Promotion

Mike Labinjo

Toronto’s Labinjo reaches NFL dream

2006

(Courtesy Toronto Sun) Mike Labinjo would rather not have his story told. Not all of it, anyhow.

The part about how a kid from Toronto somehow made his way to the Super Bowl as a rookie with the Philadelphia Eagles. That he is fine with.

The part about how a star high school running back from St. Mike's was turned into a defensive end, and a defensive end was converted to a linebacker at Michigan State. That is fair game.

The part about how he was disregarded -- how he never got a college all-star game invitation or wasn't asked to the NFL pre-draft combine or was ignored by 30 teams on draft day -- all of that he is comfortable in sharing.

The personal side of this remarkable journey is the kind of tale we don't hear about often enough. It's about a kid in need of direction. It's about an adult giving enough of his time, first as volunteer, now as close friend, to help find a way. It's a movie of the week come to life.

It's the kind of story that shows the incredible value the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organizations can have when there are hearts involved, when relationships develop and a special bond forms for all involved.

WITHOUT PORTFOLIOS

Mike Labinjo was in elementary school when he first met Frank Giffen. Over time, their relationship morphed into father-son-friend-adviser. A Big Brother without specific portfolios.

"If it wasn't for Frank, I don't know if Mike even gets a scholarship," says Paul Forbes, the successful football coach at St. Michael's College, who was Labinjo's high school coach.

"I don't know if he goes on to have the kind of college career he had. I don't know if he gets to the NFL, or the Super Bowl or anything else. I just don't know.

'INCREDIBLE STORY'

"What (Giffen) did for this kid, helping him get through schools, getting him tutors if he needed it, guiding him when he got into hot water. It's an incredible story, really. Whatever he needed, Frank was there for him. The guy is a saint."

Said Labinjo, when reached on his cell phone last night in Philadelphia: "He has helped me with every step of my life. Frank has been a huge part of my life."

Typically, Frank Giffen would rather not talk about his involvement with Labinjo. Publicity isn't why people volunteer their time. He is a day trader at Scotia Capital, a private man with a special teams friend in the Super Bowl.

"It's personal," he says. "For a lot of reasons, this is private. I hope you understand."

He would rather emphasize that Labinjo runs the 40 in 4.55 seconds and has a vertical jump of 40 inches. He would rather emphasize that within minutes of the NFL draft concluding last spring, five teams were on the phone inquiring about the 6-foot, 255 pound linebacker. He would rather emphasize that Labinjo's first play as an NFL starter had him throwing a St. Louis Rams running back for a loss on Monday Night Football.

He would rather remain, like so many who give their time and hearts to kids, in the background.

Next Saturday in Toronto, on the day before the Super Bowl, Big Brothers and Big Sisters will hold a media and corporate fund-raiser at Thorncliffe Bowlerama. It's one of several Bowl For Kids' Sake days in the city.

The next day, the likely poster boy for their program -- this is a story that had to be told -- will be lining up for the opening kickoff at the biggest football game of the year.

"It's something you dream about," Forbes says. "It's not something you ever expect to come true."