In Pennsylvania, I love the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington. It's a scenic area. We also enjoy visiting the Laurel Highlands in Western Pennsylvania. The mountains are really something to be seen, and it's a great area to be outside.
Troy PolamaluOur sport is not made for anybody to be able to play it, especially at the NFL level, so there's obviously some risk that we all take knowingly.
Troy PolamaluI am a National Football League player of American Samoan heritage. Because of my status as a professional athlete, I have been blessed to play a role in educating players and fans about the culture and history of America's southernmost territory.
Troy PolamaluI don't look at football as a violent, barbaric sport. It's a very spiritual sport, especially for someone facing the challenges during a game: the fear of failure, the fear of getting too big an ego, of making a mistake and everybody criticizing you.
Troy PolamaluI love the atmosphere football brings; I love being around my teammates; I love the struggle in football. I love the fact that it is a part of my life. I don't look at it as any more important or less important as any other part of my life.
Troy PolamaluIf you don't eat right as an athlete, you'll get tired and won't be as sharp. It's simple to drink sodas and sports drinks, but water is the most essential drink to put in your body.
Troy PolamaluFootball is pretty much played 16 times a year, where training is kind of a year-round thing.
Troy PolamaluInjury in general teaches you to appreciate every moment. I've had my share of injuries throughout my career. It's humbling. It gives you perspective. No matter how many times I've been hurt, I've learned from that injury and come back even more humble.
Troy PolamaluSome of us might not understand why LeBron James is the way he is, but fortunately he found his great craft in life.
Troy PolamaluI've been surfing for a couple years, in the offseason in California and in Hawaii. I'm not very good, but it's just something that to be out there in the water, no cell phone, no music... very few sports are as pure as that.
Troy PolamaluI know where I'm supposed to be at the time of the snap. Now, where the play dictates I'm going to go is a different story.
Troy PolamaluI've never thought about the end of my career. I've had this growing motto in my life to live day to day - and when you live day to day, it's hard to talk years.
Troy PolamaluIt's important for me to have strong hair in case someone pulls it and tries to rip it all out.
Troy PolamaluI knew that I had it tough compared to children around me. But I felt like I needed it. I think I had the wisdom as a child to know that it would help me later on.
Troy PolamaluI really enjoy surfing a lot. It's an awesome sport. With surfing there are no mind games versus Peyton Manning, or versus anyone else. It's not me trying to throw a certain shot put further - or to put a ball in a hoop, it's just me against mother nature.
Troy PolamaluAll of my Polynesian counterparts in the NFL with roots in American Samoa understand how the values embedded in our South Pacific culture - community, hard work, perseverance, respect - contribute directly to our success.
Troy PolamaluA demon, in a way, is a test of your faith. Because if you're doing God's work, there's no reason for any demon to do anything to you.
Troy PolamaluI've never really been aware of what is said about me, whether it's positive or negative. I ignore it. I've always had the mind-set: 'No one can challenge me better than myself.'
Troy PolamaluI love to create this green juice shake made from kale, spinach, cucumber and wheatgrass. The nutrients in the juice help me recover after a tough workout. The Kale Banana Smoothie at LYFE Kitchen is very similar to my recipe and is fantastic.
Troy PolamaluThroughout history, every great warrior-the Greeks, the Samurais, the American Indians, the Mongolians, you name it-had long hair and would dress it before battle.
Troy PolamaluWhenever I do the sign of the cross, it always brings comfort in situations when you are faced with adversity and stress.
Troy PolamaluIt's the perfect environment for prayer. Chanting in Greek is like a beautiful opera, but way better.
Troy PolamaluI have read the Bible many times. But after fasting, and being baptized Orthodox, it's like reading a whole new Bible. You see the depth behind the words so much more clearly.
Troy PolamaluThe greatest joy I get is setting up plays for somebody else. I take a lot of pride in helping other people make plays.
Troy PolamaluI work barefooted on balance plates. I do explosive squats on balance surfaces that your body has to use muscles it's not used to. It's all kinds of exercises that your body isn't really used to, and it tricks your body into getting stronger every time.
Troy PolamaluI have developed a Samoan mentality. You have to be a gentleman everywhere but on the field.
Troy PolamaluAs a football player, you just deal with injuries. It's all part of the football game. I've dealt with injuries as much as everybody else. People have dealt with worse injuries than I've dealt with. It's all part of the game, all part of getting that tackle.
Troy PolamaluAmerica needs football. It's a real blue-collar sport; it's played with a blue-collar mentality, a mentality that's the backbone of this country.
Troy PolamaluSome days I'm just flipping through the iPod trying to get pumped, some days I don't want to listen to anything and just focus. From game to game from day to day, whatever people do to motivate themselves, they do. I do all kinds of things.
Troy PolamaluOn the field is a place where you can just let it loose and react to everything with violence.
Troy Polamalu