Phinatics.com

Oronde "Gadzilla" Gadsden
7/22/01

Oronde "Gadzilla" Gadsden is a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins. Oronde played college football for Winston-Salem and was picked up as a free agent to play for the NFL Miami Dolphins in 1998. He broke the Dolphins rookie TD receptions record by reaching the endzone 7 times (previous record: 5 by Andre Brown '89), and has been a solid performer ever since.

Phinatics.com gives Oronde Gadsden a special "THANK YOU" for his participation.

Thanks also goes out to phinatics John Brucato, JH Garbo, John Hoover,
and Chris Nelson for their question contributions.

phinatics.com: Please tell us what you like about your new business venture OG, and what got you started in the business.
Oronde Gadsden: I like the possibility of being a vital part of today's society making some clothes for the young and upcoming professionals. I'm real excited about just getting started in something for after football. My major is Marketing, and this is an opportunity to use my degree because football won't last forever.

phinatics.com: Where can “Gadzilla” fans go to buy some OG products?
Oronde Gadsden: Just on the internet right now. We are trying to expand to Sports Authority and Burdines for the upcoming season, but right now it's just original-gear.com.

phinatics.com: Will fans find anything in Dolphin colors, or items with your name or number on them?
Oronde Gadsden: Yes, we are trying to do more of that when the football season starts...you know, everything is definitely related to football. For us, it's been hard selling stuff during the off-season, so we have been focusing a lot of attention on during the season. It's pretty good sales, I guess. Obviously, though, with the production of the team, we would have a pretty good season so we could sell a lot during the season. But, the off-season is pretty difficult, so definitely anything related with the Dolphins that we can piggyback as closely as possible without getting into trouble, we definitely will.

phinatics.com: How’s the toe?
Oronde Gadsden: Coming along. It's pretty much a done deal that it will give me problems from here on out. I decided against surgery definitely now since I have seen what's going on with O.J. with his foot surgery. But, my problem is so different, it's just a general case of everyday arthritis in both of my big toes, and there is no real cure for it. I mean, they can clean it out, but it will definitely come back. Some days are definitely worse than others, so I just try to work through it as much as I can.

phinatics.com: So, you're basically going to have to play through pain every game?
Oronde Gadsden: Not every game. Some days I wake up and it's fine, and some of the worst days happen to be Sundays. You know, that's how it is.

phinatics.com: In your opinion, what are the odds of O.J. McDuffie being able to play again?
Oronde Gadsden: I don't know...I can't tell you how much pressure or pain O.J. can play through. But, it's kind of on the cuff of not happening because you know O.J. has been playing a long time and he definitely wants to play up to his standards first and foremost and then the team's standards second. As a player, if you can't play up to your standards then, you know, you don't want to play. You remember how you used to play and then obviously there are things that he can't do, and I think that's the biggest hindrance--not whether he can play. I'm sure he could if he just wanted to stick it out he could play, but he wouldn't be able to do things that have made him one of the Dolphins greatest receivers and one of the best receivers in the NFL for so long.

phinatics.com: I'd love to see him back, but it's just not sounding good when you read the stuff in the newspapers.
Oronde Gadsden: He's got some problems. It's hard, I mean especially playing the position we play. Maybe if he was playing lineman and only had to go maybe 5 or 6 yards he probably could do it. But, running routes and, you know, pivoting as a receiver, he's using his feet pretty much.

phinatics.com: What are your thoughts on the new receivers, McKnight, Ward, and Chambers?
Oronde Gadsden: They are doing their job. They run and stretch the field and they are definitely doing that. They all bring something different to the table.

phinatics.com: They are all considered deep threats, but do you consider Ward a deep threat or more of a possession receiver.
Oronde Gadsden: Probably both. He is probably going to play primarily in the slot, but then again, he can go deep. Like I said, each one of them brings something different to the table and it's up to the coaches and Chan to use them each to the best of their ability.

phinatics.com: How did your time in the Arena League help you prepare to play in the NFL, i.e. speed of the game, smaller field, running more precise routes, playing defense?
Oronde Gadsden: Me playing defense... nah (laughs). I think it just helped me get back to playing football again. I had been through a lot of things by that time. It gave me confidence again that I could play football, and I just took that on to the NFL and that was it.

phinatics.com: Did you like playing defense at all in that league?
Oronde Gadsden: Playing defense was alright, but I didn't want to make a habit or living out of it. It was pretty fun and exciting because I had never played defense before.

phinatics.com: What’s the strangest thing you have been asked to autograph?
Oronde Gadsden: I don't know. I don't think anything was strange. I had somebody ask me to autograph a golf ball once. I never did play golf, not at all.

phinatics.com: Have you ever seen the football movie Any Given Sunday and if so, did you like it? What is your favorite football or sports movie?
Oronde Gadsden: Yes, I saw Any Given Sunday. It was a pretty good movie; I liked it. It was as close to real football as you're going to get. I don't know that I have a favorite football movie... probably Waterboy.

phinatics.com: Tim Bowens recently called former Dolphins coach, Jimmy Johnson, a coward. The comment came from a discussion about contract negotiations. When Jimmy was the coach, you had a few contract issues including a hold out. Do you think Jimmy treated you fairly during those times?
Oronde Gadsden: I don't think it was a question of fairly or unfairly, I think it's just a business and everybody knows that's the way it is. If you look at the team's best interest, I guess it will say one thing, but if you look at the player's best interest, it might be another thing. Everybody knows what kind of person Jimmy was and I respect him for that. I mean you know coming in he is kind of a hard nosed type of coach, and he wants things to go his way or it's the highway. You know, you can't fault him for being that way; he's proven it's worked for him in the past. It's a learning experience. It made me a better person for going through it. I don't have any gripes about it. I've been through situations like that before and that's just the way football goes. Every players position or situation is different.

phinatics.com: What do you think caused the unusual play of the team in the Jacksonville playoff loss in ’99?
Oronde Gadsden: I couldn't even tell you. I guess everybody is saying we were tired and worn out, and that's kind of the way it is. They just won the game. There's not much you can say about that. They came in and had a good game. They were well rested, you know, and they were just prepared. Going into the playoffs I think the biggest thing is, like we've been finding out here in the past few years, if you get that bye in the first round and then a team comes to play you in your house, it's easier to win because you've had a week of rest. The same thing happened in Jacksonville, the same thing happened last year in Oakland. We made a step by winning the Division, we just have to work a little harder so we can get home field advantage.

phinatics.com: The win against Indy at the RCA Dome in '99 when Marino hit you two times in the final minutes to seal a miracle comeback victory, do you consider that your most exciting game?
Oronde Gadsden: Yeah, that would pretty much be it. It was just a team effort, we all kind of jumped on Dan's back, and he kind of brought us through with his veteran leadership. And, as you can see, part of that is making some plays. Those are the kind of games you always remember and want to be involved in.

phinatics.com: Please tell us a little about catching a Marino pass. Just how awesome was it?
Oronde Gadsden: It was a pretty awesome feeling. You had to get used to it real quick. He lets it go probably quicker than anybody that has ever played, so you have to, one, get your head around and, two, know what you're doing. Just from a layman's perspective, coming from the Arena League and then catching a pass from Dan Marino, it's a different quarterback. You don't have a long time to be in awe of what's going on. He's pretty intense out there.

phinatics.com: What do you think kept the team from a meltdown after losing to the Jets last year in that Monday Night Nightmare game?
Oronde Gadsden: Coach Wannestedt definitely had something to do with it. The rest of the coaches wouldn't let us get down about it. You got another game on Sunday, and everybody in the locker room was real professional about it. We were upset and distraught about the loss because we thought we had a pretty good chance to pull in the victory. Obviously the Jets are one of our nemeses and we wanted to beat them, and we had it and it just didn't work out.

phinatics.com: What was it like for you the first time you saw the highlight reel of that spectacular one handed leaping grab you made last season?
Oronde Gadsden: I felt good about it; it's something to talk about. You're obviously excited about making a play to help your team out, but we still lost 27-0, so it overshadows it, you know one good play. People ask me all the time how do I do it...I can't explain it, you know, I'm just out there playing football.

phinatics.com: Do you, or did you ever, collect football cards or other sports memorabilia? If yes, what kinds?
Oronde Gadsden: No.

phinatics.com: What kind of season do you expect the Dolphins to have this year? Prediction?
Oronde Gadsden: No prediction--not really. Hopefully, 12-4 or better. That's a really good record; I'd be pretty excited about that. If we do that or better we will definitely be headed in the right direction.

phinatics.com: Which NFL DB do you find the hardest to get open against?
Oronde Gadsden: Sam probably.

phinatics.com: Which DB opponent do you find the hardest to get open against?
Oronde Gadsden: Charles Woodson...he's definitely one because of his size. Marcus Coleman-- probably one you don't hear about--but for me because of his size, we have a good battle on the leap.

phinatics.com: What area of your game would you like to improve in this season?
Oronde Gadsden: Probably running better routes. Sometimes when you get out there in the heat of battle, it's one of the first things that comes to mind, but if I could be pretty much precise about what I'm doing, I'd feel confident. Also, to have a better relationship with the quarterback.

phinatics.com: With the current QB situation, have you noticed any big difference between a Jay Fiedler pass and a Ray Lucas pass?
Oronde Gadsden: Obviously, I think Ray may throw a little harder than Jay, but other than that, no not really.

phinatics.com: There are a lot of articles in the paper today about Jay starting. Do you think there is going to be a QB controversy, or do you think Jay is pretty set in the starting position.
Oronde Gadsden: There is always going to be a QB controversy when you've got two guys competing for the job that are both qualified. Ray has definitely done some good things, but you know, hey, Jay took us to a Division Championship last year.

phinatics.com: I take it you don't have a preference?
Oronde Gadsden: No, not really.

phinatics.com: What role do you see yourself playing this year with the amount of speed the team will have at the wide receiver position now, and what changes have been implemented as a result of it?
Oronde Gadsden: Probably the same place I was last year. Hopefully I can come in and do dirty work and let them do all the downfield work and try to do my work on 3rd and 5 or something like that. There is a niche for everybody, but I can be used like I've been used when it comes down to one on one down near the goal line. In fact, if they used me the same way, I'd be pretty happy about that.

phinatics.com: The coaches like you going for that endzone corner fade route so you can out jump somebody. Do you think the team still plans on doing that or do you think everybody has figured out that's what you're going to try?
Oronde Gadsden: Well, you know, there is more than one way to skin a cat. I think everybody knows we are pretty much going do it, but still a lot of teams are like that. You go to Dallas, you know they are going to run Emmitt.

phinatics.com: Are you happy with the NFL Realignment, or would you have preferred to play in a Division with teams that are closer to Miami like Jacksonville?
Oronde Gadsden: It would have been alright if they had just left it the same for me.

phinatics.com: Do you like the nickname “Gadzilla”? Is there a story behind it?
Oronde Gadsden: Yes. When we were in Portland (Arena League) the Godzilla movie had just come out. In the Arena League you gotta have a gimmick going, so that was it. We used that as a marketing strategy as much as possible, so we kept it going and it worked out fine.

phinatics.com: Thanks for taking the time to participate in this interview. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about Original Gear?
Oronde Gadsden: We will have a shopping cart online next week.

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