From the Seattle Seahawks to the Spokane Shock: Meeting with Football Player Sam Adams

Contributions by Derek Harper | Photo Provided by The Spokesman Review

Sam Adams is a former NFL player for the Seattle Seahawks, Super Bowl Champion with the Baltimore Ravens and the current owner of the Spokane Shock Indoor Football League (IFL) franchise.

Interviews edited for length and clarity.

Q: What was it like being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks?

A: It was cool being drafted. I figured my dad played pro ball for 12 years, I worked hard for it. I actually was called by New England, which was a fourth pick to be taken [yet] I decided not to go. I kind of knew that Seattle was going to draft me, and I was excited about it. I had a chance to play for some great coaches with the great Cortez Kennedy. It was an honor; it was very very exciting.

Q: What emotions did you feel winning Super Bowl XXXV (35) with the Baltimore Ravens?

A: It was freeing. I felt free. All my life I wanted to win a Super Bowl; I wanted to achieve some things that not a lot of people will be able to do. Being able to be on center stage and everyone watching you do your thing. It was kind of like you putting on for the area you grew up in: your junior high, your high school, your college, your family [and] friends. It was a great feeling because you knew people were going to be watching, watching you be a part of something special. I thank God for the opportunity, and I was blessed to be a part of it.

Q: After your career, you decided to come back to Washington. Originally from Houston, what made you decide to make this move?

A: I fell in love with the city; it was different [from] what I grew up in … Not only did I grow up in Texas, but I also grew up in Massachusetts, so I got the best of both worlds. Whereas I get snow and winter like Massachusetts, and I get a little bit of heat and outdoorsy like I did in Texas. It was the best of both worlds for us for sure.

Q: Since you now own the Spokane Shock IFL and played in the NFL, what spurred that decision to go into the indoor football industry?

A: A friend of mine came home and he had tried out for a local semi-pro team and I took it upon myself to go and help. One thing led to another and I ended up having a semi-pro team, and then on from semi-pro we stepped up to the indoor football game. I loved it … I played for the Buffalo Bills and I owned a team in Everett. It was difficult as an owner to be out of state if everything’s not rolling and it’s not on a professional level. I was playing for the Buffalo Bills and I kept moving … so, when I started it, I had a group that was working with me with the semi-pro team. They wanted to start it [and] I let them talk me into it. I thought it was a strong business that you could be successful at if you really knew what you were doing, and you really spent time within it. So, I ran that team and I owned another team with Ken Griffey Jr., and I learned the business a little bit. I knew that it needed strong leadership. I knew that you needed to be there in minor league sports or have a strong leader that was there day-to-day. I always knew when I retired, that would be something that I would definitely want to do because I just had so much fun in the off-season when I would come home. I just didn’t like having all those bills that needed to be paid and it couldn’t be paid if you didn’t make the money. I’ve hired a strong staff now and I’ve hired the right people and if you do it right you can be very successful and that’s what I’m looking forward to doing here with the Shock.

Q: Of all of the leagues that exist, why has the IFL brand lasted the longest? Why have they been the most stable compared to other leagues?

A: I think that they have strong ownership. They found the right owners and they have a good model. I think that the model, as far as finances are concerned, it’s not too expensive, but it costs about the right amount to be successful … It depends on the amount of fans you have and economically what you’re doing with your fans.