Junior Seau
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Matthews, Bruce, 29
Mauga, Benson, 158–59
McCallum, Napoleon, 45
McCants, Keith, 38, 39, 41, 42, 50–51
McCrary, Fred, 109
McDaniels, Josh, 139
McDonald, Ricardo, 99
McGuire, Ed, 116
McNeil, Ryan, 123
Metcalf, Eric, 84
MGM International, 162
Miami Dolphins, 64–65, 119, 120–31
championship potential of, 121, 122
game with Chargers, 124–26
Seau cut from, 130–31
Miami Herald, 146–47
Miller, Chris, 55
Miller, Marty, 175
Mims, Chris, 58, 69
Minnesota Vikings, 26, 139
Mitchell, Shawn, 185
Mix, Ron, 29, 132
Montamble, Don, 14–16, 17
Moore, Tom, 104
Moreno, Zeke, 123–24
Moss, Randy, 138–39, 141
Mudd, Howard, 104
Muncie, Chuck, 63, 64
Munoz, Anthony, 29
MVP Kickoff Party, 74, 75
N
naproxen, 185
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), 19
National Football League (NFL), 66, 118
crisis support line, 188
culture of, 149–50
injuries in, 146–48
brain damage from, x, 109–10, 151–53, 185–86, 188
concussions, 150–53
conflict of interest with doctors and, 148–50
helmet in preventing, 151–52
pay-to-injure program, 145–46
safety rules and, 174
self-medication for, 148
warrior mentality toward, 70, 79, 146–47, 150–51
kids’ program, 72
lawsuits against, 149, 152, 185–86, 188
life for players after, ix–x
Man of the Year, 72
1990 draft, 36–39
players’ difficulty transitioning from life in, 187–89
suicides by former players, 142–43, 182, 188
underclassmen allowed into the draft by, 29
NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), 19
neurological geniuses, 79
New England Patriots, 37, 134–44
Superbowl game, 140–42
undefeated season of, 139
New Orleans Saints, 78–80, 101, 145–46
New York Giants, 37, 140, 141–42
New York Jets, 37
NFL. See National Football League (NFL)
NFL Rocks: Extreme Football, 2, 151
Nike, 72
19th Hole, The, 82, 106
Niu, Sai, 1, 7–8, 9
Nix, Buddy, 116
Noderer, Megan, 167, 169, 175–80, 181–82
Nolan, Mary, 154–55
Norris, Mike, 175
North County Blade-Citizen, 9, 10
O
Oakland Raiders, 138–39, 147
Oceanside, California, 1, 2–3
beach boot camp, 194
Hunter Steakhouse, 178
Polynesian community in, 20–21
Restaurant, The, xii, 74–76, 90, 117–18, 142, 153–54, 169, 184
Seau’s ongoing connection with, 55–56
Oceanside Boys & Girls Club, 5, 17, 132–33
O’Donnell, Neil, 71
Ohio State Buckeyes, 14, 27
Oliver, Paul, 188
Olsen, Eric, 194
O’Neal, Leslie, 51–52, 64, 69, 122–23
Oregon State, 27
P
Pace, Orlando, 197
Pacific Athletic Club, 188
Pac-10, 29
Palmer, Carson, 146
Pan American Junior Championships, 7–8
Parade, 12
Parrella, John, 70, 94
Pascale, Joe, 80, 92–94
paternity test, 166–67
Patterson, Justin, 56
Paulin, Jamie, 186
pay-to-injure program, 145–46
Pees, Dean, 135, 136
Pennington, Chad, 127
Perkins, Ray, 38, 39
Peterson, Carl, 64
Philadelphia Eagles, 119
Philcox, Todd, 84
Phillips, Joe, 43
Phillips, Shaun, 116
Pioli, Scott, 134
Pittsburg Steelers, 57, 70–72
Placek, Liba, 119, 138
Plummer, Gary, 40, 72
Pop Warner Football, 72
Porter, Rufus, 37
Poumele, Pulu, 5, 9–10, 23
Pro Bowl, 55, 100, 104, 106, 122–23, 166
Professional Bull Riders Tour, 144
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2, 197–99
Proposition 48, 19–22
PSINet Stadium, 102–3
Pupunu, Alfred, 64, 66–67, 125
Q
Qualcomm Stadium, 86, 165, 192
Quinn, Dan, 129–30
R
Ramirez, Ken, 190
Reid, Andy, 119
Restaurant, The, xii, 74–76, 142, 153–54
fan pilgrimages to, 184
press conference at, 117–18
Ring of Honor ceremony and, 169
Thanksgiving at, 90
Revak, Bernard, 76
Rice, Jerry, 73, 118, 139
Richard, Stanley, 67, 76
Riley, Mike, x, 96–97, 100, 111, 114–15
Ring of Honor, 164–66, 169–70
Rivers, Philip, 139
Roberts, Dave, 138
Robinson, John, 25–26
Rochon, Lela, 75
Roggeman, Tom, 28
Rome, Jim, 102
Rosner, Steve, 72
Ross, Bobby, 57–59, 68, 69, 77, 96
Rowe, Patrick, 76
Ruby Tuesday, 161–62
Ruff, Orlando, 99, 101, 114, 138, 187–88
Ryan, Tim, 25, 29, 30
S
Saban, Nick, xi, 128–29, 130
Sacharoff, Mitchell, 178
SACKS for San Diego, 88
Salavea, Okland, 7–8, 17
Salisbury, Sean, 84
Samoan culture, 3
financial responsibilities in, 11, 12–13
humility in, 51
jealousy in, 21
warrior mentality in, 6, 70
San Clemente, California, 178–79
Sanders, Deion, 42–43, 73
San Diego Chargers, 36
1994 season, 66–73
2000 season, 101–3
2003 season, 111–14
acceptance of by team members, 39–40
AFC Championship Game, 70–72
coach changes of, 57–59
contract negotiations with, 41–44, 48–49, 68, 80–81, 84, 115
DeBoer in, 31–35
debut with, 45–46
defense built around Seau, 93–94
exceptions made for Seau by, 51–52
game with Miami, 124–26
Hall of Fame induction, 164–66
Leaf in, 83–84, 90–94, 97–98
Patriots games against, 139–41, 142
personnel changes in, 68–69, 77–78, 94–97, 111–13
poor performance of, 57–59
rough start with, 49–52
Seau as face of, 60–61, 63–65, 74, 84–87, 118–19
Seau honored by, 131–34
Seau’s turnaround in, 54–65
Seau traded by, 111–19
Super Bowl games, 71, 73
team minicamp, 84–87
try-out workout for, 38–39
without Seau, 123–24
San Diego Evening Tribune, 5–6, 40, 76
San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, 36, 39, 64, 72, 92, 100, 169
San Diego Padres, 138
“San Diego Super Chargers,” 64
San Diego Union, 42, 43
San Diego Union-Tribune, 105, 117, 121–22, 123–24
San Francisco
49ers, 26, 73, 141
“Say Ow! Gear,” 72
“Say Ow!” water, 75
Scaffidi, Roy, 7–9, 10
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), 19–20
Schottenheimer, Marty, 112–13, 117
Schroeder, Jay, 63
scout teams, 97
Seattle Seahawks, 37, 59
Seau, Annette (sister), 3
on education, 20
on financial problems, 173–74
on Gina, 81, 108
on personality change, 158
on suicide attempt, 157–58
support from, 21
Seau, Antonio (brother), 3, 68
Seau, David (brother), 3
Seau, Hunter (son), 169, 172, 194–96, 198
Seau, Jake (son), 82, 107, 160, 165–66, 169, 170–71, 198
Seau, Luisa (mother), 3, 11, 12, 183
on aftermath of suicide, 192
on Colorado University, 18
home of, 192
Seau, Mary (sister), 3
on academic performance, 21
babysitting by, 4–5
on charitable work, 132
competitiveness of, 4–5
on depression, 173
on father’s shame over Junior’s behavior, 50
financial assistance from, 12–13
on Junior’s temper, 5–6
on treatment of women, 193
Seau, Savaii (brother), 3
Seau, Sydney (daughter), 68, 82, 107, 166, 170–71
on Hall of Fame induction, 198–99
relationship of with Seau, 167–69
on Seau, 192–93
Seau, Tiaina (father), 3, 10
ashamed of Junior’s behavior, 50, 51
in college choice, 19
on education, 20–21
employment and finances of, 11
expectations of, 11–12, 20–21
home of, 192
pride of, 72
suicide and, 182–83
Seau, Tiaina Junior “Bug.” See also San Diego Chargers
academic performance of, 19–22
alcohol abuse by, 106, 108–9, 119–20, 131, 154, 159–60, 172–73, 190–91
athleticism of, 5, 11, 12, 24–25
attitude change in, 55–57
in basketball, 4–6, 7–8, 12
blitzing by, 104–5, 106, 140
as brand, 72–73
charitable work of, 57, 72, 88–90, 132–33, 194
charm/charisma of, 4, 6–7, 33, 72, 164, 191
childhood of, 3–7
children of, 30, 68
as coach, 175
college recruitment of, 14–19
compartmentalization by, x–xi, 108–9
compassion of, 6, 56–57, 66, 132–33
competitiveness of, 4–5, 9, 79, 102–3, 105–6
contract negotiations of, 41–44, 48–49, 68, 80–81, 84, 115, 119, 120, 128, 134, 142, 144
defense built around, 26–29, 28, 40, 93–94, 122–23, 126–27
with Dolphins, 111–31
domestic violence accusation against, 154–55, 179
drafted, 36–39
drug use by, 172–73, 185
ethnicity of, 3
family expectations on, 11–12, 12–13, 47–48, 120, 169–70, 173–74
family problems of, 68
fans’ perceptions of, 42, 48–49, 63–65, 85, 118–19, 184–85
as a father, 159–61, 165–69, 172
financial activities of, 54, 72–73, 74–76, 120, 161–63, 173–74
fist thrust signature move by, 55
gambling by, 108–9, 161–63, 174, 175
gravesite of, 194
greatness of as linebacker, 104–5
Hall of Fame induction, 164–66, 197–99
high school career of, 7–11
on his father, 51
humility of, 33, 50–51, 59–60, 100, 164, 195
humor of, 3, 62–63, 125, 128–29, 164, 193–94, 195
injuries to, 27, 69–71, 78–80, 99, 109–10, 114, 115, 122, 126, 127–28, 130, 137–38, 146–47, 150–53
insomnia of, 172–73
instincts/understanding of football by, 61–62, 67–68, 136–37, 140
intelligence of, 63
intensity of, 24–25, 47, 62, 129–30, 132–33, 198
jersey of, 29–30, 124–25, 132
leadership of, 29, 84–85, 100–101, 110, 113, 115–16, 119, 124, 126, 129, 186
Leaf and, 84–87, 91–94
loyalty of, 8, 28–29, 100, 177, 179
made ceremonial Charger, 131–34
manipulativeness of, x, 33, 98
marriage of, 34–35
media and, 121–22
mentoring by, 100–101
moved to inside linebacker, 40–41, 49–51, 54, 60–61
moved to middle linebacker, 80
move to La Jolla, 82
music favored by, 6, 135
with Patriots, 134–44
penalties against, 48, 49–50
people called Buddy by, xi
personality changes in, 153–59, 168–69, 172–75, 189–91
physique of, 22–23, 24–25
on poor performance, 58–60
pressures on, 186–87, 189–91
religious life of, 20–21, 32, 88, 175
restaurants owned by, xii, 74–76, 161–62, 174
on safety rules, 174
self-expectations of, 11–13, 46–47, 46–48, 52, 92–94
suicide attempt by, 155–60, 190
suicide of, x, 181–83
surfing by, xi–xii, 42, 161, 178, 189
teammates’ feelings about, 60–61, 72, 79, 84–87, 101, 126
team minicamp skipped by, 84–87
temper of/fighting by, 5–6, 10, 14–16, 22, 28–29, 32, 39–40, 45–47, 153–54
as tight end, 98–99
timing of, 104–5, 140
trip to American Samoa, 3, 7–8
trust issues of, 40
TV career of, 143–44, 179
at USC, 18–30
women in the life of (See DeBoer, Gina; Noderer, Megan; Nolan, Mary; Waldrop, Melissa)
work ethic of, 1–2, 47–48, 54, 69–70, 78–80, 91–94, 123, 129–30
Seau, Tyler Christian (son), 30, 166–67, 169, 198
Seay, Mark, 67
Sehorn, Jason, 98
Shop with a Jock, 90
Simers, T. J., 59
Singletary, Mike, 68
Smith, Billy Ray, 40, 52
Smith, Bruce, 104, 118
Smith, Larry, 18, 19, 28–29
Smith, Neil, 69
Snyder, Dan, 112, 147
Spanos, Alex, 57
Spanos, Dean, 90, 111, 115, 133, 164, 182
Sports Illustrated, 19, 21, 146
Sports Jobs with Junior Seau, 143–44
Stabb, Joey, 179–80
Steeg, Jim, 131–32
suicides, 188
asking for help and, xii, xiii
brain damage and, 152–53
by Duerson, 182
by Easterling, 182
by Seau, x, 155–60, 181–85
by Whitmarsh, 142–43
zolpidem and, 172–73
Sun Devil Stadium, 125–26
Super Bowl, 2, 71, 73, 139–42
surfing, xi–xii, 42, 161, 178, 189
Surtain, Patrick, 121, 126
Sweeney, Mike, 138
T
Tagliabue, Paul, 39
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 37–38, 39, 119
Taylor, Aaron, 119–20, 131, 159–60, 188–89
Taylor, Jason, 121, 146–47
Taylor, Lawrence, 37, 68, 140
television shows, 143–44, 179
Thomas, Blair, 37, 126
Thomas, Zach, 121
Tinoisamoa, Pina, 90
tobacco, chewing, 179
Tollner, Ted, 18, 19
Tomlinson, LaDainian, 113, 116, 124–25, 139, 186–87
Townsend, Greg, 6
8
track and field, 10, 12
Turner, Michael, 140
Tyree, David, 141
U
United Way Tocqueville Society, 88
University of California, Los Angeles, 16–17
University of California, San Diego, 44