In good times and bad, Derrick Mason has always been one of the more fascinating Baltimore Ravens players. He's opinionated, he's loud, he's sensitive, he's funny, and he's proud of what he's accomplished during his 14-year career in the NFL. Whether he's feuding with another team, trash talking with oppossing head coaches, firing back at Keyshawn Johnson for calling the Ravens' wide receivers bums, bristling at anyone's suggestion that he's lost a step, or making candid comments about his own team, Mason, 36, is never dull. This week, the Sun asked him to sit down for our weekly Q&A, a feature designed to help you know Ravens players better, and Mason touched on a number of different subjects.
QUESTION: A year ago, you weren't shy expressing your disappointment with the media when no one wrote about, or attended, Ray Lewis' "Thanksgiving To Remember" turkey giveaway. Since there are plans to do it again this year, and I think you had a valid point, let me ask you this: As a professional athlete, how important is it to do things that make you feel like a part of of this community?
ANSWER: I think it's huge. There are only a few fans that get the opportunity to connect with NFL Players, and it's usually those who are more fortunate than others. For guys in this locker room to go back and give their money — but I think more importantly their time — to those who are less fortunate, I think it means a lot. And that's why I think at certain times you get kind of peeved that the media doesn't pick up on it as much as they should. If something bad happens, they'll pick up on it right away. But if there is good going around the city of Baltimore or the state of Maryland, it's really hard for them to pick it up. It has to be a big event for them to go out and cover it, and I think that's wrong. If you're going to cover the bad of this ball club, cover the good. Nine times out of 10, it's the small things that people remember.
Q: Who is the most influential person in your life?
A: My children. I just try to conduct myself in a way where they'll be proud. They see me every day, and they can be proud that I'm their dad. I think more than anything, those two, my son (Derrick II, 7) and my daughter (Bailee My-Lin, 11), have been very important to me in my career. I want to go out there and I want to play hard and I want to play aggressive and I want to make sure that I'm doing the right things, because I know they're watching.
Q:Do you see different aspects of you in each of them?
A: I definitely do. My son, he's a little more reserved. He's kind of like me. He kind of plays in the background and listens. My daughter is a little more outspoken like her mom. A little bit more brash. She's very honest, but she's a sweet little girl. She's more out there as far as being vocal. She's a people person, and she's always out there making friends, so they both kind of pick up a little from each one of us.
Q: Are you able to keep up with the kind of music and culture they are into?
A: It's the funniest thing. I try to. I still listen to a lot of [modern stuff]. I'm kind of like that tweener parent where I grew up in that era where the old stuff was just phasing out, and the new stuff was kind of just coming in. So I think I'm kind of like a unique parent, because I still know a lot of stuff they listen to. But then, there is a lot of stuff that I don't. I was in the car a couple weeks ago listening to a song and I didn't know who it was. She said it to me and I just said 'I don't know who that is.' That's when I finally realized, 'Man, I'm getting a little bit older now.'
Q: So true or false: You can identify a Lady Gaga song.
A: Man. I know who she is, but I couldn't identify one of her songs. Well, there is maybe one I identify, the one she has with Beyonce. But that's the only one. Other than that, I can't really relate to a Lady Gaga song.
Q: What's your kind of music?
A: I'm across the board. Rap, R&B, Country, Gospel. I just like music. If it moves me, I'm into it. If I'm cleaning up, I listen to soulful music. If I'm out on the field, I need something more upbeat. If I'm in the car, it kind of depends. So I'm across the board.
Q: It's become fashionable to call NFL wide receivers divas, and plenty of people have said that about you in recent years. What do you think when you hear or read that someone has called you a diva?
A: When I see that, my thing is to hell with 'em. Because you have to have a certain attitude and a certain swagger to be a dominant receiver in this league. You don't see guys that are passive for very long in football. Those guys are not dominant receivers. They come and go. They're a dime a dozen. But the guys that really want the ball, the guys that when they do get the ball they make plays, those are the guys that you want on your team. You can call them a diva if you want to, but I'd rather have a diva on my team that wants the ball and is proven that when he gets the ball, he can do something with it. I'd rather have him on my team that somebody passive, who just don't want the ball and don't care.
Q: It seems that a lot of people might not understand there is often a connection between playing fearlessly, and the attitude typically associated with the diva label. Is that fair to say?
A: The thing about it with people is they love the cockiness to a certain extent. So you can never please anyone. When you're doing well and you're cocky, then they love you. That's my guy! I love him! That's my guy! But when you're cocky and things aren't coming your way, or you're not getting the ball, then it's 'He just needs to shut up and be quiet.' No. If you're going to take him when he's cocky and catching balls, take him when he's cocky and things aren't going as well. That's why I love to see guys like Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson play. They back up what they say. It's not like they're going out there talking and not backing it up. Either you love 'em or you don't. But don't like 'em when they're catching balls, and not like 'em when they're not.
Q: You're from Detroit. You were born there, grew up there, went to college at nearby Michigan State, and still have family there. Obviously Detroit is a city that's dealt with its share of problems in recent years. I've seen a lot of people in my profession write stories about how the success of a profession sports franchise can uplift a city, and inspire it's residents in difficult times. We saw it happen a ton when the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl last year, but those same stories were written when the Tigers made the playoffs, when the Pistons won an NBA title, and when Michigan State made the Final Four. What do you think about that?
A: I don't think there is any truth to it. When you're winning, honestly, people are excited. But it's not going to do any good for jobs. It's not going to bring General Motors, Chrysler and Ford back. If their team is winning, that just gives them something to enjoy on a Sunday. Or something to talk about. But as far as uplifting a city, I haven't seen it happen. Even in New Orleans. People said when the Saints won the Super Bowl it would regenerate the economy down there in the city. For a time being, it did help the city. But New Orleans is still in the same situation they're in now, just like a lot of other cities. Especially in this economy, a sports team is not going to lift up a city to where it's going to come out where it was. It will lift it up to a point, but once the season is over with, they're done. That uplifting is gone.
Q: You had surgery on your pinkie last week. You've played with a separated shoulder in the past. You've had bruised ribs, sprained ankles, concussions and countless other maladies. Knowing all that you've put your body through over the years, and seeing some of the aches and pains get worse as you've grown older, how would you feel about your son playing in the NFL? Do you ever lie in bed at night and think about the hell you've put your body through?
A: I wouldn't pressure him to play. I would not push my son into anything. The only thing I want him to do is be successful at whatever he does. If he wants to play sports, then play hard and be successful, or work your hardest to be the best. I guess I've been fortunate enough that I've never had any major injuries to my lower extremities. I think that's a big thing. But I do wake up on Mondays sometimes and it hurts like crazy. It's like 'I feel bad today. Am I going to feel like this five years after I retire?' So I think about it a little. But when I'm playing? Not really. I do enough in the off-season to make sure I can go though a full season. And then it's just about being in the right place at the right time, and the Lord just looking out for me, and me not having those serious knee or ankle injuries. But really it comes down to: How serious are they going to be?
Q: So who will retire, for good, first: you or Brett Favre? Because you've both had a false retirement in recent years.
A: (Laughing) I think they're going to run Brett Favre out of Minnesota. I think Brett Favre is going to have no choice but to retire. But he'll be retired before I will, because he might have to be retired after this season. I think I've got at least one or two more seasons after this. But my thing is, I take it season by season. I'll see what happens at the end of the year, see where the team is at, and see how my body feels.
Q: What's one movie you would point to, and say to a friend or a stranger: 'This is something that resonated with me. Watch this if you'd like to better understand me?'
A: That's tough, but I think Shawshawk Redemption. A guy was wrongly put in jail, but he fought his way out. He had to escape. He had to play along with the rules of the warden, but he never quit. He never let go of his dream of getting out of jail. He continued to fight and fight and fight and fight. He somehow, someway devised a master plan and got up out of jail. That's basically how I think my career has gone. I've not allowed anything to stop me from reaching my goals. I've fought and fought, no matter what people said. Every time somebody has tried to replace me, I've fought and fought.
Q: Who is your best friend and why is that person important to you?
A: A friend of mine I went to college with, Sean Hart. He's a youth pastor in Michigan. Him and I are alike in so many ways. We hit it off in college because we were from similar backgrounds. He was going through some things. His brother had just passed away, and he and I became really close at that time. He's always had my back, and I've always had his back. He's just been that guy there for me, through everything. That friendship will never die. No matter how many times we talk, no matter how many times we see each other, that friendship will never die.
Q: I understand that HGTV (Home and Garden Television) is your favorite thing to watch on TV, and that House Hunters is by far your favorite show. Can you explain why that is?
A: I enjoy houses. I enjoy the whole project. The design, the how to make a house, what you need to do, the plans, everything. I just really enjoy all of it. Before House Hunters, my favorite show was Dream Builders. But that kind of got phased out, and House Hunters came on and I just fell in love with House Hunters. I've seen Million Dollar Listing, and all those programs like it. I don't think there is nothing on HGTV that I haven't seen. HGTV and CNN are my two favorite channels.
Q: Finish this sentence: If Keyshawn Johnson and I were to share a taxi, we would talk about:
A: [Mason spends the next five seconds laughing.] Football probably. I don't know, man. Everybody can talk about football, or life after football. I guess we could talk about what he's doing now, his life after football and that transition that he made. I think it would be a friendly conversation. I'm an easy going guy, regardless of what was said between him and I, I'm an easy going guy and I tend to kind of let things roll off my back and forgive people. I'm pretty sure he's probably the same way.
Q: You've expressed a desire to do what Keyshawn is doing right now, work in a studio and talk about NFL games after you retire. But one of the problems you'll face is the same thing Keyshawn faced when he said things you thought were unfair. It's difficult for former players to be critical of people who used to be their peers because they might offend someone, but if they're not critical when they think it's necessary, they're not doing their jobs. Where do you think the line is?
A: I think if you understand the game, and then you make a comment as if you've never played the game, then I think that's when the line is crossed. I think a lot of commentators sometimes, especially the ones that played, whether it's to boost ratings or get their name out there, I think they make comments knowing if they were in that same position, it would probably upset them. I think it's so the fans will theyntalk about them like 'Oooh! He does things different even though he played in the NFL!' My thing is, I'm just going to tell the truth. If a guy is playing bad, he needs to play better. That's the truth. That's what the player knows as well. If the quarterback threw an interception, he threw and interception. He missed his spot. The quarterback knows that too. I'm not going to say anything that's not true and have people running around, wondering if it's true or if it's not true. If I say something, it's going to be true, and you could go to the same film, watch the same play, and you'll say the same thing. I'd be critical, but there will be truth to it. So if I ever become one of those guys, I just want to be truthful.
Q: Maybe along that same vein, I get the sense you felt it was unfair when you were criticized for flipping the ball over your head earlier this year, a play that earned you a delay of game penalty. You stopped speaking with the media for a few games. What happened on that play, and what do you think was said that was unfair?
A: I think a lot of people whether it be in the athletic world or the corporate world, they get frustrated. Either their performance, or they feel they're not getting paid enough, or whatever. They would want to take a table and flip it over too! But they can't do it. They don't have a voice to do it. We have a voice, and we can do it here. Whether you like it or not. We're doing what a lot of people want to do, but when we do it, it's like 'You shouldn't have done that. You should stop crying.' Well, I guarantee if I sat down with you and talked about your job, there are about 50 things you don't like about your job, that you wish you could go in there and complain to your boss about. That's everybody. I'm doing it, and I'm being honest about it. So why are you getting mad at me because I'm being honest about it? Maybe you should say, 'You know what? He's right. He has a valid point. Now let's ride. Let's go.'
Q: Does Jeff Fischer have the best mustache in sports?
A: I think he does. He's grown that mustache, and then adds the beard in the winter time. He definitely has the best mustache in sports right now. He always has the mullet growing too. He's got it all.
Q: What's one thing you miss about Nashville?
A: The people. Definitely the people. You know, the people here [in Baltimore] are nice, but there is just something about that Southern hospitality. In a sense, I grew up there. I was there for eight years. My kids were born there. I became a man there. I grew up in that town, and I adapted to that Southern way of living, that slow pace of life, that enjoying people and saying hello even if I'm not their neighbor. I enjoy that, walking into a store and people hold the door for you and say hello, not because of who you are but because that's what they do with anybody. You kind of miss that at times. And then the weather. The weather don't hurt.
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