Merlin Olsen

I've caught fish as big as I am. I've caught marlin close to 300 pounds.

When a man lies, he murders some part of the world.

I bet I made close to 20 tackles because nobody on either side knew what they were doing.

Team doctors' jobs those days were to keep you on the field.

You are the land. The land is you.

It took me a while to realize that basketball wasn't football.

Most exciting for me was to make the Pro Bowl in 14 of 15 years.

I probably played hurt a lot more times than I should have.

One of lifes most painful moments comes when we must admit that we didnt do our homework that we are not prepared.

One of life's most painful moments comes when we must admit that we didn't do our homework, that we are not prepared.

Nobody cared about swimming. You could draw a crowd for basketball.

I was always the last one chosen for football games in Central Park.

The basketball coach cut me within two days, so I was back in the pool. I was the first one in the wall after the first 25 yards, but the last one out because I didn't have a flip turn.

I was captain and should have set the example. I would lift a minimum of weights. Mine was natural physical strength. I always thought quickness and agility were much more important.

I just wanted to be an athlete.

Our coach was absolutely out of his head. He must have read Bear Bryant's book. We had 78 players out. The first day 35 quit. Twenty quit the second day. We ended with 17 players. It was depressing.

I can ski out of my back door.

Our whole philosophy was to intimidate the quarterback. We were able to do it. We were pioneers. People still recognize us as, maybe, the best defensive line of all time.

After a few games I knew I was going to be able to compete. The idea of being a star never crossed my mind.