We all love video games, but some just love them more than others.
Learn how one Madden NFL fan shares his passion and bonds with the community.
Anto Garabet knew right off the bat that football was his sport.
Anto, better known in the Madden NFL community as “AntoDaBoss,” was born and raised in Armenia. He and his family moved 6,000 miles to the US in 2002 after his father was offered a job. They knew little about the NFL until they settled into their new home.
“When I came to the U.S. I was bombarded with the world of football,” he says. “It was everywhere around me.”
Anto’s aunt and uncle were already living in the U.S. and they introduced him to the sport. He fell in love with the Washington Redskins instantly, and to this day they remain Anto’s favorite team. Sean Taylor was Anto’s favorite player of all-time before the legendary safety passed away in 2007.
“I always do my best to keep his legacy alive by posting pictures of him on my Twitter, Instagram, and of course, in my videos,” he says.
Today, Anto hosts a popular YouTube channel with over 600,000 followers, thanks in part to his connection with Madden NFL. The very first Madden video he posted on his channel featured Madden NFL 11.
“I vividly remember my friend and I going to GameStop to pick up the game,” he says. “The video was franchise mode with the Redskins and an unboxing of the game.”
Anto loves the Madden community and knows how the game can bring people together from all walks of life.
Anto is now a part of the EA Game Changer program, offering feedback on the development of Madden NFL and working directly with the developers themselves.
He was recently invited to go behind the scenes of the EA SPORTS Madden NFL 17 cover shoot and meet Madden NFL 17 cover athlete Rob Gronkowski.
“It was a crazy experience,” he says. “My first time seeing the process. It’s one thing watching these guys on TV, but being able to hang out with them and be at an event like that was awesome.”
In recent years Anto’s channel has grown so much that people now recognize him in public. He’s been recognized at Redskins games, restaurants, amusement parks, and even airports!
“It’s a rewarding feeling, and an awesome experience meeting and chatting with my fans,” he says.
He also loves that he has the opportunity to inspire people to be themselves, and he’s lucky to be able to make a living creating content. Anto’s YouTube channel has also provided him something else: a chance to thank his parents for all they have done for him.
“My parents sacrificed so much when we came to the U.S., so that I can have the opportunity for a future they didn't have,” he says.
After first starting out on YouTube, Anto set a goal for himself. He wanted to one day be able to give back to his parents.
And about four months ago, he bought his mom a car.
“My goal in life is to always give back to my family,” he says. “It was definitely one of the best moments in our lives.”
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