tkatz Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 My father and his best friend of 25 years are die-hard Redskins fans, have been for almost all their lives. My dads best friend is a physician in Washington and many of the Redskins attend his practice with their children. About two weeks ago my father was at work when he got a call. It was his buddy saying that he needed to tell him something important. There was a pause on the phone and then my dad heard another voice..... "Hey, whats going on Tony?" "Who is this?" - My dad replied. "Big Daddy Wilkinson" Big Daddy still resides in Washington (as well as Detroit) and even though it was his first trip to see my dads friend I guess he couldn't resist asking him to call my dad. My father said that Wilkinson was one of the nicest athletes he had ever talked to. He was engaging, funny, smart and nice enough to talk for 20 minutes! It was interesting to hear some of the things Big Daddy had to say about the "Spurrier era." He said that many of the coaches were "clueless(his exact word usage)" and that he hated being in Washington along with many other of his colleagues. He said that the atmosphere was depressing and that not very many players had any affection for Spurrier or his staff. He keeps in touch with Champ Bailey and said that Bailey thought things were a disaster over there. But he did say that he loved Washington and the fans and think its a great football city. All and all I think it was cool that Wilkinson took the time to do that and it shows hes a real class act when it comes to the fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 Good story. Big Daddy, whatever his lack of fire for keeping in shape or his failure to meet his draft status, struck me as a decent fellow. And he merely confirms what many of us could sense watching this team, especially last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 Spurrier was clueless and wasn't much fun to watch or play for. I am with him there. So what was the reason that Wilkinson disappointed us in 4 of those other 5 years he was here in DC under different coaches while soaking up all those dollars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen-like Todd Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 Yeah, apparently he's a pretty nice guy. My parents wound up behind him in the checkout line at Barnes and Noble a couple of years ago. My mother recognized him, so they struck up a conversation with him, and apparently had quite a pleasant and lengthy discussion. He was buying some magazines on warm climate architecture (Florida/Mexican style). I think fans can get a bit caught up into onfield performance and gameday behavior, and fail to make the separation between the players as athletes and human beings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burgandygold4life Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 touche' :notworthy , yet i'm sure he is still a nice guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. S Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 i still remember the play where he got a fumble or interception or tip or something, and ran it back a longways for a td, with Green helping to push him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 that was his Warhol 15 minutes of fame, hobo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen-like Todd Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 Originally posted by bulldog that was his Warhol 15 minutes of fame, hobo Wake me up when Champ takes one back 88 yards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimster Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 I know someone that knows him too. - Met at a car show I think. The guy I know owns a classic '67 Camaro and apparently so does BDW. This was several years ago and he still comes by his house once or twice a year for a cook-out and to talk cars. I always liked him - I just wished he re-did his contract last year....Oh, well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afparent Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 Big Daddy was a good dude and he did have one good season with the skins. the year they went to the playoffs. Man, I want to hear all the horror stories about the Spurrier era. Sometimes, sportstalk 980 will tease you but of course they can't tell us everything. But apparently it was a joke. I don't blame any of the skins the last few years for hating this place. There were times, we were the joke of the NFL. I also understand why Champ wanted to leave, I mean, how many changes does he have to go through just to go through another losing season. BUT, I do think CP will help us big time so I am not sad he left! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSF Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Tell your Dad to tell Big Daddy to come back! We could use him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominatingDonkeys Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Hey, whats going on Tony?" "Who is this?" - My dad replied. "Big Daddy Wilkinson" LOL he actually presents himself has "Big Daddy Wilkinson", how funny is that..... If that actually did happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofer Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Originally posted by Hobo i still remember the play where he got a fumble or interception or tip or something, and ran it back a longways for a td, with Green helping to push him. Twas against da Bears. I was visiting my folks in District Heights and we were watching the game. Took Big Daddy about 15 minutes to run those 88 yards. I didn't think he was going to make it. I was sure he would run out of gas on the 5 yard line and collapse. End of the run pic: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicealot Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 I'm glad that "Big Daddy" was cool. That's nice. I do, however, have a problem with the statement that "[he] hated being in Washington along with many other of his colleagues...the atmosphere was depressing and that not very many players had any affection for Spurrier or his staff." So what? I have similar feelings for my job, but I go to work neveryday and do what I am supposed to do becasue I am getting a paycheck which I am supposed to earn. I believe that these guys beleive that the fact that they didn't like the coaches (like I don't like my boss) gave them license to be lackadasical and indifferent on the playing field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkatz Posted June 27, 2004 Author Share Posted June 27, 2004 The funny thing is my Dad said his introduction was as "Big Daddy Wilkinson" I think that is hilarious. From what my dad told me it really sounded like Spurrier had no control over the team, nor did he have a good idea of what it took to be a headcoach. He said Spurrier was way out his element and bewildered. Its sad that an actual profesional football team was so out of control. But its nice to see a friendly athlete and kind athlete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimster Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 I'm sure its probably more of hated the situation than hated the place. Although there are some athletes who want out at the first sign of adversity, as Nicealot mentioned. So what? I have similar feelings for my job, but I go to work neveryday Freudian slip? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldskool Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Originally posted by DominatingDonkeys Hey, whats going on Tony?" "Who is this?" - My dad replied. "Big Daddy Wilkinson" LOL he actually presents himself has "Big Daddy Wilkinson", how funny is that..... If that actually did happen try to not be such an idiot, especially on a non Broncos board.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Originally posted by jimster . . .but I go to work neveryday. Freudian slip? :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 There's a difference between going to work everyday and having an incompetent or cruel manager or organizational culture that saps your joy or sets you up to fail. I mean, we've all had better situations in school and work and worse. It doesn't reflect entirely on us if we aren't happy with it. Might be we're upset or bothered for a reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlinginSammy HOF '63 Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Dang, it must be nice living near or in DC bumping into former or current players all of the time. For me living my life 1,000 miles away these guys are almost like mythical figures since I only see them on TV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Die Hard Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 How much more evidence do people need before they finally understand what a few us figured out about Spurrier long before he got fired? Bubba you listening? Spurrier still needed one more year? :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSF Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Oh come on now DH. Spurrier expected the players to be professionals . It was so painfully obvious by halfway through last season that the team didn't believe in Spurrier. I do respect some of the guys that were defending SOS, like Bubba and Code, but it's hard for me to understand how anyone could have thought that SOS was doing a good job or should have been around another season. The guy was an absolute bust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afparent Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Originally posted by GSF Oh come on now DH. Spurrier expected the players to be professionals . It was so painfully obvious by halfway through last season that the team didn't believe in Spurrier. I do respect some of the guys that were defending SOS, like Bubba and Code, but it's hard for me to understand how anyone could have thought that SOS was doing a good job or should have been around another season. The guy was an absolute bust. I think Spurrier will go down as a joke as an NFL coach. Obviously players are going to say positive things in the press, probably because Spurrier was a good guy and you never know if a system is going to work. I still want to hear some stories from the players. If anyone knows any, pass it on!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highway66 Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Big Daddy was an adequate D Tackle. He never did live up to his college hype, but he would be an upgrade for us right now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkatz Posted June 27, 2004 Author Share Posted June 27, 2004 Originally posted by afparent Obviously players are going to say positive things in the press, probably because Spurrier was a good guy and you never know if a system is going to work. The impression my dad got from Big Daddy was that the players didnt think too highly of Spurrier either.... That wouldnt surprise me because the guy did seem quite arrogant and lazy. Yeah, I would love to have Big Daddy back with us on the team right now. He didnt play up to his potential but it would be a solid twosome of Griffin and Big D. He had a good season w/ the Lions last year, we should have restrcutured his contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.