David Diehl
# 66 New York Giants
There was a buzz
in the Croatian Center St. Nikola Tavelic when friends told me a New
York Giants player came one Sunday afternoon. Diehl is his name and
he has a tattoo of GRB on his left arm. My curiosity wouldn’t let me
go so I called the Giants and on the last press day of the season,
Christmas Eve, Croatian Chronicle: Tell us about your first year in the pros, your rookie year? Diehl: Great, not
knowing what to expect, coming out of college as a fifth round draft
pick from Illinois and for the first time in New York from Chicago
I came with an open mind, wanting to prove myself to coaches and to
my teammates to prove that I was a worthy draft pick. I feel I’ve accomplished
a lot starting every game in the NFL, in fact playing every offensive
down and to accomplish a dream of my entire life is just unbelievable.
To do just that in such a great city as New York is such an unbelievable
feeling. Chronicle: Growing
up which pro team were you rooting for? Diehl: Chicago Bears, growing up on the southside of Chicago.
Walter Payton and the championship 1985 Bears were special and the
old-timers always mention Dick Butkus. Chronicle: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make
in coming to the pros - NFL? Diehl: I think
the biggest adjustment was the size of the players and their speed.
Week in and week out going up against the guys who are 320 pounds to
330 pounds and move as fast as 250 pounds guys in college. Speed of
game, these are 30 year old men with 7-8 years experience in the NFL.
You prepare by studying the game film and anything else these players
would throw at me. Chronicle: Do you think you’ve settled in your position
as an offensive lineman or are you still working your way thru it? Diehl: I’m the
only player who started every game at the right guard. I’m really settled
here, I’ve played every down. I’d willing to play wherever coaches
put me as long as I’m on the field. Chronicle: What was your position in College? Diehl: At the University
of Illinois I played both offensive guard positions and at tackle,
so it’s not a big deal if I were to move within the offensive line.
I’ll play whatever, as long as it helps our football team and helps
us win games. Chronicle: Any chance of seeing you at tight end catching
some passes? Diehl: No, that’s
way out of the league, that’s been out of the league since my peeve
days, so I don’t think I’ll be doing that at 310 lbs. Chronicle: Dave, you are Croatian American, tell us about
your background? Diehl: I grew up
on the south side of Chicago. I’m fifty percent Croatian and fifty
percent German. I went to grammar school and High School (Brother Rice)
with some Croatian friends. So I have been following Croatian heritage
ever since I can remember. That’s why people couldn’t figure out why
I have Diehl as my last name and Croatian GRB tattooed on my left arm.
I grew up going to St. Jerome’s Croatian Catholic Church with my Grandmother.
Her maiden name was Semanic and she was from
one of the Croatian islands. I remember going to St. Jerome’s and having
palacinke for breakfast. My grandmother married Grandpa who was Ante Bekavac from
small village Bekavci near Lovrec in Imotski, Dalmacija, Croatia. My father Jerry who passed away in August
was hundred percent German on both sides. Chronicle: Have you ever been to Europe or Croatia? Diehl: No, I haven’t.
I’d like to go in the off-season. My uncle’s have houses by the sea;
one has a house in Split. Chronicle: What are you going to do in the off-season? Diehl: I’ll go
back to Chicago for a month, relax and be with family. I’m back in
February to start working out for the new season. I have my mother
Darlene, 2 older brothers Jerry and Jeff both married, one 3-year-old
nephew whom I adore and both of my sisters in laws who are expecting.
My girlfriend is a senior in college; we’ve been dating for 4 years.
I might take a short vacation to Cozumel, Mexico before I come back.
When I do come back there will be a new coach and you have to get ready
for him. Chronicle: Where do you live? Diehl: In Clifton,
New Jersey townhouse, it’s very close to Manhattan, a lot like Chicago. In spare time with
friends we go to the City with all of its attractions, sites, shows
and restaurants. Often we are tired from games and practices so we
don’t have much time. We only have one day off in the week. I usually
hang out with teammates Jeff Hatch an offensive tackle and quarterback
Jesse Palmer. Palmer has a Croatian Canadian friends who when they
saw my GRB wanted to know all about me. Chronicle: With coach Fassel leaving what’s the mood like
in the locker room? Diehl: It’s been
a tough season with lots of ups and downs; more downs this season.
But one thing is that everyone has really worked hard this season with
no blaming or pointing fingers regardless of the outcome we stayed
together as a team and will try to finish on a high note. Chronicle: Tell us about growing up with other Croatian
American kids? Diehl: Well, we
used to go St. Jerome’s Church and Croatian Centar. It was hard for
me because I was playing lots of time consuming sports and they were
definitely a part of my life. But I remember those meetings in church
or Centar, breakfast with other Croats from North side of Chicago everyone
being Croatian and so together. It’s a great thing about being Croatian;
family members that you don’t even know get together with everyone
so friendly and so outgoing. Chronicle: How did GRB end up in your arm? Diehl: As for
the decision to put a GRB on my arm, I was at a friend's house when
I spotted the GRB on their fridge. I really liked the design and decided
to take it and put it on my arm. It was a little different design from
the normal GRB I would see. Chronicle: Dave, we like it just the way it is! Were you
Cubs or White Sox fan? Diehl: Once again
growing up on Southside of Chicago I was a Sox fan. Next year Sox we’ll
do a lot better! Chronicle: Before the draft did you have any special teams
that you wanted to play for? Diehl: It didn’t
matter; I just wanted a team that would give me the best opportunity.
I like big cities, so here with the Giants I have the best of both
worlds. Chronicle: Dave, you visited Croatian Center in Manhattan
on West 41st Street on your own. Any impressions?
Diehl: It was so
quick but I wanted to do it. It reminded me of times in Chicago when
I did things like go to the Croatian Cultural Centar for many different
events. I played in a Croatian 3 on 3 Basketball tournament at the
Centar. I also went to St. Jerome's for Velika Gospa. I went to Pittsburgh
with my cousin Brendan and friend Tom. My aunt Mirna brought us there
for a tambura concert. I also went to watch a basketball team from
Split come and play some local colleges in the Chicago land area. On
Christmas Eve my Uncle John Jurcev makes bakalar and other fish meals.
I also attended many Croatian picnics and went to some soccer tournaments.
I went to St. Jerome and Sacred Heart, which are both Croatian Catholic
Churches. Next year people
will see a lot more of me in the community.
David Diehl, New York Giants, 2008, photo from CROWN Several times
during the interview we were interrupted by other Giants coming over
and poking fun at Dave, indicating that # 66 is really liked and respected
by his teammates.
Vedran Joseph Nazor, Croatian Chronicle, 9th January 2004
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