10 Things You Didn’t Know About Richard Sherman [VIDEO]
He's been called a hero, the best there is, a thug, a loud mouth and more. He's one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL. He was asked to cover Sports Illustrated and insisted on including his Legion of Boom brothers. There's a lot you know about Richard Sherman, but here are 10 things you probably don't:
- 1
He grew up in Compton
"I've seen bodies in the street... blood left from a violent crime, I've seen prostitution in the street." ~Richard Sherman
- 2
His father is a garbage man
His mom works with disabled children.
"Seeing his parents work hard everyday to make the best life for them as they could has helped him." ~ mom
- 3
His father was in a gang and was shot
"I showed him I'd been shot hanging out with gang members and you could be killed for no reason at all." ~ dad
- 4
His high school coach told him to shut his mouth on the field, then changed his mind
"If you take talking away from him, and we did, he went from a great player to an average player and we were like, 'We've got to let this kid be who he is.'" ~ high school coach
- 5
Sherman was furious at only graduating second in his high school class
Pete Carroll recruited him to play for USC in 2006, but he preferred to study at Stanford University -- a more prestigious school.
- 6
Sherman wasn't drafted to the NFL until the FIFTH round
"That'll never be something that leaves my mind." ~ Richard Sherman
- 7
President Barack Obama has quoted HIM
"Don't you ever talk about me like that. I'm the best president in the game." ~ Obama
- 9
He has his own charity called Blanket Coverage
Blanket Coverage gives school supplies and clothing to kids in low-income areas.
- 10
He's dating Ashley Lillian Moss
Moss was a Seattle waitress and 'Hawks fan. Now she's a professional cosmetologist.