I was able to sit and talk with Mr. Butkus several years ago. What a class act. He told me the story of intercepting the Tarkenton pass and running over the QB instead of going into the endzone. He said Tarkenton asked him after the game "Why didn't you just score?". Mr. Butkus replied "Aahh, I just wanted to kick your ass." As terrifying a presence on the field as he was, he was also one of the nicest people I've ever had the privilege to meet. His signed jersey hangs over my desk. I wanted to be like him when I played, but I was about 6 inches and 80 pounds short. Everybody's gotta have a dream.
That's way cool. I've heard that off the field he was very much a gentleman, which speaks even more to his discipline and commitment to his mindset on the field. And the aspiration to that level of excellence is the whole reason we have legends, I think. Even if we don't achieve it in the exact same fashion. That's a great quote though too haha. Definitely the guy I'd want playing on my side of the line.
