Eskimos offensive lineman Chris Greaves has more in common with an IT department than you may expect.
“Anything electronic I’m just into, who knows why,” says Greaves. “I build and take apart computers, I’m a big technology guy. I’m probably the largest nerd you’ve ever seen in your life.”
Literally — the offensive lineman stands at a sturdy six-foot-five and weighs over 300 pounds.
“I do my own computer rig and I’ve helped a couple buddies build their own. It’s not too often, but I always interchange parts with my own computer and see what’s out there.
“I’m a pretty big gamer. My computer has more than enough power to play everything out there.”
When he was traded to Edmonton from Winnipeg on September 9, he had to leave his computer behind. Now, he explores another passion, reading, while competes for the Green and Gold.
Becoming a football player was pure luck for Greaves.
When he was in Grade 10 at St. Francis Xavier Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario he felt the need to pick up a sport. A decision he left to chance.
“I figured it was between volleyball and football, because at the time I was a lot skinnier and a lot smaller than I am now,” he says. “I decided that whatever coach I see first, that’s what I’m going to play. I ran into the football coach first and that’s how I got started.”
“I had no idea what I was doing at first. I didn’t even know how to put my pads in my pants, I didn’t know how to put on a helmet properly, but I just went out there and tried to hit whatever I saw.”
It worked out. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 CFL Draft by Winnipeg.
The fact he took so long to hit the gridiron is surprising considering he spent part of his childhood in football-rich Texas.
Greaves was around eight-years-old when he left Toronto. He was following a family in flux from Canada, to New Jersey, to Texas, back to New Jersey and eventually back to Canada.
“Back in the mid-90s there were health-care cuts and my mom was a nurse at the time and she got laid off,” he says. “She was looking for work and to upgrade her nursing license. At the time she was a practical nurse and she was looking at becoming a registered nurse.”
“The states were offering programs where you get a job and they pay for your education at the same time. It just made sense to go to the states.”
later, in the CFL Greaves settled in, spending five and a half seasons with the Blue Bombers.
For Greaves, the move was welcome but timing was a challenge.
“It’s been interesting, I came out here with a suitcase and a duffle bag and I’m ready to go. I don’t need much, it’s pretty simple,” he says. “The hardest part was leaving my fiancé. The funny thing is the day before I got traded, I got engaged.”
His fiancé, Elizabeth, and future step daughter, Isabelle, remain in Winnipeg. The wedding isn’t for another year.
“It’s tough, but when you have a goal in mind … you got to take those opportunities and you realize that there is a silver lining in everything.”
