Jim Rome

And then I worked on what would the show be? And I was already tracking all these things from the second I walked into the dormitory my freshman year of college. That much I knew. Because dude, you know what I wanted to be? I wanted to be a pro athlete. And incredibly enough, I figured that out in Little League. Not long thereafter, that was never gonna happen. So how do you stay in sports?

And then I worked on what would the show be? And I was already tracking all these things from the second I walked into the dormitory my freshman year of college. That much I knew. Because dude, you know what I wanted to be? I wanted to be a pro athlete. And incredibly enough, I figured that out in Little League. Not long thereafter, that was never gonna happen. So how do you stay in sports?

I'm like you, like dude, we were obsessed with sports.

I'm like you, like dude, we were obsessed with sports.

Not the bravado, maybe a bit of a mouth, but definitely a nerd who wore it on his chest. Like I was the guy that went to high school. It was kind of a weird thing. Growing up in LA, I had three heroes, three sports heroes as an LA sports kid. And I got my love of sports from my Boston father. My first idol in the world. I'm dating myself now. I'm old enough to be your pop almost.

Not the bravado, maybe a bit of a mouth, but definitely a nerd who wore it on his chest. Like I was the guy that went to high school. It was kind of a weird thing. Growing up in LA, I had three heroes, three sports heroes as an LA sports kid. And I got my love of sports from my Boston father. My first idol in the world. I'm dating myself now. I'm old enough to be your pop almost.

Gail Goodrich of the LA Lakers was my idol, my first idol. My second idol, almost simultaneously, was Terry Bradshaw because that was the Stewards Run, 75, 76. My first real recollection of a sporting event where I just got hooked was the Immaculate Reception, 1972. So I'm a Laker fan, I'm a Steeler fan, and I'm an LA Dodger fan. So I was obsessed.

Gail Goodrich of the LA Lakers was my idol, my first idol. My second idol, almost simultaneously, was Terry Bradshaw because that was the Stewards Run, 75, 76. My first real recollection of a sporting event where I just got hooked was the Immaculate Reception, 1972. So I'm a Laker fan, I'm a Steeler fan, and I'm an LA Dodger fan. So I was obsessed.

So I was the guy that would wear the Steeler gear on Fridays, and everybody at school would be like, hey, Rome, you suck, you suck. And I'd catch a lot of heat on Mondays when they lost. Like weird stuff. Like, I mean, I'm so lame now, but I didn't want to go to school because I knew the abuse I was going to take, but I wore it on the sleeve. So kind of a nerd with kind of a mouth.

So I was the guy that would wear the Steeler gear on Fridays, and everybody at school would be like, hey, Rome, you suck, you suck. And I'd catch a lot of heat on Mondays when they lost. Like weird stuff. Like, I mean, I'm so lame now, but I didn't want to go to school because I knew the abuse I was going to take, but I wore it on the sleeve. So kind of a nerd with kind of a mouth.

Not one of the cool kids, but man, I didn't try to hide it. I was obsessed with sports.

Not one of the cool kids, but man, I didn't try to hide it. I was obsessed with sports.

Okay, a little wistful, and I'll explain that to you in a minute. If your whole thing is like, hey, man, I know your deal, Rome. I know why you want it so badly. You were bullied your whole life. Not true. I will tell you a really interesting story, though. I saw a kid, and And it was years after when I kind of made it.

Okay, a little wistful, and I'll explain that to you in a minute. If your whole thing is like, hey, man, I know your deal, Rome. I know why you want it so badly. You were bullied your whole life. Not true. I will tell you a really interesting story, though. I saw a kid, and And it was years after when I kind of made it.

I don't remember exactly what it was, but we were on the tennis team together. He's like, man, it is good to see you, bro. I'm so proud of you. And he was a good kid. He's like, I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of you. He's like, man, I wonder what all those other guys would think now. I'm like, what guys?

I don't remember exactly what it was, but we were on the tennis team together. He's like, man, it is good to see you, bro. I'm so proud of you. And he was a good kid. He's like, I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of you. He's like, man, I wonder what all those other guys would think now. I'm like, what guys?

He's like, you know, all the guys that talked a lot of shit to you and were taking advantage of you. I'm like, and I mean this truly, truly. I'm like, I don't know what you're talking about. He's like, he looked at me kind of sideways. I'm like, no, really. I don't know what you're talking about. I would own it if I did. So I don't have that story about, man, that dork got worked.

He's like, you know, all the guys that talked a lot of shit to you and were taking advantage of you. I'm like, and I mean this truly, truly. I'm like, I don't know what you're talking about. He's like, he looked at me kind of sideways. I'm like, no, really. I don't know what you're talking about. I would own it if I did. So I don't have that story about, man, that dork got worked.

That dork got bullied. Now, I will own this. Not the cool kid, for sure. Very small group of friends. Didn't get the girl. But I... I would love to give you a really clear answer. I think it was just kind of a combination of things that all added up to, I had something to prove and I was gonna get mine. And I wanted to be proud of me and be like, yo man, I'm all right.

That dork got bullied. Now, I will own this. Not the cool kid, for sure. Very small group of friends. Didn't get the girl. But I... I would love to give you a really clear answer. I think it was just kind of a combination of things that all added up to, I had something to prove and I was gonna get mine. And I wanted to be proud of me and be like, yo man, I'm all right.