I think maybe Tiki is serious about this retirement thing
Tiki Barber and I both have stopped spending our Augusts in Albany. But his retirement from training camp seems to be going a tad differently from mine.
Here is what old No. 21 told Jay Leno Thursday when asked whether he misses camp:
"Not at all. It’s 95 degrees in Albany, New York. They are sweating. Last Friday, they'd been at camp for three days or so, and my wife and I and about eight of our friends went to dinner. Seven-course meal paired with wine, so we basically drank seven bottles of wine.
"We go to a bar and we get there and there’s a table full of shots and then we decide to go karaoke. I can sing a little bit.
"Five a.m. we come home, luckily I have my mother-in-law live with me so it wasn't as if I had to wake up with the kids, and I called call my manager and I said, ‘You know what? Thank God I’m not in training camp.’”
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Comments (7)
Tiki is right on. Summer training camp for pro football players is a horrible experience. But I can remember when things were even worse for NFl players. I'll never forget what the Washington Redskins endured at camp when they trained at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Our first (and only) week of two a day sessions for football coincided with the Redskins last week of camp. Being a lowly division 3 player, I was fine with practicing for six hours a day in 95 degree heat on a dust covered field and spending the night in a non air conditioned fraternity house. However John Riggins, Joe Theismann and Dave Butz had to endure the same conditions for three weeks and these were professionals. This was almost 30 years ago and these pro football players used the same facilities as we did. I could never get over the fact that they had to eat the same food as we did and sleep on the same horrendous beds that we used. I think the top players had their own dorm room and brought air conditioners, but the rookies and unproven players lived in tiny rooms with other players. Cut day was the worse. Seeing these huge guys grimly emptying their possessions into sacks and making their way off campus was one of the saddest things I experinced. Before college, I remember watching a special with George Plimpton from the early 70's when he went to camp with the Colts, but it did not really show just how miserable training camp was for pro players. The actual experience was a real shock for me.
What's it like these days in Albany Neil? I'm interested in seeing how things have changed and stayed the same from the late 70's and early 80's. I would have to think that things are a bit better during the off hours.
Thanks as always, John. I remember that special on the Colts at camp way back when. I remember Plimpton talking to Bubba Smith in his dorm room. I've never been inside one of the Giants' dorm rooms at UA. I do know they upgraded the dorms in time for the Giants to start training there in 1996. And yes, they're air conditioned. Most of the beat writers stay at the Marriott.
Neil, any word on the status of the Boomer deal with the fan? Labor day is about 3 weeks away.
My best guess is an announcement next week. But it's just a semi-educated guess.
Neil, I had read on the NY radio message board that there might be a snag in the deal.. Was hoping that was true.
I checked on that rumor and so far have uncovered no evidence to support it. That doesn't mean it's not true, though.
Tiki, the champion of whine and wine!