02-01-2007, 04:00 PM
Former UL star Tillman talks about nickname
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CHICAGO - Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, despite being occasionally vilified by some Bears fans as being a weak link to the defense, probably has been one of its steadiest performers this season.
What gets his goat the most, though, is that people still aren't sure where his nickname - Peanut - came from. He likes the cartoon characters, but that's not it. He occasionally does get roasted by quarterbacks, but that's not it, either. Let him explain.
1. Are you surprised you aren't more of a player in the peanut advertising market?
No, because I don't really talk about it much. If it happens, it happens.
2. How often do you find yourself actually eating peanuts?
Not too often. I like peanuts, but I don't eat them much. If they're there, they're there.
3. Did you know that the peanut came to the United States from Africa (thanks to the Portuguese, who brought it from Brazil)?
I didn't know that; now if I need to bring that up, like at a party for a useless fact, I've got it.
4. Did you hear the one about the two peanuts on the El platform?
No, what happened?
5. One of them was assaulted - get it?
[Laughs]. Yeah, I get it.
6. If you happen to have a bad game, do you ever think in your head "Oh, here come the headlines: 'Peanut gets shelled' or, 'Peanut gets roasted'?
Oh, I don't worry about that too much. I think I did see the "Peanut gets roasted" line once.
7. They think they're SO clever, don't they?
Yeah, they do.
8. Are you concerned about all of the kids in recent years who have developed peanut allergies?
That's kind of a weird phenomena.
9. Why did your grandma call you Peanut in the first place?
I've been here for four years, and I still get this dumb question. It wasn't my grandma, it was my aunt, Renee.
10. What moved you to get the tattoo of Mr. Peanut?
It was a thing to do in high school. It wasn't peer pressure. I wanted to get it.
11. With which Peanuts character do you most identify?
Probably Linus, because he's got the security blanket with him everywhere.
12. What did you learn from reading "The Strangest Secret" by Earl Nightingale?
That whatever you think, that's what you become.
13. How much of every dollar you earn do you save?
Most of every dollar.
14. Can you envision yourself becoming a motivational speaker?
I don't know. I suppose it's possible.
15. You have listed "The Unit" as a TV show you watch. When you see its star, Dennis Haysbert, don't you think, "There's Cerrano from 'Major League,' or There's President Palmer from '24'? What about 'the guy from Allstate commercials'?
No, man, he's Jonas Blane. I think of him from "The Unit."
16. Either in two years, six years or 10 years: What about Barack Obama as president?
It's possible, I think. I don't know if he's going to run.
17. What's the cutest thing your daughter has done lately?
My mother got her some cowboy boots for Christmas, and watching her wobble around the house has been pretty funny.
18. Should you legally change your middle name to Peanut, so you can sign checks and autographs without adding quote marks?
No, I like my middle name - Anthony.
19. If you're Peanut, why isn't Vasher called "Butter"?
He's already "The Interceptor" because he's got a lot of picks.
20. If Peanut weren't your nickname, what might we call you?
I think we're going to have to stick with Peanut - I've been that for so long
CHICAGO - Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, despite being occasionally vilified by some Bears fans as being a weak link to the defense, probably has been one of its steadiest performers this season.
What gets his goat the most, though, is that people still aren't sure where his nickname - Peanut - came from. He likes the cartoon characters, but that's not it. He occasionally does get roasted by quarterbacks, but that's not it, either. Let him explain.
1. Are you surprised you aren't more of a player in the peanut advertising market?
No, because I don't really talk about it much. If it happens, it happens.
2. How often do you find yourself actually eating peanuts?
Not too often. I like peanuts, but I don't eat them much. If they're there, they're there.
3. Did you know that the peanut came to the United States from Africa (thanks to the Portuguese, who brought it from Brazil)?
I didn't know that; now if I need to bring that up, like at a party for a useless fact, I've got it.
4. Did you hear the one about the two peanuts on the El platform?
No, what happened?
5. One of them was assaulted - get it?
[Laughs]. Yeah, I get it.
6. If you happen to have a bad game, do you ever think in your head "Oh, here come the headlines: 'Peanut gets shelled' or, 'Peanut gets roasted'?
Oh, I don't worry about that too much. I think I did see the "Peanut gets roasted" line once.
7. They think they're SO clever, don't they?
Yeah, they do.
8. Are you concerned about all of the kids in recent years who have developed peanut allergies?
That's kind of a weird phenomena.
9. Why did your grandma call you Peanut in the first place?
I've been here for four years, and I still get this dumb question. It wasn't my grandma, it was my aunt, Renee.
10. What moved you to get the tattoo of Mr. Peanut?
It was a thing to do in high school. It wasn't peer pressure. I wanted to get it.
11. With which Peanuts character do you most identify?
Probably Linus, because he's got the security blanket with him everywhere.
12. What did you learn from reading "The Strangest Secret" by Earl Nightingale?
That whatever you think, that's what you become.
13. How much of every dollar you earn do you save?
Most of every dollar.
14. Can you envision yourself becoming a motivational speaker?
I don't know. I suppose it's possible.
15. You have listed "The Unit" as a TV show you watch. When you see its star, Dennis Haysbert, don't you think, "There's Cerrano from 'Major League,' or There's President Palmer from '24'? What about 'the guy from Allstate commercials'?
No, man, he's Jonas Blane. I think of him from "The Unit."
16. Either in two years, six years or 10 years: What about Barack Obama as president?
It's possible, I think. I don't know if he's going to run.
17. What's the cutest thing your daughter has done lately?
My mother got her some cowboy boots for Christmas, and watching her wobble around the house has been pretty funny.
18. Should you legally change your middle name to Peanut, so you can sign checks and autographs without adding quote marks?
No, I like my middle name - Anthony.
19. If you're Peanut, why isn't Vasher called "Butter"?
He's already "The Interceptor" because he's got a lot of picks.
20. If Peanut weren't your nickname, what might we call you?
I think we're going to have to stick with Peanut - I've been that for so long
