APCardinals linebacker Sam Acho was just going to hang out with a former teammate, quarterback Rich Bartel, Wednesday night.
Instead, he got to meet a pair of former Presidents.
Acho was able to drag Bartel along when, at the invitation he wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, he attended an event which featured past Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
“It was the coolest night of my life,” Acho said, via Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic.
Not only did Acho get to see Bush and Clinton, he had an opportunity to speak with both prior to the event. He told then about his family immigrating from Nigeria to Texas, and that his father’s a doctor and mother’s a nurse practitioner now. They return to Nigeria yearly to help people in their native land.
When the Presidents were asked about immigration, Clinton asked Acho to stand, and told his story to a crowd of 2,000.
“I’m in awe; I don’t know what to do,” Acho said. “So I stand up.”
When Clinton finished, Bush threw in a “And he’s from Texas. Hook ’em, Horns,” for good measure.
“So I got a shout-out from both President Bush and President Clinton in the same day,” Acho said, “which is unbelievable. It was just a blessing.”
He had a chance to talk to Clinton again afterward, thanking him for sharing his story. Clinton said: “Honestly, Sam, we’ve got to change this whole immigration thing. We’ve got to put a face to it.”
“And I feel the same way,” Acho said. “My parents are immigrants and I go back to Nigeria every year. He has a heart for that and I have a heart for that as well.”
Nothing against Rich Bartel, but it’s hard to imagine he had anything better planned for Acho anyway.
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This is probably the wrong thing to say in Arizona.
That’s so awesome! Both Bush and Clinton are some characters and I bet they had some good laughs before the event.
Bill Clinton….politicizing someone’s personal story – Shocker…
Awesome for acho though. Congrats – glad he made the best out of a really cool ezperience
All politics aside, it would be awesome to have to beers with Clinton and Bush. Bush would try to out drink you and Clinton would be trying to take a few of the bartenders home.
I hope he went to the free clinic if he shook Clinton’s hand.
That is one cool evening, good for Sam. I also bet his parents came here the right way.
Amazing story. Something Acho can share with his kids and grandkids in the future.
#Birdgang
I find myself missing ol’ George Bush from time to time
George Bush….saying something vapid and devoid of meaningful content – Shocker…
Indeed a cool experience though.
Sam Acho is presidential material. That guy was an academic powerhouse.
Some players go out and get into trouble. Larry Fitz brings teammates to meet former heads of state. Refreshingly different.
Apparently you can’t make a “gesundheit” joke.
They are letting W out in public again? I thought he was ordered to stay out of sight until after November 6th…
Really nice story. I like hearing about humble players who have rewarding moments.
Good for him!
This is a great American dream story. People, in their rabid views, often forget that the US was a nation founded on immigration.
Hehe hehe ” hookem horns” hehe hehe
To this day Bill Clinton is still the best black president