Goat Post: Issue 08

Billy “White Shoes” Johnson

Back to Billy. Helping Billy document his true greatness is an honor. Thanks to breakthrough advancements in technology, the way we capture and share content is evolving as quickly as a punt return for a touchdown.

Billy “White Shoes” Johnson changed the game, creating a touchdown dance that was both magnificent and incredibly well received.

“I did it on a dare.”

That’s how Billy tells it. A teammate dared him and he kept his word, breaking out the Funky Chicken. And just like that, a fresh form of end zone entertainment was born.

His first NFL touchdown happened in the Astrodome. Billy didn’t set out to create the modern touchdown celebration. But that’s what he did.

Billy got his presence on Goatnet started because of a fan. That fan, Clay Trozzo of Houston, was in suburban Atlanta for a wedding. At a bar, Clay saw Billy’s Luv Ya Blue jersey on the wall. Clay then asked the man responsible for supplying the place with memorabilia how he scored the shirt off Billy’s back.

The man said he knows Billy and assists him with marketing opportunities. On a Hail Mary request: Clay asked the man if Billy, who lived 20 or so minutes away, would stop by. The man prepared him for little to no chance of that happening.

Clay said, please just tell Billy: “Look out football, here we come, Houston Oilers Number One!” That was a line from the team’s fight song. Billy was there 20 minutes later.

Clay shared this with Goatnet, and Goatnet connected with Billy. And now, Billy’s story is everlasting and shareable in the Goatnet mix, a great and always growing community that appreciates every aspect — the trials, triumphs, turns and twists — of Billy’s awesome life.

And by the way, you too — like Clay—should float a goat.

You and the suggested great might even get a cap. Just please show us your footwear so we know what color to send.

Simply respond to this email or click the link below to Float Your Goat:

Before we continue with another GOAT, it wouldn’t be right to go on here without acknowledging the anguish that all of us are processing. This week, specifically, we’re talking about the unacceptable, horrific gun violence that brutally ended lives at the building the NFL calls home in Manhattan.

Commissioner Roger Goodell, his voice quivering, spoke about the surviving young league employee, the first responders and neighboring companies confronted by the devastation. If you haven’t seen what he said in an interview with Mike Tirico, it’s worth a handful of minutes and two hands positioned in prayer.

The Commissioner was on air before the Hall of Fame Game after visiting the employee in the hospital and after attending a police officer’s funeral. All the families in this aftermath have our forever sympathies.

No segue from that is easy.

What we will share is from a beloved great of all time, one who we know has been a humble, giving GOAT for decades. What you may not know about Bo Jackson is that he quietly has done profoundly powerful things in his life that show he knows how to read a room and anybody’s who’s hurting in it.

Bo, for example, paid for the funerals of school shooting victims. We are in awe of his perspective.

Bo Jackson: Rad Grandpa

When Goatnet was in its infancy, we had the privilege of sitting with Bo to learn about his life as a grandpa and facilitator of greatness.

His wisdom is as strong as his baseball and football superstar body.

Bo’s grandson is a toddler. And he knows exactly who “Pawpaw” is.

“I watch my highlights a dozen times a week because of him.
‘NaNa, I want Bo Jackson football highlights. NaNa, I want Bo Jackson baseball highlights.’”

Bo’s greatness isn’t something he brings up. But his grandson does — every week, with the same request. But when Bo talks about legacy, he doesn’t start with sports. He starts with his mother. Ten kids. Two jobs. A 700-square-foot house. Holding it all down, working six long days a week.

“Sometimes the only time I saw her was Sunday morning. That’s who the greatest of all time is. Period. Hands down.”

Bo’s life story has sports in it, of course, but it doesn’t dominate.

“God puts speed bumps in everybody’s road,” he said. “My hip injury was mine.
You slow down, ease over the bump — and keep going. Don’t look back.”

“Green” Bay & some dude named Brian

Ahman Green is the all-time leading rusher for the Green Bay Packers — and if you know anything about that franchise, you know that’s epic.

But what we’ll highlight from his onboarding session is an anecdote about Chicago. Specifically, Brian Urlacher. And a moment Ahman was ready to re-frame..

“Brian who?” Ahman asked on his weekly radio show during Urlacher’s rookie season. 

Ahman wasn’t being dismissive. He was just so locked in on numbers in game film that he didn’t know the rival linebacker’s name yet.

“Honestly, people think I’m joking. No, I’m honestly... I’m like, Mike, give me something on Brian. He’s like, ‘He’s the rookie, they just drafted from New Mexico. He has 20 tackles on the year in three games.’ I’m like, ‘Oh... I’m so sorry. I did not know.’”

The first time they faced off: Ahman went up the middle and delivered a hit Urlacher couldn’t forget. From there, it was all respect.

“That’s what I always tell fans. We as players — unless we know somebody personally — it’s just another game for us. But once I got to know Brian, it was always a smile when we talked.”

So Brian Urlacher — if you’re reading this: it never was shade.

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Speaking of shade, back to the Goatnet caps.

Because we know better than to guess. Ahman gets two. One red and white for his Nebraska Cornhuskers. One green and gold for The Pack.

Until next week, dance if you like and Goat Big!