|
No ordinary Joe
Going one-on-one with Montana
Posted: Friday March 24, 2000 05:14 PM
| |
Joe Montana (right) told CNNSI.com's Nick Charles that he has no coaching aspirations. CNNSI.com |
Now that's he's retired from the NFL Joe Montana has thrown himself in to a new venture. He's editor-in-chief of a new magazine called, "In the Redzone." Montana spoke one-on-one with CNN/Sports Illustrated's Nick Charles about the publication, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Dan Marino and much more.
Nick Charles : Whose idea was the
magazine and what void does it fill on the
sportsmarket?
Joe Montana : Well, I kind of came up
with this idea to try find a way to get back
close to the game that I love so much and
find a way to give back to the fans. I think
the void that it fills is trying to get the fans
and the NFL and the players and coaches
and all involved in it a little closer together
and give them [the fans] some insight.
Charles : Joe, now that you're back
in the mix, let's breeze through some
subjects. How is Kurt Warner been able to
rise from obscurity to NFL stardom?
Montana : I think he was lucky that
there were some other venues that were
able to keep him around so that coaches
and scouts could take another look at him. I
think he goes from playing in your living
room to going outside and playing in your
yard. It must feel like a monster field out
there to him. But you know, you start
working in tight quarters, one of the things
someone else had brought up and I hadn't
thought about, you try being a quarterback
in that short a space in the Arena League.
You've got to be accurate.
Charles : The Colts Peyton Manning
looks like the real goods. But he's a
second-year guy headed for his first playoff
experience. What would you tell him Joe?
Montana : Have fun. Because that's
what it's all about. The more he can try to
relax. You want to treat it special, but you
also want to just say, "Hey man, this is just a
another game. We can beat this team just
like any other team." You just have to have
confidence.
Charles : The 49ers let you go to
Kansas City. What are they going to do with
Jerry Rice? And what should they do?
Montana : I think they should try and
keep him in any way they can no matter
what they say. If they think he's something
he's still better than most receivers in the
league. And he is Jerry Rice and he
commands a certain amount of attention no
matter where he is. But on the other hand, is
whether their offer to him will be big enough
to keep him. And that will be a problem.
Charles : Steve Young said that
everybody wants to choose their own time to
leave. What should he do?
Montana : Well his is more of a
medical decision I believe and I think there's
something there that not everybody knows
about because they are being extra
cautious with him. I don't know whether
that's because of the repetitive injuries to
the head or maybe there's something a little
more. We don't know and I think only the
inside ones are the ones that know really
what's going on. I heard a terrible thing. I
hope it's not true that someone said they
heard them say, "Well we'll find someone to
clear him." That's not what you want. They
already don't know enough about the head
injuries to say how it's going to affect
people down the line if there is some
damage.
Charles : Have you watched Dan
Marino this season Joe and if you have,
what advice would you have for him and the
Dolphins as to that long-time marriage?
Montana : Well, I think if you are Dan
I want to play as long as you can because
you can't get back to it. He understands the
Dolphins side of it where they have to make
a decision. How much of it was because he
was hurt? When was he really hurt? It's
hard to tell because he's such a competitor.
Most of those guys don't want to come off
the field. And sometimes they'll have an
injury or so long before they'll ever tell. And
they're not supposed to do that.
Charles : What were the physical
signals that told you it was time to hang
them up?
Montana : Well when I got sacked in
Buffalo, and as I was going down I just
bumped up against somebody's leg. And it
was one of my concussions. But it was like a
lightning bolt went from one side of my brain
to the other. And I had never felt anything
like that. Plus it started to become a job to
go to work everyday instead of it being the
game that it was. I still enjoyed Sundays but
the other part was getting difficult.
Charles : Joe, how come you haven't
tried coaching?
Montana : I have four children and I
don't want 57 more of them [laughs].
Charles : So it has changed a little
bit?
Montana : It has changed a little bit,
yes. Their hours, the coaching hours are
just ridiculous.
Charles : You know you are going
into the Hall of Fame. It's a rubber stamp,
slam dunk as they say?
Montana : I've got my fingers
crossed. You never know what could
happen.
Charles : It would take another
Noah's Ark.
Montana :[laughs] Well, I appreciate
that. Thank you.
Charles : Joe, we appreciate your
time and good luck with the magazine and
the rest of your life.
Montana : Thank you very much. I
appreciate it.
| 
