Timehost: Hello everyone. Thanks for coming to our TIME/Yahoo! Chat today. It's a special chat, in honor of Black History Month, and we're honored to be joined today by football great Lynn Swann -- who has just arrived. Welcome.
Lynn Swann: Hi everybody.
Timehost: Let's take the first question...
BwO_SuperNova asks: How would you evaluate your years as a Steeler?
Lynn Swann: They were great because of the success of the team rather than any one as an individual. But as an individual I learned and gained much from those years.
Louisk39 asks: Lynn, you and the Steelers were great community-builders, signing autographs at malls, etc. Do you think that your team, and, say, the Redskins, help bridge ethnic and racial differences in NFL cities?
Lynn Swann: I don't know about the Redskins. I am not familiar with their programs,
but there was a very conscious effort from the players on my team.
We didn't feel like we HAD to be role models but
felt the responsibility toward our communities.
And anytime you come in contact with someone who doesn't
have a diverse group of friends then you help to build a bridge
towards ethnic and racial harmony.
Chief_Humping_Dogs asks: Who did you enjoy playing with the most?
Lynn Swann: All of my teammates I enjoyed playing with,
but I enjoyed the special competition and sportsmanship that I developed with
Franco Harris and John Stallworth.
akaamber22 asks: How can a person start a program like Big Brothers in their community?
Lynn Swann: Call the national office and get information about that program.
It takes quite an effort to start a program.
We have over 500 agencies across the country.
You can call, and there is probably one located in your community.
jcma22 asks: Lynn, who's your favorite QB all time?
Lynn Swann: I only had one quarterback in Pittsburgh, so if you talk
about people throwing me the football it would be Terry Bradshaw.
But if you are talking about the past and present,
it would be Joe Montana,
and that would be it.
Canman169 asks: Was your greatest catch against the Cowboys in the Superbowl?
Lynn Swann: I think that was a highlight because of the circumstances.
There were several catches in college, at USC, that I would rank right up there.
My senior year against Stanford, for example,
there were a series of four catches in one game that were pretty big time.
DW1020 asks: Do you like covering the sports as much as you like playing them -- and does it bring back memories?
Lynn Swann:It's different to cover the game.
It brings back memories all the time,
because you don't get all the detail of
being in the huddle and knowing all the nuances of
the game plan.
yankee_38305 asks: What do you think of the Broncos signing Dale Carter?
Lynn Swann: I think it's a good move
As good as they are, they are not sitting packed.
They are attempting to make the team better and
to improve on all aspects of what they do.
The Steelers won four Super Bowls in six years.
I think it was harder winning 2, 3, and 4 than winning the first one.
That
is because the championship team becomes a target.
Dale Carter is good player and will shore up the defensive team.
Rocker_Chick_84 asks: Do you think the Steelers have a good enough team this year to go to the Super Bowl?
Lynn Swann: Absolutely Not!
I picked the Steelers last year to be,
at best, 8 and 8.
They have lost an average of 5 starters a year for the last 6 years.
They have not successfully replaced most of that talent.
You can't win without talent.
Timehost: Here's a comment from our audience...
Chief_Humping_Dogs asks: Lynn, will you please resign with the Steelers? They really need your help!!
Lynn Swann: What the Steelers needed for me to do was have children earlier.
Then maybe my sons could help them.
My competitive spirit is willing, but my body is sitting on the bench.
Not even touch football for me.
Timehost: Here's a sort of follow-up...
akaamber22 asks: Why did you quit football?
Lynn Swann: To work for ABC Sports.
I planned to play for one more year, for a total of ten...
and then looked to go into broadcasting full-time, but
ABC made me a long-term offer
and so the smart decision was to take the offer and retire from football.
Most people think I retired from injuries, which is not the case.
Darien7179 asks: Do you think Rich Gannon will take the Raiders to the playoffs?
Lynn Swann: It's really hard to say.
I thought the Raider football team was a great environment for
Jeff George.
But they did not have the anticipated success.
I think the keys are still solid defense,
a consistent running game,
and receivers who will make the routine third down catch and give you the big play.
The Raiders have all those components, but
their greatest misfortune has been a lack of consistency in their coaching staff
and the misfortune of being in the AFC West.
Not one man, Rich Gannon, in this case, will win you a championship.
He will get you over a hurdle here and there.
He is certainly capable of bringing the Raiders the ring, but not likely.
sweetie_711 asks: Lynn, do you see more players coming out publicly about their Christian faith?
Lynn Swann: I believe so.
I believe that today's players who are Christians
feel that it's important and their responsibility to acknowledge
their faith.
DanielleZee asks: Mr. Swann, you took ballet to help your game, correct? How much did it help?
Lynn Swann: I took several years of dance lessons that included
ballet , tap and jazz.
They helped a great deal with body control, balance,
a sense of rhythm, and timing.
AMISHATHEART asks: hi, My son has a real chance to get a scholarship to a pac 10 college. He is a junior in high school now and I was wondering if you have any advice for him on how to keep them interested through his senior year? Thanks.
Lynn Swann: The first way to keep the interest is
to make sure that academically, he qualifies.
Two, to continue to improve his game,
and to show that he is willing to be a team player,
as well as take advantage of his individual opportunities.
NOFX18_ asks: Was there a lot of illegal drug use occurring when you played football?
Lynn Swann: There was some drug use.
How much drug use there was, I don't know.
We lost one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL because of a drug habit.
This was Joe Gilliam.
Curious_Pa_Lady asks: Hi Mr. Swann, thanks for the great years you gave Pittsburgh.
Curious_Pa_Lady asks: Are you and your family still living in Pittsburgh
Lynn Swann: Thank you, and Pittsburgh is my home.
I thought I would go back to California when I retired from football, but
I discovered that I enjoyed the lifestyle and environment in Pittsburgh.
I love the people. They are the best. They work hard and are friendly.
There are some great opportunities in Pittsburgh, and it's a great place to raise a family.
colind35 asks: Have you spoken with Walter Payton about his illness?
Lynn Swann: No I have not.
It's sad for anyone to be faced with such serious problems.
Walter has a strong family.
And he has a great competitive spirit.
Err0r_4O4 asks: Mr. Swann, are you a regular user of the internet?
Lynn Swann: I am indeed.
As a matter of fact,
I am looking at many of the questions that have not been submitted online.
And so I get a chance to see a lot of the other conversations.
It's absolutely better than TV.
I will be developing a website soon.
Heichi asks: Lynn, have you ever received any racial abuse whilst playing?
Lynn Swann: Not while playing.
I think that most minorities have experienced some form of racial abuse.
And I am certain many young people and some adults
have been abused and not even been aware that it was going on.
The important thing, I think, is that you have to continue
to break down a variety of barriers.
Professional, social, economic, and political barriers.
OCEANLOVER5 asks: Do you still keep in touch with some of the old Steelers like Lambert and Jack Hamm and some of the others?
Lynn Swann: Jack Hamm happens to be my neighbor.
Franco Harris and I had dinner last night and saw a friend of his in the musical Chicago.
I see quite a few of the players because
quite a few live here in Pittsburgh.
Others like Stallworth, who lives in Alabama, I talk to on the phone.
We were a very close football team,
and I think most of us have lifetime friendships as a result.
colind35 asks: What did you think about Brad Johnson going to the Redskins?
Lynn Swann: It will create some breathing room
for both Johnson and Randall Cunningham.
If Johnson can maintain the confidence that being a starter gave him
and bring consistency to playmaking decisions,
Then the Redskins will improve.
But as everyone knows, he also has to show that he can stay healthy.
shaggy_2dope_45 asks: Lynn, have you ever thought about coaching?
Lynn Swann: No. I enjoy playing the game.
It's hard for me to just watch it, even while broadcasting.
I think I would have an ulcer, become a candidate for bypass surgery, and go bald.
I was once standing on the sideline and
O.J. Simpson was running by me, on his way to a TD.
I almost stuck my leg out and tripped him from the sideline.
You have maintain more control than that to be a coach.
steppinupwithJesus asks: This may be the only way I can get you to see this...but I think you were probably the best wide receiver EVER!
Lynn Swann: Thank you very much.
I believe that I'd be able to compete at any timeframe of professional football,
but I certainly think the late 80s and 90s have been a receiver's dream.
And the person who has had the greatest opportunity and taken full advantage of it is
Jerry Rice.
Jerry Rice would be great any time he played.
But he also had the good fortune to play under Bill Walsh and the West Coast offense,
Joe Montana throwing him the football. And when HE left, Steve Young took his place.
Wow!
Timehost: You mentioned O.J. Simpson...
akaamber22 asks: What do you think of O.J. Simpson?
Lynn Swann: I will only answer in terms of football.
He was certainly one of the greatest running backs the NFL has ever seen.
Most people don't realize that OJ was an offensive lineman in high school.
And while on the kick-off / return team he picked up a bad kick and ran through the entire
kick-off team, for a touchdown.
Then that very smart coach said, "Hmmm. I'll try him as a running back."
Nena444 asks: Do you think your generation began the positive influence and influx of African Americans into the pro football arena?
Lynn Swann: Not my generation.
I believe it occurred in the early sixties.
There are African-American players from small colleges,
all the way to the large colleges,
who came into the league and changed the way the game was played.
Sports and entertainment have always been windows of opportunity for
African Americans, when other doors were closed.
Even with the opportunities being great as players, we still suffered under the misconception
that we couldn't be the quarterback or middle linebacker because we weren't smart enough.
And today there are still very few African American head coaches, and even fewer administrators.
We need to get over the issues of color and focus clearly on talent and work ethic.
But we've been saying that since 1620.
OCEANLOVER5 asks: Why does it seem that players today are only after the money rather than playing to better their teams?
Lynn Swann: Professional sports is a business.
And historically the owners have used loyalty to a team or a city
to hold players as opposed to always paying their worth.
Players today are concerned about the money,
but the large dollars only go to those players who are the best.
If a player demonstrated that he is the best, and
a team decides, even so, we don't want to pay him,
as in any other business, he should be able to play elsewhere.
I've always found it interesting
that athletes are thought of as being greedy because of the salaries.
But no one would complain that Kevin Costner would get $20 million to make a movie.
Athletes apparently are held to a higher standard.
Timehost: Here's a follow-up on your comment about the lack of black head coaches...
Leviathan_27 asks: how do you feel about the lack of black head coaches in the league?
Lynn Swann: I feel like there should be more black head coaches.
There certainly are qualified candidates.
Very often we see coaches who have not been successful being recycled,
instead of looking to a new face or a new name who has demonstrated the ability to handle the job.
auto_mobile asks: I'm a girl, and I want to play football but there are no leagues for girls -- what do you think about that?=:-)
Lynn Swann: When I was in college there was a girls' flag football league.
The girls were extremely aggressive.
As a matter of fact, John McKay, who was our Head Coach at USC, has a daughter
who played in that league.
She was very physical, and I watched her knock a girl out.
Did I mention that this was flag football?
To be politically correct I guess that if women wanted to play and
they could form a league and do so, whether as an amateur or professional ...
in my experience, I don't think there are that many women who want to subject themselves
to the physicality of football.
Timehost: We're going to have to wrap things up now...any closing thoughts?
Lynn Swann: This being Black History Month, I would like to ask people to
celebrate the similarities and not focus on the differences between
people of color and not of color.
Take the time to discover how African-Americans
have had a great impact on this country.
In science, education, literature, art, and politics.
Timehost: Thank you very much for joining us this afternoon, Lynn Swann. It's been a real pleasure for us.
Lynn Swann:Thank you.
TIME.com Special Report: Black History Month
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