Merlin Olsen — American Athlete born on September 15, 1940, died on March 11, 2010

Merlin Jay Olsen was an American football player, announcer, and actor. He played his entire 15-year professional football career in National Football League as a defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams. He was selected to the Pro Bowl a record 14 straight times, missing selection only in the last year of his career. This record of 14 seasons selected to play in the Pro Bowl, consecutive or otherwise, is current and shared with former offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, former tight end Tony Gonzalez, and current quarterback Peyton Manning. A recipient of the 1961 Outland Trophy as the best lineman in college football, Olsen is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. As an actor he portrayed farmer Jonathan Garvey on Little House on the Prairie. After leaving that series, he starred in his own NBC drama, Father Murphy... (wikipedia)

One of life's most painful moments comes when we must admit that we didn't do our homework, that we are not prepared.
I was captain and should have set the example. I would lift a minimum of weights. Mine was natural physical strength. I always thought quickness and agility were much more important.
Our whole philosophy was to intimidate the quarterback. We were able to do it. We were pioneers. People still recognize us as, maybe, the best defensive line of all time.
Nobody cared about swimming. You could draw a crowd for basketball.
It took me a while to realize that basketball wasn't football.