Ravens offensive guard Ben Grubbs caught up with BR.com and talked about what drew him into public administration in college, who he looked up to growing up and what he's doing for Halloween this year.
BR.com: If you could have dinner with three people, who would you choose?
"It would probably be Dr. Martin Luther King, my deceased dad and Denzel Washington."
How do you plan to use your public administration degree in the future?
"I'm not sure yet. I'm into politics, but I don't know if I really want to go that route. It was a great plan before I got drafted, so I have a Plan B if needed. Right now, I just want to, hopefully, have a long career and be with the family so I don't have to do too much but take care of them. But if I get bored, maybe I'll do something with it."
What was it about public administration that drew you to that field of study?
"I was fascinated about different laws. I've always been interested in politics and how to regulate a city or a state, or even a country."
Basketball season is just around the corner. Do you follow it much?
"If I find myself flipping through the channels, and I see something on, I'll watch it. If I had to pick a favorite team, it would probably be the Lakers. I'm a Kobe Bryant fan, and I was such a fan when Shaq was there that it just stuck with me."
What's the best nickname anyone has given you?
"Growing up when I played baseball, they called me 'Big Hurt' after Frank Thomas, who was also an Auburn guy."
Who did you look up to as a kid?
"My mom is definitely a shoe-in. Other than that, it was my high school coach [Travis Pearson]. He took the father figure role in my life."
Did you have an athlete you tried to emulate?
"I wasn't as big when I was younger, so I was more of an athlete back in the day. I liked Emmitt Smith and L.T. [Lawrence Taylor] playing linebacker because I was a fullback/running back and linebacker."
Who is the best athlete you've ever played with or against?
"Probably Carnell [Cadillac] Williams, the running back."
What kind of music do you listen to before a game?
"That morning, I like to listen to either gospel or R&B, something slow to calm me down. Leading up to the game, within an hour of the game, I'm going rap to get me pumped up."
Do you have any big Halloween plans this year?
"I stay in my neighborhood, a little small community, so I'll probably get some candy and make sure the kids have some if they knock on my door."
What did you do for Halloween as a kid?
"We had a little Halloween festival at our school where you knew that it was safe to go around to different booths and get candy. We'd have a haunted hayride and stuff like that, so that was pretty cool."
What is the best costume you've ever worn?
"I haven't done anything recently, but probably a pirate."
Which candy was your favorite to get as a kid?
"Oh man, Kit Kat bars."
What was the worst?
"The Hershey's chocolate, just pure chocolate. I don't like just pure chocolate."
