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http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/08/ricky-williams.html

Ricky Williams, teacher's pet

Whether they like to admit it or not, everyone has favorites.

Tony Sparano's favorite Dolphins player is nose tackle Jason Ferguson. You'll learn more about that when the Sun-Sentinel's special section comes out on Thursday. Make sure you pick that up considering it's a labor of love for us football writers.

It's obvious who Bill Parcells' favorite Dolphin is. Nobody even comes close to Ricky Williams, who often puts a smile on Parcells' face.

Parcells usually makes a point of pulling a player or two aside every few days to bless them with some of the wisdom he's gained over the years.

Ricky's the exemption. His one-on-one time with the Dolphins top brass is just about every day, and their exchanges have reminded Williams that not only can he regain his status as one of the NFL's elite tailbacks, he actually WANTS IT.

For one instance I'd like to step out of my reporter role and share something personal with you guys.

I've been hard on Williams because at one point in my life he was my favorite professional athlete. I related to him in a lot of ways, and at the time he was an inspiration for people with social anxiety disorder, and other types of psychological illnesses.

Then he became my favorite Dolphin. Then he broke my heart, just as he broke most of your hearts. Then he made it all good again by straightening up, and coming back. Then he let me down again and I swore I'd never trust him, or cheer for him again. That's real talk.

Then he came back AGAIN, but not because he loved the game. Williams came back to the NFL because he needed the money. I often questioned whether his heart was in this for the right reasons. Well, after a one-on-one conversation Williams finally convinced me that it was.

Unlike most athletes, Williams doesn't tell reporters what they want to hear. And he rarely gives the politically correct answers. He usually says whatever is on him mind, and what's in his heart, and that's why I believe him during our unfiltered conversation.

Q. Has football become easier for you?


A. “It’s become more essential, but it hasn’t become easier. I know what I have to do, but doing it is still a challenge.”


Q. Are you talking about the physical part?


A. “I know that if I want to be good I have to find a way to focus every day in practice, do the little things, and I have to take care of my body. If I do those things then I’ll be good. I don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”


Q. I’ve asked you this question before and I was a little troubled by the answer because it wasn't what I expected. So let me ask you again, are you having fun? You play this game because of what?


A. “I play this game because I’m driven to be the best at what I do, and this is what I’m good at.”


Q. Do you like the fact that this is what you’re good at?


A. “I neither like it or dislike it. It’s just what it is. I like the fact that I have an opportunity to be the best at what I do, and that’s what my motivation is. That’s what drives me. I’m just starting to realize that. That’s why I’m out here still playing. That’s why I’m doing this thing. That’s why I push myself. I don’t feel comfortable not striving to be the best. Not that I’m always going to be the best. It at least has to be a dream, something I can get a glimpse of.”


Q. What will it take for you to reach the point where you feel you’re successful this season?


A. “Any kind of success, whether it’s personal or team. If I don’t have the kind of success I want I can take pride in me being on this team had something to do with us winning games. When I came back in 2005, the fact that we won six games in a row and exceeded expectations, to me that felt good. That’s what I want again.”


Q. I've read that you said you're not driven to be the starter and it puzzled me. Can you explain you rational?


A. “For the most part I’m confident that I can play in this league. I can only control what I can do. I go out on the field and focus my energy on working hard. I don’t focus on who is the starter. I have to compete. I have to do this, I have to do that. If I just go and do my job, and Ronnie (Brown) does his job, it’s only going to make the team better. I’ve seen players compete against each other and it gets kind of dirty. For me, I know Ronnie can play, and I love watching him play. I know I can play, and I’m having fun, so there’s no need to get into the competition.”


Q. What is it like having Bill Parcells in your corner? (This question was asked after Parcells makes a scene trying to get Ricky's attention, and eventually keeps mimicking the Heisman pose until he gets a laugh out of Ricky).


A. “It’s good because he’s the boss. I feel like I have some security, but at the same time I feel like he’s always looking. In one way, that’s a lot of pressure, but it keeps me sharp. I know if I do something small the fans won’t see, my coaching might see, but I know I’ll hear it from coach Sparano. And I know I’ll hear it from Bill. It keeps me on edge. He says something about everything, even the little things. Especially the little things! It’s support. He believes in me so it makes it hard for me not to believe in myself.”

Here is my question to The Mob, which is my new name for you guys and gals in Dolphinsland.

Do you believe in Ricky Williams the person and the player? After all these years away from the game do you think he can return to Pro Bowl form? And what will it take for you to trust him again?

> Posted by Omar Kelly at 6:46:59 AM

I don't think I'll ever trust Ricky again, but I have to say he has looked awesome in preseason so far.  He looks like the old Ricky again.

I just question his motivation.  I wonder if his "drive to be the best" is enough to keep him away from the weed when he runs 13 times for 18 yards and a fumble.

I really like Ricky, always have.  I don't necessarily understand him, but I think he's being honest in how he answers these question.  We all complain when we get "canned" answers from athletes, but I'm beginning to understand why they do it.  If you give a response that deviates from the traditional sports cliches, people are uncomfortable.

I absolutely believe in Ricky Williams and his talent and will give 100% on the field.    The question about "trust" is a little different.  I trust that Ricky is a decent person trying to make it work.  That doesn't mean I'm confident that he won't do something that takes him out of football again. 

For Ricky's sake, I hope it works out in a way that allows him to redeem himself in the eyes of Dolphin fans and be content at the same time.

I FREAKING LOVE YOU, RICKY WILLIAMS!


-Signed,
The card carrying, jersey wearing, Ricky Williams torch carrying crew of TDMMC.

Dear Ricky,

Still have my jerseys.

XOXO,

Dan

I've still got a Ricky jersey as well.  Now I can wear it again.

(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/YoFuggedaboutit/IMG_0810.jpg)

I never stopped wearing mine.

I never stopped wearing my alternate orange ricky jersey either...but I'm usually the last person to crucify a guy for smoking ganja.

 I have ALWAYS loved Ricky Williams  :) ....he is an amazing RB, and it is a pleasure to watch him on the football field....I am PROUD to sport Ricky gear and say I am one of his biggest fans...So he smoked reefer, big fukkin deal!!!! 

ditto

I actually believe Ricky this time...weed has a funny way of effecting you...I did it for a looooong time and you feel like a new person when you quit...maybe not addictive but psychologically it can be...say if your running away from something or not wanting to move on to the next stage in your life...it keeps you in a pergatory of sorts...I kind of relate to what he's doing right now...he was always my favorite player (besides Dan) and I could never get on the "lets hate Ricky" bandwagon because it would've made me a hippocrate. Oh and I have the same alternate orange jersey.   :)

What's not to believe, really?  Ricky has never had problems with dishonesty.  The guy has a disorder and he likes weed.  But, he's straightforward about it.

Weed never had anything to do with my feelings toward Ricky. The way he quit football did  alter my opinion of him though.