On Sunday afternoons, many years ago, Rashad Evans would throw himself down onto the floor, turn on the Detroit Lions game, wait for Barry Sanders to carry the ball and then dream. And dream he did.

He envisioned himself on the gridiron -dancing, eluding, escaping - from would-be tacklers, just as his hero, Barry Sanders, so gracefully did en route to becoming one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.

Today, you can bet that kids, somewhere in this world, are throwing themselves down onto the floor, turning on the UFC to watch Rashad Evans fight and dreaming that one day they will be like their hero.
Here's a bit more about Rashad Evans you may not know.

When you were a kid, what was your goal in life?
I wanted to be a pro football player. I wanted to be just like Barry Sanders. He moved so beautifully. He flowed on the field. I wanted to be like that one day.

Did you play in high school?
I played football all through high school - tailback and strong safety. In one game, I rushed for something like 220 yards and scored four touchdowns. Every time I touched the ball, I felt like I was going to score. I was a pretty fast runner, shifty, determined and I broke tackles.

You have a couple of kids. Are you hoping one day they will become fighters?
My daughter, Tahja, is 8, and my son, Rashad Jr., is 1. Tahja is a lady all the way. Rashad is very physical [for his age]. He wrestles with Thor, our 120-pound South African mastiff.

Ultimately, it's whatever makes them happy in life. If they are like me, they will get into sports because that is where I find the greatest joy in life.

What are your favorite hobbies?
Drawing. I like to do portraits. It's something I started when I was young, but I am not that committed to it. A few months may go by without doing one. When I draw a portrait, I usually base it off a photograph. I also like to read.


How do you relax?
I sit down and listen to music, and it's usually jazz or blues. Before a fight, when everything is overwhelming and there are interviews and no time for myself, I will sit back, turn off the lights and lay down. That mellows me out.

With your degree in psych, did you intend to go into private practice?

At one time I intended to, but then it got to the point in which I kind of got bored of the whole clinical psychology thought process, so I decided it was not something I wanted to do the rest of my life.

Instead, I thought maybe I could become a mentor and work with at-risk kids because I was one of those kids growing up. [Fortunately], my karate teacher was a cop, and he really helped me to become more responsible and kept me out of trouble.
At that time, I really hated wrestling because it was so hard and required so much discipline. Therefore, I would skip out of practice, but he would find me and take me to practice. It is people like that who helped me get where I am today.

If you weren't a fighter, what would you be doing?
I would be a cop, which is a career I planned on before fighting. At one time, I was doing security in a hospital. I got on a waiting list to do the police thing, but they had a hiring freeze in Michigan.

Tell us your best memory.
When my kids were born. I had my first when I was 19 and that was an experience. The last one was something, too.

You recently got married. Where did you go on the honeymoon?
We did not do that yet. We had some family time and then I trained for a fight. When we do go, it will probably be Hawaii or some other nice tropical place.

MMA is obviously No. 1, but what other sports are on your list?
Football, and my favorite team is the [Buffalo] Bills. Basketball, although I'm not that good at it. My favorite team is the [Los Angeles] Lakers. I do love watching guys do their craft. Recently, I started watching soccer, and I felt like I could sit there hours and watch.

You're in the car, turn on the radio and listen to ... ?
I used to listen to hip-hop, but that music is getting out of hand. I cannot relate to it. [In the lyrics], they [the artists] do not talk about anything. So, I am into easy listening. It's like I'm getting old or something (laughs). Jazz is something I also listen to.

Tell us something about yourself we would not know by looking at you.
I do various voices, including Elmo and Mickey Mouse. When I talked to my daughter on the phone when she was young, it was hard to keep her attention. So, I'd ask her if she wanted to talk to various characters like Elmo.

Who has been the most inspirational people in your life?
My mom, who was a single parent. She raised us kids, and it was not easy for her. A lot of parents may have said they could not take it and left or given their kids away, but she stayed around and made us all successful in life.

What goals do you have outside of fighting?
I want to take care of my family and make sure I put enough away now so I have something when fighting is done.

Do you have a cheat food?
McDonald's. Fast food. It just kills me. I can't stop the cheat food, man. I could eat it all day, every day. It feels good going down.

What is your favorite show?
A show called "Dexter", which is on Showtime. The main character is a serial killer who works for police department as a forensic guy.

What's your favorite vacation spot and why?
I have to say Vegas. I enjoy every minute of it. It's fun.

What kind of car do you drive?
I have a Lexus G-470 truck and a Toyota Scion.
------------
Now You Know
Name: "Sugar" Rashad Evans
Educational Background: Bachelor's in psychology from Michigan State
Age: 28
Residence: Lansing, Michigan
Siblings: Three brothers and five sisters
Married: Yes!
Wife's name: LaToya

Show comments (0) - Add comments to this article: