Sports Then and Now

Ronnie Lott

Some football stars never leave the sport. After concluding his Hall of Fame playing career as a tight end, Mike Ditka became a Super Bowl-winning coach and then transitioned into the media world as analyst after he put down the clipboard.

Others follow a different path and disappear from the public eye. When they do, it’s easy to lose track of their whereabouts. But many of those who have seemingly fell off the face of the earth are now living truly fascinating lives.

From Silicon Valley and the big screen to entrepreneurship and the courtroom, the following four football players are worth catching up with even decades after they took off their cleats.

Ronnie Lott

Ronnie Lott was a hard-hitting safety known for striking fear into receivers who dared cross the middle of the field and quarterbacks that he blindsided sprinting across the line on a blitz. The Hall of Famer, four-time Super Bowl champion, and 10-time Pro Bowler for the San Francisco 49ers then made a very successful transition to the business world, leveraging investments in a few car dealerships into larger ventures and roles in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley with firms including HRJ Capital, GSV Capital Corp., and Fortress Investment Group. “He’s been a winner on and off the field and accordingly has earned enormous respect in Silicon Valley,” said GSV in a statement after the venture capital firm added Lott to its board of directors in 2015.

Carl Weathers

Though many people only know him as Apollo Creed and other prominent Hollywood roles on the silver screen, actor Carl Weathers first reached stardom as a football player. As a defensive end, he played college ball in Southern California for the San Diego State University Aztecs before going on to play in eight NFL games from 1970 to 1971. He didn’t quite have what it took, however, and made the tough choice to abandon his dream and switch to acting — a decision that now looks genius in hindsight. After earning a degree in drama in 1974, he gained global fame through his iconic performances in the “Rocky” franchise and would go on to earn acclaim for his work in “Predator,” “Action Jackson,” “Happy Gilmore,” and “Arrested Development,” among other films and television shows. Read the rest of this entry →

Paintballing is a sport that is always changing. Most individuals don’t realize it, but not only are the rules of the game changing, but the ways that individuals are playing the game are changing. Individuals are now undergoing relentless tactics and techniques at home to improve their game. So, what are of the best tips that can enhance your game and make you really stand out on the field?

Avoid Rapid Firing?

It is hard to deny that Extreme Sports Land offers some of the best paintball guns available on the market. In fact, if you are utilizing one of their guns it could be easy to expect to shoot anywhere from five to eight shots a second. In the heat of battle individuals can rapid fire at their targets, which can be both good and bad. If you aren’t completely careful you will find yourself with an empty chamber on the battlefield or constantly reload.

Be Careful Of Your Gas Supply

Most paintball guns are powered by pressurized carbon dioxide gas and each gun will only hold a certain amount of gas. While most advanced guns are only fitted with a twenty-ounce tank, this can run out pretty quick if you are constantly pulling the trigger. Always avoid dry firing the trigger when there are no pellets in the gun, because it will consume some of the energy from the 800 shots that you are allotted. Read the rest of this entry →