1 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: If it doesn't work, you're just not using enough. You're 2 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: listening to Software Radio Special Operations, military news and straight 3 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: talk with the guys and the community. Hello and everyone, 4 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: welcome back to Software Radio. I mean host today Steve 5 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: Balstrey joining me. We have a great guest today. A 6 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: lot of you people who follow the NFL will know 7 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: our guest today. Donny Edwards played fourteen years in the NFL, 8 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,319 Speaker 1: most of it with the OH. I wanted to say 9 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: it was almost pretty much split between the UH San 10 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: Diego Charges in the Kansas City Chiefs. He played fourteen years. 11 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: He was a i'd say UH without trying to be 12 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: too rude, to undersized linebacker. But he remained remarkably healthy 13 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: for his his career until his final year in the NFL, 14 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: and since then he's UH started his own foundation for 15 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: the UH to support the military, called the Best Defense Foundation. 16 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:31,839 Speaker 1: We're gonna talk a little bit about that. We're gonna 17 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: talk some football, we're gonna talk about a little bit 18 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: about his personal life and UH. But before we go 19 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: any further, we have to welcome into the podcast Dawnny. 20 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 1: We really appreciate you taking the time today. It's UH 21 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 1: a dream come true. For me because, Uh, like I said, 22 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: I'm a football fanatic. So I remember in your playing 23 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: days you were a guy I always wanted on my team. Yeah, 24 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: I'm sure you're a Patriot it stand course on that 25 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: New England area East coast. Absolutely. And you know, I 26 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: have to ask you before we get into all this. Uh, 27 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: back in the day when you were playing around the 28 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: two thousand, I want to say two thousand four through 29 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 1: two thousand seven time frame, there was always these rumors 30 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: that the Patriots were trying to bring you on board. 31 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: Did you ever hear anything that they were trying to 32 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: trade for you or did they ever approach you in 33 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: a contract year to you know, maybe come up to 34 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: New England playing the snow You know what I'm trying 35 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 1: to remember now because I remember when I was leaving 36 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 1: in two thousand and six, after I left the Senigo 37 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: Chargers after going fourteen and two and probably arguably one 38 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: of the best teams I've ever played on for sure, 39 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 1: with LT and fill Up and the whole crew and 40 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:55,359 Speaker 1: Seawan Merriman, everybody. Um I thought that I remember correctly. 41 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: I think, uh, the New England Patriots were potentially looking 42 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: at me. I leave and I Remember, I wanted a 43 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 1: multi year deal, and I think they're only offering a 44 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 1: one year deal. I don't in hindsight, you know, I 45 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: think they might have won the super Bowl that year. 46 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 1: Now they don't win. The next year. They went undefeated, 47 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: but they lost the super Bowl. They oh, that's right, 48 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: they went undefeated, that's right. Yeah, yeah, but if they 49 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: might have uh stopped the Giants on that last drive. 50 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, that was incredible. Yeah. I mean, look, you 51 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: give credit to where credits do you know? It's not 52 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: given us earned and nothing but the utmost respect for 53 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: the Patriots and that whole team in Belichick and the 54 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: whole crew. I mean, every year they find a way 55 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: to compete and win, and you know, everybody can hate 56 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: on them. I mean, trust me, it's a team. You 57 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: you want to look everybody that are winning, you know, 58 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: that's always of course, that's the way it is. And 59 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: you know, being at the top, it's it's it's hard 60 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: because all the teams that think that they're adequate enough 61 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: naked beat you, they try to come up and play. 62 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: So as the top team, you gotta you gotta show up. 63 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: And the papers did that year after year after year 64 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: after year. I think the last nineteen years or twenty years. 65 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: I mean they've been really competitive and credible is right 66 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 1: through to their hard work. Now, um, you know we 67 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 1: mentioned your durability, and you know you mentioned Bill Belichick earlier. 68 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: One of the things he loves about players is guys 69 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: who are durable. They are out there every year. You know, 70 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: in your fourteen years, the first thirteen you missed two 71 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: games until your final year and you got hurt. But 72 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: playing linebacker in a very very physical sport which is 73 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: the NFL, and a very physical position playing linebacker, what 74 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 1: do you attribute to your longevity for one and you 75 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: know the fact that you were so durable, I mean, 76 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 1: did you do anything special or was it just good genes? 77 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: You know, I had a trip of my shoulder. I mean, 78 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: you can understand coming into the league in I was 79 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: a tweeter, as they called me. Is he a safety? 80 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 1: Is he a linebacker? He's a tweeter. He's kind of 81 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,039 Speaker 1: in the middle, two five pounds coming from U. C. 82 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: L A. They didn't know how to class you know, 83 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: how to classify me? And I told him, I said, 84 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter, don't put me in the category. Just 85 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: let me play and I'll show you, so just put 86 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: me on the field. And the thing about it is like, 87 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: I know some of the teams when I was being 88 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 1: drafted said that, um, you know, this is a big 89 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: boys game. You know at the time, Steve, you know, 90 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: linebackers are two fifty five, you know, big, big old linebackers. 91 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 1: And now you know I'm coming in at But you know, 92 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: I prided myself on on on on durabilly, you know, 93 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 1: just to to discount the naysayers. You know that says that, 94 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: you know, this is a big men's game, won't be 95 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 1: able to stop the run and things like that. So 96 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: you know, I gotta give credits wre credits due. You know, 97 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: my first year in Kansas City, UM, I was around 98 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: some incredible veterans, guys like Derrick Thomas, Tracy Simmi in, um, 99 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:06,480 Speaker 1: Tracy Rogers, Uh, you know these guys and also Marcus 100 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: Patting a couple years later. I mean, these guys gave 101 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 1: me the the the blueprint on how to stay durable 102 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: and how to go about it. You know. It's like 103 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: they always told me, like you have to continue to lift, 104 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 1: keep your muscles taught, keep your missiles. You know, your 105 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: muscles just tight and make sure you have that barrier 106 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: protection to help you through the season because you're gonna 107 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 1: get bumped and bruise. I mean, playing linebacker in the NFL, 108 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: I mean I played the front front seven. I mean 109 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: we initiate contact every play, and of course you're gonna 110 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: get bumped and bruise. But what they told me is 111 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: like even sometimes when you're so tired, you're so sore 112 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 1: after a game, lift lift, lift, And I'll never forget. 113 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: After the Pittsburgh Steelers, I had separated my shoulder and 114 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 1: they injected me in the game and we're you know, 115 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: going back into the game, and I remember like, of 116 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: course when the drugs war off on Monday morning, I 117 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: was just like so sore. Cann left my shoulder and 118 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: I never forget. Marcus Patton took me in a way room. 119 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 1: He says, I'm gonna fix the shoulder, and he says, 120 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: do this, do that, and do that. I'm like this, 121 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: lift weight right now. He's like absolutely, because I'm not 122 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: leaving until you do it. And lo and behold. I 123 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: mean I made the muscles around it stronger, you know, 124 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: like you make the muscles around this stronger to hold 125 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: your shoulder in place and it worked, and ever since then, 126 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: I just had this this you know, this understanding, like 127 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 1: you know, if it's sore, you work on it, you 128 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: lift on I mean, if it's a hamstring, you go 129 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: to the training room and you do the exercises and 130 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: the stretches and the strength exercises to make it, to 131 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: make it happen. Because he played in this Playing in 132 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: this league, you're hurt every week, you know, but you 133 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: have to go out there and still perform and play 134 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: because if you don't perform, you're out. So you gotta 135 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: be durable. You gotta find a way to keep yourself 136 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: on the field. And those are some of the ways 137 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: that I was able to be on the field and 138 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: stay durable for all these years. I mean there's not 139 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: one game where I was a hunter percent healthy, you know, 140 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:00,040 Speaker 1: but maybe the first one of the year. Yeah, not 141 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: even that, because you're coming from training camp. When training 142 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: camp was yeah, dr training camp was real training camp 143 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: where you had three weeks of two days, like real 144 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 1: two days. And let's not forget I had Marty Schottenheimer 145 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: and also Nick Burmill, so two and a half hours 146 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: of pad padded practice. And I know you've been on 147 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 1: the field. You've seen some of that, you know how 148 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: it is. I mean when you have just like tackling drills, 149 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: you know, when you're thirty two years old, kind of 150 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: been there already, don't I know how to tackle pretty well, 151 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: you know, but you gotta do it and you get 152 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: kind of beat up from it, but you know, hey, 153 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: it is what it is, and it was a good time, yeah, 154 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 1: you know. And and the funny thing is today, where 155 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: the game's changing a little bit, a lot of linebackers 156 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: are more your size that you were back then than 157 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 1: they amen. Yeah. Yeah, today's today's game, you'd be a 158 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: perfect fit for I was born fifteen years too early. Seriously, 159 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: I was ahead of my time. I mean now, I 160 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: mean now it's it's like perfect. I mean they're looking 161 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: for linebackers like the way that I played, you know 162 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: during my career. You know, every down linebacker that can 163 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,679 Speaker 1: cover running backs out the backfield, wide receivers, tight end, 164 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: stop to run open field, like open space like all that. 165 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 1: You know, and and uh, you know now I think 166 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 1: all these teams are looking for for linebackers like that. 167 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: I mean it's a more of a passing game now, 168 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:24,959 Speaker 1: so you've gotta be able to operate in open space 169 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: and be able to be familiarized yourself with pass coverage, 170 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: getting back deep and setting up and making tagles in 171 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 1: the open field. And you know that was my forte 172 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 1: you know. But I'm just really happy that I was 173 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: part of that change of the guard because I think 174 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 1: we came in our draft class in with Ray Lewis Zak, Thomas, 175 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 1: Randall Godfrey, we had so many linebackers, um, John Mowbley, 176 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: we all came out and we're all we're kind of 177 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: undersized what we can run. And I think that kind 178 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: of helped revolutionize and change the game for our position. Sure, yeah, yeah, absolutely, 179 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: because you know they as the defense got faster, so 180 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: did the offense. And you know, it's been like this, 181 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: you know, repetitive thing where the game keeps getting faster 182 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: and faster, and you look, you look at the game 183 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,839 Speaker 1: today and you look at maybe tapes from like the 184 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 1: mid eighties, it doesn't even seem like the same game anymore. Yeah, 185 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: for sure. I mean, guys are getting bigger and faster. 186 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, just I mean I've been after 187 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,839 Speaker 1: ten years, so just in ten years, I mean, you guys, 188 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 1: guys that are just continued, I don't know what they're eating. 189 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: I mean they're getting bigger, they're getting faster, they're getting smarter. 190 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: I mean just incredible, It really is. I mean when 191 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: I saw Cam Newton. Have you seen Cam Newt? Yeah? 192 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: He he looks like a back in the day, a 193 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:50,960 Speaker 1: prototypical linebacker. Oh my gosh, the guy is massive. Are 194 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: you guys listening right now? If you guys haven't seen 195 00:10:53,120 --> 00:11:00,079 Speaker 1: Cam Newton up close and personally, I mean six, I 196 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 1: but Dick, why, I mean, Paul's hands are big. I 197 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: mean I remember I met him in New York and 198 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 1: and uh, I shook his hand, and my he just 199 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,319 Speaker 1: swallowed up my hand and I'm looking up out of him. 200 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: Adam and I forget we took a picture and I 201 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 1: was like a little kid next to this guy. I mean, 202 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: but this is that generation that's coming through. I mean, 203 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: and I gotta tackle this guy, right. I thought tackling 204 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: Jerome Bettis was bad enough. I'm not gonna tak about 205 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: this guy who was also throwing the ball. Yeah, it's incredible. 206 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: I love the game. I mean it's it's it's really competitive. Yeah, 207 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: I remember competitive. You talking about Jerome Bettis and then 208 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:44,439 Speaker 1: before him. There was Earl Campbell. I remember doing an 209 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: interview with one of the Patriots linebackers from the seventies 210 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: and eighties, Steve Nelson. He's in their team Hall of Fame. 211 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: He's a great guy. And I was asking involve the 212 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: toughest running back he ever had to face as an 213 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: inside linebacker, and you know now was about He was 214 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:04,239 Speaker 1: more of the typical size, like a two fifty guy, 215 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: and he was like I used to hit Earl Campbell 216 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: going full speed and it felt like I was running 217 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 1: into a brick wall where there's it was no gift whatsoever, 218 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:18,200 Speaker 1: and you just fall off in every part of your body. Man, 219 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 1: I'm telling you, I can relate. I mean, think about it. 220 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: So we as a linebacker, we have offensive lineman that 221 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: are double the size of us. I mean they're massive, 222 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 1: They're huge people, and they're blocking us. So I would 223 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 1: have to go and running place, get off of lineman 224 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: that's trying to like scoop up to me like a 225 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: guard tackle scooping up on me. I gotta take on 226 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: that big three d and fifty pound lineman and I 227 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: have to shed him, get off and throw a little 228 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 1: chicken wings out there. They try to tackle someone like 229 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 1: Jerome Bettis that's just coming down with a full head 230 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: of scene, right, So all I have is like my 231 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 1: little short I'm trying to get off the block, right, 232 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:52,719 Speaker 1: trying to get this a big offensive lineman and I'm 233 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: sticking on my arm and I never forget. I know, 234 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: one of the plays, he came straight downhill and all 235 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: you saw with that little army and he just blew 236 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: my shoulder completely off my my body. It was just 237 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 1: crazy because that's all you get. I mean, the key 238 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 1: is to try to make the tackle and if if 239 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:09,439 Speaker 1: that's all you can get, and that's how you can get. 240 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 1: And when these guys are coming downhill with a full 241 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: head of team, I mean it is. It's challenging for sure, 242 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 1: but hey, it's fun. Yeah. And you know you you 243 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: mentioned that two thousand six Chargers team you were on. 244 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 1: I always remember that divisional playoff game against New England 245 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: because it was right after that that everyone was saying 246 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: you were going to come to New England. And in 247 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: that game, I'll always remember you dominated that game. There 248 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: was like fifteen tackles and interception, forced fumble and I 249 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: think you had a sack of Tom Brady and I 250 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,679 Speaker 1: was like, it's the Patriots get this guy, then they're 251 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: looking good next year for two thousand seven. But I've 252 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: been a better especially and I got and I got 253 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:56,959 Speaker 1: cut after that game, like my bags up and go home. 254 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: One raised in San Diego, and yeah, well I got 255 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: I got well, our head coach got got got fired too. 256 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: We all got fired. So I came. I came to 257 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: the Chargers with Marty Schottenheimer. He brought a lot of 258 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: his uh you know, people that he worked with, so 259 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: he knows the type of character and the work ethic 260 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:17,199 Speaker 1: things like that. So we brought a bunch of us 261 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: from Kansas City. And I thought, over the years, we 262 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: you know, earned our keep, and you know, to show 263 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: that we're doing a great job. And after going fourteen 264 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: and two, and I think you remember that game in 265 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 1: two thousand and seven and January two seven win the 266 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: Patriots came back and beat our our team at home. Um, 267 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: we all got fired right after that. We all got 268 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 1: fired right after that game fourteen into coach Marty Schottenheimer, Um, 269 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: you know everybody else that went down. I mean, it's 270 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: just kind of changed the whole dynamics of that team. 271 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: It's unfortunate too because now being a fan and being 272 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: born and raised in San Diego, I mean we certainly 273 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: had a chance to have a Super Bowl championship for 274 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: San Diego with the Chargers. But unfortunate. I mean that's 275 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 1: all what it could have should have now, right? Yeah. Well, 276 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: and then the very next year they're back against New 277 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: England in the a f C Championship game in New England. 278 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: And that's what Philip Rivers played that game was a 279 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 1: torn a c l I'll never forget that. Yeah, you're 280 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 1: right about that. Yeah, people talk about, oh that guy's talk. 281 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: I love Philip Phillips a great you know, Philip is 282 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: a great player. He's a great teammate. Just one of 283 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: those guys you love having around. I mean, great family man, 284 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: lived down the street for me here in San Diego 285 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: when he was uh playing for the team. Just a 286 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: great guy. I mean you will love him joking around 287 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: in the locker room. Just a guy's guy. But just 288 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: tough as nails on the field. I mean, this guy 289 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: will go to bat for you if someone did you wrong. 290 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm sure you can recall some of the 291 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 1: the old tape with the Broncos after the game. I 292 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: think it was the Patriots. That was the Patriots. After 293 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 1: the game, Patriots was the Patriots. Yeah, with Sean Merriman, 294 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 1: that's right, Yeah, yeah, I mean, and no one talks 295 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: more smacked during the game, and Philip does. He does, 296 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 1: Yeah he does. But he backed it up too. I mean, 297 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: he makes those tight throws and you know, and and 298 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 1: and I've had the opportunity to play against him, play 299 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: with them and against them when I was in Kansas City, 300 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: when we used to you know, um in Kansas City. 301 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: I never forget because of course we're friends, and he's 302 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: you know, every little path that he makes or any 303 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: type of play they got. Yeah, how you like that, Donnie, Donnie, 304 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: how do you like that? How you like that? Of 305 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 1: course I'm like hupping and puffing piste off that we 306 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: gave up a score and I'm like, all right, you know, 307 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: all right, feel up. But that's the way he is. 308 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: And then after the game we're hugging each other and like, hey, 309 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: you know, yeah, so he's a great guy as well. Yeah, 310 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: and uh yeah, I heard Dan Marino was very very 311 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: similar in that aspect. In fact, the same guy from 312 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: the Patriots, Steve Nelson, told me that one time they 313 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: were playing the Dolphins and the first series of the game, 314 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 1: him and Marino threw a pass the sideline and Nelson 315 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 1: picked it off, and they're going high five in each 316 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: other going off the field, a's like defensive guys doing. 317 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 1: Marino started yelling at him and he said, hey, fat ass, 318 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: and that when we get the ball back, I'm gonna 319 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: throw the exact same played three times in a row, 320 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna burn your ass on the feet. I 321 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: asked Nelson about it, and he said, yeah, he did. 322 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: Those guys are tough, man, some of those older guys, 323 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: especially because I I remember because, like you know, being 324 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:32,440 Speaker 1: a young player, you try to talk a little trash 325 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: to some of the old the old timers. I'll tell 326 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,360 Speaker 1: you a quick story. We're playing the Tennessee Titans, and 327 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 1: you might remember a guy named m Bruce Matthews. Yeah, 328 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,680 Speaker 1: oh yeah, oh yeah, so do I and so does 329 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,919 Speaker 1: my so does my shoulder in my head. Um, but 330 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 1: I'll tell you a quick story. So Bruce, at the time, 331 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,359 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, he was still playing. I mean 332 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:56,680 Speaker 1: the guy played every position on offensive line, just tough 333 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 1: as nails, played for I don't know, thirty years in 334 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: the NFL, I mean, the guys just a beast. And 335 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: I remember he was out there in the game. He 336 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: was starting because someone else got hurt so he ended 337 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 1: up starting. And uh so I'm talking trash to him, 338 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: you know, first quarter, talking trash. What are you doing, 339 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 1: old man? The young man's game. You need to get 340 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:15,360 Speaker 1: your butt off the field. Get your ass off the field. Man, 341 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:16,879 Speaker 1: it's a young man's game. You're too old to be 342 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: out here talking to all this crap. Right. Well, a 343 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 1: few players later in the game, they run a trap 344 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 1: play and I'm coming through the hole thinking I'm unscathed, 345 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 1: like no one's gonna it's gonna touch me and make 346 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 1: the tackle. Just that I was like crouching down, get 347 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 1: rid and to make the tackle. Bruce Matthews came out 348 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 1: of I don't know the tunnel and hit me so hard, 349 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,120 Speaker 1: hit me so hard. I mean, I was so shocked 350 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: how hard this guy hit me. And you know, anytime 351 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: you get hit from the side, it hurts even worse. 352 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 1: And Bruce Matthews hit me so hard. And the crazy 353 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: thing about it, when I was like looking around, like 354 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: what hit me right now, it was Bruce Matthews to 355 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 1: help me up and said, you know, let me help 356 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 1: you up kits. And and I realized that, you know what, 357 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 1: be careful, be careful about talking trash to some of 358 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 1: the older guys that played this game, because these guys 359 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:11,120 Speaker 1: are tough and just gentlemen about it too. And I mean, 360 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:15,679 Speaker 1: I mean, from this day on, anybody you know mentions 361 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:19,360 Speaker 1: Bruce Matthews, that guy is tough as nails. I mean, 362 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: he wasn't just playing on towards the end of his 363 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 1: career just to play. This guy played and he played 364 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: at a high level. Same thing with Ricky Waterson. These 365 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 1: guys are just I mean, some of these guys that 366 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 1: played later in the career just the toughest nails. And 367 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 1: that's yeah, it's pretty amazing. So do you miss it? 368 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,200 Speaker 1: You watch the game on Sundays now, do you still 369 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: miss it? Or you know, ye still worse? Of course? 370 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: Of course. I mean I've been playing. I played football 371 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: for thirty years, you know, so for thirty straight years, 372 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,440 Speaker 1: I put a football hommed on and played football every summer, 373 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:54,239 Speaker 1: every August, every September at a football holm on, you know, 374 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: running full speed into someone for thirty years. And then 375 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 1: it just ends, right, It's just in hang your clicks up, 376 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: and you can't play anymore. And this is the game 377 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,199 Speaker 1: that I played quite a bit, and I loved it. 378 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:09,679 Speaker 1: I love the competition. I love you know, you know, 379 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:13,680 Speaker 1: being with the boys and you know, having purpose, trying 380 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 1: to obtain our goal every play, every game, every year, 381 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 1: and then all of a sudden that's just taken away 382 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: from you. Um So when I watch it, of course, 383 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,639 Speaker 1: it's a little bit different watching from a fan or 384 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:29,919 Speaker 1: a spectator versus playing, because um I looked at the 385 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 1: game differently. Of course, So you never want to watch 386 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 1: a football game with me because the remote is in 387 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 1: my hand, and the game may take about five or 388 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:40,120 Speaker 1: six hours to get through because on every play I'm 389 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: stopping analyzing, explain it. No, no, no, that's not right. 390 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: Watch this block here, it's a linebacker on this side. 391 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:47,640 Speaker 1: It needs to get here, the safety should come down 392 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 1: over this way. And all my friends and my wife included, 393 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 1: gets all piste off, like, oh my gosh, don you 394 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: can we just watch the fucking game, And I'm like, yeah, yeah, sorry, 395 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 1: But then and I can't frustrated, you know, I can't 396 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 1: so frustrated. And then I'm like, I can't watch this ship, 397 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: you know, because I don't know. I just expect. I 398 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 1: don't know it's at it Sometimes I think, you know, 399 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: when you know too much about something and someone says 400 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 1: something else and you want to like critique it and 401 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 1: follow and do the right way, I guess, I mean 402 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: the same thing. You know, look, same thing what you 403 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:20,919 Speaker 1: did for a living too. If you watch some some 404 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:23,400 Speaker 1: films and stuff, you try to critique it all all day, 405 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 1: you know, and it's the same thing. We watching military film. 406 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: She's like, oh no, I'm not watching a military film 407 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 1: with you, right, you know you're gonna tell me everything's wrong. 408 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 1: I just want to sit there and be entertained, I know. 409 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: But you know, when it's your profession, I mean we're professionals, 410 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 1: you know. Yeah, very specific, Yeah yeah, and then it 411 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 1: just throws you off to like, oh that's bullshit, that 412 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 1: that doesn't work right, Like that's like, oh god, then 413 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: it just destroys you for the whole movie or for 414 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:57,959 Speaker 1: the whole game. Trust me, So you understand, and all 415 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 1: you guys, you guys understand the same, the same settlements 416 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 1: that I have about about watching you know, it's different. Yeah. 417 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:07,440 Speaker 1: I wanted to ask you, I know you said you 418 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 1: you had a lot of military stuff in your home. Yeah, 419 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: and although you had never spent time in the military 420 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 1: and it now you You also told me that when 421 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: you were a player, and since you're still doing it today, 422 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,680 Speaker 1: you go on a lot of the US SO tours. 423 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: How did all that start for you? We'll start a 424 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 1: long time ago. I mean, I'm going to race here 425 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: in San Diego and it's a big military town for 426 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,679 Speaker 1: the Navy and also the Marine Corps. So all my 427 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: family served in the you know, the military and currently 428 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:39,159 Speaker 1: serving today. So this is in my blood, It's in 429 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 1: my dna here. Um, I was going to join the 430 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 1: Marines at a high school. Um if I didn't get 431 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:48,360 Speaker 1: a scholarship or get drafted in baseball. Um. So that's 432 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 1: just what we do. We serve our country. And it 433 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:54,160 Speaker 1: goes back to my grandfather, Max Browso he was a 434 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:57,639 Speaker 1: Pearl Harbor survivor World War Two veteran, um Native American, 435 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: Patchy Indian. Um. You talked about a guy that was 436 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,159 Speaker 1: very proud of his service and always uh took a 437 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:07,679 Speaker 1: lot of pride in and what his generation did. I 438 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 1: grew up without a father and he was a sense 439 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 1: of my father figure. So he got me on the 440 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 1: straight and narrow. Um, back when I was really young. 441 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 1: He gave me the platform to understand the opportunity that 442 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:20,199 Speaker 1: I have in this in this great country. You know. 443 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,359 Speaker 1: Um it's you know, telling me, no matter where you 444 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 1: come from, if you work hard in this country, you 445 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 1: can achieve anything and be one of the loving kids 446 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 1: growing up. You know, it all made sense to me. Um, 447 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:33,400 Speaker 1: I should go with them with all his friends over 448 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 1: to the you know, you know, to the VFW and 449 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 1: stuff like that, and uh, to be around all of 450 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 1: his boys, and that's what he really loved. And um, 451 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 1: you know, he just instilled all these great qualities about 452 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 1: the country that we live in. And don't take it. 453 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 1: You know, they'll take freedom for granted. Um. There's a 454 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 1: lot of people that come to this country with nothing 455 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 1: in their pockets and they only want one thing, that's opportunity. 456 00:23:56,680 --> 00:24:01,400 Speaker 1: And you're born here, you're born here. You know, there's 457 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: no excuses why you can't be successful. And you always 458 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:07,120 Speaker 1: told me, like, don't see yourself as a victim. You're 459 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: born in the greatest country in the world. You're a victor. 460 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 1: You won you want, You're not a victim. Doesn't matter 461 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 1: where you come from. You one, if you're born in 462 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:16,679 Speaker 1: this country, you won. And that's the mentality that I 463 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 1: took for the whole entire you know, my whole entire life. 464 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: And uh so, you know, and having a lot of 465 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 1: my family members, you know, serve and and and in 466 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,119 Speaker 1: different branches and just being around it, I just understand, like, 467 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 1: I'm so lucky two change my life, have an opportunity 468 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 1: to go to u c l A get a master's degree, 469 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 1: but the first one of my generation even have a 470 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:41,879 Speaker 1: degree like that, and to play all these years in 471 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: NFL and change my life and given and it gives 472 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 1: me this platform to give back, you know. Um, it's 473 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 1: just just a dream comes true. And I'm just so blessed. 474 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 1: I was born in the greatest country in the world, 475 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:55,480 Speaker 1: you know, and I want to, you know, want to 476 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: recognize all the ones who made it possible for me 477 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 1: to have this opportunity in this freedom. And that's the 478 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 1: man and women that serves that raise your hand, take 479 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:05,439 Speaker 1: the oh to defend this nation. I mean by having 480 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 1: that freedom and the opportunity to play football, think about 481 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,120 Speaker 1: I'm a football player, you know, so I don't take 482 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 1: that for granted. And I'm only able to do this 483 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:15,400 Speaker 1: and have this life on the backs of them when 484 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:18,439 Speaker 1: the men and women that serves. So it's it's I 485 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:20,640 Speaker 1: want to just raise awareness and put it out there 486 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 1: and let people know, don't take it for granted. Don't 487 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 1: take it for granted, you know. So that's why it 488 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 1: resonates with me. That's awesome And for those of us 489 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:33,720 Speaker 1: who got to watch you play and you know, then 490 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 1: you know, for the younger generation when you still go visit. 491 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 1: I know you told me you went on a USO 492 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:42,879 Speaker 1: tour just last year to the country of Niger, and 493 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 1: you have to you have to tell our our listeners 494 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: about the base there because they've heard the stories about it, 495 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 1: but they have some fresh perspective on that. Yeah, I 496 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:55,919 Speaker 1: don't really call it a base because like you know, 497 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: I've been to you know, I've been to uh to Bagram, 498 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: I've been to the Bay as you know in in Afghanistan, 499 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 1: and well those are real basis, I mean McDonald's and 500 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 1: things like that. But yeah, this uh, this place, this 501 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 1: camp as I just say to camp in Niger essentially 502 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,119 Speaker 1: that it's it's a bunch of tents that are just 503 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:17,119 Speaker 1: put together, I mean just put together and you know, 504 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:21,400 Speaker 1: and yeah, that's pretty much what it is. And there's 505 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,680 Speaker 1: these signs in the latrine that has these pictures of 506 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 1: like this foot and you know, everywhere you walk even 507 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 1: if you have to make sure that your feet are 508 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 1: covered because they have these parasites that are in the 509 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:35,680 Speaker 1: dirt that will attack your feet and according to the pictures, 510 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,480 Speaker 1: just looks awful, you know. So you just think about 511 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:40,360 Speaker 1: all this different stuff. And remember when we went into town, 512 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 1: he said, hey, anything happens cars and anything you get hurt, 513 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:46,639 Speaker 1: please please do not go to the hospital because you 514 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:49,399 Speaker 1: will die from bacteria if you go there. And make 515 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:51,400 Speaker 1: sure you call and get over here to the base 516 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 1: and we'll fly you out to where we need to 517 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:55,359 Speaker 1: go to. It's pretty interesting, you know. We have a 518 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 1: lot of we have a lot of uh rangers up there, 519 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 1: and a lot of like serve members um and we 520 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:04,439 Speaker 1: had and there was a big contingent of contractors actually 521 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: from San Diego. So it was kind of nice to 522 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,400 Speaker 1: h you know, to see those guys out there and 523 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 1: bring a little bit of homeback, you know, up there 524 00:27:12,119 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 1: to Africa. So it was an experience for sure. It's 525 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:19,199 Speaker 1: fun though, yeah, yeah, because I know that. Like, I've 526 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:23,480 Speaker 1: been to some pretty nasty places. But a friend of 527 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:25,919 Speaker 1: mine who's who's been to even more than I have 528 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 1: by a long shot, he told me the worst place 529 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 1: he's ever been was Niger. So I'll take that. I'll 530 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 1: take that for what it's worth. I'll take for it. 531 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:38,679 Speaker 1: I was like, yeah, I was experienced. It was great. 532 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 1: I went with Robert Patrick and and uh um uh 533 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 1: so my mind um Scooby doo um Matt, oh gosh, 534 00:27:54,560 --> 00:28:00,399 Speaker 1: I wish that's okay, but let's go to the Lillard 535 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:04,359 Speaker 1: sorry Matt Lillard Millard okay, Yeah, yeah, he was an 536 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 1: actor and also Rob Patrick as an actor as well. Yeah, 537 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:13,120 Speaker 1: I remember Robert Patrick in one of the Terminator flicks. Yeah, 538 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 1: he played he played the liquid terminator. I think it right, 539 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:21,200 Speaker 1: that's right. What a great guy. Yeah, what a great guy. 540 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:25,280 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, what a great guy. We had 541 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:27,960 Speaker 1: such a good time. These are patriots, man, They're they're solid. 542 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:30,199 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just incredible to go out there with 543 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: them and to uh share this experience and talk to 544 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,399 Speaker 1: the guys, and it was wonderful. The guys are great, 545 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: great guys. So yeah, let's start talking about your foundation. 546 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 1: I know that you know, you're the founder and you're 547 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 1: the head guy over there at Best Defense Foundation. You 548 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:53,880 Speaker 1: know what possessed you too? Uh? I know you you 549 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:56,640 Speaker 1: talked about your love and respect for the military. Was 550 00:28:56,720 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 1: that the reason you decided to go in this direction? Yeah? 551 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 1: You know, like I've incredibly blessed and you know, and 552 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 1: and able to play this great game and to change 553 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:08,400 Speaker 1: my life. And I know it's on the backs of 554 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 1: the men and women that serve. And I want to 555 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:12,760 Speaker 1: raise awareness, recognition and say thank you to the men 556 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 1: and women that serve. And it means a lot to 557 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 1: me to give back. I mean, I'm so blessed to 558 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 1: have this platform and this opportunity to do it. Thanks 559 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 1: to football, things would be born in America. Thanks for 560 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 1: my freedom, all that stuff, and I don't take it 561 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 1: for granted. So we want to put it out. They 562 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:29,600 Speaker 1: want to thank our veterans, celebrate, recognize them. Um, starting 563 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 1: with the oldest to the youngest. But we cover the 564 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 1: whole gamut. And our motto is taking care of the 565 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 1: ones who took care of us, taking care of the 566 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 1: ones who took care of us, and we really believe it. 567 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:41,320 Speaker 1: Row volunteers and we're just trying to pay it forward, 568 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 1: you know, to give back to what they gave so 569 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 1: much to all of us. That's awesome. And you know, uh, 570 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:52,120 Speaker 1: on your website, I saw a picture of you when 571 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 1: you're still playing with the Chiefs and you are standing 572 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 1: next to Roger Darling, who was the first Medal of 573 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: Honor recipient from the Vietnam War and he was no 574 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:11,120 Speaker 1: war yes, and he ended up commanding the Special Forces 575 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: unit I was in in Panama. Wow. Wow. Yeah. He's 576 00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:21,800 Speaker 1: a great Yeah, he's a great man. He lives in Leavenworth, 577 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 1: just right there and not far from the stadium, just 578 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 1: up the road a little bit. Um. What a great guy. 579 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 1: I've met him a few times. A matter of fact, 580 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:31,880 Speaker 1: I was just with him in January at the UH 581 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:37,200 Speaker 1: at the Chiefs Um Championship game in Kansas City. So 582 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:41,400 Speaker 1: we're together again, and it was really good to see him, um, 583 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 1: because we're together in that picture back in two thousand 584 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 1: and eight or two thousand and seven together and it 585 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 1: was really good to see him again. Have you had 586 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:52,880 Speaker 1: a chance to read his book? Yes, oh yes, oh yeah, 587 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 1: oh yeah. And he's very uh self depreciating, I guess 588 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 1: would be a way. He's very humble and uh, you know, 589 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:08,600 Speaker 1: he's just a really great guy. But yeah, when I 590 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 1: saw that picture, I was like, oh, wow, you know 591 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:17,200 Speaker 1: he met Colonel dunaland so I thought that was really cool. Um. 592 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:20,680 Speaker 1: One of the programs you guys have I'm really intrigued by, 593 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 1: and it's Battlefield Return. It's like once in a lifetime 594 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 1: experience for vets to go back and visit some of 595 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 1: the battlefields. Have you gone on any of the trips 596 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:36,400 Speaker 1: with these guys doing that? Yeah? So, um yeah, so 597 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 1: I planned organized as Tate run a lot of the 598 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:43,400 Speaker 1: programs I've been taking. I've been taking uh veterans back. 599 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:46,600 Speaker 1: What are two veterans being on veterans back for fourteen years? 600 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:49,720 Speaker 1: And back when I was playing, I was just doing it, 601 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 1: I don't you know, just doing it. Actually I met 602 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 1: some guys and they want to go back, and he 603 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 1: couldn't go back, and said, well, we'll do it. We'll 604 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:57,680 Speaker 1: make it happen. That's that's what we did. And he 605 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:00,720 Speaker 1: just started growing and growing and growing growing, And it's 606 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:02,760 Speaker 1: amazing when you take some of these guys back to 607 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 1: Europe Um for the commemorations and the ceremonies, the events. 608 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 1: I mean it's incredible, and it's great for these guys 609 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 1: to see it firsthand and see how the love for 610 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 1: you know that, you know, the recognition that they still 611 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:20,520 Speaker 1: deserved that Unfortunately they don't really get it here in America, 612 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:21,920 Speaker 1: So it's good for them to go out there and 613 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 1: see it and you know, for ten days or just 614 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:28,400 Speaker 1: rock stars they really are. I mean there's thousands and 615 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:30,760 Speaker 1: thousands and thousands of people. If you watch some of 616 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:33,840 Speaker 1: our videos on our YouTube page or or website, we'll 617 00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:35,760 Speaker 1: see some of our battlefil returns that we've done in 618 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:38,400 Speaker 1: the past. I mean, it's just incredible all the people 619 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:41,360 Speaker 1: that are out there. But um, yeah, so we did 620 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:47,120 Speaker 1: five programs last year from IWO, Jima, um Holland, Normandy, 621 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 1: Germany purchase garden Eagles nests and uh you know, yeah, 622 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 1: so it was wonderful. I think we took almost seventy 623 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: veterans back last year seventy world where two veterans back 624 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 1: last year because it to our events. So it's just wonderful. 625 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 1: And I encourage anyone listening right now to get a 626 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:06,040 Speaker 1: chance and watch one of those videos. Maybe you can 627 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:07,320 Speaker 1: put a link to the video there so you can 628 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:09,200 Speaker 1: kind of see you know what we do and how 629 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:12,280 Speaker 1: we do it, and how we recognize and honor our veterans. 630 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:16,880 Speaker 1: You know, yeah, I think that's fantastic. In fact, you know, 631 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:21,120 Speaker 1: my dad fought in across France and Germany and during 632 00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:23,840 Speaker 1: World War Two he was in armored units and uh, 633 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:27,920 Speaker 1: his lieutenant who ended up his best friend in the army. 634 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:30,960 Speaker 1: After my dad passed away, him and his daughter went. 635 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:35,200 Speaker 1: This guy had kept a diary of every little town 636 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:38,480 Speaker 1: they were in across France and and he retraced his 637 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:43,840 Speaker 1: steps with his daughter. Um. Wow, And I got to 638 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:46,640 Speaker 1: talk with him afterwards, and he sent me pictures and 639 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:49,920 Speaker 1: all this, and it was really neat because one little 640 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 1: town that they had stopped in and nothing really happened there. 641 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:58,280 Speaker 1: They just spending a night in this little French town. 642 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:02,320 Speaker 1: But you know, the civilian is befriended them and brought 643 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 1: them out some food and they took pictures and all this. 644 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:08,319 Speaker 1: One of the old ladies who was there in the 645 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:12,120 Speaker 1: village brought out the picture of this guy when he 646 00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:14,919 Speaker 1: was like in his twenties, you know, during the war 647 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 1: in France, and said isn't that you And he was like, yeah, 648 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:20,680 Speaker 1: that's me. And she's like, well, this was me and 649 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:23,120 Speaker 1: she was like in her twenties at the time herself. 650 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:26,960 Speaker 1: So I thought that was so neat, and uh, I 651 00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 1: would I would love to go on something like that 652 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 1: with some of the old vets. Yeah, you know, it 653 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:34,000 Speaker 1: makes a difference. And uh, you know the way that 654 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:37,040 Speaker 1: we do it, um, it's pretty unique because we don't 655 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:39,600 Speaker 1: bring family, right, we don't bring wives. It will bring daughters. 656 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 1: We just bring the boys bring and the women that 657 00:34:43,680 --> 00:34:45,799 Speaker 1: were there, they speak their own language as you know, 658 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:47,759 Speaker 1: like just on teams. I mean, you speak and we 659 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:49,319 Speaker 1: speak our own language. And I want to make sure 660 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:54,440 Speaker 1: that the camaraderie and that brotherhood is intact, and we 661 00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:57,280 Speaker 1: provide opportunities, you know, to go back where they can actually, 662 00:34:57,320 --> 00:34:59,400 Speaker 1: like you remember, talk about it with their brothers and 663 00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:01,879 Speaker 1: find that clothe year. You know, there's been so many 664 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:05,480 Speaker 1: guys who um, it's like Russell Pickett, I mean he 665 00:35:05,560 --> 00:35:08,680 Speaker 1: was honored if you watched the speech last year by 666 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:11,279 Speaker 1: Donald Trump, you know, at the Omaha Bee Cemetery for 667 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:15,239 Speaker 1: the seventy fifth anniversary of D Day. Russell Pickett um, 668 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:17,640 Speaker 1: who came with us on program one of the seventeen 669 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:20,360 Speaker 1: ddors Can Look on program last year, was recognized an 670 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:24,080 Speaker 1: honor and honored by the President and he's never ever 671 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:27,439 Speaker 1: gone back and he's part of the Bedford Brothers and 672 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,200 Speaker 1: uh first Wave Omaha Beach you know, you know the 673 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:34,160 Speaker 1: whole story and never talked about it, never you know, 674 00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:38,120 Speaker 1: never come back. And we provide an opportunity for him 675 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:41,279 Speaker 1: at no cost to come back and to finally have 676 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:43,839 Speaker 1: that closure. All you want to do was go right 677 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:47,200 Speaker 1: back to his objective that he was supposed to you know, 678 00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:50,200 Speaker 1: to hit but unfortunately got blown up and he hit 679 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:54,400 Speaker 1: a flamethrower. Is pretty special. And yeah, so it just 680 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:57,960 Speaker 1: you know, look um, his story is is on our 681 00:35:58,080 --> 00:36:00,520 Speaker 1: side as well. I mean, it's just just need to 682 00:36:00,520 --> 00:36:04,680 Speaker 1: give you know, him that opportunity. And unfortunately Mr Pickett 683 00:36:04,680 --> 00:36:08,680 Speaker 1: passed away last month and I'm just really happy that 684 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:12,720 Speaker 1: before he passed he was able to to have that closure, 685 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:16,000 Speaker 1: you know, to close that book with his brothers and 686 00:36:16,080 --> 00:36:19,759 Speaker 1: sisters to you know, to to help him for the 687 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:22,120 Speaker 1: rest of his life, and to go back to his 688 00:36:22,200 --> 00:36:26,839 Speaker 1: old detective and all the people. Yeah, to see all 689 00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 1: the people that were there. I mean there's thousands of 690 00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:30,759 Speaker 1: people there just to shake their hands, you thoughtograph kiss 691 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:32,520 Speaker 1: the other cheek and just say thank you, you know, 692 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:35,080 Speaker 1: because they don't forget out there. I'll tell you that 693 00:36:35,080 --> 00:36:37,040 Speaker 1: that they don't forget and it's really great for them 694 00:36:37,080 --> 00:36:40,560 Speaker 1: to see that on that level that that's so awesome. 695 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:42,400 Speaker 1: I would love to go on a trip like that 696 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:45,880 Speaker 1: someday because I know my own dad, I mean, he 697 00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:51,680 Speaker 1: never talked about the war, uh, you know, the entire 698 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:56,240 Speaker 1: time that, you know, until he passed away, even after 699 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:58,719 Speaker 1: I was in the military I had come home, you know, 700 00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:01,440 Speaker 1: we we talked about certain things, and he would tell 701 00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:04,200 Speaker 1: me funny stories about, you know, some of his friends. 702 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:08,240 Speaker 1: I never knew anything that he had actually done until 703 00:37:08,280 --> 00:37:10,640 Speaker 1: after he passed away and some of the guys came 704 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:16,040 Speaker 1: to the to the wake in his funeral, and that's 705 00:37:16,080 --> 00:37:18,920 Speaker 1: when we started learning all this stuff. And the driver 706 00:37:19,120 --> 00:37:22,360 Speaker 1: of his tank and to me this book that my 707 00:37:22,440 --> 00:37:25,759 Speaker 1: father is in, and he's like, what about your father? Now? 708 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:29,520 Speaker 1: I would love to have a conversation with them about that, 709 00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:32,120 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, at least get 710 00:37:32,120 --> 00:37:33,960 Speaker 1: it down on video. So that's what we do. So 711 00:37:34,200 --> 00:37:37,759 Speaker 1: we have a whole, you know, a whole you know, 712 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:41,319 Speaker 1: a database of interviews that we tried to record these 713 00:37:41,360 --> 00:37:44,239 Speaker 1: stories so we could have them forever. You know, once 714 00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:45,879 Speaker 1: you get it down on video, you hit their story 715 00:37:45,960 --> 00:37:48,719 Speaker 1: first person, you have it forever in perpetunity, you know, 716 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:52,200 Speaker 1: to to pass it onto the next generation. And part 717 00:37:52,239 --> 00:37:55,440 Speaker 1: of the educational aspect of what we do is so important. 718 00:37:55,760 --> 00:37:57,080 Speaker 1: You know, we've got to make sure that the next 719 00:37:57,080 --> 00:38:00,160 Speaker 1: generation doesn't forge, you know, doesn't forget about what this 720 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:02,040 Speaker 1: greatest generation did, and all the people that you know 721 00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:04,520 Speaker 1: that serve this country do um. Every time we have 722 00:38:04,560 --> 00:38:07,960 Speaker 1: a program UM, we always always go to you know, 723 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:10,799 Speaker 1: at least one or two schools and always connect with 724 00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:13,320 Speaker 1: the generation as the next generation so they can see 725 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:16,480 Speaker 1: firsthand and talk to the veterans. So no matter where 726 00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:18,520 Speaker 1: we go around the world, I mean, we always make 727 00:38:18,560 --> 00:38:21,480 Speaker 1: a point to do a school visit as well, because 728 00:38:21,880 --> 00:38:24,520 Speaker 1: as you know, it's it's it's it's imperative and it's 729 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:27,720 Speaker 1: very important. Yeah, and we're losing so many of those 730 00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:31,480 Speaker 1: World War two vets every day, and uh, you know 731 00:38:31,640 --> 00:38:35,240 Speaker 1: it's it's once their stories are gone, they're gone forever. 732 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:37,160 Speaker 1: That's why I think what you guys are doing with 733 00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:41,040 Speaker 1: you know, taping them is so important. I think, uh, 734 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:44,799 Speaker 1: because that now their stories will be you know, they'll 735 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:49,520 Speaker 1: be told forever, and I think we need more of that. Yeah, 736 00:38:49,560 --> 00:38:52,959 Speaker 1: you know, because uh, gone but never forgotten, right, so 737 00:38:53,239 --> 00:38:55,040 Speaker 1: we always want to continue to tell their story. That 738 00:38:55,120 --> 00:38:59,400 Speaker 1: keeps them alive, right, And uh, it's really important, you know. 739 00:38:59,520 --> 00:39:01,640 Speaker 1: And when I see some of the guys that we did, 740 00:39:01,719 --> 00:39:05,239 Speaker 1: you know, we've done us you know, stories on and 741 00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:07,799 Speaker 1: now that they're gone, it's even more special to hear 742 00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:11,040 Speaker 1: from them from there, you know, from their lips. You know. 743 00:39:11,040 --> 00:39:13,239 Speaker 1: It's just it's just important. It's just really special, and 744 00:39:13,239 --> 00:39:14,960 Speaker 1: I'm glad that you know that we are doing that. 745 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:17,360 Speaker 1: You know, all the veterans on our program, you know, 746 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:20,560 Speaker 1: we um you know, we do background on them and 747 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:22,399 Speaker 1: do an interview and we do a card for them, 748 00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:24,520 Speaker 1: and it's just it's really good depth. It's great for 749 00:39:24,560 --> 00:39:26,680 Speaker 1: the family. It's great for their veteran, especially some of 750 00:39:26,680 --> 00:39:29,520 Speaker 1: the guys who never really talked about it or knew 751 00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:32,279 Speaker 1: anything about it. We we do the research and we're 752 00:39:32,280 --> 00:39:34,719 Speaker 1: able to tell their story for their family forever, you know, 753 00:39:34,760 --> 00:39:37,280 Speaker 1: it's there forever now. I just looked at that opportunity 754 00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:40,680 Speaker 1: to do it for my grandfather before he passed. And yeah, 755 00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:45,160 Speaker 1: and you said he was a Pearl Harbor vet. Yeah, yeah, 756 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:50,080 Speaker 1: did did he ever go back? Uh, well, he went back. 757 00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:55,359 Speaker 1: That's where his ashes were spread, you know. Um, yep, yep, 758 00:39:55,560 --> 00:39:57,840 Speaker 1: yeah about that, Pearl Harbor Um. He passed away in 759 00:39:57,840 --> 00:40:01,560 Speaker 1: two thousand and four and you know, full honors there 760 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:04,239 Speaker 1: and Pearl Harbor he wanted his ashes he spread back 761 00:40:04,280 --> 00:40:06,919 Speaker 1: with his brothers that he lost, and so he's there. 762 00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:10,320 Speaker 1: So every time I go to Pearl Harbor Um and 763 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:14,239 Speaker 1: I go to Hawaii, always pay my respects to my grandfather, 764 00:40:14,600 --> 00:40:18,240 Speaker 1: you know, and it's always special to me. But yeah, 765 00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:20,120 Speaker 1: so during the war and forty one, I mean he 766 00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:23,480 Speaker 1: was at Schofield Barracks and um, you know, part of 767 00:40:23,480 --> 00:40:26,879 Speaker 1: twenty imagery back then. Um, so he's in the army 768 00:40:27,880 --> 00:40:32,680 Speaker 1: during the attack. That's uh, that's fantastic. And one of 769 00:40:32,719 --> 00:40:37,360 Speaker 1: the other things you're doing is obviously of great interest 770 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:41,680 Speaker 1: to me, the transition training camps, because you was in 771 00:40:41,800 --> 00:40:44,399 Speaker 1: your website you mentioned there's a critical need to help 772 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:49,600 Speaker 1: recently retired Special Forces operators to return to civilian life. 773 00:40:49,600 --> 00:40:53,399 Speaker 1: And tell our listeners a little bit about this. Well, 774 00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:55,279 Speaker 1: it's very similar to what we're doing right now in 775 00:40:55,280 --> 00:40:57,960 Speaker 1: the NFL. You know, like life after the game, it's 776 00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:01,120 Speaker 1: tough sometimes it's hard to navigate yourself do this. So 777 00:41:01,360 --> 00:41:03,600 Speaker 1: what we wanted to do was to bring you know, 778 00:41:03,640 --> 00:41:06,480 Speaker 1: what I've learned and what's been helpful and successful in 779 00:41:06,520 --> 00:41:09,680 Speaker 1: the NFL to our guys, especially here in San Diego. 780 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:12,960 Speaker 1: That was you know, just just to talk talking to 781 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:15,440 Speaker 1: one of the our our our Navy seals here and 782 00:41:15,440 --> 00:41:17,000 Speaker 1: he's like, oh God, I wish we had something like 783 00:41:17,040 --> 00:41:19,560 Speaker 1: that in place for us when we got done. And 784 00:41:19,680 --> 00:41:22,160 Speaker 1: that's how it started and what it is just like 785 00:41:22,239 --> 00:41:25,480 Speaker 1: it's bringing the guys together, right, So we're all together 786 00:41:25,520 --> 00:41:27,640 Speaker 1: talking about the brother of the camaraderie, and we have 787 00:41:27,680 --> 00:41:30,560 Speaker 1: speakers you know, coming in and helping guys but also 788 00:41:30,719 --> 00:41:34,240 Speaker 1: like you know, helping them and being you know, advocates 789 00:41:34,320 --> 00:41:37,000 Speaker 1: of giving them the direction of where they need to 790 00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:38,839 Speaker 1: go because there's so I mean, as you know, there's 791 00:41:38,840 --> 00:41:42,840 Speaker 1: so many different organizations that are out there that are 792 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:45,640 Speaker 1: you know, that are doing stuff, but sometimes it's hearts 793 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:48,120 Speaker 1: and like navigate, Okay, where do I go? How do 794 00:41:48,160 --> 00:41:50,680 Speaker 1: I do this? So we provide that where that person 795 00:41:50,719 --> 00:41:54,399 Speaker 1: who provides that that pathway you know, for the guys 796 00:41:54,440 --> 00:41:56,920 Speaker 1: to go down, and uh, we're gonna be doing our 797 00:41:57,320 --> 00:42:00,760 Speaker 1: We're gonna be doing another program here the first quarter 798 00:42:01,400 --> 00:42:05,520 Speaker 1: of U up next year, if you know, depending on coronavirus. 799 00:42:05,560 --> 00:42:08,319 Speaker 1: But it's just really important. Yeah, it's really important and 800 00:42:08,320 --> 00:42:13,080 Speaker 1: really excited about that. That's great. And uh, you know 801 00:42:13,160 --> 00:42:17,080 Speaker 1: you mentioned that how you videotape everything. That's uh one 802 00:42:17,080 --> 00:42:20,240 Speaker 1: of the things that you guys also have on your website, 803 00:42:20,760 --> 00:42:26,120 Speaker 1: preserving that living history. And I think that is so important, 804 00:42:26,440 --> 00:42:30,719 Speaker 1: especially you know, um, so many, like I said, they 805 00:42:30,800 --> 00:42:33,839 Speaker 1: were losing them by the hundreds every day, and it's 806 00:42:33,920 --> 00:42:37,440 Speaker 1: so important that these guys are all that generation. They 807 00:42:37,480 --> 00:42:41,439 Speaker 1: don't like talking about themselves, you know, it's like it's 808 00:42:41,480 --> 00:42:45,279 Speaker 1: tough getting them to talk. But once you do, their 809 00:42:45,320 --> 00:42:49,000 Speaker 1: stories are all amazing, aren't they? Oh my gosh, Yeah, 810 00:42:49,040 --> 00:42:50,959 Speaker 1: I work. You know, we have a series that's coming 811 00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:53,359 Speaker 1: out that's been out, I think one of the third 812 00:42:53,400 --> 00:42:56,239 Speaker 1: series now. It's uh, it's pretty incredible because you hear 813 00:42:56,239 --> 00:42:58,759 Speaker 1: it exactly from them, and like like you said, once 814 00:42:58,800 --> 00:43:01,440 Speaker 1: you get them talking where they feel comfortable and all 815 00:43:01,480 --> 00:43:04,000 Speaker 1: of a sudden, it all comes out. And I've been 816 00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:06,640 Speaker 1: really lucky to be privy, you know, to set the 817 00:43:06,760 --> 00:43:09,359 Speaker 1: environment the guys that feel safe to talk about these things. 818 00:43:09,360 --> 00:43:12,160 Speaker 1: Because I've been involved in some little pow wows where 819 00:43:12,480 --> 00:43:15,000 Speaker 1: you know, he got pretty hot and heavy, and you know, 820 00:43:15,040 --> 00:43:17,400 Speaker 1: guys are hugging each other and tears are going and 821 00:43:17,560 --> 00:43:20,399 Speaker 1: smiles are going and just like you know, let things 822 00:43:20,440 --> 00:43:22,440 Speaker 1: off their chest and getting that closure that they never 823 00:43:22,480 --> 00:43:25,360 Speaker 1: discussed or talked about. I mean, I won't go to 824 00:43:25,400 --> 00:43:27,200 Speaker 1: it right now, but I mean some of the guys 825 00:43:27,200 --> 00:43:29,160 Speaker 1: have been holding on to this for a long time 826 00:43:29,200 --> 00:43:32,480 Speaker 1: and finally, you know, in their twilight years of life, 827 00:43:32,480 --> 00:43:35,040 Speaker 1: we're able to find an environment with their brothers where 828 00:43:35,040 --> 00:43:37,400 Speaker 1: they could talk about it and be okay with that, 829 00:43:37,520 --> 00:43:40,120 Speaker 1: not be judged about things, and to finally get off 830 00:43:40,120 --> 00:43:44,400 Speaker 1: your chest. And I gotta tell you, it's it's special. 831 00:43:44,680 --> 00:43:46,520 Speaker 1: And I remember looking to my team and since this 832 00:43:46,600 --> 00:43:49,440 Speaker 1: is exactly why we do what we do, we just 833 00:43:49,480 --> 00:43:51,720 Speaker 1: provided that opportunity for that, you know, for that vetteran 834 00:43:52,040 --> 00:43:55,879 Speaker 1: and special. I mean, it really is. It's special. Now, 835 00:43:56,160 --> 00:43:59,440 Speaker 1: this is a totally nonprofit foundation that you have. How 836 00:43:59,440 --> 00:44:03,719 Speaker 1: many folks are working with you on this, Well, we're 837 00:44:03,719 --> 00:44:06,160 Speaker 1: all volunteers, so no one's getting paid here. We're a 838 00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:09,279 Speaker 1: full five of one seed three nonprofit. So money that 839 00:44:09,360 --> 00:44:11,720 Speaker 1: comes in, all the donations that come in go directly 840 00:44:11,760 --> 00:44:15,040 Speaker 1: back out to our veterans, and um, you know, it's 841 00:44:15,080 --> 00:44:17,840 Speaker 1: important to us. And because we've already we've already been paid. 842 00:44:18,320 --> 00:44:20,680 Speaker 1: We've already been paid. You know, we got this tremendous 843 00:44:20,680 --> 00:44:23,000 Speaker 1: freedom in his life, and it's just a service that 844 00:44:23,040 --> 00:44:25,480 Speaker 1: we do to give back and to honor, to recognize 845 00:44:26,200 --> 00:44:29,120 Speaker 1: women that serve it's important and to raise awareness as well, 846 00:44:29,160 --> 00:44:30,440 Speaker 1: because I think a lot of people just take it 847 00:44:30,440 --> 00:44:32,680 Speaker 1: for granted what we have. So I'm trying to use, like, 848 00:44:32,719 --> 00:44:35,600 Speaker 1: you know, my platform being a former NFL player, to 849 00:44:35,880 --> 00:44:38,720 Speaker 1: just make people aware about Hey, man, you're in America. 850 00:44:38,760 --> 00:44:41,040 Speaker 1: You're in the greatest country in the world. You're free. 851 00:44:41,800 --> 00:44:44,239 Speaker 1: You know, you're a victor. You're not a victim, You're 852 00:44:44,239 --> 00:44:46,600 Speaker 1: a victor. You want to take advantage of the opportunity 853 00:44:47,120 --> 00:44:50,439 Speaker 1: only in America. I mean, I'm living proof. Think about 854 00:44:50,480 --> 00:44:52,800 Speaker 1: I'm living proof. I'm one of eleving kids. I'm welfare. 855 00:44:53,280 --> 00:44:56,720 Speaker 1: You know, I'm the American dream. Thank God for people 856 00:44:56,719 --> 00:44:59,720 Speaker 1: that served to give us this opportunity to change our lives. 857 00:45:00,560 --> 00:45:02,560 Speaker 1: So I recognize that I don't forget that. I never 858 00:45:02,600 --> 00:45:04,960 Speaker 1: forget where I came from and and this opportunity that 859 00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:07,080 Speaker 1: I had to play football and too, you know, to 860 00:45:07,160 --> 00:45:09,200 Speaker 1: be talking to you right now. I mean, who knows 861 00:45:10,040 --> 00:45:12,520 Speaker 1: the opportunity wasn't there in my leg or be today. 862 00:45:12,600 --> 00:45:14,840 Speaker 1: So I'm very grateful and I'm aware of it, and 863 00:45:14,880 --> 00:45:17,600 Speaker 1: I just want to spread the awareness to other people 864 00:45:17,600 --> 00:45:20,319 Speaker 1: who just take it for red. Yeah, and you know, 865 00:45:20,480 --> 00:45:25,839 Speaker 1: and right now, it seems like in this time of 866 00:45:25,840 --> 00:45:30,400 Speaker 1: our history, it seems like a lot of people aren't 867 00:45:31,480 --> 00:45:34,239 Speaker 1: joining the military because it seems like a lot of 868 00:45:35,000 --> 00:45:38,680 Speaker 1: like sons are following fathers. Like you said, your family 869 00:45:38,760 --> 00:45:43,439 Speaker 1: was all military. We're having like almost a cast of 870 00:45:43,880 --> 00:45:48,280 Speaker 1: military type families, and a lot of Americans really aren't 871 00:45:49,440 --> 00:45:53,720 Speaker 1: taking that step forward and and joining and serving their country. 872 00:45:53,800 --> 00:45:57,600 Speaker 1: It seems. Yeah, I don't know why that is. I mean, 873 00:45:57,640 --> 00:46:00,719 Speaker 1: do you know why that is? I don't. I wish 874 00:46:00,760 --> 00:46:03,279 Speaker 1: I knew the answer. I'd probably be a really rich man. 875 00:46:06,040 --> 00:46:08,200 Speaker 1: Well stenly not in San Diego. I mean, I think 876 00:46:08,200 --> 00:46:10,560 Speaker 1: it's a big, big military town here, so I know 877 00:46:10,680 --> 00:46:13,200 Speaker 1: there's a there's quite a few here. I think when 878 00:46:13,200 --> 00:46:15,279 Speaker 1: it's around you, you're aware of it. But you know, 879 00:46:15,320 --> 00:46:17,279 Speaker 1: like everything in life, out of mind, out of side, 880 00:46:17,280 --> 00:46:20,040 Speaker 1: I guess, you know, And it's never that way in 881 00:46:20,080 --> 00:46:22,279 Speaker 1: my eyes. You know, when my sisters spent you know, 882 00:46:22,360 --> 00:46:24,759 Speaker 1: almost a year in Iraq and when she has a 883 00:46:24,800 --> 00:46:28,160 Speaker 1: six year old son. You know, she's divorced and trying 884 00:46:28,200 --> 00:46:31,080 Speaker 1: to like find a way where her son's gonna you know, 885 00:46:31,200 --> 00:46:33,759 Speaker 1: stay go to school and moving around the country to 886 00:46:33,840 --> 00:46:38,200 Speaker 1: different family members. I understand, you know, it's tough, that sacrifice. 887 00:46:38,239 --> 00:46:40,040 Speaker 1: It's tough, and plus she has to go out and 888 00:46:40,080 --> 00:46:42,719 Speaker 1: do her job as well along, you know, trying to 889 00:46:42,719 --> 00:46:45,880 Speaker 1: worry about what's going on with her son back home difficult. 890 00:46:46,000 --> 00:46:48,320 Speaker 1: I understand that. I see that, So I understand that. 891 00:46:48,440 --> 00:46:51,319 Speaker 1: You know, you know, this is it's never out of mind, 892 00:46:51,320 --> 00:46:53,080 Speaker 1: out of side with me, because it's real. You know, 893 00:46:53,200 --> 00:46:55,080 Speaker 1: this is you know, this is a real feeling and 894 00:46:55,120 --> 00:46:59,400 Speaker 1: a real deal family. How can you know anybody of 895 00:46:59,400 --> 00:47:01,799 Speaker 1: our listen is that are out there if they want 896 00:47:01,840 --> 00:47:05,160 Speaker 1: to donate, how can how can they go about doing that? 897 00:47:05,800 --> 00:47:10,120 Speaker 1: And uh, you know giving something back to a foundation 898 00:47:10,200 --> 00:47:14,919 Speaker 1: like your own that can help with these programs. Yeah, 899 00:47:14,920 --> 00:47:17,560 Speaker 1: it'd be great to to help continue our you know, 900 00:47:17,560 --> 00:47:21,240 Speaker 1: our mission to honor, recognize, and celebrate our veterans um 901 00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:24,759 Speaker 1: either going on our website b DF dot org b 902 00:47:24,920 --> 00:47:28,560 Speaker 1: DF dot org and just go to donation link there. Um, 903 00:47:28,600 --> 00:47:30,440 Speaker 1: like I said, it's a full tax rout off five 904 00:47:30,440 --> 00:47:33,560 Speaker 1: of one C three or you know, just melot check 905 00:47:34,040 --> 00:47:37,600 Speaker 1: over to our business address and we will receive it. There. 906 00:47:37,600 --> 00:47:40,360 Speaker 1: What you'll get a letter, um enough tax receipt for 907 00:47:40,440 --> 00:47:43,160 Speaker 1: your records and everything like that. But you know, anything 908 00:47:43,239 --> 00:47:45,520 Speaker 1: and everything helps, you know, as you know, it's been 909 00:47:45,520 --> 00:47:48,200 Speaker 1: a tough year this year. We're not able to do 910 00:47:48,239 --> 00:47:51,200 Speaker 1: our fundraiser this year. UM to want to continue the 911 00:47:51,239 --> 00:47:56,520 Speaker 1: mission and keep everything going. So everything is is definitely greatly. Um, 912 00:47:56,600 --> 00:48:00,040 Speaker 1: you know I needed for sure, So I really appreciate it. 913 00:48:00,120 --> 00:48:05,400 Speaker 1: If so. UM, I see you on your your website 914 00:48:05,480 --> 00:48:09,600 Speaker 1: as a picture of your grandfather, UM at Pearl Harbor 915 00:48:09,640 --> 00:48:14,719 Speaker 1: in one holding a pineapple. I love that. Yeah right 916 00:48:14,760 --> 00:48:19,800 Speaker 1: hey mom, look I'm in Hawaii, right Yeah, that's awesome. 917 00:48:19,920 --> 00:48:22,440 Speaker 1: I mean we I think all of us did stuff 918 00:48:22,480 --> 00:48:24,960 Speaker 1: like that. That's why when I saw the picture on 919 00:48:25,000 --> 00:48:28,279 Speaker 1: your website, I was like, oh, yeah, we've all done that. 920 00:48:28,360 --> 00:48:32,160 Speaker 1: Because when you're in some place exotic, especially coming from 921 00:48:32,200 --> 00:48:36,120 Speaker 1: like I grew up in Boston, so anything like uh 922 00:48:36,320 --> 00:48:40,319 Speaker 1: you know, tropical, how to send a picture home. So yeah, 923 00:48:40,440 --> 00:48:42,920 Speaker 1: I mean he's nineteen years old, you know, I mean, 924 00:48:42,960 --> 00:48:46,120 Speaker 1: I mean in Hawaii. I mean, he didn't travel anywhere before. 925 00:48:46,440 --> 00:48:49,480 Speaker 1: You know, we let alone have a pair of shoes. Um, So, yeah, 926 00:48:49,600 --> 00:48:51,279 Speaker 1: that was a big deal. You know. You look at 927 00:48:51,320 --> 00:48:54,160 Speaker 1: that and it's pretty iconic. I love the picture too, 928 00:48:54,200 --> 00:48:56,520 Speaker 1: because you know for a fact where he was at 929 00:48:56,560 --> 00:48:59,440 Speaker 1: that time. You know, Um, I think he's told me 930 00:48:59,520 --> 00:49:02,680 Speaker 1: in one to and too. I think uh, I think 931 00:49:02,760 --> 00:49:06,839 Speaker 1: his UNI uh received the M one duran's before um 932 00:49:06,920 --> 00:49:08,520 Speaker 1: the war started, so I think he was one of 933 00:49:08,520 --> 00:49:11,520 Speaker 1: the first units to see them one grant. And there's 934 00:49:11,520 --> 00:49:13,719 Speaker 1: another picture on there where he's cleaning them one grand 935 00:49:13,760 --> 00:49:18,359 Speaker 1: as well. It's pretty cool. That's awesome. Yeah, you know, 936 00:49:18,480 --> 00:49:24,000 Speaker 1: and you you have pretty good staff there and they're 937 00:49:24,000 --> 00:49:28,120 Speaker 1: all helping out and you know, so I know that, 938 00:49:28,400 --> 00:49:32,879 Speaker 1: you know, because of the coronavirus. Your fundraiser this year 939 00:49:32,960 --> 00:49:38,600 Speaker 1: was off. What do you got planned for? Yeah, well, 940 00:49:38,640 --> 00:49:40,640 Speaker 1: it's tough, I mean right now, you know, I mean 941 00:49:40,640 --> 00:49:44,120 Speaker 1: even what our education initiatives like we are just doing 942 00:49:44,320 --> 00:49:48,839 Speaker 1: you know zoom you know, you know zoom programs. Now, 943 00:49:49,000 --> 00:49:50,840 Speaker 1: you know, for education is stive because we can't be 944 00:49:50,880 --> 00:49:54,640 Speaker 1: in school because normally for veterans month, you know, we 945 00:49:54,760 --> 00:49:57,320 Speaker 1: do take a veteran to school and bring veterans to 946 00:49:57,440 --> 00:50:00,080 Speaker 1: schools to talk to the kids and do assembly and 947 00:50:00,120 --> 00:50:02,680 Speaker 1: do breakouts and then the classroom and yeah, so all 948 00:50:02,680 --> 00:50:05,680 Speaker 1: of that, you know, it's all been counseled. Pearl Harbor 949 00:50:05,680 --> 00:50:07,839 Speaker 1: has been counseled. I mean a lot of the commemorations 950 00:50:07,840 --> 00:50:11,000 Speaker 1: and programs have been counseled. Um, And there's really no trouble. 951 00:50:11,040 --> 00:50:14,480 Speaker 1: I mean, as Americans who really can't travel, um, you know, 952 00:50:15,760 --> 00:50:20,040 Speaker 1: very many places, so that aspect is you know, is limited. Um. 953 00:50:20,080 --> 00:50:22,920 Speaker 1: But um, you know, we just have to keep, you know, 954 00:50:23,480 --> 00:50:25,800 Speaker 1: keep moving forward. I mean, I think it's affecting everybody 955 00:50:25,880 --> 00:50:27,520 Speaker 1: right now. It is changing. It's going to wrinkle on 956 00:50:27,520 --> 00:50:30,080 Speaker 1: everybody's plans right now. But you know, we'll get through this. 957 00:50:30,320 --> 00:50:31,840 Speaker 1: I'm not worried about it. We'll get through it, and 958 00:50:31,880 --> 00:50:36,280 Speaker 1: we'll just keep going right. And on your website it says, 959 00:50:36,440 --> 00:50:40,640 Speaker 1: you know, besides twenty two years of giving back, you 960 00:50:40,680 --> 00:50:45,000 Speaker 1: guys have traveled over half a million miles um for 961 00:50:45,040 --> 00:50:48,759 Speaker 1: the battlefield return. I think that's fantastic. And you know, 962 00:50:48,880 --> 00:50:51,640 Speaker 1: we as a veteran myself, we can't thank you guys 963 00:50:51,760 --> 00:50:56,439 Speaker 1: enough for giving back. I think that's uh, it's fantastic. 964 00:50:56,480 --> 00:51:01,000 Speaker 1: It's always nice to be remembered, you know. Uh as 965 00:51:01,040 --> 00:51:04,759 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, you know people, I'm sure you 966 00:51:05,000 --> 00:51:07,800 Speaker 1: come across people that remember you from your playing days. 967 00:51:08,160 --> 00:51:10,680 Speaker 1: It is nice to be remembering thanks for your service. 968 00:51:10,760 --> 00:51:15,760 Speaker 1: So and yeah, it is speaking for all of our veterans, 969 00:51:16,480 --> 00:51:20,440 Speaker 1: we we thank you very much for that stuff like this. 970 00:51:20,600 --> 00:51:24,200 Speaker 1: I love reading about stuff like this, taking back to 971 00:51:24,280 --> 00:51:27,000 Speaker 1: the you know, especially those World War two battle sites. 972 00:51:27,040 --> 00:51:29,200 Speaker 1: I know you guys had one going to the Battle 973 00:51:29,200 --> 00:51:33,720 Speaker 1: of the Bulge not too long ago, right, yeah, that yeah, 974 00:51:33,760 --> 00:51:36,440 Speaker 1: I mean the Battle of the Bulge. We uh GiMA 975 00:51:36,520 --> 00:51:39,719 Speaker 1: this year got counseled. I mean, yeah, it's just been Yeah, 976 00:51:40,680 --> 00:51:42,960 Speaker 1: you've been tough, you know. Um, you know, we had 977 00:51:43,480 --> 00:51:46,439 Speaker 1: a program going to Hawaii for the end of World 978 00:51:46,440 --> 00:51:50,200 Speaker 1: War Two on September two, just you know, last month, 979 00:51:50,600 --> 00:51:53,920 Speaker 1: and we had twenty Pacific veterans going back with us, 980 00:51:54,400 --> 00:51:56,319 Speaker 1: and you know, we had it all a doubt in 981 00:51:56,880 --> 00:52:00,200 Speaker 1: and we got our own trouble Bubble Hotel airplane, so 982 00:52:00,320 --> 00:52:02,360 Speaker 1: only hard group would be together, and you all the 983 00:52:02,360 --> 00:52:04,200 Speaker 1: guys be together, so who was all playing? And then 984 00:52:04,640 --> 00:52:08,759 Speaker 1: the governor six days out and the Emerald the Navy. Uh, 985 00:52:08,800 --> 00:52:11,360 Speaker 1: they're in Pearl Harbor. Counseled it, you know, they counseled 986 00:52:11,680 --> 00:52:14,000 Speaker 1: six days out. And it was unfortunately because a lot 987 00:52:14,040 --> 00:52:15,960 Speaker 1: of these guys are really looking forward to getting out 988 00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:18,839 Speaker 1: of their house and you know, and and being part 989 00:52:18,840 --> 00:52:26,640 Speaker 1: of that commemoration. So that was unfortunately. Yeah, you know, 990 00:52:26,640 --> 00:52:30,360 Speaker 1: when they getting up there, it's not like they have 991 00:52:30,440 --> 00:52:33,560 Speaker 1: a lot of tomorrow's left, you know, right and you 992 00:52:33,640 --> 00:52:35,359 Speaker 1: talk to him, They're like done. He's like, I want 993 00:52:35,360 --> 00:52:36,960 Speaker 1: to go. I'm going anyway. I mean, what do I 994 00:52:36,960 --> 00:52:38,880 Speaker 1: have to lose what you're just you know, keeping me 995 00:52:38,920 --> 00:52:40,680 Speaker 1: a lot to stay in my house. I gotta live. 996 00:52:40,719 --> 00:52:42,840 Speaker 1: I'm ninety six years old. I gotta live. You know, 997 00:52:42,960 --> 00:52:44,560 Speaker 1: I want to go. I want to do I mean, 998 00:52:45,160 --> 00:52:47,080 Speaker 1: you know, and and I get it, trust me, I 999 00:52:47,120 --> 00:52:49,400 Speaker 1: get it. I get it. But I said, you know, 1000 00:52:49,480 --> 00:52:51,360 Speaker 1: start with all the respect is out of our control. 1001 00:52:52,160 --> 00:52:54,239 Speaker 1: Of course I would do it if it's safe and 1002 00:52:54,239 --> 00:52:57,000 Speaker 1: and it's gonna happen, but ultimately as out of my control. 1003 00:52:57,160 --> 00:52:59,919 Speaker 1: You know, this is this is up on the chain 1004 00:53:00,000 --> 00:53:01,680 Speaker 1: a little bit higher than me. But you know, we 1005 00:53:01,719 --> 00:53:03,200 Speaker 1: want to make sure that we do what we can 1006 00:53:03,280 --> 00:53:05,759 Speaker 1: for the guys. And you know we're and uh, I mean, 1007 00:53:06,120 --> 00:53:08,640 Speaker 1: um Korea is coming up next year if that goes off, 1008 00:53:08,880 --> 00:53:11,839 Speaker 1: and heading back to Vietnam with the Vietnam veterans as well. 1009 00:53:12,040 --> 00:53:14,200 Speaker 1: So I'm looking forward to next year if we can 1010 00:53:14,239 --> 00:53:18,640 Speaker 1: get through this coronavirus. Now, that's awesome and day, Johnny. 1011 00:53:18,719 --> 00:53:20,319 Speaker 1: I mean, I could sit here and talk to you 1012 00:53:20,360 --> 00:53:23,920 Speaker 1: all night long about the NFL, but I know you're 1013 00:53:23,960 --> 00:53:27,879 Speaker 1: a busy man, and we we want to really thank 1014 00:53:27,920 --> 00:53:30,799 Speaker 1: you for taking the time to join us here this 1015 00:53:30,880 --> 00:53:34,440 Speaker 1: afternoon because uh, we appreciate all of it you're doing 1016 00:53:35,040 --> 00:53:38,279 Speaker 1: and giving back to the veterans. I can't thank you 1017 00:53:38,440 --> 00:53:41,080 Speaker 1: enough for that, and thank you for taking the time 1018 00:53:41,120 --> 00:53:44,160 Speaker 1: with us on SOFTWAREPP. But before we go, I just 1019 00:53:44,200 --> 00:53:47,760 Speaker 1: wanted to I have to always read my little blurb 1020 00:53:47,800 --> 00:53:50,359 Speaker 1: here at the end. Hey, do you want SOFTWAREPP on 1021 00:53:50,400 --> 00:53:53,960 Speaker 1: your phone? Download our free mobile app and get easy 1022 00:53:54,000 --> 00:53:57,600 Speaker 1: access to all of our articles, podcasts, and gear reviews, 1023 00:53:57,640 --> 00:54:01,360 Speaker 1: all perfectly formatted to your device. Please subscribe to software 1024 00:54:01,520 --> 00:54:03,600 Speaker 1: dot com to get access to our library of e 1025 00:54:03,719 --> 00:54:07,880 Speaker 1: books and our exclusive team room forms and content available 1026 00:54:07,920 --> 00:54:12,400 Speaker 1: for all Apple and Android devices. Donny, thanks again for 1027 00:54:12,480 --> 00:54:14,640 Speaker 1: joining us. I mean, this was a pleasure for me. 1028 00:54:15,200 --> 00:54:17,080 Speaker 1: I was a guy that followed you in the NFL. 1029 00:54:17,400 --> 00:54:19,759 Speaker 1: I wanted you on the Patriots. I know that's not 1030 00:54:19,880 --> 00:54:22,520 Speaker 1: a nice thing, is to wish you on anybody that 1031 00:54:22,719 --> 00:54:25,120 Speaker 1: you know, want them to live in the frozen tundru. 1032 00:54:25,880 --> 00:54:27,759 Speaker 1: But I would have loved to see you in the 1033 00:54:27,800 --> 00:54:32,560 Speaker 1: Patriots uniform. Um. But even more so, thanks for all 1034 00:54:32,560 --> 00:54:36,120 Speaker 1: you're doing for our veterans. It's greatly appreciated. Man, You're 1035 00:54:36,160 --> 00:54:39,720 Speaker 1: a prince among men. No, well, thank you so much, Stephen, 1036 00:54:39,760 --> 00:54:41,759 Speaker 1: thank you for your service and all day and all 1037 00:54:41,760 --> 00:54:43,920 Speaker 1: the veterans that served this country. Thank you in the 1038 00:54:43,960 --> 00:54:45,839 Speaker 1: bottom of heart. And we're going to continue to raise 1039 00:54:45,880 --> 00:54:48,799 Speaker 1: awareness around the league and around this country to let 1040 00:54:48,800 --> 00:54:50,680 Speaker 1: people know that freedom is not free. It's because of 1041 00:54:50,680 --> 00:54:53,920 Speaker 1: the work that you guys do and and we're gonna continue, 1042 00:54:54,000 --> 00:54:56,680 Speaker 1: you know, bring awareness of that. So thank you, buddy, seriously. 1043 00:54:56,680 --> 00:54:59,879 Speaker 1: All right, man, Yeah, thank you. Yeah, And we want 1044 00:54:59,880 --> 00:55:01,880 Speaker 1: to thank all of our listeners for the list for 1045 00:55:02,160 --> 00:55:04,680 Speaker 1: tuning into today. Be sure to check out all of 1046 00:55:04,680 --> 00:55:08,160 Speaker 1: our articles on soft replica dot com. Uh, this has 1047 00:55:08,280 --> 00:55:11,720 Speaker 1: been a pleasure for myself, Steve Bals, Jorie, Donny Edwards, 1048 00:55:12,120 --> 00:55:15,880 Speaker 1: from everyone over there at Best Defense Foundation, thanks for listening. 1049 00:55:16,560 --> 00:55:18,960 Speaker 1: Don't turn that Dowal folks will be back with another 1050 00:55:19,000 --> 00:55:38,400 Speaker 1: show here real soon lose them listening to self repre