NFL Hall Of Famer: Surfing Is "Soft"

According to NFL Hall Of Famer Eric Dickerson, surfing is soft and isn't a "man's sport."

Currently the Vice President of Business Development with the Los Angeles Rams, Dickerson was clearly not impressed with the debut of the team's new uniforms this week, which has a bit more of a surfy vibe than their old gear.

He said on Los Angeles sports radio station AM570 on Wednesday: "This is football. This ain't nothing to do with surfing. This ain't nothing to do with waves.

"This is a man's sport. And to me, it just looks soft. It don't look like football. It don't look hard."

In case Dickerson's feelings on the subject weren't clear, he added, "The helmet and the logo, they both suck."

Fair enough, everyone is entitled to their opinion. But why pick on surfing? Why call surfing soft?

For sure, there are elements of surfing that are soft -- like a two-foot day at Topanga -- but so is a game of flag football in the park.

Maybe Paige Alms could take him for a paddle at Jaws? Or maybe Caroline Marks could help get him into a wave or two at Teahupoo?

The point is that the world's best surfers, just like NFL football players that perform at the pinnacle of their sport, aren't soft. They're highly trained, highly talented athletes that have spent their lives preparing to compete in the world's heaviest waves.

To be fair, Dickerson is correct in one regard. Surfing is not a "man's sport." It's a sport and lifestyle for everyone. Men and women in ancient Polynesia rode waves together just like men and women ride waves together today.

But Dickerson don't surf, so how could he ever understand?