SERBY'S SUNDAY Q&A WITH...CURTIS MARTIN

[Sperm Edwards]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11052006/sports/jets/serbys_sunday_qa_with___curtis_martin_jets_.htm

SERBY'S SUNDAY Q&A WITH...CURTIS MARTIN

November 5, 2006 -- The Post's Steve Serby chatted this past week with the injured Jets running back who may have played his final NFL game:

Q: Why are the homeless so important to you?

A: I've always been that guy, even in grade school, that stuck up for the people who weren't able to defend themselves, the guys who people considered nerdy and quirky and the outcasts.

Q: You still go into Manhattan to help them?

A: There's a guy who's usually outside Saks Fifth Avenue, and there's a guy down by the Brooklyn Bridge. I make a point to visit them every once in a while. Whatever cash I have on me, I give to 'em ... sometimes it's like four, five hundred dollars.

Q: Why these two?

A: I've developed relationships with them. They're both in wheelchairs. One guy tells me his issues, the things he's dealing with. I know about his girlfriend, I know about his last girlfriend. Those are invaluable moments for me and I make sure I take the time to give them full attention.

Q: Do they know you're a football player?

A: Yeah. The one guy (says), "Curtis, I'm praying for you, I hope you get back out there on that field."

Q: Describe the worst pain you were ever in.

A: Either it was last year when I had to stop playing ... it felt like someone was hammering nails into my bone ... or when I had surgery before I came to the Jets. They would take this long needle and touch my pubic bone just to make sure they were in the right place. Then they would direct it in all the different angles to inject medicine. This was just to practice.

Q: Who will you pick to present you at the Hall of Fame?

A: Given the hope that I'm there, I think (Bill) Parcells. He has been a father and a mentor and an adviser throughout my life, and someone who I know, with my eyes closed, I can trust.

Q: What odds did you defy?

A: One of the problems in a lot of people who come from where I come from is you're in such a survival mode, you're willing to survive at any cost. You compromise, bend the rules, cheat, steal, kill, and for me to be sitting here doing this interview right now, I defied a whole lot of those odds.

Q: The biggest example of that survival growing up in Pittsburgh.

A: A trigger was pulled with a gun to my head somewhere between five-to-eight times, and no bullet came out. And then, when the gun wasn't pointed at me, the bullet came out.

Q: You were in a place you shouldn't have been?

A: Where I'm from, every place is the place you shouldn't be.

Q: Describe the qualities you admire about your mom.

A: Her work ethic. I've seen her work those two and three jobs making little to nothing, but she was able to take care of me. She tried to instill discipline in me. I believe that had she not, being that I didn't have a father around, I would probably not be here today.

Q: Your first NFL carry for the Patriots?

A: Thirty-something yards against Cleveland, first game of the season.

Q: Your best single run?

A: There was this run against Miami that had to be 50-some yards but, when I watched it on film, I think 13 people missed.

Q: The feeling standing in the pre-game tunnel?

A: I'm thinking domination ... invincibility ... nothing hurts ... there's no pain. I literally tell myself all those things, and then I get into focus and I tell myself, "Nothing can break your focus, nothing can stop you."

Q: Wayne Chrebet?

A: If everyone played with the mentality and tenacity and the heart that Wayne played with, football would be illegal.

Q: Keyshawn?

A: I kinda see him the way I see myself - he's not the fastest, he's one of the biggest, but he doesn't necessarily have beyond-exceptional ability. But he performs at a high level.

Q: Vinny Testaverde?

A: The Italian Stallion (smiles). He defines what a professional is.

Q: Chad Pennington?

A: If anyone works harder than I do, it's him. And one of the most intelligent players I've been around.

Q: Herm Edwards?

A: One of the best men I've been around. A great motivator.

Q: Eric Mangini?

A: I don't care if we win all the games or we don't win another game, it will not change the coach and the man that Eric Mangini is. He's the right man for this job.

Q: Is marriage in your future?

A: Hopefully my near future.

Q: Describe your ideal mate.

A: A woman of character, because I'm driven by characteristics more so than beauty or fame or fortune. A woman who takes the time to understand me ... someone I can communicate with ... a graceful woman ... a woman who carries herself the right way.

Q: You have anybody picked out?

A: I have someone that I think has a whole lot of potential of being Mrs. Martin.

Q: Would you want your son to play football?

A: I would want him to be what he wanted to be. If he asked my opinion, I would try to get him involved in baseball or basketball.

Q: Why?

A: Because I understand the consequences of football, and I've had to suffer a lot of them.

Q: You don't envision coaching?

A: I don't like football enough.

Q: Jet fans?

A: I'm a fan of Jet fans (smiles). And I hope that I've been able to convey that respect and appreciation that I have for 'em.

Q: Your All-Opponent team?

A: Ray Lewis, Rodney Harrison, Willie McGinest, Bruce Smith, Tony Siragusa, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Donovin Darius, Zach Thomas, Champ Bailey, Joey Porter, Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp.

Q: Your legacy?

A: Integrity, honesty, hard work, dependability. I want to be known for the man, not the player.

Q: What will you miss most?

A: The relationships.

[Maxman]

Interesting interview. Is this legit? Doesn't seem like Curtis speaking. He talks about giving money to homeless and about how hard he works (only Chad workds harder).

Assuming the interview is legit he definitely spoke as if he is retired -- looking back.