NFLRUSH

Roberto Garza

Roberto Garza Antonio Gates Gary Baxter

NFLRUSH: You went through six weeks of intense prep to get to where you are right now in week 4 of the NFL season. It must be very tough. Can you tell kids what Training Camp is like to get you to this point?

ROBERTO: Man, it is the toughest time of the year. At training camp, I worked out a lot everyday, went to meetings, studied playbooks and watched film (of the Bears in action).
The team works at having good chemistry and focuses on technique. Training camp is incredibly demanding on the body, so you really have to be in shape and be physically strong and fit. We practice one or two times a day for 3 hours at a time. There's lots of competition among the players so each guy must be ready. The coaches are watching - so the work you did during the off-season has to show.

NFLRUSH: Roberto, what can you recommend that kids do right at home to stay fit?

ROBERTO: Stay active. Shoot baskets, throw a football with a friend, do what you like to do - skateboard, whatever it is. But, if you want to get better at a sport, you have to practice. Even professionals, like me, practice all the time. Brian Urlacher (the Bears superstar linebacker) comes to every practice ready to work. Even though he's one of the best linebackers in the League he works as hard as he can to get better, to be his personal best!

NFLRUSH: After you started working out and eating better when you were a kid, were there benefits in school from being in good shape and feeling better? Do you think a healthy lifestyle for kids helps outside of sports?

ROBERTO: I definitely felt better in school when I got into good shape. I focused more on tests and studied better. It was like playing football - you have to focus on the practice, on every game and on every play in the game. You prepare and try to do your best. It's just like in class. Also, eating well and being fit keeps you alert. Football teaches people lessons that are valuable off the field and in school, everyday. It teaches you to respect your elders - your teachers and parents and classmates - just as in football you respect your coaches and the other players.

NFLRUSH: After all your daily working out and exercise, you must wake up in the morning and be pretty hungry. What do you eat most days for breakfast? Lay it on us?

ROBERTO: Ok, let's see. Most mornings I have cereal with red berries, usually Special K (which has no sugar). Then two wheat pancakes, an egg-white omelet and orange juice. That's breakfast!

NFLRUSH: Wow that's a big breakfast! Alright, Roberto, let's have some stats - how many sit-ups can you do? And how about push-ups?

ROBERTO: Ha! Situps - I know I can do 50. And, pushups, definitely 50 also.

Thanks Roberto! We're going to check up on you during the season to get our Roberto Garza fitness update! Good luck this weekend, you've got a tough game ahead of you.