First off, how did you get into the media and newspaper business and what made you so successful at it?
When I left the Navy my dad had a contact at Knight Ridder – he knew the VP of human resources there. I interviewed and got the job in 1980 working in the operations department at the Miami Herald.
I liked operations – I liked the printing work and managing people. Newspapers at that time had large staffs and large budgets and I found the work interesting.
How were you able to adjust to the changing media landscape – especially sports coverage?
The impact of podcasts and social media have had a dramatic effect on sports coverage especially. Now media is on a 24-hour news cycle. I think it will just continue to move in that direction. It’s good for sports- it means there’s more understanding of the sports for fans and more entertaining than waiting for your newspaper to go clunk on your doorstep in the morning. But it is very disruptive to the business. There’s just not going back though.
Looking back, what was your role with the Navy – what did you do?
I graduated in 1973 and was assigned to a destroyer out of Norfolk. I spent three years on the U.S. Barney then the Naval Academy moved me to the physical education department where I coached football for the league – they had six-to-seven teams of guys that played football just not at the professional level.
In 1980 I left the Navy.
What were the big lessons you learned looking back on that experience?
I didn’t always enjoy it but it was a wonderful experience. I was deployed to the Mediterranean for six months. I was given the opportunity to lead men. It was intense, hard work. My problem was that I was married with a couple of kids and towards the end it was during the Cold War with Russia. That meant you were six months on, six months off. Being deployed every six months wasn’t conducive to a good family life.
You were drafted by the Steelers in 1973 but didn’t play for them – what happened?
The decision was really made for me. Back then you had a five-year obligation once you enlisted. Roger Staubach was the only player I know who was given a concession then – he only had two serve two years of active duty. He was a Heisman Trophy winner and was drafted by Dalas – so that all worked in his favor! I think David Robinson got a good deal to as a highly-regarded basketball player.
Now it’s totally different. Teams can buy out a player’s education for $400,000 or $500,000 and they can go right into playing. Or the Navy can sometimes defer their five-year active duty commitment to pursue another career. But in 1973 those weren’t an option. And I had no problem with it.
Why?
The Steelers had the Steel Curtain – there was no way I was going to get the chance to play for them! I wasn’t close!
I wasn’t overly anxious to give it a shot. I knew they had the best defensive line in football – I could name those guys even then. But it was nice to be drafted.
Did the Steelers try to help or convince you in any way to play – I know they helped other military draftees get deferments …?
I don’t think so, no. I did get a nice letter from Chuck Noll – he softly encouraged me to stay in the Navy. I had a good college career but I was a 16th round pick. I think the guy they picked before me was a basketball player. I think they were just trying to fill 17 rounds of players and drafted me for the notoriety!
Did you know the Steelers had any interest in you before you were drafted? How did you find out?
Somebody from the radio station called me. I had no idea they had interest in me. I had no expectation of even being drafted!
How would you describe yourself as a Defensive Linemen – I know they nicknamed you “The Tree”?
I was tall and lanky. I was 6’5″, 240 pounds. My advantage was leverage. I was a wrestler too – I won the Florida State High School Wrestling Championship. I stuck with football but I learned a lot on how to use leverage from wrestling.
Back then offensive linemen couldn’t use their hands – they had to keep them close to their chest. So that was a clear advantage for defensive linemen. We could use head slaps and all sorts of leverage techniques then.
You may have heard that the Steelers drafted their second player in team history from Navy – Eli Heidenreich – what advice would you give him as a fellow Navy officer?
I watched the kid at the Amry-Navy game – he’s talented. But I’d tell him to keep his options open. Pro football is a roll of the dice. I saw that he was a good player – maybe a bit undersized I don’t know – but other good players have tried as well. So my advice would be for him to keep his military options open if he can, but go and try to achieve his dream.
Lastly – do you watch the NFL today – any thoughts on the game?
I watch it. I have trouble sitting through a full game. Living in Charlotte, I’m a de-facto Panthers fan – so it’s been a tough go of it.
I like the game but with all of the betting opportunities now and money involved, it feels like a lot of fans are being blocked from going to games – its too expensive – the leagues care about making too much money. That’s the same in all pro sports. Billionaires own the league and teams. It’s still like the days of the Romans – every city has its own army and they fight each other- its exciting from that standpoint. But I lose interest quickly if the games aren’t good.