After retiring from the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1984, Terry Bradshaw figured he would just go back to his ranch and work cattle. But CBS came calling, and he accepted a job as the network’s sports commentator. Nearly 30 years later, the NFL Hall of Famer and four-time Super Bowl champion is a co-host on Fox NFL Sunday, an author, motivational speaker, singer, actor and, now, stage performer. On June 28-29, Bradshaw performs his autobiographical show America’s Favorite Dumb Blonde … A Life in Four Quarters at The Mirage. Kiko Miyasato caught up with Bradshaw during rehearsals.
Q: Can you sum up you’re show at The Mirage?
A: This show has so much; it’s the story of my life put to song and dance. For the audience (there) really is only one thing to remember: Have fun. The whole show really is a shot at me—that’s why it’s called America’s Favorite Dumb Blonde, because that was always the knock on me, that I was stupid. But I’ve taken stupid and turned it to smart. If I screw up, hey, I’m used to screwing up. I just hope (the audience) understands I’m not Engelbert Humperdinck!
Q: Are you comfortable performing onstage?
A: I’m very comfortable onstage; it doesn’t bother me. I speak to Fortune 500 companies, and I’ve been doing so for over 35 years. I’ve never done anything like this, though. My friends are asking “Hey, when does the show open?” and I say “June 28 … and it closes June 29!” (laughs). The only thing is my Fox family is coming—they’ll do anything they can to throw me off. They would love for me to screw up; that’s what you do when you love somebody!
Q: Switching gears, what was your most memorable Super Bowl win?
A: The first one, because it’s the first Super Bowl I won. It’s the most important, the most exciting. Scary as all get out, but exciting. You don’t know if you have the talent as an individual. You have doubts about your game plan. There’s so much that goes on emotionally and psychologically. And then you win it, and you realize you’re really that good. So, without question, it’s the first one.
Q: What type of person does it take to lead a team to victory?
A: It’s a person that doesn’t get caught up in the moment. You’re levelheaded and you control your emotions, while all around you there’s chaos. You’re the quiet in the middle of the hurricane. I know that’s how I played, and that’s how I felt. I’m their leader, so to me the most important thing was to prepare. If you’re nervous and all jacked up you’re brain gets cloudy. So, the calmer you are as a person, the better you will function and the more you’ll be able to tap into your natural ability and play well. Let all these guys scream and holler—you (will) be the calm in the storm. You’re the one that reels them in; that was my job, and I did it good.
Q: What do you think of the current Steelers team?
A: They’re good. Didn’t make the playoffs last year; offensive line is not as good. Running game is horrible, they lost (Mike) Wallace, their deep threat. That’s gonna hurt them this year. I think they’re going to struggle again this year. Defensive is getting old. But they do have Ben (Roethlisberger), and they’ve got a good head coach … It’s a good organization. We’ll see how their draft choices are. It’s a team that is in rebuilding mode, that’s my estimation.
Q: How does it feel to be the first football player to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
A: I was like “Come on, serious?” Well, who am I to say no to this? I’m next to Paul Newman. You will stand on my star to look at his! I don’t know how or why I got in, but I got a call and they were like, “You’ve been voted in.” It’s quite an honor—I mean for a football guy, come on!
Q: In your show, you tell us about your life in four quarters, but what’s your life like in overtime?
A: I’m expanding my cattle business when I should be slowing down. Growing my thoroughbred business when I should be slowing down. Still looking for investments when I should be through. I never think about retirement, ever. If you retire, you just start dying. At 64 years of age, I’m opening in Vegas. I’m just a guy who likes different things. I love entertaining people; I love making people laugh and feel good. My overtime: hopefully it’s a long one, hope it goes into triple, quadruple overtime. I’d like to live a long life, but if it all ended today, it’s been pretty good.
