Riddick plans to take in Sunday's games alongside his ESPN colleaguesESPN IMAGES
It is no secret ESPN NFL analyst LOUIS RIDDICK still lives and breathes the football life five years after parting ways with the Eagles' front office. Since then he has developed into one of the net’s signature voices in the sport, even landing a couple GM interviews along the way. Able to shed light on on-field matchups, draft/scouting perspectives and the coaching carousel, Riddick appears on many of ESPN’s NFL programs and has a weekly spot on SCOTT VAN PELT’s midnight ET "SportsCenter." But how exactly does the admitted film-junkie take in the AFC and NFC Championship games? Riddick took THE DAILY behind the curtain for his weekend plans ahead of Jaguars-Pats and Vikings-Eagles this Sunday.
BRISTOL VIEWING: Fridays for me are when I typically tape the “NFL Matchup” show with GREG COSELL and then Saturday is my travel day where I fly out of Philadelphia up to Bristol. Sunday obviously is the highlight of it all. We’ll watch the games up at ESPN together like we always do throughout the season. We have a big board room where we have what seems like a 100ft-by-100ft screen along with 12 other smaller options. It’s a sweet setup and we’re in there enjoying some food throughout the day. It’ll be pretty much everyone that’s involved with our NFL coverage in some way, from “Countdown” producers to reporters and on-air talent. CHRIS MORTENSEN, ADAM SCHEFTER, RYAN CLARK just to name a few. Mortensen is my guy, his comic relief during those games is something you wouldn’t expect from a man as accomplished as he is. Everybody pretty much has their regular seat, I’m right in the front with the laptops and iPads to monitor the stats in real time. I don’t have any rituals exactly but I do like to have plenty of room around me.
REAL STAKES: Watching games back with the Eagles was much different. Then you live and die with every point, every series, every timeout. It’s 3-and-a-half hours of being on edge. That is probably what I miss the most: knowing you’ll be judged at the end of the game by whether you won or lost. That’s why you play professional sports, the fact that they keep score. In this atmosphere, it’s just different. When the game is over, it’s over. You collect your notes and that’s it.
AWAY FROM THE GRIDIRON: I love to stay fit by hitting the gym. It’s good for the mind and the body, especially when you’re getting a little bit up there in age. You have to make sure you take care of yourself. I love to read about leadership in my free time, and to dine out. Del Friscos and Capital Grille are my two go-to’s in Philadelphia. It doesn’t get any better than those atmospheres. Chicago is one of my favorite cities -- its got one of the best-looking skylines coming in. Once back when I was scouting I drove in there in a snowstorm and I’ll never forget it. I also love Atlanta, and I would love to move back down there in time (Riddick spent two years with the Falcons in his playing days). South Florida is a favorite vacation spot as well. Some people can’t stand the humidity, but I love it. I am not a fan of the cold at all.
CULTURE FITS: I always catch my kids watching “FAMILY FEUD” with STEVE HARVEY. That’s probably on the most in my house outside of football. Book-wise I’ll read anything sports-related. My favorite read is one by BILL WALSH called, “FINDING THE WINNING EDGE” with help from BRIAN BILLICK. It’s the Bible of football, with everything Walsh ever thought about the game. Practice schedules, front office plans, drafting and leadership – you can read that book 100 times and still miss something.
Know of someone you’d like to see featured in Weekend Plans? Shoot an email to tleary@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
