The chance to interview Seahawks’ star cornerback Richard Sherman is an exciting proposition. With it, though, brings its share of questions, especially for a writer who has been at least a little critical of the man this season. Nevertheless, I was set to interview Sherman during the American Express Blue Friday event at the brand new Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room on Capitol Hill. 

Walking into the big, bright, luxurious coffee house with polished copper accents, I instantly felt lucky. The place reminds me of the holidays with all its shimmering lights and expansive space. I found my way to the AmEx entrance for the event in the back of the building where I met my contact person, a nice young woman named Morgan.

As servers walked around with deviled eggs and espresso bean arrenchinis, Morgan and I talked about California’s drought and how she loves living in New York but misses her home in the San Francisco Bay.

Then the festivities began. 

Marcus Trufant, a Tacoma native and former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl defensive back for the ‘Hawks, and Richard Sherman, one of the most recognizable figures in sports, came out into the crowd one by one, cheered on by the VIP American Express card holders, many of them wearing ‘Hawks jerseys, who didn’t know what surprise guests they’d encounter this evening. The two handsome, well-dressed athletes sat in chairs and held microphones. They engaged in a Q&A with moderator Tony Ventrella, digital media host for the Seattle Seahawks, laughing and joking with each other between questions. Here are some of their tidbits of wisdom: 

On whether he knew Sherman would be a star, Trufant said, “I don’t think anybody had any idea.” 

On being the established player competing with up and comers, Trufant said, “It’s about being the best you because that’s best for the team in the long run.” 

On academics, Trufant said, “It’s all about time management.” 

On competing against bigger players, Sherman said, “Do what you can with what you can.” 

On success and defeat, Sherman said, “Treat the two imposters the same, success and defeat. You can’t think the world ends just because of a loss. Can’t get too high or too low… It’s all about the next minute, the next game.” 

On killer instinct, Sherman said, “Either you have it or you don’t. For some it’s a dark place, for others it’s a happy place…but you don’t want to talk about it in a place like this.” 

One woman asked Sherman to give words of advice to her son, a young basketball player who she said would only grow to be about 5’4.” Sherman said, “If he doesn’t see it as a barrier, then it won’t be.” 

On Russell Wilson, Sherman said, “He gets taller every year.” 

When asked what he’d say to critics who’d argue he’s lost a step, Sherman said, “You can’t do what I do.” 

That last point hit me the hardest. Richard Sherman does not like criticism. He shuns it, disregards it, pushes it aside with his strong intellect. It’s what you have to do to reach the heights he has. Sherman was born and raised in Compton, notoriously one of the most difficult places in America to be born. Yet, he attended Stanford and has gone on to become world famous for his articulate responses to media, his play on the field and his stunning dreadlocks. But criticism? Not a conversation starter with him. He is a defensive player, after all. 

After the Q&A, both men took photographs with the happy crowd, shaking hands and smiling. It was a warm room and everyone was happy to be there. More appetizers were passed around, people drank coffee, wine and noshed on mixed drinks. Tom Douglas walked around with friends. The stars were out. 

A half hour later Morgan led the way through a back hallway of Starbucks, past a few security guards and into a tiny office room.  There, Sherman and Trufant were talking football, specifically why Trufant’s brother–a defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons–is being played off the receiver in the defensive scheme. Trufant thinks it’s because the team is trying to dare the opposition to throw the ball his brother’s way. Sherman nods. I feel a little like an imposter watching them. There’s food–pizza, which Sherman doesn’t want to be photographed around because it’s not Domino’s–and I feel self-conscious that I’m interrupting his dinner and his time away from the gala event. 

Eventually Sherman and I sit next to one another, practically knee to knee. He looks over a sheet of paper with my talking points as people bring in authentic ‘Hawks jerseys for him to sign while we talk. I ask my first question and after the interview, we shake hands. 

Your mother was interviewed during the Super Bowl and she said that the only spaghetti you would ever eat… 

Is hers, yes. 

What makes it so good? And would you really push away plates if you were a guest somewhere? 

I wouldn’t push them away, I would just ask if they had anything else or I’d just sit there and eat the bread and whatever else they had… the meatballs. She makes the spaghetti–she boils [the noodles] just right, the right amount of time. I think some people go overboard and they boil them too long or they’re too thick. Or they don’t boil them long enough and they’re too thin. But she does it just right–and I got a weird gag reflex so, you know, it works out for me. 

I’m going to ask you some football questions now if that’s alright. 

Sure. 

Is there a difference between this year’s defense and defenses prior? Positively or negatively. 

Not at all. Not really. It’s the same defense, same scheme, same stuff we’re trying to do. 

I’m curious what criticism do you take in, do you absorb? I’m sure there’s tons of voices, people saying tons of things around you, which ones do you listen to? 

You listen to the criticisms of your coach and the people who actually know what’s going on within the scheme of your defense. So, I mean, it’s mostly internal. Outside of that, we don’t listen to much, honestly. 

Does stuff end up in the locker room? 

(Laughs) It’s not listened to. It’s not listened to at all. We don’t buy into that stuff, positive or negative. You don’t too much pay mind to that, I think that’s more for the fans and stuff like that. 

What’s one part of the team that makes you most hopeful for the rest of the year? 

The entirety of it. We’ve got guys who’ve done it before and will do it again. 

There’s been speculation by some in the media that President Obama could take over as the next NFL Commissioner. Do you have any thoughts on that? 

That’d be phenomenal. (Laughs) He’d be the first black President, the first black NFL Commissioner. You know what? He’s out there doing his thing. 

You were, sort of surprisingly, a vocal supporter of Tom Brady during Deflategate. Why? 

I was asked a question about how I felt about it. How I felt was in support of his stance. As players, we stand together in a lot of things and the [Players’] Union supported what he was doing and obviously wanted to defend him and defend his rights and that’s what we did. 

Who’s the best corner in the game? 

The answer doesn’t change… 

 

This piece was edited on November 30.