Howie Long
Lack of enthusiasm in the stands tends to be less inspirational on the field. It doesn't send the chills down your spine. It's not that magic moment that you dream about growing up.Collection: Inspirational
I'd never played on a team until high school. It gave me a sense of belonging, a focus, and helped build my confidence. I liked the feeling of accomplishment and the respect. Sports ideally teach discipline and commitment. They challenge you and build character for everything you do in life.Collection: Sports
Unfortunately, everyone thought that Teri Hatcher was my wife. Matter of fact, I would be with my wife, holding my wife's hand at a football game, and someone would come up to me and say, 'Hey, I love those commercials you do with your wife.' My kids almost had shirts made up that said, 'Teri Hatcher is not my mom.'Collection: Love
I'd cut school and go over to the Lori-Ann Donut Shop and eat doughnuts. I got a job at the pet store near Lechmere, unloading fish tanks. They gave me $10 for unloading a full long-bed truckload. I never broke a fish tank. When I asked for a raise, I got fired.Collection: Pet
My poor wife, we stopped on the way back to the suite after our wedding reception so I could pick up a jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread. I mean, I'm not a real exciting guy.Collection: Wedding
You can recover from a concussion in a week. But a knee injury can end your career.
People are nice in Seattle.
For a while here in L.A., we had a problem with the wave. They didn't quite know when to wave.
It's not like I'm a Buddhist or anything, but I think we've all got, to a certain extent, a predestined life. My journey took me from Boston to Philadelphia to Oakland to Los Angeles and then as a broadcaster. I've been fortunate.
With the Raiders, you walk a little bit of a fine line. It's hard to be objective, and it's hard to be critical.
When Hall of Fame voters decide who is inducted, it's a really difficult process. Players have to have an advocate in the room, and it's typically their own local beat writer.
As a broadcaster, I've always taken the approach that I want to be informed. I want to understand. It's easy to mail it in and throw a take out there.
I don't believe in beating people up just for the sake of grabbing a headline.
My grandmother is the type of person, I'd be down playing cards in the park, and she'd take the dog and walk down to the park, like 10:30 or 11 at night. I was 12 years old. She'd come down yelling for me. I'd be embarrassed in front of my friends. She'd grab me by the hair on my head.
I was a quiet kid. I was very introverted, believe it or not. I never spoke above a whisper. I was always, 'Yes sir.' I was raised that way.
I was a big kid who never played any organized sports. You played a lot of sports in the streets and I excelled at that, but I was never confident enough to go out for Little League. I was afraid I might get cut, or I might not be able to hit the ball.
I was uncontrollable. I didn't like school. I was younger than everyone in my class by two years. I had few friends. I never had a girlfriend. I was kind of a grandmother's boy.
I have always felt a responsibility to pay it forward.
I learned about FightSMA from a family in Virginia where I live. I was immediately struck by the great fighting spirit of the children and families involved in this struggle.
I'm far more nervous watching my kids play than when I played myself.
I'm a nervous dad.
I never thought about money when I was playing.
When I played, I thought I was one of the 10 baddest guys in the world and should change for work in a phone booth. You need to think that way.
Running backs like Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders, you were lucky to get a piece of them.
The week of the Super Bowl takes on a carnival atmosphere. There are so many media commitments. There are so many NFL commitments, buses being shuttled from here to there. You are practicing at unfamiliar places. You are asked to do things that are outside of the norm of your typical game week.
I usually wear my Hall of Fame ring on a more regular basis because it is more like a college ring. It is a little more understated. The Super Bowl ring is kind of loud, but I take great pride in those two things.
At the end of the day, it is not about money. It is not about cars. It is about legacy and it is about rings.
Philadelphia is a football town. Boston is a baseball town.
Do I miss the players? Do I miss the smell of the stadiums? Do I miss the adrenaline that comes from being there? I miss that a lot.
I went to Villanova.
Teams are often times a reflection of their coach both on the field and in the media.
Some guys, when they retire, they say they're doing it to spend more time with their family and then they do five other things.
I really did retire to spend more time with my boys.
For me, coaching in the NFL doesn't fit. I coach high-school football, so I get my fix.
It's important for kids to realize nothing is given to you.
I hate to admit it, but my family was on the back burner for a good part of my career. I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I took my VCR home, ate dinner, went to my room and watched five games. Four days after the Pro Bowl, I'd be at the gym. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Football was my way out.
The identity of the Raiders was linked to Oakland, and the identity of Oakland was linked to the Raiders. They're synonymous. It's one and the same.
I'm never one to question people's courage.
I got a concussion on the final play of a game, and I don't remember leaving the field. No one helped me off the field. Apparently I was on my feet and I just followed the crowd of players into the locker room. I don't know where I was or what I did for 10 minutes.
I come hard every play.
I had a mental block. I didn't think I could be successful at right end.
We had barracuda jackets and alligator shirts with the collars up. We were wearing the collar up before it was cool.
I'd never carried on a conversation with a black until college.
I like John Riggins. He's one of the guys I look up to. He doesn't try to change his act to suit his profession. He just gets the ball and tries to ram it down your throat. I respect that.
There is no easy way to greatness in any venue. But if you work hard, good things will inevitably happen to you.
I have this dying desire to be on top. I'm paranoid about it. It's almost a sickness.
When I talk to kids, I have a theme: If you work hard, life is easy.
You know, most of my friends are either dead or in jail. There were a lot of tragedies.
I'm happiest when I'm in a helmet.
I played 13 years. I did quite well in professional football. Therefore, I do not need.