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Page 10 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – Friday, February 28, 2020 Everett Black History Honorees O Diamond Ferri D “Three-time Grey Cup Champion” iamond Ferri’s feats in the backfield for Everett High School were legendary. Diamond was quick, agile, hard-hitting and graceful, all at the same time. He was a complete player on both sides of the ball and helped lead Everett to two Super Bowls. In his senior year, he was ranked as the 98th top high school prospect in the nation, 1st in Massachusetts and the 13th highest ranked running back in the nation. He was highly recruited and chose to commit to Syracuse. Things didn’t go as smoothly with the Orange, and he was moved to the defensive side of the ball as a safety. However, on November 27, 2004, Diamond put on a display of twoway football that will stand the test of time. With their starting running back sidelined and their backup injured early, Syracuse turned to Ferri, and he more than delivered. While still lining up at safety on the defense, Diamond took over at halfback and carried the ball 28 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns. He also picked off a Matt Ryan pass and returned it 44 yards for another touchdown, and Syracuse upset #17 Boston College 4317. As a result, he became the only player in Big East history to win both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week in the same week. Later that year he went on to be named an All Big East First Team Selection, a ECAC Division I All-Star and Syracuse’s MVP. Entering the NFL draft, teams weren’t sure what they would get in Ferri – a halfback, a safety or special teamer. As a result, he went undrafted but was signed by the Giants and then the Falcons. Atlanta allocated him to NFL Europa, where he played running back for the Amsterdam Admirals. Ferri averaged 4.0 yards for the Admirals on 84 carries for 333 yards and two TDs. He also served a return specialist for the Admirals, who went on to but lost the championship to the Frankfurt Galaxy. Omar Easy, PhD mar Easy was blessed with a prototypical American “Running to success” Omar’s chiseled features, sefootball body that any high school coach would covet; the only problem was that Easy wasn’t from America. Omar grew up in Jamaica running track and playing soccer and cricket. To Omar, six points was what you scored by hitting a cricket ball across the boundary line of the field without a bounce, a sixer, not for crossing the goal line on the gridiron. When Omar’s mother moved the family to Everett, Coach John DiBiaso took just one look at Omar and knew he belonged on the football field. On his first day of football practice, he showed up with soccer shin pads instead of a helmet, expecting to play his brand of soccer. What Omar saw was different from anything he had ever seen before. In Jamaica, Omar ran track because he liked to run and played socDiamond Ferri After a short stint with the Toronto Argonauts and a semipro team in Lowell, Diamond caught on with the Arizona Cardinals. His stay with the Cardinals, however, would be short as well. In 2007, he signed with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes. Unfortunately, he missed the last three weeks of the season when he was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. He would return next year and showed great promise as the bulkedup Ferri led the Alouettes in most tackles for losses and finished second for most tackles and most interceptions. Diamond’s nose for the ball caused him to usually finish in the top three on his teams in fumbles caused or recovered. Diamond would go on to win three Grey Cup Championships: two with Montreal (2009-2010) and one with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2013). It was in 2013 that a video featuring Ferri became an internet sensation. After intercepting a pass and dodging tacklers, the 5-11, 223 lbs. Ferri was hit by Edmonton’s 6-11, 340 lbs. offensive lineman Matt O’Donnell and knocked to the sideline. Ferri stayed down for awhile but soon got up to the cheers of the crowd. His career ended in 2014. —This information is from the book “They Came from Everett,” which is available at bookblues. com; author Mike Matarazzo is a retired Everett City Clerk and historian. rious demeanor and size made him look much older than he was, and the rumors flew. Omar, however, ignored them and spent his time concentrating on learning the game and on his academics. The more Omar learned about the opportunities that big-time football could provide, the more attention and effort he gave it. At Everett High, Omar was fortunate that he didn’t need to carry the team. In his junior year, Everett was stacked in the backfield with P.J. Eason, Jeff Quigley and a mobile QB in Anthony Nazzaro. Easy was the third leading scorer, and the Tide finished 8-1 but was banned from the Super Bowl for an “unauthorized” trip to Florida. To make matters worse, The Boston Globe did not deem a single Everett player as worthy of All-Scholastic designation. The Tide entered 1996 with Dr. Omar Easy did make it to a couple of minor bowl games, they were a mediocre team, which makes the lack of opportunities for Omar even more puzzling. In four years with the Nittany Lions, Omar averaged just under 39 carries per season, and at one point had considered transferring. Omar was never in a position at Penn State to get into a groove or to see multiple situations that would benefit him in the future. Easy, however, was still an intriguing prospect for NFL teams. His size, power and quickness could not be ignored. Despite carrying the rock just 45 times in his senior year, he was invited to the Blue-Gray College AllStar Game and scored a TD, leaping over the defender from short yardage. Omar was named MVP of the classic. In April of 2002, the Kansas Dr. Omar Easy during his days at Penn State. cer and cricket because he was athletic and playing was fun. He soon discovered that they didn’t play football in Everett for fun, they played to win. Athletically, Omar took to the game quickly, but that wasn’t good enough for the studious young man. He studied film and approached the game with the same mental intensity that he approached his academics. Unknown to Coach DiBiaso, and even Omar himself, this physical specimen had a serious medical problem. Despite his peak physical condition, Omar would appear easily winded and it just didn’t make sense. Tests revealed that Easy had exercised-induced asthma. a huge chip on their shoulders. Mike Borgonzi and Easy were a punishing duo that no defense was anxious to tackle. They tied for the high scorers on the team and led EHS to an undefeated season and a trip to the Super Bowl, where they lost to Xaverian. Omar was chosen as a consensus high school All-American and committed to Division 1 powerhouse Penn State and Joe Paterno. Omar still had a lot to learn about football, but Penn State had an eager student with great natural ability, but they never developed it. Penn State’s offense was becoming more predictable and their record showed it. While they City Chiefs entered the draft with an eye toward defense; in seven rounds, they drafted just one offensive player. In the fourth round, with the 107th overall pick, the Chiefs chose Omar Easy. Kansas City appeared to be a good landing spot for Omar. With a players’ coach in Dick Vermeill and a strong backfield to learn from in running back Priest Holmes and fullback Tony Richardson, Omar seemed to be in position to develop into a quality NFL player. Omar did not keep his good fortune to himself. In 2003 he created the Easy Way Foundation to educate kids about what they need to do to prevent an asthma attack, and what to do when you have an attack. It also provided much-needed equipment to schools to help treat a sudden attack. He also expanded the foundation’s mission to help children at risk in other areas. A sprained knee limited Omar’s rookie season, but he was making a name for himself as a special teamer and was quickly anOMAR | SEE PAGE 26

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