Philosophy Isn’t Exactly Greek to Young Trojan

You wouldn’t think there’s a connection between football and philosophy, just as you wouldn’t imagine there’s a link between Vince Lombardi and Tupac. That all changes when you talk to Lawrence Jackson.

USC’s sophomore defensive end is also a philosophy major (for now), a combination you see as often as, say, an accountant-pro wrestler. Anyway, it’s a refreshing change for those of us who talk to sweaty athletes for a living.

Jackson is well versed on many subjects, although hip-hop history apparently is not among them, as evidenced in his response to my question, “So, you’re a philosopher?”

The correct answer, as anyone familiar with the Boogie Down Productions classic, “My Philosophy,” would know, is “Yes. I think very deeply.”

Jackson’s reply: “I’m not a philosopher; I have a philosophical point of view. It’s just the way I look at things. There’s black and white, but there’s also a gray area that not everybody focuses on, but it’s there.

“Some people feel like it’s something you need not think about. But I feel like that’s the easiest way to figure things out for myself. It’s not like I sit there and try to analyze things. It just comes to me.”

Jackson’s favorite philosophers aren’t the old standards such as Aristotle or Sartre. He admires Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. If those two don’t fit your definition of philosophers, allow Jackson to explain:

“Philosophy is not just about mind and body and soul. It’s analyzing situations and coming up with solutions.

“Like, Tupac is a philosopher. Same deal. He talks about stuff in the inner city. His rap is still relevant today because he foresaw before it happened. Same thing with Dr. King, what he wanted, how he had his visions for the future. Those are the people that I really like to look at.”

Words have always flowed easily for Jackson, whether he was telling stories to his mother to talk his way out of trouble or writing poetry. He doesn’t have to smooth-talk anymore -- you wouldn’t either if you stood 6 feet 5 and weighed 265 pounds -- but he continues to write poems, including this one called “Destiny:”

The man who awaits his destiny to come forward

Has no plan of action and no train of thought

Life is full of problems and struggles that are only won if fought

The test of man lies in his eyes

No matter his beauty or personality or even his size

Making the man that listens to the wind and clears his mind of all

The man that sees the light and learns from the stars

Is the man that understands the meaning of life and often gets it all

As you can imagine, Jackson can’t walk around the locker room talking that way without catching some flack. His teammates call him “Philosopher” and regularly ridicule him. He even gets it from a man called Frostee.

“Lawrence is a very intelligent guy, and he likes to point that out,” said Frostee Rucker, a fellow defensive end. “He likes to let you know that he knows what he’s talking about all the time -- it could be about cereal brands, it doesn’t matter. He likes to get his point across. We have to tease him for it.

“The best part is to go at him when he’s wrong. Because he really wants to tell you he’s so right, and sometimes you’re wrong, Lawrence. You just have to understand that.

“I like joking with him. Lawrence is a fun guy. Lawrence is a unique individual, and he’s a unique player also on the field. I think his etiquette and the way he carries himself ... I mean, he’s a good guy. That goes for off the field too. You can count on him for so many different things. He’s a good man.”

Jackson, who grew up in Inglewood, wants to be an example to the kids following his path. It’s one of the reasons he is changing his major to sociology.

“If I learn something, I want to be able to carry it and teach somebody else,” Jackson said. “The average person can’t understand philosophy. So, personally, I’ve decided to go to sociology so I can look at certain problems.

“I’m from the inner city. I made it out. My goal is to go back and show people who feel like the window is closed and they don’t have the opportunity that there is a way out.

“I’ve been through it. I’ve been with guys who died or are in jail now who didn’t make it. I have a well-nourished background of how to get out. That’s my biggest thing. I feel like I made it so I can go back and show other people that there is a way.”

Every sack is a means to this defensive end, a way of adding to his credibility when he goes back to talk to the high school kids.

And, yes, he even incorporates philosophy into his play. He believes a philosophical approach to success is behind all great players and coaches.

“Vince Lombardi: philosopher; philosophical point of view,” Jackson said. “That whole way of thought, becoming the best person you can be, rising over expectations, putting more pressure on yourself than anybody can put on you. That’s the type of stuff that helps me in football, that makes me be the type of player that I am.”

He’s a player who has been spending a lot of time in opposing backfields lately, with tackles for losses and fumble recoveries in each of the last two games.

Coach Pete Carroll said Jackson and sophomore nose tackle Sedrick Ellis eventually “are going to be the best players in the country at their spots.”

What’s the secret to the philosopher-lineman? Gardening.

“Any time you put in hard work to build a garden, when the harvest comes, it’s going to be that much more special to you,” Jackson said.

As you can see, Jackson could be successful in any field.