Unapologetic Truth: The Relentless Spirit of Adam “Pacman” Jones

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[01:32] Adam. Pac-Man. [01:36] You're listening to Mick Unplugged, hosted by the one and only Mick Hunt. This is where purpose meets power and stories spark transformation. Mick takes you beyond the motivation and into meaning, helping you discover your because and becoming unstoppable. I'm Rudy Rush, and trust me, you're in the right place. Let's get unplugged. [02:00] How you doing today, brother? [02:05] you for having me on. We're long lost friends, definitely Instagram friends, but it's fun to get on here and sit down and share some words with you. [02:13] Hey, I'm going to go straight to it, man. I've been telling everybody for the last 20 years, you know, I'm from Greenville, South Carolina. I'm from the South Carolina. [02:22] We know what Atlanta is in the South. [02:24] I tell everybody that will listen, my Mount Rushmore of athletes from Atlanta, I'm not talking about that played in Atlanta, that went through Atlanta. I'm talking about from Atlanta. [02:35] My Mount Rushmore is this, in no order. [02:37] Calvin Johnson. Love it. Cam Newton. [02:41] Love it. Dwight Howard. Love it. [02:43] Pac-Man Jones. Let's go. [02:46] Like what you did growing up in the city of Atlanta, and I'm talking about before high school, bro. Like people that don't know, Pac was playing with grown men when he was like seven years old. Like I'm talking about football, basketball, football. [02:58] You were the guy that honestly... [03:01] Set that new generation of athlete from Atlanta, man. Like, talk to us about just that. Growing up, being the guy in Atlanta, which is a lot. Like, people talk about New York and basketball, but, like,

[03:15] They don't know, man. Atlanta has athletes [03:17] Speaker 1 : All sports. [03:18] And I think it's the sports capital of the United States. Talk to us about that growing up in Atlanta. Man, you know, a lot of credit goes to my grandma, bro. Like, she killed me out of the projects, made me go and play football. [03:31] at Santon with the privileged kids, instead of playing. Like we had a team in the projects for us basketball, not football. [03:38] And, um... [03:40] A dude named Coach Knight really... [03:42] changed my whole perspective and look at a lot of things. Because he was coaching like 18 U, [03:49] He wasn't coaching my age at the time. [03:52] And I was like 12 years old playing with 18 youth. [03:56] That really changed my mindset as far as the physical quality of life. [04:02] playing basketball with these older guys, the training, [04:05] the dialogue of you got to work to get there, man. And I think that transferred into me, [04:12] when I did go and play with kids that was my age, but, [04:16] Man, Atlanta has always been the one. All them guys you name, I actually went to school [04:21] with Kevin Johnson's sister. [04:24] Cam went to Westlake. Dwight Howard, dad, coached me in track. I ran track with Dwight Howard. [04:31] And who was the other name you have for me? You. You. [04:35] Well, oh yeah, myself. So it was a great... [04:40] group of athletes and I had like [04:43] AJ... [04:44] Moirye had Sean Jones, Kieran Fox.

[04:48] Yep. [04:49] David Jacobs. David Jacobs was my idol growing up because he was in the same projects that I was in. [04:56] And he was the first person that I seen [04:59] that was trying to get out the projects and had every coach [05:02] pretty much in the world, you know what I mean? Stop them at the top of the hill because they were scared to come down to the bottom, you know what I mean? So he had to go up and get them. But like, that was kind of my idol looking thing [05:13] when I grew up, you know what I mean? I was telling this to somebody else like, [05:17] I wouldn't allow it to be up there on the corner. [05:19] Bye. [05:20] Selling dope, selling weed and all that. I did gamble. We gambled a lot. I'm talking about dice, basketball, football, softball, anything you can name. Track. [05:31] If you can compete, [05:32] Anything you could compete in, but, like, I wasn't allowed to compete up there at the corner, though. [05:38] Yeah man And this prolific high school career you had man Like [05:43] running back DB, [05:46] All-State. [05:47] Mr. Everything. [05:49] I got this question because this is before NIL, bro. [05:53] How in the hell did you get out of the state of Georgia and go to West Virginia? [05:57] I don't want to know the bag number, but how did you get to West Virginia? It was a bag number. I'll tell you that. Like, it passed my time now so I can talk about it. But I was committed to Georgia Tech. [06:08] Yep. [06:09] And, um, [06:11] Kieran Fox was at Georgia Tech at the time. Georgia offered me, but I didn't like the way they treated Dave Jacob after he had the stroke.

[06:18] You know what I mean? It's like, oh, well, you know, he's a good player. [06:22] And that's the reason why I immediately typed down the Georgia offer. [06:27] I had pretty much anywhere I could go, but I was committed to Georgia Tech and it was like, [06:32] A week before signing day, bro, Fox come to me, which shout out to Kieran Fox and his family. They did a lot for me, changing my life. [06:41] making me see different things besides the project. Um, [06:45] He's like, bro. [06:47] This shit is school up here. I know you want to come in and play football, but... [06:51] This work up here is pretty hard. I think you're going to school to play football, right? I was like, yeah, yeah, I am. [06:58] He's like, bro. [07:00] these classes and stuff. [07:01] It's super hard. [07:03] I'm like, all right, but I'm pretty smart. I'm a 1250 on SAT. I think I can do this, Fox. [07:10] He's like, do you wanna go to the NFL or you wanna, [07:14] Go to school to play football. [07:17] I was like, I want to go to school to play football. [07:19] And it kind of changed my whole outlook. And West Virginia with Coach Rod, Gibby, and Coach Bird at the time, I knew they was first year coaches. [07:28] And I was their first recruiting class. So I just put two and two together. I'm like, all right. [07:34] I can go up here. And the visit was unbelievable. [07:37] Why? [07:38] Unbelievable. [07:41] And, um... [07:43] Thank you. [07:43] Thank you. [07:45] So when I went up there, I got to meet Coach Rod. I got to go around Morgantown.

[07:50] Gotta go to a couple frat parties. I'm like, [07:54] Um, this is a little different. All white, you know, maybe besides the football players at that time. Yeah. [08:02] But the love and... [08:05] Everything else was there. [08:07] Like, [08:08] I was probably only four or five starters they had at that time. [08:12] So I'm like, fuck it, I'm out of here. You know what I mean? And my grandma was sick at that time too. And she was like, look, [08:19] I don't want you to stay in Atlanta. [08:21] Mm-hmm. [08:21] So I'm like, you don't want me to stay in Atlanta. I'm the reason why I was going to Georgia Tech, because you're going through lung cancer, and you can come see me play. [08:29] And, um... [08:31] When she told me that [08:32] it kind of kicked in like she really wanted to get away from all of the energy around here. [08:37] And... [08:39] That was it, bro. [08:41] or end up [08:42] going to West Virginia and [08:45] and wrote a story. You know what I mean? You sure did. [08:49] You sure did. So I went to UNC. I'm a Tar Heel. [08:52] So you're saying that if UNC could have got enough bag, we could have got a look? [08:56] Is that what I'm saying? [08:57] You know what I'm saying? Could have definitely got to look. Actually, they offered me. [09:01] Because I was all into the Sky Blue, the Jordans, and all of that. [09:06] And it just football wise, it wasn't that when I went to the visit, the whole campus was quiet as hell. [09:13] Like, I don't know which one was more quieter, UNC or Duke. Like, I took a visit to Duke, too.

[09:20] Well, you didn't need that one. [09:22] Yeah, I wasn't doing that. But I did need you to be a Tar Heel. But at UVA, man, or at West Virginia, you, again, [09:31] Broke records. Like, I say this... [09:34] One of the best competitors I know is you. [09:37] Right. Again, if you can compete, if there's a way to win, I'm putting my money on pack every time because that's who you are. Again, Mr. Go get it. You're going to go get it every time. [09:48] What was that like? [09:50] Going from dominating a high school in Atlanta... [09:52] To then saying, all right, now I'm almost with some grown men up here at West Virginia and just dominating there from literally day one, bro. [10:02] My mindset was I'm three and out of here. I told them that time I got there and everybody was looking at me crazy because nothing was happening like that in West Virginia. And you got to realize I played with grown men. [10:12] Like, I've always played upper age group. Like, I really never played with my age group, except in high school, I guess I'll say. [10:20] But like, [10:21] I've always played with guys that are older than me. Like growing up in the projects, when we playing basketball, like I was probably the only kid [10:29] that was fucking 10 years old that was out playing with guys that's 17, 18 years old and still giving them buckets. [10:35] still making moves. [10:37] So my mindset was like, shit, if I can do this here, [10:41] This can't be that hard because all of them are way better. [10:44] than the guys I'm going to play against. Only reason why they are not there is because they don't have the grades to go. [10:49] Or they didn't pass SAT.

[10:51] So like my mindset have always been like kill or be killed, period, point blank, like [10:56] put in the word, [10:58] Prepare yourself. [11:00] Watch your film. [11:01] And everything else will take care of itself. Like, I didn't even live wakes in high school, bro. [11:06] Never touch the weight. [11:08] When I went to West Virginia, I had Mike Bars as my strength coach, which is one of the best strength coaches in the world. If it was up to me, I would put him at number one. [11:17] Okay. [11:18] he would make you think you could run through a fucking brick wall. I mean, it wasn't no limit. [11:23] to how we beat it up our body. [11:25] to make sure that we can perform like. [11:28] In high school, I was fast. I ran like 10.7. [11:32] Man, after my first year of college, [11:35] They start calling me Lightning. And I would come back home, [11:38] And like the kids like Travis Maroney is a good example. [11:42] He was just fast as hell. A little older than me. [11:45] Same grade, but just didn't have the grades. Got kept back once or twice. He's running 10 fives. [11:51] I would make it my interest. Like, when I get back home, I'm calling. Hey, yo, where you at, bro? [11:55] Like, what's up? Allow him to race. [11:58] And the reason why I was doing that mindset was I wanted to show them like, [12:02] Look at all this work I done put in in one year. And I'm talking about not just beat him. [12:08] I beat him with some room, you get what I'm saying?

[12:14] You come back from there, you're like, damn, this shit really is working. [12:17] Yeah. Yeah, that's always that's always been. [12:21] Be in my mindset, bro. Like, never let nobody outwork you no matter what you're doing. Like, you're going to have ups and downs through the situation. [12:28] Bye-bye. [12:29] The work ethic, like you can't judge that. Like you can't, you can't, you can't, two things you can't judge. [12:35] Work at it in speed. [12:36] Like, [12:37] Some guys got a motor, some guys don't. [12:40] But if you work, [12:41] you eventually have a motor. [12:43] Some guys got speed naturally. [12:46] Or you have to put in the work to get faster. [12:48] But [12:49] That's always been my motto is like, [12:52] If I don't let them outwork me, they can't beat me. [12:55] And that's, again... [12:57] Why I say I separate you from almost everybody that I know is [13:02] because of that mantra right there, like your draft year. [13:06] Right again, I've always been a huge pack fan, like from day one. I told people the best player in this draft is going to be packed. The person that's going to make impact day one is going to be packing. Everybody's like. [13:17] Why? And I said, you're looking at a skill set, which is great. [13:21] But what I can tell you is he will be the most prepared person [13:25] moment one to make an impact in the NFL. [13:28] And they're like, how can you say that? I'm like, [13:30] you're not looking at his journey. You're not looking at the work he's put in because the results just don't happen. [13:36] because you're the fastest. There's always going to be somebody tomorrow that's going to be faster. [13:40] But the way he prepares, the way he studies...

[13:44] you're not seeing that and that's going to separate. And it proved with your career, right? Like, you know, how many people did you see [13:51] as teammates, as rivals or whatever, that aren't willing to put in that work. [13:55] It was like, oh, [13:56] they'll be out in two or three years because there's a certain thing. Like talk about that with you, like how, [14:02] preparation became [14:04] a skill set for you too. Well, [14:07] Preparation was number one at West Virginia. [14:10] It was like, you're going to be prepared. Coach Gaby was like, you're going to watch film. [14:14] We're gonna go down here and run these hills. You're gonna go to this weight room and spend [14:19] half of the day in the weight room and like, [14:22] But like, [14:23] Me coming from the inner city, [14:27] and always having to prove myself. Because you know, I'm 5'9", bro. Like 180 pounds at the most, 185 I say. [14:34] Yeah. [14:35] So I had to be [14:37] First of all, physically prepared. [14:40] Second of all, mentally, [14:42] and [14:43] I came from [14:44] being the number one running back in the state of georgia [14:47] to get into West Virginia and be like, hey, look, we really want you to go play defense because we've got a kid named Avon Coburn. [14:53] That was Biggie's player of the year, and there's no way. [14:56] we can start you up, man, but y'all can share carries. I'm like, ah, ah, ah. [15:00] Fuck that Sharon Carey shit. I ain't with that. I'm trying to be three and done. That was my whole mindset. Three years in West Virginia, [15:08] And I'm out of here. [15:09] And I asked Coach Real, like, yo, can you let me do punt return, kick return? [15:14] He's like, yeah, I'll let you do that, but you got to go over and play on the other side of the ball if you want to have a chance to be a day one starter.

[15:21] And like, [15:22] I did it. [15:24] And really... [15:27] It wasn't that big of a change because all of this hips and turnings, you know what I mean? [15:32] So me being a running back, I had good feet. Me playing basketball, I knew how to back pedal. You know what I mean? I know how to cut people off to whatever side they're going to. So I kind of just used that. I was like, fuck it. I'm just out here playing. I'm playing basketball. Let me see how long it's going to take him to get off the line. If I can hold him on the line. [15:49] or shadow him. [15:51] for [15:51] four or five seconds to play over with. The play only lasts eight seconds in the NFL. I mean, in college, NFL, or whatever it is, the average play is eight seconds. [16:00] So even that little tool like me using, [16:04] that right there for a whole different sport, I shall say. [16:08] - Yup. - Can tell you like how mentally, [16:12] I was preparing myself and like, [16:16] I would watch film, bro, like, [16:20] And I would go out, like... [16:21] I like the party, but in my house, I've never watched. I wasn't a movie guy. [16:27] I never played Madden. [16:29] Call of Duty. [16:31] Even growing up, I stayed outside. [16:34] to I had to go in the house, which when the street light came on. Besides that, [16:38] I'm doing two things. I'm out here running. [16:41] Kids are the route. [16:42] running against somebody [16:44] Playing basketball. [16:46] or Shunday's. [16:47] That was it. [16:49] Like I wasn't one of those kids that I was, I was, I did like fashion and all that, but that wasn't my main.

[16:55] mental when I was growing up and like, [16:59] I had a kid named Smitty on my team. [17:01] when we was playing AAU basketball, we had... [17:04] Rashad Caruth was the best player [17:07] that I ever seen in person at that time. [17:10] So I played up. [17:12] With Coach Knight, Team Georgia, we won three national championships. [17:16] And when he went to Kentucky, [17:19] I'm like, damn. [17:20] There's gotta be something like, [17:22] He should have been one and out, like how good he was. He was the only one that had a Puma commercial in high school. This was like a nerd of back then, bro. Yeah. And like this kid can shoot the ball from anywhere. [17:33] And... [17:34] Bye. [17:36] Why is he not wanting out? [17:38] come back home that summer and I'm asking them, [17:41] But I'm watching everything, too. I'm watching him. Like, what are you doing? How are you doing it? Is he taking it serious? [17:48] He's smoking. And I kind of took a little bit from everybody that I was around. [17:54] to change the shit that I didn't want [17:57] to be like, I already knew I want to be three and done. [18:00] You know what I mean? [18:01] So, like, I took a little bit from everything. His work ethic wasn't there, but he was an unbelievable player. [18:06] And I was like, this is, that's what it is. You can't let it. [18:10] the work ethic, catch up, because everybody is good. [18:13] everybody's good bro [18:15] What separates... [18:16] Good and great. [18:18] is worth it. [18:19] All day. [18:20] Pierre Blanc. [18:22] You can be the best kid right now in high school. You go to college.

[18:26] It's 10 of y'all. [18:28] Yep. [18:29] Some of them don't like the work. Some of them soft as a motherfucker. Some of them put in the work. And you can tell [18:36] Which ones? [18:37] put it in the work because it shines, it shows. You know what I mean? [18:41] It definitely shows in the long run. [18:43] And I think you're a testament to that. [18:46] Off the field, post-career. [18:48] Right. [18:49] You have that same mentality with what you're doing now the NFL is done. [18:54] Like, I actually think you get to be more the real Pac-Man, right? But you're doing it your way. And I think that that's critically important. You're not trying to be... [19:04] someone else. You're not trying to be what other people may want you to be. [19:08] I think this is my perception. You're like, Hey, [19:12] Y'all don't really know PAC or what you think you know about PAC. [19:15] I'm about to give you the real me. And that's what I love because you're putting in... [19:19] the work ethic to understand different things in media, to understand social more, to look at branding and brand partnerships. Like I've been so proud of you, bro. Like [19:30] when I see... [19:32] The... [19:34] the things you're doing during college football season, during NFL season, what the things you're doing when sports aren't even the topic, like you really getting to be you. [19:44] I'm just so damn proud of you, bro. I'm so proud. I appreciate it. I appreciate it. [19:49] I'm a big soaker. Like, I watch everything. Like, I watch... [19:54] People just think I'm just...

[19:56] A guy that smoked weed and drink, which is a great perception. If y'all want to think that, ha, shame on you. You didn't read the whole fucking book. You just read the cover. [20:05] But like, I watch trends, I watch stuff that's going on, NIL with kids and like, [20:11] At this day and time, [20:13] That same NIL that we're talking about that the kids are getting right now, [20:17] Guess who else getting it? The grown-ups too. [20:19] If you know how to use it. [20:21] So, [20:22] marketing yourself [20:24] believing in yourself, [20:25] And like, [20:26] Yeah, if I can change anything, bro, it's a couple things I could change. [20:32] And I talk about that when you ask me. [20:35] but [20:36] As a person, [20:38] Me, I know who I am. I'm loving and caring. [20:41] Like, [20:42] Do I got a temper? Yeah, but that come with being a little bit competitive. Can I turn it down sometimes? Yeah, I can. Is my words always right the way I want to say it when I'm... [20:52] hot [20:53] Maybe not sometimes. [20:55] But [20:56] passion that comes with [20:58] the territory of what I've been doing my whole life. I've been hitting fucking people my whole life, since five years old. So my mental is a whole lot different. It's down there like a person going to war. [21:10] Like your mental is going to be different, like period, point blank, like regardless of what anybody say, like because you only have a flight or flight or fight mode. [21:21] You get what I'm saying? And now it's like, all right, [21:25] I can go fight or flight, but I just need to know, all right, sometimes I got to turn the light off.

[21:30] And you might say you've got a temper. [21:34] But I think what you really have is a discernment of people. [21:38] And PAC is never going to let somebody take advantage of you. No. And you also-- I don't give a damn if it's the police, the mayor, the governor. Right. [21:48] Like I'm standing on business right or wrong. [21:52] If I think I'm right... [21:54] I'm standing on business. [21:56] And that's what I think it is. I don't think it's a temper. I think... [22:00] what you're really good at blessing or a curse is, [22:04] you know the true intent and you're just cutting the intent off early, right? Like you're not going to let somebody mess with you for an extended period of time. It's like, nah, if I see that this is what this person wants or this entity wants, like I'm just going to cut it off right now. [22:18] I actually think it's a great skill set, bro. [22:20] Well, you know, [22:22] I do too, but sometimes it bites me in my ass. But for the most part, [22:27] So it's been pretty good to me. [22:30] Yep. [22:30] So now let's talk about it though. [22:33] If you could change something. [22:35] And I'm not going to call it a regret. I'm going to say change. Like, what's something you would have changed or done differently? [22:41] Knowing what you know now. [22:43] Once I got to the league, you know, [22:46] I didn't know how much of a business it was. [22:50] like, [22:51] Yeah, you're the first defensive player pick, but this is business. And my buddy Keith Bullock was trying to tell me that early on. [23:00] you know,

[23:00] Ain't going to be young this whole time. I'm like, yeah, I am. Shit. I'm going to play until I'm 40. You know what I mean? Which I could probably have. I fucking retired at 34, 35, 35. [23:10] And that was on my own. It wasn't like teams wasn't calling me. [23:15] But like, [23:16] I wish that like [23:18] If I could change anything, [23:19] I would have had a better circle around me as far as [23:26] making sure that I knew that it was a business. I don't know if I'm saying it right, but like, you know, you signed a $42 million deal, [23:33] 28 million up front the next day you wake up you got 12 million dollars in your bank account [23:38] which I did have some good financial people around me. I put five of that up. So where you can't touch it to 35. [23:45] So like I had some good advice, but when it comes to like, all right, um, [23:51] Prime himself. I shouldn't have never left Tennessee. I should have stayed there. That was my decision. [23:56] Like I went and told Fisher like, [23:58] I won't be traded. [23:59] And because all of the, I was just too, [24:02] At that time, [24:03] Nashville was, it wasn't a hunky-tonk town. It wasn't a party town. [24:08] It was all whites. [24:10] Period, point blank. And I ain't going to sugar cut it in the net. [24:13] If you was white around a Lamborghini, you was cool. [24:17] in an [24:17] - I hear our Lamborghinis and Bentleys. It was a problem. And at that time, [24:23] I just didn't understand that coming from Atlanta, coming from West Virginia shit. [24:28] You ride whatever the fuck you want. I was the first person in West Virginia with a Louis Vuitton top.

[24:32] at 18 years old, and the 70 SS Monte Carlo with the 454 in there. So like, this is new to me. [24:40] Right. This is new to me now that I got a bang. I can't [24:44] do like move how I wanted to move. [24:46] which, [24:48] was ludicrous. A lot of that shit that happened in Tennessee, man, was just because [24:53] I was a young black, [24:55] flamboyant [24:56] And politely wrong, [24:58] I would say. [24:59] person. [25:00] Yeah. [25:01] I'm the one, hey, bro, you got a book in your nose. I'm like, oh, damn, why you couldn't wait to tell me? Nah, bro, I'm telling you right now so you don't have to walk around and fucking let everybody see the book in your nose. [25:10] And like, [25:11] I just think I was a little bit [25:13] too fast for the culture in Nashville, like when I was there. But [25:17] going back to what you said, change, if I could change anything, I would just, [25:21] I would change that little circle when it comes to [25:25] the business part because I was [25:28] You know, it's hard. [25:29] to [25:30] Look up to somebody. [25:31] when you seen your daddy get killed in front of you. [25:34] And when you're going through the hardest times, you ain't got nobody. [25:37] Now when I get all my money, everybody want to come around. [25:40] And like, that was the part that I didn't understand. I'm like, why would I fucking listen to these people? Where have these people been? Like my first time, [25:49] 20 years of my life. [25:50] Yeah. Like, [25:52] And now that I look back, like maybe one or two of them, [25:56] I could have listened to it. The rest of them was full of shit. [25:58] But. [25:59] Um, [26:01] That circle.

[26:03] is very pivotal. I'm saying like I truly believe in [26:09] You are what you hang around. [26:11] Absolutely. [26:12] Period, point blank. Like, yeah, you can have your homeboys, you can have your friends. It's a time and place for that. But like, [26:18] Surround yourself with [26:19] Either [26:20] What you want [26:21] or someone that's got what you got. [26:24] You know what I mean? Because if you don't, it's always going to be a little hate. [26:29] And if somebody don't have the, I ain't gonna say the means because like, [26:34] If you got the hustle and you got the work ethic, [26:38] You can get to where we are right now. [26:42] But like, [26:43] If you just hang around anybody and not really paying attention to the details, [26:48] I think it starts to grow. [26:51] For sure. [26:52] And again, another testament to Pac-Man is this. [26:56] I also know the business of football. [26:59] And if you didn't become that circle for other people, [27:02] you personally would not have had as long a career as you did, right? Like you became a locker room glue person and you became the person that teams were like, you talked about it. You chose to retire, but you had, [27:14] people still calling you. [27:16] Talk to us about that evolution of PAC of going from [27:19] The person needing the circle [27:21] to the person that now was a part of the circle for others. Well, I've always been a part of the circle for others. Like, [27:30] I took kids. [27:31] that didn't even have a scholarship to West Virginia to stay with me, that stayed in my projects. Like one of my

[27:37] two of my closest friends, you know what I mean? Because I was trying to show them something different. And in the locker room, I really believe lead by example. Once you lead by example, [27:47] Then you own the circle. [27:49] If I go out and I take a fucking limo all the way back from Magic City on Monday to be at the stadium. [27:56] at 6:30. [27:58] And we ain't got to be there till 8 o'clock. [28:00] like, [28:01] I do. [28:03] He did all that, this motherfucker, sleep in the park lot. [28:06] But I'm the first one in the weight room. [28:09] 250 on the squash, 300, 400, 450. [28:12] So like, I think [28:15] The reason why I got a chance in every locker room I've been in, I've been [28:19] pretty much [28:20] The guy. [28:21] Mm-hmm. [28:23] might be some guys getting paid more than me in a certain position, but when we're talking about [28:29] relationships, talking, sitting there bonding, [28:33] Like I've always been the guy, Hey Pat, what'd you think about that? Hey Pat, what'd you think about that? Hey Pat, what'd you think about that? Hey Pat, what you doing in this situation? Hey Pat, how is this right there? How is that right there? And you, you'd be surprised, man. Like, [28:46] How many guys... [28:47] Women is probably the biggest questions. [28:50] in the locker room. [28:51] A lot of guys, you know, [28:53] Haven't really had [28:55] "No girls until they got some money." That's the crazy thing about it. [29:00] It's some of the biggest names. [29:01] and [29:02] have two touchdowns. Go, Bar. [29:05] You're dating Kim Kardashian. [29:07] laughs

[29:09] And I grew up [29:11] I [29:13] And everybody know like Magic City is like the real club. [29:15] like a club to us in Atlanta. [29:19] All this shit they have right now with... [29:21] Girls going wild. I did that shit in college. Literally. We had six girls standing in my house. We had mud parties every Friday, beer kegs, everything. [29:32] Right. [29:32] I've done all that shit. Like, so [29:35] You can't. [29:36] You don't know until you know, like, [29:40] And I ain't trying to say everything, but like- [29:43] I grew up in an era where [29:46] It was popping. I grew up in that [29:49] that era, that big Meage, you know, Young Jesus one, [29:53] When... [29:54] It was okay to go to the club and spend $20,000. [29:58] Honestly, I put off building a website way longer than I should have. Then I tried Wix Harmony and it was way easier than I expected. [30:07] I just described what I wanted, and I had an incredible-looking website. The best part? I could change anything myself or ask my AI agent for help. [30:17] I had everything my business needed right there. So if you've been procrastinating, this is your sign. Start building a website for free at Wix.com slash Harmony. Like, that was my error. Like, I understood, like, all right. [30:33] I know this is not going to last for long, but let's go ahead and enjoy what we can. You know what I mean? Yeah. And, like, I had a lot of teammates, like, bro, how in the hell –

[30:42] Do you just cut it on and cut it off? I'm like, bro. [30:45] Same way. [30:46] We get paid to perform. You got to turn the light switch on. [30:50] Sometimes you got to turn it off. [30:52] Like, [30:52] And I've always... [30:54] Always been like that, bro. [30:56] That's just been my mentality of work hard, play hard, [31:01] Sometimes you gotta turn it off. [31:04] Absolutely. [31:05] Absolutely. Man, I could talk with you forever. I know you got stories. [31:09] that are going crazy. We might have to do a part two where we just do story time with Uncle Pac. Oh, I got some stories. A lot of stories. [31:16] But I would be remiss if I didn't give you props and give you your flowers for this. [31:21] Again, people [31:23] that no... [31:24] the real Pac-Man, that no Pac that you allow to know you [31:28] I will say this. [31:30] One of the greatest fathers, one of the greatest mentors. Like, Pac does so much in the community that he does not talk about. [31:37] Yeah. [31:39] Because you genuinely care about kids, man. And like, I want to give you just the floor to talk about the things that you do. [31:45] in the community or the things that you do for kids, man, because [31:50] That's my calling. That's my calling. Like, [31:53] I was one of those kids who lost his dad early. [31:56] Stayed with my grandma. [31:59] Oh. [32:00] I ain't gonna, we wasn't hurting though. I'll say that. Like my grandma, we was the bootleggers. So like everything went through 146, which was our apartment number. [32:11] I seen her work so hard, bro.

[32:14] and try to do everything to provide for us. [32:17] But like, [32:18] I've seen other kids in Boat Rock or Banquet, [32:23] that didn't have that. [32:24] who dad was gone away, who dad was incarcerated, who mama was a crackhead. [32:29] Like, [32:30] I've seen a lot of shit [32:33] during my younger age that was just so crazy. [32:37] that I'd be like, damn, if I was back, [32:41] as an adult. [32:44] I would have grabbed him. You know what I mean? I didn't have the means to grab him. [32:48] But now, like, I truly think that my calling are the kids. Like, if I can help... [32:55] And you know you can't help everybody, but [32:58] My relationship, like, here, [33:00] I take care of them. There are 40 kids. [33:03] We traveled all the way around the country to play football. My best friend passed away. [33:08] I had all his kids here. I got my own kids who I love dearly. [33:13] But like my true calling, [33:15] is I think [33:17] with the kids. The reason why I'm saying this is because I'm vulnerable. [33:20] I'm not scared to... [33:22] Amit when I make a mistake. [33:24] I would say [33:26] See you on the news yesterday. Yeah. [33:29] I shouldn't have been drinking. I had a little bit too much to drink. That's why you don't need to drink. And yeah, I just told him to fuck off. And he got mad. So he locked me up. [33:38] Mm-hmm. [33:39] And some parents are not willing [33:42] to admit their mistakes because they don't want to be shamed on, I guess. But I live in the glass house. Like everything I do, if I go outside right now and take a piss,

[33:53] It's going to be on Channel 5, 2, 12, 11, and 19. [33:56] So, [33:57] I've used [33:59] kind of switch their narrative. [34:01] Like, all right. [34:04] I can touch every kid because everybody's going to make a mistake. [34:08] Somebody, during your journey of life, you're going to make some mistakes. [34:12] Yeah. But [34:13] If you can capitalize off the mistakes, [34:16] and flip some of those into a positive. And even if you don't, [34:20] And you have to go through something. But you come back out fighting. [34:23] That's the definition of a man. That's the definition of a winner. You get what I'm saying? It's just like playing a game. You ain't going to win every football game. You are going to get a flag sometimes for whatever the cause may be. [34:37] But at the end of the day, [34:39] You gotta have a quick, [34:42] I got to forget about the last play. [34:45] And I ain't saying that in everything. Like, some things I'm like, God damn, Pat, why you just couldn't shut the fuck up? But... [34:52] Most of the things you'd be like, all right, I know what this is. I know how they trying to make this be. [34:58] for instance I use the example in Dallas you know [35:03] I'm minding my own business. I get approached. [35:06] by a Mexican guy. He was pretty drunk. [35:10] Call me out my name. Boom, boom, boom, boom. [35:12] This is [35:13] So I said, hey, bro, you got two more times to do this or we're going to step outside. I'm going to beat your motherfucking ass. [35:21] I won't. Here comes the police. I'm like, yo, you need to get him. Stop fucking talking to me.

[35:26] He called me da-da-da-da. [35:28] And so he went to do this. I smacked his hand down. [35:31] Here I go. [35:32] - - - [35:32] Straight to jail. [35:34] Yeah. [35:35] And I do this from the officer in Dallas. Oh, now you're assaulting the officer. [35:39] - Yeah. [35:40] A week, two weeks later, everything gets dismissed. [35:43] But, [35:44] on the news to make a headline. [35:47] Spray. Oh. [35:48] Here you go again. Da-da-da-da-da-da-da. [35:50] You just punch somebody in the club. We're just fucking a total false fucking accusation. [35:55] Yep. [35:56] So, [35:57] I'm... I'm... [36:00] I'm more vulnerable because I don't want my son. [36:03] and all these kids did. [36:04] that this. [36:06] I'm taking care of. [36:08] to not know how to play the game. [36:10] Mm. [36:11] Because the game is to be played regardless of what anybody say. [36:14] Like now I have to keep security with me everywhere I go. [36:17] Like I have to have a second opinion with me. [36:20] Right. [36:21] Like, I don't drive nowhere by myself. [36:23] Yep. [36:24] Like, [36:25] And it's sad, but like, [36:27] I ain't going to say I put myself in this situation, but... [36:31] For what it may be, I did have, I admit to the shit that I've done too. [36:35] But like, [36:37] You got to learn how to play the game. I got to have somebody with me at all times so I can have a second eye. [36:43] If not, I don't know what this person's intention of doing. [36:48] or what his narrative. [36:50] of doing about any situation. So [36:54] Like, that's my main thing, man. And I love kids, bro. Like,

[36:59] I want all these kids to be better than me. [37:02] Like, [37:03] All of them. Like, I... [37:05] I sponsored three, four football teams, soccer teams, [37:10] I had a gym [37:12] Over here where I'm at, but they didn't really understand the sports because we in like a whitey, whitey, whitey area. [37:18] So I'm opening up another gym. [37:22] not too far from like the middle of the city. So I can get back. It's going to be called D1 too. I'm doing it with D1. [37:30] But, yeah, man, my job... [37:33] is to be a sponge for the kids so they can soak up [37:36] everything I went through. [37:38] The good and the bad. [37:40] And [37:41] If you do it right, [37:43] It'll help you right you can take [37:46] These little pieces that I was taking from everybody. [37:50] and trying to build what I was trying to build. [37:53] Yeah, it'll help in the road. It'd be sad. Like some of these kids like [37:59] They only have a bed to sleep in, like up here where we at. [38:02] Mm-hmm. [38:03] You go over to the house just to deliver a Christmas gift and surprise them. Like, all right, I'm bringing you a PlayStation. Don't even know I'm coming. [38:10] and don't even want me to walk in. That's how bad the house is. You know what I mean? Yeah. I do. [38:17] thing called check in like, [38:19] With my players, I just pop up. You'll never know when I'll pop up. But I want to see what's in the refrigerator. [38:25] You would be surprised, bro. [38:27] When you... [38:28] see some of these kids.

[38:30] and where they're living [38:32] He might get out of it. [38:33] Damn. [38:35] Mike. [38:36] Thank you. [38:37] And the parents won't ask for help. [38:39] Because they don't want [38:41] All of that, nobody didn't know that shit. But I'm like, I'm a private person. Like, I'm not. [38:47] doing this to, first of all, I don't even like half of the shit that I do. I don't even tell the media. [38:52] Yeah. [38:53] Because then it looked like, oh, Pac trying to do this. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. [38:58] But you motherfuckers don't even know 90%. [39:02] But what I done gave, [39:03] or giving, [39:05] To the family. And I'm talking about Cincinnati-wise now, because I do a lot of stuff in Cincinnati. Yeah. And I still do a lot of stuff in Atlanta, too. But, like, yeah, y'all know about the bike drives and all that. I give 100 bikes away every Christmas. But y'all don't see everything else. [39:19] that I do. [39:21] on the daily. [39:22] when it comes to our community. [39:24] and helping these kids out. But I do that because I ain't have nobody to do it for me. And [39:30] I ain't saying that. [39:32] It ain't other people that is doing this, but like, [39:36] What I'm trying to do for the community and [39:39] You hear kids talk about it like, [39:41] A lot of... [39:42] Kids now. [39:44] you know, with social media, [39:45] NIL deal. [39:47] - Huh? [39:48] I've had [39:49] "Hey man, do you mind me talking about what you did for me?" [39:53] To a certain extent, yeah, but to a certain extent, no, because I didn't do it for that. I did it for you to be where you were. Now you got a full ride at the University of Kentucky.

[40:01] Now you're getting paid $250,000. [40:04] Now you're getting paid a million dollars. [40:07] Now you got an Adidas deal. [40:08] Like, [40:09] That's why those, you know, those are stories people don't know about you, man. And again, I'm not I'm not going to go into the details of it, but. [40:17] That's why I fucking love you, bro. [40:18] - Yeah. [40:19] Like to see what you do with intention. [40:21] I think that's what people miss. [40:23] Because you know it's the truth. There's a lot of... [40:27] People, people, [40:28] That do it for the attention. Yeah. And they only do it when the cameras are around or the phones are out. Right. Like you see it. I see it. [40:35] You do it with intention, man. And most of it goes unseen. And that's why I freaking love it because you don't care. You care about the person on the other end. And that's what matters. Yeah, I do, man. I just did a thing for Christmas. [40:49] um, [40:50] My group, shout out to Val, [40:53] We was talking about, all right, we're going to go down and get the homeless. [40:56] some coats and feed them food. I'm like, they don't want no fucking coats and food. [41:01] Yeah. [41:01] They want some money. Right. [41:04] Let's go and get $10,000 out the bank and give every last one of them $10. [41:09] There you go. [41:09] It may be a blanket. [41:11] The fool. [41:12] They don't really care about the food. They're going to find the food. Now, what they do with the money, that's on them. [41:17] I can't control what they do because that's not why I'm doing it. [41:20] I'm doing it because this is out of the kindness of my heart. And hey, maybe one of y'all might take advantage of this. [41:28] Maybe one of y'all won't. [41:30] But like, that's the reason, like,

[41:33] while I do certain things the way I do it. And like, [41:37] My team be on my ass. Like, bro, why don't you just tell people what you're doing? And I'm like, no. Like, no. How about that? [41:43] No. [41:44] I'm not about that. Certain shit I will tell them, you know what I mean, when it comes to organizations and stuff like that. But me personally, my intent, [41:53] Both. [41:54] doing it is because I come from this. I come from the struggle. I come from [41:59] Not having. [42:01] Shit, I've come from a people around me not having shit. [42:04] You know what I mean? And like, [42:07] You never know, bro. Like, I got this one family. [42:11] That was pretty bad. [42:13] And [42:14] The mama's just like, I just need to get over to her. I was like, what's it going to take to get over to her? [42:18] She went, "Well, my rent is $420." [42:21] I said, all right. [42:23] So what are you saying it's going to take for you to get over the hump? [42:26] She's like, just maybe help me out for a month. And I won't say the people name. [42:30] And, um, [42:31] I paid a rent for the whole year. [42:33] All right, so you can keep every one of your chicks [42:35] I pay your rent for the whole year. [42:37] And now she is working for a Fortune 500 company. [42:42] the move from the house that she's in, [42:45] Got our own little side cleaning business. [42:48] And that's what we're doing it for, bro. [42:50] And no, you don't owe me shit. Like, this is like, [42:55] This is what somebody, this is what I got to see. [42:59] Right. From some of the kids that I had a chance to play with that was pretty wealthy.

[43:04] because I was playing sports that was doing for me. [43:07] The Kiaron Fox dad, like taking me like APEC. [43:11] Let's help you get over the hump. So... [43:14] That's why I do it, bro. Like, because without... [43:17] The families that I've had that's been in my life, [43:20] I wouldn't be in the same situation. [43:22] I agree. [43:23] I agree. [43:25] Man, I know you're busy. I know you got to run. [43:27] I'm going to get you out of here with my rapid fire quick five. [43:30] Rapid fire. [43:31] You ready? - Yeah. [43:32] All right. [43:33] Favorite NFL city to play in? [43:37] Miami. [43:39] All right. [43:40] Your favorite flavor of wings from Magic City. Hot sprinkled with lemon pepper. [43:45] There you go. [43:47] The best teammate you ever had. [43:49] Montez Burfield. [43:51] Greatest NFL player of all time. [43:57] Lawrence Taylor. [43:58] Love it. Most overrated NFL player, according to Pac-Man. [44:04] Most overrated NFL of all time. Of all time. [44:09] All time. However you want to give it to me. I don't care. Right now, all time. Everybody. [44:17] All time. Steve Smith. [44:20] laughter [44:23] We'll let you tell why on episode two. How about that? I'm with that. [44:29] Pat, bro, [44:31] Love you like a brother. You are my brother. [44:34] You already know this, but if there's ever anything I can do, I'm here.

[44:39] um, [44:40] This has been an honor just to spend time with you, bro. And I appreciate you for having me, man. And I hope this is good. [44:46] Get to. [44:47] somebody, you know what I mean, that might need this. You know what I mean? And mental health is real. I want to say that before we get off here, bro. [44:54] Make sure y'all checking on your mail. Like it's okay to talk to somebody. [44:58] We all go through something to get to something. [45:01] I'm a big mental health guy. My family is big and bipolar. [45:06] disorder. [45:08] So like, [45:09] Check on yourself and it's okay to go get checked in to check on yourself. It's okay to talk to somebody. [45:15] and express how you feel. [45:17] So don't put no shame, guilt, and don't [45:21] Don't be scared to be vulnerable when you're going... [45:23] and talking to these people. [45:25] And tell the truth, because that's the only way you're going to get some help. [45:28] I love it. [45:29] I love it. [45:30] Ladies and gentlemen, this has been Pac-Man Jones. And always remember, your because is your superpower. [45:36] Go Unleash It. [45:38] That's another powerful conversation on Mick Unplugged. If this episode moved you, and I'm sure it did, follow the show wherever you listen. Share it with someone who needs that spark and leave a review so more people can find their because. I'm Rudy Rush, and until next time, stay driven, stay focused, and stay unplugged. [46:01] you [46:05] How did you get your website to look like that? Mine's so basic. Thanks. I just used Wix Harmony. Sounds fancy. What's that? It's Wix's AI website builder. You can just tell it what you want, and it builds you a whole site. So it's like vibe coding a website?

[46:22] Exactly, but even better, because you can still click and edit anything by hand. You don't have to use prompts for everything. Oh, that's neat. Yeah, try it for free at Wix.com slash Harmony. Okay, real talk. Shopping doesn't always boost your confidence. Sometimes you just want to put something on and think, yes, this is me. That's why Stitch Fix works. You take a quick style quiz, size, budget, what you're into, and a real human stylist sends pieces picked just for you. [46:52] Everything on at home. Keep what you love. Send back the rest. Shipping's free. No subscription required. Get $20 off at stitchfix.com slash podcast. [47:03] Bye.