Sterling Sharpe’s Life Story With Shannon: Packers, University Of South Carolina, NFL Hall Of Fame

You cut me with that knife, man. >> I I wanted to see how sharp the knife. was. Cut through his jeans. Cut his leg. >> Two pair of jeans. >> Hold on. Where'd you cut me? >> It's still there. It's right there. >> 2 cm to the left. I ain't here. >> I bleed out. And then you wouldn't be. here. >> So, I'm definitely where I'm supposed to. be. There ain't no doubt about that. >> All my life been grinding all my life. Sacrifice. Hustle. Paid the price. Want. a slice. Got to roll the dice. That's. why all my life I've been grinding all.

my life. All my life been grinding all. my life. Sacrifice hustle paid the. price. Want a slice to roll the dice. That's why all my life I've been. grinding all my life. [Music]. >> Hello. Welcome to another episode of. Club Shay. I am your host Shannon Sharp. I'm also the proprietor of Club Shay. Stopping by for conversation and a drink. today. Well, he's one of the most. dominant receivers to ever step on a. field. one of the best ever run after. the catch receiver in NFL history. In.

seven seasons, he was a five-time Pro. Bowler, three-time first team allpro, three times. He led the league in. receptions three times, led the league. in receiving touchdowns twice, led the. league in receiving yardage twice, and. he also did the triple crown in seven. season. He's one he's the first players. to have back-to-back 100 catch seasons, never missed a game in his NFL career. He's one of three players in NFL history. to have 575 plus catches, 8,000. receiving yards, and 65 plus touchdowns.

in his first seven seasons at the. University of South Carolina. He was a. two-time all-American, and he had his. number two jersey retired while he was. still active. He's a part of the first. set of brothers to ever be inducted into. the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And he's. the best Sharp brother. in the family. My big brother, my hero, my role model. Sterling Sharp, >> man. Oh man. Hey. Hey. You ain't have any more on there. You. wanted to read what I got. I thought I.

did a little more than that. >> Yeah. Well, he could drive a tractor at. the age of six. I ain't know if you wanted CJ to put all. that in there, >> man. Dude, hey, it it's what we did. >> The last time you're the first ever to. do go uh repeat on Club Shay Shay. Um. and the first time we did it, we did it. virtually. Uh we also Leaporte wasn't. even a thing. And so for being the first. set of brothers in the Pro Football Hall.

of Fame, you get to join your baby. brother in in your rightful place. and. this would have been a long long time. coming um for everything that you've. done not only on the football field. because that's my new for what you've. been able to do for this family and so. uh I think it's only right that we toast. >> we going to pour it up. >> yeah we going to pour some pour it up. like my grandma used to say if you got. it you better drink it or it go bad. I just had to do it man you know I had. to do it. >> for people that watching at home this is. a commemorative uh these are going to be.

available this is the first time you're. seeing this Yes. >> And so this is uh 2500. They're only. available online. >> And uh this is my brother and I as the. first set of brothers in the Pro. Football Hall of Fame. Uh the Shay BSOP. KNC premium BSOP KNC. The best tasting. premium BSOP KNC on the market. And uh. as a commemorative of being the first. brother in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. thought we would do something like this. So people at home, this will be.

available. I'm not sure. I think uh it. goes on sale what? Wednesday, Jordan. >> I think I think I think it goes on sale. the day we release this uh which will be. Wednesday. So, congratulations, man. It's been a it's been a long time coming. and uh I'm I'm extremely happy. So, >> oh man, this is the second time in the. history of the Sharp Brothers. that we've had a drink together. The. first time we had a drink together was. when you told me I was the 382nd member.

of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So, it's definitely a special occasion. >> Very, very special occasion. As you. know, Laort Leaportier is port in. French. And everybody has heard me talk. about what Granny has meant to me. I. think people want to hear what Granny. meant to you. >> Well, the thing is is it I I'm a firm. believer that you have to learn to. follow before you can lead. and she led. us, you know, when we got to be old. enough to where we were playing sports. and I was driving us around, she never.

told us when to be home, >> right? >> She only told us to be careful and she. always told us we knew right from wrong. So for me, what I got from Granny was. the ability that you know what to do now. just go and do it. You know what. everything that that you do goes home. So everything that that we did, you. know, even when we were in high school. and we were, you know, as they like to. say, putting up numbers, that went home. to granny. And I mean, you know, oh, Mary, your grand boys are doing so good, right? >> And but the thing was is it was so.

wonderful because at the time that was. our only way to say thank you to her. other than saying thank you to her. And. and so it was a it's a tremendous honor. to be her grandson. Um, it is a. tremendous honor to be the first. brothers in the Pro Football Hall of. Fame. And for me, uh, you know, my whole. thing is is if you don't have family, you really don't have anything. And I I. I never looked at when I became. successful or got money that I was.

helping my family. I was just doing what. families are supposed to do. >> Right. What What would you say is your. favorite granny story? Uh. my favorite granny story is the fact. that she was like somebody going to hit. that little boy in his glob of mouth cuz. he talk all the time and she wasn't. talking about me. She was that boy. there. He going somebody going to put. something heavy on him. That's what she.

would always, you know, but but you. know, the thing was is my grandma never. had a a a terrible or envious or evil. bone in her body. She would give the. shirt off her back, which she did to us. and and and bringing us in and and. taking care of us, you know, and all. those years. But I I all my granny's. stories probably revolve around you. because we all knew that you were her. baby. I mean, you could do no wrong. You. could murder someone in front of her and.

she'd be like, "No, that older one did. it. I seen it." She She was all about. her baby. And I think I I you know, in. in the times that I spent with her in. the nursing home, cuz I would drive to. from Columbia to Glenville, be there. when she ate breakfast, lunch, and. dinner, and then drive back and, you. know, she would fall asleep and wake up. and you're still here. I'm like, "Yeah, I'm still here." But I think she always. knew. or she always felt, let me say it this. way, that I would be okay.

>> And she always felt that that Libby. would be okay. >> Mhm. >> I think she was always concerned about. you being okay. Like she was always she. was really afraid when I left to go to. college that you were going to be the. same as you were when I was there. I. think that that always bothered her. And. I think uh in my heart that she stayed. here long enough that she got a chance. to see what she needed to see from you,

>> that she saw our playing careers, high. school, college, and pro. Um she knew. you were in the Pro Football Hall of. Fame. Um, and I I you know, and and I. think that once she understood that. there was nothing more she had to give. you and that you were okay, I think it. was it was okay for her to leave us. And. I think that's what she did, >> right? Um, what do you think the number. one thing is that she taught you? >> Um, that that.

I don't want to say my best is good. enough. I I phrase it this way. everything I did from cutting grass, picking tobacco, grinding feed, um. playing football, playing basketball, running track, uh being a junior deacon, leading devotion of service. Everything. that I did, I tried to do better than. anyone else did anything else. And most. importantly, everything I did, I was my own standard.

So I never failed. So, if I wasn't the. captain or if I wasn't the fastest in. this race or if I didn't help lead my. team to this victory, I was okay with that because I knew I. had did all I could do. And I I think. the thing I I'm probably most proud of. is everything I did athletically I did.

for you. And I think she knew and she. wanted me wherever I went, whatever I. did, don't leave him behind. Don't. leave. >> You tried to. >> Don't leave that. Well, it wasn't my. fault. You three years younger. I had to. go to college. Ain't my fault. No, >> you you I tried to go out over you on. Saturday night. Granny, make that boy. stay home. >> Well, the thing was is is you know, the. one thing we had is we always had good. friends in Glennville. Yes. and and. hanging out with with with and I'm I'll. throw out a few names with Calvin and.

Rodney and and Lamont and those guys. hanging out, you know, it was it was an. opportunity for us. We didn't I didn't. drink then, you know, I wasn't chasing. women there. It was just hanging out. with guys my age. And the thing is is I. can't hang out over here cuz I got to. worry about this one here going. He. always had to wander off and do his own. thing. So, it was it wasn't personal. I. just want you to know one person. >> When I tell the story about no indoor.

plumbing and not taking a shower in a. home until I was 20 and X, Y, and Z, people don't believe it. >> Mhm. >> How many times have someone come up to. you and say, "Man, I heard your brother. say this and this and this about y'all. getting leaked on, y'all having to go. out to the woods, y'all having to take. baths, you know, eating this." How many. times have people come up to you and. say, "Man, is that true?". >> Probably six times a day for 54 years. Uh, and I mean because they're like, "There is no way. The first time you. lived in a house where running water was. 1988." And I said, "Well, not for me. It.

was 1989." Cuz in 1988, I went to Green. Bay, so I didn't live in the house. >> But yeah, and I get it all the time. because it's hard to fathom in what was. today's world. That that's hard to. fathom. But you know, and and I'll say this, Libby and I, our older sister, you tell. stories about our upbringing, we would. never tell, >> right? >> Because you can't explain or you can't. walk people through what that's like. I.

heard you tell a story about going to. practice and then, you know, coming. home, doing as much homework as you can, and getting in the car and catching. chickens. >> What people don't realize is is you have. to catch chickens at night. It's 9,000. degrees in that chicken house. when you. come home to take a bath, you either. going to take a cold one or we're going. to have to wait, heat up the water to be. a and it's like there's so many more. layers that you you can tell about our.

upbringing. But yeah, I get them all. I. still get them to this day. Hey man, your brother said that your grandma did. the your grandma hooked you and I with a. with a with a hook because you was. sitting behind her on a fishing pole. I. was like, yeah. I mean, it was a perfect. cast cuz she caught my eyelid and she. thought she was hung and she just kept. trying to unhang herself until I started. yelling. I'm like, "No, the story he. tells, he is definitely telling the. truth.". >> Yeah, you're absolutely right. Because. people find that say, "Man, this is not.

40s and 50s and 60s.". >> They're like, "Bro, we talking about. late 80s." It's like, okay, we didn't. have running water in the late ' 80s. We. had whale water in the late 80s. We had. to. >> put the water in a tin tub and let the. sun heat it or we put it on the stove. and boil it. I'll give you another one. People are amazed that I don't know how. to cook. >> And I said, I grew up old school. When. you went through Mary Porter's kitchen, you were either eating or you were.

walking through. You weren't learning. how to She wasn't You weren't going in. there to cook nothing in Mary Porter's. kitchen. Absolutely not. That was not. going to happen. We grew up as old. school as you can get. People don't. believe when I tell them I said like at. the table we couldn't talk. >> No, only grown folks were allowed to. talk. If you wanted to talk, you had to. get up and go on the porch or you had to. go in the living room. Only grown folks. talked at the table. >> Not only talk at the table, but when. they were in the living room or the. kitchen or when grown folks were. talking, you had to go. >> So because that conversation that they.

were having was not for you. It was not. about you and it wasn't going to benefit. you. So yeah, the respect of the you the. kids go hang with kids. Oh, that was. real. What do you remember most about. that thousand square foot cinder block. home that had cement floors, had a tin. roof, no paneling. It was. You spent the first 17 years there. I. spent 20 years there. You left in ' 83. Uh you got the house in ' 88. So I was.

20. I I'll never forget I was 20 um when. I uh. >> called your own room in the house. >> Called my own room. >> Yeah. Had your own TV, had your own bed. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And it and it was it wasn't cast iron. >> I I I have lived my entire life by this. phrase because of how we grew up. This. is my life. There are many like it, but. this one is mine. I'm not embarrassed.

because we never went to everybody. anybody else's house to stay overnight, you know. Oh, I'm going to go stay at. Lamont's. >> People don't believe that. >> Oh, you know what, man? I'm just going. to go hang out. I'm going to stay at. Cal's house this weekend. Granny, the. only time we went somewhere to stay. overnight was to go to our dad's parents. house in Reedsville, which is 14 miles. away. >> Correct. >> We got there Friday and Barney picked us. up on Sunday. >> Yes. That is all. That is the only. overnight we ever did. So the only thing.

>> 4 camp. >> Yeah. >> I'm trying to think. Did I go to I went. to 4 camp once. >> You went to Rock Eagle. >> Went to Rock Eagle. >> I went to Rock Eagle twice and I went to. Camp Chadam. >> Yeah. And but the thing was is you when. I look at that house, it didn't motivate. me to or drive me to be this or that. It. didn't uh scare me that I'm going to. live like this for the rest of my life. It was us, man. I had my family when I, you know, I learned my jump shot playing.

with you in the yard. I learned my. football moves on the fourth Sunday when. Arnell, Eugene, Lanny, Robbie, Bernard, all of us would get together and play in. the yard. I was never embarrassed by how. we grew up. Remember there was jokes. The boys used to make jokes about it. Man, y'all live so far out of town. They. got to pump sunshine, man. That was, you. know, >> bad coach y'all. We don't want to ride. the bad drop us up first, Coach. No. [ __ ] Y'all right. >> Y'all Hey, it can be raining in. Glennville and it's snowing out in.

Tyson. Y'all live so far away. >> Never bothered me. >> No. >> Because what it was was it was us, >> right? >> Always had us. Always had my family. And. and that was never a motivating factor. Being poor never motivated me cuz. remember the greatest season I had in. college being a consensus all-American, uh being up in the top three, five in. catches, yards, and touchdowns. I had. another year of college, right? I could. have easily have turned pro because. everybody had already projected me as.

being a first-round draft pick. And I, you know, I remember coach Morrison. going, "What do you think?" I was like, "About what?". >> He was like, "You know, about turning. pro. >> My family's been poor my entire life. What's one more year?" They used to it. They are accustomed to it. They're. comfortable with it. What's one more. year? Cuz I enjoyed college. So, uh, when I think about Glennville, and let. me tell you, every time I go to. Glennville, I ride by that house. >> because there's so many tremendous. memories and fun times and uh, growing.

up in that house with all of us. Maryell, sometimes Glattis, Jane, Shermanine, Libby, Dietrich, her her. son, me, you, Granny, and Papa. I I have. so many tremendous memories because all. all my life I lived in my head. Remember. we played That's my car. >> Yeah, >> that's my car. >> Remember, you know what, man? When I get. some money, you know what kind of car. I'm going to get? >> El Camino. Car in the front, truck in.

the back, bro. Oh, bro. That's what I'm. getting. You know, so, you know, it for. me growing up was just a way of life in. that thousand foot cinder block house. But I have such tremendous memories. there, man. I don't I don't have any. negativity or wow. You know that it. wasn't tough because that's all we knew. >> Yeah, it was it was definitely. motivating for me because I was like I. was. >> Yeah, but you were different. But I was. thinking does everybody live like this? Now, you know, a lot of my family. members lived exactly how we live. When.

we go to their house, it was the same. thing. But I'm thinking about the kids. at school, my friends, do they have. running water? Do they have indoor. plumbing? I mean, they telling me they. taking showers and they doing all this. I'm like, we don't do none of that. I. never looked at it that way. I mean, I. looked forward to two things. I looked. forward to uh the fourth Sunday. >> Yeah. >> Because, you know, Granny and and and. Verbel and Clarice and Doris and all our. aunts were going to get together with. Granny and they were going to cook,

>> right? >> And there was going to be cakes. And on. on the fourth Sunday, you know, my. grandmother was the mother of the church. and my grandfather was the the head. deacon and the custodian. And we had so. we were in charge of the communion wine. that Morgan David. We going to get to. finish off that Morgan David. It was a. thousand little cups and we were going. to get to drink that. But you know what? We knew we going to get to play, >> right? >> We were going to get to enjoy ourselves. We going to get to eat good. Those.

memories, man, live forever in my head. I love those times. Nothing says summer. like long days, clutch plays, and firing. off a few bets on the game. All with. DraftKings Sportsbook. Never bet on. baseball before? It's easy. Pick a guy. to go yard, hammer some live odd midame, or just ride with your squad and hope. for the best. No spreadsheets, just. vibes and dingers. Here's something. special for first- timers. New DraftKing. customers. Bet $5 and get $150 in bonus. bets instantly. Download the DraftKings.

Sportsbook app. Use code Shannon. That's. code Shannon for new customers to get. $150 in bonus bets instantly when you. bet just five bucks only on DraftKings. The crown is yours. People are mad. When. it rained, did y'all really get rained. on? Could you really lay in the bed and. look up and see the sky, see the stars, see the moon from your bed? People ask. those questions. >> Yeah, we did. And regard which is really. strange cuz it wasn't like we didn't.

climb up there and oh yeah you know you. hey is this the hole and and you take a. broom and you be like right here and you. tar that area and be like okay now this. area is not going to leak. Okay and then. over here this ain't going to leak and. regardless of what we did if it rained. it rained on us. >> right. >> yes that's that I mean but that was just. the way of life then that was just the. way we did things. What about the. bathroom situation? Not being able to go. to the bathroom indoors at your at a.

home. >> until I was 20. You were 17 when you I. mean college. >> So prior to that, people don't. understand. I was six or seven years. old. >> You know, Liby going to be mad when she. see that. Liy don't like you talking. about them days. Li that's him. I ain't. got nothing to do with I'm just sitting. here. >> I felt bad for you cuz if I had to go to. the bathroom late at night. No, >> I had to go with you. >> Granny had granny. >> I had to go with you. make you hold a. flashlight. We'd have to take the bug. spray, especially if it was in the. summertime because the mosquitoes had.

machetes and they weren't playing. Uh if. it was cold, if it was raining, you had. to hold hold and we didn't have an. umbrella. We had like our our aunts used. to work at the Claxton Poetry, so they. had these like plastic vinyl uh. >> like ponchos like like ponchos you go to. the game with. So I So while he's doing. his thing, I got to stand over him with. with a little bit over me and and I'm. like this. Yeah. But that was just the.

way it was, man. I mean, I would love to. be angry that Papa didn't do better and. make it better for us. I would love to. be angry and be like, "Granny, you see. how we living? You ain't supposed to. live like this." But the thing is is. when you don't know better, it's hard to. do or be better. And I was like, this is. who we are and this is what we do. And. and that's my little brother. And can't. nobody hit him but me. And well, granny.

and papa every now and then, but you. know, I couldn't say none of that. But. that was the thing is it was just us, right? It was just our way of life. You. know, like like it's funny, and I tell. people this all the time. You and I. looked out the same window and saw two. totally different things living in that. house. >> Yep. >> You were motivated by our living. conditions. It was just a way of life. for me. That motivated you to run. harder, try harder, do this. I was just. like,

you were doing I think what drove you. was is I'm going to be the one to take. care of these living situations and all. that. And I I. I I'm like, man, he, you know, he's. doing his thing. He's growing. He's. becoming his own man. I'm loving it. For. me, looking out that window, all I saw. was is this is what we got. And every. now and then, I would allow myself to. think back and go, are we here? If we grew up in Chicago,

>> are we here if we are we as close as we. are if we grow up in Chicago? >> No. And so I'm like sometime many times. we don't get what we want, we get what. we need. And that thousand foot thousand. square foot cinder block house gave us. both what we needed to be able to be. where we are right now. >> You didn't miss taking a shower. You. like taking a bath in the tin tub.

Well, it wasn't like, you know, I got to. take a I I go to school and I got to. take showers and then I come home. It. was like a 10 tub from. >> K to Kate. So, whenever you had to take. a shower was a 10 tub and and that when. I mean just imagine I left and go to. college when I would come home for. holidays, guess what? >> You back in that tin tub. Yep. >> So, but it ain't like I don't know how. to do it, you know? I know how to eat. the water up and, you know, soap that.

leg and I know how to do all that. You. know, it's just like washing a car. When. you take a bath in a tin tub, you wash. from the top down. Just like washing a. car. So, >> never bothered me. Never never never. once bothered me to the point where I. felt. embarrassed or uncomfort. >> It was just, you know, I brought my my. girlfriend there, >> you know, never bothered me because I'm. like, this is just what we do. This is. who we are. It's how we grew up. I'm. sorry that you probably don't understand.

this. This is just life, >> right? >> The drinking of the whale water. I. remember I mean drinking well water and. then the whale went dry. >> and then we had to go get a barrel. We. had to go to Christine. >> and she would let us fill up the barrel. >> Fill up the barrel and that was our. drinking water. That was our washing. water cuz we sat the barrel and that. those barrels was so I mean think about. 55gallon drum. >> cast iron. >> with water in it. >> Yeah. >> And so that would have to last us you.

know. >> for until it ran out and we had to load. it back in the truck and and then we. were driving a vehicle that might get us. there and it might not. >> Right. >> But but you go back to the well. Remember what we had to put in the well. to kill the bugs? We put catfish in the. >> Put the catfish in the bottom of the. well to kill the kill the bugs. >> to eat the bugs off the top. So now mind. you now, yes, the water that we're. drinking there's a live fish catfish. because we didn't want bugs, it didn't. dawn us, well if the catfish had to go. to the bathroom, >> he gone.

>> It it didn't it that didn't dawn on us. It was just the bugs. I already robbing. Peter to pay Paul. We just robbing. Peter. That's all it was. Yes. Yeah. Libby, I ain't got nothing to do with. these questions. This your little. brother. Hey, I I don't want to talk. about this. What do you want to talk. about? >> The meals that we ate. Um, we got. chicken once a week. That was on Sunday. I can't remember a time. And my from the. time that I was old enough until the. time I left, >> we ate good on Sundays.

>> We always had chicken. >> Always had. Yes. >> We always had chicken. >> Yes. >> And what you didn't eat, you got it on. Monday because you got some other fried. >> Got some other fried. Yeah, that's. right. >> But we And we ate everything on the pig. from the root to the juice. >> Yeah. Yeah. Everything on the chicken. >> Everything on the Yeah. >> The first and the left party got on the. spin. >> The beak of the butt. >> That is correct. But see, it's funny having this conversation. because he's saying things that I never. thought of. You know, when when we would. kill a hog and we had to, hey, go over.

and get, you know, Granny would say, go. over and get mama, her mom, uh, Grandma. Go over and get Grandma Lou cuz we're. going to kill a hog. Cuz Grandma Lou was. the chitlin expert. >> Yes. But I never, you know, people don't. realize that we would go out in the. woods and and get a tub of tarpentine. >> We would boil water, put the tarpentine. in there and slide the hog in there and. turn it around and most of the hair. would just come off. Right. >> But then one of my uncles or our. granddaddy would take the straight razor.

and shave it. >> Yeah. >> And we ate everything on pig, feet, you. know, we ate it all, hog head, cheese, we did. it all. And but that's just the way of. life. >> That is not a okay, I got to do this now. and I I'm not going to have to do this. again. No, this is just the way of life, >> right? >> That's all. >> What do you think the craziest thing? Cuz when I tell people the stuff that we. ate, they're like, "Man, nobody eat. that, man. Don't nobody eat no paw. Don't nobody eat.". >> I've never eaten possum and I've never. eaten chitlins. I I was like I'm like,

"I'm not doing that. That ain't going. I'm not doing that. I I don't care what. I'm not eating chitlins. That's not. going to happen to me. I promise you. Kelloggs, he ate more corn flakes than. anybody on the history of the planet. Cuz I'm not eating chillings. That's not. going to happen. Well, that's all we. got. So if you going to eat anything, you going to eat the chilling. No sir. I'm going to take this carnation instant. milk. I'm going to miss it mix it with. water. Or if it's powdered milk, I'm. going to mix it with water. I'm going to. eat the Kellogg Frosty Fights for as. long as humanly possible.

>> What about the alligator turtle? The. snappy turtle. Okay, it's gummy, but you. know, it's gummy, but it wasn't what we. ate every day, right? I mean, usually. remember, you know, we grew up in a time. where we would grab a gun. >> 3030 30 off six shotgun 22 and you know, we going hunting and granny would just. be like be careful, you know, cuz she. was like, well, they know how to handle. a gun, right? >> You know, >> and that's something that we that people. >> Papa taught us how to handle a gun. Dead.

is not a gun. >> Dead is a long time. So you understood. what the power of that gun was. Absolutely. Even though he couldn't. shoot, >> uh he taught us how to shoot. >> Correct. >> And so, you know, usually, you know, ducks, rabbits, raccoons, squirrel. I. remember one time when Arnell and Eugene. first got there 410. >> Yeah. >> Man, we must have killed 400 squirrels. >> I mean, man, we at. >> Yeah. We We wiped them out. We wiped. them. We wiped out a whole. >> the gaggle.

>> had the gay war knowing what we did. >> Boy, we be in jail still right now. We. wiped out a whole gag squirrel. >> But you know the thing was is is even to. this day I think I wonder if I could. skin a raccoon. And I'm like absolutely. You hang it up button just. you know pulling it. Yeah you could do. that. You know because. >> it's called we uh some people say. dressing. We called it casing. Yes. You. case it out. Yeah. Oh yeah. So, but but. once again, that was just the way of. life, >> right?

The sleeping arrangement. You slept with. papa. I slept with granny. When papa. passed, you still you slept by yourself? >> I slept by myself. >> But we you were we're in the same room. >> In the same room with Granny. >> I slept with Granny. Then Papa passed. You slept by yourself. I didn't sleep by. myself until I was 15. Till you left to. go to go to South Carolina. Mhm. >> And I tell people, you had it the. hardest because my grandfather wasn't a. great sleeper and he would get up in the. middle of the night, maybe he'd get up.

2:00, 3:00 in the morning and he would. say, "Come on, Spank it." And he would. take you to the truck stop. >> No, he wouldn't. He would make me go. with him to the truck stop. He wouldn't. take me. It wasn't like a package deal. But But that ain't the best part. The. best part is is he would order grits, eggs, bacon, toast, maybe some French. toast, and he would tell me, "You ain't. going to get to eat this cuz you going. to eat cereal in the morning when before. you go to school." I just had to sit.

there and watch him eat. But he didn't. want to go by himself. Oh, how about. this one? We used to wash his car. >> Yep. He would pay us $5 to wash his car. and charge us $3 to take us to the store. to spend it. >> That is absolutely. >> but but it's just a way of life, >> right? >> And so, you know, what a lot of people. don't know, you probably don't know. this, when he died, he fell over on the.

sofa on me. I called Thurman. >> He had a heart attack, fell over on the. sofa on me at 13. 12:30. Yeah. 13. I. called Thurman. and and Thurman called my uncle James. and Uncle Thurman came down and got uh. uh Ruben King to come over and tried to. rush him to Dublin. I think it was the. VA hospital in Dublin and then he died a. few days later. So you you know when.

when I hear you talk about granny and. and you know justifiably so remember I. spent the majority of my being able to. move around work, learning how to drive. years with him. >> Yep. and and listening to him direct and. tell and. orchestrate me in a way to where I never. I never looked at our lives as being. tragic or bad or sad. It was just the.

way of life. And guess what? Just like. Nova King, just give it time, your lives. get better. It's just going to take some. time, >> right? What's your favorite story with. papa? >> I mean, serious or funny? The funniest story is. when he had the 30. Well, he made me go. get the 30 o six cuz the fox was like 20. yards away sitting in the road and he. shot 400 times and the fox was looking. at him like, "Well, who are you shooting. at?" That was the funniest. And he.

blamed me for the sight being off. He. had a scope on. >> and then handed me the 30 out six in one. at 3030 and in one shot the fox fell. over dead and he was like, "Yeah, you. done did something to my gun." No, you. just can't shoot. I mean, that that was. probably the funniest one. But, you. know, the thing was is not knowing like. really anything about his life. >> The fact that he was so well respected.

by everybody that came in contact with. both white and black. >> Yep. and not knowing why that was. Uh he. would teach me with words. You remember. we would be riding, you know, maybe go. up to Thornell's and we would get to. play with Arnell and them and he and. Thornell and he just wanted to hang out. and he would see a car on the side of. the road with four, you know, teenage. guys and he would always say too many. drivers and not enough fixers, you know.

So he taught in riddles, so to speak. >> Yes. >> And so for me, like when he taught me. how to drive, he was just like, "You. done seen me do it. Now follow me and. don't hit anything.". >> So I'm like I'm trying to drive and I'm. like, [Laughter]. and and when you watch someone drive, you see the steering wheel constantly. move, >> right? So I'm back there like this and. I'm like and the truck is going like.

this and he pulls over just to just to. curse me out cuz he like boy you don't. drive like that. How else was I going to. learn how to do how to drive? So, but. there was so many things like watching. him in church. >> Mhm. >> You know, when he went, you know, oh, I'm going to go buy such and such. phrasia house cuz, you know, he need to. come to church and be like, no, I ain't. leaving until you get in the truck. You. know, just the fact that he he had a.

powerful voice. He was very. wellresected. And I never knew or understood why even. to this day. still don't know or. understand why. But the fact that he. commanded. >> your attention when he spoke, everybody. was like this. If you were I mean the. thing is is. >> his threats were real. >> So when we would be in church and you. know the best place to sleep is in. church. >> Mhm. >> And I wish we had been there for four.

hours. >> I wish I wish you would. Now he could. nod off but we couldn't. I mean that you. know th those are the things I think in. hindsight that I learned which helped. shape and mold my development of trying. to be uh the man better than anyone else. be a man better than anyone else did. anything else. I agree. I think the. thing is you had it the hardest because. he was very very hard on you because you.

were the oldest. And I remember him. having. >> I was the oldest boy. >> boy. >> But I remember him telling Granny he. said. >> all the time. >> She said she said Barney why you so hard. on him. He said Mary because that little. one is going to learn everything from. him. >> Yep. >> And he has to do it right. >> He he nicknamed me Spanky because he. couldn't say Sterling. He so he would. always say spank that Spank is always. gonna be responsible for him. So I don't. want that little if if the big one's in.

jail, the little one's going to be in. jail. If the big one's on drugs, the. little one going to be on drugs. And I. don't want e that to happen to either. one of them. But he never told me. >> no. >> that that I was responsible for you. He. never said that. But he always would. give me little thought like I spent more. time with him and my uncle Thurman. because my uncle Thurman, his third. oldest son, >> Mhm. >> uh work to work together. So I spent.

more time with them and got a chance to. watch their interaction. And the thing. was is he was always in charge. >> Mhm. >> Now you may not like it. You may not. appreciate it, but he is always in. charge. And I like that. And I I I I I. equated it to the only way to constantly. be in charge is you got to have more. information. You got to have more. compassion. You got to have more love. You got to have more understanding about. the the the world that you're in. And if.

you want to be in charge all the time, >> right? And so I always love the fact. that when it came time to voting, 7,000, and I'm going to say this because I grew. up in rural South Georgia, 7,000 white. people would come by and talk to him. about how he was going to vote because. how he voted influenced how a lot of the. black community out in rural South. Georgia voted. So the fact that he. commanded a presence like that, the fact. that if he had something taught me, son,

if you got something to say, say it, >> right? There was a lot of times that I. thought I had something to say and I. didn't. But I learned over time that I I. got my voice is powerful. My my daughter. hated my voice growing up. I mean, I. think I may have spanked summer once. because my voice was enough, right? >> And it wasn't, you know, hey, it was. just what are we doing and that was. enough. And so I think a lot of. subliminally I learned a lot of I mean. everybody in the family thinks I'm more.

like him. >> than he was. >> I'm more like our grandfather than. anybody. >> because I spent the most time with him. because of little things. >> Yeah. >> That you know making me get up to go to. the truck stop with him so he could eat. breakfast cuz he ain't want to go alone. >> Right. >> You know uh the thing was is. >> we had to we had to string his fishing. poles. We had to do his rods and reel. We had. >> What about the bait? >> We had We had. >> the the worst probably the worst beating. he ever gave you. And and I say this in.

all is my we went out and we found a. smorgesborg of worms. No, I found a. smorgesborg of worms. >> Now, let me tell the story my way. We. found a smorgesborg of worms and my. brother's got this coffee can. It's. about like this. and it is glowing with. dirt and worms. My grandma ain't a she. don't have any worms. >> So she said she went to work that day.

>> She says, "Uh, hey son, bring me some of. them worms.". >> He says, "No, these mine, granny, I want. them dies. I mean, dang.". Uh, Barney, that boy that won't give me none of his. bait. What? We ain't catch a thing that day because. all that yelling you were doing scared. off all them fish. He beat the brakes. off you, bro. But but that that. but he really, you know, after his I I.

want to say. >> the first heart attack cuz. >> that was the first heart attack cuz the. second heart Wait, no, the second heart. attack he was down at the thing. >> No, that was the first one at the uh the. uh. >> because the one he fell over on me was. the third. >> Yeah, at the house. That was at the. house. But Marinell, the one that found. him at the uh down the road at the uh. the shop where we used to go. >> skate skateboard. Yes. And so so we had. to string, we had to carry, we How about.

getting in the boat with him? >> I mean, he got in a boat and you know. how you got to be, you know, both got to. be balanced. He got in there like he. walking on land and you were sitting in. there cuz you know, we all learned how. to swim. Throw you in the clay hole. bubbles and whatnot, you know, and I. almost I almost drowned because I didn't. know how to swim at the state park. Yeah. >> But, you know, for for being around papa. all the time that I did, I think I.

learned so much subliminally by watching. and seeing the interaction of, you know, his best friend was was a guy named. Virgil Wiggins. >> Yep. >> And Virgil Wiggins could do no wrong and. could nobody talk about him but him, >> right? He was the only one that could. say something negative about Virgin. Wiggins. He was the, you know, we don't. I don't we don't I'll say we we ain't. big on going to somebody's house. >> We, you know, we ain't big. >> never have still to this day. >> Yeah. Never ain't big on going to. somebody's house. And I think we got.

that from him. And the only house he. would go to other than his, you know, his kids was Virgil Wiggins. >> I think Rainy is more more don't go to. people house. Well, well, we definitely. got that from them cuz we ain't all. about going over and. >> definitely ain't spend the night at no. >> going over and be like, "Yeah, I was. in." No, I I ain't in the neighborhood. at your house. If I'm coming to your. house, you either owe me money or I'm. borrowing something. That's about it. >> You know, back then, uh um I can't.

recall a time and I told you I can. remember Papa died in 77. I was about to. turn I was about to turn nine. Um he. died in February, so I was eight at the. time. And every time everything he's. ever said in my presence, I can. remember. I don't remember him ever. saying that I love you. But the one. thing I do know is that he didn't play. all them jokes and that Kiki K. >> Never saw him laugh really. Never really. saw him. >> all that Kiki K and that joke cuz I. remember I remember I'm not going to.

call the guy's name. He made a joke. about my grandfather's teeth. >> Mhm. >> And my grandfather was pulling off. My. grandfather put the car. >> put the car put he reversed it. put the. car in park and he got out. He said, "I. don't play." He said, "I'm old enough to. be your dad." He said, "I don't do that. joking." But the times were different, too. >> Yeah. >> I mean, >> but men didn't play back then, Spain. >> But par parents and grandparents weren't. your friend. >> No. >> Aunts and uncles weren't your friend.

>> Absolutely not. >> And and I think now because of how the. dynamic is because. >> some of the ages got. >> ages are a little Yeah. But but the. thing was is is and I and I tell people. this all the time when I I speak. publicly is we were apprentices. We were never going to get the approval. until we were doing whatever it was. cutting the grants. >> We had to cut it like he cut it. I go. left to right. You know, we may want to.

start down here and just run and go. No, I cut it left or right. So you got to. cut it left to right. So I, you know, the times and the people were different. >> The, you know, growing up in a time. where men were men and women were women. And I'm like, that's why I never learned. to cook because you weren't learning in. Mary Porter's kitchen. That wasn't going. to happen because if she found you in. the kitchen and she asked you, you. weren't going to There was no singing at. the table. My aunt Gladice taught us. that. Ain't no singing at the table. It's your thing.

>> Remember that. >> So you can't sing at the table. You. ain't talking at the table. And if you. in the kitchen, you either walking. through it or you eat. And and that's. just the way it was. >> Right. When Papa passed, did you feel like you. needed to step up because now you're the. dominant male figure that I'm going to. see every single day? Did you felt or. did you felt he had prepared you for. that role and that was just a natural. progression? >> When Papa died was the best day of my. life. When Granny met us to tell us that he.

remember he was in the hospital. He died. in the hospital. Yep. >> When granny walked out, we got off the. bus and granny met us. She said, "Boys, your grandfather is gone." Best day of. my life because I was going to get to do. what I wanted, always wanted to do. I. was going to get to play football. >> Yep. >> I learned this from an older gentleman. cuz he would always ask me about the. best, you know, I learned grow. What's. the best day of your life? I go, my. grandfather died. Best day of my life. The man who took us in, raised us,

formulated who I am. Best day of my. life. Well, what's the worst day of your. life? Same day. But I've learned in my years that he had. probably given me everything that he. could give me and it was okay for him to. leave because when he died, I got a. chance to play football. The very next. year, he died in February. The very next. year, I started playing football and the. rest of of course is history. and and. God willing, I find myself in the Pro.

Football Hall of Fame. Barney Porter is. definitely one of the men that and once. again, you you have to learn to follow. before you can leave. that I followed. not knowing where I was going. And I never looked at I I I I know that. I I wanted to be. the best I could be. But. that was a great day, man, when when.

Granny told us that that Papa Pa had. died because you said something I saw on. on on one of your on one of your your. segments in your podcast that you wish. papa and daddy could see what we turned. out to be. If Barney Porter doesn't die, then I I don't get to play football, right? >> Because I'm the oldest guy in the house. I'm with him. So, I'm still riding a. tractor, planting whatever will grow and. harvesting that. You as the baby might. have,

>> right? >> But I don't get that opportunity. Uh so, selfishly, it worked out great for me. uh selfishly. But man, let me tell you, I I use the same words, phrases, mannerism, actions, reactions that I saw. in 73, 74, 76. that he used uh back then. >> if you could talk to him today, what. would you tell him? I really wish you would have let me eat. a couple times at that time at at the.

truck stop cuz boy I was sitting there. salivating going man pancakes but just. like you see on TV in a commercial and I. would just sit there and he had orange. juice. He had coffee. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. You don't want none of this cuz. you going to have se you going to have. some cereal when we get back to the. house before you go to school. No, I I. honestly do not know because there is. not much you can say to someone that. you're just like. Uh there is not much.

that you want to say to someone that. you're just like. Uh cuz think about it. You started you started chewing tobacco. You smoke cigars cuz he was a big he. chewed tobaca. He smoked cigars. He wore. hats. A lot of your his your mannerisms. today. >> are him. Are him. Yes. And and and and. and don't don't lose sight of this. I'm. older now than he was when he died. >> Yes.

>> And so yeah, I I I inherited a lot of. who he was, what he stood for, what he. said. Remember, there's a lot of things. you might get away with. You weren't. going to have Barney Porter late. You. want to get on my bad side, be late. >> Where you get that from, George? be. late. You ain't Let me tell you, I I we. ain't going to be late. And that, you. know, and if I tell you I'm going to,

that's happening. >> Yeah. >> That's as good as gold. You can put it. in the bank. >> Yeah. >> I got that from him. >> Yeah. >> His word was as as they say nowadays, his word was bomb. Oh, yeah. >> If he told you he was going to do or be, you can count on that. >> Best believe it. >> Yes. And and I I inherited Harold Green. one of my best friends. >> Mhm. >> We almost had a falling out. because he was late and he late. We. going to play golf and he late.

>> Bro, you can't be late. That that is. like an absolute no no, brother. That. that you can fry egg on my head if you. going to be late. >> Yeah. I mean, we got it from both granny. that same way. >> Not gonna be late cuz And and if you say. you gonna do something, do it. >> Yeah. >> And a lot of people's word is no good. this how how did Uncle Thurman used to. say it man they were like pie crust. easily broken. >> the enemies were broken and. >> and so I you know the old school way.

that we grew up and I'll say I grew up. man definitely formulated and and. impacted my life in a way that allowed. me. I never did anything for public. consumption. the only competitor the only competition. I ever had in my life was you. cut the grass Yes. Oh, it was a race. >> Took me 16 minutes to cut race. >> It was a race, >> bro. Hey, bro. >> I fed the hogs, the chickens, and Ringo.

12 minutes. >> That's the only competition that I ever. had going out. I remember people going, you know, comparing me to other. receivers and I would just laugh cuz I'm. like, "Y'all don't understand. I'm doing. what I want to do. This is my ceiling. I'm playing not making the Pro Bowl, not. being an allp pro, my ceiling is playing. in the NFL. I remember. and I say a lot of the best things that. ever happened to me. I was with you, you.

know, when I signed my scholarship. You. in the background cheese, you know, I'm. like, I don't know why he's so happy. uh when. I got drafted uh when the call came in, which I'm going to tell y'all this, but. don't tell him I'm telling you. So, when. Buddy G called me to tell me that the. Green Bay Packers were going to take me. at number seven, my brother yells out in. the background, "Dang, man, you ain't going to ever be on TV.".

I was so happy because I went to a place. that I could I could concentrate on. playing football. >> And so to me, you know, all the, you. know, I remember you two real poignant. things in my life. We went to this quote. unquote restaurant in Colombia. My. brother wanted to try it and it almost. killed. So I ain't been back to that. restaurant since. And the first game my. brother came to uh was probably minus 12.

>> Minnesota. >> in Green Bay. >> Yep. >> And I thought that almost killed him cuz. he went got in bed and the next time I. talked to him was we were at the. airport. He was like, but you know, so. that. man, I just got, you know, tremendous. memories of what Barney Porter gave us, you know, gave us life, health, gave us. what he had, what he could. More. importantly, he gave us wisdom and. knowledge that we weren't going to get. anywhere else.

>> Right. I tell the story, yeah, everybody knows. who you and I are. Um, but the person. that had the hardest job was Buck. because. when Buck came, we all came. She's 5. years older than you. She's 8 years. older than Libby. >> Um Mhm. >> Um 8 years older than I. And when we. came in 1970 for good. >> She never left. >> Correct. And in order for me, and you. can speak for you, in order for me to.

function at the highest rate that I knew. I possibly could, I needed to know. Granny was going to be okay. >> And I know Libby being there, >> you know, Libby could do no wrong in. Granny's eyes. >> How important. >> You could do no wrong in Granny's eyes. either. But go ahead with your story. >> But go ahead. I mean, you go ahead. as I. got little then it got to be well Libby. could do no wrong from the from the time. that we I got grown you know I left to.

go to Savannah State and I come back and. Libby had replaced me. How important was. uh uh Buck. to you? >> See I I have never been able to separate. the dynamic of Mary and Barney. >> Mhm. >> So Mary and Barney are here. >> right. >> and then it's all of us, >> right? So there is no well Shannon being. the youngest is least important and and. and and you know Shermanine or Glattis. or our Aunt Jane are more important. We.

were it was them and then it was all of. us, >> right? And we were here and what Libby. did was uh. don't do that. Don't say that. Uh get it. done. You know, when when papa would. say, "Hey, uh, somebody need to take out. the trash. was our first induction into uh being a. foreman. Okay, you take it out Monday, you take.

it out Tuesday, you take, you know, so. now we delegate, right?". >> Uh, >> well, that grass out there is getting. kind of long. >> You cut it on this week, >> Saturday. >> I'll cut it. I'll cut it next week. Yep. >> So, I don't look at Libby as an. extension of those two, >> right? >> I look at Libby as one of us, >> right? >> That just happened to be 5 years older. than me. >> Right. I think that's the difference.

because. all the things that a mother would do, Libby did. Help me, tie my shoe, my. report card, help me with my homework. Even though. >> she ain't do very well on the homework. part, >> she was a terrible teacher. She had no. patience. >> He couldn't get in prison with his. grace. >> Man lab was a terrible teacher, man. She. didn't have no patience. How you spell. this word? >> No, daddy. How you spell it? >> He She didn't have any patience because.

he was too busy being funny. His entire existence. is about a joke. He going to find the funny part in it. and he going to exploit that and he. going to keep it going. He don't care. how many people join in on the joke. >> He going to keep it going. >> I don't care. >> Yeah. He going it's going to be funny. >> But you know the thing was is that you. know she took a lot of responsibility. because uh you I mean she would take you.

know take us you know school clothes. shopping. She take you to take you to. states, bro. Leave me at school until I. found out. You know, y'all made a. mistake one time. >> You couldn't go with us cuz, you know, it was the adults, man. Me and Libby was. going, we go to Dairy Queen, get the big. burger. You know, we were living. We. were living a dream. We ain't had the. responsibility of worried about the. dude, you know, cuz you know, Granny was. more like, "Okay, y'all go to Statesboro. and come right back.". >> Yeah. >> There ain't no detour getting food and. all that. So we could go go get the.

clothes, swing by Dairy Queen, enjoy the. best choice burgers and shakes. because when No, we weren't going to. tell this dude couldn't hold water if. you did it. Oh my god. And he would hold. Oh, remember when y'all went to Dairy. Queen? You went to Dairy Queen, too? Yeah, but. Granny told y'all not to go. >> I was just in the truck. Yeah, I I I was. a snitch. I I I I blackmail people cuz I.

know when people got kicked out of. school, I I hear to the door to hear my. aunts talking. Somebody got suspended. I. got Oh, he was all about the. information. Yeah. Yeah. He had to pay. They You had to pay up. You had. People don't believe this that we've. never You and I have never slept over at. someone's home. No. And we've never had. friends sleep over at ours. >> No. Like.

I think the first time. at my house. that someone stayed was you and Harold. >> Mhm. >> The year y'all came out of the draft and. you know we all trained together and. >> y'all stayed with me. >> But no, >> and to this day I don't do it. Um I it's. just it's it's comfort for us. I mean, we sleep with fans. >> Yes. >> All of us. Me, you, Libby, we sleep with. fans.

>> Yep. >> Um, Susan Summers, sleep with fans. Um, I just think it's a comfort thing that. this is what I like and what I need and. I don't want to. We are all about in our. comfort staying out of your way and what. you need, right? >> That ain't a bad thing. That's just the. nature of the beast. >> I did become envious because. uh, you got the good clothes, man. I had. to wear hand-me-downs. I had to wear. Libby clothes. >> Okay, let's let's walk this thing back. When When Papa died and we started.

working for the Tatum Brothers? >> Yeah. >> And you were making your $6 a day. >> Yeah. >> So, we working five. >> Hold on. Hold on, guys. See, see, stop. You making your $6 a day working Monday. through Friday. >> Yeah. >> So, 6* 5 is 30. >> Yeah. >> Where would the bulk of your money go? >> The cornerstone. Okay. So, so sometimes. for lunch, we didn't go home and eat. lunch. We would just stay in the field,

take an hour break. So, yeah. Bring me a. a a Coke and, you know, some chips. Coke, some peanuts, coke, maybe a honey. bun. Junior here. Oh, give me two honey buns, two sodas, and so all his money is gone. We working because now I'm playing. sports. So in order to have football, basketball, or track shoes, I'm paying.

>> Yep. >> In order for him to have football, basketball, track shoes, I'm paying. So. I got to choose my spending carefully. So when my grandma found out he was. making $6 a day, she was like, "Oh Lord, that's y'all paying him too much." No, granny. He done ate his $30 for the. weekend. So he didn't he couldn't get. the quote unquote but he always wanted. the best of the best which I loved about.

him. And it was so I'm going to going to. fast forward when I got money regardless. of what he would have turned out to be. Whatever he wanted if he would have been. a trash man. He'd have been a trash man. living in a 10,000t house. I would have. made sure of that. He'd have been a. trash man driving a Mercedes. I would. have made sure he had a Mercedes in. college before I had one because. he was my little brother. So when he. tries to be I was envious that you had.

all the. >> You work like we work. You just ate your. >> You was making $16 a day. I was making. >> You ate yours and honey buns and soda. and and and we were saving ours because. we were living down the line and you. were living for the day. I think the. well the thing was is that my. grandmother. >> we were making $5 a day and by cous me. and Lanny he's two years older than me. >> Um Lanny's two years older than me, Spank's three years older than me. Eugene's six years older than me. Arnell.

seven years older than me and Libby is. eight years older than me. >> And so Lanny, I let Lanny talk me into. asking Mr. Joe for a raise. I said, "Mr. Joe, man, we be working hard.". >> This is a good one. Me and I said, "Man, me and Lanny, man, me and Lanny been. working hard. >> Let me refill my glass.". >> He called my name, Mr. Jo. They called. me Pee-Wee. >> That's right. >> Cuz I was so small. >> TW. >> Sundown. They called him sundown because. he's like, "Man, it's time to It's time. to knock off, man. The sun going down. >> at 2:30.".

So that was it. So P went sundown. So I. let Landy talk me into say, "Man, man, you need to ask Mr. Joe for a raise, man." So I said, "Mr. Joe, man, me and. Lanny be working hard, man. We be. carrying our own robe. We be walking. behind the tobacco picker. He said I. said, "Man, we need a raise." He said, "Well, Peeweee, how much you think. y'all?" I mean, I'm like, I just threw. out a number cuz I knew he was going to. say no. I said, "Man, I think a dollar.". I said, "A dollar?" He said, "Okay, Peewee, I'll pay you extra dollar a. day." Man, I was so I said, Lanny heard.

him too, man. We ain't do nothing the. rest of the day. You ain't do nothing. today. You ain't do nothing for the rest. of that day. Lady were the two laziest. individual to ever work the field. So. Libby come home blabbermouth. come home granny all them boys do is. play in the field. They don't do nothing. else but play. And Mr. Joe gave him a. raise. Granny ain't say nothing.

So the next morning, Granny don't go to. work. She come out there on the porch. Joe. Hey Mary. How you doing? I'm good. She said, "Joe, I heard you gave them. boys a raise." He's like, "Yeah, Mary, they be working hard. They make uh I. gave him a dollar raise." She said, "Take it back.". >> $62. >> She said, "Take it back." Cuz Liby told. me they don't do nothing but play. >> Mhm. >> And he took it back. >> Which y'all did play. That's all y'all. did was play. But you know the thing was.

is just like we had to learn because you. know you walk behind the picker. >> then you become a picker then you become. you know working for Mr. Joe you become. a stacker and then you go from stacking. to drive you hang. >> you you or hanging. >> Yeah. >> And then you you go for walk behind the. picker you picking the backer then you. then you hang and then if you you a you. get to work at the barn. >> cuz well well the thing about hanging. for Mr. Joe was remember.

>> I I you know uh Mr. Oris. >> used to put the tobacco in the rack and. then spin the table and then I would put. the clamp on it and then put it in the. trailer by myself. >> Yeah. And so the there was an elevation. and y'all was not all about being on the. elevation part, >> man. That walking, man, I got tired of. walking, man. Sometimes, hey, they be. coming back. Hey, me and Ly be sitting. down there throwing rocks and they. coming back the other way. We ain't. follow. >> But you know, you bring up something. about working in the field, which people. won't understand. And I mean, since we.

talking about, let's talk about it all. Imagine sitting in a seat on the ground. You know, the the the tractor's pulling. this picker and you are, you know, you're trying to get the three, four. leaves on the bottom and you put them on. the belt and the belt rolls them over. >> Well, how many times were they. rattlesnakes wrapped around them stalks? >> It's only by the grace of God that we. and I'm going to say we are here right. now because how many times that that we. you know and all of a sudden you snake. and everybody would dial dive off. But.

let me tell you, it never ended well for. the snake. >> No, now you go in there. >> And how many times did we catch rabbits. with our bare hands? >> Oh, all that that was a thing. >> I'm like I'm like quickness. We had that. from 21 Jump Street. We would catch. rabbits with our hands. >> I would just pray, Lord, please let. there be a skunk tomorrow. So, let me. say. >> so he can stake up the field and we can. knock off early. >> Yeah. you know, or or or have a. hurricane or a tornado come through, knock all the leaves off, and you have. to work on Sunday, you know, and know. the thing is is it's got to be done.

It's going to be done. So, you know, I. learned to not complain about those. things. But yeah, man, you and Lanny, >> uh, you know, the way we grew up though, man. But we were just so thankful that. we were working for someone because all. the years we worked for Papa, we never. got paid because he was like, "I'm. feeding you and I got a roof over your. head and I'm clothing you so it don't. make sense for me to pay you.". His logic, not ours. But that's what we. did. Yeah. You Hey, that's what we did. You.

worked. I mean, he p He was paying me. I. couldn't do it. He was like, "I'm going. to give you a dollar to stay out the. way." I couldn't do it. >> Couldn't do it. I could do I could do I. I wanted to do something because like I. said I was the youngest by three years. I mean uh uh uh Lanny and I was like man. I could do something. And I'll never. forget that day that Mr. Joe came by and. hey said Barney what about hey uh you. know such and such and then we all cuz. papa had already told us that uh Joe. Tatum come by tomorrow and he said I.

want everything big enough to stop syrup. to hit that truck. So I remember s. everybody had got up and got on the back. of the truck and I was sitting there. next to papa and uh Mr. Joe said, "Well, Barney, what about that little one?". I've been I couldn't have been no more. than five or six pops. >> He say, "Uh, Barney, what about that. little one?" He say, "I don't know, Joe. He too small." He said, "Barney, I find. something for him to do.". >> Off the porch I. >> There you go. Yeah. >> Off the porch I man. >> Ah, the good old days. that that that.

>> you know speaking of work though but I. tell people all the time because they. like to equate playing football with. work and I said no work ain't work that. work playing football lifting running in. the summer that ain't work. Work is when. you got your shirt off. >> and you look and as far as you can see. you see tobacco plants and you got a. handful of arsenic and sand because you. walking dropping budworm poison. >> Yep. work is when you when when Mr. uh.

Allay Mincy comes by and gets you and. you got your shirt off and all you see. is 720 bales of hay and you it's 16,000. degrees out and you got to throw the hay. on the truck because once you load the. truck, you got to unload the truck. That's work. Work is when you uh are in. a tobacco field and blue jeans and a. long sleeve shirt with undershirt and. it's 17,000°. and you in that field.

>> from se you see the waves of the heat. You in the field from 7 until that barn. is full. That's work. Playing football. ain't work. No, that lifting weights. ain't work. Running ain't that ain't. work. Do you do you remember Chicago? No. Cuz uh. what I remember about Chicago is. two friends I had in a neighborhood. nextdoor neighbors were Troy and Dei.

>> I remember their names. I can't pick out. their faces, >> right? >> Um I I remember flipping you over in. your in the stroller and getting the. brakes beaked off me one time. Uh that's kind of the only memory I have. of Chicago. >> Yeah. Because when. >> I don't remember being there, you know, I don't remember cuz you were. >> I don't remember the house. I don't. remember, you know. >> Yeah. >> Whether we had steps or I don't remember. any of No, >> cuz you uh when Granny came and got me,

uh she said, "Barney, I'm going to get. that boy." She and he said, "Bring. Spanky back." So I was 3 months when she. came when they came and got me. >> I would have been three. >> Yes. And when daddy came and got me. back, I was seven months. When we went. back and then I came back, we were two, you were five. Libby was 10. >> Don't remember. No, >> I don't remember a whole lot. >> No. >> I already know the answer to this for my. part. >> If we grow up in Chicago, are we here? >> No. And I I I'm going to say no because.

of all we got in Georgia. >> Yes. >> All we got from Mary and Barney? >> Yes. All we got from Arnell, Eugene, Lanny, Robbie, Bernard, uh, Chris, our cousins. All we got from. Thrill, our uncle, Thurman, James. All. we got from Marinel, Glattis, Shermanine, Jane. Noah, we ain't here. You know, and the. reason why we're not here, and I tell. people this why I still stand in the.

South. I I I like knowing. I knew when. people didn't like you or me because of. the color of my skin. I knew when people. would say, you know, I don't care what. you do, you're never going to be. successful in college. You're not going. to make it. I like knowing that. That's. not motivation. I just like knowing, you. know, I like knowing that I'm I I got to. do this for me because there is no way I. can do this for you because you don't. want me to do it and you don't believe. that that I can do it, right? So the.

thing that I got from Glennville was I. got love, I got friendship, Calvin, Lamont, Jesse, Reggie King, I got William Hall. as a coach, I got Buddy McCall as a. coach. I got Earl Rogers as a coach. Man, I got um to be able to play sports. and not be dominant, but learn how to. dominate. I got to play sports and I got.

to learn how to play how to be okay with. being the best player on the team and. still being here. I got to learn to be. in athletics and to operate in a way. that. while I would love to score 30 or while. I would love to run for 150, man, if I. could hit Pat on this slant or if I can. get Devin Durks, you know, downhill on.

this lead or if I can get the pitch out. fast enough to Gary Levant going to be. all right. You know, we got a chance. So, I got to learn and develop how to be. a player. in Glenville. >> What was it about Glennville? Because as. we talked about earlier, and we're the. first two brothers in the PL football. hall of fame and when you and I were. growing up, there's two stop lights. There's still two stop lights to this. day that. >> No, no, no, wait, wait. There's one in.

Midtown. >> There three now. >> There's a caution light. >> Yeah, >> it ain't a stop light. It's the one. coming in. You know how we were coming. to Glennville from Reville. From. Reedville is a caution light. It's not a. stop light. >> Yeah. That's the one we made that left. in the town hill. >> That's right. So that's a caution light. And then the one in the center of the. town is a stop light. >> And then the one right down used to be. by the behind Lipy. >> There's Yeah, that's right. Down by the. pharmacy. Yeah. Okay. So you're right. Go ahead. >> That's way too many stop lights, by the.

way. >> 35. I mean, there's probably more people. there now, but when you and I were. there, it was like 3,500. Mhm. >> What is it about Glennville that allowed. us to to prosper to to flourish in less. it's the act of shooting. You aim small, you miss small. For us, I'm not going to talk for you. For me, all I wanted to do was play football. I remember, you know who taught me how.

to put the pads? Because remember in. your football pants, you had the little. the the thing where you slide your pads. in pockets. >> You know who who taught me? Uh Hank. Hank taught me how to put my uh Lawrence. Hankerson taught me how to put the pads. in my pants. >> Mhm. >> The first time I ever touched the. football in organized football, remember. what it was? Kickoff. Y. >> I ran it back for a touchdown. >> But you picked the ball up before you. got into the end zone. >> 15 yd penalty rekick. >> Coach all say all y'all going to do is. make it run it back further. ran it back. again for a touchdown. So what.

Glennville provided for me was an. opportunity to have no clue what I was. doing but to do that very well. >> Right. So I had no clue what being a. star or a great player or but you know. what. great game play so I got a chance to. learn and grow. Remember how I got to be. quarterback? Mhm. >> I wasn't a quarterback. >> I went, "Hey, I'm a running back. I'm a.

corner. I'm a running back. That's where. I want to be.". >> Remember how I got to be quarterback? Jess caught mono. >> Mhm. >> And coach McCall was like, "Hey, I want. you to in spring want you to go with the. quarterbacks." Like, "Wait, wait, what? That's how I got to be a quarterback.". >> If I'm not mistaken, was I the first. quarterback in Glennville High School or. or was it Pety? >> Probably. >> Uh Taylor Ken Taylor. So you looking at. a growth and development that's organic.

that can't nobody tell you how to do it. You learn and I think Glennville gave us. the opportunity or gave me the. opportunity to learn and grow at a place. >> that was comfortable for me. >> Right? >> So I wasn't in a hurry and I wasn't. behind. So what I got in Glennville. served me very well going to the. University of South Carolina. Right. We work for the portry and people people. find this so hard to believe and I don't.

know why you because you you don't see. it. You've never done it. Go ahead. I. know where you going, but go ahead. >> The when I tell people we caught a,000. chickens. >> No, no, no, no, no. It was $1,000 a,000. It was a dollar a,000. >> But we caught the most we ever caught. was 16,000. That was the most chickens. we ever caught. But we normally did we. normally did 12. Uh we raised 12 was. pretty 12 then we get that 16. >> Yeah. That was it. >> Yeah. >> And we were what they call the sea crew.

We were small. I mean all of us was in. >> we're all cousins. We're all Kent. >> Yeah. And most of us was in was in. school. >> Arnell Eugene Lanny me and you sometimes. Robbie Bernard. >> Um but they had the big crew that would. catch 30 40,000 and you work from Sunday. to Thursday because nobody worked on. Friday, nobody worked on Saturday. because the portrait was closed on. Saturday and Sunday. And so we would. pick tobacco. >> Um, >> working for the Tatum. >> Working for the Tatums. >> Yep. >> That was $5 to $6. $5 for me.

>> It was It was 16 for me. But go ahead. >> And then we would go check catch. chickens anywhere between 8 to 12 hours. >> But now you can't catch chickens during. the day. >> You got to catch them at night. >> You got to catch them at night. So we. getting picked up at 10:30, 11:00. And. you know, usually the farthest we went. was an hour ride. You know, we'd go over. to back. >> Black Share. >> Black. Yeah. So hour ride. And then we. when you catch chickens, you had a. catcher. >> Mhm. >> We were carriers. So we were praying. that it was six. So you carrying three.

and three cuz when you got that four and. three. >> Oh Lord. But it but it was a dollar. a,000. So if it was 16,000 we made $16. If it was 13,000 we made 13,000. >> Correct. >> And there ain't no time limit. >> You leave when the last ticket is gone. And so yeah, so we done work from 7. until about 5. We eat and now we're. waiting for it to get dark for James or.

or Earl to pick us up. We go and catch. chickens. We do that for at least 2 2. and 1/2 hours. >> Yeah. >> We get back, let's say you get back at. midnight, 1:00. >> Mhm. >> Just so you could cuz remember now. you've been in the chicken house. >> Yeah. >> Dust. You got to get that off you. >> So that's another Yeah. Got to get that. off here. That's another hour, hour and. a half. >> So you can get in there just to get up. and get on the truck with Mr. Joe in the. morning again at 7. >> And people don't realize this that we.

did this while we going to school also. >> Go to school. playing football. Go to practice. >> Yep. >> Come home at 5:36. Eat. >> Do homework. >> I did homework. I did. I did. I don't speak well. I. don't like to talk about other people. I. did homework. Do homework, wait till it. get dark, get on a chicken truck, drive. 35, 45 hour, catch chickens, come back.

home just to get up the next morning to. do it again. Because if we wanted a. pair, you know, two pair of running. shoes and track y, >> we had to pay for it. Yep. >> You know, granny was like, "Hey, uh, son, how much money you got saved?" Was. no bank for us. Right. >> It's under the mattress. >> Yep. >> How much money you got? Say, uh, granny, I got, you know, $140. >> Let me borrow, >> not give me, let me borrow 20 so I can,

you know, keep the lights on or let me. get 40 from you. >> Mhm. >> So we can pay for gas for heat. So. >> cuz back then it was propane tank. >> It was propane. Yeah. And tank. And if. if I had spent whatever on basketball. shoes, then we moved the heater over. and we got to use the fireplace for heat. sometime heat and light. So yeah, it was. it it you know. just just the way we grew up.

I don't do it so much now, but I used to. tell kids and and when I do, I still do. uh when I go do go go speak in. appearance uh uh appearances. And I tell. people, I say, "Kids, make sure your. kids have a lot of jobs while they're. kids because they'll let them know what. they don't want to do.". >> I'll agree with you to this point cuz my. my daughter's had one job and she's been. on this job for about eight years, nine. years. But my daughter's like me.

You don't have to tell her. because she and she's a lot like you. She's always watching. and she's processing. And so I learned that how we grew up and. what was done to and for us is. different. >> Oh yeah. For sure. >> For her. >> Mhm. >> Only because one, she's a girl. She's. smart as hell. She's six feet tall.

She's extremely athletic, but she's a. girl, so sports are out of the question. because, you know, you can't be sweating. with the hair if you're a girl. So, that's out of the question. Um but but I. learned that you know what. and I learned this through all our years. you know when when we were coming up in. the church the thing is is we weren't. just coming up in the church we were. participants. you know and I learned biblically. that. in our spirit if you just shut up and.

pay attention it'll guide you and put. you in places that you never thought. you'd be. >> and it has a way of putting you exactly. where you're supposed to be the moment. you're supposed to be there. And so I. learned that the way I grew up, I could. not raise my kid that way. >> Yeah, I learned that. And and I'm glad I. learned that. And I I don't I tell. people all the time, hey, look, it's. your kid. You you name you graze him any.

way. But I also tell them, you know, this is my life. So just because you. think I'm an [ __ ] because I won't. give you an autograph or a picture, understand this. I tell my kid no. How. hard do you think it is to tell your kid. no? >> Right? >> I look forward to telling your kid no. It's easy. So it, you know, I try not to. contrast and compare only because this. is my life. There are many like it, but. this one is mine. >> Right?

you're going to get what you need from. it based on how you are around me. >> And if you're not going to get anything. from me, there's a good chance you're. not going to be around me. >> or you're not going to be around me. enough to get something. I think all the. things that we did growing up, it. definitely the work ethic. But I knew I. didn't want to clip onions for the rest. of my life. I know I didn't want to bail. hay. I didn't want to load watermelons. I don't want to do tomatoes. I don't. want to pick up pecans. I don't want to. crop tobacco. I don't want to catch. chicken. I don't want to pour concrete. I don't want to lay asphalt. I don't. want to work. >> I'm looking at your face, man. You.

saying that and I'm looking at this. thing right here. I'm like, this dude is. angry. And was like, I'm determined not. to do that, >> bro. And that's good. That that but that. served you well, bro. I I remember you. were in college. Now I'm working in. Savannah for Richard and for Maurice. Bland. Now I got to be We got to be on. the job at like 6. Savannah is an hour away. That's right. >> Yeah. >> I got to get up, wash my face,

get down there, and we're not getting. off the job until like 5:30. I'm like, man, I I don't want to do this. So, we I. mean, they And right then, we ain't have. no ride lumber. We pushing we cutting. two acre, two acre lawns and threeacre. lawn. We're pushing more. We building. burns. We man, we laying asphalt for. parking lots and putting down cross. tide. I said, "Nah, man. This ain't for. me. This ain't for me.". >> I mean, look at this. But but the thing. was I did that too. I left college.

during the summer for the two months, month and a half that I had off and I'm. back in the field with Mr. Joe or I'm. back in Savannah laying side landscaping. with Richard Golden. I'm doing all that. too because in college I don't need a. lot of money but I need some, >> right? >> But it's not it's just means to an end. This dude is like I mean he like man I. ain't I don't want to lay railroad ties. or clip onions or I'm like. >> no I know I didn't want to do that.

>> We looked out of the same window and saw. two totally different things. And yet. and still at 60 and at 57 we end up in. the exact same place. I'm like look I. can't make this story up. I can't I I. ain't never look at this or never. I. can't make this up. But for us to end up. where we are seeing two totally. different things, obviously that's your. life. There are many like it. That one. is yours. And you used what you saw and.

what you wanted and didn't want to your. advantage. I I commend you for that. >> People ask, uh, man, how did you develop. your work ethic? You ain't got no. choice. Wait, hold on. See the thing is is their. work ethic is do I want to do it. >> right. >> when you got no choice you're going to. do it. >> Yeah. >> And you are going to do it better than. anyone else does anything else. >> And so you it ain't like h you know what.

I'm going to half ass this job cuz I. don't uh oh no no no because see you. ain't doing this for him or him because. everything you do goes home. This. represent Mary Porter right now. >> Yep. >> Mary Porter is at the house and I don't. want Joe Tatum or Miss Joanne Tatum or. Tiny Tatum going back and telling Mary, he worked but he don't do it very good. No, no, no, no. Everything you do goes. home. And I've had this conversation.

about the Hall of Fame. I'm like, the. Hall of Fame ain't for me. Oh, that's. for Mary Alice and Libby. And if Mary. Porter was here and and for Shannon and. for William Hall and for Buddy McCall, that's for them because see everything I. did is a reflection of everything they. gave me. And people don't understand. that because they look at they live in. the here and now. So I'm working for you.

and I don't want to work for you cuz I. want to I really want to do real estate. So, I'm working to get my real estate. license so I can get away from you, right? >> Instead of understanding that guess. what? I'm working for you because what. I'm doing is a reflection of who I am. And so, they get caught up in the wrong. thing because. >> everybody is and I'm not saying it's. right, wrong, or indifferent. >> I'm just saying that there's a better. way to do it. >> Yeah. Obviously, um. you learn to Papa learn you let you.

learn how to drive. let you say, "Okay, just follow me.". >> We learned I learned how to drive in the. tobacco field. I was five or six years. old, >> and none of the big kids wanted to go. get the car. >> all the way down there, which was which. was like And we're talking about like. 60 yards. >> Yeah. >> We ain't talking about a mile. So, the. truck is 60 yards. And they be like, "Hey, uh, who want to go get the truck?". Gone. I'm five or six years old. Hey,

all right. Just be careful, Pee. We. So Lady Lady pressing the gas cuz I. can't see over the steering wheel. So. Lady got. >> He working the steering wheel. >> I'm working the steer and he working the. steering wheel like there's no tomorrow. So he he liked it. Lenny is so the truck. is going like this and and it's like so. imagine what that looked like coming. down a row about this wide. It's it's. hilarious. But that's how we learned how. to do things. the um.

you mentioned that sports would like you. didn't get an opportunity to play until. like your. >> would not have gotten a chance to play. if Barney Porter doesn't if if Papa. doesn't die and I'm not going to say die. in 77 or 79 or 81. If he doesn't die, I never play. football. >> Mhm. >> To America, who's going to see this. greatest day of my entire life? Because.

all I ever wanted to do was play. football. >> Mhm. Cuz everybody tells everybody say, "Man, your brother's so fast. He could. he could play football." But because of. what transpired with my uncles, because. our high school coach coached my uncles. Yes. >> He also coached my mom. My mom graduated. in 60. So that lets you know just how. long he's been a coach. And he let him. pop out let my uncles and them play. He. said, "But. >> wait, who broke that leg?" James. >> James broke his leg. Thumb broke his. collar bone. >> Broke his collarbone.

>> And he said, "Now if anything happens, who going to help me in these fields?". >> Who going told Coach Follow who going to. pick my. >> Well, he told Coach Hall that. Coach. Hall didn't tell Coach Follow that Papa. had told him that. So he let Coach. Follow take the boys home. >> And then they like, "Who going to pick. my backer? The father was like, "It. ain't going to be me.". >> He just holding 10. >> and that's it. And that's it. That so it. wasn't going to be no more football. So, and and I know how it sounds. I I I I know how it sounds, but I want.

you to understand a guy, an older. gentleman told me one time, he said, "You know what a dream is?". And I said, "No, sir.". He said, "A dream is a gift you give to. yourself." It's the only dream I ever. had. It's the only gift I've ever given. myself was to play football. That's why. nothing ever bothered me. That's why. having being red shirted my second year, which was at the time the greatest year.

the University of South Carolina ever. had, never bothered me. That's why. leaving the NFL, you know, where people. would say, "Dog, you are not in your. prime, you were coming into your prime.". Bro, my last year catching 90 something. passes for 1,000 yards and 18 touchdowns. and never play again never bothered me. because I had accomplished. my dream. I had given myself that gift.

that I could give to myself. Man, I was, you know, and a lot of people don't. understand that, but let me tell you, coming from where we coming come from, right? >> How we came, >> I got no problems and got no complaint. >> Yeah. I want to know why you're uh you. cut me with that knife, man. >> Okay, hold on. Where'd I cut you? >> On the thigh, right? >> Where'd you cut me? >> It's still there. It's right there. >> Well, this this what. >> I Wait, hold on. I I wanted to see how. sharp the knife was. Cut through his.

jeans, cut his leg. >> Two pair of jeans in a short. >> Hold on. He threatens me. So, I got to. let him cut me. If you notice where my. cut is, and you probably can't see my. cut. It's right here. Two centimeters to. the left. I ain't here. I bleed out. Look, it cost him a cut back and a. couple of, you know, a couple of silver. dollars. >> Couple of silver dollar. >> What? >> I got to tell Papa. I got I don't want. to tell. >> I got to tell. I got to tell if you.

don't let me get you back. >> Got you. >> Got to jail. >> And then you wouldn't have been here. >> And then I still wouldn't have been. here. So I'm definitely where I'm. supposed to be. There ain't no doubt. about that. Who Who do you think we got. the athletic athleticism from? Mom or. dad? I honestly don't know. And the. reason I say that is is I don't know. I. I know my mom did something and I know. my dad did something, but I don't know. I I mean the thing is. I I'm gonna step outside the box and.

talk about athleticism because I think a. lot of people think oh because of LeBron. Bronnie and all these other kids are. going no. What is your. determination? I I don't think you got to where you got. to because oh you got your athleticism. from your mom and you got your smarts. from your dad or vice versa. No, I think. because of your circumstance and what. you saw in that thousand block center.

block house made you develop speed, strength, skill, stamina, and more. importantly determination that I have to. make this work because I don't want that. woman Mary Porter living like that. anymore. >> Right? >> And I don't think athleticism is. inherited or passed down. I don't. believe that. I don't because I don't. think you need athleticism to be. successful in sports. I think you need.

timing, luck, grace of God to put you in a. position. Let me tell you, if I go to. New York, if I go to Texas, if I go to. California, we are not sitting here. having this conversation, >> right? If you go to class and you a straight A. student, we are not sitting here having. this conversation. If I don't have to. tell come home and tell you, bro, you. going to Savannah State. We ain't going. to army, you going to Savannah State. We. ain't having this conversation.

because of the circumstance and the way. things fall. It gives you an opportunity. to grow that which you need to do that. which you need to do. That's all I. That's what I believe. >> What do you think your best sport was in. high school? >> Track. 100, 200, 4x1, 4x4, long jump.

I think track was my best sport. football was the easiest. because. as Buddy McCall used to say, the reason. why you run the triple option so easy is. you don't care about your stats. The. triple option is trust. The triple option is I'm reading I'm. riding the fullback and I'm reading the. tackle. And then after I read the tackle, at. some point my eyes have to go to the.

end. Mhm. >> So, I approach the end and I have to. approach his inside shoulder and I have. to determine if I can get there or if I. need to pitch it. I never cared about. keeping it. I never cared about numbers. Like, I can't tell you I the the one. game I can tell you in football was the. one game I didn't play against. Montgomery and County. >> my senior year. The only game I've ever. missed because I I got uh cut and it got.

infected. uh right here. And I didn't I. I was in the hospital all week. I got. out Thursday. I didn't play Friday. That's the only thing I can tell you. about. When I look at. track and field, I had battles, man. Leiddon, Greg Stafford, Hershel Walker. um you know going 238 in the long jump. at the Georgia Relays, winning that, you. know, against people in schools that I'd. never heard of or didn't know. Track was.

probably my best sport because. 100 200 4x1 relay 4x4 and long jump. Yeah, I was probably I was in the top. two in the state in those for a long. time. Do you wish you had focused more? >> No. Football was what I wanted to do. I. wanted to play football. I was going to. be a football player come hell or high. water. I was going to be a football. player. If I had to murder two people, I. was going to be a football player. Now,

>> if I played if I got in the NFL and got. cut, I'm fine with that cuz I got there, >> right? >> I got my chance, got my opportunity. It's all I wanted. >> Um, so no, football was what I wanted. That's where I wanted to be. That's. where I my growth and development was. from. >> You get a scholarship and you go to the. University of South Carolina, but that's. not where you really wanted to go. You. wanted to go to Clemson. >> I I did until they told you.

>> I No, no, no. I I I went to South. Carolina because I knew everyone, >> right? >> You know, Dominique Blasting Game and. Quinton Lewis from Run Bradwell. Institute which was in Hinesville. Uh, I. had, you know, run track against Thad. Johnson, >> right? >> Johnson County. >> Uh, I knew most of the guys that were at. South Emry Baker, my cousin, was at at. South Carolina. So, I knew, >> let's say there was a hundred guys on. the team. I had either played football, basketball, or ran track against 80 of. them.

>> So, that's why I I felt comfortable. going to South Carolina. >> Right. If uh. you mentioned that you got. >> but the only reason I wanted to go to. Clemson was because of home Jordan. >> You would you was number three. He was. number three. >> He was number three but but you know uh. they wanted you to play DB. >> They wanted me to play DB and I was like. like Georgia and and I was like uh I. need to have the ball in my hand. So but. you know my favorite player was George.

Holloway at Tennessee. >> Mhm. Homer Jordan wore number three, so. of course I gravitated to him. But Conra. Holloway. >> Yeah, >> man. Look, >> what do you remember most about your. playing days at the University of South. Carolina? What made that so special? Because uh I can't get to the NFL. without it. >> Mhm. >> I can't get there without South. Carolina, but just growing, man. Just. being there and figuring it out. I.

almost flunked out of South Carolina. I was a a knock on my door and our. academic advisor going sterling. Uh you. know, hey, I don't want to bother you, but uh you know, next semester if you. don't have a 4.0 or 3.6, you're going to. flunk out. You got to go back to. Georgia, man. Ride a tractor. Oh, we ain't doing that. >> I ain't never had that problem at. Savannah State. You know me. I've been. saying I got my work. Got my work. Got. my work, >> bro. We'll come back to that.

But but South Carolina gave me an. opportunity to grow, develop, and more. importantly take what I had gotten from. Glennville and and administer and. empowered that in Colombia. >> Mhm. >> That's what it did. >> But at the university, you played a lot. of You didn't play quarterback. Um. >> they wouldn't let me, but go ahead. >> Wide receiver, running back. I think one. year they tried to put you at DB. >> Yep. They were I but but.

in today's situation kids will transfer. >> Yeah. >> In my situation I just want to play. So. if you want me to play defensive tackle. at 212 lbs let's go. You want me to play. defensive end at 212? >> Let's do it. You know cuz I just wanted. to play. And I think I think a lot of. young people get sidetracked and I'm. going to say young people. A lot of. people get sidetracked. and what I want and where I am is the. same thing. What I wanted to do was.

play. Where I was, you know, being at. all these different positions wasn't the. same thing because eventually it was. going to work its way out and now I'm. going to play. So whatever that was, you. know, if it was DB, fine. If it was. quarterback, fine. If it was running. back, fine. And it just turned out to be. receiver. And that's fine, too. But I. never got sidetracked or caught up in. someone else controlling my destiny.

>> Right. They retired your number at the. University of South Carolina. >> while I was still playing. >> While you were still playing, there have. been a lot of guys come and ask you, "Man, can we wear that number two?" Why. would you let anybody wear that? >> The only guy that I considered. was Deuce Daily, kid named Deuce. The reason why I won't is. once you unretretire it now everybody. can wear it. >> Yeah. >> And the university thought so much of me.

that they were like not only are are we. going to we're going to let you wear it, but we don't want anybody else to wear. it. And I thought, you know what? I'm. I'm doing this more so for them, a. little bit for me, but more so for the. University of South Carolina because. they thought enough of what I did and. how I did it. >> that they were like, "We don't want. anybody else to wear this number.". >> Wow. Why' you pick the number two? Cuz. you had 85 years. >> I wanted number three, but Skip Minton,

we didn't know if he flunked out, was. going to transfer, or if he was coming. back, right? >> I wanted three. >> because I wore three in high school. I. wanted three. So I went in and talked to Coach. Morrison. I said, "Coach, you know, I. want to get number three." And he goes, "Well, I don't know what Skip's going to. do." So he blows me off this way. Oh, hell. Why don't you just take number two. and the rest is history. >> You was like, "Okay.". >> It was a single digit number, >> right? >> And the rest is history,

>> right? >> That that's how it worked. I I have been. blessed to be led by a spirit that if I. just get out of my way, it usually works. out. >> Um I end up in Green Bay. When I took my. photo being the first round draft pick, I I was holding up the number 37. Not number one, not oh, we're going to. put you in number 84 or 82. Number 37. When I got there, they gave me 84. Fast.

forward to email addresses. You got to come up with an email. address. My email address is throw to, you know, coming out and I'm like, I I could I. can't make this up, >> right? >> So, if I just stay out of my own way, usually it works out. >> You get to go to the East West Shrine. game, u which I followed you in that. one, and you go to the Senior Bowl. When. you came out, what was your expectations. and and you played those two bowl games. and now you go to the combine? The. combine was vastly different then than.

when it was when I come out and what we. see today. >> East West Shrine game. I got a chance to. meet guys from the West Coast that I. Eric Allen who's going into the Hall of. Fame uh this year met he and I met and. became really good friends at the East. West Allstar game, >> right? >> We would talk about he was a defensive. back. I'm a receiver. We talk about. technique. One, he had never seen a. receiver as big as me, >> right? >> Two, I didn't know they played football. plays the Mason Dixon line. So, we got a. chance to learn some about each other.

Uh, the senior bowl was work, and I say. work. Jim Moira was our head coach, Jim. Mora. And Saints head coach at the time. And Jim Moa was all about banging and. physical. >> Two things that never bothered me. >> Hitting and being physical never. bothered me. The combine, I did nothing. Got height, weight, wingspan, and I went. home because it was like, "Hey, you're. going to be a first round pick." There. were six of us in the first round. Uh. Tim went six, I went seven, Mike went.

11, Anthony Miller, Aaron Cox, and I. want to say Ernie Jones. And I could be. wrong, but I think six of us went in the. first round, >> right? >> Um so I just went and did that, came. back, ran, did the lifting and my pro. day, and the rest is history. >> When you got the call, did you know. Green Bay, uh you wanted to go to Tampa? I thought I was going to Tampa only. because they had drafted Vinnie the year. before, >> right? >> And and and Ray Perkins, the Tampa Bay.

head coach at the time, was like, "You, Vinnie, we got that combination set for. the next 10 years, >> right? >> I could either have gone one to Atlanta, four to Tampa, seven to Green Bay, 11 to Dallas, >> right? Green Bay wanted Michael Irvin. If Green Bay takes Michael Irvin, there's a chance I s the only place I. knew I wasn't going was Oakland because. Tim Brown and the Heisman and I was.

going to take the speed. We ain't we. ain't going there. >> Okay. >> So, it didn't have I didn't have much of. a I wasn't going to be around long if I. didn't go to Green Bay at 7, >> right? Get to sign the bonus. You get that big. old check. They're like, "What does my brother want?" I'm like, my sister goes, I want your car. I'm. driving a Nissan Maxima two-tone, brown. and and and gold on the bottom. That's. yours. I'm driving around in a 300 ZX.

>> Yeah, >> bro is like, "Yeah, I can roll with. that. I'll take that." Bro gets that. I. get to Green Bay. I get an endorsement. deal with a car company. I'm driving a. Jeep. The next year, 1989, my brother is like, "Oh, dog. You seen. them new uh 300 300E Mercedes?". >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Cuz you know, Cool Mod. say he driving a BS 190. I was driving a.

BS300. >> I'm like, "No, I ain't I ain't see. that.". >> Yeah, man. I like that. So, I'm like, "Well, bro, I want to see." He in He's. still in Savannah State. >> Uhhuh. I'm like, "So, we get the 300E, but now he done seen somewhere in some. magazine that you can put skirts on it.". >> Yeah. Kid that thing. Got the kid. >> 18 in star fivear wheels, >> you know. Put a tail on it, you know. Put a wing on the back. >> Got a wing on the back. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> He rolling in a Mercedes 300E in.

college. >> Yeah. Yeah. I like that. >> I'm driving a BMW M3 that's about the. size of this glass. >> Yeah. But that's just the way it was. Whatever. he wanted, he was going to get. I was. going to make sure of that. >> You paid You were basically paying all. my bills until summer. >> Until summer was born. Yes. >> Yeah. >> And And when when Summer was born, I was. like, "Bro, I got to let you go because. now my focus is this right here." Yeah.

>> You know, her her well-being of course. taken care of, but college and and all. that other stuff. I'm like, "Bro, you. you on your own." I mean, I remember you. calling me going, "Man, I can't get a. place without a co-signer.". Bro, you in the NFL? Yeah, but I ain't. got no credit. Your first credit card. The gold the gold uh American Express. Well, I had a I had a Texas I had, man, the college. What got me though? And you. know, I passed them on to Buck. I buck I. got to put you out there. But you know. all the belt and JC Penney credit card,

the gas card, Texico, she ran them up. and then cut them up and didn't tell me. she ain't pay them up. You know, I really should have murdered. my family a long time ago, but I didn't. But no, it was that that the thing was. is man, you were you were it for me. You. know, everything I did athletically, I. did for you. >> You know, I never did anything for. public consumption. I did everything for. you. I I wanted to make sure um or I. tried my best that if you said that you.

wanted a role model, you didn't have to. look past. >> our table to find that. That was that. was. >> Man, you remember I called you from. Daytona. >> when you junkyard my my my SL. I had the. first one in the state of South. Carolina. >> Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. >> Yeah. And you junk Yeah, man. I. junkyard. I junkyard your [ __ ] man. Wait, what? Wait, what? I'm sorry. Yeah. So, he and EMTT. >> Yeah.

>> were riding and. >> I had I had a wife I had a wife had your. wife when Em had a burgundy one at the. time. Burgundy go with with the gold. emblem. >> and wasn't paying attention and ran into. the trailer hitch of a car. >> Yeah. >> And yanked the Mercedes emblem out. >> and bent up the front. Yeah, I remember. that. Those were the days. Those were the. days, man. Your rookie. What? What is it about your rookie year that. you remember most? Because a lot of. people that. >> How hard it was? >> It was hard. The verbiage.

rip le 80 slide. I'm rip lizing 80. slide. I'm running the bubble. I go in motion, come back. I'm running the bubble. Uh 28. lead. I'm always going right unless I'm told. to go left. Harold's in the back field. 28 lead. When I got to Green Bay, they were like, "Two flip wide, short. 90, Y option X match." I was like,

"Wait, I'm sorry. Could you repeat. that?". >> Yeah. >> Okay. Two flip wide. So that tells you. to go in the slot. >> Short 90. That's the protection for the. offensive line. Why option? If you're. outside an option because remember we're. in flip slot. Wide tells the back to get. outside the tight end. You outside Y option, you run a hinge at. 13 yards. X is outside of me running a. smash. So you come off the ball real.

slow. Inside a smash, you run a corner. So Oh, hold on. Most of the defenses were 34. >> Mhm. >> So the blitz read was one defensive back. plus the outside linebacker. I'm I'm thinking. uh oo uh. the verbiage. >> Yeah, >> I I could not the first 6 weeks of the. year I was just like, you know what,

man? I should have been a plumber. Uh two outside short 90 extern. Oh, this a 4-3 defense. So instead of. one plus the OLB and a 34, it just takes. one. >> Oh, when we play New York, the OOLB is. Lawrence Taylor, but we don't want our. back blocking Lawrence Taylor, so we're. going to make him down.

>> Wait, what? So he's coming 90% of the. time, right? >> We don't sideight adjust off him. So. >> now it's takes two. Well, >> hold on. This dude standing right here. getting ready to strangle me. And I'm. thinking he ain't thinking. That was the. hardest part by far was the verbiage and. understanding Blitz sight adjust and. blitz reads. And then you got a. situation with the media. They came down. pretty hard on you. >> No. No, they they didn't.

They were unfair to me only because they. didn't ask me. They came to me and they. were like, "Hey, Lindy said this." Lindy. was my head coach. Lindy and. >> what am I supposed to do? Say Lindy's. crazy. Lindy don't know what he doing. He don't know what he talking about. Right, Lind? So, they always led me into. a headache. >> And so, it was kind of twofold cuz. remember you and I worked out in in ' 89. getting ready for the 89 season. I'm.

like, >> first of all, now I got it down. they're. going to want to talk to me and I I'm. not going to say anything. Right? I. never told them no. I would always say. not right now. >> And so because they never asked me about. me, what are my struggles? What am I. going through? >> Everything was leading. Well, you know, coach guy said this, >> you know, buddy, you know, uh uh Lindy. and Fonnie, coach and Fonnie said this. So, it was never just what do you think? What are you going through? What are you. dealing with? Right. And I so it was.

kind of that and I was like they're. gonna want to talk to me, >> right? >> And I ain't gonna have anything to say. And I ended up leading the NFL in. catches. >> the follow the next year. >> in 1989. Yeah. >> Report. Did you come in? So what was. your weight from the time that you left. the University of South Carolina and. then your rookie year at Green Bay? >> I was 206 when I got to I was between. 205. and 212 my junior and senior year in. college. >> Okay. Cuz remember you and I, we were.

all about weights, dog. We were all. about throwing that iron. We were all. about benching, squatting, and power. clean. We were throwing weight. All our. lives, what we wanted to be was the 46. club. Yep. >> Bench 400, squat 600. Yep. >> That that's all we did. So, I was a. solid. But you also got to remember when. I came in the league, corners didn't go. to the huddle. >> because they were standing at the line. of scrimmage because they were like, "I. got you.". >> Yeah. I don't care what the defense is, I got you. So, they said, Green Bay said.

I was too big. Granted, they drafted me. at 212. So, I went from 212 to 190. I couldn't walk from here to the door. without cramping. So, that was a problem trying to deal with, okay, I don't have any body fat or salt. or anything to be able to. So whenever. the temperature got up, bro, I cramp. Like in college, I never came out for. warm-up because it was so hot. In South. Carolina, I never came out for warm-up.

So it was like I never really, you know, so it was all new to me in Green Bay. and, you know, they had a way of doing. things and I had to adjust and adapt to. that way of doing things. They um the. injuries you played through a lot of. injuries. You played through broken. ribs. You had the turf toe that you. never practiced. You just shot the toe. up during the season and then after the. season you end up having um you had. surgery on that. >> How difficult was it for you because.

you're not getting the cardiovascular. and and. >> man. you like that? >> You you you know the thing is is. if I play don't treat me like I'm. injured, right? I'm playing. And. all the injuries I went through, if you. look, it was almost like I wasn't hurt, >> right? >> You know, they So, my whole thing was is. I just need to be there on Sunday, >> right? >> I understand now what to do on, you.

know, Wednesday through Friday. I just. need to be there on Sunday. >> And I was fortunate enough to to be in a. position to be able to perform being. nicked up in a way that I couldn't. practice. After your rookie year, you. come back, you lead the league in. catches, you're a first team all pro, and then 92, 93, you're the first. receiver in NFL history to go back to. back 100 catches. Um, first team all pro. How gratifying or satisfying was it to. you to like I knew I had I knew I could.

do this. It's just now what? Had no idea. what it was I was doing. I'm just doing. it. Hey, you calling a play, you know, you and you know the system as well as. anybody. You know, change right, see. left, wagger right, double out, you. know, two jet, dino, y shallow cross, you know, fox 2x. I'm just running the. play. >> cuz you had the coach now you because at. that point in time you have the coaching. change. Now you got. >> I got Mike who who coached who came from. San Francisco. >> with Jerry.

>> with Jerry Rice in that organization. So. >> I'm not thinking about the numbers. I'm. just like, "Hey man, I'm running the. plays." And they were like, "Hey, you. know, in '92, it wasn't a thing." So, I'm in the in. the MVP race and I'm like, "Man, I don't. want to be in the MVP race for the. Miller Life player of the year. I don't. I don't know what this is. I don't know. what leading the league in catches, yards, and touchdowns. I don't even know. what that is." Um, Steve Young, I think,

won the MVP that year. >> in '92. Then Emit won in 93. So, and. then the 93. Yeah. So, I don't know what. that is, >> right? >> But I'm just running the plays. I got no. expectation on number. The only time I. ever paid attention to numbers was a. dude in Denver was like, "I'm better. than you, Sterling. You know I'm better. than you. I bet you 20 grand I have more. catches than you have with more yards. and more touchdown." And I was like,

"Bro, don't do that." So the dude in. Denver bet me that. But I but. >> they stalled me out, man. Coach Reed. stalled me out. >> I never once paid attention to the. numbers. I I never did. I I just was. they called the play. I ran the play to. the best of my ability and the numbers. just added up. >> Before you got the Triple Crown, did you. know what the Triple Crown was? >> It wasn't It wasn't a thing. I didn't. know the Triple Crown was a thing until. Cooper the year Cooper Cup did it. The.

Rams called me and asked me if I would. send a video message to them that they. would play uh during a game that I don't. know if it was a playoff game or a. regular season game for Cooper Cup. >> I didn't even know it was a thing. I. >> cuz I think Jerry had done it in 90. >> Jerry did it first. >> Yes. And then I did it in 92 and and. remember now in in in ' 89 I had led the. league in catches and touchdown,

>> right? >> So. didn't even know what that was. Just I'm. playing. All I'm doing is playing. So I. had no idea the magnitude of what that. would turn out to be. >> being the number one option because it. doesn't matter what defense they throw. You know, every Wednesday when they go. on there, they circle you. >> We've got to stop him. >> Mhm. >> You're going to get their best. You're. going to get the Eric Allens. You're. going to get the Deion Sanders. You're. going to get uh the Neil Williams. You're going to get the Daryl Greens.

You're going to get the best. And to be. able to go out there every single week. and function and do your job. >> Mhm. >> Did you feel any added pressure? >> No. Because guess what? They got a job. to do and I got a job to do. But guess. what? Just like I I'm over here. If if. quarterback sees what he likes, I may. get it. If he doesn't, he goes. elsewhere. >> My whole thing was. I I just want to be in the right place. at the right time, >> and if you need me, you throw it to me. And I I the only thing I ever said to.

our quarterbacks in the seven years I. played. >> was before we went out on the field or. before introductions or whatever the. case may be where I had that moment, I. would always say to our quarterbacks, let it let us help you. just let us help. you. Let us help you. Um, but I I try to. explain this to people to the best of my. ability. Man, I never cared about. numbers or rankings or any of that. I. was doing what I wanted to do in. playing. And when I got Mike Homegrren.

in ' 92, I did understood I understood. what I got, >> right? >> I got a system that would allow me at. the receiver position to end football. games. >> Mhm. And I was like, that's that's a lot because when you can. end you you know usually and you would. know this playing for Mike who was in. San Francisco at one Shanahan at one. point. >> You throw to get the lead, >> you run to keep it. >> Yep. >> So we going to get the lead and then. we're going to turn it over in your case.

TD. >> Y. >> we threw to get the lead and we threw to. end the football game and I was at the. beginning and the end of both of those. >> Right. That is and and that which is. really ironic because of all the. debating on who's the greatest, you. know, Michael or LeBron and you go. Michael had to system the triangle. Go, yeah, but you know, he's Michael Jordan. Well, then you look at LA and Kobe had. the triangle with Phil and there's five. out there. And then you look at Steve. Curr and Golden State, there's four.

there. We know what San Francisco did in. the system. When I got that system, which allowed me to not have to change, Mike never once cared about if I weighed. 221 or 224. The system allowed me to end football. games. Oh, that was different. And if. there was one thing that I would like to. change is I would like to check play one. more year in that system selfishly. because of what that system provided for.

me to do. John Gruden, who was I think Grudin was. your position coach, wasn't it? >> Was in my last two years. Yeah. >> He compared you to Michael Jordan. He. said, "The more times Sterling touches. the ball, the better chance we have to. win." It's no different than when the. Chicago Bulls rolled Michael Jordan to. three champ three championships. What was Gruden like? Oh, okay. I. was he always that animated? Yes. Extremely intelligent. I'm not going to. say smart. He was extremely intelligent.

He's always looking. You're on first. down. He's like, "Well, I'm third and. two. I'm going to do this." He's always. there. >> Um. John was always the kind of person that. would be like, "Hey, can you stay for a. minute? I want to show you something.". And build my game. I had three. outstanding position coaches, Buddy Guy, Sherm Lewis, John Guden, and they all. took my game as high as they could. before I got the next one. So it wasn't.

like you know buddy for four years he. couldn't take me any higher sherm for. two years sherm for a year and then I. got guttur for two years and what John. gave me he was energetic intelligent and. he was always thinking two three moves. ahead which benefited me tremendously. those years with Jerry um and Michael. that was kind of the the competition. although Andre Rise as far as going to.

the Pro Bowl and who thought better and. all that. >> From 92 to 94, you had 314 receptions, 3854 yards, 42 touchdowns. That same. time frame, Jerry had 292, 4203, and 38. touchdowns. There was that competition. Well, who's really the best receiver in. the NFL currently right now? Is it. Sterling Sharp in Green Bay or is it. Jerry in San Francisco? >> If you say so. that that I I didn't know. that. Um like I said, I just rolled out.

put my helmet on, rolled out there and. tried to, you know, put up some I was. playing and I'm playing football. You. know, all that other stuff is for fan. That's the fan stuff. Enjoy that. I'm. playing football and and so but like I. said when I got Mike Homegrren in that. system and I got Sherm Lewis and John. Garuden and Mike Homegrren calling the. plays and talking to me like you and I. are sitting here talking. He gave me something that that I never.

ever had before. And Buddy McCall tried. to give it to me but I didn't understand. it. I had ownership. I had ownership. Usually when you're the quarterback, yes, you're going to have ownership. I. was a receiver and I had ownership of. our offense. >> Wow. >> And that was something that had never I. didn't understand, but I went with it. >> Right. >> And that was really cool having Mike. Hunger and talk to me during games and. be like, "What what are they doing on. what do you see on third and this?" You.

know, what do you like? Oh, well, you know, because I had. ownership, it was really cool to be a part of that. system and that offense for the length. of time I got to play in it. >> Have you ever thought about your M. Rushmore receivers? Had you had had you. continue, let's just say you play. another five years. >> It's unfair and I I I have constantly. shied away from it because no one's. going to have Don Hudson first. Don. Hudson had 99 touchdowns when they were. throwing the balls twice a game.

99 when they were throwing it two times. a game. No one's going to add him. No. one's going to have going to mention. Charlie Henry. Nobody's going to mention. them. >> Lance all. >> No one's going to mention Lance, you. know. No one's going to mention uh uh. Raymond Barry. And I'm like, how fair is. it? Because you're only going to talk. about what you see. I'm not going to do. that to those guys because they were. actually hella receivers in their own. right. Do you think anybody's going to break.

Jerry's record? >> That one. 197 career touchdown catches. He has 207. total, >> 22,000 yards, 15 it'd be hard to say no. because the the. >> the adding games and they're throwing. >> and the rules that are set up for them. to do it. >> Yeah. >> So, do I think someone will do it? Yes. Only because of the way the game is. going. Remember when in our day defenses. could impose their will on you? Yes, >> they could deter you from six catches.

and four touchdowns a year. They can't. do that now. Uh the players don't want. to do that now, >> right? >> So yeah, somebody will break that. eventually. Yeah, somebody will break. it. >> Jim Brown had a quote rest his soul. He. said. he could play in any era. >> Greatest quote. Greatest compliment I. ever gotten athletically. Greatest compliment I ever gotten. athletically. How different is the game today than. when you played? >> Other than the defenses imposing their.

wills and you don't have to be a. technician. I I prided myself in being a. technician. >> I'm getting out of my break with the. best of them. Dion was a lot faster, but. and I'm developing a counter to his. speed. A counter to Dion and we're using. Dion because he's one of the greats. I'm. using Prime. Dion speed. I got to. counter it with power. I there ain't no. sense in me and you running 40, 50, 60. yards. You probably gonna win that one. Okay.

But I tell you what I will do. Let's see. what you look like after eight catches. and you got to make six tackles. Let's. see what you look like after eight. slants, eight hitches, eight comebacks, eight curls. Because now I'm putting him in what I. feel ain't got nothing to do with him. I'm putting him in what I feel his. uncomfort zone is. Um, Hampford Dixon. and Frank Manfield, Albert Lewis and. Kevin Ross, Carl Lee and Naji Mohamd.

straight up bump and run corners. I got. >> T-Mac and watching the line. >> Yes. I got to I got to counter what you. do well. What? And and in countering what you do. well, I'm bringing power. I'm bringing 220 lbs. and I want contact. You know, back then. they didn't have smoke, but I wanted. that smoke. I I wanted to see you make. this tackle because that was my way of. imposing my will on them. Andy Reid.

said, "If you didn't get hurt, you would. go down as maybe the greatest receiver. to play the game." How was Andy as a. coach? Andy was a tight end coaching. >> Yes. >> Fun loving, outstanding. Yeah. >> Very intelligent. >> and really in tuned with the team. What. Mike Homegrren did was prepared all. those guys to be head coaches. >> Yep. >> He did a really good job of that. I love. Mike to this day because he was a lot.

like I try to be. He just gave it away. You want information? Here it is. >> You want money to fault? Here it is. You. want time? Here it is. And Andy Reid is. a spitting image of Mike Homegrren. because he just You see how Patrick. Mahome plays without restriction. Just. give it away. Go ahead and play your. way. I'll adjust. >> Wow. Love the way Andy uh was with me in. Green Bay and how he's doing now in. Kansas City. >> Who's the toughest corner you played.

against? >> Ricky Reynolds and in Tampa, Don Griffin in San Francisco, and in my division also, I would say. Carl Lee. Ricky Reynolds and Don Griffin. were technically sound, as fast as me, >> wanted to make every tackle. >> Yeah, >> Carl was difficult because he was long. >> Mhm. >> He had really good speed. He wasn't. above average in speed, but he was long.

and he was technically probably the most. dominant corner technically that I. played against. >> because he was all about the positions. >> because if I hit my positions, I put you. in the positions I need you to be in, right, >> for me to cover you. So he I mean those. three guys because I played against Don. He was in my division every year and. then I played against uh Carl who's in. my division every year. >> Cuz you only you facet time what once or.

twice? >> Twice here. >> Once at county, >> once in the dome, >> right? And. >> time said he ain't want no problems. He. say you just too strong. >> Only only because of what he brought at. the time. What he brought to the table. in Fulton County. He was everywhere. inside, outside, he followed me. >> Right. >> When we played in the dome was the the. probably the only time I remember. Tim, what you Hey, man. What you doing. here? Ain't going to It ain't going to.

end well for you. And only because. that's how I talk. I was I was trash. talking friendly but personal, right? But those three guys, Carl Lee, Don. Griffin in San Francisco, Ricky Reynolds. in Tampa technically were the three. probably when you can cover and tackling. because you had to block them, right? >> Cuz they were they wanted to make the. tackle on the running back or so you had. to block them. They were probably the. three technically most sound guys I.

played. >> Who is your favorite player to watch. when you're standing on the sideline and. you're watching somebody else? >> Anthony Carter by far. And I'm not talking I probably can't. tell you a catch Anthony Carter made in. the NFL. >> Mhm. >> But when I saw number one in Michigan, I. was like, "That's it right there. That. that right there is what I want. I know. what I want to be now. I want to be that. right there." Anthony Carter. >> uh was my favorite player. and I met him once in the airport after. he and I were both done playing. Anthony.

Carter when he was at Michigan, they. ain't nobody better. What's your What. was your favorite route? Smoke, man. You just want to catch a hitch. Yes, sir. If you throw it 40 yards and I go 70, you know, if you throw it 15 yards and I. go 40, but if you throw it behind the line of. scrimmage and I run over two guys and.

pick up 14 yards, they remember, you remember. And so I just wanted the. ball in my hand. So when I got Mike. homegrren and he call smoke. >> thunder and you know. >> smoke thunder Omaha. >> man three step. >> lion lion Denver Colorado you know when. we got those where we were just running. hitches slants stops uh post uh slant. goals get it in get it to me as quick as.

possible. >> do you have a pregame routine. no one could touch my hands so I was. never a high five. Nobody cuz I said if. nobody can touch nobody can touch my. hands, nobody can get in my head. But my. progame routine was when I came when I. got one in the NFL cuz remember I I. didn't come out in college. >> In the NFL was just to come out and just. to be out enjoy looking around stadium. fans, see friends that you developed. I.

got a chance to spend time with you on. the, you know, during pregame. Baby, I. was in the line in Tampa. Y'all was on. the road to Tampa and I was in the. pregame line. >> Pregame line highfiving us when we came. out. And Lindy was like, "Who the hell. is that?" I was like, "It's my brother.". >> They invited me to come back cuz you. showed up, [ __ ] You had overund. >> Yeah, sure did. But no, I didn't really. have a pregame routine. I was just more. of, I'm ready to go. Let's go. >> Right. >> You played with T C Terry Cruz. What was. T Cruz like, man? >> I I thought it just showed, you know,

Terry was one of the guys that showed. me. I didn't know what I was looking at, >> right? >> But I He was fun. He He worked. And I. say he really wanted the NFL, >> right? >> He put in the time. He put in the. effort. And I was really I I can say I. can I was disappointed when Terry got. let go because I thought with his size, his strength, and his speed, he would. definitely make our team. >> Right. >> The playoffs, you had a couple that your. first playoff game, Detroit. >> Mhm.

>> Um three touchdowns. of the game-winning. touchdown. What do you remember about. that game? >> That I was trying to come out on the. game-winning touchdown. I was trying to. come out of the game because of my my. >> did that turf toe. >> turf toe. We ran flanker drive and the. guy fell on it. >> and I'm Robert Brooks is standing from. me to you and I'm trying to tell him to. come in the game and Mike is telling. Brett the play. 25.

double square out. Yep. >> Mark Clayton. So, we as a receivers made. the decision we're not going to switch. sides, >> right? >> What we're going to do is is Ed West. goes left. Mark now as the X, you're the. flanker. Step off. >> Mhm. >> 25 25. Kevin Scott standing right there. I know. the safety's coming over the top. So, it's three cloud. >> Brett takes his drop, looks at Mark. Clayton. There is no one within a 100. miles of Mark Leighton.

No one. Brett could have underhanded the. ball and it would have been a catch and. Mark would have probably gotten to the. one. Three cloud corner squats. Everybody. rolls over. Safety's right behind me. I'm running. I run to Kevin C. Scott. kind of drifts. Well, our tight end, Ed, I think it was Ed West, pops wide open. on the basic cross and the safety that. was supposed to be over the top jumps. him.

and Brett goes. It's the only time I've ever seen his. eyes. I've caught a lot of deep balls. from Brett, but usually, you know, when. you run a deep route, you look up, >> right? >> So, it was the only time. And it was. almost like he was like, "Clayton, no. I'm gonna move.". and he just let it go. Game, set, match. Tracy Austin, the contract, you had some uh some. contract issue with the uh the Packers,

they promised you one thing and then it. didn't happen. You go through training. camp, you do everything, and then the. night before the first game, which is. how it's supposed to be done. >> Yes. And. I'll say this. worked out well for me because after. that season I never played another down. So with that mo those monies I was able. to secure most of my future because I.

got to increase my insurance not knowing. I got to secure my family's future based. on that decision of holding out of the. first game. I was going to miss the. first game and I was going to do it, but. it worked out. >> Your final season, you have 94 catches, 1119 yards. The 18th touchdown is still. currently tied for third most touchdowns. in a single season. >> Mhm.

when there's only one person happier, two people. than me that my career ended and I was. the two specialists that said you should. never play football again. They were the. happy they were that, you know, they. were like, "Hey, based on what we see, you shouldn't play football again." I. hopped off the table. I was like, "Okay, >> appreciate that information, Doc.". >> And because remember, all I wanted to do. was play, right? I wasn't playing for a.

length of time or status or to be on. someone's Mount Rushmore or be. considered one of the great. I just. wanted to play, >> right? >> And I did that. And so when my when it. was time for me to find something else. to do, the American dream was you go to. college and get your degree and allows. you to compete uh with anyone for a. position or a job. I had my degree and I. I was like, I can, you know, I once I. get out of this neck breaks, I'm going. to be able to compete. And lo and. behold, I ended up in TV. But in my.

career, my job ending. ended the way it was supposed to because. I would probably be still trying to play. if it was. It didn't. >> What do you remember? Because uh I. remember watching the game and I saw you. blocking your former teammate Brad. Edwards for the Falcons. >> Mhm. >> And then you just like collapsed. What. you don't what you didn't see being in. Denver was I had been having episodes in. 1989. my right my left side went numb.

>> Okay. Just standing here talking to the. guys on at practice one day left side. went numb. Uh in 1991. uh my right leg left shoulder would just. go numb. um the end of 91. uh I could control my hand but I had no. feeling in it. So I started having. symptoms. >> and then I started having a lot more my. last season. um you know holding my head.

down I could feel my spine vibrating and. when you hit your spine it feels like. you're on fire. >> right. >> and I would be like ooh that burns you. know so I started having in I started. having episodes and I kind of had an. idea what it was. >> but you go you know you still can do. everything so you keep doing it. >> lying on the field you laid there for. like three minutes and I remember you. telling man I was I was I was trying to.

get up. >> Yeah. >> But I could I had no strength to get up. And then Andre Ryzen, one of my best. friends, >> Andre Ryzen is talking to me and he is. making me laugh. So Andre and I, I'm. laying on the field. I can move, but I. can't control, >> right, >> my movement, >> right? >> But I'm laughing with this fool, >> right? >> And then Brad comes over and he's like, "Surl, you okay? you. I'm like, "Yeah, yeah. I just need to uh, you know, cuz. I'm trying to figure out. >> what's going on.

>> Why can't I can move, but why can't I. get. >> get up, >> right?" And then all of a sudden, the. feeling came back and I was fine, >> right? >> And I remember before that, I caught a. touchdown pass on the right side. Well, the corner hits me and I turned my left. ankle so bad that I tore the tape. And I. used to get tape to my skin, >> right? So when you tear that tape, that's severe. >> Yeah. >> And my ankle was about this big. And in. hindsight, that was the signal.

>> for me to be like, "Shut it down.". >> Right. >> But I'm like, "No, retape it." You know, take that back up and we'll make it go. again. And so I knew after that game. that I probably was not going to play. again. But you played the following week. cuz you go to Tampa. >> Only because we needed to have a home. playoff game, >> right? >> And I told Mike, I said, "Hey, if you. going to get it to me, you better get it. to me early cuz I don't know how long.

I'm going to be in this game, >> right?". >> And I had this thing was about that big. and I don't practice all week, >> right? >> And I ended up with I don't know the. particular numbers, but I. >> nine for a buck 32 and three touchdowns. That was the last time you ever caught a. pass in the NFL. I but I knew if you. going to get it to me, you better get it. to me early because I don't know how. long I'm going be in this. >> You reinjured the neck when you re I. think Thomas Everett glazed you as he. went by. didn't even didn't even you. know the thing was is is like I said the.

episodes that I was having uh I remember. one day one night laying in bed and and. Luger my rock bar. >> and I jumped up and hit my spine and. fell back and was like what the I could. move but I had no control over my. movement. >> right. >> so I had had symptoms for like nine. weeks that was you know leading up to. this is it which made it easier for me. because I, you know, it wasn't like one.

hit, that's it. You know, I had enough. telltale signs that it was like this is. it. >> Did you ever think about coming back? >> No. Um, I I can I think I can say this now. It's. been enough time. Jerry Jerry Jones. called me at ESPN and asked me, Sterling, could you play? And I said, yeah, but I but Jerry, I'm I'm not going. to play football anymore. when when I. was doing TV in 1995 asked me if I could.

play, >> right? >> But no, I never considered coming back. because that that I'm what am I coming. back for? Because I did what I wanted to. do, >> right? >> And that would be moving the goal post. on God because I asked him that to let. me play and if I come back to play, I'm. moving the goal post post, which is. unfair and I didn't want to do that. When the Packers waved you, did you have. any emotions where they're like, "Bro, I. mean, y'all didn't give me a chance?". >> No, I I understood. Well, I knew. We. knew. We knew I wasn't here. Here's the.

only thing that the Packers did that. bothered me, >> right? >> Not one person called to say, "How'd. your surgery go?". >> Because they're fixing my spine, right? I could walk I could roll out of there. and never walk again, >> right? >> I could die on the operating table. Not. one person from the organization said, "Hey, you know, how'd your surgery go?". >> Not the coach. >> Not one person from the organization was. like, "Hey, look, man. Um, God, we're.

pulling for you. You know, let us know. if you need anything." Not one person in. the organization. >> Checked up. That was the only thing that. I was I wasn't bothered. I was. disappointed in you don't owe me. anything. But I as men a common decency, common. courtesy and the fact that that was. lifealtering. >> not one not one person from the. organization I don't think you.

understand that's player trainer front. office coach. >> Damn no one. That's the only thing that. bothered me. >> Not one player. >> Not one player. And I got no problem. with that cuz hey, look man, we. understand how cutthroat the business. is. The season just ended. We just lost. to Dallas in the divisional round, I. think it was, for a chance to go to the. the NFC championship game. We all this. is happening. And so I'm I get it. You You leaving.

Green Bay, getting out of the cold. You're you're trying to figure out some. got contracts, babies being born. I I. Hey, man, life happens. But not one. person from the organization was like, >> "How did the thing go?". >> Yes. And that the bother was. that's odd. That that a common decency. And I'm. saying a common. >> Yeah.

>> a common decency. >> That's not asking too much. >> No. I I didn't ask. Hey, look. I. understand organization wise you got to. find uh uh do you have the receivers in. the room to to that we can go from where. we are and keep going upward. I get. that. What pieces are we going to bring. in to help us? I get that. Not one. person trainer. no one. bothered me to the point I was okay man. I'm like as soon as I got out of my. brace doc said your neck is solid. Um, I.

was like, "Okay, I'm good." And then, you know, everything fell into place. with ESPN. I was off and running. And it. was so funny that I never thought about. it. until the Hall of Fame happened. And. when the Hall of Fame happened, now I. start to hear from people in the. organization. and I'm saying to myself, how do I feel. about that? Honestly, like, you know.

what? When I was at my proverbial. lowest, never heard from you. What you would perceive as my highest, I really don't need to hear from y'all. I'm not mad. I'm not disappointed. It's. just. >> none of the people that. >> you can't have one without the other. >> Right. >> now. Granted, there's a lot of change. and turnover. >> All change. >> from all change and turnover from when I. was there until now. >> But st, you know, it was just. >> still stings a little bit. it it not.

sting. It it doesn't have the value it. should, >> right? >> And I was just like, you know, you know, the Green Bay Packers were gracious. enough to throw me a Hall of Fame party. at at the Hall of Fame and and I did. everything on my that I could to get. them not to cuz I'm like, I don't feel. comfortable accepting that feeling this. way about, you know, but but but Kathy. and the Green Bay Packers have been. wonderful. Um this group of folks have. been wonder how many.

How many from the the former Packers. like when you were there the. organization do you think will be at the. ceremony on Saturday? >> I have no idea. Um I do know Don. Macowski. I will say I believe Ron. Halstrom. >> Mhm. >> But I really don't know. I'm not that. guy. I'm not nostalgic, man. I live 20. something miles from the University of. South Carolina. I ain't never been back. to watch a game. Um, I've never been to alumni weekend in.

Green Bay. I'm not that guy. I I mean, I. did what I wanted to do and and have at. it. I I'm just not built that way to be. uh I think of my teammates. I probably. talk to two, maybe three. Keep Woodside, Perry Kemp, Clance Weathers, Don. Macowski. Every now and then he and I'll. link up. I'll see him somewhere. But I I. don't I mean I loved all my teammates. love playing with him. Leroy Butler,

>> who was a a Hall of Famer, but I I don't. full, you know, I don't talk to a lot of. >> When you leave, you don't play in 95, you retire. >> Mhm. >> And the next two years, the Packers go. to the Super Bowl. They win one, they. lose one. >> Mhm. >> Did you like, damn, >> no, I didn't play football to go to a. Super Bowl. Didn't play football to go. to to the Hall of Fame. Didn't play. football to be an allp pro. Didn't play. football to go to a Pro Bowl. Um, I did. know that the first year I went, I took.

Libby and I wanted to go back so I could. take you. >> Mhm. >> And then the next time I was like, the. next time I go back is when he plays in. one. If he don't play in one, I ain't. going back. The next time I went, you. made it. >> So I I'm not, like I said, I'm not built. that way. You know, Green Bay going. At. least I had an idea. A lot of the guys. were still on the team of what they were. going through uh to get there. Andre. Ryzen slid into the number 84, called a. touchdown. I was extremely happy for him.

in that success, but no, it never. bothered me. >> Now, we're less than a week away um from. going into the Pro Football Hall of. Fame. And what they're 382, 383. >> I'm 382. >> But we're the first set of brothers. >> Yes. >> Of That's cool. >> of 20 over 25,000 men that have played. that's coached, owned, general managed. over 25,000 men. >> Mhm. >> We're the first two brothers.

>> Wow. >> Have you thought about what that meant? >> Yeah. Yeah. Two little black boys from. Glennville, Georgia that didn't have a. male figure in the household after age. 11 and or 10 and 13. um that was pretty. much predominantly raised by women. >> that uh didn't live in a house with. running water until 1988. Absolutely. It's just, you know, it's God's gift to. being on a path, not deviating from that.

path, not trying to alter that path and. not trying to change. You know what? We. could always get there from where we. were. >> Yeah, man. >> Who reminds you? What receiver reminds. you of you today? None. Anquin Balden. That's what I was. gonna say. An. >> Balden was was probably the one. Um Tio, >> you know, Tio, but you met Tio before. >> I knew. Yeah. Yeah. Tio and I go way way.

back. I want to say Tio was in high. school when I met Tio. Tio kind of in a. in a way. I don't know if he is as then. I'm going to say physical in a sense. I. don't think he loves contact like I did, >> right? >> But to um maybe Debo. Samuels, who's a South Carolina Gamecock. also. Debo just got to stop getting. hurt, man. I need you every day, Debo. But Debo reminds me a lot of me. Yeah.

>> If you could play with any quarterback. currently playing today, who would you. like to. >> currently playing? currently playing. Joe Burrow. Joe Burrow. >> And I'm gonna say Joe Burrow because I. would like to say I would like to help. him. I'm not Hey, Jamar's done, you. know. Yeah. >> Hey man, that cat's that cat's special. But I think Joe Burrow um just in from.

what I have seen since he's been in the. league, since he left Ohio State, actually went to LSU, what I've seen, I. think I'd like to play with him just to. see what he sees and hear what he says. and how he talks. You know, playing with. Patrick Mahomes be like playing with. Brett. I've already done that. you know, hey, here, you know, or or and you know, believe it or not, Patrick Mahomes has a. lot more Mike Tomzac than he does Mike. uh Brett.

>> Really tack flip it to you, throw it. behind his back, you know, call a. running play, miss the handoff, roll. out, and be like, uh, here's a flip, you. know, touchdown right here. Um, Lamar, I I'd like to play with Lamar. Lamar Jackson, too. Uh, you know, I and. I go back and forth because I've had. this conversation with myself. Joe. Burrow or Lamar Jackson are the two I. think I'd love to play with just to just. to get a feel for their game and what. they see. >> You left the game and I think the thing.

is about golf is that I don't think I'm. off base saying this that you love. playing golf more than you ever love. playing football. >> By far. I make on average 74 decisions a. round and ain't none of them right. Ain't none of them right. Whether it's. the right club or the right line on this. putt or the right shot shape to hit or. the right 74 76 decisions and they're. all wrong. But you know what? You accept.

them. And remember, you ain't doing this. for Tiger or Scotty Sheffller or Jack. Nicholas. You out here playing for you. It's the exact same way and the exact. same parallel that I had playing. football. So if I shoot 78, ain't nobody. happier than me. If I shoot 68, ain't. nobody happier than me, cuz I'm doing. this. I'm playing this. I'm out here for. me and me alone. So it's wonderful. Like.

I said, I love I love the fact that I. got to make a decision and I got to. support and live with that decision. And. don't nobody care about the decision I. make but me. You ever played against. Jordan in golf? >> Not against him. No. Not even with him. I played behind him. and in front of him, but not even when. he would go into Tahoe. Not even with. him. >> Right. >> Mhm. >> If y'all played, you think you beat him? nowadays. he would pro you know I I have lost a.

lot man I you know I I which was. wonderful we haven't talked about my eye. surgeries I I've had enough eye. surgeries that my life and game has. changed. >> and I've had my body atrophy lost. strength distance you know I don't know. how much Mike is playing with small kids. and you know I I don't know how much. he's playing but I can still get it. around it just you know. >> it's different. >> Yeah. It's like, you know, driving a.

car, >> but it's not a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, but it'll take you and get you where you. need to go. >> Do you mentioned the surgery, and since. you brought it up, um, you had a very. serious eye issue, >> three and got another one. You I had a. retina that that was detached that tore. that. >> had a cataract removed and now have a. hole in my retina as I'm sitting here. right now. >> Right. So, I am going I I was supposed. to have surgery the Monday after the. Hall of Fame induction, but I was like,

"Will I be able to fly to Green Bay on. September 11th to get my ring?" And he. said, "Oo, that's cutting it close." And. I said, "Well, is it possible to. postpone the surgery until after. September 11th?" because we know it tore. somewhere between July. 3rd and last week. So, my surgery is push postponed until.

after September 11th, but I'm going to. be face down. surgery, gas bubble, face down for x. amount of hours a day for 14, 16, 18. days again. So, it it's it takes a lot. out of you because and and I I think I. said this to you. I've never. contemplated suicide. >> Mhm. >> But because of what I've gone through. since October with this eye, oh, I got a. great understanding of it right now.

Because when you go through the four. drops four times a day, you got three. drops three times a day, you got two. drops five times a day, and each one of. those drops got to be five minutes. apart. So when you are tired and you. jump into bed, wait a minute, what's. your drop regimen? When you get up and. you got to get back face down, what's. your drop regimen? And remember, each. drop has to be 5 minutes, at least 5. minutes apart. So you get to a point. where you're like, man, I I the hell.

with these drops, but I'm doing. everything I can to try and save my. vision and my eye. And so it is taxing. It is trying. Um, it because of my eye, I probably have not enjoyed being a. selectee to the Pro Football Hall of. Fame as much because if you asked me in. in November, I'll give you a choice. I'll give you back sight in your right. eye as you had it or I will make you a.

Pro Football Hall of Famer. I would have. chosen my right eye every day and twice. on Sunday. That's that's how where I am with this. because it it's it's. a monster. >> You just had a surgery. You're driving. to Canon. >> Yeah. I just had a cataract removed July. se Jul July 1st and and let me tell you. what's really crazy is. you're like.

I'm never it doesn't seem like I'm ever. going to catch this. might be the first. time I lose. This might be the first time I lose. And. when I say lose, I'm not in control. I I. don't know the outcome. I'm not prepared. for the outcome. I'm I'm like this eye. And there's no pain. This might be the first time I lose, which is really not difficult, but hard. to understand and to carry.

>> Why is family so important to you? >> It's all I had. When I had nothing, I. had you guys. When I got what people. thought was everything, I had you guys. Um, and so when you look at family, you. look at people that may not care that. you are a Hall of Famer. That's great. You look at people that may be really. excited that you're a Hall of Famer. That's great. You look at people that. like to talk a lot, outstanding. You. look at people that don't talk. I mean, I go home to see Libby and we may say.

15, 20 words a day, you know, and people. are like, "But really?" I mean, you and. I used to be together and we would say, "Hey, man. You want to eat? Hey, you. want to go to the movies?". "Yeah, okay." I mean, we didn't It. wasn't like there a lot of verbiage. So, you know, family is everything because. you don't have to do and be a certain. way to be around them or with them. Bro, congratulations. Thank you. One.

half of the first brothers in the Pro. Football Hall of Fame. >> The best half of the Pro first brother. in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. >> The lady at uh Sweet and Savory ATL, she. said, "Uh, I want to do something. special for your brother." I said, "Well, his favorite cake is at last I. checked, it's probably red velvet or. German chocolate.". >> Ain't no problem. >> She said, "I can do I can do I can I. said, can you get it done?" She said, "I. would love to get it done." So, she made. this uh this is a sweet and savory ATL. >> Sweet and savory. Oh, thank you. I think.

I I think I DM'd her. >> Yes. >> Uh uh about one of her cakes she had. online. I think I was like, "Oo, I need. to get one of those.". >> Yep. So, >> but no, thank you very much. Sweet and. savory ATL. Yeah, we going we going this. here. >> He got He got a sweet tooth. The half of. that will be gone by. >> this might not make it back to Columbia. Yeah, this here we going to knock a hole. in that right there. >> All my life been grinding all my life. Sacrifice hustle paid the price. Want a. slice got to roll the dice. That's why.

all my life I've been grinding all my. life. All my life been grinding all my. life. Sacrifice hustle paid the price. Want a slice. Got to roll dice. That's. why all my life I' been grinding all my. life. [Music].