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Re: SDG -- FDHG, 04:05:35 08/11/09 Tue
>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere baby
>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be the
>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>quarterback
>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard short
>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIV.
>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after the
>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the 32-year-old
>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>Nashville
>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>don't
>>>care how many people say that they don't think about
>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think about
>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low point
>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance to
>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only get
>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the ghosts
>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>are
>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the odds,
>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL, the
>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>thought he would.
>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to pass
>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and all
>of
>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>chest,
>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to stay
>>>self-effacing.
>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>this
>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and screwed
>it
>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries actually
>>>forced him to think about walking away from the game.
>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around in
>a
>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten up
>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>the
>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>normal
>>>now."
>>>After deciding to suit up for another season, McNair
>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict diet
>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get in
>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>year
>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>toughest
>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more bounce
>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to play
>>>again."
>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all of
>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>soul
>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down, not
>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right. She
>>>still cooks for me."
>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a day
>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>Lucille,
>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the strong-willed
>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by herself
>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to 7
>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>crying
>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>job
>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>enough
>>>income to take care of us."
>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing the
>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing yards
>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a lot
>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>family."
>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>says.
>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always made
>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together. Whenever
>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very close
>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>survive."
>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>where
>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>look
>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All of
>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere baby
>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be the
>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>quarterback
>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard short
>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIV.
>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after the
>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the 32-year-old
>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>Nashville
>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>don't
>>>care how many people say that they don't think about
>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think about
>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low point
>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance to
>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only get
>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the ghosts
>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>are
>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the odds,
>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL, the
>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>thought he would.
>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to pass
>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and all
>of
>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>chest,
>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to stay
>>>self-effacing.
>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>this
>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and screwed
>it
>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries actually
>>>forced him to think about walking away from the game.
>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around in
>a
>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten up
>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>the
>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>normal
>>>now."
>>>After deciding to suit up for another season, McNair
>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict diet
>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get in
>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>year
>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>toughest
>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more bounce
>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to play
>>>again."
>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all of
>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>soul
>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down, not
>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right. She
>>>still cooks for me."
>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a day
>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>Lucille,
>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the strong-willed
>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by herself
>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to 7
>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>crying
>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>job
>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>enough
>>>income to take care of us."
>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing the
>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing yards
>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a lot
>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>family."
>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>says.
>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always made
>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together. Whenever
>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very close
>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>survive."
>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>where
>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>look
>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All of
>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere baby
>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be the
>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>quarterback
>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard short
>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIV.
>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after the
>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the 32-year-old
>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>Nashville
>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>don't
>>>care how many people say that they don't think about
>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think about
>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low point
>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance to
>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only get
>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the ghosts
>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>are
>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the odds,
>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL, the
>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>thought he would.
>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to pass
>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and all
>of
>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>chest,
>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to stay
>>>self-effacing.
>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>this
>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and screwed
>it
>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries actually
>>>forced him to think about walking away from the game.
>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around in
>a
>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten up
>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>the
>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>normal
>>>now."
>>>After deciding to suit up for another season, McNair
>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict diet
>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get in
>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>year
>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>toughest
>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more bounce
>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to play
>>>again."
>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all of
>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>soul
>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down, not
>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right. She
>>>still cooks for me."
>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a day
>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>Lucille,
>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the strong-willed
>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by herself
>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to 7
>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>crying
>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>job
>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>enough
>>>income to take care of us."
>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing the
>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing yards
>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a lot
>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>family."
>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>says.
>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always made
>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together. Whenever
>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very close
>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>survive."
>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>where
>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>look
>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All of
>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere baby
>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be the
>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>quarterback
>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard short
>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIV.
>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after the
>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the 32-year-old
>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>Nashville
>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>don't
>>>care how many people say that they don't think about
>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think about
>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low point
>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance to
>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only get
>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the ghosts
>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>are
>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the odds,
>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL, the
>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>thought he would.
>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to pass
>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and all
>of
>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>chest,
>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to stay
>>>self-effacing.
>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>this
>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and screwed
>it
>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries actually
>>>forced him to think about walking away from the game.
>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around in
>a
>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten up
>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>the
>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>normal
>>>now."
>>>After deciding to suit up for another season, McNair
>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict diet
>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get in
>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>year
>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>toughest
>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more bounce
>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to play
>>>again."
>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all of
>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>soul
>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down, not
>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right. She
>>>still cooks for me."
>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a day
>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>Lucille,
>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the strong-willed
>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by herself
>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to 7
>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>crying
>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>job
>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>enough
>>>income to take care of us."
>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing the
>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing yards
>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a lot
>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>family."
>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>says.
>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always made
>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together. Whenever
>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very close
>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>survive."
>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>where
>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>look
>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All of
>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>
>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a day
>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>Lucille,
>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the strong-willed
>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by herself
>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to 7
>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>crying
>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>job
>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>enough
>>>income to take care of us."
>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing the
>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing yards
>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a lot
>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>family."
>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>says.
>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always made
>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together. Whenever
>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very close
>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>survive."
>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>where
>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>look
>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All of
>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a day
>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>Lucille,
>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the strong-willed
>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by herself
>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to 7
>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>crying
>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>job
>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>enough
>>>income to take care of us."
>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing the
>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing yards
>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a lot
>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>family."
>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>says.
>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always made
>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together. Whenever
>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very close
>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>survive."
>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>where
>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>look
>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All of
>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you d on't like
>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>where
>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>look
>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All of
>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>coming down her faceSTHY
[ Edit | View ]
[> [> [> [>
Re: SDG -- SD, 04:09:03 08/11/09 Tue
>>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere
>baby
>>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be the
>>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>>quarterback
>>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard short
>>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl
>XXXIV.
>>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after the
>>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the
>32-year-old
>>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>>Nashville
>>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>>don't
>>>>care how many people say that they don't think about
>>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think about
>>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low
>point
>>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance to
>>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only get
>>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the ghosts
>>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>>are
>>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the odds,
>>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL,
>the
>>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>>thought he would.
>>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to
>pass
>>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and all
>>of
>>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>>chest,
>>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to stay
>>>>self-effacing.
>>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>>this
>>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and screwed
>>it
>>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries
>actually
>>>>forced him to think about walking away from the
>game.
>>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around in
>>a
>>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten up
>>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>>the
>>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>>normal
>>>>now."
>>>>After deciding to suit up for another season, McNair
>>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict diet
>>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get in
>>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>>year
>>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>>toughest
>>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more bounce
>>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to play
>>>>again."
>>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all
>of
>>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>>soul
>>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down, not
>>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right.
>She
>>>>still cooks for me."
>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>day
>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>Lucille,
>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the strong-willed
>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>herself
>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to 7
>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>crying
>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>job
>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>enough
>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>the
>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>yards
>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a lot
>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>family."
>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>says.
>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>made
>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together. Whenever
>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very close
>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>survive."
>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>where
>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>look
>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>of
>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere
>baby
>>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be the
>>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>>quarterback
>>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard short
>>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl
>XXXIV.
>>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after the
>>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the
>32-year-old
>>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>>Nashville
>>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>>don't
>>>>care how many people say that they don't think about
>>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think about
>>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low
>point
>>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance to
>>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only get
>>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the ghosts
>>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>>are
>>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the odds,
>>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL,
>the
>>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>>thought he would.
>>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to
>pass
>>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and all
>>of
>>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>>chest,
>>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to stay
>>>>self-effacing.
>>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>>this
>>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and screwed
>>it
>>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries
>actually
>>>>forced him to think about walking away from the
>game.
>>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around in
>>a
>>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten up
>>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>>the
>>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>>normal
>>>>now."
>>>>After deciding to suit up for another season, McNair
>>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict diet
>>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get in
>>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>>year
>>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>>toughest
>>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more bounce
>>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to play
>>>>again."
>>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all
>of
>>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>>soul
>>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down, not
>>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right.
>She
>>>>still cooks for me."
>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>day
>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>Lucille,
>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the strong-willed
>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>herself
>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to 7
>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>crying
>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>job
>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>enough
>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>the
>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>yards
>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a lot
>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>family."
>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>says.
>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>made
>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together. Whenever
>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very close
>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>survive."
>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>where
>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>look
>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>of
>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere
>baby
>>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be the
>>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>>quarterback
>>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard short
>>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl
>XXXIV.
>>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after the
>>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the
>32-year-old
>>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>>Nashville
>>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>>don't
>>>>care how many people say that they don't think about
>>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think about
>>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low
>point
>>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance to
>>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only get
>>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the ghosts
>>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>>are
>>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the odds,
>>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL,
>the
>>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>>thought he would.
>>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to
>pass
>>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and all
>>of
>>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>>chest,
>>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to stay
>>>>self-effacing.
>>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>>this
>>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and screwed
>>it
>>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries
>actually
>>>>forced him to think about walking away from the
>game.
>>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around in
>>a
>>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten up
>>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>>the
>>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>>normal
>>>>now."
>>>>After deciding to suit up for another season, McNair
>>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict diet
>>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get in
>>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>>year
>>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>>toughest
>>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more bounce
>>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to play
>>>>again."
>>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all
>of
>>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>>soul
>>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down, not
>>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right.
>She
>>>>still cooks for me."
>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>day
>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>Lucille,
>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the strong-willed
>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>herself
>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to 7
>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>crying
>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>job
>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>enough
>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>the
>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>yards
>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a lot
>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>family."
>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>says.
>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>made
>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together. Whenever
>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very close
>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>survive."
>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>where
>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>look
>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>of
>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere
>baby
>>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be the
>>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>>quarterback
>>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard short
>>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl
>XXXIV.
>>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after the
>>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the
>32-year-old
>>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>>Nashville
>>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>>don't
>>>>care how many people say that they don't think about
>>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think about
>>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low
>point
>>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance to
>>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only get
>>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the ghosts
>>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>>are
>>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the odds,
>>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL,
>the
>>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>>thought he would.
>>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to
>pass
>>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and all
>>of
>>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>>chest,
>>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to stay
>>>>self-effacing.
>>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>>this
>>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and screwed
>>it
>>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries
>actually
>>>>forced him to think about walking away from the
>game.
>>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around in
>>a
>>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten up
>>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>>the
>>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>>normal
>>>>now."
>>>>After deciding to suit up for another season, McNair
>>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict diet
>>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get in
>>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>>year
>>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>>toughest
>>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more bounce
>>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to play
>>>>again."
>>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all
>of
>>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>>soul
>>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down, not
>>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right.
>She
>>>>still cooks for me."
>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>day
>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>Lucille,
>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the strong-willed
>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>herself
>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to 7
>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>crying
>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>job
>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>enough
>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>the
>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>yards
>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a lot
>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>family."
>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>says.
>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>made
>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together. Whenever
>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very close
>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>survive."
>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>where
>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>look
>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>of
>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>
>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>day
>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>Lucille,
>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the strong-willed
>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>herself
>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to 7
>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>crying
>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>job
>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>enough
>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>the
>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>yards
>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a lot
>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>family."
>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>says.
>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>made
>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together. Whenever
>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very close
>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>survive."
>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>where
>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>look
>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>of
>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>day
>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>Lucille,
>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the strong-willed
>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>herself
>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to 7
>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>crying
>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>job
>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>enough
>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>the
>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>yards
>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a lot
>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>family."
>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>says.
>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>made
>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together. Whenever
>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very close
>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>survive."
>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>where
>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>look
>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>of
>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you d on't like
>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need anymore,
>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>where
>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses. Ironically,
>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on. "I'll
>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>look
>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>of
>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>coming down her faceSTHY
[ Edit | View ]
[> [> [> [> [>
Re: SDG -- FHG, 04:11:29 08/11/09 Tue
>>>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere
>>baby
>>>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be the
>>>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>>>quarterback
>>>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard
>short
>>>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl
>>XXXIV.
>>>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after the
>>>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the
>>32-year-old
>>>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>>>Nashville
>>>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>>>don't
>>>>>care how many people say that they don't think
>about
>>>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think
>about
>>>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low
>>point
>>>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance
>to
>>>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only
>get
>>>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the
>ghosts
>>>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>>>are
>>>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the odds,
>>>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL,
>>the
>>>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>>>thought he would.
>>>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to
>>pass
>>>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and all
>>>of
>>>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>>>chest,
>>>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to stay
>>>>>self-effacing.
>>>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>>>this
>>>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and screwed
>>>it
>>>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries
>>actually
>>>>>forced him to think about walking away from the
>>game.
>>>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around
>in
>>>a
>>>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten
>up
>>>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>>>the
>>>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>>>normal
>>>>>now."
>>>>>After deciding to suit up for another season,
>McNair
>>>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict diet
>>>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get in
>>>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>>>year
>>>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>>>toughest
>>>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more
>bounce
>>>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to
>play
>>>>>again."
>>>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all
>>of
>>>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>>>soul
>>>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down, not
>>>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right.
>>She
>>>>>still cooks for me."
>>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>>day
>>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>>Lucille,
>>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the
>strong-willed
>>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>>herself
>>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to
>7
>>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>>crying
>>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>>job
>>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>>enough
>>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>>the
>>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>>yards
>>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a
>lot
>>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>>family."
>>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>>says.
>>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>>made
>>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together.
>Whenever
>>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very
>close
>>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>>survive."
>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>anymore,
>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>where
>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>Ironically,
>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>"I'll
>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>look
>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>of
>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere
>>baby
>>>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be the
>>>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>>>quarterback
>>>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard
>short
>>>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl
>>XXXIV.
>>>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after the
>>>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the
>>32-year-old
>>>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>>>Nashville
>>>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>>>don't
>>>>>care how many people say that they don't think
>about
>>>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think
>about
>>>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low
>>point
>>>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance
>to
>>>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only
>get
>>>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the
>ghosts
>>>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>>>are
>>>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the odds,
>>>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL,
>>the
>>>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>>>thought he would.
>>>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to
>>pass
>>>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and all
>>>of
>>>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>>>chest,
>>>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to stay
>>>>>self-effacing.
>>>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>>>this
>>>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and screwed
>>>it
>>>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries
>>actually
>>>>>forced him to think about walking away from the
>>game.
>>>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around
>in
>>>a
>>>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten
>up
>>>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>>>the
>>>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>>>normal
>>>>>now."
>>>>>After deciding to suit up for another season,
>McNair
>>>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict diet
>>>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get in
>>>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>>>year
>>>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>>>toughest
>>>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more
>bounce
>>>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to
>play
>>>>>again."
>>>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all
>>of
>>>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>>>soul
>>>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down, not
>>>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right.
>>She
>>>>>still cooks for me."
>>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>>day
>>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>>Lucille,
>>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the
>strong-willed
>>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>>herself
>>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to
>7
>>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>>crying
>>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>>job
>>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>>enough
>>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>>the
>>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>>yards
>>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a
>lot
>>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>>family."
>>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>>says.
>>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>>made
>>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together.
>Whenever
>>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very
>close
>>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>>survive."
>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>anymore,
>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>where
>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>Ironically,
>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>"I'll
>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>look
>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>of
>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere
>>baby
>>>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be the
>>>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>>>quarterback
>>>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard
>short
>>>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl
>>XXXIV.
>>>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after the
>>>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the
>>32-year-old
>>>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>>>Nashville
>>>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>>>don't
>>>>>care how many people say that they don't think
>about
>>>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think
>about
>>>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low
>>point
>>>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance
>to
>>>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only
>get
>>>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the
>ghosts
>>>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>>>are
>>>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the odds,
>>>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL,
>>the
>>>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>>>thought he would.
>>>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to
>>pass
>>>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and all
>>>of
>>>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>>>chest,
>>>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to stay
>>>>>self-effacing.
>>>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>>>this
>>>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and screwed
>>>it
>>>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries
>>actually
>>>>>forced him to think about walking away from the
>>game.
>>>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around
>in
>>>a
>>>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten
>up
>>>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>>>the
>>>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>>>normal
>>>>>now."
>>>>>After deciding to suit up for another season,
>McNair
>>>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict diet
>>>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get in
>>>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>>>year
>>>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>>>toughest
>>>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more
>bounce
>>>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to
>play
>>>>>again."
>>>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all
>>of
>>>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>>>soul
>>>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down, not
>>>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right.
>>She
>>>>>still cooks for me."
>>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>>day
>>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>>Lucille,
>>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the
>strong-willed
>>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>>herself
>>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to
>7
>>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>>crying
>>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>>job
>>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>>enough
>>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>>the
>>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>>yards
>>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a
>lot
>>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>>family."
>>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>>says.
>>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>>made
>>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together.
>Whenever
>>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very
>close
>>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>>survive."
>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>anymore,
>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>where
>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>Ironically,
>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>"I'll
>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>look
>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>of
>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere
>>baby
>>>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be the
>>>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>>>quarterback
>>>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard
>short
>>>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl
>>XXXIV.
>>>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after the
>>>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the
>>32-year-old
>>>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>>>Nashville
>>>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>>>don't
>>>>>care how many people say that they don't think
>about
>>>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think
>about
>>>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low
>>point
>>>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance
>to
>>>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only
>get
>>>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the
>ghosts
>>>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>>>are
>>>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the odds,
>>>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL,
>>the
>>>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>>>thought he would.
>>>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to
>>pass
>>>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and all
>>>of
>>>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>>>chest,
>>>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to stay
>>>>>self-effacing.
>>>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>>>this
>>>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and screwed
>>>it
>>>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries
>>actually
>>>>>forced him to think about walking away from the
>>game.
>>>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around
>in
>>>a
>>>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten
>up
>>>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>>>the
>>>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>>>normal
>>>>>now."
>>>>>After deciding to suit up for another season,
>McNair
>>>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict diet
>>>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get in
>>>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>>>year
>>>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>>>toughest
>>>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more
>bounce
>>>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to
>play
>>>>>again."
>>>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all
>>of
>>>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>>>soul
>>>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down, not
>>>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right.
>>She
>>>>>still cooks for me."
>>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>>day
>>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>>Lucille,
>>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the
>strong-willed
>>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>>herself
>>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to
>7
>>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>>crying
>>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>>job
>>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>>enough
>>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>>the
>>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>>yards
>>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a
>lot
>>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>>family."
>>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>>says.
>>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>>made
>>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together.
>Whenever
>>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very
>close
>>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>>survive."
>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>anymore,
>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>where
>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>Ironically,
>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>"I'll
>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>look
>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>of
>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>>
>>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>>day
>>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>>Lucille,
>>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the
>strong-willed
>>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>>herself
>>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to
>7
>>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>>crying
>>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>>job
>>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>>enough
>>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>>the
>>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>>yards
>>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a
>lot
>>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>>family."
>>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>>says.
>>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>>made
>>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together.
>Whenever
>>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very
>close
>>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>>survive."
>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>anymore,
>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>where
>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>Ironically,
>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>"I'll
>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>look
>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>of
>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't like
>>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>>day
>>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>>Lucille,
>>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the
>strong-willed
>>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>>herself
>>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he says.
>>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to
>7
>>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>>crying
>>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>>job
>>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>>enough
>>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything they
>>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on the
>>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>>the
>>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>>yards
>>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a
>lot
>>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow up
>>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>>family."
>>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>>says.
>>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>>made
>>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together.
>Whenever
>>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very
>close
>>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>>survive."
>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>anymore,
>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>where
>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>Ironically,
>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>"I'll
>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>look
>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>of
>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you d on't
>like
>>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the land
>>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's a
>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots, some
>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>anymore,
>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he says.
>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>where
>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>Ironically,
>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>"I'll
>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>look
>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>of
>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears started
>>>>>coming down her faceSTHY
[ Edit | View ]
[> [> [> [> [> [>
Re: SDG -- sadf, 04:14:05 08/11/09 Tue
>>>>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere
>>>baby
>>>>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be
>the
>>>>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>>>>quarterback
>>>>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard
>>short
>>>>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl
>>>XXXIV.
>>>>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after
>the
>>>>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the
>>>32-year-old
>>>>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>>>>Nashville
>>>>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>>>>don't
>>>>>>care how many people say that they don't think
>>about
>>>>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think
>>about
>>>>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low
>>>point
>>>>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance
>>to
>>>>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only
>>get
>>>>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the
>>ghosts
>>>>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>>>>are
>>>>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the
>odds,
>>>>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL,
>>>the
>>>>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>>>>thought he would.
>>>>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to
>>>pass
>>>>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and
>all
>>>>of
>>>>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>>>>chest,
>>>>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to
>stay
>>>>>>self-effacing.
>>>>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>>>>this
>>>>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and
>screwed
>>>>it
>>>>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries
>>>actually
>>>>>>forced him to think about walking away from the
>>>game.
>>>>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around
>>in
>>>>a
>>>>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten
>>up
>>>>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>>>>the
>>>>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>>>>normal
>>>>>>now."
>>>>>>After deciding to suit up for another season,
>>McNair
>>>>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict
>diet
>>>>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get
>in
>>>>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>>>>year
>>>>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>>>>toughest
>>>>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more
>>bounce
>>>>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to
>>play
>>>>>>again."
>>>>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all
>>>of
>>>>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>>>>soul
>>>>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down,
>not
>>>>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right.
>>>She
>>>>>>still cooks for me."
>>>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>>>day
>>>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>>>Lucille,
>>>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the
>>strong-willed
>>>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>>>herself
>>>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he
>says.
>>>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to
>>7
>>>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>>>crying
>>>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>>>job
>>>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>>>enough
>>>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything
>they
>>>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on
>the
>>>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>>>the
>>>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>>>yards
>>>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a
>>lot
>>>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow
>up
>>>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>>>family."
>>>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>>>says.
>>>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>>>made
>>>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together.
>>Whenever
>>>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very
>>close
>>>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>>>survive."
>>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's
>a
>>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots,
>some
>>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>>anymore,
>>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he
>says.
>>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>>where
>>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>>Ironically,
>>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>>"I'll
>>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>>look
>>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>>of
>>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears
>started
>>>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't
>like
>>>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the
>land
>>>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere
>>>baby
>>>>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be
>the
>>>>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>>>>quarterback
>>>>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard
>>short
>>>>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl
>>>XXXIV.
>>>>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after
>the
>>>>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the
>>>32-year-old
>>>>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>>>>Nashville
>>>>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>>>>don't
>>>>>>care how many people say that they don't think
>>about
>>>>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think
>>about
>>>>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low
>>>point
>>>>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance
>>to
>>>>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only
>>get
>>>>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the
>>ghosts
>>>>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>>>>are
>>>>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the
>odds,
>>>>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL,
>>>the
>>>>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>>>>thought he would.
>>>>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to
>>>pass
>>>>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and
>all
>>>>of
>>>>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>>>>chest,
>>>>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to
>stay
>>>>>>self-effacing.
>>>>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>>>>this
>>>>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and
>screwed
>>>>it
>>>>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries
>>>actually
>>>>>>forced him to think about walking away from the
>>>game.
>>>>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around
>>in
>>>>a
>>>>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten
>>up
>>>>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>>>>the
>>>>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>>>>normal
>>>>>>now."
>>>>>>After deciding to suit up for another season,
>>McNair
>>>>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict
>diet
>>>>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get
>in
>>>>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>>>>year
>>>>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>>>>toughest
>>>>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more
>>bounce
>>>>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to
>>play
>>>>>>again."
>>>>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all
>>>of
>>>>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>>>>soul
>>>>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down,
>not
>>>>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right.
>>>She
>>>>>>still cooks for me."
>>>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>>>day
>>>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>>>Lucille,
>>>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the
>>strong-willed
>>>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>>>herself
>>>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he
>says.
>>>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to
>>7
>>>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>>>crying
>>>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>>>job
>>>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>>>enough
>>>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything
>they
>>>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on
>the
>>>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>>>the
>>>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>>>yards
>>>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a
>>lot
>>>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow
>up
>>>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>>>family."
>>>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>>>says.
>>>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>>>made
>>>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together.
>>Whenever
>>>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very
>>close
>>>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>>>survive."
>>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's
>a
>>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots,
>some
>>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>>anymore,
>>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he
>says.
>>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>>where
>>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>>Ironically,
>>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>>"I'll
>>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>>look
>>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>>of
>>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears
>started
>>>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't
>like
>>>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the
>land
>>>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere
>>>baby
>>>>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be
>the
>>>>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>>>>quarterback
>>>>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard
>>short
>>>>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl
>>>XXXIV.
>>>>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after
>the
>>>>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the
>>>32-year-old
>>>>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>>>>Nashville
>>>>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>>>>don't
>>>>>>care how many people say that they don't think
>>about
>>>>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think
>>about
>>>>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low
>>>point
>>>>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance
>>to
>>>>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only
>>get
>>>>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the
>>ghosts
>>>>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>>>>are
>>>>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the
>odds,
>>>>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL,
>>>the
>>>>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>>>>thought he would.
>>>>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to
>>>pass
>>>>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and
>all
>>>>of
>>>>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>>>>chest,
>>>>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to
>stay
>>>>>>self-effacing.
>>>>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>>>>this
>>>>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and
>screwed
>>>>it
>>>>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries
>>>actually
>>>>>>forced him to think about walking away from the
>>>game.
>>>>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around
>>in
>>>>a
>>>>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten
>>up
>>>>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>>>>the
>>>>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>>>>normal
>>>>>>now."
>>>>>>After deciding to suit up for another season,
>>McNair
>>>>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict
>diet
>>>>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get
>in
>>>>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>>>>year
>>>>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>>>>toughest
>>>>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more
>>bounce
>>>>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to
>>play
>>>>>>again."
>>>>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all
>>>of
>>>>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>>>>soul
>>>>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down,
>not
>>>>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right.
>>>She
>>>>>>still cooks for me."
>>>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>>>day
>>>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>>>Lucille,
>>>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the
>>strong-willed
>>>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>>>herself
>>>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he
>says.
>>>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to
>>7
>>>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>>>crying
>>>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>>>job
>>>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>>>enough
>>>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything
>they
>>>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on
>the
>>>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>>>the
>>>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>>>yards
>>>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a
>>lot
>>>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow
>up
>>>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>>>family."
>>>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>>>says.
>>>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>>>made
>>>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together.
>>Whenever
>>>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very
>>close
>>>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>>>survive."
>>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's
>a
>>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots,
>some
>>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>>anymore,
>>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he
>says.
>>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>>where
>>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>>Ironically,
>>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>>"I'll
>>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>>look
>>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>>of
>>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears
>started
>>>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't
>like
>>>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the
>land
>>>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>>>ONE yard. A measly three feet--36 inches--a mere
>>>baby
>>>>>>step for Steve McNair.
>>>>>>But it's that scant distance which proved to be
>the
>>>>>>longest yard for the Tennessee Titans star
>>>>quarterback
>>>>>>as the world watched his team come up one yard
>>short
>>>>>>on a last-second-tying touchdown in Super Bowl
>>>XXXIV.
>>>>>>After the game, after the media was gone, after
>the
>>>>>>on-field celebration by the St. Louis Rams had
>>>>>>subsided, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Pro Bowler cried
>>>>>>like a baby. And to this day--even as the
>>>32-year-old
>>>>>>relaxes with his family in their magnificent
>>>>Nashville
>>>>>>home, and he finds himself in the midst of another
>>>>>>football season--that game continues to haunt him.
>>>>>>"It's always going to be there," McNair says. "I
>>>>don't
>>>>>>care how many people say that they don't think
>>about
>>>>>>it, you always replay it in your mind. I think
>>about
>>>>>>how sad and how bad I was feeling. It was a low
>>>point
>>>>>>in my career because I think that we had a chance
>>to
>>>>>>win the game if we would have gotten that yard and
>>>>>>went into overtime. The one yard short still hurts
>>>>>>because I haven't been back. It will never go away
>>>>>>until I get back to the Super Bowl. And not only
>>get
>>>>>>back, but win. That's a motivating factor for me."
>>>>>>If anybody can go the extra yard and slay the
>>ghosts
>>>>>>of a Super Bowl past, it's McNair. Having grown up
>>>>>>dirt-poor in Mississippi, McNair's life and career
>>>>are
>>>>>>filled with stories of succeeding against the
>odds,
>>>>>>triumph over adversity. In 11 seasons in the NFL,
>>>the
>>>>>>devoted husband and father of four sons has
>>>>>>accomplished feats--on and off the field--that few
>>>>>>thought he would.
>>>>>>In fact, with all of his accomplishments (which
>>>>>>include being the league's co-MVP in 2003, and
>>>>>>becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to
>>>pass
>>>>>>for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards), and
>all
>>>>of
>>>>>>his setbacks (including a myriad of injuries and
>>>>>>surgeries to repair his toe, ankle, knee, back,
>>>>chest,
>>>>>>hip, and his shoulder twice) he has managed to
>stay
>>>>>>self-effacing.
>>>>>>McNair now reveals that before his latest surgery
>>>>this
>>>>>>off-season--an unorthodox procedure where surgeons
>>>>>>took a piece of bone from his right hip and
>screwed
>>>>it
>>>>>>to his sternum--his growing list of injuries
>>>actually
>>>>>>forced him to think about walking away from the
>>>game.
>>>>>>"I don't want to have my family pushing me around
>>in
>>>>a
>>>>>>wheelchair when I'm 50 because I have been beaten
>>up
>>>>>>so bad," he says. "But the surgery went great. For
>>>>the
>>>>>>first time in four or five years, I feel pretty
>>>>normal
>>>>>>now."
>>>>>>After deciding to suit up for another season,
>>McNair
>>>>>>hired a personal trainer, and went on a strict
>diet
>>>>>>for the first time in his life. "I wanted to get
>in
>>>>>>the best shape of my life," says McNair, who last
>>>>year
>>>>>>was named No. 3 on USA Today's list of the 10
>>>>toughest
>>>>>>athletes in sports. "I now have a little more
>>bounce
>>>>>>in my step. I wanted to give myself a chance to
>>play
>>>>>>again."
>>>>>>The diet he followed included shying away from his
>>>>>>mother's cooking. "Candied yams, fried chicken,
>>>>>>smothered chicken, greens. She knows how to do all
>>>of
>>>>>>that. And she does it well," McNair says. "I love
>>>>soul
>>>>>>food, but at the same time, I had to slow down,
>not
>>>>>>stop, but slow down. I had to start eating right.
>>>She
>>>>>>still cooks for me."
>>>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>>>day
>>>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>>>Lucille,
>>>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the
>>strong-willed
>>>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>>>herself
>>>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he
>says.
>>>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to
>>7
>>>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>>>crying
>>>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>>>job
>>>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>>>enough
>>>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything
>they
>>>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on
>the
>>>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>>>the
>>>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>>>yards
>>>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a
>>lot
>>>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow
>up
>>>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>>>family."
>>>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>>>says.
>>>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>>>made
>>>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together.
>>Whenever
>>>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very
>>close
>>>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>>>survive."
>>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's
>a
>>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots,
>some
>>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>>anymore,
>>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he
>says.
>>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>>where
>>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>>Ironically,
>>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>>"I'll
>>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>>look
>>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>>of
>>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears
>started
>>>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't
>like
>>>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the
>land
>>>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>>>day
>>>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>>>Lucille,
>>>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the
>>strong-willed
>>>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>>>herself
>>>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he
>says.
>>>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to
>>7
>>>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>>>crying
>>>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>>>job
>>>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>>>enough
>>>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything
>they
>>>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on
>the
>>>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>>>the
>>>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>>>yards
>>>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a
>>lot
>>>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow
>up
>>>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>>>family."
>>>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>>>says.
>>>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>>>made
>>>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together.
>>Whenever
>>>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very
>>close
>>>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>>>survive."
>>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's
>a
>>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots,
>some
>>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>>anymore,
>>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he
>says.
>>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>>where
>>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>>Ironically,
>>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>>"I'll
>>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>>look
>>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>>of
>>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears
>started
>>>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you don't
>like
>>>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the
>land
>>>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>>>Not only does she cook for him, but rarely does a
>>>day
>>>>>>go by without McNair talking with his mother,
>>>>Lucille,
>>>>>>the backbone of the McNair family, the
>>strong-willed
>>>>>>woman who raised him and his four brothers by
>>>herself
>>>>>>on a small farm in Mount Olive, Miss. When talking
>>>>>>about those days growing up, McNair doesn't mince
>>>>>>words. "I used to see my mother scratch for every
>>>>>>penny. To make us happy, she did without," he
>says.
>>>>>>"It was hard seeing my mother work from 11 p.m. to
>>7
>>>>>>a.m. I remember seeing her closing her door and
>>>>crying
>>>>>>because she didn't think that she was doing a good
>>>>job
>>>>>>of raising us, and feeling like she didn't have
>>>>enough
>>>>>>income to take care of us."
>>>>>>McNair says he and his brothers did everything
>they
>>>>>>could to help make ends meet, including work on
>the
>>>>>>farm raising pigs, chickens and cows, and plowing
>>>the
>>>>>>garden with a mule. "We got summer jobs, mowing
>>>yards
>>>>>>when I was 8 or 9 years old," he says. "It put a
>>lot
>>>>>>of pressure on my oldest brother. He had to grow
>up
>>>>>>faster than he should have. He had to be a
>>>>>>father-figure for us. He made sure we did [our]
>>>>>>homework ... That actually made us close as a
>>>>family."
>>>>>>Faith and hard work helped the McNair family get
>>>>>>through the tough times. "It was hard on us," he
>>>>says.
>>>>>>"But we went to church every Sunday. That always
>>>made
>>>>>>us feel good. Did a lot of things together.
>>Whenever
>>>>>>you saw one, you saw everybody. We were a very
>>close
>>>>>>family that made the sacrifices we needed to
>>>>survive."
>>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's
>a
>>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots,
>some
>>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>>anymore,
>>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he
>says.
>>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>>where
>>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>>Ironically,
>>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>>"I'll
>>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>>look
>>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>>of
>>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears
>started
>>>>>>coming down her face. I said, 'What, you d on't
>>like
>>>>>>it?' That was when she told me that it was the
>land
>>>>>>she used to work" as a laborer.
>>>>>>The former Alcorn State University star says he's
>a
>>>>>>"country boy" who can "put on a pair of boots,
>some
>>>>>>jeans and a T-shirt" and" sit and do nothing, and
>>>>>>still have fun. I'm not financially in need
>>anymore,
>>>>>>but I'm not going to change my lifestyle," he
>says.
>>>>>>McNair has a 643-acre ranch back in Mississippi,
>>>>where
>>>>>>he raises some 250 cattle and 30 horses.
>>Ironically,
>>>>>>it's the same land his mother used to work on.
>>"I'll
>>>>>>never forget the day when I took her out there to
>>>>look
>>>>>>at the property for the first time," he says. "All
>>>of
>>>>>>sudden, her eyes started watering and tears
>started
>>>>>>coming down her faceSTHY
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