|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
10 Questions Packers Hall of Fame center Larry McCarren
Posted: Monday November 29, 1999 09:16 PM
The Fiend caught up with former Green Bay Packers center Larry McCarren in the 3Com Park press box prior to tonight's game. McCarren played for the Packers from 1973-84, and has been a television and radio personality in Green Bay since his retirement. He was elected to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1992. 1. What is your best memory of playing for the Packers? It was the whole process. It's a privilege to play for the Packers, even in bad times. There is nothing like it. It's not a sport, it's a religion. People care about what you do, they care about every guy on the team, they care about more than just the guy who scored the touchdown. It's a privilege, the whole process was just great. 2. How would you describe Green Bay to someone who has never been there? They never would get it. What they have to do is go to Lambeau Field and go to one game and then they'll get it. Then they'll understand that this is truly a different animal. Everybody likes to say that they have the best fans -- baloney. And they have the best place to play -- baloney. You come to Lambeau Field one time and then you'll know. Then you'll have seen football gods. 3. How have you made the transition into television and radio? Well, it's been a long time now, so it's no longer a transition, it's a career. But it's always hard when you walk out of the locker room not bleeding and sweating with the guys, you're not one of the guys. And you have to accept that. And even though I'm close to it now, I'm not part of it, and have to accept that. If you try to be one of the guys because you are covering the team, that's a mistake. You are on the outside looking in, which is fine. You can't do it forever, and you have to accept that. 4. What was your playing weight, and how much do you weight now? When I walked out of the locker room for the last time I was 270-something. I'm about 205 now, depending on lunch or dinner. 5. Would you be able to play by today's standards? Certainly not. I could be a very, very slow defensive back by today's standards. It all depends on the era. The game gets bigger, stronger and faster all the time. The guys today are better than my era, and we were better than the era before that. But it's all relative to who you are playing against. 6. How would you describe the Packers-49ers rivalry? It's been a good rivalry over the past few years, but actually for most of this decade. There is some luster off of tonight's game because both teams have struggled from time-to-time during this season, the 49ers more so than the Packers. But certainly it is what's developed into a postseason type of rivalry and they've had some terrific games. 7. What is your favorite road city to travel to? As a player, I was a dull guy. I didn't appreciate the travel at all. It was just kind of get there and get caught up on your sleep. But as a broadcaster, I enjoy the ocean trips where you get to see the ocean, like San Francisco and San Diego. I enjoy that because it's so different from our part of the country in the Midwest. There's actually mountains instead of hills. 8. What is the best movie you've seen lately and the best book you've read lately? Anything that's black and white that's on AMC and involves World War II. I don't go to movies very much. I'm reading Tom Clancy's latest, and I've read every one of his. I just enjoy all of his books. Everyone he's got out I've read. 9. Did you see "Saving Private Ryan"? Yes I did. It was too violent for me. I like the black and white ones where the good guys win and there's not too much gore. That kind of stuff -- very simple. 10. Do you own a Cheesehead? No I don't. I'm not into those outward displays.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
