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

Bob Simon Profiles NFL Superstar LaDainian Tomlinson

(CBS)  Tomlinson grew up near Waco, Texas. His parents divorced when he was very young and his father moved away. When L.T. was just five years old he found a new role model, and his future, watching Walter Payton fly down the field for the Chicago Bears.

"Late, great Walter Payton was the reason why l wanted to be a football player. It was something that seeing on TV I was drawn to," Tomlinson explains.

When he was just five years old, L.T. started sleeping with a football, holding it.

His younger brother LaVar said that ball would lie in L.T.'s arms like a girlfriend. And L.T. admits it did for 15 years.

LaTorsha tells Simon that the football is finally out of the bed, but not out of the bedroom. "Still to this day, it's in between the nightstand and the bed. Here’s the bed. Here’s the nightstand. There’s the football on the floor," she explains, laughing.

LaTorsha met LaDainian when they were both students at Texas Christian University. She realized he'd inherited his humility from his mother, Loreane.

It turns out that on their first date, L.T. talked about his mom the entire time. "Oh, that's wonderful. I think," Loreane says, laughing.

"Yeah. And that right there, to me was a good attribute, cause it showed me that any guy that loves his mom that much knows how to treat me," LaTorsha says.

Back in grade school, he promised to give his mother a big house, and now she’s living in it. "When we were kids, I wrote a letter to her and told her I would get her a house like this," L.T. remembers.

He was about eight years old at the time.

"You were able to write even though it was hard to understand. You know, you have awful bad handwriting," Loreane says. "Yeah. But yeah he was pretty young."

Now, at 28, he has become a sought-after celebrity, but at heart he's still a modest mamma’s boy. And from his mother, he learned what became the guiding lights of his life: nothing is as important as giving, and always aim for the stars.

He admits he wants to be seen as the best who ever played and he knows it's a pretty lofty ambition. "But I believe in setting your standards high," he L.T. says. "Because if you don't, then what are you really doing? You're selling yourself short."

Will he keep playing until his legs give out or does he plan to retire while still on top of his game?

"I don't think I'd be the type of person to continue to play until my legs give out. I wanna stop playing on top," Tomlinson tells Simon. "And hopefully it'll be the year we win the Super Bowl."

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And how's this for irony: the Chargers drafted their on-the-field, off-the-field superstar after trading away their rights to that year's number one draft choice. The player they didn't pick was Michael Vick.

[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.