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Q&A with Howie Long Posted: Wednesday December 04, 2002 12:49 PMThe 42-year-old Hall of Fame defensive lineman turned studio analyst for Fox's NFL Sunday hosts SI's Sportsman of the Year Show 2002 to be broadcast Sunday, Dec. 8 at 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox.
SI: Best defensive player you ever played with? Long: Probably Ronnie Lott or Ted Hendricks. SI: Best person you've ever interviewed? Long: Warren Sapp.
SI Long: Like it or not, it's a reality of professional football and has been since the beginning of time; when your quarterback throws an interception and you're an offensive football player, your head better be on a swivel. People will say it was 25 yards away from the play, but how many times have we seen a running back or a defensive back after an interception reverse field and go all the way? The real question is: Was it necessary? That's the $10 million question.
SI Long: Be yourself. John Madden gave me that advice.
SI Long: It helped me understand the level of toughness it takes to be successful and to sustain that success over a period of time. SI: How much did you hate Todd Marinovich? Long: I liked Todd Marinovich. He was a good kid who just, unfortunately, came to a fork in the road and went in the wrong direction. But I thought at heart he was a good kid.
SI Long: I didn't have any money. When I was in college I was working at a place called Kelly's in Philadelphia, carrying kegs of beer and sweeping the floors for $10 a night. A stromboli was about all I could buy. SI: Jimmy Kimmel: comic genius or major annoyance? Long: Probably both. There are times when he is extremely funny and extremely annoying. I'd be lying if I said there haven't been times when I wanted to choke him. SI: As a viewer, should I trust Jillian Barberie with the weather? Long: Yeah. Weather's a big thing. The Weather Channel is a big thing. My three sons and my father-in-law -- she's very popular with them. I would trust her.
SI Long: We're sitting here right now watching with a big bowl of popcorn and nine television monitors. SI: What's the better motivator: fear or pride? Long: They go hand in hand. The fear of failure is probably what drove me more than anything. SI: How disappointed were you that Firestorm was not nominated for a Golden Globe? Long: I was happy with Firestorm. I liked it. Of course, Terry calls it Firecracker, Firestarter or Brainstorm. SI: Who's the best ex-football player turned actor? Long: Can we say Burt Reynolds? He was a college football player, but The Longest Yard and some of his other movies, that was good stuff. SI: What's the better Bradshaw movie: Cannonball Run or Hooper? Long (to Bradshaw on the set of Fox NFL Sunday): Hey, Terry, the question is, 'What's the better Bradshaw movie: Cannonball Run and Hooper?' Bradshaw: That movie has yet to be made.
SI Long: I don't know who would win, but I do know one thing -- he's buying dinner with all the money he made from that grill.
SI Long: I meant that my blueprint for success in the entertainment business was Arnold, because you'll never see anyone promote a project like he does. He's a walking promotion.
SI Long: I didn't hang out with Christian much, but John and I were kind of joined at the hip. There's a reason John has been successful: John is cool. Period. He's great with the guy who drives him to the set. He's great with the guy who serves lunch. He's great to everyone.
SI Long: We went to Italy and Germany. We did a show from the USS Harry S. Truman and stayed on board. Terry and I bunked together and, by the way, he is not a boxers guy. Unfortunately for me. --Richard Deitsch Issue date: Dec. 9, 2002
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