1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,000 Speaker 1: He goes, I can't wait till Brett Favre gets here. 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: I'm going to hand ship room. Hey what, he goes, Yeah, 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to hit him. You know, he took away 4 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: my sack. I go, Mark, what are you talking about? 5 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: I said, you can't do that. He goes, I'm going 6 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:15,319 Speaker 1: to do it. I said, Mark, it's not going to 7 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: be beneficial to you. 8 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 2: What's up, everybody? 9 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 3: I'm Peanut to Himan and this is the NFL Player's 10 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 3: Second Act podcast and with me as always my choice 11 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 3: co host Roman Harbor. 12 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 4: What's up, Peanut Man. Look, I'm really excited about this 13 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 4: with number one. He's a former Alabama Great all time legend. 14 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 4: Got to watch this man from Afar for a very 15 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:41,560 Speaker 4: long time, and now this is my first actual time 16 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 4: really getting to meet him and sit down and talk 17 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 4: with him. I can't wait to let our viewers and 18 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 4: listeners get to hear this great man story. 19 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 3: He's an eleven year vet all with the Jets Walter 20 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 3: Payton Man of the Year Award winner. He's in the 21 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 3: Jets Ring of Honor, and he is the senior vice 22 00:00:56,160 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 3: president of Marketing and pr at Land Take ladies and gentlemen, 23 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 3: welcome to the pot, Marty Lyons. 24 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 2: Yes, pot, welcome to the pot. 25 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 3: And master storyteller. Master storyteller. 26 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 2: I should have added that to the resume. 27 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:12,919 Speaker 4: He's in the College Football Hall of Fame. He's also 28 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 4: considered to be one of the greatest players in Alabama's 29 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 4: football history as. 30 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 3: Well considered let's just say he is. 31 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 4: Well, it's just a whole bunch of them. 32 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 2: Just a lot of guys to take you are a 33 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 2: bunch of them. 34 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 3: So you've heard it on our podcast Morning Lines, the 35 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 3: greatest Crimson tied Alabama football player ever. I just said it. 36 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 2: Okay, well, good, thank you. 37 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 4: I'll put it out there. That leads me right to 38 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:37,759 Speaker 4: my first one. I hear about it all the time. 39 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 4: I get to hear the rumbled and mumbled voice on 40 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 4: the Jumbo Trons on Saturdays in Tuscaloosa of Bear Bryant. 41 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 4: What was it like playing for the Bear? 42 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, you know, Ruman, I think any any player 43 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: that played for Coach Bryant would address him as Coach Bryant. 44 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 2: You know, we never said Bear Bryant. 45 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 1: You know, I think Coach Briant cared about his players 46 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: more as individuals than. 47 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 2: Actual football players. 48 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: When I got there, in nineteen seventy five, walking in 49 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: there with not knowing anybody, and there's thirty freshmen from 50 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: around the country and I was all state and three sports. 51 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: Guy next to me was all state and four sports. 52 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: So Coach Brian had the pick and he walked into 53 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 1: the room. He said, there's four things I want you 54 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: to accomplish why you're here. Number one, always be proud 55 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: of your family. Number two, always be proud of your religion. 56 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:31,919 Speaker 1: Number three, get an education. Number four, if we have time, 57 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: let's win some football games. So he took thirty individuals 58 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: and blended us together as a team and as a family, 59 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: and we went on to win one national championship, three 60 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: SEC titles, and only to lose six games. So I 61 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: think Coach Brian prepared us that one when the game ended, 62 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 1: for each and every one of us, we could go 63 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 1: on and be active in our community and be successful. 64 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 3: So I want to talk about that national championship. So 65 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 3: in seventy nine, you guys with the Sugar Bowl, I 66 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 3: believe was here, right, yes, right, Sugar Bowl was here, 67 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 3: And there's a famous fourth and goal right the quarterback 68 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 3: for Penn State, Chuck Fasina. 69 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 2: Right, did you ask. 70 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 3: Him, or did you tell him that he should throw 71 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,119 Speaker 3: the ball on the fourth. 72 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: But it wasn't. I wasn't trying to be as smart 73 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: ass or anything. 74 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 2: How did it come out? Was it like came out? 75 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: We were over there by the official and Chuck said 76 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: to the official, how far isn't And the official went 77 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: about like that, and he looked at me like, so 78 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: what should we do? I go, you better throw the ball. 79 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: And if they had thrown the ball, they might have scored. 80 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: But it was a perfect play. 81 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. 82 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: Defensively with all the defensive linemen, we got the penetration. 83 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: Barry Kraus came over the top, Rich Wingo came from 84 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: the side. Mike Clemens, who was a corner, came off 85 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 1: the corner. 86 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 2: As the running back started jump, he grabbed them around 87 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 2: the way. So there was no momentum. 88 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: And you talk about winning the national championship with a 89 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: gold line stand and everybody, eleven players on the same page. 90 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 2: And it really started with Ken Donnee, the defense. 91 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 1: Coordinator, calling in that play. Now, we were so prepared 92 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,159 Speaker 1: getting ready to go down to play Penn State. We 93 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: knew down in distance which side of the ball, and 94 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: coach Paterno had the same philosophy as coach Bryant. If 95 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: we can't run the ball one yard and one yard, 96 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 1: pick up a first down to score, we don't deserve 97 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: to win. So we knew right away that they were 98 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: going to try to run the ball. 99 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 3: It wasn't even close, No, that was it was. 100 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 4: Well, that picture is up on all a lot of walls, yeah, 101 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,039 Speaker 4: a lot of places. That was how I first got 102 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 4: to know it and hear your name, you and mister 103 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 4: Krause and so like. That was the play that won 104 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 4: the national championship for Alabama on the one, the fourth fourth, 105 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 4: the one stop. So it's been amazing. It's just really 106 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 4: cool to actually hear from your story. That's why we 107 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 4: said he's a great storyteller. Yeah, I can't wait to 108 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 4: hear this story. What was your welcome to the NFL 109 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 4: moment back when the NFL was like the NFL. 110 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: Well, I think my welcome moment. You know, you go 111 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: out with all the vets after a practice and they'll 112 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: take you to a bar and the next thing you know, 113 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 1: everybody's ordering drinks or order and shots her ordering food, 114 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 1: and then you go to the bathroom and you come 115 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: out and nobody's there and the bartender gives you the bill. 116 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, first thing you do is you pay the bill, 117 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 2: but you. 118 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 1: Don't complain about it, and then you kind of become 119 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:39,799 Speaker 1: one of them. 120 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 2: True. 121 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 1: And walking out of the weight room, I think it 122 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 1: was the first week of training camp, you know, I 123 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: run into Joe Cleco and it's Joe Cleco's team, and 124 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 1: he looks at me and he goes, hey, rook, where 125 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: are you going? I said, I just got done working out, Joe, 126 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: I'm leaving. He goes, he goes, now you're not. He goes, 127 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: you need to. It's stronger. He goes, from now on, 128 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: you don't leave this complex until I leave. I went, okay, Joe, 129 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 1: and I started to walk off, and he grabbed me 130 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: again and he goes, did you hear what I said? 131 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: So I was very fortunate. Joe took me underneath his 132 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: wing and I went in there. I had to get stronger. 133 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: I got stronger with Joe. And you know, our opening game, 134 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: we were playing the Cleveland Browns and I was at 135 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 1: that time playing defensive end rather than defensive tackle. So 136 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,919 Speaker 1: I lined up against Ozzie Knewsom and Ozzie and I 137 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: were friends from college, and you know, he had that. 138 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,480 Speaker 1: You know, he would get down in that three point 139 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: stance and he'd be real low and he'd look up 140 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: at me and goes, hey, homie, how you doing. And 141 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 1: just as I answered him, they snapped the ball. He 142 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: hooked me and ran for fifteen yards. So I knew, 143 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: you know, that ain't That's not the way to do it. 144 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 1: And then the second game, we played New England and 145 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 1: we were down thirty five to three at halftime, and 146 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 1: we lost few fifty six to three. And it was 147 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: the worst beating I'd ever taken. And I got back 148 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: on the plane and you know, at that time, the 149 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: rookie sat in the middle of the plane and the 150 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 1: veterans were in the back, and I look in the 151 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: back and these guys are playing cards, drinking beer, smoking cigarettes, 152 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: smoking cigars, and I go, you know, aren't you guys embarrassed? 153 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: And that was welcome to the NFL. You know, don't 154 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: you don't get caught up in what we did last 155 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: week what we did this week, because the next. 156 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 2: Week you got to get ready to play again. 157 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: And you know, we were able to turn it around 158 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: in the early eighties and started to get the leadership 159 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: that we needed and made it to an AFC championship 160 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: game down there in Miami, and we lost, you know, 161 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: fourteen to nothing. Richard Todd, who was so instrumental in 162 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: getting us there, had a bad day at quarterback. He 163 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: threw five interceptions. And you know the funny thing about it. 164 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: I was good friends with Richard because he played at Alabama. 165 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: And we went out to dinner the right after the 166 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: game a couple of days later. 167 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 2: And his mom was there. And his mom was a Southern. 168 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: Lady, and out of nowhere, she goes, you know, I 169 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: love seeing Richard play football. No matter where he throws it, 170 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: somebody's going to catch it. I looked at Richard and 171 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: he goes, no, Mom, that's not the right thing to 172 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: say right now. 173 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 3: So I've been fortunate enough being in Chicago, being on 174 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 3: some dominant defenses, right, you know the history of Chicago. 175 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 3: They're known for their defenses. You the New York sack Exchange, 176 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 3: phenomenal defense. What are some of your favorite memories being 177 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 3: on that? 178 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: Well, it wasn't we'd go into a game. It wasn't 179 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: are we going to get to the quarterback? It was 180 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 1: how many times we were going to get there? How 181 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: many times we were going to hit them when you 182 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: have two edge rushers, one being Joe Klucko and the 183 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: other being Marks you know, you know, Abdulla and I. 184 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:56,199 Speaker 2: All we had to. 185 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:58,079 Speaker 1: Do was type up the two guards in the center 186 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 1: because they couldn't double team both of them right, And 187 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 1: we had an excellent back seven. The linebackers were excellent. 188 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 1: The secondary gave us enough time. 189 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 2: I love that, and you give them the dB some 190 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 2: some love. Well, you know what Russian cover. I appreciate that. 191 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 2: If they don't work hand in hand, it's not going 192 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 2: to work. 193 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: And we were fortunate that that year we got sixty 194 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: six sacks and everybody got their share. But you look 195 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: at Mark and Joe, they were both in the twenties 196 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 1: and it's a moment you look back on and you're 197 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: very thankful that you were a part of. 198 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 4: So number one. Who came up with the sack exchange? 199 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,439 Speaker 4: I know, like you know the stock exchange is in 200 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:41,199 Speaker 4: New York, Like, who came up. 201 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 2: With you know what? 202 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: I always thought it was Pepper Burrs, he was our 203 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: assistant trainer, but they actually ran a contest and somebody 204 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 1: thought of the New York Stock Exchange. Why don't we 205 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:56,439 Speaker 1: say New York sack exchange, and then all of a 206 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:59,559 Speaker 1: sudden it happened, and then we got a shoe deal 207 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: and everybody we were signing posters. And I believe that 208 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 1: in the beginning they only wanted two people. They only 209 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: wanted Joe and Mark. And Joe went to the people said, 210 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 1: you know what, and this is with the shoe contract, 211 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: said if you don't do all four of them, I'm out. 212 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: So actually, Joe Kleco negotiated my first shoe contract in 213 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:31,319 Speaker 1: the NFL. Did you see that when I was there, 214 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: you were there. I told him not to do it. 215 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: It was it was, to be honest with you, it 216 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: was premeditated. Oh you know how when you go to 217 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:41,199 Speaker 1: these shows you. 218 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:41,559 Speaker 2: Have to. 219 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 4: The whole brettfah well, you know, Brett Faarr filled down 220 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:48,839 Speaker 4: and let straight I get the sack record. Oh you 221 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 4: broke Mark Gastino's record. 222 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 2: He just like I saw. 223 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 3: I was like, I think he's serious. 224 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,559 Speaker 2: He was serious. He was he was serious. 225 00:10:57,640 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 1: You know how when you go to these shows, you 226 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: have X amount of items you got to sign in 227 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 1: the back, and then you got to sign for the public. 228 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:09,079 Speaker 1: So I walked in that morning, Mark was signing some 229 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 1: of the items in the back. So I said to him, Mark, 230 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: how you doing you last night? You were a little tired. 231 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 1: How you feeling He goes, I'm feeling alright. He goes, 232 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: I can't wait till Brett Farv gets here. I'm going 233 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: to handship room, I go. He goes, yeah, I'm going 234 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 1: to hit him. You know, he took away my sack. 235 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: I go, Mark, what are you talking about? I said, 236 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: you can't do that. He goes, I'm going to do it. 237 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: I said, Mark, it's not going to be beneficial to you. 238 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 1: And all a sudden, Brett Farv walks by and I 239 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 1: see Mark's wife. They walk in there. I walk around 240 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:43,559 Speaker 1: the backside just to make sure nothing was going to 241 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: happen somebody. 242 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 2: And Mark said to him, Hey, you know what, you 243 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 2: hurt me. You hurt me. I want my sack back. 244 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 1: And I'm looking at him like Brett Farv is looking 245 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: at him like, hey, WHOA what's going on here? And 246 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,320 Speaker 1: it went down, and then I went over to talked 247 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: to Brett because I had met him when he was 248 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 1: playing with the Jets. I was doing the radio and 249 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: I apologized for Mark, and he said, man, I thought 250 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: I was going to have to throw down on him. 251 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 1: He goes, man, I looked in his eyes. Man, he goes, 252 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: he is lost, But Mark says he beats to his 253 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: own drum. 254 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,439 Speaker 4: I saw a story, and I can't wait to hear 255 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 4: your version of this. You were once penalized for given 256 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 4: a quarterback the business. That's what the referee didn't got 257 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 4: tell me what happened on the play, because I didn't 258 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 4: see the play. I just saw the penalty, and the 259 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 4: referee was very demonstrative in his whatever you were doing 260 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 4: to give him the business. 261 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:43,719 Speaker 2: Well I was. You know. 262 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: We were the build up between the Jets and Buffalo Bills, 263 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 1: you know, and we were aging out the defensive line, 264 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 1: and I think middle of the week Jim Kelly said 265 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 1: he wasn't worried about the pass. 266 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 2: Rush or anything. 267 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 1: So in the first quarter he was going out of 268 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 1: bounds and I hit him, and he got up. He 269 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: threw the ball at me, and I went back. I 270 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 1: went back at Jim. I got my ass kicked because 271 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:14,320 Speaker 1: I was on their sideline, and right before halftime he 272 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 1: rolled out through the ball. 273 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 2: I hit him. I'm laying on top of them. 274 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 1: He says some ugly things to me about being on 275 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: top of them and then I just started pounding them. 276 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 1: And the first thing I did after a sign of 277 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: respect to Jim, you know, it was something that happened 278 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 1: on the field. Yeah, you know, I didn't. I have 279 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 1: the utmost respect for Jim Kelly. I patted him on 280 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:39,440 Speaker 1: the you know, the helmet. He patted me on the helmet, 281 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: and if you go back and you look at it, 282 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 1: I'm bleeding from I think it was this side, the 283 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 1: left hand, right hand side. And later I would find 284 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:53,719 Speaker 1: out that Jim Kelly said that his index finger, he 285 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 1: would always leave that nail a little bit longer so 286 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: when he threw the ball he could spin it off 287 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: that nail. Well, he came through my face mask and 288 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 1: kind of cut me, and I just had him a 289 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 1: few times. 290 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:08,679 Speaker 2: Yeah. 291 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 4: I saw you guys pat each other on the helmet 292 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 4: though afterwards, So you guys made up very quickly. Oh no, 293 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 4: I and Jim Kelly's not the only guy quarterback that 294 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 4: keeps the nail. We found out Warner does the same thing. 295 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 2: I didn't know that was it. I didn't either. 296 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 1: And again, Jim Kelly, you know, Hall of Fame quarterback. 297 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 1: He could have been a Hall of Fame linebacker. He 298 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: had that same mentality, same as you know Phil Simms. 299 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: We used to love to play against the Giants because 300 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: Phil was so he was so vocal to his offensive 301 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: line if they missed the block and we would say, hey, 302 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: you know what, like billy Ard, don't take that man, 303 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: just open the gates. 304 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 3: We'll take care of them, you know, but hopefully for 305 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 3: you all. 306 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 2: Yeah. 307 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 3: So when you retired, you got in the radio. I've 308 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 3: done the radio utmost respect. It is something very difficult 309 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 3: to do. I don't think people know that you've been 310 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 3: doing and you did it. How did you get involved 311 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 3: with me in the Jets. 312 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: Well, I first started off in TV and doing college games, 313 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: and you're making five hundred dollars a game by the 314 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: time they take taxes out by time you travel. So 315 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 1: you do it to stay for me to stay visible 316 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: in the community, and then to see whether I really 317 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: liked it. And then I started working doing the Jets 318 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: TV show called Jet Journal, so you know, you're just taping. 319 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 1: They can cut, they can edit, you can do whatever 320 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: you want. And then the Jets radio job came up, 321 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: and I had built a resume where being a Jet 322 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: living in New York, you know, it was something to do. 323 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: And I remember working with al Chroldwick and he's from 324 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 1: MSG and NBC. He said, when you do radio, pretend 325 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: you're talking to a blind person. He said, you're painting 326 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: a picture. 327 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 2: You don't always have to be right. Paint the picture. 328 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: So I did for the Jets for twenty two years, 329 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: and unfortunately, you know, there was a time for a change. 330 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 2: I went into a new role. 331 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 1: But I always try to be respectful to the players 332 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 1: as a former player, but I had a responsibility to 333 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: the listener. If you missed a tackle, I had to 334 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 1: point that out. If you didn't hold containment, I had 335 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:24,200 Speaker 1: to point that out to me. That's not being negative, 336 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: that's being honest. And you know, I had the pleasure 337 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: of working with Bob was Shuesen, who does a lot 338 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: of work with ESPN, and we enjoyed doing it. I 339 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: think we were complimentary to both. You have to have 340 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 1: that chemistry. You don't want to step on him. He 341 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 1: didn't want to step on me. And I really, I 342 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: really did enjoy I got to know the players a 343 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 1: little bit better, got to see the game differently too, 344 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 1: because you got to react real quick on what happened 345 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: on that play and being the color person, I was 346 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 1: just there to say why it worked, why it didn't work, 347 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: and why are you calling that play on third and 348 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: one and you're inside the twenty and you know what, 349 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: you have three All Pro players a guard and two 350 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: guards in the center, and why are you trying to 351 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 1: throw the ball? 352 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 2: Run it? 353 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 1: It's you know, yeah, but it was fun and we 354 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:27,160 Speaker 1: had an eighty five percent approval rate by the fans, 355 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:31,360 Speaker 1: so I think the fans appreciated it. And again, everything 356 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,239 Speaker 1: that I was doing up there in New York was 357 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:37,239 Speaker 1: enabled me to stay visible with the community and with 358 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: the fans. 359 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 3: What's one of the what's one of your favorite calls? 360 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 2: That was exactly my favorite call. 361 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 3: That's one of the best calls you've ever made. 362 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:47,320 Speaker 2: Well, you got to remember the play by play guy 363 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:48,399 Speaker 2: makes the best calls. 364 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 3: Well your analysis, Annalys. 365 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 1: I remember when the Jets were playing Seattle and they 366 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,719 Speaker 1: moved the ball right down the field and it was 367 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:01,920 Speaker 1: like fourth and about six inches and they were inside 368 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,160 Speaker 1: the five yard line, and then you had Nick Mangole 369 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: as a guard and you had two all Pro guards, 370 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 1: and I was saying that this is a perfect opportunity 371 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: to run the ball, and Eric Mangini was the head 372 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 1: coach and he kicked the field goal, and I just 373 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: couldn't understand it. Did you lose it a little bit? 374 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:29,680 Speaker 1: Put it this way when they knocked on the door 375 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 1: and said, hey, you know what, let's cut it out 376 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: a little bit. But if you look at the way 377 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:39,399 Speaker 1: the game played out the second half, they never crossed 378 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,360 Speaker 1: the fifty yard line. You got to get points when 379 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:46,199 Speaker 1: you can get points, but I'm telling you it was 380 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: less than less than six inches. 381 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 2: You know you got. 382 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: All you have to do nowadays is get the quarterback 383 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 1: to get one underneath the center and fall forward. You're 384 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: going to pick that up. And the Jets decided to 385 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:00,640 Speaker 1: kick the field gold, which you know, to this day, 386 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: I don't think was the right move. 387 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 2: Were you there for the buff fumble? I was when 388 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:10,119 Speaker 2: Mark Santez? Yes, Thanksgiving? Yes, So tell me what was 389 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 2: that like? I gotta know that. 390 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 3: Guess that call? 391 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:14,679 Speaker 2: It was New England scoring. 392 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 1: I think they scored two touchdowns in less than fourteen seconds, 393 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: right they did? Yes, But you know Mark went to 394 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 1: hand off the ball and nobody was there. So he 395 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:28,719 Speaker 1: went to run and New England had made the penetration 396 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: and he ran into the back of his offensive guard 397 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 1: and fumbled the ball. New England picks it up, they 398 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: run it in for a touchdown. Then the Jets kick off. 399 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: They fumbled the ball. New England picks it up and 400 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,359 Speaker 1: they run it in again. You know, it was a 401 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 1: typical Thanksgiving dinner that the Jetskip just gave the Patriots. 402 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 3: It was I think I want to listen today. 403 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 4: I would look like when you're up there and you 404 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 4: see it, what I know, your guys making the call, But. 405 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:00,439 Speaker 2: What do you do? How do you just describe the 406 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:01,680 Speaker 2: why to that? 407 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: You know, Rom and I I you just look and 408 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: you're baffled. You go, I can't describe what just happened. 409 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:13,639 Speaker 1: But for all you listeners, Mark just stuck the ball 410 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:18,399 Speaker 1: up his offensive guards, but all fumbled. 411 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 2: And you know, it was funny. 412 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,360 Speaker 4: It was funny now that you look backward, right, yeah, 413 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 4: But I can only imagine imagining in the booth, like, 414 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 4: how do I even explain what just happened? 415 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 2: There's no way to explain. 416 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 3: We're gonna take a short break and we'll be right back. 417 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 4: Let's talk about what you did now post and it's 418 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 4: probably something you've been doing. 419 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 2: Had your little hands into. 420 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:46,399 Speaker 4: Already and that was Landtek where you guys either helped 421 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 4: build fields athletic facilities or you also I saw you 422 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 4: teamed up with Arthur Blank and you guys helped re surface, 423 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:00,040 Speaker 4: helped level them back out, sorry, leveled it all the 424 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 4: some HBCU fields out in Alabama and in Georgia. 425 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:09,400 Speaker 1: I think what Arthur Blank did is tremendous to donate, 426 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 1: you know, the amount of money that he did. And 427 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: then the NFL got involved and they chose Lantek as 428 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: the contractor of choice. So we went down there and 429 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 1: looked at the facilities and it was a shame that 430 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 1: here it was in twenty twenty four athletes coming out 431 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:33,679 Speaker 1: of these programs and nobody being able to update their facilities. 432 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:38,920 Speaker 1: So we went down there. We took two synthetic fields 433 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 1: and redid those and put in new turf, and then 434 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: we took two natural grass fields and converted them over 435 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 1: to synthetic grass. But a lot of thanks to Arthur 436 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: Blank and the you know, historical Black colleges and university, 437 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:59,360 Speaker 1: they need to be addressed by more owners because the 438 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: owners are pulling athletes out of their programs. But the 439 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:08,479 Speaker 1: facilities are just they're really dated when I retired, I 440 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 1: went back. I tried to get into coaching three times. 441 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:17,240 Speaker 1: One with Bruce Coslet, Sorry, you're too close to the team. 442 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 1: The second time was with Pete Carroll. He said, you 443 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: really don't want to coach. He goes, you want to 444 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 1: help this organization. Go to the PR department, tell us 445 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 1: how our players can get more active in the community. 446 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 1: They go, Pete, I don't have to tell people how 447 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:34,880 Speaker 1: to do that. They have to want to do that. 448 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 2: And then the. 449 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 1: Third time I tried was with Richie Kotype and you 450 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: know Richie when thank god I didn't get on that 451 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:46,440 Speaker 1: staff because I would have been fired after two years. 452 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,199 Speaker 1: He went one in fifteen, and then I think he 453 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:51,680 Speaker 1: went three and thirteen, and. 454 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 2: Then on straight three. 455 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 1: I went back to school and I got my security 456 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 1: license and spent five years over at Payne Weber. I 457 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 1: got my series sixty five, sixty three, all the license 458 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 1: went in there. Pretty successful there, but it's hard to 459 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 1: ask friends to give me your money so I can 460 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:16,679 Speaker 1: invest it. And it was one of those Compliance also 461 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 1: came into play because I had outside activities that I 462 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: was making money doing speaking engagements, doing their Jets TV show, 463 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:28,719 Speaker 1: and they wanted me to disclose how much money I 464 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 1: was making outside of pain WEAB and I said, no, 465 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: I'm not going to do that. And after five years 466 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:38,360 Speaker 1: at pain Weab, I went to the Lantech Group. Lantech 467 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 1: they buildings, the design athletic fields. That's all they do, 468 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:48,159 Speaker 1: athletic field construction, from building fields, tracks, bleachers, lights, you 469 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 1: name it, we'll do it. At that time, they were 470 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 1: probably six point two six point four million. In the 471 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:00,719 Speaker 1: late two thousand and last year we close down at 472 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:05,320 Speaker 1: just under three hundred million, so the company's growing. The 473 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 1: owners were young, energetic guys, and they said, Marty, you 474 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:10,720 Speaker 1: know what we. 475 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 2: Need your help. You can. 476 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:16,359 Speaker 1: And the good thing about working with the Atlantic Group 477 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 1: is I could always schedule my meetings. If I'm meeting 478 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 1: with you two, I want to meet with you on Friday, 479 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:24,439 Speaker 1: So you're going to ask me, okay, what can you 480 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 1: do to help me build a better facility. But you're 481 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 1: also going to say, has football fans, Hey, how about 482 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 1: the Jets this week? 483 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:32,640 Speaker 2: So I'm mixing one with the other. 484 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 1: And if I don't meet with you on Friday, I'll 485 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 1: meet with you on Monday and then we'll talk about 486 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: what we can do to help your facility and then 487 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:41,880 Speaker 1: they look at me and they go. 488 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:45,719 Speaker 2: What happened to the Jets? It's always what happened? You know? 489 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 1: What are they going to turn this thing around? And 490 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: I go, you know what, be honest with you. You know, 491 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 1: I don't know. You know, it's difficult on the broadcasters 492 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 1: doing the same team and the team is out of 493 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:07,400 Speaker 1: the playoffs by Thanksgiving. It's tough, and you always try 494 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:09,920 Speaker 1: to stay positive. You always try to put the spin 495 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 1: on it. But I think that you know, you look 496 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 1: at the Jets. They got some guys that can really play, 497 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 1: but you're going to have to keep them. You know, 498 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 1: Sauce Gardner one of the best corners I've seen since, 499 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: Darrel Reeves one of the best wide receiver. You know, 500 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 1: Garrett Wilson, great, great young player. How are the Jets 501 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 1: going to keep them? 502 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 2: You know, I don't know. 503 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: And that is the key. Now, how do you keep 504 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:38,919 Speaker 1: the key players? And how do you spread the money around? 505 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:42,080 Speaker 1: And how do you make everybody happy? I don't know 506 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:44,960 Speaker 1: if it's possible to do that. They you know, they 507 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 1: try to shuffle the money in one direction and then 508 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:52,160 Speaker 1: it comes to another. But when you're you, we all 509 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:55,160 Speaker 1: know you have a limited time in the NFL, whether 510 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: it's your choice or their choice, and more than likely 511 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 1: it could be their choice. So you want to make 512 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:05,439 Speaker 1: the money when you can, so there is no hometown 513 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:08,639 Speaker 1: discount anymore. I don't care whether you drafted me in 514 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:10,960 Speaker 1: the first round. You know I got I signed that 515 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:14,400 Speaker 1: long five year contract, you know with or four year 516 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:18,840 Speaker 1: with the option in the fifth. Yeah, the team and 517 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:23,160 Speaker 1: then if you're not winning, you want to go someplace 518 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 1: to win. 519 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 2: That's it, you. 520 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,880 Speaker 3: Know, as arm said, did you played this game to win? 521 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 2: Yeah? 522 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:31,879 Speaker 1: And I tell you what herm Edwards was one of 523 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:35,680 Speaker 1: the best guys I ever worked with. Up there doing 524 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 1: the TV show. I'd ask him a question and he'd 525 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 1: put that. 526 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,480 Speaker 2: Leg up on the desk. He goes, come on, coach, 527 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:44,360 Speaker 2: you know that. You know that. 528 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 1: You know that guy ain't tough. You know he ain't 529 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 1: lining it up on Sunday. The honesty that they showed myself, 530 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:57,439 Speaker 1: in the respect that they showed it was it was 531 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:00,959 Speaker 1: like you and I having a conversation that comes Sunday. 532 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: You know what you can use and you know what 533 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 1: not to use. Yeah, And if you break that trust, 534 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:08,800 Speaker 1: I'm not going to tell you anything else. 535 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:10,880 Speaker 2: Going on in this season. 536 00:27:12,119 --> 00:27:14,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I want to pivot on something else. I 537 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 3: want some foundation work. I know Rom and I we 538 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:19,200 Speaker 3: both have our foundations, and you do some of create, 539 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 3: excuse me, some incredible things with your foundation. I know 540 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 3: you help kids who are three to seventeen who are 541 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:29,440 Speaker 3: battling or being diagnosed with a terminal illness. 542 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:32,880 Speaker 2: Terminal illness or chronic life threatening disease. You know, I started. 543 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: I started in nineteen eighty two. Yeah, we had just 544 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:41,439 Speaker 1: come from the AFC Championship game, which we lost. My 545 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 1: oldest son was born on March fourth. Suddenly, my dad 546 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:48,720 Speaker 1: passed away of a massive heart attack on March eighth. 547 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: A little boy that I was a big brother too, 548 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:56,159 Speaker 1: passed away on March tenth, a matter of six days, 549 00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:58,440 Speaker 1: and Keith was only five and a half. He went 550 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: from the ultimate high to the old low. And I 551 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,119 Speaker 1: really felt at that time God was punishing me. He 552 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 1: was saying, you know, I couldn't understand how you could 553 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:09,440 Speaker 1: bless me with a son and then take away two 554 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 1: people I love. And I said, what am I doing wrong? 555 00:28:12,760 --> 00:28:15,640 Speaker 1: And a day would turn into a week, a week, two, 556 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:17,959 Speaker 1: a month, and all of a sudden I woke up 557 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 1: one morning, I looked in the mirror and I didn't 558 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 1: like the reflection I was allowing death to to find 559 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:27,919 Speaker 1: who I was. So I went to my roommate with 560 00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:30,359 Speaker 1: the Jets, Kenny Schroy, and I said, Kenny, you. 561 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:30,880 Speaker 2: Know what I think. 562 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 1: I'm going to start a foundation. Started a foundation for 563 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 1: termally ill children. And then I met with a guy 564 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 1: by the name of Bill Gibney. He was a former marine. 565 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:42,680 Speaker 1: He said, I'll help you, but it's not a one 566 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:44,680 Speaker 1: and done and I said, what do you mean a 567 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: one and done? He goes, You're going to continue to 568 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:52,400 Speaker 1: do this throughout you know, your playing days, and then 569 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 1: when you're done playing, I would hope that you're going 570 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:57,200 Speaker 1: to continue. And I said yeah, So first thing you 571 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,200 Speaker 1: have to do is get licensed as a five o' 572 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: one nonprofit. 573 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 2: I didn't have any money. 574 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 1: So I decided to talk to my wife. I said, 575 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,400 Speaker 1: you know what, all the speaking engagements I'm going to do, 576 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 1: I'm going to donate the money back and I would 577 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 1: be up there and we'd be brought to tears talking 578 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:19,440 Speaker 1: about that week. And then I said, you know what, 579 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 1: I want to start a foundation for terminally ill children. 580 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:25,360 Speaker 1: I want to give them their greatest wish in life. 581 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: I want to take their greatest wish and make it reality. 582 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 1: I want to make these kids feel important, even if 583 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: it's just for a day. I said, because I had 584 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 1: that feeling every time I ran out on a field 585 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:40,640 Speaker 1: in Alabama, every time I ran out on the field 586 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 1: with the Jets. So I would tell the people, I 587 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:48,520 Speaker 1: need your help, I need your help. I need you 588 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:51,600 Speaker 1: to accept my mission as your mission, and let's do 589 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:54,720 Speaker 1: it together. And I would walk out and somebody would 590 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 1: shake your hand and you'd feel that little talk and 591 00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 1: they go. 592 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:00,240 Speaker 2: I hope this helps. 593 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 1: Pretty soon I had enough money for my first wish. 594 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,400 Speaker 1: A seventeen year old boy named Steve and Stephen had 595 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 1: liphomia and he was so strong. We had a press conference. 596 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:15,920 Speaker 1: Mister Hess who owned the Jets, my teammates, we were 597 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 1: there for the press conference, and unfortunately Steven passed away before. 598 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 2: We could grant the wish. 599 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 1: But now we were out there in the eyes of 600 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 1: the public. So fast forward. Here it is forty three 601 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: years later. We're now in fourteen states and we've raised 602 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:38,880 Speaker 1: over forty four million dollars and we've helped over eighty 603 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 1: six hundred families, which tells you there's a lot of 604 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:46,080 Speaker 1: kids out there that need our help. And the one 605 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:49,360 Speaker 1: thing that I've learned from these kids is you know, 606 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 1: you don't have to fear dying if you believe in 607 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:56,160 Speaker 1: God and you have faith, when you do die, you're 608 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:57,880 Speaker 1: going to be rewarded. You're going to get to see 609 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:02,960 Speaker 1: everything that you believed in. So it's been special. These 610 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:09,160 Speaker 1: kids know that they're here for a reason, and for 611 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:13,320 Speaker 1: some reason because maybe not they're not normal, maybe they're 612 00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 1: in a wheelchair. People have a tendency not even to 613 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:19,720 Speaker 1: listen to them, to walk right by them. But they 614 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 1: have a story and they wanted it to be heard. 615 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:27,800 Speaker 1: They wanted to be told, so we're they allow the 616 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 1: foundation to do that. So I'm proud of of. 617 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:38,120 Speaker 2: The work everybody has accomplished. 618 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:42,440 Speaker 1: It's not money may be on it, but there's hundreds, 619 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:47,520 Speaker 1: hundreds of people that have played their role, either been 620 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:52,800 Speaker 1: a donor either been a volunteer. And I tell people, 621 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:55,120 Speaker 1: if you don't have money, you don't have time, give 622 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:58,080 Speaker 1: us your thoughts and prayers. God's going to answer your 623 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:00,640 Speaker 1: prayer one day and give us back one that we 624 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:03,960 Speaker 1: thought he should take, and that's going to be a 625 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 1: living example of proof that the work you're doing it 626 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:08,640 Speaker 1: has meaning. 627 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:14,080 Speaker 3: So if somebody wanted to donate or volunteer, how could 628 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:14,560 Speaker 3: they go about it? 629 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:18,040 Speaker 1: They just go to the Martin Llonsfoundation dot org and 630 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:22,040 Speaker 1: you can go there. There's a number you can call 631 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:24,680 Speaker 1: into the foundation. I have a staff of four people. 632 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:29,880 Speaker 1: For I would say the first twenty five years, I 633 00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:33,680 Speaker 1: didn't have a single paid employee. Everything was done by 634 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:37,520 Speaker 1: a volunteer. And then all of a sudden, I said 635 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,040 Speaker 1: to the board, I said, you know what I believe 636 00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:43,120 Speaker 1: in the theory, if you want to make money, you 637 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:45,959 Speaker 1: got to spend money. And I said, I think we 638 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:48,880 Speaker 1: can do more for the kids that we want to 639 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:52,280 Speaker 1: help if I get an executive director. So I hired 640 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:56,480 Speaker 1: an executive director. Then I hired a wish coordinator, then 641 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: I hired an event coordinator. 642 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 2: And with all those salaries that. 643 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 1: We have, we're still able to get back eighty four 644 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 1: cents out of every dollar to the kids. So I'm 645 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:11,200 Speaker 1: taking sixteen cents and building the staff. 646 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:12,280 Speaker 2: Yeah. 647 00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 4: Well, first of all, it's great, and I can already 648 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 4: tell how much that truly means to you, and how 649 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:20,520 Speaker 4: like I said yesterday, Peanut, you liked it so much. 650 00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 4: I'll say it again, once you're affected by something, you'll 651 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:27,360 Speaker 4: become an advocate for it. And so you that's six days 652 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:30,240 Speaker 4: in your life in nineteen eighty two changed your life 653 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 4: and you created this foundation. And then two short years 654 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 4: later you were recognized as the Man of the Year 655 00:33:36,120 --> 00:33:38,160 Speaker 4: and now it is called the Walter Payton Man of 656 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:41,400 Speaker 4: the Year. How much pride do you take and that 657 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:44,000 Speaker 4: being recognized is that one of the first ones to 658 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:46,800 Speaker 4: get it, and what that award truly means and that 659 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:49,600 Speaker 4: you were actually recognized, but we're actually getting to tell 660 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:51,360 Speaker 4: the story of all these young people that you've got 661 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:51,520 Speaker 4: to he. 662 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:54,120 Speaker 1: Well, you know what, Romanete, I think when I accept 663 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:57,040 Speaker 1: the award back then, and I'll say it again, it 664 00:33:57,120 --> 00:34:01,600 Speaker 1: might have had my name on it, but really it 665 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:04,720 Speaker 1: was an award that was given to all the kids 666 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:08,680 Speaker 1: from the foundation. I just happened to accept it on 667 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:11,360 Speaker 1: behalf of them and all the volunteers. And that's the 668 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:14,640 Speaker 1: way I've always looked at it, whether it has my 669 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:18,640 Speaker 1: name on it or the foundation name. Those kids were 670 00:34:18,680 --> 00:34:23,759 Speaker 1: special and I just happened to be the one representing them, 671 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:28,160 Speaker 1: so to be you know, Walter Payton meant so much 672 00:34:28,239 --> 00:34:31,520 Speaker 1: to the NFL, but he meant so much into the community. 673 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:34,640 Speaker 1: When I received the award, it was the Miller Lte 674 00:34:34,760 --> 00:34:39,560 Speaker 1: Man of the Year. Yeah, you know, there wasn't many 675 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:41,880 Speaker 1: of us that got it from Miller Lyte. And you know, 676 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 1: there was a few fringes that went with Miller like 677 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:47,680 Speaker 1: to know. I got to go to quite a few 678 00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:50,640 Speaker 1: of their events, and you know, you could pull into 679 00:34:50,680 --> 00:34:53,759 Speaker 1: any distributorship and you get fifty cases of beer and 680 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:56,800 Speaker 1: you have yourself a nice party. But it was nice 681 00:34:56,840 --> 00:35:01,200 Speaker 1: that it was nice that it was transferred over to 682 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:05,759 Speaker 1: recognize somebody that meant so much to the NFL, not 683 00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:08,280 Speaker 1: just as a Hall of Famer, but as an individual 684 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:11,080 Speaker 1: that took time to make sure he gave back. 685 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:11,719 Speaker 2: To the community. 686 00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:14,680 Speaker 1: So as soon as they switched it over, I called 687 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:16,840 Speaker 1: the NFL and I said, you know what, Mike Plaque 688 00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:20,439 Speaker 1: says Miller Lyte. We peeled it off and we put 689 00:35:20,480 --> 00:35:21,560 Speaker 1: Walter Payton on there. 690 00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:23,960 Speaker 2: That's so good. Yeah, I like that. I like that. 691 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:26,880 Speaker 3: So we've asked this question to numerous guests on the 692 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:31,160 Speaker 3: podcast Mount Rushmore. If you had your own personal Mount 693 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 3: Rushmore of people of influenced guidance and you get to 694 00:35:36,560 --> 00:35:38,960 Speaker 3: pick four who were those four people. 695 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:44,040 Speaker 1: Being well, first, you you know, you pick pick God, 696 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:47,200 Speaker 1: you know, because God blessed us all with the ability 697 00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:50,120 Speaker 1: to play the game of football, so the Good Lord 698 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:54,719 Speaker 1: would be up there first. I think coach Bryant would 699 00:35:54,760 --> 00:36:01,560 Speaker 1: be up there because he influenced me. And then my parents, Oh, 700 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:19,000 Speaker 1: they really sacrificed. Coming from a family of seven kids, 701 00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:35,480 Speaker 1: five boys h two girls. They believed in religion and education, athletics. 702 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:46,040 Speaker 2: I don't think one or the other or both ever 703 00:36:46,120 --> 00:36:47,040 Speaker 2: missed the game. 704 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:53,800 Speaker 1: With with with all of us playing, and I remember 705 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:56,439 Speaker 1: going and watching my older brother, who was. 706 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:02,480 Speaker 2: An outstanding bath small player, went to West Point. 707 00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:15,960 Speaker 1: I was six years younger than him. 708 00:37:11,480 --> 00:37:20,759 Speaker 2: And I said, boy, he's pretty good. I want to 709 00:37:22,440 --> 00:37:23,680 Speaker 2: I want to be like him. 710 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:30,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, if I'm like him, I'm going to be good. 711 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:34,600 Speaker 1: But if I'm better than him, I'm going to be recognized. 712 00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:38,920 Speaker 1: And then my other brother, Dan played the basketball at 713 00:37:38,960 --> 00:37:42,040 Speaker 1: boy Olli, but he was a football player. He was 714 00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:46,080 Speaker 1: two years in front of me. And as going to 715 00:37:46,120 --> 00:37:48,759 Speaker 1: a small Catholic school, you know, one a you got 716 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:53,480 Speaker 1: maybe twenty eight thirty players, and you know, so they 717 00:37:53,520 --> 00:37:55,640 Speaker 1: would always move some of the freshmen up to the 718 00:37:55,719 --> 00:37:59,720 Speaker 1: varsity just during practice, so we would get our ass kicked. 719 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:03,239 Speaker 2: And my brother was one of those bodies. They needed 720 00:38:03,239 --> 00:38:04,040 Speaker 2: more bodies. 721 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:06,120 Speaker 1: They needed more bodies, and my brother was one of 722 00:38:06,160 --> 00:38:10,680 Speaker 1: the guys up there. So you know, I didn't love football. 723 00:38:10,760 --> 00:38:13,480 Speaker 1: I didn't have the passion for it. I didn't understand 724 00:38:13,480 --> 00:38:16,000 Speaker 1: the coaches that. You know what, We had a coach 725 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:18,360 Speaker 1: by named Bill Kleier, and we used to run that 726 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:24,839 Speaker 1: Hamburger drill. And that's when you have two dummies laying 727 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:28,760 Speaker 1: on the ground, you have a linebacker, the quarterback hands 728 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:30,600 Speaker 1: you the ball. You got to run it between the 729 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:33,840 Speaker 1: two dummies. But this guy's coming straight at you, and 730 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:36,320 Speaker 1: he knows exactly he knows it, and you got to 731 00:38:36,320 --> 00:38:40,200 Speaker 1: stay inside the dummy. Coach Clier grabbed me by the 732 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:43,200 Speaker 1: face mask, and you know, he was said, you know, 733 00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:46,080 Speaker 1: there's nobody out here that can tackle you. I ran 734 00:38:46,120 --> 00:38:50,000 Speaker 1: on the ball in there, run it again, got smacked 735 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:53,360 Speaker 1: the third time, Run it again, and he kept grabbing 736 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:55,480 Speaker 1: me by the face mask. He says, you know what, 737 00:38:55,560 --> 00:38:59,080 Speaker 1: you got to remember, there's nobody that can tackle you. Well, 738 00:38:59,120 --> 00:39:01,560 Speaker 1: finally you get somebody and you run him over and 739 00:39:01,560 --> 00:39:03,480 Speaker 1: he grabbed you by the face of backs again. And 740 00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:05,520 Speaker 1: he goes, that's the way you got to think. Nobody 741 00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:08,920 Speaker 1: can run you, nobody can tackle you. Well, next morning, 742 00:39:08,960 --> 00:39:10,880 Speaker 1: my brother Dan got up and he says, come on, 743 00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:13,719 Speaker 1: we got to go to practice. I said, man, I quit. 744 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:16,680 Speaker 1: He said, what do you mean you quit? I said, 745 00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:19,719 Speaker 1: Coach Clire, yes, hey, didn't even realize that. The first 746 00:39:19,760 --> 00:39:22,680 Speaker 1: three guys tackled me. And he kept telling me you can't. 747 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:26,560 Speaker 1: Nobody out here can tacky. I don't need this. And 748 00:39:26,640 --> 00:39:29,879 Speaker 1: my brother Dan says, you know what, if you quit now, 749 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:32,960 Speaker 1: you'll continue to quit the rest of your life. Now 750 00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:35,440 Speaker 1: get your ass out of bed. We're going to practice. 751 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:39,200 Speaker 1: And he was right, and Coach Clier was right too, 752 00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:41,359 Speaker 1: because as a running back you got to have that 753 00:39:41,400 --> 00:39:47,200 Speaker 1: mentality nobody can tackle you. And then my sophomore year, 754 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:50,319 Speaker 1: I had a coach named George O'Brien and he took 755 00:39:50,360 --> 00:39:54,960 Speaker 1: an interest in sending game films out to all the 756 00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:58,359 Speaker 1: colleges and said, hey, this kid can play. He saw 757 00:39:58,480 --> 00:40:01,319 Speaker 1: more in me than I saw him. I So my 758 00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:04,719 Speaker 1: junior year, you know, there was some recruits and you 759 00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:07,680 Speaker 1: talk about a small Catholic school and going, hey, you 760 00:40:07,719 --> 00:40:11,839 Speaker 1: know what, the coach from Florida State from Florida. Doug 761 00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:15,560 Speaker 1: Dickey is in the stand today watching, you know, Marty Lyons, 762 00:40:15,640 --> 00:40:18,360 Speaker 1: you know. And I didn't look at myself as somebody special. 763 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:19,480 Speaker 2: I could play. 764 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:23,480 Speaker 1: And then my senior year I started getting recruited and 765 00:40:23,600 --> 00:40:26,080 Speaker 1: went to a lot of the SEC schools, and a 766 00:40:26,120 --> 00:40:27,759 Speaker 1: lot of these schools are saying, hey, you know what, 767 00:40:27,880 --> 00:40:31,960 Speaker 1: you come here, you can start Wait a minute, there's 768 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:34,680 Speaker 1: only thirty guys on my team. We're one A and 769 00:40:34,719 --> 00:40:37,600 Speaker 1: you're telling me I can start here at Tennessee. I 770 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:41,000 Speaker 1: can start here at Florida. And then I went to 771 00:40:41,120 --> 00:40:45,360 Speaker 1: Alabama and I sat down with coach Bryant. Coach Bryant 772 00:40:45,400 --> 00:40:48,319 Speaker 1: was pretty honest. He said, son, he goes, we want 773 00:40:48,360 --> 00:40:51,480 Speaker 1: to give you a scholarship. He goes, I can't make 774 00:40:51,719 --> 00:40:54,560 Speaker 1: any promises, but if you're good enough to play, the 775 00:40:54,680 --> 00:40:58,520 Speaker 1: opportunity will be here. And that's why I chose Alabama 776 00:40:59,360 --> 00:41:02,360 Speaker 1: because all I wanted to do is have the opportunity. 777 00:41:02,960 --> 00:41:04,360 Speaker 2: And then as. 778 00:41:04,160 --> 00:41:06,800 Speaker 1: You mature and you go through life, you realize that 779 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:09,560 Speaker 1: that's what life is about, opportunities and choices. 780 00:41:10,680 --> 00:41:12,360 Speaker 2: Some of us are going to make good choices. 781 00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:14,319 Speaker 1: Some of us are going to make choices that aren't 782 00:41:14,360 --> 00:41:17,480 Speaker 1: going to be beneficial, but we learn from them, and 783 00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:20,640 Speaker 1: we have to keep reiterating to our children and the 784 00:41:20,680 --> 00:41:24,480 Speaker 1: people that we talk to, is have enough faith in 785 00:41:24,520 --> 00:41:29,680 Speaker 1: yourself that with every opportunity that presents itself, you're willing 786 00:41:29,719 --> 00:41:32,160 Speaker 1: to knock on that door. You don't have to stay 787 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:36,319 Speaker 1: there long, but don't be afraid of opportunities. If you 788 00:41:36,440 --> 00:41:39,640 Speaker 1: have enough confidence in yourself and you believe in yourself. 789 00:41:41,480 --> 00:41:44,959 Speaker 1: If it doesn't work out, pick yourself up try again. Now, 790 00:41:45,880 --> 00:41:49,480 Speaker 1: the world we live in, it's not a perfect world. 791 00:41:49,560 --> 00:41:52,200 Speaker 2: We all know where the mistakes are made. 792 00:41:52,520 --> 00:41:56,320 Speaker 1: But we have to have enough confidence in ourselves to 793 00:41:56,440 --> 00:42:00,319 Speaker 1: tell the youth of today, which is the future of tommorrow, 794 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:04,399 Speaker 1: to have an opinion, to be able to speak up, 795 00:42:05,719 --> 00:42:09,040 Speaker 1: to be respectful to those that don't agree with your opinion, 796 00:42:09,520 --> 00:42:13,840 Speaker 1: but don't let their opinion change who you are. Be yourself, 797 00:42:14,320 --> 00:42:20,320 Speaker 1: have confidence in yourself. And I enjoy talking and giving 798 00:42:20,360 --> 00:42:26,120 Speaker 1: that message to the kids. But the Mount Rushmore or 799 00:42:26,160 --> 00:42:32,240 Speaker 1: the four people that gave me that ability, that pushed me, yeah, 800 00:42:33,040 --> 00:42:37,240 Speaker 1: that picked me up, that are still with me today. 801 00:42:37,800 --> 00:42:42,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, I appreciate that. We're going to take a short 802 00:42:42,160 --> 00:42:45,800 Speaker 3: break and we'll be right back. I appreciate you, but 803 00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:47,919 Speaker 3: we appreciate you being here. 804 00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:51,000 Speaker 2: It's been my pleasure awesome. 805 00:42:51,040 --> 00:42:55,799 Speaker 4: You have exceeded my expectations. I've already heard great things 806 00:42:55,800 --> 00:42:59,040 Speaker 4: about you in Tuscalosa as a former Alabama great and 807 00:42:59,160 --> 00:43:02,000 Speaker 4: legend yourself. And I know you just stayed up in 808 00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:04,080 Speaker 4: New York. We never got to get you back down South. 809 00:43:04,160 --> 00:43:08,640 Speaker 4: But you are thoroughly appreciated. Peena and I, like we said, 810 00:43:08,640 --> 00:43:12,399 Speaker 4: we really appreciated your amazing storyteller. And we could set 811 00:43:12,480 --> 00:43:13,879 Speaker 4: up here and have lunch and listen to you tell 812 00:43:14,040 --> 00:43:15,839 Speaker 4: just talk all day long because I'm all day long 813 00:43:15,880 --> 00:43:19,560 Speaker 4: stories and you tell them so passionately and beautifully as well. 814 00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:24,120 Speaker 4: And we appreciate your emotions, your candidness, your honesty, because 815 00:43:24,160 --> 00:43:27,319 Speaker 4: this is why we do this podcast. It's for you know, 816 00:43:27,360 --> 00:43:29,680 Speaker 4: for others to actually get to know who Marty Lyons is. 817 00:43:29,680 --> 00:43:32,120 Speaker 4: We only heard about you a name and in spirit 818 00:43:32,200 --> 00:43:34,560 Speaker 4: and get to hear your stories. It's been great to 819 00:43:34,640 --> 00:43:35,560 Speaker 4: listen to your journey. 820 00:43:35,880 --> 00:43:41,480 Speaker 1: Well, I really appreciate you allowing me this platform. And 821 00:43:41,680 --> 00:43:45,920 Speaker 1: you know, the man of the Year in nineteen eighty four. 822 00:43:46,760 --> 00:43:50,920 Speaker 1: The further you got away from nineteen eighty four, the 823 00:43:50,960 --> 00:43:54,359 Speaker 1: more it met and for the NFL and and Kwan 824 00:43:54,480 --> 00:43:58,440 Speaker 1: Bolden to invite us back and give us that moment 825 00:43:58,680 --> 00:44:04,880 Speaker 1: again bring the awareness back to the surface that you know, 826 00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:09,400 Speaker 1: we're very blessed, we're very fortunate, and the NFL is 827 00:44:09,440 --> 00:44:13,800 Speaker 1: a brotherhood. It is, and that the brotherhood of helping 828 00:44:13,840 --> 00:44:18,480 Speaker 1: one another and caring about one another is really what 829 00:44:18,560 --> 00:44:20,879 Speaker 1: life's about. We're all here to play the game of life. 830 00:44:20,880 --> 00:44:23,480 Speaker 1: We're not here to just play football. And I think 831 00:44:23,520 --> 00:44:27,600 Speaker 1: that the people that the football players that can't make 832 00:44:27,640 --> 00:44:32,560 Speaker 1: that transition from being a football player back into life, 833 00:44:33,200 --> 00:44:38,400 Speaker 1: those are the ones that struggle because they're caught in 834 00:44:38,560 --> 00:44:43,520 Speaker 1: that you know, time zone of I'm a football player. Well, yeah, 835 00:44:43,600 --> 00:44:47,480 Speaker 1: you're a football player, but let me just remind you 836 00:44:47,480 --> 00:44:51,360 Speaker 1: you were a football player. You haven't played. I haven't 837 00:44:51,400 --> 00:44:55,880 Speaker 1: played or put on a uniform since nineteen ninety so 838 00:44:55,960 --> 00:45:00,200 Speaker 1: you're talking about, you know, thirty five years ago. But 839 00:45:00,680 --> 00:45:03,520 Speaker 1: the day I stopped playing football was the day that 840 00:45:03,600 --> 00:45:08,920 Speaker 1: life really started and you had credibility behind you. 841 00:45:09,840 --> 00:45:12,680 Speaker 2: And it's been a special moment. 842 00:45:12,800 --> 00:45:17,319 Speaker 1: And again coming back to this Super Bowl and an 843 00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:21,120 Speaker 1: Kwon raising the awareness of the foundation and all the 844 00:45:21,160 --> 00:45:25,120 Speaker 1: other people, all the other players that he recognized. I 845 00:45:25,160 --> 00:45:30,120 Speaker 1: think it speaks volume on who he is, and I 846 00:45:30,160 --> 00:45:33,640 Speaker 1: think it speaks volume on what the NFL wants their 847 00:45:33,719 --> 00:45:39,560 Speaker 1: players to represent and what their players who they are, 848 00:45:40,239 --> 00:45:41,799 Speaker 1: and the difference that they can make. 849 00:45:42,200 --> 00:45:43,880 Speaker 2: We can all make a difference. All you have to 850 00:45:43,880 --> 00:45:46,759 Speaker 2: do is care, yes, sir, yes, sir. So I'll end 851 00:45:46,800 --> 00:46:00,200 Speaker 2: on that. Thank you, appreciate you, said Martin, but