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ootball is a kids' game, invented to Of course, there are certain players
Fgive a lot of people a lot of fun . who will tell you that [ never miss a
The minute a player loses sight of that party, period, and if they want to spread
fact, he's in trouble. Like the Minnesota that propaganda, it's all right with me-
Vikings in the Super Bowl. We forgot mostly because it's true. I even showed
we were supposed to be enjoying our- up at the annual banquet of the Fel-
selves out there. We forgot it was a kids' lowship of Christian Athletes this year,
game, and we wound up playing in a red- at their invitation. At first I thought some
wood forest. Every time I looked up I terrible mistake had been made. Cer-
could see those red tree trunks in front tainly I'm a Christian athlete, although
of me and on top of me and all around I'm not exactly renowned for my piety.
me. We didn't stay loose and have fun- I was a little uneasy until I spotted Bob-
in the traditional Viking way- and we by Layne, the former quarterback, and
played a poor game and they played a then I felt like I belonged. And when I
great one. saw Dick Butkus, I really breathed eas-
By having fun I don't mean goosing ier. I went up to him and I said, "Whose
each other and telling dirty jokes in the ticket did you steal to get in?" and he
huddle-although a little male humor said, "Why don't you go over in the cor-
doesn't hurt either. I mean doing your ner and leave us humans alone?" Mu-
absolute best and enjoying it, because if tual respect, that's what we have. When
you're doing your best you will be en- people ask me if Butkus is the best line-
joying it. And if you're doing your best, backer I've faced, I won't answer. I hate
then winning isn't so crucial. A football to single out individual opponents. In
isn't round, and you don't always have the pro game, they're all good. I won't
control of whether you win or lose, but even vote for an all-opponent team. I
you do have control of your own effort rip the ballots up. They're all good. I'll
and your own mind. 1f you can get bet you a ciga1· that you can't name one
enough ballplayers on your own club bad football player in pro ball. You lose!
thinking this way, you can win anything. I'm aware of my own reputation, and
I haven't missed many football games I enjoy it. I've been called " one half of
in my life, going all the way back to a collision looking for the other." The
high school- like most pros, I've played adjectives you .usually read about me
with cracked ribs and a punctured lung are "unstylish," "brutal," "unrelent-
and a torn knee and separated shoulder ing" and sometimes " dumb." (That's
and half a dozen other injuries-and I've when we lose; when we win, I'm a "great
also never missed a postgame party. I've genius.") People take one look at the
never missed the fun. I've known play- scars on my face and they assume that
ers who get a little injury and rush off I spend most of my off-hours prowling
to the hospital and don't make the par- around looking for fights, when the truth
ty. Bull! Not me. I never missed one is that the fights are prowling around
and I never intend to miss one. You looking for me, and sometimes they find
play out there together and you win or me. I think of myself as a gentle, fun-lov-
lose together and you're all involved in ing, peaceful person, but you can be all
this effort together and after the game these things and still get in fights- es-
you should party together. pecially if you don't back down, and I
continued
KAPP, WIFE MARCIA AND SON J.J. HIT TH E BEACH AT WAIKIKI DURING OFF SEASON

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