Herschel

[Hailmary]

I'm watching Center Stage and the guest is Herschel Walker. At the age of 46, he still looks in better shape than most currently in the league. He just looks like an athlete.

As I'm watching, I'm wondering where he ranks as one of the all time best athletes. I stress "athlete" and not "player".

What does everyone think? His resume includes: Professional football, olympic bobsledder, track star, ballet, and sixth degree blackbelt in tae kwon do.

 

[Wimbo]

I cycled in an event with him a year or two ago. I made a comment about how he was so famous back in the day for all the sit up's and push ups he did every day (literally in the thousands). He laughed and said, "yeah, I still do all those crazy things". He is definitely in good shape for his age.

 

[Chief]

He is an amazing athlete and would rank right up there, IMO.

Herschel was mostly power and speed, though.

I'm probably a little more impressed with Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson. They could play major league baseball, too, and Deion can play basketball.

Deion is a more fluid athlete than Bo and Herschel. He doesn't have the overpowering strength of those two, but he has unusually broad shoulders and long arms and legs.

I think Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Terrell Owens and Tim Seder deserve mention, too.

 

[QT]

I remember him stating he use to do something like 1,000 pushups and 2,000 situps everyday in his playing day. He always stated that he never touched a barbell in his life.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

This is sort of off-topic, but if anyone is interested in his appearance on ABC where he discussed his multiple personalities, here is a video.

And yes, he was one of the greatest athletes our time.

blackdcc.net/vids/Boyz_wmv_HerschelWalker.wmv

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

And he wanted to be an FBI agent. And now he's an author.

If I did not know better I would say he has multiple personalities.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

And he wanted to be an FBI agent. And now he's an author.

If I did not know better I would say he has multiple personalities.

:laugh2: He really was/is a character. I always enjoyed reading articles about him and seeing him interviewed. I hate that he didn't get a ring with us when he came back the second time. He was a big part of our Dynasty run and I always felt like he deserved a ring of his own.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I remember him stating he use to do something like 1,000 pushups and 2,000 situps everyday in his playing day. He always stated that he never touched a barbell in his life.

Navy Seals don't either

 

[tomson75]

Navy Seals don't either

Yes they do.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Yes they do.

they do more pushups than they lift

 

[NorthTexan95]

He is an amazing athlete and would rank right up there, IMO.

Herschel was mostly power and speed, though.

I'm probably a little more impressed with Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson. They could play major league baseball, too, and Deion can play basketball.

Deion is a more fluid athlete than Bo and Herschel. He doesn't have the overpowering strength of those two, but he has unusually broad shoulders and long arms and legs.

I think Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Terrell Owens and Tim Seder deserve mention, too.

Tim Seder? You must know something I don't or you were just seeing who would catch it.

 

[jobberone]

Hershel didn't look like he was juking much at all but he could avoid some hits although I think he would run them over in a heartbeat. He did not have Earl's power but he wasn't too far behind. And fast. For those who were lucky enough to see him in HS, then college then the USFL and finally the Boys you could see he had changed a little. Maybe a tad slower and ran with less agility and more power which shouldn't be a surprise for a maturing then aging player. He could catch the ball out of the backfield and I don't mean short passes. Imagine a back about as fast as Troy Williamson flying downfield and then catching the ball in stride. And he often took it in stride which is a gift for a WR to know where to be, how to get there and get there like it was right on the money in full stride. Even later on he could get behind LBs and Ss trying to cover him, outrun them then run over them if necessary. He didn't have a lot of passes that ended up between the 10 and the goaline either.

He's definitely at least a 2nd tier back very near the top 5-10 without my playing this game again. If he had gone to the Boys out of college and stayed here he would be a lock to be in the top ten RBs all tiime and likely top five; let me think about the very last statement before holding me to that.

Great runner and great guy. And what is most astonishing is for him to have lived with a for real multiple personality disorder for so long and not be found out, fall apart, and make himself look so normal. I'd love to sit down and talk to him and peel the onion. Probably take at least two and more likely 5-10 years. But so fascinating.

Someone should start a thread that rated the top 25 RBs since 55 and see where he falls.

 

[Hailmary]

He is an amazing athlete and would rank right up there, IMO.

Herschel was mostly power and speed, though.

I'm probably a little more impressed with Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson. They could play major league baseball, too, and Deion can play basketball.

Deion is a more fluid athlete than Bo and Herschel. He doesn't have the overpowering strength of those two, but he has unusually broad shoulders and long arms and legs.

I think Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Terrell Owens and Tim Seder deserve mention, too.

I agree that Jackson and Sanders are up there on the list, but I see Walker on a different level. While Sanders and Jackson craved the limelight (football & baseball), Walker was willing to tackle on athletic endeavors that were less glamorous (ballet, bob sledding, tae kwon do) just for the challenge of it.

To me, he should've been the star of all the "BO KNOWS" commercials.

 

[Hailmary]

I remember him stating he use to do something like 1,000 pushups and 2,000 situps everyday in his playing day. He always stated that he never touched a barbell in his life.

He mentioned these tings on the show. What's more amazing is that he's also mentioned that he eats one meal a day and rarely eats red meat. I don't care how many push ups and sit ups you do, how can one possibly stay in the shape (and retain weight) without the fat and protein???

 

[irvin88]

Herschel runs over Bill Bates:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nc2XsimM90

 

[jobberone]

He mentioned these tings on the show. What's more amazing is that he's also mentioned that he eats one meal a day and rarely eats red meat. I don't care how many push ups and sit ups you do, how can one possibly stay in the shape (and retain weight) without the fat and protein???

Your body can manufacture most of the amino acids. There are a few "essential" amino acids that can't be made and you have to ingest them somehow. You can also manufacture fat but you should take in at least 20gms of fat each day (hard to keep in less than 30). It is a lot easier to break down carbohydrates to glucose than to take glucose and manufacture amino acids and fat.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

He mentioned these tings on the show. What's more amazing is that he's also mentioned that he eats one meal a day and rarely eats red meat. I don't care how many push ups and sit ups you do, how can one possibly stay in the shape (and retain weight) without the fat and protein???

you can retain weight that way, you're just not going to gain anymore muscle mass

 

[jobberone]

you can retain weight that way, you're just not going to gain anymore muscle mass

I don't think that is always true Bob even though it is "public knowlege". You can certainly do better with appropriates amounts of fat and protein each day. But you can substitute amino acids from non red meat, dairy products, soy, etc. And you take amino acids by supplementation. If you are using androgens then you really need to take in the proper amount to protein which will be above the daily recommendations. Even with hard working out you need above avg protein/amino acids.

It can be done. Esp if done correctly with a natural slow build up of body mass with a high percentage of that being protein, proper amounts of fat and carbohydrates, overall correct caloric intake and vitamins and such. And don't forget to stretch.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I don't think that is always true Bob even though it is "public knowlege". You can certainly do better with appropriates amounts of fat and protein each day. But you can substitute amino acids from non red meat, dairy products, soy, etc. And you take amino acids by supplementation. If you are using androgens then you really need to take in the proper amount to protein which will be above the daily recommendations. Even with hard working out you need above avg protein/amino acids.

It can be done. Esp if done correctly with a natural slow build up of body mass with a high percentage of that being protein, proper amounts of fat and carbohydrates, overall correct caloric intake and vitamins and such. And don't forget to stretch.

I'm not a nutritionist, so I'll take your word for it

how about that?

all I know is that for me, being a skinny guy w/ a high metabolism, I need alot of protein

 

[jobberone]

I'm not a nutritionist, so I'll take your word for it

how about that?

all I know is that for me, being a skinny guy w/ a high metabolism, I need alot of protein

Be thankful you are thin. Thin people live longer and have less disease. I used to be thin.