1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: I'm cooy Wire, former Buffalo Bill and Atlanta Falcon, current 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: CNN anchor in correspondent, and you're watching NFL Players Second 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: Acts Podcast. 4 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 2: Thank you for tuning into the NFL Players Second Acts Podcast. 5 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 2: I'm Peanut Tillman and this is my guy, Roman Harper. 6 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:22,439 Speaker 2: What stuff? How you feeling? Are you gonna bring the 7 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 2: energy today? Well? 8 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:25,479 Speaker 3: I feel all right because you feel your incumbent with 9 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 3: a weird nickname though, that was awesome. But I will 10 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 3: first and foremost like to thank iHeartRadio for allowing us 11 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 3: to be in their studios today right here in midtown Atlanta. 12 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 3: Believe is the name of the location, or if you 13 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 3: want to be very fancy, the upper west side of Atlanta. 14 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 3: So it sound right. It doesn't even sound right, Peter, 15 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 3: it doesn't even sound right. You know, we fancy today, 16 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 3: So here we go. Tell us about our next guest. 17 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 2: Our next guest is a ten years that in the 18 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 2: NFL for the Bills and the Falcons, and he was 19 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 2: team captain for both of those teams. He is a 20 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 2: CNN correspondent, he is a play by play by play 21 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 2: caller for the Falcons, and he's an author. Ladies and 22 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:09,919 Speaker 2: Gentleman please welcome to the pod. Corey wire Yay, happy 23 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:10,320 Speaker 2: to be here. 24 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:14,759 Speaker 1: Fellows appreciated the blessing us. Man, it is my pleasure. 25 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 1: I have to tell you. You know, we didn't chat 26 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: before this, but I've been watching you guys the podcast 27 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: and it is so powerful. I was brought to tears 28 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: of the episode with John Abraham, former teammate of Mind. 29 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 2: Yeah. 30 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 1: I encourage everyone out there if you haven't seen it, 31 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: watched the episode with John Abraham. 32 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 2: You know that's a. 33 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: Guy who I did not know all he was going 34 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:36,479 Speaker 1: through and that was my teammate. Yeah, and I wish 35 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 1: I would have known I could talk to him more, 36 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: you know, as one of the team captains, that's what 37 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: you take pride in doing. But for him to be 38 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: so open with you all, and that's a big credit 39 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: to you all for the conversation you allowed him to 40 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: have and share with the world. As you mentioned, it's 41 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: going to impact the lives of so many people, not 42 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: just former football players, people around the world who are 43 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 1: going through some troubles and find a way to get through. 44 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: Here in his story, man, I was so power So 45 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: I commend you all, yeah, for what you're doing, the 46 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: work you're doing the time you put in to help 47 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 1: us share our stories and hopes that it can help 48 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: someone else. 49 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 2: It's good stuff. I love that, man. I appreciate that. 50 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 3: First and foremost, I'll received that we're starting off with 51 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 3: good vibes already. But the fact is, like, when you 52 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 3: have people like a John Abraham Good up there and 53 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 3: talk about those stories, and people like him that are 54 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 3: so talented, so good that we don't know that are 55 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 3: really struggling, I'm like, you become a light and you 56 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 3: shine so bright that it allows others to be seen 57 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:31,959 Speaker 3: that are up under you that can't be seen or 58 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 3: don't have the voice or the platform to talk about 59 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 3: these things because they truly feel like nobody will hear them. 60 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: And I think it's so much more powerful when it 61 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,959 Speaker 1: comes from former NFL players who a lot of people 62 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: will look at it and think they're superhuman, they're invincible. 63 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 1: And when they hear that even a John Abraham, a 64 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 1: Roman Harper, Charles Tillman goes through some things and like 65 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 1: life is tough, even they go through it and can 66 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:54,679 Speaker 1: make it through that, maybe I can too, right, Yeah, 67 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: it makes you feel that comfort so well. 68 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 3: First and foremost, you led Stanford in rushing one year 69 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 3: you let them tackles, and. 70 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 2: How do you do that? Like, how does were there 71 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 2: were there no athletes or I think we had? How 72 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 2: did that one draft picks? 73 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:14,399 Speaker 1: My senior year, we Tyrone willing Ham was our head coach. Yeah, 74 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: one of uh with the icons of my life as 75 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:21,959 Speaker 1: far as coaching and leadership, and my freshman year led 76 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: the team in rushing. But like six six games in, 77 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: I break my thumb, I have two pins put in. 78 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: That next year we had two running backs come in freshman, 79 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: Kerry Carter and Brian Allen, and they too would one 80 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: day go on to play in the NFL. So you 81 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: had three future NFL players of your team playing the 82 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: same position. So that next year we're each playing a 83 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: third of the time. You can't have three of your 84 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: best players like rotating in a third of the time. 85 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: So that next year, coach Willingham said, coy, how would 86 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: you like play defense? 87 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 2: One of you has to do it? 88 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: We think you do, yes, coach, yes, coach, Like did 89 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: I want to know, like was my dream to be 90 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: a running back in the NFL? 91 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 2: Yes? 92 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: But that yes coach mentality just opened so many doors 93 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: for me. I went in and and just you know, 94 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: went went all out. Being a running back helped me 95 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: be I was a linebacker, you know at this size, 96 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: but I thought like a running back. So that helped 97 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: me a lot of holes. So yeah, I spent my 98 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 1: last two years as a linebacker. There, got drafted as 99 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 1: a safety to Buffalo, never played safe to port and 100 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 1: never had the back pedal in my life. And there 101 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 1: I was trying to have to cover Jerry Rice and 102 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: Randy Mosson as a rookie. 103 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 2: As a young, dumb rookie, right, So. 104 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: But it was just that, you know, they draft me, 105 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: you know, won't play defensive back, yes, coach, And so 106 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: it's just I just kind of ride the wave. 107 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 2: Had you ever played defense before or was it always 108 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 2: just offense? Like growing up it was I was always 109 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 2: running back in high school. I did play defense, but 110 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 2: it was never a focus of mine. 111 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: I mean I I mean, yeah, yeah, I was like 112 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 1: an edge guy. I literally was just an edge guy. 113 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: But I would carry the ball like thirty forty times 114 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 1: a game. 115 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,919 Speaker 2: But to me, though, you're that much better than everybody 116 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 2: else because you took a you went and got drafted 117 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 2: and played a position that you really didn't know how 118 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,559 Speaker 2: to play and you made it work and you played 119 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 2: ten years like that. That's extremely impressive. Yep. 120 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: I'll use a quote that I will never forget. When 121 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: I was at Stanford and Dusty Baker, the legendary baseball 122 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:21,919 Speaker 1: manager and player, Tyron williham our coach, brought him in 123 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:23,359 Speaker 1: to speak to us one day out there in the 124 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 1: Bay Area team meeting, and he says, man, we've accomplished 125 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 1: nothing in and of ourselves. If we think we have, 126 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: we are foolish. We're nothing more than a conduit of 127 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: knowledge and information. And I'll never forget that, because you know, 128 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 1: every point in my life, I've always had people help 129 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 1: me achieve things that I could have never done on 130 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: my own. So when I got drafted to the NFL 131 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: to play defensive back again, never had to backpedal in 132 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: a game in my life. 133 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 2: I had coach. 134 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: Steve Jackson was my defensive backs coach and he's now 135 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,280 Speaker 1: with the Tennessee Titan, still coaching. I think he should 136 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: be a coordinator someday. He's an incredible genie. He was 137 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: a hell of a player, played nine years in the 138 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: league as a small defensive back, tough as nails. He 139 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,280 Speaker 1: would spend so much time. You know, coaches spend a 140 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: lot of time already. He would spend extra like late 141 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: into the night, early before everyone got there, watching film 142 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: with me, getting me caught up to speed of how 143 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: to be a defensive back in the NFL. I had 144 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 1: London Fletcher, who should be in the Hall of Fame. 145 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,840 Speaker 1: And when that first game, well so my fifth year 146 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: and I had to switch back to linebacker because we 147 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 1: had some injuries, like Coy. If something happens to Angelo Crowell, man, 148 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: you're gonna have to go in. 149 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 2: Go. 150 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 1: This is a Thursday, go in the linebacker meeting room. 151 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: And so there were playing the Chargers. Sure enough, first series, 152 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: crow I think had like a fracture in his leg 153 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 1: that they didn't even really know. 154 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 2: So they're like, why are you in? 155 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: I go in the game now at linebacker for the 156 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: first time in the NFL, and London Fletcher's beside me, 157 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 1: and before every play he's like, cooy, koy, Coy, come come, 158 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: come this way. It's gonna be power. Oh this way, 159 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 1: sure enough, power this way. 160 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 2: Boom. 161 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: There I am tackling future Hall of Fame really Danian 162 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: Tomlinson like, and then London Fletcher like and Takio Spikes 163 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: and having those guys beside me and Troy Vincent's behind me, 164 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 1: and the defensive backfield I Lawyer Maloy that I played 165 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: their safety with for a while, like Pierson prelu Isael Reese. 166 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 2: These guys helped. 167 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: Me more than they ever know, Like I was just 168 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: watching and listening and observing like some of these incredible players. 169 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: And so I can't really take credit because without them 170 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 1: I would have never done and their willingness to help, 171 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 1: I would have never been able to do what I did. 172 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 2: What was your first welcome to the NFL moment? 173 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: Well, the first walk in the NFL moment was when 174 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: I I had never seen an NFL game in person, 175 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: and so there I was with the Buffalo Bills and 176 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: running through that tunnel on game day and man, tears 177 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: were just blowing down. 178 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 2: I'm like, how am I gonna play this game? Right now? 179 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: I'm crying like a baby right now. So that was 180 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: one of them. Another one there in Buffalo when you 181 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: know we're in a huddle, it's a big third down 182 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: and big defensive tackle Pat Williams. 183 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, big guy, some. 184 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:02,559 Speaker 1: Veteran, and I'm in the huddle. I'm like, come on, boys, 185 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: this third down, let's go do this. Man shut the 186 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 1: hell up. And I'm like, Okay, this is a rookie, right, 187 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: this is a rookie. But that kind of put me 188 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: in my place a little bit. 189 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 2: But you were too excited. I was a little too. 190 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: Excited, jes Yeah. So those But then like on the field, 191 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: welcome to the NFL moment. We're playing against the Vikings 192 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: my rookie year, and Randy Moss was a receiver. I'm 193 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 1: playing deep a haf safety and he starts running down the 194 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:36,200 Speaker 1: sideline go route, staring me in the eye, puts his 195 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 1: hand up like the staring me in the eyes. Here 196 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: comes the ball, stirring up like the ball's coming. I 197 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: just come over and blast him. Ball wasn't even close yet. 198 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: You're not catching this ball on me, But just remember 199 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: seeing that eye contacted him, just striding out putting his 200 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 1: hand up. 201 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 2: I was like, yeah, I'm with the big boys. Now. 202 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 3: It's so funny, how like those moment butch you remember exactly, 203 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 3: like the little small details like this guy literally looked 204 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 3: at me. 205 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm like, I didn't throw his hand up like 206 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 2: throwing boys now. Yeah, we used to call that the 207 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 2: hot head Oh, that's funny the high end. He was 208 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 2: good with that. Where did your journey start? Like where 209 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 2: did the journalists come from? Like where did you want to? 210 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 2: Or why did you want to get into the media space? 211 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:24,839 Speaker 2: Like where did that come from? 212 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: I didn't know I wanted to when I first was 213 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: done playing, Like you have to be so locked in 214 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: to be an NFL player. 215 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 2: At least I did. I couldn't have. 216 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: They always did a good job of Like do some 217 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: internships think about life after football? I couldn't because if 218 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:39,199 Speaker 1: I did, I would lose my edge. 219 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:39,439 Speaker 2: Right. 220 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 1: I was never the biggest, fast, or stronger. I had 221 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 1: to be all in. And so when football was sitting 222 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 1: taken away from me, I was hurting, Like I I 223 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 1: I lost who I was. I was an empty shell 224 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: of myself because my entire life that's what I was, 225 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 1: That's who I was. And when I didn't have that 226 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:00,040 Speaker 1: to wake up to in the morning, it hurt. I 227 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: remember in the middle of the nights, I would wake 228 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: up my heart's racing, my arms are numb, and I'm like, 229 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: am I having. 230 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 2: Like a heart issue? 231 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,679 Speaker 1: A stroke? What's happening to me? And my wife's psychology major, 232 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: Thank goodness, she said, I think you're having panic attacks anxiety. 233 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: It's actually like me, what, No, Like I looked at 234 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 1: all the symptoms, like, yeah, I'm having anxiety attacks and 235 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 1: panic attacks like this up here was affecting all of this. 236 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,440 Speaker 1: And it's like, but I know, I have a degree 237 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: from Stanford. I could go back to school, I could 238 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: be a lawyer, I could go do whatever. There's so 239 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 1: many things I could do. But it's like, no one 240 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: ever asked you when you're growing up, what's the second 241 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 1: thing you want to be when you grow up? Like 242 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: we get to live our dream and so that's yeah. 243 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: So it wasn't until I said, you know what, I 244 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 1: just need something to do each and every day, something 245 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,320 Speaker 1: that is my new mission, right, And so I knew 246 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: I always wanted to like write a book to like 247 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 1: share some of the tips and tricks that helped me 248 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 1: overachieve in my life that maybe kids could take something from. 249 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: And so I started doing that. As soon as I 250 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 1: started doing that and have that new passion, that new mission, 251 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,080 Speaker 1: I've started to feel so much better. And it was 252 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 1: very cathartic to be able to do that. And with 253 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: the media, you know, as an NFL player, REP I 254 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: was often talking to the media. And at some point 255 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 1: about a year after I went through all that struggle 256 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 1: and that adversity mentally emotionally, a friend of mine said, hey, 257 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: you were always good talking to the media. 258 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 2: Maybe you should be the media. 259 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 1: You know, I can connect you with somebody to maybe 260 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: give you an opportunity. And then Pack twelve Networks gave 261 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,440 Speaker 1: me a shot. They let me call four games, Like 262 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 1: you've never done this before, We'll let you call four games. 263 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,319 Speaker 1: After that, they're like, well that was pretty good. You 264 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:41,199 Speaker 1: want to sit in a studio show the rest of 265 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: the time. And that's how it all happened. I mean 266 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 1: it was really like I didn't once I got into it, 267 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 1: and then that, like I said, that became my new game. 268 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: Then I really started to be passionate about it and 269 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: sharing stories and telling stories. 270 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 2: I can mean you for the game calling. 271 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 3: I called one game, like a couple of weeks ago, 272 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 3: he called me it was I bro was I was like, yeah, 273 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 3: I'm not, that's my thing. 274 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 2: That's not my thing. Like it's it's tough. 275 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: Three and a half hours of breaking news. You don't 276 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: know what the story is going to be. 277 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 2: Who's the story? And you talk about ten or fifteen 278 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 2: stegas and you stop and then. 279 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: It's a dance that you don't realize they make a dance. 280 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: I always say in the media, it's not easy to 281 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: make it look easy, and like the play by playing 282 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: the analysts and NFL game, they're like the epitome of 283 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 1: that where like. 284 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:28,199 Speaker 2: That ry though, yeah, yeah, you got you gotta have chemistry. 285 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 2: You have to study your stuff, know your stuff. 286 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 3: And you might have to be ready to like pivot 287 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 3: and not use any of it because correct you can 288 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 3: come in with this narrative of what this game is 289 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 3: going to be and the game rolls out completely different. 290 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 3: So everything you thought was going to happen, yeah it happens. 291 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 3: You got to be ready for that too. And so 292 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 3: that's what live football is when you're calling the game 293 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:49,959 Speaker 3: in a studio. 294 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 1: Man, you know, it's one of my favorite things to 295 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 1: do is call the Falcons preseason games. It's a blessing 296 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: to have that opportunity, but doing it for about six 297 00:12:57,120 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: years now and then the preseason is so much tougher 298 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: because the fosters are so much you know, and so 299 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,319 Speaker 1: my spotting board as they're called, we have our little 300 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 1: boxes with the player's name number and where they went 301 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,560 Speaker 1: to school, maybe some stats about them. It's like this 302 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: big at the end, though, I always say, you know, 303 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: like I'm going to do all the work and prepare 304 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 1: and be kind of ready, but like you said, you 305 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:17,320 Speaker 1: never know what the day is going to be like, 306 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: So when when it's game day, I just say, you 307 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 1: know what, I'm just gonna sit and watch as a 308 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 1: fan and like see what's happening and share that story 309 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,839 Speaker 1: in the moment, whatever it may be. And that always 310 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: helps me. I pretend like I'm talking ball with some friends, 311 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: like what I'm seeing and what I think is happening. 312 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 2: So but yeah, it's it's a beast. It is not 313 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 2: easy to make it look easy. Na. It was probably 314 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 2: my first one, and that was my first time ever 315 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,559 Speaker 2: doing it like live, Like I never practiced. They were 316 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 2: just like, hey, we want you to call this Bears 317 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 2: Jaguars game live go. I was like, okay, yes, coach, Yes, coach, yes, coach, 318 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 2: And probably my first and last. Like it's I'm a 319 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,439 Speaker 2: studio man all day. 320 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 3: So you mentioned about the panic attacks and all those 321 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 3: other things. What advice would you give to somebody that's 322 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,559 Speaker 3: maybe going through something where they don't know they had 323 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 3: anxiety for the first time. They've been really good at 324 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 3: all these things in life, and all of a sudden 325 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 3: they hit a wall and they're no longer being able 326 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 3: to do those same things, and they don't know what 327 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 3: that feeling is. What would you give them advice to 328 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 3: maybe help them get through that or see through it 329 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 3: the way you did, Maybe not in the same fashion. 330 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, but what was your advice? 331 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: The first thing is acceptance, Like be honest with yourself, 332 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 1: just like even though you thought you were invincible and 333 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: nothing like that, whatever happened to you? Just like, no, 334 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: this is the reality of my situation right now, I'm 335 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: hurting mentally, emotionally. 336 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 2: That's one. 337 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 1: The second thing is don't be scared to share that, right, 338 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: whether it's with your spouse, you another, your parents. So 339 00:14:56,400 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: friends be vulnerable, like it's okay, hey, to not be okay, 340 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: and you be shocked at like the amount of people 341 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: someone might say one thing that helps you put things 342 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 1: in their perspective, and they'll also help remind you that 343 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: maybe it's not as bad as you think it is. 344 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: And because sometimes up here we are affected by what 345 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: we think others are thinking and and so yeah, so 346 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: those are my two things. Just acceptance and then be 347 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: vulnerable and share because because our human spirit, like I 348 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: think human nature is to help others, is the one 349 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: to be there for people, and your pain and your 350 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: struggles might be exactly what someone else needs. They need 351 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: someone to help, and you're going to impact their life 352 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: in a positive way. You think you're going to be 353 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: a burden, but you're not. So I think as football 354 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: players mentally physically tough, that's where we're born, bred, raised, trained, 355 00:15:53,160 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: right invincible, cutthroat mentality, invincible. So it's understanding that that 356 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 1: former NFL players would feel that way. 357 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 2: But once the. 358 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: Game is over, I think you do away with that 359 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: life and now you just realize I am human because 360 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 1: I think we fool ourselves and think we are. We 361 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: get that Superman complex and so, but we're not. 362 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 2: But that's the cliche part about it, though, is like 363 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 2: you you're the tough guy and then all of a 364 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 2: sudden you have to be reminded or you have to 365 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 2: you have to make that switch. And that's to me, 366 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 2: I think that's probably the hard part, is just trying 367 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 2: to make that switch to say, all right, well maybe 368 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 2: I can be vulnerable, maybe I can share this with 369 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 2: someone or say that I'm not okay today mentally, I'm 370 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 2: in a bad place, i feel depressed, or I'm whatever. 371 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 2: But I think it's it's allowing that person to make 372 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 2: that shift. And we said it yesterday we're talking a 373 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 2: couple of other people. It was like, we got to 374 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 2: give ourselves grace. You definitely got to give ourselves grace. 375 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 2: And that's something that I think we as football players, 376 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 2: we don't we don't do once we retire. We still 377 00:16:58,040 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 2: want to have that that mentality. And when you go, 378 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 2: when you're going through it, you don't realize you're going 379 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 2: through it because it's probably something it's a new experience, 380 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,639 Speaker 2: it's a new emotion, it's a new feeling that you 381 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:14,920 Speaker 2: haven't quite felt, and you don't know how to navigate 382 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 2: through these waters. 383 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,200 Speaker 1: Yep, you know, yeah, I think you know, my wife 384 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 1: taught me really how to open up because in early 385 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: in our relationship and even sometimes to this day, like 386 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 1: I try not to burden her with my burdens, like 387 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 1: I feel like i'm you know, misery doesn't love. 388 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 2: You know, company, right like they say it does. 389 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: Your company doesn't love your misery, right, So yeah, So 390 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 1: that's the way I always felt and so like and 391 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 1: I do want her to think I'm strong in that 392 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: and I'm tough. And she said, Queen, you stop doing that, 393 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 1: like I'm your teammate, like I'm here to help you. 394 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: I don't think less of you if you're feeling down 395 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 1: or you're feeling low, or you can't figure something out 396 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: or this that the other thing. So that's where it 397 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 1: all started for me. I was unfortunate that my wife 398 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: Claire has really helped me be that way. And then 399 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 1: you just realized that like that, that is normal to 400 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: be that way, and it was abnormal the way we 401 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:11,439 Speaker 1: were trained. 402 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 3: Absolutely absolutely, Yeah. I was one of my workout partners. 403 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 3: He has really helped me put it into words. He 404 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:20,679 Speaker 3: was like, you know, when you're the former football player, 405 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 3: you the way you've lived your life, the way your 406 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,440 Speaker 3: mindset has been. At some point you got to learn 407 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 3: to be comfortable with being the warrior in the garden, 408 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 3: Like you don't need to wear your armor anymore. You 409 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 3: can be like and it's okay, and it's really uncomfortable 410 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 3: at first, but learning how to be cool with being 411 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 3: the warrior in the garden and understand like it's still 412 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:43,640 Speaker 3: in you the warror mentality is in you, but you're 413 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 3: just in the garden. 414 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 2: You just got to be cool with that. 415 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 3: I'm like, I know what, that makes a lot of senny, 416 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 3: just like, Okay, we saw and. 417 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 2: Just move on. 418 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 3: So, uh, we'll be back in a minute. How did 419 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 3: you get to see an It like very non traditional 420 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 3: arts path. It's not a lot of former athletes that 421 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 3: get to work for the news side of the television stide. 422 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 1: So I spent a year a PAC twelve Networks. Then 423 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:15,400 Speaker 1: I did three years at FS one with Fox Sports. 424 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: And at times when CNN would have a big news story, 425 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:21,400 Speaker 1: it's like, you know, dealing with concussions, this is abauck, 426 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 1: like twenty ten, twenty eleven, they would call me as 427 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: a former NFL player to get my thoughts on what's happening. 428 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: And so I was a guest and so they were 429 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: kind of aware of me. And then I remember I 430 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: was at a Super Bowl one year and the head 431 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:34,680 Speaker 1: of CNN Sports at the time came up and said, 432 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 1: we've been watching you. We've been putting together a sizzle reel. 433 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 1: I send it up to New York. How do you 434 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: feel about covering all sports? And I said, yes, coach, Yes, coach, 435 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 1: you'd be able to stay here in Atlanta, CNN headquarters. 436 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:49,920 Speaker 1: I was flying every week to the West Coast, so 437 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 1: you know, we didn't have children yet, but I was 438 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,199 Speaker 1: missing my wife and you know, a little more quality 439 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 1: time and all that and just that opportunity. Didn't really 440 00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 1: know what I was getting into, but I did like 441 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 1: the prospects of it, and thank goodness I did, because 442 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 1: here I am now my ninth year at CNN, and 443 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: it's just it's just been incredible. 444 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 2: It's my new game. It's a TV is a lot 445 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 2: like football. 446 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: I mean, I have my locker room, I have my 447 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:17,679 Speaker 1: my writers, my editors, my producers. I have my position coaches, 448 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 1: my head coaches. And when I'm on that TV, just 449 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: like on an NFL game day, if I didn't get 450 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: my stuff together, if I wasn't prepared, if I missed 451 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: a tackle, it's not just on me, because now I'm 452 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 1: putting that guy behind me in a compromising position and 453 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:30,400 Speaker 1: he might miss a tackle. His jobs now on the line. 454 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:32,919 Speaker 1: I like that pressure to perform. I think NFL players 455 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,920 Speaker 1: we all like that pressure to perform and that accountability. 456 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: And it's not just me, but this team and our 457 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 1: mission is dependent on me being the best I can be. 458 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 1: And so that's how I approach every hit, every show, 459 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 1: study my butt off, and be ready to tackle it 460 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: full throttle. Knowing that I got people dependent on me, 461 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 1: I would be the best teammate I can be. So yeah, 462 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 1: CNN is it's been. It's been awesome for me, and 463 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 1: we'll see how much longer I can keep this thing rolling. 464 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,640 Speaker 3: What the expectations because you work for a news company 465 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 3: and seeing it, but the expectations of covering sports, which 466 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:08,719 Speaker 3: is what you do a lot of times, like, what 467 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:09,879 Speaker 3: are the expectations of it? 468 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 2: How is it different? 469 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 3: Kind of break it all down for me, because it's 470 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 3: very like, Okay, this is what it was, and then 471 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 3: you guys move on. 472 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:20,920 Speaker 2: They don't. It's not it's more tree top level sometimes. Yeah. 473 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:25,680 Speaker 1: So being a news anchor, news correspondent or a reporter, 474 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: it's so much different than what we're so accustomed to 475 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:30,240 Speaker 1: in today's world with sports media, where it's a lot 476 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:33,919 Speaker 1: of opinion and analysis, and I mean I really can't 477 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 1: do that. I really just tell you the what and 478 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:40,120 Speaker 1: let you decide what to think. Like I can't give 479 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: my opinion or all the mindsets it's totally different, and 480 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: it was really tough for me at first because I 481 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,639 Speaker 1: started at Pack twelve Networks and that's one as an 482 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: analyst where I can like really bring the heat like. 483 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 2: We see you know, like you do right sec. So 484 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 2: that was tough for me. 485 00:21:56,240 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: But at the same time, I like it because I 486 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 1: don't have to be critical of someone. 487 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, topic, So that's my thing. 488 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 1: I study my butt off to know the facts of 489 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: what happened, when it happened, how it happened. I tell 490 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:15,159 Speaker 1: you what, letting viewers decide what to think. That's just 491 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 1: my job. So I appreciate that aspect of it. And 492 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: the most fun I have is getting out in the 493 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 1: field when I get to be around these events and 494 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 1: share that story and take the viewers there. But yeah, 495 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:29,680 Speaker 1: it's good. I get to do a wide range of things. 496 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 1: I'll anchor on Ciena International a show called World Sport. 497 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: It's a thirty minute show every day, and having to 498 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 1: learn about cricket and F one and European soccer and 499 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:38,119 Speaker 1: all that. 500 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:41,359 Speaker 2: The real football, as they say, cricket is crazyrick is crazy. 501 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 2: Still don't I still don't quite understand all the rules 502 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 2: to forever yes, yes, days. 503 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: The game can go for days, so yeah, I mean 504 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: I get to do that obviously, I says the correspondent 505 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: type work. And then one of my most favorite things 506 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:00,040 Speaker 1: to do is CNN ten. It's a ten minute on 507 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 1: my new show, and it's geared towards the next generation. 508 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:05,679 Speaker 1: It's in schools all across the world. We get about 509 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 1: three million viewers per episode. And I love that because 510 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 1: I rarely talk sports, are covering the news of the day. 511 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 1: But I know the impact I'm able to have on 512 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: that next generation and that's powerful stuff. So I felt 513 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: like that was my next step at CNN, something that 514 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,919 Speaker 1: I could do break out side of sports. And I've 515 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 1: been doing that for two years now and that's become, 516 00:23:28,119 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 1: you know, my passion. So do you remember the Do 517 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: you remember Channel one? 518 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 2: Channel one? So you had Chris Cooper, Chris Craig Jackson, 519 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 2: Chris Jackson, a Lisa Lane. It kind of reminds me 520 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 2: of something similar to that. I used to watch it 521 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 2: in YEP, like junior high and it was ten fifteen 522 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 2: minute news about current events, yep, and that's what it is. 523 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:53,120 Speaker 2: It kind of seems like it's something similar. It's exactly 524 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:54,679 Speaker 2: like that a newer generation of it. 525 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 1: Yep, it's exactly like that quick ten minute shows teachers. 526 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:00,439 Speaker 1: We release each episode the night before so teachers can 527 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: get eyes on the topics and so they'll create lesson 528 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:06,200 Speaker 1: plans around it. They'll quiz the students on the content 529 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:09,199 Speaker 1: that they saw. And the biggest thing I learned that 530 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: about that being a journalist in the news was like 531 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: the power of words, even a single word. So I'll 532 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 1: give you an example, Like we were doing a story 533 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:22,639 Speaker 1: about the border wall, right and President Joe Biden said this, 534 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 1: and someone wrote a story that day. We have writers 535 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,399 Speaker 1: who can write the stories for us, and the writer 536 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 1: put Joe Biden said this about the border wall. Even 537 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:35,920 Speaker 1: former President Trump said that, And it was that one 538 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 1: word even that implied that you were almost surprised that 539 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,920 Speaker 1: even Donald Trump would say that. But you don't do that, 540 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 1: like that's showing bias. And so it was just simply 541 00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:48,920 Speaker 1: President Joe Biden said this, a former President Donald Trump 542 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 1: said this, But do you see how that one word is, 543 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 1: like even he said it, you know, and I don't 544 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: want to be that, Like I can't be that for 545 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 1: these kids or for those teachers who are trusting me 546 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 1: to be the giver of this information and this news 547 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:05,200 Speaker 1: to their students, and so, like, I really take pride 548 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: in that. That's where I kind of came up with 549 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 1: that word, I tell you the what, letting you decide 550 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 1: what to think, so that it just I learned about 551 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 1: the power of words and even just a single word 552 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:18,439 Speaker 1: can have and make a huge difference on how the 553 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 1: information is received or how you're sharing a story. 554 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 2: Peanut, what do I say all the time? Words matter? 555 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:25,840 Speaker 2: All the time? Yeah, that's a huge thing for me. 556 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 3: My wife hates it because I'm like, I say it, 557 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:29,880 Speaker 3: I'd use I stole it. 558 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:31,199 Speaker 2: Hey, words matter, they do. 559 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 3: Words truly truly matter, matter, And it's a difference between 560 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 3: you are and you're acting. 561 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 1: Like that's correct and even to ourselfs especially right like 562 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 1: those words. Like we were at work today in between 563 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: the show, one of my producers we have a papa shot. 564 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 1: He's like, I'm gonna break the rector today. But he 565 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 1: goes to start the game. He says, oh man, my 566 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 1: arm's tired. I'm like, you're done. Like you careful what 567 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:56,640 Speaker 1: you say because you're gonna believe it. You already said 568 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 1: you're done, so you're not giving yourself the best opportunity 569 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:01,879 Speaker 1: I learned learned from One of my heroes growing up 570 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:05,360 Speaker 1: in the football world was Walter Payton, and I've read 571 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:08,679 Speaker 1: books about him, Never Die Easy. One of his books, 572 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 1: he talked about how he when he would get an 573 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,119 Speaker 1: ankle injury. This is a guy who spent what sixteen 574 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,880 Speaker 1: years in the NFL, I think, and only missed one game, 575 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:18,880 Speaker 1: and that was because his coaches wouldn't let him as 576 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 1: a running back. Yeah, and not a big running back, 577 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:22,640 Speaker 1: but he was tough as nails, and when he would 578 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:24,959 Speaker 1: get an ankle injury, he would lie in bed and 579 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,560 Speaker 1: tell himself, I'm getting better. I feel good, I feel great. 580 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 1: My ankle is fine. Ankle is fine. He would picture 581 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 1: of tiny men going and working and repairing his ankle. 582 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 1: I'm good, I feel great. That power of the mind, 583 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:39,520 Speaker 1: he believed that it affected his body and kind of 584 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 1: the proof is in the pudding right with that, So 585 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 1: I think, yeah, words matter for sure, and if you 586 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:47,480 Speaker 1: look at the grace of the grace, they are very 587 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 1: aware of the thoughts that can affect the things. 588 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm trying to be better about that in golf 589 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 3: because like a lot of negative things. 590 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,159 Speaker 2: Come out of my mouth about my own self at golf. 591 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 2: Is there someone that you want an interview that you 592 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 2: haven't interviewed yet after wise or just just a person 593 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 2: in jail. Well, it used to be the rock. It 594 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:09,160 Speaker 2: used to be the rock. But I did get the interview, 595 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:15,160 Speaker 2: and you guys are kind of doing the eyebrow people. 596 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, we had a fine interview, No, man, because I 597 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 1: get just as excited from an interviewing an athlete like 598 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:24,359 Speaker 1: an Alana mar that you may be never heard of 599 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 1: as I do a superstar. 600 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:26,440 Speaker 2: I don't. 601 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: I don't you know, have anybody that I actively seek. 602 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 1: I just seek those stories that I think people need 603 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 1: to hear. And that's what I love showhow me? 604 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:36,919 Speaker 3: Is there one unique story that's like, man, this story 605 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 3: like shook me or shocked me. 606 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:40,360 Speaker 2: When I actually covered. 607 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:42,679 Speaker 1: Well, I get emotional a lot like when I interview 608 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:45,919 Speaker 1: people I learned, like read a long time ago. One thing, 609 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 1: if you can get someone to cry or in an interview, 610 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:50,879 Speaker 1: that's powerful stuff because you know they're really opening up. 611 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,639 Speaker 1: And there's this one interview a few years ago. It 612 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:55,880 Speaker 1: was a guy, I mean, I just was taken back 613 00:27:55,920 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 1: by his selflessness, former NFL player and he was doing 614 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 1: this rowing across Lake Michigan to like raise awareness and 615 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:12,879 Speaker 1: funds for children's pediatric cancer initiatives. And his name is 616 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:17,920 Speaker 1: Charles Tillman. And here we were a few years ago, 617 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:23,200 Speaker 1: sixty five miles more than twenty four hours across Lake Michigan. 618 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:27,719 Speaker 2: Yeah. What kept you going? The people, the fans, the people, 619 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 2: the heroes that we honored on the front of our boat. 620 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 2: The purpose of why I was doing it, you know, 621 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 2: Pi I could cancer research, and it was just it 622 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:38,000 Speaker 2: was a great CAUs man. And the people that rallied 623 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:40,280 Speaker 2: in came to our support was it was truly pronable. 624 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 1: What was it like when you saw Tiana and the 625 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 1: rest of your family and former teammates they're supporting you 626 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 1: had to finish. 627 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 2: I got emotional. I started to cry. O me what 628 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:54,560 Speaker 2: I was? What hit you? The support hit me? One? Two? 629 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:58,920 Speaker 2: I was extremely tired. And three the people that were 630 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 2: on the front of our boat, the boat some of 631 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 2: them had passed away, and to know their struggle of 632 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 2: what they dealt with and what they had to deal 633 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 2: with and go through day in and day out, and 634 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 2: it just man, it just it just it hit me. 635 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 2: And it was Yeah, it hit me like a ton 636 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 2: of breaks, and that emotion is powerful. 637 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 1: The wise man once said, nothing great happens without inspiration. 638 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, what's yours? Them? Them? My daughter, she's my 639 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 2: inspiration for me to go through twenty five hours or 640 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 2: on a boat. To me, that's nothing compared to what 641 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 2: these what these kids have to go through. 642 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: Take us back to when that the heart failure, the 643 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 1: heart transplant was affecting your family, your six month. 644 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 2: Old daughter there in the hospital. What was that like? 645 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:44,080 Speaker 2: I was just like, oh wow, this is she could 646 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:47,120 Speaker 2: she could die? What in the world? And you know, 647 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 2: fast forward to her getting a heart for three three 648 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 2: months later. It's the best day of your life, but 649 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 2: it's the worst day of your life because you know, 650 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 2: you're happy your daughter is living and receiving a heart, 651 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 2: but you know somewhere else in the country that someone 652 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 2: else's child died and my daughter would be the recipient 653 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 2: of my heart. It just goes to show the true 654 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 2: spirit of humanity and caring and loving and giving. 655 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:18,440 Speaker 1: Man, it's just your heart got me that day like that. 656 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:21,280 Speaker 1: You did that, Yeah, and for whom you did it. 657 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:24,080 Speaker 1: You talked about all the names of the people on 658 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:27,320 Speaker 1: that boat that you were rolling for. How you afterwards 659 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 1: you cried. 660 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:31,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know that's what you told me that today, 661 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:33,480 Speaker 4: And I think this is the type of thing that 662 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 4: people need to see more of from professional athletes, former 663 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:38,840 Speaker 4: football players, like they don't understand, but more than just 664 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:40,480 Speaker 4: football players, you know. 665 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 2: So those are the type of stories like that one 666 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 2: got me. 667 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 1: That one Look at that, dude, that one got me, 668 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:48,840 Speaker 1: and you're still doing it today. 669 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:53,400 Speaker 2: Yeah you today. Yeah, that one got me. Yeah, damn you, Thomas, 670 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:57,080 Speaker 2: damn me, Thomas. Yeah, that one got me. Yeah, man, 671 00:30:57,720 --> 00:30:58,480 Speaker 2: you're a good man. 672 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:01,320 Speaker 1: And you know, those are the type of things that 673 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 1: I think people need to realize more. You know, it's 674 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 1: so easy to hate on pro athletes and think they 675 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 1: are invincible, but like we're such good people and that 676 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,800 Speaker 1: it's more way more than not. But in the media 677 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:17,960 Speaker 1: often we see the not and so I feel it's 678 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:20,560 Speaker 1: a blessing to be able to share stories like Charles 679 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:23,280 Speaker 1: and other athletes out there who are so much more 680 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:24,080 Speaker 1: than just athletes. 681 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:25,600 Speaker 2: So I just love the. 682 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,240 Speaker 3: Fact that, you know, I learned this years ago from 683 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 3: a pastor friend of mine, was that once you become 684 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:33,440 Speaker 3: affected by something, you'll become an advocate for it forever. 685 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:36,880 Speaker 3: And so Pinut and his family were affected by something 686 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:39,840 Speaker 3: very very unique, and it's really really cool to see 687 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 3: like the journey that has started and the things that 688 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 3: Peanut and his foundation and other things have been able 689 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 3: to do because of one situation and he didn't let 690 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:49,960 Speaker 3: it tear him down or his daughter tear her down, 691 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 3: and it's really cool and it can get us all 692 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:54,800 Speaker 3: choked up over this, and it's just like it's just 693 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:57,760 Speaker 3: a passion and it's like the things that the power 694 00:31:57,840 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 3: that we have to do when we decided to. 695 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:02,400 Speaker 2: So so thank you guy. 696 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 1: Sorry surprise you like that, man, But when I knew 697 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:07,160 Speaker 1: I was coming here with you, and I wanted to 698 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:10,240 Speaker 1: share that story again because it deserved to be told. 699 00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:12,320 Speaker 1: So shout out to the team for keeping it a secret. 700 00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:16,520 Speaker 2: I receive it. Yeah, it was. That was a good time. 701 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:19,840 Speaker 2: But like you said, man, you go through something and 702 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:22,360 Speaker 2: you know, for her to have a heart transplant and 703 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:27,560 Speaker 2: that whole thing, and you see, like day I was affected, 704 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:30,120 Speaker 2: our family was affected, Our family and friends were affected 705 00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 2: by it, and you know, trying to take a negative 706 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 2: and turn it into something positive and just bless other 707 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,400 Speaker 2: people because we were blessed with her receiving a heart transplant. 708 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:40,800 Speaker 2: So I wanted to take that blessing and bless other 709 00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:43,200 Speaker 2: people and just keep it, just keeping going and paying 710 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:44,800 Speaker 2: it for that. I can't pay it back, so I 711 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 2: just want to. 712 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:49,480 Speaker 1: Because our tough times can make us tougher strength through 713 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:52,720 Speaker 1: our struggles, right absolutely, and the strongest burning. 714 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:53,200 Speaker 2: The hottest coves. 715 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:55,920 Speaker 1: Man, It's all how we were all going to go 716 00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:58,760 Speaker 1: through it in some form of fashion. It's how you 717 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:02,240 Speaker 1: let it affect you moving forward and you're doing the 718 00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:03,320 Speaker 1: best of the best with it. 719 00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:03,560 Speaker 2: Man. 720 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:06,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, I want to know what it was like though, 721 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 3: to cover the Olympics in parents. The Olympics are such 722 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,920 Speaker 3: a huge event, especially the Summer Olympics, and what it 723 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:16,840 Speaker 3: means to so many different countries, all the different countries there, Like, 724 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:19,800 Speaker 3: what was that experience like to just be around all 725 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:22,360 Speaker 3: of the Olympics in what the events are. 726 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 1: It's my most favorite event to cover because it is 727 00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:30,040 Speaker 1: the best of sports on full display. And what I 728 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:32,640 Speaker 1: feel the best of sports is, especially in today's world, 729 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:38,600 Speaker 1: is bringing people from all different socioeconomic, racial, gender backgrounds, 730 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:42,080 Speaker 1: all these difference differences. It doesn't matter who you are, 731 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:44,680 Speaker 1: what country you came from, You're all coming together for 732 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:47,920 Speaker 1: this common love of sport and you're embracing and you're 733 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:51,320 Speaker 1: hugging and you're high five. And football is a lot 734 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:53,440 Speaker 1: like that, as we know, right, those locker rooms get 735 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:55,920 Speaker 1: that we bring together so many different types of people 736 00:33:55,960 --> 00:34:01,520 Speaker 1: and we respect one another. Olympics is that full throttle, right, 737 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 1: And so that is the first thing that I really 738 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:08,840 Speaker 1: appreciate about. The second thing the athletes that you interview, 739 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:13,080 Speaker 1: they don't get microphones in their face, open lockers every day. 740 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:16,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, the Olympic sports are completely different. Yes, So they're 741 00:34:16,160 --> 00:34:16,840 Speaker 2: not jaded. 742 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:20,359 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, we understand it can be tough 743 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:23,759 Speaker 1: sometimes to talk to media. Right, every day, they get 744 00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 1: their one moment maybe once in their lifetime, maybe once 745 00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:30,440 Speaker 1: every four years, and so they are so open and 746 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:33,560 Speaker 1: eager to share their story. And that's what you love 747 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:36,239 Speaker 1: as a journalist, right. You want someone, you want to 748 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:39,359 Speaker 1: be that conduit for those good stories. And so I 749 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:43,880 Speaker 1: just love how humble and passionate they are for that 750 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:45,840 Speaker 1: one big moment and I get to share that story. 751 00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:49,520 Speaker 1: So it's such a blessing. On the work side of it, 752 00:34:49,520 --> 00:34:52,000 Speaker 1: it's a grind. I mean, it's three and a half 753 00:34:52,080 --> 00:34:55,040 Speaker 1: weeks straight with a lout, a full month of maybe 754 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 1: four or five hours of sleep every day because it's 755 00:34:57,200 --> 00:34:59,279 Speaker 1: around the clock. You're either going to an event, You're 756 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:01,960 Speaker 1: either going to an interview, you're either on air a 757 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:04,840 Speaker 1: live window. And so I usually get sick at the 758 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 1: end of every Olympics. My body gets round down. So 759 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:09,319 Speaker 1: screw you, You're done, Like shut it down for a bit. 760 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:14,319 Speaker 1: But man, I just love it. It is like a 761 00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:16,759 Speaker 1: super Bowl for me now right. I never got to 762 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:19,080 Speaker 1: play in a super Bowl like you guys did, but 763 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:23,279 Speaker 1: it I love it. I get so pumped up. And 764 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:27,400 Speaker 1: this was my fifth Olympics, so yeah, the next one 765 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:29,279 Speaker 1: is in Italy. I hope I'll be there for that, 766 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:32,680 Speaker 1: the Mountaintops for the next Winter Games, and and then 767 00:35:32,719 --> 00:35:35,120 Speaker 1: I'm planning for the twenty twenty eight Olympics. To see 768 00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:39,320 Speaker 1: the three of us on a flag football team, well, well. 769 00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:41,680 Speaker 2: I would so do it. I would so do it 770 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:45,040 Speaker 2: in the hard we'll coach, maybe we'll coach there. I'm 771 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:45,440 Speaker 2: not like. 772 00:35:47,120 --> 00:35:49,439 Speaker 3: I played in flag football tournaments with some of these 773 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:53,000 Speaker 3: like good teams. These dudes are dead ass serious and 774 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:56,200 Speaker 3: I'm not that serious. Yeah, and so to the when 775 00:35:56,280 --> 00:35:58,520 Speaker 3: every game is the super Bowl is me I'm problems 776 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:00,400 Speaker 3: out here. They run circles around there. 777 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:01,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, well they're not. 778 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:06,080 Speaker 3: No, they just everything's so much better, Like we don't 779 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:08,279 Speaker 3: know all the rules, Like they're doing this throw to 780 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:11,560 Speaker 3: display all you and like you just got to be 781 00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:16,279 Speaker 3: really really dial then and you can't you just like that. 782 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:20,319 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm good, y'all. I don't need all that. 783 00:36:20,680 --> 00:36:24,680 Speaker 2: So you're in you're in Paris and you see a 784 00:36:24,760 --> 00:36:31,080 Speaker 2: favor play yeah boy, yeah boy, And he was like 785 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:33,640 Speaker 2: shell shocked to see you. Man, that's cool, Like how 786 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:34,680 Speaker 2: how dope was that? 787 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:37,440 Speaker 1: It was incredible because you know, that's someone I grew 788 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:40,960 Speaker 1: up listening to you and to have him recognize me, 789 00:36:41,120 --> 00:36:42,760 Speaker 1: I was kind of shocked at first. 790 00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:46,800 Speaker 2: So I pinched myself all the time. 791 00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:48,719 Speaker 1: You know, we're we're blessed to be able to do 792 00:36:48,760 --> 00:36:50,759 Speaker 1: some of the things we do, meet the people we meet, right, 793 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,239 Speaker 1: And so for me, I was just there to help 794 00:36:54,280 --> 00:36:56,440 Speaker 1: share his story and the impact he was having on 795 00:36:56,480 --> 00:37:00,800 Speaker 1: the on the women's sports teams in Paris at the Olympics, 796 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:03,680 Speaker 1: you know, the water polo team, and for him to 797 00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:06,120 Speaker 1: then give me that love and that energy he made 798 00:37:06,120 --> 00:37:09,359 Speaker 1: a little rap about me just like freestyle was like my. 799 00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:10,040 Speaker 2: Mind was blown. 800 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:11,759 Speaker 1: I was like, man, I can't eve believe this is 801 00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:14,799 Speaker 1: happening right now. But yeah, it's a blessing to have 802 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:17,400 Speaker 1: those opportunities. I do not take them for granted. I 803 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:20,319 Speaker 1: mean I see TV very similar to the NFL, not 804 00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:22,839 Speaker 1: for long, right, you got to you gotta really bring 805 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:25,520 Speaker 1: it every day, be passionate about what you do and 806 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:29,040 Speaker 1: take advantage of those moments. And when you have that mindset, 807 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:31,440 Speaker 1: it really helps make the most of those moments you 808 00:37:31,480 --> 00:37:33,440 Speaker 1: do get. So we did a great story with Flavor 809 00:37:33,480 --> 00:37:36,040 Speaker 1: Flave there and yeah, really cool. 810 00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:40,080 Speaker 2: I want to talk about Mount Rushmore for people, for 811 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:44,919 Speaker 2: icons for you, for icons of what helped you get 812 00:37:44,920 --> 00:37:46,840 Speaker 2: to where you are right now in life. If you 813 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:49,759 Speaker 2: could put four people on Mount Rushmore, who would those 814 00:37:49,760 --> 00:37:50,400 Speaker 2: four people be? 815 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:54,680 Speaker 1: So definitely my mom just symbolizes love for me. I 816 00:37:54,680 --> 00:37:56,799 Speaker 1: mean she cut seatpelt out of the back of one 817 00:37:56,840 --> 00:37:58,160 Speaker 1: of our cars when I was growing up so she 818 00:37:58,160 --> 00:38:00,279 Speaker 1: could create a shoulder harness because we read about if 819 00:38:00,280 --> 00:38:02,319 Speaker 1: you could like put a tire to a chain on 820 00:38:02,360 --> 00:38:03,640 Speaker 1: a harness and run. 821 00:38:03,640 --> 00:38:06,520 Speaker 2: It would help you. She did that. Like my dad 822 00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:07,960 Speaker 2: work ethic. 823 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:11,200 Speaker 1: My dad work ethic, working three jobs. I mean I 824 00:38:11,239 --> 00:38:14,600 Speaker 1: remember like going in his room at night hearing like 825 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:17,200 Speaker 1: I thought it was like screeching and he's on the 826 00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:19,920 Speaker 1: floor full body cramp because he was like doing ups 827 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:22,600 Speaker 1: overnights and working at the grocery store and like so 828 00:38:22,680 --> 00:38:24,360 Speaker 1: he's doing three jobs and like so that's where I 829 00:38:24,360 --> 00:38:27,280 Speaker 1: got my work ethic of for my brother and sister 830 00:38:27,480 --> 00:38:31,200 Speaker 1: there as one person, just because just like ultimate support 831 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:34,040 Speaker 1: cheerleaders of my life, sacrifice and things they want to 832 00:38:34,040 --> 00:38:36,719 Speaker 1: do when they're like taking me off to wrestling tournaments 833 00:38:36,719 --> 00:38:38,160 Speaker 1: and this and that, and they're sitting up there in 834 00:38:38,200 --> 00:38:41,400 Speaker 1: the bleachers like all board, but they sacrifice some of 835 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:44,120 Speaker 1: their fun in childhood for me to achieve my dream. 836 00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:46,960 Speaker 1: And finally I talked about my wife already Claire, I 837 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:51,800 Speaker 1: mean just my rock, you know. Or she sacrificed her passion, 838 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:56,080 Speaker 1: her career to like raise me and my girls, our daughters, 839 00:38:56,600 --> 00:39:00,680 Speaker 1: and so there's just that ultimate sacrifice and I mean 840 00:39:00,920 --> 00:39:03,880 Speaker 1: those are that's that's my mount rushmore Man. 841 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:06,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, that's a good one. Yeah, that's a good one. 842 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:08,920 Speaker 2: I think Corey. You're off the hot seat, baby. We 843 00:39:08,960 --> 00:39:10,480 Speaker 2: appreciate you coming on the show. Man. 844 00:39:10,600 --> 00:39:13,759 Speaker 1: Oh, I loved being here and I love It's an 845 00:39:13,760 --> 00:39:15,719 Speaker 1: honor and privilege. You guys, keep doing it, man, because 846 00:39:15,920 --> 00:39:16,960 Speaker 1: you're impacting lives. 847 00:39:17,280 --> 00:39:20,040 Speaker 3: No, Man, I appreciate you number one for coming here. 848 00:39:20,360 --> 00:39:24,000 Speaker 3: Number two man for listening that you know, to hear 849 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:28,520 Speaker 3: from other former players talk about the mission and the 850 00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:31,000 Speaker 3: journey that we're on. We didn't know it was going 851 00:39:31,040 --> 00:39:34,759 Speaker 3: to be like this. We're just riding along with it too, right, Yeah. 852 00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:37,040 Speaker 3: The fact that you get to hear other people's stories 853 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:39,560 Speaker 3: and you're like, dude, like that's my teammates, and like 854 00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:41,719 Speaker 3: being able to talk about that and then probably share 855 00:39:41,719 --> 00:39:44,319 Speaker 3: it with other former teammates like that is what this 856 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:46,719 Speaker 3: thing is all about. And being able to share like 857 00:39:46,800 --> 00:39:50,239 Speaker 3: other people's second acts and really understand, my guys, it's 858 00:39:50,520 --> 00:39:53,040 Speaker 3: the locker room has just changed a little bit, but 859 00:39:53,080 --> 00:39:55,200 Speaker 3: we're all still rooting for each other. We're all still 860 00:39:55,200 --> 00:39:56,879 Speaker 3: find ways to keep up with each other, and we're 861 00:39:56,920 --> 00:40:00,120 Speaker 3: really just one big fraternity that just keeps poring to 862 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:02,520 Speaker 3: each other. So thank you, brother, because we're all rooting 863 00:40:02,520 --> 00:40:05,239 Speaker 3: for you because we all see you, appreciate, all root 864 00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:05,839 Speaker 3: for you as well. 865 00:40:05,840 --> 00:40:07,480 Speaker 2: Man. To just know that it been a blessing to 866 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:09,479 Speaker 2: be here man, all. 867 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:11,319 Speaker 3: Right, man, for all of our viewers and listeners out there. 868 00:40:11,360 --> 00:40:14,480 Speaker 3: Appreciate that everything that you always do. Man, give us 869 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:17,200 Speaker 3: a five star rating, give us a review, leave a comment. 870 00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:19,480 Speaker 2: What else we need to do? Subscribe? 871 00:40:19,719 --> 00:40:23,680 Speaker 3: Subscribe and also check out our the NFL YouTube Why 872 00:40:24,040 --> 00:40:24,839 Speaker 3: you don't have to yell. 873 00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:27,200 Speaker 2: I got excited because I got it right. I got 874 00:40:27,239 --> 00:40:29,560 Speaker 2: it right. I got it right. I'm your teammate. I 875 00:40:29,560 --> 00:40:29,960 Speaker 2: got you. 876 00:40:30,520 --> 00:40:32,560 Speaker 1: So you forgot what you always say, Tell a friend 877 00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:33,880 Speaker 1: to tell a friend, to tell a friend. 878 00:40:34,040 --> 00:40:39,200 Speaker 2: That's what I'm talking about. Tell a friend. There we go, 879 00:40:40,320 --> 00:40:42,120 Speaker 2: get us out of here. Hey, this might have been 880 00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:45,440 Speaker 2: the best one yet we heed telling friends rooms. Remembering 881 00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:48,520 Speaker 2: the NFL YouTube channel. Hey man, I'm Peanut as Coy. 882 00:40:48,880 --> 00:40:52,400 Speaker 2: That's wrong and this is the NFL Player's second Act podcast. 883 00:40:52,440 --> 00:40:53,279 Speaker 2: We appreciate y'all. 884 00:40:53,560 --> 00:41:07,040 Speaker 3: We outdu Do Do Doub