mesaSteeler
12-04-2011, 08:01 AM
Steelers First & 10: Ryan Mundy
http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local_sports/steelers-first-ryan-mundy/article_297da5f3-3f30-5518-b2f4-54ae103d084a.html?mode=print
By Mike Bires mbires@timesonline.com | Posted: Saturday, December 3, 2011 11:45 pm
The Steelers’ backup safety and special teams whiz, a third-year pro out of Woodland Hills High School, took some time before practice this week to answer these decidedly non-football questions from The Times’ Mike Bires:
After your high school career at Woodland Hills, why did you choose Michigan?
“I had about 30 offers, but I really didn’t even have a top five. It was pretty much Michigan and Pitt. I did also take visits to Virginia and North Carolina State, but I knew it would come down to Michigan or Pitt. I eventually decided I wanted to get out of Pittsburgh and experience a different part of the country.”
At the NFL Combine every year, potential draft picks must take the Wonderlic test (which assesses the aptitude of prospective employees). You had an outstanding Wonderlic score of 29, which is 10 points higher than the average for safeties. What’s the story behind your score?
“I didn’t answer all the questions. There are 50 questions that you’re supposed to answer in 12 minutes. I don’t know anybody (at the combine) who answers them all. But I did answer 29 questions, and got 29 right.”
Is that why your teammates call you “Wonderlic”?
“Actually, it’s only Coach (Mike) Tomlin who calls me ‘Wonderlic.’ “
What does it mean for a guy who grew up in Pittsburgh to be playing with the hometown Steelers?
“It means a lot to me, but more so for my family, who’ve been for me every step of the way since I first started playing football in 1992.”
As a guy who’s lived in the Pittsburgh area for all your life, what’s your favorite restaurant in town?
“I’m supposed to say my restaurant. I’m part owner of Savoy Restaurant and Lounge in the Strip District. We have great food there. But a place I also like is Nine on Nine on the corner of Penn Avenue and Ninth Avenue downtown.”
If there’s anyone you could sit down and have dinner with, who would it be?
“Warren Buffett, because it always seems like he’s one step ahead. That’s one of the keys to being successful in business and life ... having the foresight and being able to see things before they happen.”
Did you vote for Barack Obama in the last presidential election? How do you think he’s doing?
“Yes, I did vote for him. And I think he is doing a good job. He inherited a tough job. He’s doing the best he can, and hopefully he’ll get another four years.”
Once you’re done playing football, what kind of work do you see yourself getting into?
“I want to get into business. I have a few ideas as far as helping athletes who didn’t make it professionally. So many athletes I went to college with, they have degrees but they can’t get jobs ... they aren’t prepared for life after football. That’s one of my passions ... helping athletes transition into life after football. And beyond that, I’d like to get into other types of business, maybe as a financial advisor or something with the mortgage industry.”
What’s the best vacation you’ve ever taken?
“I really haven’t been on too many vacations. Mostly everywhere I’ve been to, it’s been sports related. But I did end up going to Puerto Vallarta in Mexico last March. That was really my first vacation where I was just relaxing. I went there with my fiancée. It was great.”
Is there a vacation destination you want to visit some day?
“Probably Egypt ... just to study the history of Egypt and to see the pyramids and the ancient Egyptian tombs. I’d also like to visit Israel some day.”
http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local_sports/steelers-first-ryan-mundy/article_297da5f3-3f30-5518-b2f4-54ae103d084a.html?mode=print
By Mike Bires mbires@timesonline.com | Posted: Saturday, December 3, 2011 11:45 pm
The Steelers’ backup safety and special teams whiz, a third-year pro out of Woodland Hills High School, took some time before practice this week to answer these decidedly non-football questions from The Times’ Mike Bires:
After your high school career at Woodland Hills, why did you choose Michigan?
“I had about 30 offers, but I really didn’t even have a top five. It was pretty much Michigan and Pitt. I did also take visits to Virginia and North Carolina State, but I knew it would come down to Michigan or Pitt. I eventually decided I wanted to get out of Pittsburgh and experience a different part of the country.”
At the NFL Combine every year, potential draft picks must take the Wonderlic test (which assesses the aptitude of prospective employees). You had an outstanding Wonderlic score of 29, which is 10 points higher than the average for safeties. What’s the story behind your score?
“I didn’t answer all the questions. There are 50 questions that you’re supposed to answer in 12 minutes. I don’t know anybody (at the combine) who answers them all. But I did answer 29 questions, and got 29 right.”
Is that why your teammates call you “Wonderlic”?
“Actually, it’s only Coach (Mike) Tomlin who calls me ‘Wonderlic.’ “
What does it mean for a guy who grew up in Pittsburgh to be playing with the hometown Steelers?
“It means a lot to me, but more so for my family, who’ve been for me every step of the way since I first started playing football in 1992.”
As a guy who’s lived in the Pittsburgh area for all your life, what’s your favorite restaurant in town?
“I’m supposed to say my restaurant. I’m part owner of Savoy Restaurant and Lounge in the Strip District. We have great food there. But a place I also like is Nine on Nine on the corner of Penn Avenue and Ninth Avenue downtown.”
If there’s anyone you could sit down and have dinner with, who would it be?
“Warren Buffett, because it always seems like he’s one step ahead. That’s one of the keys to being successful in business and life ... having the foresight and being able to see things before they happen.”
Did you vote for Barack Obama in the last presidential election? How do you think he’s doing?
“Yes, I did vote for him. And I think he is doing a good job. He inherited a tough job. He’s doing the best he can, and hopefully he’ll get another four years.”
Once you’re done playing football, what kind of work do you see yourself getting into?
“I want to get into business. I have a few ideas as far as helping athletes who didn’t make it professionally. So many athletes I went to college with, they have degrees but they can’t get jobs ... they aren’t prepared for life after football. That’s one of my passions ... helping athletes transition into life after football. And beyond that, I’d like to get into other types of business, maybe as a financial advisor or something with the mortgage industry.”
What’s the best vacation you’ve ever taken?
“I really haven’t been on too many vacations. Mostly everywhere I’ve been to, it’s been sports related. But I did end up going to Puerto Vallarta in Mexico last March. That was really my first vacation where I was just relaxing. I went there with my fiancée. It was great.”
Is there a vacation destination you want to visit some day?
“Probably Egypt ... just to study the history of Egypt and to see the pyramids and the ancient Egyptian tombs. I’d also like to visit Israel some day.”