Rich “Big Daddy” Salgado talks about how Brady dazzled George Clooney, flying pizzas to the Super Bowl, and more.
There aren’t many things in this world that can distract you from the Empire State Building in New York. Yet here we are on a Wednesday at noon, with the sun kissing a table that is hidden from view by the most recognizable structure in the area.
Your eyes are steered away from the contemporary mecca by Rich Salgado’s aura. Maybe it’s his 6-foot-4, 320-pound build? Instead, it’s difficult not to listen once he starts speaking.
The person they refer to as “Big Daddy” was put on this planet to accomplish a task. Currently, it is detailing his story and including anecdotes about pizza, Tom Brady, Jr. and Sr., Super Bowl parties, and dozing off in places other people would not think to.
It’s a life that requires some explanation beyond this. Big Daddy, who is he? What is he doing? These are common queries, occasionally posed by the most recognizable faces.
Rich Salgado and Tom Brady became friends after meeting at the quarterback’s first Super Bowl through a connection made by one of the latter’s former teammates.
Salgado is, first and foremost, an insurance agent. I offer insurance in the same way that State Farm or any other insurance provider does. I do everything,’ he claims to Dailymail.com.
But for the time being, he observes the streets where few people walk taller from his seat in his native New York, about 20 miles from his home in Garden City.
Salgado entertains with tales involving Tom Brady, the most recognizable player in football. taking him to see his first Super Bowl victory, taking him to a Rangers game at Madison Square Garden, and inviting him back to the New England hotel for a celebration. Salgado is unsure of how.
“Have you ever seen Where’s Waldo?,” goes the popular joke. Finally, there is Big Daddy! I made it a point to always be in the lead,’ he claims.
George Clooney and Big Daddy first met at the Correspondence Dinner, where the actor fell head over heels for Salgado’s Super Bowl ring.
“By that, I mean that I should always be transparent about who I am and what I do. That, in my opinion, is what enables me to win people’s respect.
So it’s easier to have casual conversations with people like Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL.
I was introducing myself at an owner’s meeting: “My name is Rich Salgado,” Roger interrupted, “No, that’s not right! It’s Big Daddy, there!
“I’ll introduce myself as Rich Salgado, and after that, Big Daddy kind of takes over because it’s easier than Rich Salgado,” said the speaker.
Michael Strahan, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is Salgado’s “very close friend and confidant.”
Salgado and Big Daddy aren’t just symbiotic partners; they’re also the same person.
He is a character with a larger-than-life personality who has the warmth of a September Miami night and the wit of a court jester.
His swag fills in where his size or outgoing personality fall short in drawing attention. It helps to have a Super Bowl ring, which was presented to him after he performed insurance work for the Giants.
When George Clooney sees me wearing it, he remarks on how shiny it is. George approached and said, “Man, I couldn’t stop staring at that rock, what is that thing?” You could see it from across the room. I then instructed them to put it on.
Along the way, Salgado has had numerous celebrity encounters, including wrestling legend John Cena.
“Where are you sitting, Big Daddy?” he asks me. I then pointed to my seat among the Fox News attendees at a Correspondence Dinner and said, “I’m sitting right there.”
Oh, you’re seated at the Death Star table, he says. He approached me later. Although I didn’t anticipate talking to him again, I’m sure enough of my ability to carry on a conversation.
You can put me in front of anyone, and I can — I’m not sure if that’s the right word — hold my own
However, there was once a time when he had to learn how to converse, at least in English.
Big Daddy regarded Strahan as a “brother,” and the actor frequently paid the actor a visit on the set.
Salgado was sent to live with his grandmother in Peru when he was just a year old. After living abroad for five years, he had to start over in terms of language, culture, and family, going back to parents he knew barely more than words.
I struggle to think of a way that wouldn’t impact a child. However, I am aware that one of his greatest role models was his grandmother, according to Anzhelika Steen-Olsen, a close friend and business partner.
“I can’t even begin to imagine the stress he may have gone through as a kid.” Salgado, who is now 57 years old, still possesses the purity that nature reserves for those who are still in their infancy, nearly 50 years after he lived in Lima.
Olsen calls it “naivety,” but it is not a bad thing. In actuality, she values this about him the most. Even now, Big Daddy still completes some transactions with just a handshake.
Salgado is seen hugging Josh Allen, a star for the Buffalo Bills, after an NFL game.
Salgado has continued to insist that they exist despite the fact that it backfired in a matter of seconds. It is sufficient for him to say, “I just shook on it.”
What most businessmen aspire to, Big Daddy has already accomplished. He has transformed transactional relationships into friendships and work into friendships, turning water into wine and wine into water. all while, for the most part, eluding attention.
Salgado may appear to have it all now. He claims not to, I believe him.
I’ve witnessed miserable millionaires and billionaires. I’m neither of those, but at least I wake up every morning with a smile on my face,’ he says.
Salgado has developed into a versatile insurance agent who can work in a variety of sports and genres. He is pictured with Alice Cooper, a legendary rocker.
It is easily explained how Salgado put together a rolodex that overturned an ESPYs invite list.
He began with only a few contacts, but his book quickly grew.
It will continue to grow as long as you treat the first five [people] as well as you can, he asserts.
Because of his extensive network, he has had encounters with celebrities like Jimmy Kimmel, John Cena, Sean Hannity, Alice Cooper, John Legend, Tracy Morgan, Josh Allen, and Von Miller, to name a few.
He was introduced to Michael Strahan by five people, and Clooney was intrigued by him.
Salgado, seen here playing golf with Giants general manager Joe Schoen last month
The gentle giant is a living example of the art of relationship building.
“I do what I say I’m going to do,” he continues, “and if I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you.”
“When I meet you, I always make it feel like it goes beyond this interview because, if you can help people, why not?”
“It doesn’t cost me anything.” Many people dislike assisting others because they are selfish.
Salgado shared his encounters with sports stars in an exclusive interview with Dailymail.com.
Pizza from Umberto’s was brought every Friday to the Giants’ practice for more than a decade by Big Daddy. What began as a treat for the offensive line quickly evolved into a procession for the entire team.
David Diehl, the left tackle for New York, had only one request for Umberto as the team prepared to play in Super Bowl XLVI.
Come on, Big Daddy. He had the pizzas made as usual, but this time he had them escorted by police to La Guardia airport.
“I had it escorted to the Giants practice when it arrived in Indianapolis.” Everyone lost their minds.
At one of his numerous appearances, Salgado was pictured with Tracy Morgan and his closest friend Strahan.
It was placed in unique boxes with oven-style heaters inside. It was as absurd and humorous as it sounds.
“You couldn’t get upstairs, you would’ve thought the president was getting off the plane!”
Salgado isn’t finished yet, despite the fact that interpersonal relationships are essential to both success and happiness. There needs to be written an autobiography. In the interest of those who require it the most, he wants to fill a few more pages with his friends.
Salgado wants to give, to fulfill his life’s purpose, whether it be through his ambassadorial role for SHER, a women’s empowerment organization that provides them with a “safe space to speak and grow within this wide society of working and leading women,” or by hosting annual football camps in his hometown of New Hyde Park.
The Big Daddy Celebrity Golf Classic is an annual golf event hosted by Salgado.
“Thank you, that brought tears to my eyes,” he says, “when all these kids come up to you and hug you.”
I’m not a famous person, a former football player, or anything of the sort, but I have the ability to influence some people to help me with what I want to do.
I’m just a regular guy who considers himself extremely fortunate and blessed to be able to get out of bed each day and maintain the relationships he does.
Whether or not Big Daddy is covered by insurance, his influence is felt widely.
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