Image via Complex Original
In a recent interview with Campus Insiders, former NFL running back Ricky Williams, who is now an assistant coach at the University of Incarnate Word, stated that his publicized use of marijuana while playing was less of an “Achilles heel” and really more of a boost of sorts. In fact, the former Heisman Trophy winner went as far as to compare his use of marijuana to another type of green, Popeye's spinach. Say what? That got us thinking about other athletes, and what foods and vices they attribute to their on field performances. So, from Derrick Rose's affinity with Skittles to Wade Boggs’ love of chicken, check out, the Secret Ingredients Behind Your Favorite Athletes' Success.
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Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
Ron Artest
Vice: Hennessy
Sport: Basketball
Stats: .417 FG% 14.1 PPG 4.7 RPG 2.9 APG
Accolades: 2010 NBA champion, 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 2004 NBA All-Star, 4x All-Defensive (2003, 2004, 2006, 2009)
Some athletes choose Gatorade at halftime, others opt for the just water, unless you're Metta World Peace. Peace, who was Ron Artest at the time, admitted to drinking Hennessy during halftime of his early years with the Chicago Bulls. Whatever works, right? Okay that probably wasn't the most sustainable thing in the world to do.
Moises Alou
Vice: Application of urine
Sport: Baseball
Stats: 1,109 Runs 332 HR 1,287 RBI .303 BA .516 SLG
Accolades: 1997 World Series champion, 6x All-Star (1994, 1997-98, 2001, 2004, 2005), 2x Silver Slugger Award winner (1994, 1998)
Who are we to knock a World Series champion? If urine was the trick to get the job done on the diamond, well, at least he wasn't drinking it. Word to Juan Manuel Marquez. We knew there had to be a reason he didn't wear batting gloves.
Babe Ruth
Vice: Hot Dogs and Bourbon
Sport: Baseball
Stats: 2,174 R, 714 HR 2,220 RBI .342 BA .690 SLG
Accolades: 7x World Series champion (1915-16, 1918, 1923, 1927-28, 1932), 1923 AL MVP, 2x All-Star (1933-34), 12x AL home run champion (1918-21, 1923-24, 1926-31), 6x AL RBI champion (1919-21, 1923, 1926, 1928), 1924 AL batting champion, 1916 AL ERA champion,
In case you couldn't tell by looking at him, the Babe clearly didn't go with veggies, nuts, and seeds to become one of the greatest players in the history of baseball. How did Ruth achieve the highest slugging percentage of all time? Alcohol and dirty water hot dogs of course, it really was a miracle.
Nemanja Vidic
Vice: Fish and Chips
Sport: Soccer
Accolades: 5x Premier League winner, UEFA Champions League winner, FIFA Club World Cup winner, 3x League Cup winner
Apparently the traditional English pub dish helped the Serb get acclimated to England, now he eats it because he just loves it.
Demba Ba
Vice: Syrup
Sport: Soccer
Stats: All comp.: 70 G 9 A 563 Shots
Oh, Demba Ba, we wonder if Jose Mourinho has a syrup ban of some sort at Chelsea because homie is not putting it in the back of the net like he used to. Let him have it, Jose, he just loves it.
Lamar Odom
Vice: Candy
Sport: Basketball
Stats: .463 FG% 13.3 PPG 8.4 RPG 3.7 APG
Accolades: 2x NBA champion (2009-10), 2011 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
It looks like Lamar Odom is the candy man. This video is both awesome and baffling at the same time. Goes to show you that drugs can ruin lives more than Twizzlers. Crack is wack. We hope the rumors aren't true.
Ochocinico
Vice: McDonalds
Sport: Football
Stats: 766 REC, 11,059 YDS, 67 TD, 66.6 YPG
Accolades: 2011 AFC champion, 6x Pro Bowl (2003-07, 2009), 3x All-Pro (2003, 2005-06), 3x AFC Receiving Yards Leader (2003, 2005-06), NFL Receiving Yards Leader (2006), 10,000 receiving yards club
We really don't know how these dudes keep six-pack abs, and eat at McDonalds more times a week than Ronald himself. Johnson has long been a proponent of the fast-food chain, and even though he no longer plays professionally, we doubt he'll stop being a patron anytime soon. Dude has even volunteered to work there.
David Beckham
Vice: Pie and Mash
Sport: Soccer
Stats: All comp.: 53 G 94 A 465 Shots
Accolades: 6x Premier League winner, 2x FA Cup winner, 2x UEFA Champions League winner
A true son of England, Beckham just can't get enough of this traditional English dish. Pie shops all over the UK should be lucky enough to have Becks be a patron of their dining establishments. It looks like the former England midfielder is looking to even open up his own chain. Power moves FTW!
Ashley Young
Vice: Curried goat
Sport: Soccer
Stats: All competitions: 73 G 96 A 692 Shots
Originally published in the cookbook, Villa On a Plate, current Manchester United winger, Ashley Young, goes gaga over curried goat. We wonder if the England international is as good at preparing the dish as he is at eating it.
Derrick Rose
Vice: Candy
Sport: Basketball
Stats: .464 FG% 21 PPG 3.8 RPG 6.8 APG
Accolades: 2011 NBA MVP, 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year, 3x NBA All-Star (2010-12), All-NBA First Team (2011)
Derrick Rose is no stranger to the power of sugary confections. The Bulls guard loves his candy, but does it love him back? It looks like Rose if trying to turn the page on this addiction, though. Stay strong, fam.
Wade Boggs
Vice: Beer and chicken
Sport: Baseball
Stats: 1,513 Runs 118 HR 1,014 RBI .328 BA .443 SLG
Accolades: 1996 World Series champion, 12x All-Star (1985-1996), 2x Gold Glove Award winner (1994-95), 8x Silver Slugger Award winner (1983, 1986-89, 1991, 1993-94), 5x AL batting title (1983, 1985-88)
Drinking beer and eating chicken, what's so odd about that? Oh, right, Wade Boggs was also one of the best hitters to play the game. Apparently there were other quirks that made Boggs the amazing dude that he was. Can't knock the hustle.
Derek Jeter
Vice: Beautiful women
Sport: Baseball
Stats: 1,876 R, 256 HR, 1,261 RBI, .312 BA, .446 SLG
Accolades: 5x World Series champion (1996, 1998-2000, 2009), 2000 World Series MVP, 13x All-Star (1998-2002, 2004, 2006-12), 5x Silver Slugger award (2006-09, 2012), 5x Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner (2004-06, 2009-10), 1996 AL Rookie of the Year, 3,000 hit club
It looks like bedding some of the hottest women on the planet has kept Jete's grove going on the field. The Yankee captain has had more than his fair share of conquests, only leading us to believe it's at least one of the secrets to his success.
Lyoto Machida
Vice: Drinking Urine
Sport: MMA
Stats: 19-4-0 (7 wins by TKO) Career earnings: $2.475 Million
Accolades: Former UFC Light Heavyweight champion
It just had to be. Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida has left us all scratching our heads with his admission of actually drinking urine to stay in top fighting shape. We thought that stuff was toxic.
Lawrence Taylor
Vice: Cocaine
Sport: Football
Stats: 132.5 sacks 9 interceptions 11 fumbles recorded
Accolades: 2x Super Bowl champion (XXI, XXV), AP NFL MVP (1986), 3x AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981-82, 1986), AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981) 10x All-Pro (1981-1990) 10x Pro Bowl (1981-1990)
Lawrence Taylor may be the best defensive player to ever grace the gridiron, but his lifestyle choices off the field were downright mind-boggling. The former Giant great was more than just a chronic drug user, but good Lord could he play the game.
Ricky Williams
Vice: Marijuana
Sport: Football
Stats: 2,4431 ATT 10,009 YDS 66 TD 68.1 YPG
Accolades: 2002 NFL Rushing Leader & Pro Bowl MVP, 1998 Heisman Trophy
When you compare your smoking marijuana to Popeye eating spinach, the sports world is bound to take notice. Ricky Williams, who is now an assistant coach at the University of Incarnate Word, made the analogy during a recent interview. Well, if the man said it he must know what he's talking about. You do not lead the NFL in rushing by accident, folks.