successful at that position for such a long time and learn as much as you can from someone like that I think is going to bode well for someone like myself. Playing with a guy like Cam (Judge) in the linebacker position as well, obviously he’s a great football player and I think there’s a lot to learn. We’ll compete against each other and make each other better, and I’m excited to have that competitive fire going day in and day out at practice.
BERZE: So, you’re an all-Canadian, played high school, USPORTS and went on to the CFL. How important was grassroots football in your communities growing up and how did that shape you into the football player you are today?
LALAMA: Another good question. It was everything. I started out as a hockey player like most Canadians and actually an ex-Bomber (friend) of mine Bob Molle kind of said ‘Hey, you can’t play football on skates. You know you should probably try football, hitting is legal.’ It was introduced to me at seven years old and in the city of Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba, although it’s small, football does mean a lot in the community. It’s so supportive and it definitely does take a village to raise a child as the old saying goes and you know whether it was myself or Nic Demski or a few others around that same age, there was a lot of people in that community that helped push us forward and challenged us and provided opportunities for us to grow ourselves and grow our football acumens. It was fantastic. I think when you get to that USPORTS level, you know obviously there’s a lot being said in regards to how much support there is, the Canadian ratio and all that, but I think in general the sport, this league, the CFL means so much to Canadians and I think without having CFL organizations like Calgary’s and others, showing that it’s possible at this level – you don’t have much to look up to as a young Canadian boy playing the game. For guys that I knew, you know Doug Brown, Joe Lobendahn, Milt Stegall, Khari Jones, those are the guys that made me want to play football and now in turn, if there’s anyone living in the Calgary area that can look up and see me as a role model in any way, on and off the field, hopefully they want to pursue the game as well.
BERZE: What are you binge-watching right now?
LALAMA: Oh that’s a good one. I’m actually watching Force. I think Power was the first one and now it’s on to like the sequel or the third one. And, my fiancée and I are watching All American as well.
BERZE: It’s funny you mention the Power one, too, Jordan Williams-Lambert is watching that as well.
LALAMA: We can have a Power watching room at camp, I’m excited for it. (Laughs).
BERZE: If you could choose three emojis to describe you, what would they be?
LALAMA: (Laughs) That’s a good one. Um, shoot. Some goofy one like with the little tongue sticking out because you got to keep things serious but you have to have a playful side, too. Then I think the flexed arm because working out is a passion of mine, I’m a kinesiology grad. Then I think the third one is the 100. Always be unapologetically yourself and things will work out.
BERZE: What’s your spirit animal?
LALAMA: I guess I’d say a lion. Be fearless in what you do.
BERZE: What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
LALAMA: That’s a good question. Kudos to you for coming up with all of these. Best gift I ever received … I’ll be honest, there’s been some stuff health-wise over the last couple years and I think just the gift of family, their unconditional love, I think is often taken for granted and I think through Covid and everything else it shows you just how precious those memories are. So, I think that would be my best gift that I’ve ever received: my great family.
BERZE: The next one kind of follows the same lines, who is someone that inspires you or that you look up to and why?
LALAMA: I’ll give you two. One is my Dad. He’s a great role model for me and in a lot of ways how you want to lead your life and how family always comes first. The work ethic and the success he’s been able to have, his ventures, speak volumes and I’d love to emulate that one day or at least part of (it). Then I think more from a football sense, for myself, it was actually Joe Lobendahn. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, we used to train together, all of us CFL guys were in the same gym together and Joe really kind of took me under his wing early on. Actually, he played in Calgary if I’m not mistaken. He showed me the ropes on what it would take to be a CFL athlete and I was only 16 or 17 at the time, so his mentorship has always meant a lot and here we are ten years later.
BERZE: Is there something I didn’t ask that you’d like to talk about or something you want to tell the fans?
LALAMA: Good question. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I don’t take any of this for granted. I’ve had my own health battles, and almost dying, and when you have an episode like that in your life it puts a new perspective on things and you feel like you have a new lease on life. For myself, I’m coming in, really enjoying the moment, and trying to soak it all in for what it can be. Huff and Dickey are giving me an opportunity and just being a visitor you can see how much Calgary football means to Calgarians and hopefully we can give them more reason to celebrate. I’m going to do everything that I can in whatever role I’m given to make that a reality.