Today, when he's not fishing, Padilla works for a courier service near his Heightstown, N.J., home. He drives long hours, delivering computers and other business equipment. He also coaches youth soccer. He and his wife of 15 years, Barbara, have two children - daughter Corey and son Christian. Padilla is living the American dream that many others in his native country can only dream about.
Tournament fishing represents a dream of yet a different kind.
Nobody ever explained it to us. We didn't know we were allowed to fish in tournaments. There's definitely a perception among minorities that they haven't been wanted out there. Padilla has put his outgoing personality to work for him, making friends with some of fishing's top names such as Larry Nixon, Denny Brauer, Paul Elias and his idol, Roland Martin. He soaks up information like a sponge.