Editor’s note: Sports reporter Adam Schefter interviewed Tim Russert in 2002 as part of a weekly conversation The Denver Post conducted with various athletes, actors, politicians and newsmakers, called “Know Him From Adam.”
Few people can discuss legislative bills with as much knowledge as they can the Buffalo Bills. Tim Russert, host of NBC’s Meet the Press, is one of the few.
Through the years, Russert has become as much a part of Sunday morning as bagels and lox. Each week he tackles this country’s leading political issues, but would be just as happy debating sports. Or, specifically, his Bills.
Adam Schefter: How does one become the fervent Buffalo Bills fan you are?
Tim Russert: I was born and raised in Buffalo, N.Y. I remember when the American Football Conference started. Tickets were $1, and you could bring anything you wanted into War Memorial Stadium. People literally would bring picnic baskets and kegs of beer and put them in the aisles. It was a very chaotic, but interesting way, to watch a football game.
AS: When you hear “wide right,” do you think of Republicans or Scott Norwood?
TR: I’ll tell you, about three or four years ago, I was walking through Reagan National Airport and all of a sudden I felt a tap on my shoulder. “Tim, excuse me, my name is Scott Norwood, and I just wanted to introduce myself.” I said, “Scott, stop. I know who you are. I was there, Scott.”
AS: Upper or downer that Scott Norwood recognized you?
TR: He wanted to bond over the Bills, not realizing that I still wake up screaming in the middle of the night, WIDE RIGHT!
AS: How would Condoleezza Rice do as the next NFL commissioner?
TR: I’ve talked to her about that extensively. She is very, very knowledgeable about football. She likes the Cleveland Browns, that’s her team. She follows the draft, she understand the placement of players, holes to fill. She has the mind of a general manager. She has very strong leadership skills. I think if she doesn’t wind up being vice president of the United States, she has a very good chance of being the next NFL commissioner.
AS: Vice president?
TR: Well, if Dick Cheney decided not to run, I think she’d receive very, very serious consideration from George W. Bush. Because what that would do is change the whole dynamic of the election. Women, African-Americans, would suddenly have someone on the Republican ticket. And if you could cut into the African-American support for the Democratic candidate and alter the gender gap, you really do build your base.
AS: When are we going to war?
TR: That’s hard. It’s up to Saddam Hussein. I believe the United Nations will pass a resolution demanding that Saddam Hussein allow complete unfettered access, and then it’s up to him. If he decides to do that, and we can go in and disarm him, we will not have a war. I think that’s extremely unlikely. He has sacrificed $ 160 billion in oil revenues by refusing to give up his weapons of mass destruction. He’d have $160 billion to spend on the kids of Iraq – better food, better medicine. He lost 1 million young boys in his wars with Iran. It’s very discouraging. But unless he decides to give up those weapons of mass destruction, I think armed conflict is almost inevitable.
AS: Which coach would make the best president?
TR: Ty Willingham. He is the most focused, disciplined, natural leader I’ve seen on the field. He took a program and convinced the (Notre Dame) players to believe in themselves, to return to glory, to understand that there was something bigger than themselves — a larger common purpose.
AS: Which politician would make the best coach?
TR: John McCain. Tested, prisoner of war. Overtime is easy after being a POW for five years. He understands discipline, he understands motivation, he has a keen eye for talent. He’d be a very good football coach.
AS: When you’re out at night, are you talking sports or politics?
TR: Sports. That’s all I want to talk about. People come up to me and want to talk politics and I’ll say, “Yeah, right, guys, can I hold that for Sunday?” I love sports. My son plays his high school football games on Friday, I love Notre Dame football on Saturday and I love the Bills on Sunday. So by Sunday night, I’m exhausted.
AS: If you could do any job, what would it be?
TR: Host “Meet the Press.” This is it. This is what I love. People work hard all week long in Denver or Buffalo and take care of their families. But on Sunday morning, they sit down and I’m their surrogate. I have the luxury of researching and reading and interviewing and reporting all week long and then on Sunday challenging our political leadership to tell the truth about where they want to lead the country.
AS: So there’s no job that you secretly aspire to, like Condoleezza Rice?
TR: This is it. Actually, if I could own the Buffalo Bills and keep the team in Buffalo forever, I’d be very happy. Ralph Wilson has been a great owner. But when he moves on to his final reward, because of taxes, his family will have to sell it and I don’t think anyone in Buffalo could afford it. But I still want to host “Meet the Press” — and own the Buffalo Bills on the side.
AS: Any pointers you could give to Randy Moss about how you stay so calm?
TR: The most important thing is understanding what’s real in life. There was a wonderful expression by a young boy who was 12 years old and who had cancer. A fellow said to him, “How you doing, son?” He said, “I’m doing OK.” The other man said, “Having a bad day?” He said, “Mister, when you’re 12 years old with cancer, there’s no such thing as a bad day.” And it changed my thinking. Hamilton Jordan, the former Jimmy Carter chief of staff, wrote a book titled, “No Such Thing As a Bad Day.” Because Jordan has had cancer three different times. That just changed my entire approach. Now I have perspective. I love to engage and ask difficult, aggressive questions about social security and taxes. But I always think you have to be civil and not rude. Because there is something more important in life. For those of us who are healthy and alive and enjoy what we do, there really is no such thing as a bad day.
