Houston Texans tight end Antony Auclair may be six foot six and over 250 pounds, but he knows what it’s like to be bullied and that’s why the cause is close to his heart. .
The former Rouge et Or from Laval University has been the object of mockery from others when he started his football career, especially when he said his goal was to turn professional.
At 28 years old and in his fifth season in the NFL, Auclair decided to use his notoriety to contribute to the fight against bullying in the sporting environment by becoming co-spokesperson for the organization Sport’Aide in the company of the Paralympian Cindy Ouellet.
“I think it’s important to get involved in an organization that is close to my heart and whose values I share,” he confided on Tuesday in a videoconference with the CEO of the organization, Sylvain Croteau. When I was young, I experienced it and I also saw it (bullying). For me, it’s important to be an ally, to help promote gender equality, fairness in general. “
Even if Auclair notes that mentalities are changing, even in football where the image of the aggressive man not having the right to show his emotions has long been maintained, he recognizes that there is still work to be done. .
“It’s changing,” he encouraged, citing the example of the ‘coming out’ of defensive end Carl Nassib of the Las Vegas Raiders. A good leader is someone who will show his weaknesses, the human side of himself. This is what is developing. “
And the voice of the Canadiens players in the situations recently experienced by Jonathan Drouin and Carey Price is likely to help the cause.
“It opens the door to great discussions and it can help young people. Especially when you see athletes making millions who are able to say that everything is not always going well in their life. “
Sylvain Croteau is at the forefront of measuring the effect that such interventions can have.
“The impact is immediate when people like that go out. It awakens old wounds in some people. For others, it ‘comforts’ them in what they are going through, makes them realize that it is not normal and that they need help. “
“It is no coincidence that we wanted to partner with Antony. Athletes of this level, when they take a stand, the impact is unmatched. “
In addition to his involvement in the “Action! Let’s take action against bullying in sports ”from Sport’Aide, Auclair does not hesitate to do what he can to help young people individually.
“Young people are contacting me on social media and I do my best to answer them,” he said. If a young person writes me a message and tells me that he is being bullied, I take it seriously and I will answer it for sure. It’s important to me. “
In short
Asked to return to his first career touchdown in the NFL in a 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots ten days ago, the Beauceron did not have time to celebrate for too long .
“That’s what makes the NFL so beautiful at the same time, but at the same time it’s a little bit of value. Each week you have to prepare for another opponent. From the following Tuesday or Wednesday, I had to move on. It’s ‘boring’, but that’s the reality of the NFL. As much your good shots as your bad ones, you have to move on quickly. “
He said he appreciated the wave of love and encouragement coming from Quebec and he was particularly touched that the announcer at the Rouge et Or game mentioned it to the crowd that day.
“I was sent the video and it was touching, because the spectators reacted by shouting. “
Sport’Aide offers a listening, support and guidance service to victims and witnesses of violence in a sporting context, “24 hours a day, seven days a week, a free, bilingual and confidential service.” We are there for the sports community, ”says Sylvain Croteau.