Page 46 - Las Vegas Golf & Leisure Fall 2020

PROFILE

“When you're with your friends or former teammates, there In football, if you hesitate, there’s going to be a problem
is a camaraderie and a competition during a round,” Allen and you are probably going to get hit for a loss or worse.
said. “I have said this, but for many of us the course is now Anytime you can be fundamentally sound in anything, it
our locker room. We retired from sports, but the golf course allows you to play freely, and that is the same with golf. I
is a place where we can enjoy a fellowship. We compete, we think that is a pathway to success in anything.”
talk a little trash, we have fun. Sometimes we talk about
life. So, it provides an outlet for us that sort of replaces the
competition.” After having played the game for several decades, Allen,
like any other golfer, is still searching for the magic potion.
He’s confident he has the mental part of the game down, but
Allen was the 10th player selected in the 1982 draft and hopes he can also do the same with the physical someday.
went on to gain 12,243 yards rushing, 5,411 yards receiv- “I joke a lot and tell people that I know how to win, so I have
ing and scored 145 touchdowns during his career. His game the mental part of it down,” says Allen. “Well, there’s sort of
was built on fundamentals, and his style was magical to a fine line. I've always said, ‘now I have to learn how to play.’
watch as he seemingly glided through defenses. When he If I could combine the two, then it will all come together.
started playing golf in his 20s, he brought similar mindset There are a lot of guys that know how to play, but they don't
and characteristics to the course. know how to win. I know how to win; now I have to learn
how to play better.”

“I always thought that I was an extremely fundamental
player, whether it was blocking by having the proper tech- Considered one of the game’s best goal line and short-yard-
nique with your base set to explode up and hit an opponent age runners, Allen began his pro career as the NFL Rookie
or whether it was just running with balance,” Allen says. “I of the Year and ended as the game’s all-time rushing touch-
really knew the game. I knew every aspect of the game. I down leader. When he retired, he held the single-season
was blessed to be physically gifted and things kind of came record for most rushing and receiving yards combined
very easy to me, so I didn't have to think, I just reacted. (2,314), was second in consecutive 100-yard games, and

"LAS VEGAS IS EASILY THE ENTERTAINMENT

CAPITAL, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE SPORTS

CAPITAL NOW AS WELL. AND WITH ALL DUE

RESPECT TO ANY OTHER VEGAS FRANCHISES—

LIKE THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS WHO HAVE DONE AN

AMAZING JOB—THE RAIDERS ARE GOING TO BE

CLEARLY THE MOST POPULAR IN MY OPINION.”

-MARCUS ALLEN

44 FALL 2020 www.lasvegasgolfandleisure.com
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