MANDARICH ON GNR, GOLF, PILEUPS AND FIGHTING TYSON
Prior to appearing today at the University of Saskatchewan’s annual Dogs Breakfast, Tony Mandarich — who played college football at Michigan State, and with Green Bay and Indianapolis in the NFL — spoke with the Saskatoon StarPhoenix’s Dave Deibert, discussing his love for Guns N’ Roses, strange autograph requests, how he almost fought Mike Tyson, and more ... Q You’re a big fan of Guns N’ Roses ...
A The biggest.
Q You once named your dog after Axl Rose, even? So, if Guns N’ Roses were to play a private three-song concert for you, what do you choose?
A The No. 1 song I would want is Rocket Queen. Night Train. And ... oh man. Paradise City. Probably Paradise City. (Welcome to the) Jungle is up there, too. Only three songs? Tough.
Q You played in the Rose Bowl and an NFL playoff game, Big 10 conference games and almost 100 NFL contests. Better crowd atmosphere: college or the pros?
A Hands down, college. Doesn’t even compare. Not even to great NFL playoff football. Hands down, college football.
Q Most memorable autograph request from someone?
A (Laughs) I’ve signed ... well, I don’t want to put that in. I remember one time somebody wanted me to sign their Thanksgiving turkey on the skin with a Sharpie. I was like, ‘I’m not worried about you guys eating it because it will burn off but that’s just odd.’ They took pictures of it. It’s probably in a photo album somewhere. Q In your post-football life, you operated a golf course in
Ontario. Name three people, dead or alive, you’d most love to golf a round with.
A My answer ... would have been Tiger Woods 15 years ago but more so now because of what he went through and because he’s one of the best ever. I’ve golfed with Moe Norman. He’d come to our course all the time. I’d never heard of Moe Norman. I looked him up on the internet ... interviews with Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, saying he’s the best natural ball striker they’d ever seen. And probably, even though I’ve never met him, fellow Canadian Mike Weir.
Q What’s the most mindboggling thing you saw an NFL teammate blow big money on?
A Even myself had some unnecessary expenses (laughs). Probably a home entertainment system. You’re talking back in the early ’90s and a guy spent, like, $80,000. You’d think it would be 12 rows of theatre seating. No, it was the TV, speakers, surround sound, the sound proofing and, like they had in the old theatres, the big velvet curtains that come across. He had that (expletive) put in. It looked awesome but it was $80,000.
Q Dirtiest thing you ever saw at the bottom of a pileup?
A (Laughs) I remember a guy literally taking a guy’s toes and the bottom of his ankle and twisting it, trying to break it. Are you kidding me? I was at the bottom of the pile. I’m going, ‘(Expletive) stop,’ to my own player. He’s like, ‘(Expletive) you.’ There’s a time and place you’ve got to draw a line.
Q Who’s the player you shared a field with that left you most in awe?
A (Hall of Fame defensive end) Reggie White, by far. No brainer. He played in a different league. He was a man amongst boys.
Q How close did you actually come to fighting Mike Tyson? (Note: Mandarich, picked No. 2 overall in the 1989 NFL draft and one of the most hyped prospects in years, was offered a $5-million purse soon after the draft to fight then-undefeated heavyweight champion Tyson.)
A Closer than most people thought. It’s probably good that didn’t happen because I probably wouldn’t be here giving this interview (laughs).