OUTTAKES - DAN PATRICK AND BARRY SANDERS

Barry Sanders was never a huge fan of the media, but DP corraled him. That's better than most linebackers can do.

Barry Sanders tells Dan Patrick that he & can't please his dad, falls asleep on the bench, would like to play D, has NBA game, wants someone to do his laundry, admires O.J., (as a player), likes grass, doesn't know whose record he's chasing, and & is open to your advice

I have known Barry Sanders since the day in 1988 he announced he was leaving Oklahoma State after his Heisman-winning junior year. While he was leaving school early, he was late for the press conference. He doesn't relish the media spotlight, but he did have a good reason for keeping us waiting. His car broke down.

Since then, I have been to his house (very understated), played some hoops with him (not as good as he thinks) and met his parents (great people). Barry has become one of the few people I view as a friend more than as just another athlete. He knows that if he has 150 yards and two touchdowns, I'll still mention the fumble. What are friends for?

Barry and I recently got together to catch up. He's still no publicity hound, but, as you'll see, Barry does not evade questions the way he does tacklers. He's not scared of anything. Not Reggie White. Not John Randle. Not even the ghost of Jim Brown.

Dan Patrick: Do you have a deep desire to play another position?
BARRY SANDERS: Yes. I have a deep desire to play cornerback. I'd be a good one.
DP: Why?
BS: Because & uh & the last time you spoon-fed this one to me.
DP: I asked you about Deion Sanders. I mean, you're someone who doesn't like to be hit, so why would you want to be hitting
someone?
BS: That's why I'd make a perfect corner.
DP: So your idol, your prototypical corner, would be Deion Sanders.
BS: (Laughs.) I don't know about that. I don't want to rip Deion up like that.
DP: But he doesn't have to tackle anybody & right?
BS: Naw, man. Every now and then he'll grab somebody's shoestring.
DP: But he's never laid a hit on you, and you said, "Wow, that hurt!"
BS: No, he's not going to do that.
DP: So, no desire to be the quarterback or the wide receiver?
BS: Naw. None of that stuff. That's the easy part.
DP: Do you wish you could hit somebody some time? Because everybody is trying to hit you.
BS: Yeah, I would love to deliver a couple of blows on some people. Definitely.
DP: Anybody in particular?
BS: Maybe a guy like Reggie White. I'd like to have him play running back. I'd like to be able to deliver some blows on him. He's gotten his share on me.
DP: Do you think you could hurt Reggie White if he was running the football?
BS: Probably not.
DP: If you would make the same amount of money running a football or working with your dad putting roofs on houses, what would you do?
BS: It would depend who the coach is. Because my father was tough to listen to all day. And pretty much dealing with any coach is easy after dealing with my father. He was my coach up there on the roof.
DP: Give me an example of a conversation you'd have working with your dad on the roof of a house.
BS: My father would say, "Go get that board over there." And you bring back a board, and he'd say, "God dang it. I don't want the
two-by-four. I want the two-by-eight." You could never do anything right.
DP: Is he that way about your
football, or has he mellowed?
BS: He's mellowed a bit. I would say he's calmed down some.
DP: Are you the best athlete in
your family?
BS: My father would say he's the best athlete in the family.
DP: Even at age 61 he'd say that?
BS: Oh, yeah. He'd say I was slowly closing the gap.
DP: Will you ever be as good as
Jim Brown in your dad's eyes?
BS: Noooo. Not even close. No one has ever been in the same ballpark as Jim Brown, in my father's eyes.
DP: Does he remind you of this all the time?
BS: No matter what topic you're talking about. You can walk in and say, "Daddy, how are you doing today?" And he'll say, "You'll never be as good as Jim Brown."
DP: That's tough. Have you asked your dad what it will take for you to surpass Jim Brown?
BS: No. If I ask him that, it would just give him a reason to tell me why I'll never be as good as Jim Brown.

DP: Favorite running backs to watch?
BS: The Bus, Jerome Bettis. Because he's pretty nifty for a big man. Terrell Davis. He's explosive and he's like a ticking bomb for the defense. It's just a matter of time before he's going to do something exciting.
DP: Can you learn anything from another running back at this point? Can you find something in film to use yourself?
BS: I watch myself trying to correct little mistakes. But if there's someone out there who wants to offer me advice & I'm open!
DP: Can you have a conversation now without someone asking you about breaking Walter Payton's record?
BS: Yeah. My mother. She probably doesn't know who Walter Payton is.
DP: But anybody else you meet, they want to talk to you about Payton's record?
BS: Yeah.
DP: But you have to pass
Eric Dickerson first, don't you?
BS: Ummm & I have to pass
Eric Dickerson?
DP: Isn't he ahead of you on the rushing list?
BS: Hey, you're in the sports
business, you tell me.
DP: You don't know who ranks above you?
BS: You're in the business. Let's see some stats.
DP: I know, but &
BS: That's your job. You're supposed to have the numbers in front of you right now.
DP: I don't need them in front of me. I just asked you. I figured that since you only care about you and your stats, that you would know who you would have to pass.
BS: Oh. I only care about myself.
DP: But you have to pass Eric Dickerson first, don't you?
BS: Okay.
DP: Maybe not. Maybe I'm just
making it up.
BS: Sounds good.

DP: Have you started any work on a touchdown dance yet?
BS: One of the kids in my neighborhood gave me some ideas just the other day. We've been practicing. He says I have a long way to go.
DP: Do you have any rhythm?
BS: I think my rhythm is okay. If I'm going to do a touchdown dance, they'd have to come up with an appropriate song for when I score.
DP: It is a touchdown dance.
BS: Yeah. I've got to have some music to dance to. If they play a nice dance song, like Michael Jackson's Beat It.

DP: I have it on good authority
that you have fallen asleep on the bench &
BS: (Laughs.)
DP: & while the defense is on the field.
BS: (Still laughing.) Oh, man. I was dreaming about the next series.
DP: Well, you can dream with your eyes open, you know?
BS: But you get a fuller effect when you're unconscious and your eyes are closed.
DP: You actually admit falling asleep on the bench during an NFL game?
BS: Back a few years ago, we didn't have a very exciting defense.
DP: So they were out there a while?
BS: Yeah.
DP: Do you remember when you fell asleep? Or has this happened a
couple of times?
BS: Who remembers falling asleep?
DP: I didn't know if it was once or 10 times. And Herman Moore came over to wake you up.
BS: I can't believe he said that!
DP: At least you admit it.
BS: Well, I don't know if it was officially sleep. Or if I was dozing. There's a fine line there.
DP: Can you imagine if Mike Ditka was your coach and found out you fell asleep on the bench?

DP: Has there ever been a time when you were hit so hard you wanted to cry?
BS: Yeah. When I used to play with my friends and my older sister would play. And she would run straight through everybody. And we'd try to tackle her. And it was horrible. She was a couple of years older and she was bigger than everybody.
DP: So she would make you cry?
BS: Yeah. I would want to. Yeah.
DP: What is her name?
BS: Gloria.

DP: Do you still think you have enough game to play in the NBA?
BS: I'm hoping I'll get a call one of these days from a coach to invite me to a camp. I know they've heard about me through high school and some things I've done on the playground. The answer to that is yes.
DP: You've played with NBA players?
BS: Yes I have.
DP: So you think you could hold your own?
BS: I think they'd say the same thing.
DP: Give me some names.
BS: They're always asking me what the heck am I doing. How come I'm not in some camp or something.
DP: Give me some names who would back this up.
BS: Guys like David Robinson. You may have heard of him.
DP: Yeah, so David thinks you've got game?
BS: Ralph Sampson, I've played with him. But David, he would definitely give me his endorsement.
DP: But you're only like 5'7'' &
BS: What's that got to do with it?
DP: I've seen your skills. I mean, Spud Webb could jump. Spud could shoot a little bit.
BS: I'm more a power guard.
DP: A power point guard?
BS: Yeah. I think they may create a whole new position for me.
DP: Do you still do your own
laundry?
BS: Yes. Everyone does their own laundry. Of course.
DP: I don't.
BS: Well, I'm not married. Yet. So I still have to do my own laundry.
DP: Oh, I see. Once you get married, you'll just let your wife do the laundry. That's a good way to attract a woman. "I want you to do my laundry." That's great. Send your cards and letters to Barry Sanders.
BS: That's risky right there.
DP: I know it is.

DP: What are your thoughts on
O.J. Simpson, as a football player?
BS: Oh, he was a wonderful, graceful player. I was always glued to the TV when he was playing.
DP: What about as a person?
BS: I don't know. He's not a very good actor. (Titters.)
DP: Do you think he was acting in court?
BS: I think, since it was so close to Hollywood, everyone was sort of playing a role.
DP: Does it change your image of O.J., the football player, what has happened in his personal life?
BS: No. Not really.

DP: Are you a showoff?
BS: Not really.
DP: Because often guys who are shy off the field are demonstrative on it. It's almost like an alter ego. Is that the way you are? Or is it just your style that makes it look like you are showing off?
BS: Let me go talk to my psychiatrist and get back to you on this one. You went way out there on this one. Way out there, man.
DP: I am? But you're not a showoff. A showoff wears loud clothes and jewelry and has to have the fanciest car. But on the field, you display a feel for the game and drama that might lead people to think that.
BS: What's that got to do with anything?
DP: You don't think you're doing anything? Are you a different person on the field than off the field?
BS: I'm pretty much relaxed on the field. If somebody says something to me, I'll say something back.
DP: Has anybody tried to get up in your face on the football field?
BS: People try all the time.
DP: Who does? What do they say?
BS: Not to recall any names, but you hear stuff all the time &
DP: I like names.
BS: & about what you're not going to do, like, "It's not happening today."
DP: What does Warren Sapp say?
BS: Warren just gets up and does a dance. Hardy Nickerson used to talk when he first came to Tampa. He's more mellow now. He may do a late hit or punch you on the bottom of the pile. Stuff like that to intimidate you. You know who talks a lot? John Randle. He's just flat-out crazy. He has his face painted with this warrior paint. It's not just eye black. It's actual war paint-type stuff. Like he's going into a battle. He'll get in your face and say all kinds of craziness. He's going to rip you apart, this, that and the other.

DP: Do people still think you and Deion are brothers?
BS: People do. Yeah.
DP: What do they say?
BS: How's your brother, Deion? Or they just ask are we brothers, are
we related? I just say whatever. I say, yeah, he's doing fine. He's my brother. It's out of control.

DP: If you were going to put your running style to music, give me a group or band that would epitomize your style.
BS: How about Old Blue Eyes? No, that wouldn't work.
DP: Sinatra and you?
BS: No, that wouldn't work. Maybe Stevie Wonder. What do you think?
DP: It's your impression. You didn't want to hear my impressions about your alter ego and stuff like that. I'm not going to weigh in.
BS: So you're not going to help me?
DP: I don't want you to yell at me.

DP: Sosa or McGwire.
BS: McGwire.
DP: No explanation?
BS: Well, Big Mac. I mean the first time I heard of Sammy Sosa was this year. I'm not a huge baseball guy, but I had heard of Big Mac forever.
DP: If McGwire were going to play football, what position?
BS: Linebacker. Definitely linebacker.

DP: Grass or artificial turf?
BS: Grass.
DP: Aren't you better on turf than on natural grass?
BS: It depends on what I'm doing.
DP: How about running the football?
BS: Not necessarily.
DP: You're faster on turf, aren't you?
BS: Since we all play on the same surface, it doesn't do me any good to be faster on artificial turf, because we're all faster.
DP: So your style isn't better suited to artificial surfaces, the cuts, the stops, the starts?
BS: Not at all. I can make better cuts on grass. It's safer anyway.

DP: Super Bowl victory or all-time rushing record?
BS: Super Bowl.

DP: How important is winning? I know it's something you didn't do in high school or college and haven't been able to do in the pros yet. If your team is never going to win it all, can you be satisfied with your personal achievements?
BS: For me, winning and competing are pretty much the same thing. Most guys who are successful have that. Whether they win or not,
they are driven to succeed because they want to win, and you can
only control so much in this
profession.
DP: Does it hurt to watch a Super Bowl and see a running back like Terrell Davis be the MVP, or see Emmitt be the MVP and think, "That could be me"?
BS: I still feel I have a chance to go out and get it.
DP: You haven't given up total hope?
BS: No. I still have a chance to go out and make it happen. As much as
it's in my will to make it happen.

DP: Certain players see a play before it happens. They talk about guys like Gretzky, Bird and Magic having a sense of where people are going to be, what's going to happen in advance. Do you have a sixth sense?
BS: I'm not psychic. I think they're making it up, to be honest with you. Those guys were just good.
DP: So you're not thinking out there?
BS: I'm not totally brain-dead out there. That's why you practice every day. You develop certain habits, get your timing down, learn how to read defenses, how to read blocks. And sometimes you improvise. My college coach used to say, "Run where they ain't." I'm not psychic, and it's not like I'm going full speed and everybody else is in slow motion. I can't predict what the defense is doing-none of that stuff.

DP: Any defensive player you have feared? Maybe not outwardly, because you can't admit something like that. But inwardly you say, I have to stay away from this guy.
BS: Mike Singletary. Lawrence Taylor. They were getting older, but I was still intimidated by their presence. Ronnie Lott. Guys like that.
DP: They'd put a little fear in you. Is it okay for guys to run out of bounds instead of getting hit?
BS: (Laughs.) It depends on who's chasing them out of bounds. That's where the thinking part comes in.

DP: The most flattering thing another player has said about you.
BS: My first year, after we played the Giants. It was my first start. Lawrence Taylor came up to me and said, "If they get you a fullback and a tight end, you'll be unstoppable."
DP: You're still waiting for that fullback and tight end, aren't you? So I guess you're stoppable.
BS: That's pretty funny.
DP: I can say that kind of thing. You can't.

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