Larry Csonka can\u2019t argue he was lucky to find a post-football career without even turning in a resume.<\/p>\n
After retiring from 11 years of playing in the NFL in which he won two Super Bowls with the Miami Dolphins, Csonka broke into television filming Miller Lite commercials and hunting and fishing shows in Alaska.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd now, after all those years, almost 35 years of having a great job, I was luckiest SOB in the whole world,\u201d a sharply-dressed Csonka told a packed Centennial Hall Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
The 1987 inductee into the NFL Hall of Fame spoke in Juneau, the final of three Pillars of America speakers to entertain and inspire community members over the past two weeks. The catered event was noticeably well-attended by high school students, many of whom shared tables with Rotary Club members or other chaperones. This year marks the 25th year of the series in Juneau.<\/p>\n
In his hourlong speech \u2014 peppered with witty stories of his playing days in Miami \u2014 Csonka spent comparatively little time basking in his prolonged entertainment career.<\/p>\n
Instead, he highlighted the formative experiences in his life that led him on the path to not only the NFL, but also the Professional Football Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n
\u201cThings happened in my life that steered me toward the NFL even though I didn\u2019t get the doink,\u201d Csonka said.<\/p>\n
A \u201cdoink,\u201d he explained, was a natural talent or gifting by God that other players like Joe Montana and Jerry Rice seemed to possess.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll come to these crossroads and sometimes they don\u2019t seem to be that big of decision, but trust me, they can be,\u201d Csonka said. \u201cYou decide whether you go left, right straight ahead. You make that decision based on your values and what you think is best for you. But there are outside influences on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the two major influences Csonka said in his life was a school administer who told him, \u201cYou are either going to go to the juvenile delinquency home or you\u2019re going to have to learn to play the game of football,\u201d as Csonka would beat up on his eighth grade classmates.<\/p>\n
He soon found football to be the greatest joy in the world.<\/p>\n
Another influence he mentioned in the speech was Dolphins\u2019 coach Don Shula, who told his team after losing Super Bowl VI: \u201cIf you succumb to the temptation of blaming others for this loss and not taking the responsibility for yourself, we will fall apart as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n
The following two seasons, Shula and Csonka\u2019s Dolphins won the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com<\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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