July 6,2017
(Photo Credit: John Saraya/Cleveland Gladiators)
When you watch Cleveland Gladiators’
defensive end Darryl Cato-Bishop spin around an offensive lineman, it
may resemble an NBA power forward maneuvering around a defender in the
low post. Cato-Bishop has thrived at both sports in his life. Invited to
the Reebok All-American camp, he had basketball scholarships waiting on
him after high school. “I wouldn't say I was great, but I was pretty
good. I scored over 1,400 points in high school,” recalls Cato-Bishop.
His father has history on the basketball court as well.
Darryl Bishop was one of the first black players ever at the University of Kentucky. He appeared on the freshman team in 1970, before playing for legendary coach Adolph Rupp on the varsity team. However, his long term future was in football. Bishop still holds the record for career interceptions as a Wildcat and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. When asked what his dad’s athletic accomplishments mean to him, Cato-Bishop answers, “It means that he was a great two sport athlete and I'm blessed to be his son.”
The younger Darryl also chose football over basketball. He played defensive end for four years at North Carolina State before following his father’s footsteps into professional football. His basketball background does not go to waste according to Cato-Bishop. “Basketball helped my speed and quickness, but it also helps on the pass rush as well,” he explains. According to him, the player that he resembled most on the court was Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest. That toughness and physicality has helped him carve out a successful career in the Arena Football League.
He’s in his fourth AFL season, the first with Cleveland, and his impact is felt on the Gladiators’ defensive line. Cato-Bishop has equaled his career high with four sacks in a season, and he’s forced a career best three fumbles. The fourth place Gladiators take on the Tampa Bay Storm this weekend at Quicken Loans Arena. Maybe if Darryl Cato-Bishop had decided to stick with hoops, he would be suiting up for the other team that calls the Q home: the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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