DARIAN DURANT

Riders quarterback Darian Durant looking for an open receiver during the second half of Saturday's game against the host Calgary Stampeders.
Photograph by: Todd Korol, Reuters

As a regular feature, StarPhoenix sports reporter Cory Wolfe gets personal with a sports figure. Today, Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant gets cornered.

The SP: Much has been made of John Chick's hit on Henry Burris when the Calgary pivot was down. Do you side with your teammate or the quarterback fraternity on this one?

Durant: Oh, man. That's tough. I probably would have to go with my teammate on this one. I don't think that the hit was that violent so I would have to go with Chick.

The SP: So you'd be willing to absorb a similar hit from B.C.'s Brent Johnson this weekend? You know, like a sacrifice for the team?

Durant: I can't sit here and say that it would be easy to absorb as a quarterback because I know that it wasn't necessarily a small-type hit. But at the same time, this isn't touch football. Guys are going to get hit.

The SP: Well said. OK, I know of at least one little girl in Saskatchewan named Darian. Kids in the province are named after you! How's that for pressure?

Durant: Oh, man. That is (pressure). First of all, I feel blessed to even be in a position where someone has their name after me -- that I'm important to them. That's a big deal for me, but Saskatchewan has enough pressure itself. I doubt if (the kid) was named after me, but Darian is a great name.

The SP: Have you ever worn a watermelon helmet? If not, why not?

Durant: I have not worn one, and I'd have to say it's because I've never had access to one.

The SP: You can make your own. It's just like carving a pumpkin, I think.

Durant: I don't have the patience for that. (Laughs)

The SP: What's the most ridiculous example of Rider Pride you've witnessed?

Durant: For people to be out there in freezing weather with no shirts on. I think that's insane.

The SP: You share a hometown (Florence, South Carolina) with former Riders receiver Joey Walters. Are you familiar with his work?

Durant: Oh, yeah. Definitely. I was inducted into the Florence Athletic Hall of Fame during the off-season and he was the keynote speaker. We got a chance to talk a lot and I found out a lot about the things he's done up here in Saskatchewan.

The SP: Riders running back Chris Szarka is seeking a seat on Regina's city council. Why not capitalize on your own popularity and run for mayor?

Durant: I think you have to be a citizen first, right? (Laughs) I'm working on that. Hopefully everyone that's involved with the Riders accepts me as the quarterback and I would love to make Saskatchewan home.

The SP: You have a reputation for being a straight shooter. A lot of athletes speak in clichés, but you speak very honestly. Where does that come from?

Durant: It comes from my mother (Betty). She always tells me never to beat around the bush. She says, "Don't worry about what people think. Say what's on your mind as long as it's in the right context."

The SP: You're the top passer in University of North Carolina history. How does the size of your shrine at UNC compare to Michael Jordan's?

Durant: (Laughs) There's no comparison at all. That guy is the greatest athlete ever. . . .
When you go into the basketball office and facility, they're sponsored by Jordan so there's Jordan pictures and advertisements everywhere.

The SP: You spent time on the Baltimore Ravens' practice roster. What's your best Brian Billick story? That guy was a quote machine.

Durant: It wasn't necessarily a quote, but it was a tradition that they had there. It was called The Ugly Man Award. They would take votes and give an award to the ugliest guy on the team. I thought that was pretty hilarious. The guys just put in votes. You see the paper with the roster on it and you put a check by the guy you felt was ugliest on the team.

The SP: A guy can't even phone home and tell his mom, "Hey, I won this award." That's kind of cold, isn't it?

Durant: I know, right? But it's all in fun.

The SP: So who won when you were there?

Durant: Terrell Suggs.

The SP: And was that your vote?

Durant: Of course.

The SP: How come?

Durant: Oh, man. (Laughs) I don't like to talk about people that way.

The SP: OK, fair enough. That's putting you in a tough spot. Which teammate is your toughest adversary when it comes to Xbox football?

Durant: Kitwana Jones. He sits at home and plays it all day, every day. I have other things going on, so whenever I get a chance to play, that's when I play. He pretty much has my number just because he's an Xbox fanatic.

The SP: And finally, you and several teammates are sporting mohawks for team unity. What's it going to take to get head coach Ken Miller on board?

Durant: (Laughs) I don't know. Maybe a home Western final game. Hopefully we finish in first place and then I'll bring it up to him so that he has a mohawk for the Grey Cup. That would be pretty funny.

cwolfe@sp.canwest.com
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