Troy Polamalu

Dec18

Review of Facebook Q&A

Thank you all again for your incredible participation in the Q&A. If you didn’t see an answer to your question yesterday, check the transcript below!  Enter now for the chance to hang with me at the Steelers final home game of the season and win tickets to the Super Bowl! Airfare and hotel are included, and every entry benefits the Troy & Theodora Polamalu Foundation: http://bit.ly/TroyTime

Here is the facebook post on the Steelers page where the Facebook Q&A took place

———-

Which player do you admire the most past or present?

The player I admire the most would be Walter Payton. My brother and I used to play one-on-one football, and he used to make me be Walter Payton.

Outside of football, what sort of hobbies are you into?

I like to surf. I wish I had more time to do other hobbies, but when I have time I love to surf.

Whats the #1 thing that keeps you motivated?
I just enjoy playing. That’s as real as it can be. I just enjoy playing football. It’s not about winning or losing, but this is the sport that I’ve grown to love throughout my entire life. It’s been one of the few constants in my life.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

My favorite ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone. I also like French vanilla, and lately I’ve been into Rocky Road.

Do you have a game day ritual that you follow?

Yes I do. I arrive with Ryan Clark 4 hours before every game, and I prepare myself the same way, whether it’s a pre-season game, a regular game, or post-season game. I try to maintain the same routine no matter the time, the opponent, and the place.

How did you come to wear Number 43?

I grew up wearing #41 all the way from elementary school through high school because it was the number my family wore. But when I got to USC, Grant Pearsall had worn #43 and I was given that number. When I met him, I told him that I hoped to make him proud by wearing his number. So throughout college I wore #43 and then when I got to the Steelers, I was given that number as well.

What’s your favorite holiday tradition?

For the week before Easter, my wife, our children, and I like to visit a monastery.

Who is your role model and why?

Being Greek Orthodox, we celebrate saints everyday, and I try my best to lead the life of a saint each and every day. I draw inspiration from their lives.

What do you do to your hair to make it so awesome? It can’t just be the Pola-molecules.

Every Samoan male has a right of passage where he has to climb up a mountain in Samoa, drink from a certain lake, and survive for 40 days. That’s how we get the power of our hair.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh?

My favorite restaurant would be Clifford’s. It’s a family owned restaurant that gets their ingredients from their own farm. My family and I order the entire menu – all the appetizers and all dishes!

Who is the most motivational player in the locker room?

We don’t have one. We all amp each other up, but no one’s good at it lol. But Coach Tomlin is a great motivational speaker.

What kind of pranks do you play on your teammates if you play any at all?

I am a master of pranks. My favorite prank is unscrewing the tops to my teammates’ water bottles just enough, so that when they squeeze them to squirt water in their mouths, it sprays all over them. I have too many victims to name.

Do you want to go on Dancing with the Stars?

I’ve have had an opportunity before to go on Dancing with the Stars but………

Pepsi or Coke?

Definitely coke.

Can I have a hug?

Infinite virtual hugs.

What is your favorite stadium to play at besides Pittsburgh?

My favorite stadium to play at besides Pittsburgh is Miami. Love playing in warm weather!

If there was no football in the world, what sport would you play?

If there was no football in the world I would play baseball. I grew up playing baseball, and played baseball in college as well.

What shampoo do you really use?

I use Head and Shoulders. There is no other.

What was it like playing in the UK?

It was awesome playing in the UK, but it was for a very very short time so we didn’t really get to do anything outside of our football lives. I do look forward to hopefully visiting the UK someday in the future with my family.

Are you going to retire with the Steelers?

God willing, I will retire with the Steelers.

What do you think of Ben’s beard?

I wasn’t aware Ben had a beard. The only person allowed to have a beard on our team is Brett.

What does being a Steeler mean to you?

I’ve been very blessed and fortunate to play for two of the most prestigious football programs in the country: USC and the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are both second to none.

How did you learn to play football?

I learned to play football in the backyard with my older brother.

What’s your favorite NFL team to play against as a Steeler?

As a Steeler, my favorite NFL team to play against is Baltimore, Cleveland, or Cincinnati, just because they’re all tough games. The fans are always excited about those games, and in terms of standings they mean more being as that they’re division games.

What is the feeling you get when put on your Steelers uniform and go out on to the field at the start of the game?

It’s a bunch of mixed emotions. It differs from time to time as well. Sometimes I can’t sleep before a game. Being in the NFL 11 years, you experience a lot of different things, but for the most part I’m excited and nervous.

What drives you to be such a positive and caring individual? More specifically in regards to causes and charities that you support?

My life experience. I’ve been fortunate and blessed enough to experience a lot of different things in my upbringing. I was adopted, I grew up in the inner city and in the country. I would say it was my life experience.

What is your most memorable hit?

Sometimes you don’t remember the big ones. Lol.

Be honest, which style do you like best, Chicago style deep dish pizza or NY style?

I’m a fan of NY style pizza in NY and Chicago pizza while in Chicago.

Who’s your favourite Reggae artist/band?

I love Reggae music. My favorite Reggae artist of course is Bob Marley but I’m also a fan of Beres Hammond, Gregory Isaacs, as well as Island Reggae, e.g. Jay Boog.

What are some of your favorite workouts? And what does your diet consist of?

My diet is based on the alkaline diet. I try to drink as much water as I can – sometimes up to 5 liters a day. I avoid eating dairy, although I love it. I try to eat as many grains as possible. Chicken and fish. My favorite workouts – I don’t know. But my training in the off season is pretty intense. Of course during the football season it can’t be as intense due to the wear and tear on our bodies during the season.

Do you disguise yourself when out in public?

I disguise myself sometimes as Batman or Superman. Haha no I don’t.

What is your favorite area in Pittsburgh?

Oh. Sewickley is an awesome township. Squirrel Hill. The South Side is very nice as well.

How do you amp yourself up?

I actually try not to amp myself up. I think sometimes you can get too emotionally charged and not think straight. Football’s as much of a mental game as it is physical. You should try to relax as much as possible. Just like you would when preparing for an exam.

If you weren’t a football player, what profession would you enjoy?

I would enjoy being a professional surfer. Or a pool player.

If you could meet anyone from history living or dead who would it be?

Not including religious figures, I would like to meet one of the ancient Greek philosophers. Probably Socrates. And then have a wrestling match with Leonidas in Sparta.

Is it true your hair makes you fly?

I would not consider it flying. It’s more coasting.

What’s your favorite Mexican dish?

It depends on where. I really love shredded beef tacos at Taco Surf in Pacific Beach, CA. I love eating fish tacos at Oscar’s in La Jolla, CA. I like butter tortillas at Porkyland in La Jolla too. I also love drinking horchata.

 Are you and the rest of the players close friends off the field?

Absolutely. It’s the foundation of our organization, our family atmosphere that we have within our locker room.

What are your upcoming adventures for your non-profit organization?

Well, in a couple of summers we’ll be going to Samoa to have another football camp. We just recently had a very successful fundraiser and hope to have an event coming up perhaps this summer in Los Angeles as well.

What was your first job?

My first official job where I paid taxes was working at a skating rink in Roseburg, Oregon. It was awesome except whenever it was my turn to DJ it didn’t last long because nobody liked to listen to Reggae or classic rock.

What part of your culture makes it produce such beasts of athletes?

Within our culture, we’re set up like any successful team. There’s a head of the family that everybody respects and listens to, and there are virtues such as respect and humility and discipline that permeate within our culture that are the foundation for successful teams in football. We also come from a long line of fishers, farmers, and warriors so it’s in our blood to perhaps be especially gifted athletically.

Does it take time to become awesome every morning? Or do you just wake up that way?

I really don’t know how to answer your question.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of football?

Well, besides surfing, anybody that knows me knows that I love to travel and I love to eat. But I would probably say it’s eating.

Who is or was your favorite/most challenging QB to go up against?

Well obviously Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, but I’m sure they would be on the top of anybody’s list.

Do you have tattoos?

I do not have any tattoos. I do not have any plans to get any tattoos. I did want tattoos while I was in high school, but my thoughts are that it’s more original to not have tattoos nowadays than to have tattoos.

Troy, what is the weirdest thing you have found in your hair?

Seaweed when surfing. And tons and tons of dirt and grass of course.

How do you stay so positive in spirit?

I can’t honestly say I’m positive all the time. But there’s just too many things in life to be thankful for.

What book are you reading?

Currently I am not reading any books, do you have any suggestions?

Do you have any holiday traditions you can share?

My favorite Christmas tradition growing up was going out and cutting down our own tree and taking turns putting up our Christmas tree ornaments.

Are there any new players in the NFL who remind you of yourself?

No, but there are a lot of young players that I do admire watching: Eric Berry, Mark Barron, Earl Thomas, Dashon Goldson and many more.

Doesn’t it stink to get old? Do you feel like you’re slowing down?

Yes it stinks, but with age comes experience and youth can’t have that.

What’s the point in your life that influenced you the most to push you towards your goals in football?

I always enjoyed the moment in my life. I never thought about high school football when I was in middle school. I never thought about college football when I was in high school. I never thought about professional football when I was in college. I tried my best throughout my football career to enjoy the moment.

What was/is your best or most relaxing vacation place?

My favorite vacation spot… Well before I had children, because there’s never any vacation once you have children lol, would be Hawaii. Hawaii is always a great place to visit.

What makes you play like a man deranged!? You have no remorse or fear. What drives Troy to be Troy?

I’m very passionate about football. I enjoy playing it. I would be very passionate about ballet or gymnastics or baseball. Unfortunately, football is a pretty violent sport so I am passionate about that aspect of it as well.

Tweet