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Joseph Ordaz
Professor Rockwell
English 114B
14 February 2016
Alternative Biography: Once a star
Joseph Ordaz was born in Long Beach, California, on December 24, 1987. His parents
had moved to Valencia, California from Long Beach, California to escape the citys gang culture.
His father, a former track star in high school, noticed that Joseph inherited his athletic abilities.
His mother, a physical therapist for the Los Angeles Lakers. At the age of six, Joseph was
enrolled to play different sports, including basketball, flag football, and soccer. He was an
incredible athlete for an adolescent, other parents and people watching Joseph play commented
that he was physically more advanced than kids of the same age. By the age of eight, he was
the tallest kid in his third grade class at North Park Elementary. Joseph excelled in the three
sports he was playing, but his father decided that he would only play football.
Joseph and his father would watch football games on the weekends, his favorite
professional team was the Oakland Raiders. His father bought a Charles Woodson jersey, a
defensive of back for the Oakland Raiders, Joseph would wear and imitate to be. Joseph and his
father would play football in the backyard for hours. Before he went to sleep, Joseph would lay
on his bed and toss the football to himself to practice his catching skills. He dreamed of
becoming a professional athlete. In the neighborhood he lived, the kids got together to play pickup games in the streets. The neighborhood team captains would always pick Joseph first to be on
their team because of his physical talent.

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At the age of thirteen, Josephs father registered him to play pop warner football for the
local team. Josephs jersey number was the same as his idol Charles Woodson, number twentyfour and he played the same position. He father was strict when it came to school work. He told
him if he wanted to continue to play football he would have to keep good grades. Joseph studied
and worked hard in school to play football, he graduated junior high school as an honor roll
student. As he began high school, he was heavily recruited by division one programs.
As the popularity poured in Joseph dealt with a lot of pressure as a fifteen year old kid.
Joseph was expected to do well on the field by college recruits and excel in the classroom from
his father. Joseph dealt with depression from all that was expected from him at times. By the
time he was a junior Joseph led his high school team to a State Championship. During the game
he was named MVP, he concluded with two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and five tackles.
His received his first interview that was broadcasted on the local news network. Joseph jokingly
saying during the interview I believe it was the days playing football in the streets with my
neighborhood friends I gained my skills. Glorified during his senior year, UCLA, USC, and
Stanford offered him scholarships.
At the fifth game of the season before league games, Joseph suffered a terrible leg injury
that ended his senior year of football early. After the game all three schools denied him his
football scholarship to play football at the school. Joseph was devastated, more so however his
father was shocked. Joseph was depressed for a week, but knew he would overcome this
obstacle. He watched from the side, as his team played the rest of the season without him.
Determined to improve, Joseph went to physical therapy and continued to excel in school. He
would motivate his team and before the games said a prayer. When the season finished, Joseph

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recovered completely. Joseph was motivated to show the division one schools the mistake they
made by denying him his scholarship.
After high school Joseph had good enough grades to get accepted into the schools that
denied him, but instead decided to go to the University of Arizona. As a freshman he sent the
head coach of the football team his high school tape. Head Coach Dorsey reached out to Joseph
and offered him to try out for the schools football team. Inspired Joseph gave his full effort and
made the team. As a junior he gained the starting position. When the team played USC, Joseph
had the best game of his career, recording one interception for a touchdown, one forced fumble,
and eight tackles. Josephs father was proud of him and all of the hard work he put in after his
injury. Today Joseph continues to make his NFL dream come true.