Free Press sports writers Dave Birkett and Carlos Monarrez preview the Detroit Lions’ game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Carlos Monarrez and Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press
Get to know Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin in five questions:
What was the most memorable Christmas gift you got as a kid?
“Oh man, probably a remote control truck. Or my Joe Montana football uniform. I don’t even remember how old I was, I just know I was a kid and I got a San Francisco uniform with the little helmet and the little pads. I used to sleep in it, too.
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And the truck?
“I just had got a red remote control like Power Wheels truck. It was dope.”
How did you decide on the names of your kids?
“Well, the first one was just kind of like a name that I always kind of liked. Dacquan. I just kind of liked that name, and we was having a boy, so my wife liked it as well, so she was like OK. So then, his name started with a D, and then my second son, when he came, it was kind of like another name that (started with a D), Daveion. And then my last son, his name is Darian. So once we had the Ds going, we just kept rolling with the Ds.”
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What was your first job?
“My first job was I used to pick blueberries at a blueberry orchard. It’s not great. My first like job like (a real job) would have been Burger King.
“It was a big farm, big blueberry thing, and I used to go put the net thing under the (bush) and like shake the vine and all the blueberries would fall off. It was awful. It wasn’t like hard, but it’s just like awful.
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How much does a job like that pay?
“I don’t even remember, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. (I did it for) a couple weeks in the summer, then I left that alone and had to go get a real job. I was in high school, I think. Maybe middle school. It wasn’t like a job where like I had to fill out an application. They had a form and he needed somebody, so (I did it).”
Who’s the best player in the NBA?
“LeBron. No question.”
That’s a popular debate in the locker room.
“Yeah, LeBron. Well, this is the thing, I know they always try to talk about it or whatever, but I don’t feel like one year constitutes to the best. So for LeBron to be in Year 14, 15, whatever he is, and to still be playing at this high of a level, every single night, when you know the other teams are trying to take him out, stop him, is impressive. Anybody can have one good year. But 15? And to still be doing it at this level, come on. He’s the best.”
What’s the most important piece of advice your parents gave you?
“Hmmm. My dad used to always tell me, I’ll go with the second version of it, my dad used to always tell me to use your head for more than a hat rack. So basically, think. Think about (things), be smart. Use your brain. I won’t say the other version of it.”
And do you share that with your kids now?
“I definitely tell them the same thing, use your head for more than a hat rack. When they get a little older I’ll tell them the second part of it.”
Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!
