L.T.: Off-Field Work Is More Important

Bob Simon Profiles NFL Superstar LaDainian Tomlinson

(CBS)  And for L.T., the hard work really has paid off. He's the highest paid running back in the league, at $8 million a year, and now he makes almost $5 million more from various endorsement deals, including Vitamin Water, Vizio Electronics, and Campbell's Soup, which made a commercial starring his mother.

Nike even rented his stadium, hired some of his teammates and some Chicago Bears to make a commercial about how well he runs in their shoes.

But it hasn't continued that way: the Chargers have already lost more than twice as many games as they did last season. They may still make the playoffs, but the losing has been tough for L.T.

"Some guys may take losing as 'We lost but we still got paid.' As long as you have that attitude, you’re going to be losers," he says.

L.T. and LaTorsha may sparkle in the spotlight, but their idea of a big night is a quiet night at home. They built a 10,000 square-foot house outside San Diego that includes many of life’s necessities, like a waterfall into a pool, a court for basketball or tennis, and for his second favorite sport golf, a chipping area, a sand trap, and of course a putting green.

His six cars include a Bentley, a vintage Impala, and his current favorite, a Lamborghini. Asked how fast he has driven the car, L.T. says, laughing, "I knew that was comin’. Let's just say at least 150, at least."

What about on the open road?

"Yeah, no," he says. "I'm typically a person doesn’t like to drive real fast."

"I like to run fast but not drive," L.T. says, laughing.

And here's something else no home should be without: hidden behind a bookcase, L.T. has a spacious screening room. Simon showed him some plays to find out what he sees when he's out on the field. It turns out that plays that look very fast to us, look very slow to him.

"It actually feels in slow motion to me," L.T. comments. "It's happening slow because I can see what's going on. I can see what every defender is doing."

L.T. admits he never really expects to get tackled. "Every time I touch the ball I think I'm going to go all the way. I think I'm going to score a touchdown. I'm the runner I am because I think that I'm going to go all the way every single time I touch the ball," he says.

He's known as "the man behind the mask" because he wears a dark visor that he says prevent migraines and prevent tacklers from seeing his eyes.

"I never wanted people to see what I may be thinking," L.T. explains.

He also admits that on the field he doesn't hear the crowds. "And I think the reason why is you're so focused on what’s going on out on the football field that your senses don’t allow you to use the part where you hear the crowd," he says. "It's very silent."

"You're really in your own zone, aren't you?" Simon asks.

"That's the focus that you have to have when you're in my position. Because if you don’t, you can get hurt," L.T. says.

And here's where he's most vulnerable: leaping over the pack and into the end zone. LaTorsha cringes every time he does it, and she's told him to stop.

"I always tell him. I mean the chargers pay your offensive line to protect you. When you jump in the air they’re not jumping in the air with you. You’re by yourself. You are by yourself. And you’re gonna get hurt," she says.

"She has a point," he admits, laughing.

Asked if that means he'll never do it again, L.T. tells Simon, "Well, I can't say I never would do it again."

They don't have any children yet, but if they do, LaTorsha says she wouldn't want her sons to play football.

Why not?

"That’s gonna be a lot of pressure on them to live up to the legend that their father is and will be," she says.

L.T.'s opinion? "I think she has a great point," says L.T. "Something that I kinda wanna protect my kids from is the physical part getting hurt; the injuries, you know."

[egt155]

exemplary, Mr Tomlinson. It is great that you are giving back to your community. You are definitely a breath of fresh air in the NFL. However the teddy bears for the hospital children was nice, but momentary. You wish to leave your legacy away from the playing field then direct you efforts towards curing this terrible cancer disease. Walk into any Leukemia ward and observe the many bald children. I have and it rips out your heart. Together you nad the NFL charities can make significant progress towards this goal. I do not say this callously but those bears you hand out probably have a longer life span than the kids receiving them. God bless you and your wife.

[flyingpig13]

This was a very impressive piece to me. I had always been a fan of LT on the field. Now I am a fan of LT the man. We need more like him and we need more stories like his. I wrote about this 60 Minutes piece on my blog. Check it out.

http://realsportsbloggers.com/flyingpig/2007/12/11/lt-is-more-than-a-football-playerim-more-than-a-fan/#comment-398

[Ray Sours]

I enjoyed this segment and wish there were more of them and also more people like this young man.

Ray Sours

[ejg54]

Your story about Mr Tomlinson was good untill Bob Simon got to the part about calling L.T. a momma'' boy. I don''t think Bob Simon knows what a momma''s boy is. I felt very sadden by the fact that such a derogatroy term was used. If and when Bob Simon does another story about someone who goes be on the normal situation of major sports start and gives back to the community and never really seeks out self admiration for the good of what he or she does for others and the community in which they lived or have lived in Bob should remember what terms of words
to use in his story are really about before espousing them in a context that is really dishonor to whom Bob is talking about.

[agilegirl]

What a class act. Long live LT and God Bless him and his family. Thank you for showing me that not all the NFL players, coaches and owners are not crooks, thieves and losers. I will now root for San Diego because of LT. You go!

[shantellk]

The story about Mr. Tomlinson was excellent and great to see such a positive story about a young black man, but really what was the point of mentioning Michael Vick? Was it to be a reminder that not all men are like Tomlinson? The ending was poor and left a bad taste after such a positive portrayal.

[shantellk]

The story about Mr. Tomlinson was excellent and great to see such a positive story about a young black man, but really what was the point of mentioning Michael Vick? Was it to be a reminder that not all men are like Tomlinson? The ending was poor and left a bad taste after such a positive portrayal.

[lroacher]

Thank you for your coverage of a young black man football player who has given some thought to his life and the impact he has on the lives of others. His interview was the perfect motivator for my 6th and 7th grade class.

[zoomer316-2009]

I enjoyed this feature about the football player--loved that Walter Peyton was his hero.

***I am writing, however, to alert the 60 min staff that the Negroponte laptops are NOT arriving with a generator. They are plug ins.

The generator is WHY I wanted one. I prefer the salad spinner type, not the crank. Can you see what you can do to make these available and alert Negroponte to WHY Americans would want his machine?!
Thanks! (name and address avail.to CBS 60 min staff)

[francinegs]

Yesss!! LT, Warrick Dunn and others of their caliber are a lesson to ALL of us in how to live. They are such a positive example...one that Michael Vicks obviously had lacking in *his* life. These young men have helped restore my faith in the HUMAN race. I hope folks in Washington are paying attention as they, too, could learn from their wonderful example!

[buddhabman]

People sometimes forget how many good guys there are in Pro Football. The NFL and the players do the most charities of all the pro sports. LT is awesome in his off the field giving like Warrick Dunn.

[tfredericks-2009]

I think there is still hope for professional athletes after all.

[mikebroadfoo]

Two thumbs up for this story. Its refreshing to see a professional athlete garner attention for all the right reasons. What a MAN.
Mike in Alabama

[tvwatcher41]

What an amazing person LT seems to be. Great interview however Bob Simmons did refer to LT as LJ during a portion of his voiceover.

[ladyephesus1]

What a postitive young man. God bless him.

[ironmtn1960]

LT is a better person, than he is a football player, and that is saying a lot.