Sam Caldwell, Paintball Icon has Lung Cancer lets give him Some Love

[Jason R]

i wasnt quite around when you made paintball into such an amazing sport. thanks for helping to make it into what it is now. good luck and never give up.

[AGD]

I talked to Jim Lively today about Sam. Last year he went through 4 rounds of chemo and that knocked it down. This year its back again and he is currently on his 5 round of chemo going for 6-8 depending. His cancer is inoperable so this is his last chance, they say they can't do more than 8 rounds.

I told Jim to tell Sam that we are asking about him and pulling for him.

Tom

[hitech]

[warbeak2099]

They have those pills you can take during chemo to help you through it. Damn I forgot what they're called. Hopefully, Sam's stubborness can beat this thing.

[jlively]

Let me start out by saying a BIG THANK YOU to all that has given Sam there love. I spoke with him this AM, he is doing much better. Finished his last treatment a few days ago, his doctor has got him on a maintenance drug now. He is working on selling his house and planning on moving into a small apartment with no upkeep. He feels petty good right now, I quess time will tell.
I've got plans to get him out this fall, hopefully a road trip to Chicago for the CPX Big Game in October. Love to see all our old friends and make a few new ones. We will be playing with Blues Crew.
Again thanks for thinking about him. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about all the great times and people that we have meet all over the world because of the game. I truly miss it. Thanks Tom for keeping up with us over the years, your friendship is the best. Take Care.

[50 cal]

Welcome aboard Jim! Great news about Sam.
Ginger always loved talking to the both of you.

Tony

[warbeak2099]

That is awesome news!

[Old S.O.B.]

Sam Caldwell

[QUOTE=lagerbrewer]
There's friends on your side like Biff a few posts above whom I haven't heard from in a decade. Biff - remember when you ripped the door off my car at the masters? ...and I started crying in front of my team...god that sucked...hey I was young and it was my first car! Didn't you have Automag license plates?

-Marc Gottfried
Total Greif Paintball Team
Action Pursuit Games Magazine
--------------------
Hey Marc,

It HAS been a long time and while this probably is not the best forum to reminisce, it is somewhat appropriate, since it was at Sam's event where that all occured. I think that it was the same weekend that Fred Schultz cut off his 3 foot long pony tail and we did a story about it in Paintball News.

Anyway, I was just checking up on this forum, because I had not heard anything in recent months. I hope that "no news is good news."

When I re-read your comments I just had to set the record straight for all the AO readers of these posts. I, personally, did not rip Marc's door off of his car. Great as those times were and as awesome as the players were, nobody could rip doors off cars. I was actually backing my 4 ton stepvan up and his door was open. And Marc did not cry. But, he was pretty distraught. Guess he was concerned he would never see me again. That door replacement was about $1100. However, he had the cash in his hands, just 2 days after he sent me an estimate.

The only guy actually crying in that parking lot, was John Dale, AGD's former president. His tears came from laughing so hard. Had I not been distracted by John talking to me through the window, that door might still be hanging on that car. The door came off smoothe as butter, by the way. Not even a scratch on my van.

And yes, my Illinois license plates did read AUTOMAG. In fact, I still have the plates. Blew the engine a decade ago and the van was towed away by another former AGD employee, Super Dave Peloza, who had a second job at Ernies Towing, in Half Day. That van was at a lot of tourneys - hauling compressors, 100 pound CO2 tanks, the team gear, parts, tools, Harleys and an occasional teammate, now and then.

Those were definitely the best of times for this sport. Glad to see teams like Total Grief, still out their maintaining the integrity which people like Sam, Jim and Tom brought to the game.

Biff Thiele
S.O.B.s 1986 - 1997

See Marc - anyone can be long-winded.

[lagerbrewer]

[QUOTE=Old S.O.B.]

There's friends on your side like Biff a few posts above whom I haven't heard from in a decade. Biff - remember when you ripped the door off my car at the masters? ...and I started crying in front of my team...god that sucked...hey I was young and it was my first car! Didn't you have Automag license plates?

-Marc Gottfried
Total Greif Paintball Team
Action Pursuit Games Magazine
--------------------
Hey Marc,

It HAS been a long time and while this probably is not the best forum to reminisce, it is somewhat appropriate, since it was at Sam's event where that all occured. I think that it was the same weekend that Fred Schultz cut off his 3 foot long pony tail and we did a story about it in Paintball News.

Anyway, I was just checking up on this forum, because I had not heard anything in recent months. I hope that "no news is good news."

When I re-read your comments I just had to set the record straight for all the AO readers of these posts. I, personally, did not rip Marc's door off of his car. Great as those times were and as awesome as the players were, nobody could rip doors off cars. I was actually backing my 4 ton stepvan up and his door was open. And Marc did not cry. But, he was pretty distraught. Guess he was concerned he would never see me again. That door replacement was about $1100. However, he had the cash in his hands, just 2 days after he sent me an estimate.

The only guy actually crying in that parking lot, was John Dale, AGD's former president. His tears came from laughing so hard. Had I not been distracted by John talking to me through the window, that door might still be hanging on that car. The door came off smoothe as butter, by the way. Not even a scratch on my van.

And yes, my Illinois license plates did read AUTOMAG. In fact, I still have the plates. Blew the engine a decade ago and the van was towed away by another former AGD employee, Super Dave Peloza, who had a second job at Ernies Towing, in Half Day. That van was at a lot of tourneys - hauling compressors, 100 pound CO2 tanks, the team gear, parts, tools, Harleys and an occasional teammate, now and then.

Those were definitely the best of times for this sport. Glad to see teams like Total Grief, still out their maintaining the integrity which people like Sam, Jim and Tom brought to the game.

Biff Thiele
S.O.B.s 1986 - 1997

See Marc - anyone can be long-winded.

Ha ha good to hear from you again Biff. Hope we can play some time. I saw Jim at CPX a couple months ago and got to chit-chat about all the great times at he and Sam's events. Keep strong Sam!!!!!!!!

Marc Gottfried
Total Greif

[Sumthinwicked]

thank you for your efforts to better the sport it wouldnt be the same if you didnt step up and be the man that you are hope u feel betta

[AGDRetro]

We are coming up on a year since Tom first brought Sam's illness to the attention of the AO community. When my dad was fighting his cancer (lymphoma) I was in high school and wrapped up in all the non-sense that goes with that time of life. For me it seemed to go by quickly, my dad bounced back pretty darn good and I hope the same for Sam. I cannot imagine the pain, both physically and emotionally that he's endured. You're one tough guy Caldwell!

If you're getting drug out to play alongside Blue's Crew, well then I hope to get gogg'd by you this spring @ Castle Conquest. Thanks again for all your contributions.

Steve Shuey,
the guys from team Crimson Reign
& the whole staff @ Ambush Paintball - Lancaster, PA

[rabidchihauhau]

My best wishes to Sam's continued recovery as well.

I had the honor and privilege of working with him on several occassions.

[AGD]

I talked to Jim Lively and he says Sam is still getting along. He has sold his house and moved into an apartment which makes things easier. He is on an experimental drug regiment now and they are waiting to see the results.

AGD

[warbeak2099]

Thanks for the update Tom. Keep us abreast of his development, we have not forgotten about him! When he gets well enough to come to an event, we should all work to put something together in his honor. I know Rudz and I spoke about it, but it would be awesome if it really could happen.

[Lenny]

What about Trypsin therapy? I hear that it's affective, but the ACS doesn't like it because it's cheaper than chemo and radiation.