Post by Mr. Hendrickson™ on Jul 29, 2004 14:46:56 GMT -5
Brock Lesnar Speaks On His Transition Between WWE And The NFL
Story By: Ryan Cain
July 29, 2004
The following is from NFL.com:
Leaving behind a career as a world champion in the WWE, former pro wrestler Brock Lesnar is trying his hand at pro football. Lesnar, who lives in Minnesota, signed with the Vikings and will be in training camp with the team. Lesnar spoke with NFL Total Access host Rich Eisen about the excitement of trying another sport, his rigorous training to get there, and his wily roommate. NFL Total Access airs Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET/PT (aired July 28, 2004).
Rich Eisen: How excited are you? You must be fired up.
Brock Lesnar: I'm very excited, overwhelmed, and I don't know what else to say. I'm just thankful for the opportunity that the Vikings gave me, and looking forward to going into camp. I'm just excited -- don't know what to expect. I'm just glad I'm going there.
Eisen: Well, obviously when you're talking about professional wrestling, in a way, some people might think this is a gag. But, you're leaving serious dollars on the table to try this thing out, Brock. Why are you doing this?
Lesnar: Well, this is a dream of mine that I wanted to fulfill, and I figured you only live once in your life. I climbed to the top in wrestling, and it was time for me to get out of there, so here I am. I'm looking forward to fulfilling this dream, and it was a passion of mine that I wanted to play football.
Eisen: Now you haven't played football since 1995, at Webster High School in your native South Dakota. What have you done to prepare for this?
Lesnar: Well, I don't know what you really can do to prepare for this. I'm just coming into this with an open mind. I'm trying to be in as good a shape as I can be in, and I guess I have a lot of faith in the coaching staff here to kind of mold me along and help me out, and that's all I'm really looking for. I don't know how to really prepare myself, I'm just going in with an open mind.
Eisen: Well, you went to Tempe for a few months at this world-renowned place for players to get into football shape. Tell us about your stay there.
Lesnar: Yeah, I got down to Athletes Performance in April and was there throughout the summer, and those guys worked with me to get me back into shape. In the midst of things, I got into a motorcycle accident, which set me back. So mostly this summer, I've been trying to heal up and get ready and wishing for somebody to give me this opportunity to play football. That's kind of where I'm at right now.
Eisen: Is there anybody who would dare to tell you you're a little nuts for trying to do this?
Lesnar: Well, I guess you've got to be a little nuts to live life in general. You know, I walked away from the WWE, left a lot of money on the table to pursue this. I just want to be happy, play football, be close to my family, and want to be around good people. That's why I live here in Minnesota.
Eisen: Any thoughts in Mankato in trying out the F-5 wrestling maneuver on any of your new teammates?
Lesnar: I don't think that'll win me over at the camp, no. I got that move perfected; I want to try some football things.
Eisen: Let's take a look at the depth chart you'll be joining. Obviously some of these guys have some serious credentials ... are you rooming with Chris Hovan in Mankato?
Lesnar: Yes, I'll be rooming with Chris in Mankato.
Eisen: Oh my God! That should be an interesting room, Brock.
Lesnar: It could be, it could be. I got a good teacher there, so that's my whole plan. I'm going to surround myself with greatness.
Eisen: Have you known Chris for awhile?
Lesnar: Yeah, I've known Chris going on four years now. He was a fan of mine when I was in the wrestling ring and I was a fan of his on the football field.
Eisen: Well, Brock, Mike Tice's plan for you right now is…he thinks that you're a great practice squad player and maybe sending you to NFL Europe. Is that something you would do?
Lesnar: Whatever it takes. Whatever it needs to be, I want to pursue this thing and give it a 110 percent. That's what I want to do.
Eisen: That's terrific. I guess you don't need me to tell you this, but now that training camp starts ... "here comes the pain!"
Lesnar: Exactly! Thank you.
Story By: Ryan Cain
July 29, 2004
The following is from NFL.com:
Leaving behind a career as a world champion in the WWE, former pro wrestler Brock Lesnar is trying his hand at pro football. Lesnar, who lives in Minnesota, signed with the Vikings and will be in training camp with the team. Lesnar spoke with NFL Total Access host Rich Eisen about the excitement of trying another sport, his rigorous training to get there, and his wily roommate. NFL Total Access airs Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET/PT (aired July 28, 2004).
Rich Eisen: How excited are you? You must be fired up.
Brock Lesnar: I'm very excited, overwhelmed, and I don't know what else to say. I'm just thankful for the opportunity that the Vikings gave me, and looking forward to going into camp. I'm just excited -- don't know what to expect. I'm just glad I'm going there.
Eisen: Well, obviously when you're talking about professional wrestling, in a way, some people might think this is a gag. But, you're leaving serious dollars on the table to try this thing out, Brock. Why are you doing this?
Lesnar: Well, this is a dream of mine that I wanted to fulfill, and I figured you only live once in your life. I climbed to the top in wrestling, and it was time for me to get out of there, so here I am. I'm looking forward to fulfilling this dream, and it was a passion of mine that I wanted to play football.
Eisen: Now you haven't played football since 1995, at Webster High School in your native South Dakota. What have you done to prepare for this?
Lesnar: Well, I don't know what you really can do to prepare for this. I'm just coming into this with an open mind. I'm trying to be in as good a shape as I can be in, and I guess I have a lot of faith in the coaching staff here to kind of mold me along and help me out, and that's all I'm really looking for. I don't know how to really prepare myself, I'm just going in with an open mind.
Eisen: Well, you went to Tempe for a few months at this world-renowned place for players to get into football shape. Tell us about your stay there.
Lesnar: Yeah, I got down to Athletes Performance in April and was there throughout the summer, and those guys worked with me to get me back into shape. In the midst of things, I got into a motorcycle accident, which set me back. So mostly this summer, I've been trying to heal up and get ready and wishing for somebody to give me this opportunity to play football. That's kind of where I'm at right now.
Eisen: Is there anybody who would dare to tell you you're a little nuts for trying to do this?
Lesnar: Well, I guess you've got to be a little nuts to live life in general. You know, I walked away from the WWE, left a lot of money on the table to pursue this. I just want to be happy, play football, be close to my family, and want to be around good people. That's why I live here in Minnesota.
Eisen: Any thoughts in Mankato in trying out the F-5 wrestling maneuver on any of your new teammates?
Lesnar: I don't think that'll win me over at the camp, no. I got that move perfected; I want to try some football things.
Eisen: Let's take a look at the depth chart you'll be joining. Obviously some of these guys have some serious credentials ... are you rooming with Chris Hovan in Mankato?
Lesnar: Yes, I'll be rooming with Chris in Mankato.
Eisen: Oh my God! That should be an interesting room, Brock.
Lesnar: It could be, it could be. I got a good teacher there, so that's my whole plan. I'm going to surround myself with greatness.
Eisen: Have you known Chris for awhile?
Lesnar: Yeah, I've known Chris going on four years now. He was a fan of mine when I was in the wrestling ring and I was a fan of his on the football field.
Eisen: Well, Brock, Mike Tice's plan for you right now is…he thinks that you're a great practice squad player and maybe sending you to NFL Europe. Is that something you would do?
Lesnar: Whatever it takes. Whatever it needs to be, I want to pursue this thing and give it a 110 percent. That's what I want to do.
Eisen: That's terrific. I guess you don't need me to tell you this, but now that training camp starts ... "here comes the pain!"
Lesnar: Exactly! Thank you.
