By: Gene “Norseman” Ramsay/football.com & purplepride.org
Format: Phone
Date:
5-8-04
This last weekend, I had the distinct honor of talking with Moe Williams. Moe is a nine-year veteran running back for the Minnesota Vikings. He started his career there and then went to Baltimore for one season, only to return the following year to the Vikings.
One of the first questions
I asked him dealt with his small stint with the Ravens and what exactly was
going on with that. He explained to
me that at that time, Coach Green felt the need to head in a different direction
at the running back position and that Coach Billick was looking for someone like
Moe to carry a load in their running game.
Then, he went on to explain that Coach Tice was the reason he came back
to the Vikings (which is where I hope he stays).
For all the Vikings fans
reading this, Moe Williams is a class act.
He was an absolute joy to talk with and I wish him well this upcoming
season as our stable of horse hits the field.
Moe resides in West Palm
Beach, Florida. He has been a
resident there for some time. I can
only imagine the weather change he must face going from Hot and muggy to clear
and cool (except in the dead of summer…where Minnesota can become very hot).
Our question and answer session went something like this…
GR – Moe,
tell me about your off season workout. What
things do you do to stay in top shape?
Moe – Well,
right now I am still rehabbing my knee from a torn miniscus and PCL.
I can go close to full speed, but I am still avoiding cross-over work.
GR – What
exactly is “top speed” for Moe Williams?
Moe – Oh,
it’s been so long since I have checked. I
would say 4.5 to 4.7. Right now
it’s closer to 4.7.
GR – Hey
man, that’s still better than me.
Moe -
<laughs>
GR – Who
do you love getting ready to play? What
team gets you going?
Moe – Well,
obviously the rivalry with Green Bay gets you pumped.
GR – So,
you feel like you play harder against them?
Moe – No.
We get ready and play each team the same…hard.
GR – OK…of
all the players in the League, whom do you admire the most and why?
Moe – Based
on work ethic, it would be Ray Lewis. It
can be practice or a game or whatever. Whenever
he is on the field, he’s on.
GR – Yea.
You get that impression from him. You
get the impression that when the helmet is on, he’s ready to go and it’s
always 100%.
Moe –
Yea. But when he is off the field,
he turns it off. He is a normal
guy. It’s cool how he can turn it
off and on.
GR – So,
who is the jokester on the team?
Moe – That
would definitely be Kelly Campbell. Yea.
He’s always joking around. In
fact, I’m heading to grab a bite with him here after we’re done.
GR – Well,
I won’t keep you much longer. Just
a few more questions.
Moe – OK.
GR – If
you could play any other position on the field, what would it be?
Moe – I
think I’d like to play quarterback. They
don’t get hit as much.
GR – Yea,
but you have a bull’s eye on you all the time.
Moe – I
guess that’s true.
GR – What
was your favorite football team growing up?
Moe – I
guess that would be the Cowboys. You
know…America’s team and all that. They
were champions.
GR – I Absolutely
know what you mean. We can only
hope that the Vikings can get that champion tag this next year.
Moe – That
would be awesome and it’s definitely what we are working for.
GR – Do
you know the Vikings fight song?
Moe – No.
I can’t say that I do.
GR – What?
You mean to tell me that after all the scoring you guys do, you don’t
have it yet? I know why you don’t
know it. You knew my second part of
the question was going to be to ask you to sing it if you said yes.
Moe – Yea…and
we don’t want that.
GR – OK.
I’ll let it slide this time.
Moe - <laughs>
GR – What animal
would you most liken your self to?
Moe – I guess that
would be a dog…mainly for the loyalty. Of
course, there are some out there who would call me that for other reasons…
Moe – OK,
you’re right.
GR – How
about cartoon character? What
cartoon character would you most liken yourself to?
Moe – Well,
I don’t watch much TV, so I guess I would have to say Superman.
GR – OK,
if we saw Moe out on the town, what would he be wearing and how would he get
ready for a night out?
Moe – Of
course I would shower and shave and brush my teeth.
Then I might put on a walker suit.
GR – The
whole reason I ask that question is because I recently saw a great feature on
Marshall Faulk. They went into his home and as you look the pictures and read
the descriptions you see that he likes nice things, but he has a watch drawer
that keeps his watches wound for him and everything just seems to be in place.
It was just cool and I wanted to a glimpse from you.
Moe – Well,
I only own 2 watches. I have a Nike watch. I
have contract with them and I wear it the most. I also have a Rolex. The
one thing I have found out though is that they all tell time.
GR – Right
you are.
GR – Do
you have any pets?
Moe – Yea.
I have a Rottweiler and I just bought 2 race horses.
GR – Wow!
I can only assume you watched the Kentucky Derby.
Moe – I
was there.
GR – No
way! I sat down and watched that
for the first time in quite some time and that just blew me away.
To see Smarty Jones come around that final turn and just blow past the
horse that was in the lead the whole race…unreal.
I bet it was awesome to be there in person.
Moe – Yes,
it was.
GR – What
other sports do you enjoy watching or playing?
Moe – I
like playing basketball. Right now I’m just trying to take football more seriously
with this knee and trying to take care of it so I enjoy reading more now and I
spend time doing that.
GR – That’s
completely understandable. The
Vikings fans thank you and I’m sure the coaches do too.
Moe - <laughs>
Yea.
GR – Use
one word that best describes you.
Moe – Oh
man, I don’t know.
GR – Think
of it this way…if I got a group of your friends and family together, what
would they tell me…or at least what would you hope they said?
Moe – Respectful.
GR – I’m
sure your Mom had nothing to do with that.
GR – OK,
last question. What is the best
advice you have ever received?
Moe – That
would actually be something my grandmother told me.
She told me to live every day to the fullest.
GR – Moe,
it’s been a pleasure. I’ll let you go get something to eat with Kelly and tell
you this…keep working on the knee. We
all look forward to seeing you on the field again this year scoring a TD or two
in the stable of horses we have at running back.
You will definitely be a consideration every round in my fantasy football
league. You are a class act and I
wish you the best this year.
Moe – Thank
you sir. I enjoyed talking with
you.
GR – Thanks.
Later.
Moe – Good
bye.