Merlin Olsen Quotes
Our whole philosophy was to intimidate the quarterback. We were able to do it. We were pioneers. People still recognize us as, maybe, the best defensive line of all time.
I was always the last one chosen for football games in Central Park.
The basketball coach cut me within two days, so I was back in the pool. I was the first one in the wall after the first 25 yards, but the last one out because I didn`t have a flip turn.
It took me a while to realize that basketball wasn`t football.
I was captain and should have set the example. I would lift a minimum of weights. Mine was natural physical strength. I always thought quickness and agility were much more important.
After a few games I knew I was going to be able to compete. The idea of being a star never crossed my mind.
I had a hockey puck and stick-the only ones in town. I definitely would have played hockey ahead of football, had it been available.
I`ve caught fish as big as I am. I`ve caught marlin close to 300 pounds.
I probably played hurt a lot more times than I should have.
Team doctors` jobs those days were to keep you on the field.
Nobody cared about swimming. You could draw a crowd for basketball.
Most exciting for me was to make the Pro Bowl in 14 of 15 years.
Our coach was absolutely out of his head. He must have read Bear Bryant`s book. We had 78 players out. The first day 35 quit. Twenty quit the second day. We ended with 17 players. It was depressing.
I just wanted to be an athlete.
One of life`s most painful moments comes when we must admit that we didn`t do our homework, that we are not prepared.
You are the land. The land is you.
I can ski out of my back door.
I bet I made close to 20 tackles because nobody on either side knew what they were doing.
When a man lies, he murders some part of the world.
Football linemen are motivated by a more complicated, self- determining series of factors than the simple fear of humiliation in the public gaze, which is the emotion that galvanizes the backs and receivers
