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'I want to be the best player'

By ROGER MILLS

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 3, 2000

All-Pro linebacker Derrick Brooks has broadened his horizons since his days at Florida State. Here are some perspectives on Africa, its cuisine, being a role model, playing golf, a date with God and the devil and the scars on his face.

RM: What was the most amazing thing about Africa?

DB: The animals. They were the most amazing thing to me. To see those things live, right there, that was something. I've always seen them in zoos or tame but that was the first time I saw them up close and in the wild.

RM: Were you scared?

DB: Yes, I was scared. Being in the jeep with one guide and one gun. I was scared, very scared. To see how strong those animals are, knocking down trees and stuff like that. It was amazing and scary. I was fine after about an hour.

RM: The good?

DB: We put so much study into it we kind of knew what to expect but until you actually get there you really can't describe it. We were very surprised at how cordial people were to us, everyone was so well mannered and I was interested in getting to interact with people.

RM: The bad?

DB: Of course, the first thing was driving on the opposite side of the street. I had to get accustomed to that. They asked me to drive, but I said no way. I was uncomfortable being on the (left) side, it felt weird.

RM: The ugly?

DB: I guess one of the first sights of reality we saw were the squatter houses. That was sad. We saw people, actually just putting some (wood) together and building a home. On the other hand, we saw people who were very resourceful. People who don't let anything go unused.

RM: Fess up, what did you eat?

DB: Impala ... ostrich eggs. I was very open-minded to try different foods but I had to get used to the taste. Some things were a little too spicy. You had to block that out your mind. The ostrich eggs were actually pretty good.

RM: And the impala?

DB: An acquired taste.

RM: Where are you going to take the kids this year?

DB: We're going to go out West and do some cowboy stuff, a dude ranch type of thing. We're going to learn a little bit about the African-American influence out West, the Buffalo Soldiers and the like. Do the Grand Canyon thing.

RM: Do you buy into the role model thing?

DB: I have an obligation to my own family more so than society. I represent them, the Brooks name. It means something to me and I want that name to always be respected no matter what the situation is. That's how I carry myself.

RM: Are you the best linebacker in the game?

DB: I am. My goal is that I want to be the best player. I have to have that attitude if I want to lead this team. If people are going to say that of me and expect that of me, then I'm not going to disappoint them.

RM: A mutual friend says you play golf with two different sets of clubs and you had to have one cart for yourself?

DB: Ahh man ... That happened one time. One time. I was trying out two sets of clubs and I didn't know which set I wanted to play with so I brought them both, and ever since that friend of ours has never let me live that down.

RM: What's the fascination with golf?

DB: My high school defensive coordinator (David Wilson), when I left to go to college, took me out to play golf to have a man-to-man talk about college life. He beat me bad, real bad. I shot like a 140 and he shot like an 80. He kept score and told me, "The next time I play you I hope you're better." Ever since, it's been a challenge just to play to beat him. Now, it's become more of a relaxing type thing and a time to socialize.

RM: So you have a game?

DB: I'm about a 16 handicap, about 88-92, somewhere in there. I'm not quite where I want to be.

RM: If God came to earth, where would you take him?

DB: To my grandmother's (Martha Brooks) grave site. She was such a positive influence on me. Looking at her, for 26 years knowing the type of determination that she had. I would tell him thank you for putting this lady in my life and then I would reach over and show him my dad's grave site. He's buried beside her. I would tell him thank you for making my dad (A.J. Mitchell) so supportive of me. I could never be wrong in his eyes.

RM: If God gave you the power to change one thing, what would it be?

DB: Hmmm ... that's a tough one. I would go back in time and change the way people thought about other people. I would make sure that people were always treated equally, no matter. I would make sure we were all given the same amount of education, the same amount of opportunities, same amount of resources. I would make sure we all started at the same starting line.

RM: What if the devil offered you a Super Bowl title for your soul?

DB: No.

RM: Two titles?

DB: No.

RM: Three titles and an MVP?

DB: No. My Christian faith is too strong. I can't sell my soul for anything. My relationship with God is eternal. The rings, the awards, everything like that, they are all materialistic. I can't make that trade.

RM: Why do so many men cheat on their wives?

DB: Men cheat because women let them. Men cheat because of power. Men cheat for adventure. Men cheat because they are not satisfied. Perhaps, it's a combination of all those things, I don't know. I just hope when I get married, all those things aren't there for me and I find my soul mate. I know one thing, death separated my mother and my father, and that's what I have to measure marriage against.

RM: But, you have (two) kids and you aren't married?

DB: That kills me. I'm not perfect. At least, when I speak to kids they see that I'm not perfect. They see that I have two kids out of marriage and that I wouldn't encourage anyone to put themselves in that situation, not make bad decisions, not to do what I did. I love my kids to death, but what I did was wrong.

RM: Tell me about the scars on your face?

DB: I was driving with my mom and we were in a bad accident and our van tipped over and the windshield shattered all over (my face). I was five years old. The only thing I remember about that is my dad holding me and I looked down and there's all this blood and my jaw like hanging down and I'm not crying. I asked my mother and she said I never cried. Through the whole thing, I never cried.

RM: Are your sensitive about them?

DB: Nope. I'm proud of them. If the Lord can bring me through that, he can bring me through anything.

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