FORT WORTH, Texas – Pittsburgh wide receiver Mike Wallace runs down the field with such awe-inspiring speed that you’d think the energy that propels his jets comes right through the ground. Wallace has been counseled by team elders to preserve his ration of energy, and thus he uses hip-hop to loosen him up before big games, with this Sunday’s Super Bowl the biggest of them all.
Running back Isaac Redman, on the other hand, like to floss his Playstation prowess, particularly the all-popular Madden game, to keep the internal waters calm on game day. “I’m pretty good. I play with my Steelers teammate David Johnson and beat up on him all the time. That’s basically what I do to pass the time and keep my emotions under control,” he says.
On the campus of Texas Christian University, some of the players took a few minutes to share their pre-game rituals with rolling out.
Mike Wallace, wide receiver: “I listen to music. I listen to Lil Wayne, I heard he came out with a song today. I’m probably still play him. I also listen to Jay, Gucci Mane, Jeezy. Those are my guys. Those are the guys I listen to before the game.”
Charlie Batch, backup quarteback: “Right now, Jay Z, Kanye, Lil W
ayne. Those guys listen to get you through. And if some guys need motivation, those are good guys to listen to.”
Bryan Leftwich: [I] Listen to that Jeezy. He gets me going every week. I let Jeezy do it.
Isaac Redmond, running back: I’m listening to Jadakiss. I’m from up north. So I’m listening to Jadakiss, some old Biggie, relax, chill out, may be listen to the oldies. And really just relax, chill out, watch TV and play Playstation.
