Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams
Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams Jr.is a retired American football running back who played twelve seasons in the National Football Leagueand one season in the Canadian Football League. He played college football for the University of Texas, where he was a two-time All-American and won the Heisman Trophy. Williams was drafted by the New Orleans Saints fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft and spent three seasons with the team before he was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2002. He...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionFootball Player
Date of Birth21 May 1977
CitySan Diego, CA
CountryUnited States of America
I was sitting at home last night and thinking if there was anywhere in the world I'd rather be, or anything I'd rather be doing (than playing football),
Everywhere I go, people hear Ricky Williams and the next thing they think is marijuana or wasted talent.
Depending on their fondest memory of you, most people hold on so tightly to their fondest memory they don’t usually let you be anything greater than that. And that’s one of the things I think I allowed myself to be a victim of earlier in my career. What I learned as I got older is I decide. I decide what it’s like for me, not other people. You can be whatever you’d like to be. You just have to choose it.
I've let a lot of things go, and obviously football is one of them. I think the hardest thing to let go is your self-image. That's what I'm working on now.
I think I have a tendency to look at things subjectively rather than objectively when I reflect on my experience.
I want people to think they can't die until they see me play.
I think Ricky Williams had his time in the limelight. And I think it was good for what it was worth, and that was that.
I don't think people change. I think they definitely mature. But I think the essence of what I am today is the same as when I was five years old. It's just maturity. I've become a healthier, fuller expression of that essence.
I allowed myself to think if I could be doing anything in the world, what would I be doing? And what came to mind is I'd be traveling a little bit, I'd be going to classes and I'd be going back to school.
Well, I don't think I've necessarily ever been a passionate football player or a passionate person.
One of my biggest problems is that I'm always so influenced by what other people are thinking about me.
It used to be irritating just because someone can meet you and before they would get a chance to get to know you, they’ll go find someone else’s story about who I am. For me personally, I just always think it’s more interesting to get to know the person myself.
I don't care what people think about me because I know I am more than all the pain and strife they hold inside.
I think it's very easy for people to stereotype athletes, good and bad.