Not only was Simeon Rice a standout in college and the pros. He's a Super Bowl Champion and a movie director. There is nothing this man can't do and he talks to LaVar Arrington about growing up his early days on the South Side Of Chicago all the way to the red carpet in Hollywood. Find out how he wanted to be the next Walter Payton, but he turned out to be one of the baddest Line Backers to play the game. The NFL Hall Of Fame is just around the corner for this man! .
UP On GAME Presents Conversations With A Legend. LaVar Arrington is sitting down with the best from the field, the stage, and beyond. These are intimate conversations and storytelling with legendary humans about their lives and successful careers. In this episode, Arrington talks with Super Bowl Champion Simeon Rice
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
I love Game.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
It presents conversations with a legend, best of show.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
And now here's LeVar arringte.
Speaker 4 (00:12):
It's up on Game Presents conversations with a legend.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
And I got my man it's a myth.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
Yes, he is the legendary Simeon Rice Man, appreciate.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
You coming in stop it by giving a little bit
of time. Good brother.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I had to my my my fellow, big Kim bro Stag,
why you know, indeed why not?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
This this podcast is not about talking about the football
aspects of things. This is more so about where where
you are in life, the things that you're doing to
bring attention to lessons that you operate under based upon
(00:58):
you know, when we were coming up upon when we
played and and that's what up on Game presents is
with conversations with a legend.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
So let's start right here.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Know you're from Chicago, ended up playing your ball, born
and raised.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I know you played your ball at Illinois.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Is a fighting at LINI man, one of the dopest
defenses you know, with Dana Howard, yourself, cav.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Hardy, I mean just a who's who, a litter.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Of just a flunk of just dope football players that
that level of accomplishment and expectation. How did that play
a part in your career to start off with, Like,
because Chicago people know, Chicago hard knows. So how did
(01:50):
that play into your mindset and just how that that
led into you know, your college as well as.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Your pro career.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Now, when you say that, I like answer specific question.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Sure, how far from Illinois did you grow up?
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Well? Three hours?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Three hours?
Speaker 1 (02:08):
So yeah, for me, it was it was It was
fun and I never wanted to go to Illinois.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
I wanted to go to I wanted to go to
Notre Dame. Actually I wanted to go to Florida, State
of Michigan, but they didn't recruit me. So wow, then
I wanted to play Michigan. Yeah, so that's how that happened,
and I was a running back. You know, so a
lot of things that kind of like transformed itself. But
I would say more of the transformative years with me
(02:34):
growing up in football was a lot of the things
that I took from off the block, the neighborhood, the community.
And what I mean by that is like I grew
up around vice lords and Mickey Kobras. So when you
go into these when I went to Moncomba High School.
Donovan mcnabby, he was our quarterback, young quarterback. Yeah, d
he was our quarterback, but he was a second stream
(02:54):
quarterback and he was a young kid. Antoine Walker went
to my high school as well. Him and Donovanue same
high school. Basketball all that. So with me coming out early,
you know, and I was I was a little bit older.
I was like two years older than them, two three
years older than them actually, and me going to my
own como, I think that's where it's the first.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Start because I went there. I was recruiting. Yeah, we
went state all four years. It was really good.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
I went there with the president of mind of playing
running back. I wanted to be just like Peyton. Peyton
was my guy. You know, everything Peyton did I did,
you know, the workouts, you know, and you know we
had MJ in the city as well. But I wasn't
really turned down by basketball. But that was kind of
where I was kind of like having a lot of success.
But I loved football. I mean I loved it. My
(03:42):
uncle was got drafted early, you know, back in the seventies.
You know ac Clarence Ross, you know, he was he.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Was that guy.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
So he turned me on to that game, but I
really didn't like it. I love football, and again I
thought I was gonna be scoring touchdown.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
When they moved me to d defense, it broke my
heart almost, But it was just one of those things.
And then when I went started playing football, I think
a lot of the things that the ride on the
football field was not getting pumped. It was the south
side Chicago was the mentality I brought on the football
field with, like you're not gonna pump me, you know, besides,
(04:19):
doesn't matter, I'm taking on comings. Because when I first
came out, I was the undersized as they said, the
undersized rushbacker and what position.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
I was going to play and things like that. So
when I came in, I came in with a sense
of urgency.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
So I had a legendary coach, Frank Lenny, and I
learned everything from play football with your head in your heart,
hit to the whistle football is it was became life.
It was more reflective of your family, the name on
your back, the community you're from, and I was I
was ingreatiated with that early so much in life that
(04:56):
doctrinated my thinking with it. So it was more than
just football. It was always about sending a message, you know,
and it was all about representing your family and yourself
and God and everything else that was made.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
I never did. Early on, we were going.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
To play the games, and this is like my junior
year and I'm on the varsity, and I.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Never forget going prior before the game either started.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
We'll have our our in our we have our our
our meeting before the game.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
And guys be in that meeting.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Crying and I'm in the back room and I'm laughing
because I didn't get it, you know what I mean.
I'm like, this is just a game, you know what
I mean? Everybody crying and then you know, you guys
talk about.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
My father just died. This is for him. I came
out of this situation. This is for this situation.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
They was dedicating all these these moments that they were
going to have with these memorable moments in their life,
and they it was so much that they.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Brought it on the film. We blasted everybody.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
We play East Saint Loui was one of the best
schools in the country, beating those guys, and with all
that in mind, I started I went from laugh to
start picking some of this stuff up. You know, started
getting serious about the game, like this is this is
football is a mindset. That's what I learned out of
that and I and then with with me going to
Mount Cromwell and also from being from Rosa, south side
(06:20):
of Chicago, I brought all of those different aggressions on
the field and then they played out. They played out
perfect and played out beautiful. I wasn't highly recruited coming
out of Chicago, didn't get recruited by all the schools.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
That I kind of wanted to go to. UH, I
wound up getting Louisville, louis I went in to visit Louisville.
It was Snellenberger was the coach. I never forget. I
went in and I was like, you gonna let me
play running back?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Was like yeah, I was like what he what height
were you?
Speaker 1 (06:50):
I was six fol I was like yeah. Then then
then I went to Boston College.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Went to visit Boston College and UH, coach's coach your
coach jats rights.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
Yeah, I was oh, Coughlin coach, Coughlin coach.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
And so when I went on campus, I went but wow,
So when I went on campus, I get the campus.
I get.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
I hooked up with this little chick coach Coughlin coaching
defensive cord of it.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
I don't know if he came in. They set me down.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
They was like, when you come here, you're gonna definitely
red shirt that. And I was like, yes, I won't
be coming the Boston College. So a lot of the
guys that I that I looked up to was already Illinois.
And on my visit there was a guy named Mickey Johnson,
one of my teammates.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
It's like, what are you coming here? Now? I was
like a rush linebacker and he was like, that's my position,
you transfer.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
I was like, all right, but I didn't think, you
know nothing. I didn't know what red shirt mean.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
I just thought it was dope.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I wanted a red shirt. But then you know, I
didn't red shirt. I was a true freshman started, you know,
lit the world on fire, and I really didn't look
back after that. To be honest with you.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yeah, now.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Again, you you've been I mean, obviously I don't even
really think about Mount Carmel, but you have. You've been
blessed to be around pretty much stone cold ballers your
entire career. Yeah, and being one it is just like
you was widow them and you got to experience you
like you was one.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Ye. Yeah, how I mean how does that? How did
how does that work for you?
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Like?
Speaker 3 (08:26):
How how how was that for you?
Speaker 2 (08:29):
That's a good question, Bro, because it's interesting because looking back,
we are our team, in particular our defense, we had
the most shutouts and we tied for the most shutouts
and for the history of Illinois football, you know, we
shut out I think nine ten teams, ten teams and no,
nine teams are ten teams.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
And when we.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Came off the field, the third team defense gave up
a score and that was the first time score if
we would have broke the right and we wanted that record.
So for me and mine is in football. I was
always a part of the number one defenses ever since I've.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Been in there. So there's a factor for this. It's
your boy, you know what I mean, fat down on
the front.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Yeah, I mean from Illinois, going to Illinois and we're
going into prominence there. And and keep in mind, I
was looking at when I when I left, I was
looking back at you, like, Yo, what's the man you
played with?
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Courtney Lebrown?
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Yeah? Yo, y'all with him raises Bro, And I like
because I was like, I'm here so much. I'm getting
I'm gonna get back to me, But I'm here so
much about in the ten because y'all beat us, you
know what I mean when we were doing that thing.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
I mean, y'all were supposed to win. We came back
on y'all. I wasn't there yet, but I was game.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
So looking back though, I'm like, all right, Penn State
was always a throwing in my hell, you know what
i mean. And then I'm hearing about this kid that's
wrecking shop and they liked.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Me just like you because I'm like, let me go
back and look at this kid. They'll see you freak
over the line, you know, if you're a really great
pass rushing, if you like past rushing, you like athletic
type beep of the player. I mean, you were it.
That was. That was But y'all set the town You
cal hardy, y'all.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Y'all set the towne Yeah, y'all set the tone.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
But I'm just talking about how it all kind of.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Come full circle.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah, I wasn't. I wasn't watching Illinois. I'm not gonna
lie to you.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I wasn't when I left I'm not one of those
alumni like, oh, I got.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
To watch the school.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
I watched players, Bro, and I watched you, and I
watched you get down and.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Again the chance to tell you this. I liked how
you got down, Bron.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I appreciate that very much, and.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
You kept it going when you got to the league,
which I was most not. It gave me ability to talk.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
A little bit more ship, you know what I mean?
Big ten? Yeah, you know, I'm down in Florida and
they think it's all about I'm like, no, Bro, you
know what I mean. They don't throw them all like
that in the tent.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
For you to be able to get down like that
in a Big ten, you really, really really get so
many opportunities. That means crazy efficient, you know what I man.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
You're right, you're right, all right, So you're giving me
my props again.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
I just and it's it's it's one of the most
humbling things when when you hear somebody that that you
you watched and you looked up to hel you up.
But more importantly than the game you have, you have
done something that very few do, which is you're you're
enjoying your success and the things that you're doing post career.
(11:35):
But people, if people were paying attention, they would have
known that you were a personality that was transcendent of.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
The game from day one.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
You always been that dude that was overly charismatic and
stuff like that. Tell us about where you're at right
now and how all of those factors in playing the game,
how have they played into what you're doing now.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Okay, So when I was playing, you know, I was committed.
I was fully committed. I didn't have family, I had
a son.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
But I was I was married to the game. I mean,
I want to be the best of all time.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
I wanted to set the records.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
I wanted to do all those things. And then doing
all those things. So you play a long career, you know,
I want to win the super Bowl?
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Did that? You know, all pros and all that, did
all that. But I'm also thinking towards the end, I'm like,
you know, I want to be very gated. I want
to have the ability to come.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I want the same lifestyle number one. You know, so
lifestyle is necessary. So early on as a youngster, you know,
you trying to do things, and I had like all
my boys that I came up with. But you know,
They were ambitious for their reasons. I was ambitious for
my reasons. But and those ambitious didn't always line up.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
You know. And when I'm talking about this is I'm
talking about when.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
You're carrying all the dudes that you went to college with,
you grew up with. If you wanted them to be on,
you want it just as bad as to them as
they do. But then you find out they just really
don't want that bad. They looking at your pockets, they
looking at your black cards.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
They want to be you.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
You know what.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
I'm like, Oh man, So then you know I had.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
You had that bit where you have to kind of
distance yourself and you got to grow. And in that
process I never get going to towards towards the end
of my career.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
I was like, man, can I ball out the game
without my boys in? You know what I mean? I
had my first situation I'm driving the game by myself.
I never get how quiet it was, get to the game,
player of the game, all that.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Stuff, and I'm like, man, the show still go on.
I'm still doing my thing. But yet it didn't have
I was there was a celebration. I couldn't celebrate with
my boys like it was when I was twenty two coming.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Out of college.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
That was the fun part. But there was a certain
level of maturation that had to happen. And in that process,
I started looking at things I want to do. You know,
I said when I finished, I want to go to
film school, and I finished, want to make movies.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
I want to do things like.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
That, and again, more importantly, you know, I'm I think
I'm sophisticated in understanding enough to know how to invest things,
so I want to get into that too.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I don't know how.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I don't have a real sense of direction. It's not
like football because it's not my outside of filmmaking. Filmmaking
is a passion of mine, but you know, I don't
really have a clear precise target I'm hitting at like
I did with football, because the passion is the thing
that led me there. But it was like, all right,
now I could do it. I'm more a little bit
(14:35):
more psychological in terms of like how you invest. So
during that process, after I retired, I went to film school.
You know, I went to film school, and prior to that,
I was I was I was represented by.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
CIA, and I had one of the largest public relations
in the country that's out there in LA And I
sat down with those guys and you know, we.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Kind of like contisicated. We talked about what's next for me,
and I'm like, yo, I want to I want to
do this movie thing.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
So they set me down with Bruce Willis, I'm gonna
set it his film.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
When he was shooting his film, and I'm sitting down
talking to him about, you know, I want to direct movies.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
And all he did was talking to me about being
in them. Then I yeah, I want to direct him.
Then I met with what's my man name, Brett Reratner
and when he was directing, uh uh yeah, And I
met and I said, I met Jackie Chann and he
was childhood favorite Summer Sunday. So you know, Jackie Chan
(15:40):
and Chris Rock. I'm sitting down with those, not Chris Rock,
Chris Tucker talking to him, chopping him up, and Rock.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
Comes out pretty easily right now, though, yeah, yeah, to say,
yeah right, Chris, right with Chris, and.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
I'll be there for a bit. But I'm shadowing. I'm
shadowing Brett on the set.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
I'm shadowing, and it's like a day or two and
I'm like I'm not really learning anything, you know what
I mean? Like, I'm not he bringing girls in he
introduced me to and I'm like that's all good.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
But I'm here because I really learned to get it. Yeah,
I really want to learn the craft.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
I got all that other stuff you like, I did that.
I got all that. I can help you out in
that category.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
You know I'm not being taken serious, you know what
I mean? Like you can get in the door as
you can get in the door, LeVar Arrington is going
to get in the door.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
People want to meet with you.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
People want to talk about your past, Laurels, all the
things that you've done, the games that that inspired you,
let me get us.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
They just want to meet.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
With you, if not anything else, just to talk. And
I'm like, nobody taking me serious.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
I'm gonna go to film school and then be hard
people and agents like you don't have to do that.
I'm like, I do. I want to start I'm like
I don't if I want to. If I open a restaurant,
I want to start off sweeping the floor. I want
to know everything about it. I don't.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I don't care about if I can circumvent the circumstance.
I want the process and then the process I'm gonna learned.
So I enrolled in film school and went to New
York Film Academy and it was a student and I
was one buying all the pieces and that was my
flex all the pieces pieces like that.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Yeah, it was fun for me. I was like, this
is a cool process, you know what I mean. I
thought I was gonna be the oldest person in the school,
in the class, and I wasn't by far, you know
what I mean. You see people forty fifty years old
in film school and they all everybody's there that learned
in this process, and we're crewing up and we're doing
things like that, we jumping on red cameras and all
that stuff and write stories. And I started realizing, even
(17:40):
with my professor, even when you go there, all your
professors are giving you the resume. At the same time,
you have the ability to be fun to hire. Yeah,
so I'm like, you know what I'm learning.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
But I'm also understanding, like, because when you go to
school the second time around, at this point in my life,
it's like, I'm only.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Here because I want to be. Ain't nobody's making me
a motivation.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
Football is not motivating me, and it's rules over here.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
I'm here for what I'm for, right, I want to
be here.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
So in our process, I'm like, I'm learning myself and
I'm like, man, I'm pretty good at storytelling. I'm like,
I'm good at this. I'm good at writing our stories,
doing our stories, creating short stories, my stories. Like you
know from this what the students are like one of
the best in class. I mean, for one, let's be honest,
I could get all the production, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
If we need the Ferrari, if we need a dope
scene in the hotel, I can rent all that. So
then you know, and there's nothing to you know what
I mean. I'm like this because all of it. They
putting the pieces together. It's easy for me, you know
what i mean. And then once you've invested over ten years,
twelve thirteen years in the NFL, now you think about like, oh,
we need a scene in a coffee shop. Oh I
(18:57):
own a coffee shop, or right, you know a restaurant,
the restaurant in Florida, you know what I mean. Whatever,
You're like, I could shoot it there. I could do
this here.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
My boy on this bank over here, like we could
get any scene we want. So now I'm like, ooh,
this is a puzzle. This is dope, you.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
Right, So now all I need to do is create
the story, create the scenario and.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
All the pieces in place. So I was like yeah,
So I'm like I could do this all day.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
This is fun. I did it.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Yeah, And and the title was Sully.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Now tell me what what? What? What was it about? What
inspired it?
Speaker 1 (19:38):
What inspired it? Is? I wanted to put a well,
I wanted to I wanted to direct something. But what
inspired that story in particular is I wanted to put
a black female in a hero role where nobody had to.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Come for, where she had to figure out herself. And
when I was first pitching this, I was pitching.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Around him and we wrote it up. We wrote it first.
I wrote it and I'm like, yo, I want to
direct this. And I met with some of the.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Hollywood elites and they loved the story and he was like, yo,
you wrote this. They could they act like they was
acting like I copied off somebody work.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
I'm like yo, yeah. But the first thing I did
that I had success with where I was like, yo,
we just sold that was I partnered with Doug Ellen,
who created Entourage, and I sold a show called Hardwood
to HBO, you know, and I met with Doug Allen.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
First of all, I met with his I met with
another guy, Brian Shearan, And this dude was so egotistical.
So he was like an ego mania. I'm in Hollywood, bro,
you lived there, you know what I we ain't consume you,
all right, the sushi restaurant. So the meeting was set.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Up by my PR guy and they represent him as well.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
And when I got there, I sat down at the
table and I'm talking about this dude big timing on
another level.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Wow, like super big timing. But I was so taken
back that I found it entertaining, you know what I mean.
So he was doing he was doing two stories. He
was doing the story on Plexico, you know, coming out
to the present, and he was.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Doing the story I think it was with uh BT
with Michael Vick.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
So these are two.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
Controversial is my guy, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (21:33):
First of all, but it's controversy. So I'm telling him
what I wanted to do and film, and it was like,
you like all these other athletes that want to be
in Hollywood, and this that.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
And he's very dismissive. I'm sitting down. He's being super dismissive,
and I'm sitting here like I ain't never had a
little dude like this disrespect me this, yeah, and I'm
super bad and I'm laughing, athlete.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
I hate that. I hate what dude saying.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
He did that you. So he's first you start talking
about Plexico and how he started hisself and how he
worked with Flex doing this documentary about this whatever TV
show that Pat Flex had going on. So I'm sitting
here like okay. And then he started talking about Vig
and he was like, yeah, I'm doing this thing with
be Et with Michael Vick and so his getting his
(22:19):
start rising back to coming out of jail and this
and that. I said, well, listen, bro, I ain't you know,
I ain't never been in trouble with the law. You know.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
I'm hitting him with that, like I'm just trying to direct.
And then he's like, so what are you gonna do?
I said, I got this story, I got this store.
I'm I'm pulling off off off my bag.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
All the stories you've written, treatments that I've written. He's like,
I don't want to do this. I don't listen. I'm
not gonna work with you.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
So I was like, all right, man, I was like man,
and then I'm laughing, but I'm serious. I'm like, man,
you're mad, disrespectful bro.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
He goes on. The dude was crazy, disrespectful. You guys
don't know what you're doing. You don't he talking about me.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Then he personally started with you guys as a blank slate, abstract.
Then he went to me like, you know, you just
want to be this and he don't know me. We
just meeting each other.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
So I let him go on and on, you know,
and and and and.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Then I couldn't take it. My mom, And keep in mind,
we got Denzel and we have the governor there at
the time.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Arnold Swarzenegger. He was in the restaurant.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
This dude talked so crazy to me. I damned near
flipped the table over on them and I stood up.
At this point, I don't give a fuck. I don't care,
you know what I mean. I don't live there, and
this ain't my world, you know what I mean. And
I'm like, I'm only.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Here to get game.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
And they shaid, you was a good dude, but you mad, disrespectful,
so fuck you.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Right, So I'm up on my feet. I'm like, man,
who the fuck you disrespecting this and that? And then
he like, you know in the restaurant, the little waitress
go away. I'm mad him. Now I'm like, bro, I
just showed you nothing but respect. You disrespected me for
forty five minutes. I found it.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
I was laughing at it at first because I wanted
to see how far you was going to go, you
know what I mean. But I don't give a fuck,
you know. Then you know now all the all the
ship that has been born to me since I've been a.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Little kid like talk like that, yeah, because I'm like, bro,
I don't give a fuck about none of this ship.
Now you know this, this atmosphere is way too different.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Because people say you gotta be submissive for people to
want to deal with you, and in Hollywood, like it's
like this whole thing.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
I mean, I don't know about submissive, but I mean
maybe really yeah, bro, submissive like.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
Submissive like take take the way I'm talking to you, like,
enjoy it, Sime.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
And listen, bro, this is this is this ain't cocaine
in my bag. This is a script listen. You know
what I mean. This is business. Business is respects. I'm
gonna tell you this, and you're gonna buy it for
whatever the cost is. You know what I mean? You
want to do business with me? Yes or no? You
(24:58):
know that's it? Don't You don't have to be disrespectful,
you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Like, he already had a preconceived notion of what it.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Was he did. So what happened all the fellas when
I went off? He's like, listen, listen, calm down, and
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. He started apologize, and I'm like,
all right, Bro, I didn't come in. I'm like, Bro,
we represented by the same person. I didn't come in.
I didn't disrespect you, you know what I mean. I
could have you small in stature, I could probably, I know,
(25:28):
I could beat your ass. But I talk to you
like that, I'm not. I don't talk to people like that,
you know what I mean. So I'm sure I'm you
know this is what it is. So he's like, how
about if I do your favor, I can He's like,
I have a roommate from college.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
You know who Doug Allen is. I'm like, no, he's
gonna know who Doug. I don't know because I didn't
watch Entourage at the time. And then I was like, okay,
let me do my own, you know, and he's like,
he's the executive producer of Aunthroorage.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
I'm like, oh damn. So he's like, I'm gonna meet
I'm gonna get you him, and I'm gonna and he
coming at the table and he's like, yo, I'm with me.
And I was like, oh damn, just do something cool.
And then he's like, take my number and give me
a call. So I was like, damn, all right. He's like,
don't say I've never done anything for you. I'm all right.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
He's like, but I don't want anything to do with it.
I said, that's what he told me. I don't want
anything to.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Do with the project. Bro.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
So I talked to me and my partner. We're talking phone,
a producer partner. We rolled together.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
I said, listen, I got meeting with Doug. He know everything.
He live in Hollywood, he's working a producer out there.
What student. He's like, sim we gotta do this. I'm
We're like, I'm like, bro, how should we drive up
to the set?
Speaker 2 (26:37):
He said, here's the final shooting of entourage. So we're
going to like the party the final week.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
So I'm like, how should we drive up? Should we
drive up in the Ferrari? Should we drive you know
what I mean? Because you gotta make presentations to these show, you.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
Know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Like this? So what's driver? What's coming on with flask good?
He comes to drive up meet When.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
I first I called him and I was hesitant to
call him because of the guy met with.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
I'm like, I don't know, bro, these dudes be way disrespectful,
you know what I mean, Like I'm not in the business.
He got away with that. I'm not disrespect you know
what I mean, Like on no level. So I'm like,
I don't know. He's like, just give him a call,
give them call. So I give him a call. And
the dude was the nicest dude ever.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
He was He was going to his son's baseball game
and like, I'm just giving you Like he was annoyed.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
He was like, Yo, don't go to my son's baseball game.
I wish he was here with you. Go. I'm like,
damn this do something cool as hell, And he was like, yeah,
it's the final shot, won't you come down. I'm like, really, yeah,
just come down. Let us know when you want to
come down. You know we're shooting, we're going to be
wrapping up the show, but it'd be cool for you
to meet the you know, meet the cash and everything.
I'm like, all right, cool. So I get off the phone.
(27:49):
I'm like, yo, do jump in the car Da Ferrari,
get picked up my man. We go down to the
set and then I'm still he like, man, I don't know,
you know, Hollywood weird. They'd be like, let's do lunch
and never tell me. So I get there and keep
in mind talking to him prior, and he was like,
everything set for you. So we drive up.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
I'm still leary, and then the person let you in
the gates. He was like, yeah, you're on you know,
the guest list, all that down. Then I went when
we got to set, I went and set with all
the extras just because I'm like, I don't know where
to sit.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
I don't know. And then but he was like, yo,
waven like come over here. I sat in a director's
chair and he's like, look at this. Tell me what
you think. I'm like, he's mad. Cool, So he goes,
what do you got for me? I was like, Yo,
I got it.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
I wrote this thing called Real Life Entourages and Super Celebrities.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
It was a it was like a playoff Entourage.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
But it was like reality. And he's like, I don't
want to do reality. I'm like, oh, that's He's like,
what else you got? And I show him another show.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
A little Heartwood and looked at it. And then the
kid that plays Turtle on the set came over and
he's like, wow, what's this. He's like Redfield, I was like,
you wrote this. I'm like yeah. He's like, this is
this is He tells him. He's like, yo, come here.
Kid comes over, reads it. He's like he's like, this
is my next show, and then he left his set.
(29:10):
Fifteen minutes later, he said he reads it. Fifteen minutes
he leaves, and it's like, yo, I'm gonna call you
in a day.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Or two you and see if HBO wants to buy it.
I'm like, damn, some my boy with me.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
We're sitting here and we're.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Like freaking it was that easy, you know what I mean?
Like we and we wrote it that night, like he
was like, just write it. Let's write something else in
case he doesn't like this I'm like, he's gonna like this,
and he's.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Like, what's just right?
Speaker 2 (29:36):
So he wrote it that night. That took us about
thirty five minutes to write, you know what I mean.
But we made it Laminade. We made it look like
a real university. It was like it was about five
young men that went to a like a like a
what do you call not not a high major, a
mid major and they blow up and they in Kansas
(29:57):
and all this and they become like the man and
you know, stimulate all of that. So he calls me
a week later and I was like, Yo, HBO is going
to buy it. I couldn't believe it. I'm like, we
sold something, we sow the thought right, intellectual property.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
Thought yeah. I was like, yo, this this is something
to this, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (30:17):
And then they then he called me six months later
it was like they.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Just hired Spike Lee to be the show runner.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
Huh.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
I'm like, and I was like, I wasn't excited about
that because it was I didn't want it to be.
It was gonna be cultural in college, but I didn't
want it to be.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
That, you know what I'm saying. I didn't want it
to take on this like.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
Civil justice thing, your social justice thing. I just wanted
to be a fun story about kids in college. I
was like, ah, man, this is gonna be I'm not.
He's like, you don't sound happy. I'm like, man, and
he's like, they're not gonna let you show run it
to me. Never show you haven't you haven't done it.
I'm like, but I know how this thing actually supposed
to matter effect. So they bought it and he became
(31:05):
a showrunner and that was it, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
But from there I.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Was like, yo, we could do other things. So now
I'm picturing a movie. And they liked the movie.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
I met with all these these officionados like we like
this script. We love the script, but we want to
we're gonna cast it as you know, a white.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
And I'm like, now she gotta be black because I
wanted a fish out of water concept. I was like, yo,
and I got full little sisters, and I'm like, they
need a hero type character. And I feel like this
is the hero type character for something, and put you
in a role that most like girls.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Wouldn't ever have, you know, being like the soul's hero
survivor of their own story.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
That has nothing to do with anything urban, and I
wanted to put a girl that was a former track female.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
And a situation where she had to think her way
out of and solve a problem with their life, like
a coming of age story as well as being a
thriller and suspense story all in one.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
So you get it done, it's bought. What was the
end result?
Speaker 2 (32:18):
So like again, I'm meeting with these Hollywood execs.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
They like it and I'm like, yo, what's up? And
it's like, you know it's being green lit, but it's
gonna be We're gonna change it. And I said listen
and they were like, you're not gonna direct it.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
So I'm like, yo, I could. This is why I'm
with the film school. Like you think I'm gonna write it.
Now you like the writing, you're not gonna let me
direct it. I was like, I'm gonna do it myself,
you know what I mean. So when I did it myself,
they like, they liked it. And I'm gonna just say
that because I ain't gonna put them out there because
who knows, I might either use a cant but they
were like, yo, we want to reshoot it.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
With a different cast and I'm like, nah, I'm gonna
put it out myself that you're never gonna get this
thing in theaters. I was like, I get this, and
I got into two hundred and sixty eight theaters.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
I didn't do well.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
I wish I would have went that route. I shouldn't
want that, But you didn't want the ego route.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Yeah, but you didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know.
Yeah I should just.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
That's what that's what we do. The lessons are in
our doing.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
Some people get their lessons by somebody telling them.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
People like us, we get our lessons by doing it.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Like, yeah, I can't tell resistance to it. Yeah, there's
so much resistance to tell me what I couldn't do that.
I'm like, and it's not about proving them wrong. I
was like, let me prove myself right. You know, the
highest level of actuality isn't about thinking about anybody else.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
It's not about it. You know, when we were younger,
when I was younger playing football, I want to prove this,
prove this, proved that.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Yeah, now it's not doubt. It's just about proving yourself right.
This thing is this thing is about self. This is
a self walk we got in this life and the
highest level of you know, is self actualality, So you're
not thinking about anybody.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Else in the first place.
Speaker 4 (34:05):
Let me get this off you for this would be
my last question to you, because this is this is
a super important one because I always want to have
in the records with legends this this answer for for
a perfect time, in a perfect place. What on your
(34:26):
on your final moments or you cease to exist anymore,
what do you want people to say about Simi and
Rice at that point?
Speaker 3 (34:39):
What do you want your lasting legacy to be?
Speaker 1 (34:45):
M m h.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
I think it's simple, just that I was a good person,
you know what I mean? I want I want those
that expand me to have that. Those outside of my
my spirit, I don't really I don't. I don't care.
I don't know how to care, you know. But within
my spirit, within the people my circle, I want those
(35:11):
to understand that he loved deeply, He lived with a passion,
like Simeon, Like there lives a man that lived with passion,
you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (35:20):
So when I lie there and my.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Resting place and my body is there, but my mind,
my soul is free, you'll know that was a person
that showed other people how to live with passion.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
You know that's it, do ye, Simian race y'all.
Speaker 4 (35:39):
Maker, he's the officionado, all right, I mean, he's the mogul.
I'm just I'm just, you know, I'm in awe of
the conversation. I think that these are our conversations, that
are our guys need to hear.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
You.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
You put your mind to it, you go do it.
You put your mind to it, you go do it.
Like the premise of your story, like you're telling all
of these details, but do you realize you had to
get up and start the journey to experience all of
the things you just told us. And that is so powerful.
(36:17):
It's so powerful. There's so many of us that just
talk about it. I want to be a filmmaker. Still
sitting there, I want to go. I want to go
do this, still sitting there, to get up and do it.
This is what this is all about, is to drive
home the message. Simmey and Rice wanted to be a filmmaker.
(36:39):
He didn't take the easy way out and leverage being
a football superstar.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
He went to school. He did it.
Speaker 4 (36:47):
He got the cameras, they wrote the scripts, They did it.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
That's the key. You gotta do it.
Speaker 4 (36:55):
It ultimately comes down to when loser draw, there's always
going to be a win even in.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
A failure if you just do it. And that's just
kind of what it is.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
If you have a successful mind. I would say that
if you have a successful mind in.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
Terms of what you were talking about, like your growth stock,
if you know who.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
You are, like you're a football player growing up. We
all football player at one point. We both work and
you you've risen to a level. You have to have
a relapsing moment and remember how you got there. You know,
you gotta remember, Like, wait a minute, I remember how
I got here.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
It was I was willing to sweep the floor.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
In order for me to cook the food, I gotta
be one to sweep the floors in my own restaurant.
I can't be bigger than the moment, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 4 (37:42):
Indeed, Simon Rice, this is my conversations with a legend
man up on game presents.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
Ah Man, y'all been blessed with hey Man all the way.
Speaker 4 (37:54):
Real man, I appreciate you taking some time out for
us
I love Game.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
It presents conversations with a legend, best of show.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
And now here's LeVar arringte.
Speaker 4 (00:12):
It's up on Game Presents conversations with a legend.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
And I got my man it's a myth.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
Yes, he is the legendary Simeon Rice Man, appreciate.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
You coming in stop it by giving a little bit
of time. Good brother.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I had to my my my fellow, big Kim bro Stag,
why you know, indeed why not?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
This this podcast is not about talking about the football
aspects of things. This is more so about where where
you are in life, the things that you're doing to
bring attention to lessons that you operate under based upon
(00:58):
you know, when we were coming up upon when we
played and and that's what up on Game presents is
with conversations with a legend.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
So let's start right here.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Know you're from Chicago, ended up playing your ball, born
and raised.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I know you played your ball at Illinois.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Is a fighting at LINI man, one of the dopest
defenses you know, with Dana Howard, yourself, cav.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Hardy, I mean just a who's who, a litter.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Of just a flunk of just dope football players that
that level of accomplishment and expectation. How did that play
a part in your career to start off with, Like,
because Chicago people know, Chicago hard knows. So how did
(01:50):
that play into your mindset and just how that that
led into you know, your college as well as.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Your pro career.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Now, when you say that, I like answer specific question.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Sure, how far from Illinois did you grow up?
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Well? Three hours?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Three hours?
Speaker 1 (02:08):
So yeah, for me, it was it was It was
fun and I never wanted to go to Illinois.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
I wanted to go to I wanted to go to
Notre Dame. Actually I wanted to go to Florida, State
of Michigan, but they didn't recruit me. So wow, then
I wanted to play Michigan. Yeah, so that's how that happened,
and I was a running back. You know, so a
lot of things that kind of like transformed itself. But
I would say more of the transformative years with me
(02:34):
growing up in football was a lot of the things
that I took from off the block, the neighborhood, the community.
And what I mean by that is like I grew
up around vice lords and Mickey Kobras. So when you
go into these when I went to Moncomba High School.
Donovan mcnabby, he was our quarterback, young quarterback. Yeah, d
he was our quarterback, but he was a second stream
(02:54):
quarterback and he was a young kid. Antoine Walker went
to my high school as well. Him and Donovanue same
high school. Basketball all that. So with me coming out early,
you know, and I was I was a little bit older.
I was like two years older than them, two three
years older than them actually, and me going to my
own como, I think that's where it's the first.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Start because I went there. I was recruiting. Yeah, we
went state all four years. It was really good.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
I went there with the president of mind of playing
running back. I wanted to be just like Peyton. Peyton
was my guy. You know, everything Peyton did I did,
you know, the workouts, you know, and you know we
had MJ in the city as well. But I wasn't
really turned down by basketball. But that was kind of
where I was kind of like having a lot of success.
But I loved football. I mean I loved it. My
(03:42):
uncle was got drafted early, you know, back in the seventies.
You know ac Clarence Ross, you know, he was he.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Was that guy.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
So he turned me on to that game, but I
really didn't like it. I love football, and again I
thought I was gonna be scoring touchdown.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
When they moved me to d defense, it broke my
heart almost, But it was just one of those things.
And then when I went started playing football, I think
a lot of the things that the ride on the
football field was not getting pumped. It was the south
side Chicago was the mentality I brought on the football
field with, like you're not gonna pump me, you know, besides,
(04:19):
doesn't matter, I'm taking on comings. Because when I first
came out, I was the undersized as they said, the
undersized rushbacker and what position.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
I was going to play and things like that. So
when I came in, I came in with a sense
of urgency.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
So I had a legendary coach, Frank Lenny, and I
learned everything from play football with your head in your heart,
hit to the whistle football is it was became life.
It was more reflective of your family, the name on
your back, the community you're from, and I was I
was ingreatiated with that early so much in life that
(04:56):
doctrinated my thinking with it. So it was more than
just football. It was always about sending a message, you know,
and it was all about representing your family and yourself
and God and everything else that was made.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
I never did. Early on, we were going.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
To play the games, and this is like my junior
year and I'm on the varsity, and I.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Never forget going prior before the game either started.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
We'll have our our in our we have our our
our meeting before the game.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
And guys be in that meeting.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Crying and I'm in the back room and I'm laughing
because I didn't get it, you know what I mean.
I'm like, this is just a game, you know what
I mean? Everybody crying and then you know, you guys
talk about.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
My father just died. This is for him. I came
out of this situation. This is for this situation.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
They was dedicating all these these moments that they were
going to have with these memorable moments in their life,
and they it was so much that they.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Brought it on the film. We blasted everybody.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
We play East Saint Loui was one of the best
schools in the country, beating those guys, and with all
that in mind, I started I went from laugh to
start picking some of this stuff up. You know, started
getting serious about the game, like this is this is
football is a mindset. That's what I learned out of
that and I and then with with me going to
Mount Cromwell and also from being from Rosa, south side
(06:20):
of Chicago, I brought all of those different aggressions on
the field and then they played out. They played out
perfect and played out beautiful. I wasn't highly recruited coming
out of Chicago, didn't get recruited by all the schools.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
That I kind of wanted to go to. UH, I
wound up getting Louisville, louis I went in to visit Louisville.
It was Snellenberger was the coach. I never forget. I
went in and I was like, you gonna let me
play running back?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Was like yeah, I was like what he what height
were you?
Speaker 1 (06:50):
I was six fol I was like yeah. Then then
then I went to Boston College.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Went to visit Boston College and UH, coach's coach your
coach jats rights.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
Yeah, I was oh, Coughlin coach, Coughlin coach.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
And so when I went on campus, I went but wow,
So when I went on campus, I get the campus.
I get.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
I hooked up with this little chick coach Coughlin coaching
defensive cord of it.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
I don't know if he came in. They set me down.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
They was like, when you come here, you're gonna definitely
red shirt that. And I was like, yes, I won't
be coming the Boston College. So a lot of the
guys that I that I looked up to was already Illinois.
And on my visit there was a guy named Mickey Johnson,
one of my teammates.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
It's like, what are you coming here? Now? I was
like a rush linebacker and he was like, that's my position,
you transfer.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
I was like, all right, but I didn't think, you
know nothing. I didn't know what red shirt mean.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
I just thought it was dope.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I wanted a red shirt. But then you know, I
didn't red shirt. I was a true freshman started, you know,
lit the world on fire, and I really didn't look
back after that. To be honest with you.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yeah, now.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Again, you you've been I mean, obviously I don't even
really think about Mount Carmel, but you have. You've been
blessed to be around pretty much stone cold ballers your
entire career. Yeah, and being one it is just like
you was widow them and you got to experience you
like you was one.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Ye. Yeah, how I mean how does that? How did
how does that work for you?
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Like?
Speaker 3 (08:26):
How how how was that for you?
Speaker 2 (08:29):
That's a good question, Bro, because it's interesting because looking back,
we are our team, in particular our defense, we had
the most shutouts and we tied for the most shutouts
and for the history of Illinois football, you know, we
shut out I think nine ten teams, ten teams and no,
nine teams are ten teams.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
And when we.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Came off the field, the third team defense gave up
a score and that was the first time score if
we would have broke the right and we wanted that record.
So for me and mine is in football. I was
always a part of the number one defenses ever since I've.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Been in there. So there's a factor for this. It's
your boy, you know what I mean, fat down on
the front.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Yeah, I mean from Illinois, going to Illinois and we're
going into prominence there. And and keep in mind, I
was looking at when I when I left, I was
looking back at you, like, Yo, what's the man you
played with?
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Courtney Lebrown?
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Yeah? Yo, y'all with him raises Bro, And I like
because I was like, I'm here so much. I'm getting
I'm gonna get back to me, But I'm here so
much about in the ten because y'all beat us, you
know what I mean when we were doing that thing.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
I mean, y'all were supposed to win. We came back
on y'all. I wasn't there yet, but I was game.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
So looking back though, I'm like, all right, Penn State
was always a throwing in my hell, you know what
i mean. And then I'm hearing about this kid that's
wrecking shop and they liked.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Me just like you because I'm like, let me go
back and look at this kid. They'll see you freak
over the line, you know, if you're a really great
pass rushing, if you like past rushing, you like athletic
type beep of the player. I mean, you were it.
That was. That was But y'all set the town You
cal hardy, y'all.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Y'all set the towne Yeah, y'all set the tone.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
But I'm just talking about how it all kind of.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Come full circle.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah, I wasn't. I wasn't watching Illinois. I'm not gonna
lie to you.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I wasn't when I left I'm not one of those
alumni like, oh, I got.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
To watch the school.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
I watched players, Bro, and I watched you, and I
watched you get down and.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Again the chance to tell you this. I liked how
you got down, Bron.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I appreciate that very much, and.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
You kept it going when you got to the league,
which I was most not. It gave me ability to talk.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
A little bit more ship, you know what I mean?
Big ten? Yeah, you know, I'm down in Florida and
they think it's all about I'm like, no, Bro, you
know what I mean. They don't throw them all like
that in the tent.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
For you to be able to get down like that
in a Big ten, you really, really really get so
many opportunities. That means crazy efficient, you know what I man.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
You're right, you're right, all right, So you're giving me
my props again.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
I just and it's it's it's one of the most
humbling things when when you hear somebody that that you
you watched and you looked up to hel you up.
But more importantly than the game you have, you have
done something that very few do, which is you're you're
enjoying your success and the things that you're doing post career.
(11:35):
But people, if people were paying attention, they would have
known that you were a personality that was transcendent of.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
The game from day one.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
You always been that dude that was overly charismatic and
stuff like that. Tell us about where you're at right
now and how all of those factors in playing the game,
how have they played into what you're doing now.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Okay, So when I was playing, you know, I was committed.
I was fully committed. I didn't have family, I had
a son.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
But I was I was married to the game. I mean,
I want to be the best of all time.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
I wanted to set the records.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
I wanted to do all those things. And then doing
all those things. So you play a long career, you know,
I want to win the super Bowl?
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Did that? You know, all pros and all that, did
all that. But I'm also thinking towards the end, I'm like,
you know, I want to be very gated. I want
to have the ability to come.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I want the same lifestyle number one. You know, so
lifestyle is necessary. So early on as a youngster, you know,
you trying to do things, and I had like all
my boys that I came up with. But you know,
They were ambitious for their reasons. I was ambitious for
my reasons. But and those ambitious didn't always line up.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
You know. And when I'm talking about this is I'm
talking about when.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
You're carrying all the dudes that you went to college with,
you grew up with. If you wanted them to be on,
you want it just as bad as to them as
they do. But then you find out they just really
don't want that bad. They looking at your pockets, they
looking at your black cards.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
They want to be you.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
You know what.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
I'm like, Oh man, So then you know I had.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
You had that bit where you have to kind of
distance yourself and you got to grow. And in that
process I never get going to towards towards the end
of my career.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
I was like, man, can I ball out the game
without my boys in? You know what I mean? I
had my first situation I'm driving the game by myself.
I never get how quiet it was, get to the game,
player of the game, all that.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Stuff, and I'm like, man, the show still go on.
I'm still doing my thing. But yet it didn't have
I was there was a celebration. I couldn't celebrate with
my boys like it was when I was twenty two coming.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Out of college.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
That was the fun part. But there was a certain
level of maturation that had to happen. And in that process,
I started looking at things I want to do. You know,
I said when I finished, I want to go to
film school, and I finished, want to make movies.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
I want to do things like.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
That, and again, more importantly, you know, I'm I think
I'm sophisticated in understanding enough to know how to invest things,
so I want to get into that too.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I don't know how.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I don't have a real sense of direction. It's not
like football because it's not my outside of filmmaking. Filmmaking
is a passion of mine, but you know, I don't
really have a clear precise target I'm hitting at like
I did with football, because the passion is the thing
that led me there. But it was like, all right,
now I could do it. I'm more a little bit
(14:35):
more psychological in terms of like how you invest. So
during that process, after I retired, I went to film school.
You know, I went to film school, and prior to that,
I was I was I was represented by.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
CIA, and I had one of the largest public relations
in the country that's out there in LA And I
sat down with those guys and you know, we.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Kind of like contisicated. We talked about what's next for me,
and I'm like, yo, I want to I want to
do this movie thing.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
So they set me down with Bruce Willis, I'm gonna
set it his film.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
When he was shooting his film, and I'm sitting down
talking to him about, you know, I want to direct movies.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
And all he did was talking to me about being
in them. Then I yeah, I want to direct him.
Then I met with what's my man name, Brett Reratner
and when he was directing, uh uh yeah, And I
met and I said, I met Jackie Chann and he
was childhood favorite Summer Sunday. So you know, Jackie Chan
(15:40):
and Chris Rock. I'm sitting down with those, not Chris Rock,
Chris Tucker talking to him, chopping him up, and Rock.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
Comes out pretty easily right now, though, yeah, yeah, to say,
yeah right, Chris, right with Chris, and.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
I'll be there for a bit. But I'm shadowing. I'm
shadowing Brett on the set.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
I'm shadowing, and it's like a day or two and
I'm like I'm not really learning anything, you know what
I mean? Like, I'm not he bringing girls in he
introduced me to and I'm like that's all good.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
But I'm here because I really learned to get it. Yeah,
I really want to learn the craft.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
I got all that other stuff you like, I did that.
I got all that. I can help you out in
that category.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
You know I'm not being taken serious, you know what
I mean? Like you can get in the door as
you can get in the door, LeVar Arrington is going
to get in the door.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
People want to meet with you.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
People want to talk about your past, Laurels, all the
things that you've done, the games that that inspired you,
let me get us.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
They just want to meet.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
With you, if not anything else, just to talk. And
I'm like, nobody taking me serious.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
I'm gonna go to film school and then be hard
people and agents like you don't have to do that.
I'm like, I do. I want to start I'm like
I don't if I want to. If I open a restaurant,
I want to start off sweeping the floor. I want
to know everything about it. I don't.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I don't care about if I can circumvent the circumstance.
I want the process and then the process I'm gonna learned.
So I enrolled in film school and went to New
York Film Academy and it was a student and I
was one buying all the pieces and that was my
flex all the pieces pieces like that.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Yeah, it was fun for me. I was like, this
is a cool process, you know what I mean. I
thought I was gonna be the oldest person in the school,
in the class, and I wasn't by far, you know
what I mean. You see people forty fifty years old
in film school and they all everybody's there that learned
in this process, and we're crewing up and we're doing
things like that, we jumping on red cameras and all
that stuff and write stories. And I started realizing, even
(17:40):
with my professor, even when you go there, all your
professors are giving you the resume. At the same time,
you have the ability to be fun to hire. Yeah,
so I'm like, you know what I'm learning.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
But I'm also understanding, like, because when you go to
school the second time around, at this point in my life,
it's like, I'm only.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Here because I want to be. Ain't nobody's making me
a motivation.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
Football is not motivating me, and it's rules over here.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
I'm here for what I'm for, right, I want to
be here.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
So in our process, I'm like, I'm learning myself and
I'm like, man, I'm pretty good at storytelling. I'm like,
I'm good at this. I'm good at writing our stories,
doing our stories, creating short stories, my stories. Like you
know from this what the students are like one of
the best in class. I mean, for one, let's be honest,
I could get all the production, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
If we need the Ferrari, if we need a dope
scene in the hotel, I can rent all that. So
then you know, and there's nothing to you know what
I mean. I'm like this because all of it. They
putting the pieces together. It's easy for me, you know
what i mean. And then once you've invested over ten years,
twelve thirteen years in the NFL, now you think about like, oh,
we need a scene in a coffee shop. Oh I
(18:57):
own a coffee shop, or right, you know a restaurant,
the restaurant in Florida, you know what I mean. Whatever,
You're like, I could shoot it there. I could do
this here.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
My boy on this bank over here, like we could
get any scene we want. So now I'm like, ooh,
this is a puzzle. This is dope, you.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
Right, So now all I need to do is create
the story, create the scenario and.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
All the pieces in place. So I was like yeah,
So I'm like I could do this all day.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
This is fun. I did it.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Yeah, And and the title was Sully.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Now tell me what what? What? What was it about? What
inspired it?
Speaker 1 (19:38):
What inspired it? Is? I wanted to put a well,
I wanted to I wanted to direct something. But what
inspired that story in particular is I wanted to put
a black female in a hero role where nobody had to.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Come for, where she had to figure out herself. And
when I was first pitching this, I was pitching.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Around him and we wrote it up. We wrote it first.
I wrote it and I'm like, yo, I want to
direct this. And I met with some of the.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Hollywood elites and they loved the story and he was like, yo,
you wrote this. They could they act like they was
acting like I copied off somebody work.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
I'm like yo, yeah. But the first thing I did
that I had success with where I was like, yo,
we just sold that was I partnered with Doug Ellen,
who created Entourage, and I sold a show called Hardwood
to HBO, you know, and I met with Doug Allen.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
First of all, I met with his I met with
another guy, Brian Shearan, And this dude was so egotistical.
So he was like an ego mania. I'm in Hollywood, bro,
you lived there, you know what I we ain't consume you,
all right, the sushi restaurant. So the meeting was set.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Up by my PR guy and they represent him as well.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
And when I got there, I sat down at the
table and I'm talking about this dude big timing on
another level.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Wow, like super big timing. But I was so taken
back that I found it entertaining, you know what I mean.
So he was doing he was doing two stories. He
was doing the story on Plexico, you know, coming out
to the present, and he was.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Doing the story I think it was with uh BT
with Michael Vick.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
So these are two.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
Controversial is my guy, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (21:33):
First of all, but it's controversy. So I'm telling him
what I wanted to do and film, and it was like,
you like all these other athletes that want to be
in Hollywood, and this that.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
And he's very dismissive. I'm sitting down. He's being super dismissive,
and I'm sitting here like I ain't never had a
little dude like this disrespect me this, yeah, and I'm
super bad and I'm laughing, athlete.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
I hate that. I hate what dude saying.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
He did that you. So he's first you start talking
about Plexico and how he started hisself and how he
worked with Flex doing this documentary about this whatever TV
show that Pat Flex had going on. So I'm sitting
here like okay. And then he started talking about Vig
and he was like, yeah, I'm doing this thing with
be Et with Michael Vick and so his getting his
(22:19):
start rising back to coming out of jail and this
and that. I said, well, listen, bro, I ain't you know,
I ain't never been in trouble with the law. You know.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
I'm hitting him with that, like I'm just trying to direct.
And then he's like, so what are you gonna do?
I said, I got this story, I got this store.
I'm I'm pulling off off off my bag.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
All the stories you've written, treatments that I've written. He's like,
I don't want to do this. I don't listen. I'm
not gonna work with you.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
So I was like, all right, man, I was like man,
and then I'm laughing, but I'm serious. I'm like, man,
you're mad, disrespectful bro.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
He goes on. The dude was crazy, disrespectful. You guys
don't know what you're doing. You don't he talking about me.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Then he personally started with you guys as a blank slate, abstract.
Then he went to me like, you know, you just
want to be this and he don't know me. We
just meeting each other.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
So I let him go on and on, you know,
and and and and.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Then I couldn't take it. My mom, And keep in mind,
we got Denzel and we have the governor there at
the time.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Arnold Swarzenegger. He was in the restaurant.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
This dude talked so crazy to me. I damned near
flipped the table over on them and I stood up.
At this point, I don't give a fuck. I don't care,
you know what I mean. I don't live there, and
this ain't my world, you know what I mean. And
I'm like, I'm only.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Here to get game.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
And they shaid, you was a good dude, but you mad, disrespectful,
so fuck you.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Right, So I'm up on my feet. I'm like, man,
who the fuck you disrespecting this and that? And then
he like, you know in the restaurant, the little waitress
go away. I'm mad him. Now I'm like, bro, I
just showed you nothing but respect. You disrespected me for
forty five minutes. I found it.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
I was laughing at it at first because I wanted
to see how far you was going to go, you
know what I mean. But I don't give a fuck,
you know. Then you know now all the all the
ship that has been born to me since I've been a.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Little kid like talk like that, yeah, because I'm like, bro,
I don't give a fuck about none of this ship.
Now you know this, this atmosphere is way too different.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Because people say you gotta be submissive for people to
want to deal with you, and in Hollywood, like it's
like this whole thing.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
I mean, I don't know about submissive, but I mean
maybe really yeah, bro, submissive like.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
Submissive like take take the way I'm talking to you, like,
enjoy it, Sime.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
And listen, bro, this is this is this ain't cocaine
in my bag. This is a script listen. You know
what I mean. This is business. Business is respects. I'm
gonna tell you this, and you're gonna buy it for
whatever the cost is. You know what I mean? You
want to do business with me? Yes or no? You
(24:58):
know that's it? Don't You don't have to be disrespectful,
you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Like, he already had a preconceived notion of what it.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Was he did. So what happened all the fellas when
I went off? He's like, listen, listen, calm down, and
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. He started apologize, and I'm like,
all right, Bro, I didn't come in. I'm like, Bro,
we represented by the same person. I didn't come in.
I didn't disrespect you, you know what I mean. I
could have you small in stature, I could probably, I know,
(25:28):
I could beat your ass. But I talk to you
like that, I'm not. I don't talk to people like that,
you know what I mean. So I'm sure I'm you
know this is what it is. So he's like, how
about if I do your favor, I can He's like,
I have a roommate from college.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
You know who Doug Allen is. I'm like, no, he's
gonna know who Doug. I don't know because I didn't
watch Entourage at the time. And then I was like, okay,
let me do my own, you know, and he's like,
he's the executive producer of Aunthroorage.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
I'm like, oh damn. So he's like, I'm gonna meet
I'm gonna get you him, and I'm gonna and he
coming at the table and he's like, yo, I'm with me.
And I was like, oh damn, just do something cool.
And then he's like, take my number and give me
a call. So I was like, damn, all right. He's like,
don't say I've never done anything for you. I'm all right.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
He's like, but I don't want anything to do with it.
I said, that's what he told me. I don't want
anything to.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Do with the project. Bro.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
So I talked to me and my partner. We're talking phone,
a producer partner. We rolled together.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
I said, listen, I got meeting with Doug. He know everything.
He live in Hollywood, he's working a producer out there.
What student. He's like, sim we gotta do this. I'm
We're like, I'm like, bro, how should we drive up
to the set?
Speaker 2 (26:37):
He said, here's the final shooting of entourage. So we're
going to like the party the final week.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
So I'm like, how should we drive up? Should we
drive up in the Ferrari? Should we drive you know
what I mean? Because you gotta make presentations to these show, you.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
Know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Like this? So what's driver? What's coming on with flask good?
He comes to drive up meet When.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
I first I called him and I was hesitant to
call him because of the guy met with.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
I'm like, I don't know, bro, these dudes be way disrespectful,
you know what I mean, Like I'm not in the business.
He got away with that. I'm not disrespect you know
what I mean, Like on no level. So I'm like,
I don't know. He's like, just give him a call,
give them call. So I give him a call. And
the dude was the nicest dude ever.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
He was He was going to his son's baseball game
and like, I'm just giving you Like he was annoyed.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
He was like, Yo, don't go to my son's baseball game.
I wish he was here with you. Go. I'm like,
damn this do something cool as hell, And he was like, yeah,
it's the final shot, won't you come down. I'm like, really, yeah,
just come down. Let us know when you want to
come down. You know we're shooting, we're going to be
wrapping up the show, but it'd be cool for you
to meet the you know, meet the cash and everything.
I'm like, all right, cool. So I get off the phone.
(27:49):
I'm like, yo, do jump in the car Da Ferrari,
get picked up my man. We go down to the
set and then I'm still he like, man, I don't know,
you know, Hollywood weird. They'd be like, let's do lunch
and never tell me. So I get there and keep
in mind talking to him prior, and he was like,
everything set for you. So we drive up.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
I'm still leary, and then the person let you in
the gates. He was like, yeah, you're on you know,
the guest list, all that down. Then I went when
we got to set, I went and set with all
the extras just because I'm like, I don't know where
to sit.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
I don't know. And then but he was like, yo,
waven like come over here. I sat in a director's
chair and he's like, look at this. Tell me what
you think. I'm like, he's mad. Cool, So he goes,
what do you got for me? I was like, Yo,
I got it.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
I wrote this thing called Real Life Entourages and Super Celebrities.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
It was a it was like a playoff Entourage.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
But it was like reality. And he's like, I don't
want to do reality. I'm like, oh, that's He's like,
what else you got? And I show him another show.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
A little Heartwood and looked at it. And then the
kid that plays Turtle on the set came over and
he's like, wow, what's this. He's like Redfield, I was like,
you wrote this. I'm like yeah. He's like, this is
this is He tells him. He's like, yo, come here.
Kid comes over, reads it. He's like he's like, this
is my next show, and then he left his set.
(29:10):
Fifteen minutes later, he said he reads it. Fifteen minutes
he leaves, and it's like, yo, I'm gonna call you
in a day.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Or two you and see if HBO wants to buy it.
I'm like, damn, some my boy with me.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
We're sitting here and we're.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Like freaking it was that easy, you know what I mean?
Like we and we wrote it that night, like he
was like, just write it. Let's write something else in
case he doesn't like this I'm like, he's gonna like this,
and he's.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Like, what's just right?
Speaker 2 (29:36):
So he wrote it that night. That took us about
thirty five minutes to write, you know what I mean.
But we made it Laminade. We made it look like
a real university. It was like it was about five
young men that went to a like a like a
what do you call not not a high major, a
mid major and they blow up and they in Kansas
(29:57):
and all this and they become like the man and
you know, stimulate all of that. So he calls me
a week later and I was like, Yo, HBO is going
to buy it. I couldn't believe it. I'm like, we
sold something, we sow the thought right, intellectual property.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
Thought yeah. I was like, yo, this this is something
to this, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (30:17):
And then they then he called me six months later
it was like they.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Just hired Spike Lee to be the show runner.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
Huh.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
I'm like, and I was like, I wasn't excited about
that because it was I didn't want it to be.
It was gonna be cultural in college, but I didn't
want it to be.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
That, you know what I'm saying. I didn't want it
to take on this like.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
Civil justice thing, your social justice thing. I just wanted
to be a fun story about kids in college. I
was like, ah, man, this is gonna be I'm not.
He's like, you don't sound happy. I'm like, man, and
he's like, they're not gonna let you show run it
to me. Never show you haven't you haven't done it.
I'm like, but I know how this thing actually supposed
to matter effect. So they bought it and he became
(31:05):
a showrunner and that was it, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
But from there I.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Was like, yo, we could do other things. So now
I'm picturing a movie. And they liked the movie.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
I met with all these these officionados like we like
this script. We love the script, but we want to
we're gonna cast it as you know, a white.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
And I'm like, now she gotta be black because I
wanted a fish out of water concept. I was like, yo,
and I got full little sisters, and I'm like, they
need a hero type character. And I feel like this
is the hero type character for something, and put you
in a role that most like girls.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Wouldn't ever have, you know, being like the soul's hero
survivor of their own story.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
That has nothing to do with anything urban, and I
wanted to put a girl that was a former track female.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
And a situation where she had to think her way
out of and solve a problem with their life, like
a coming of age story as well as being a
thriller and suspense story all in one.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
So you get it done, it's bought. What was the
end result?
Speaker 2 (32:18):
So like again, I'm meeting with these Hollywood execs.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
They like it and I'm like, yo, what's up? And
it's like, you know it's being green lit, but it's
gonna be We're gonna change it. And I said listen
and they were like, you're not gonna direct it.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
So I'm like, yo, I could. This is why I'm
with the film school. Like you think I'm gonna write it.
Now you like the writing, you're not gonna let me
direct it. I was like, I'm gonna do it myself,
you know what I mean. So when I did it myself,
they like, they liked it. And I'm gonna just say
that because I ain't gonna put them out there because
who knows, I might either use a cant but they
were like, yo, we want to reshoot it.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
With a different cast and I'm like, nah, I'm gonna
put it out myself that you're never gonna get this
thing in theaters. I was like, I get this, and
I got into two hundred and sixty eight theaters.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
I didn't do well.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
I wish I would have went that route. I shouldn't
want that, But you didn't want the ego route.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Yeah, but you didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know.
Yeah I should just.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
That's what that's what we do. The lessons are in
our doing.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
Some people get their lessons by somebody telling them.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
People like us, we get our lessons by doing it.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Like, yeah, I can't tell resistance to it. Yeah, there's
so much resistance to tell me what I couldn't do that.
I'm like, and it's not about proving them wrong. I
was like, let me prove myself right. You know, the
highest level of actuality isn't about thinking about anybody else.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
It's not about it. You know, when we were younger,
when I was younger playing football, I want to prove this,
prove this, proved that.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Yeah, now it's not doubt. It's just about proving yourself right.
This thing is this thing is about self. This is
a self walk we got in this life and the
highest level of you know, is self actualality, So you're
not thinking about anybody.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Else in the first place.
Speaker 4 (34:05):
Let me get this off you for this would be
my last question to you, because this is this is
a super important one because I always want to have
in the records with legends this this answer for for
a perfect time, in a perfect place. What on your
(34:26):
on your final moments or you cease to exist anymore,
what do you want people to say about Simi and
Rice at that point?
Speaker 3 (34:39):
What do you want your lasting legacy to be?
Speaker 1 (34:45):
M m h.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
I think it's simple, just that I was a good person,
you know what I mean? I want I want those
that expand me to have that. Those outside of my
my spirit, I don't really I don't. I don't care.
I don't know how to care, you know. But within
my spirit, within the people my circle, I want those
(35:11):
to understand that he loved deeply, He lived with a passion,
like Simeon, Like there lives a man that lived with passion,
you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (35:20):
So when I lie there and my.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Resting place and my body is there, but my mind,
my soul is free, you'll know that was a person
that showed other people how to live with passion.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
You know that's it, do ye, Simian race y'all.
Speaker 4 (35:39):
Maker, he's the officionado, all right, I mean, he's the mogul.
I'm just I'm just, you know, I'm in awe of
the conversation. I think that these are our conversations, that
are our guys need to hear.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
You.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
You put your mind to it, you go do it.
You put your mind to it, you go do it.
Like the premise of your story, like you're telling all
of these details, but do you realize you had to
get up and start the journey to experience all of
the things you just told us. And that is so powerful.
(36:17):
It's so powerful. There's so many of us that just
talk about it. I want to be a filmmaker. Still
sitting there, I want to go. I want to go
do this, still sitting there, to get up and do it.
This is what this is all about, is to drive
home the message. Simmey and Rice wanted to be a filmmaker.
(36:39):
He didn't take the easy way out and leverage being
a football superstar.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
He went to school. He did it.
Speaker 4 (36:47):
He got the cameras, they wrote the scripts, They did it.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
That's the key. You gotta do it.
Speaker 4 (36:55):
It ultimately comes down to when loser draw, there's always
going to be a win even in.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
A failure if you just do it. And that's just
kind of what it is.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
If you have a successful mind. I would say that
if you have a successful mind in.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
Terms of what you were talking about, like your growth stock,
if you know who.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
You are, like you're a football player growing up. We
all football player at one point. We both work and
you you've risen to a level. You have to have
a relapsing moment and remember how you got there. You know,
you gotta remember, Like, wait a minute, I remember how
I got here.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
It was I was willing to sweep the floor.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
In order for me to cook the food, I gotta
be one to sweep the floors in my own restaurant.
I can't be bigger than the moment, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 4 (37:42):
Indeed, Simon Rice, this is my conversations with a legend
man up on game presents.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
Ah Man, y'all been blessed with hey Man all the way.
Speaker 4 (37:54):
Real man, I appreciate you taking some time out for
us
Hosts And Creators
Brady Quinn
LaVar Arrington
Jonas Knox
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