Sciortino announces retirement from football
May 28, 2005 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Ottawa Renegades News Release
KEMPTVILLE â Sandro Sciortino, the courageous young kicker who kicked two game-winning field goals for the Renegades last year before having his season cut short due to cancer, retired from professional football Saturday â a day after reporting to Kemptville College for Ottawa's training camp.
"Believe it or not, I am going to step back and announce my retirement from football," said Sciortino, the 26-year-old native of Markham, Ont., who departed from the very campus where he won his first pro job only 12 months ago. "The last year has been a tough one for me. I am physically fine. I just feel at this time I need some time away from football to figure things out. I respect the Renegades organization and Coach (Joe) Paopao and rather than go through camp or half-way through the season not be there with 100 per cent of my heart, I think it's only fair to come out now and let them know.
"Cancer has nothing to do with this. I feel stronger than ever," continued Sciortino, a product of Boston College. "Physically I'm not tired. No soreness, I get checked out every two months at Princess Margaret hospital and I am ready to go. But deep down in my heart, I have gone thro! ugh a big change in my life. It was only seven months ago that I found out and I realized that I don't take life for granted. If my heart's not into it, no matter what job I am in, then I'm not going to be doing it. At the end of the day, at the end of your life, you have to make sure you are happy. Right now, I can't play football."
Sciortino, who was the Renegades kicker for the first 14 games of the season, was diagnosed with testicular cancer last September. He revealed the news to his teammates and the public only days after knocking a game-winning 53-yard field goal in Calgary to lift the Renegades to a last-second win over the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium. He has since been back in his hometown and getting treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital after a September 28, 2004 operation at ! York Central Hospital that had removed a cyst and his left testicle.
Now healthy and cancer-free (he mentioned he gets checked twice monthly), Sciortino said he felt he needed time to reflect and decide what is in store for his future. He made the trip to Kemptville and with a heavy heart, informed head coach and general manager Joe Paopao on Saturday afternoon.
"I've been thinking about it for quite some time. I've still been training hard and kicking hard and if my heart is not into it, I am not going to pursue it. It's not fair," said Sciortino. "I need some time to figure out what I want from life. And I don't think that's too much to ask after what I've been through. I've been a young man. I've been around football for 10 years now. I know what it's all about. I need some time now for myself. Nothing is influencing this decision except for my true feelings."
Paopao met with his kicker twice on Saturday, once in the morning and on another occasion in the afternoon.
"As of this afternoon we have retired Sandro Sciortino. Having met with him, Sandro felt that he needed to take a step back and reflect," said Paopao. "I have the ultimate respect for him. I respect his thoughts and what he feels he has to do. We'll continue to support him the best we can, as we have over the past number of months."
Matt Kellett and Pat Fleming will handle the kicking and punting duties, respectively, during training camp.
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