Former NFL Player Will Demps

Will Demps is undoubtedly one of the most handsome former football players of the NFL. A former San Diego State Aztec, Demps was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2002, playing for the New York Giants in 2006 and eventually as a Houston Texan until 2009.

Born to a Korean mother and an African-American father, Will Demps is quite well-known. During his childhood, his family relocated to California where he would soon realize his dream of becoming an NFL football player.

An entrepreneur at heart, Will is involved with numerous businesses. Demps is the owner of a Wet Willie’s chain bar in San Diego, California, the first on the West Coast and features dishes influenced by his mother’s home cooking such as Seoul tacos. He’s also in the middle of developing a social network for celebrities.

Interestingly, Demps likes to participate in Yoga and Pilates during his free time and speaks conversationally in Korean and Spanish.

ASIANCE: Interracial marriages are common these days. How did you mother (Korean) and father (African American) get together?

Will: They met out here in Victorville, CA. They were in the military.

ASIANCE: What customs or cultural aspects did your mom teach you about your Asian heritage? Any Asian customs practiced on a regular basis, something that would surprise the readers about you?

Will: Always have a kimchi jar in your refrigerator? (laughs)

ASIANCE: Yeah!

Will: My mom always taught me about the Korean culture. She taught me how certain Korean foods make you smarter…the Korean myths of certain foods. How some things are stronger for your bones. For me, I would always eat kimchi and rice.

ASIANCE: Would your mom serve Korean food to your friends?

Will: Yes. Tradition is to treat everyone like a family style. When friends come over it’s like she’s cooking for 20 people. Always set the tables, pray before you eat, have a big family feast but for us, it’s a Korean barbecue. Just be thankful for the food and your friends. I’ve always carried that my whole life. She makes all the kimchi.

ASIANCE: Do you visit Korea often?

Will: I actually just went back to Korea last year, after I retired. I did some media things out there. I lived there in the early ‘90s so it was good to be back. I visited my family, saw my cousins. It brought back a lot of my heritage. I was interviewed out there because I’m an American football player and I’m bi-racial.

ASIANCE: Do you speak Korean when you are interviewed in Korea?

Will: I spoke English and I joked a little in Korean. I could understand the questions but I wanted to speak it back properly.

ASIANCE: What made you decide to open Wet Willie’s in San Diego?

Will: It was the transition after football. I was presented a franchise on the West Coast. I always like taking challenges in life. I always joke to my friends and say, “I guess since I’m Korean, I have to own something.” A dry cleaners…(laughs)

After awhile I felt like I wanted to do a bar which is fine. My name is tied into it. It was fun and I was able to do it in my backyard, San Diego, so it was fun.

ASIANCE: What other businesses are you interested in getting involved with or starting?

Will: Telfan.com. It’s where celebrities can interact with their fans. It’s a social media website. I really can’t talk too much more about it because it hasn’t launched yet. It’s going to be a new fun social network to communicate with. I was a computer major at San Diego State. I’m excited to venture off with that.

ASIANCE: What’s in your iPod?

Will: I like R&B. I like Jack Johnson to house music. I listen to country and hard core hip-hop. I listen to Korean pop to Korean rap. I still listen to Kenny G.

ASIANCE: Do you have a favorite Korean artist?

Will: DJ Doc. Rain. He’s more for the women than for men.

ASIANCE: Do you have a girlfriend?

Will: No

ASIANCE: What do you look for in a woman?

Will: She has to be open minded, independent, know what she wants and be secure with herself. She has to follow her dreams as well. I don’t like complainers and naggers.

ASIANCE: Yeah forget that right? That’s like a typical guy. I bet you dump them real fast? (laughs)

Will: Yeahhhh.

ASIANCE: And what about physically?

Will: I want to be with someone that has a mind and body but has a personality that just takes your breath away. When we walk into a room, she needs to be just as happy as I am. She has this presence where you just want to be with her 24/7.

ASIANCE: Are you still a fan of the Jersey Shore?

Will: I love the Jersey Shore. At Wet Willie’s we call it JersDay. I’m mad when I play the Jersey Shore. I wish I could fist pump like them out there.

ASIANCE: Do you like this season?

Will: Oh I love this season with the whole Ronnie and Sammy.

ASIANCE: I never heard that before “grenade”. I wasn’t sure if it was guy talk or something?

Will: I never heard it before. His analogy of it is funny.

ASIANCE: Is the “Situation” still your favorite?

Will: Yes he started out as the one. Then I grew into Pauly D because he’s laid back and I’m very laid back. Now they call him the “Snitchuation”.

ASIANCE: Oh yeah you don’t like that?

Will: You can’t snitch on your boys, come on. Trying to get other dude’s girls?

ASIANCE: Tell us something we would be surprised to learn about you.

Will: I do Yoga and Pilates. I have a dog now. It’s a Jack Russell terrier. She’s a rescue. I named her Adrianna. It’s a common name in Brazil and I love Brazil.

ASIANCE: How often do you go to Brazil and what part?

Will: I go every year from Porto Alegre to Rio de Janeiro to Belo Horizonte.

ASIANCE: Do you go to Carnival?

Will: That’s a little too touristy.

ASIANCE: There’s a big Japanese population down there.

Will: BIG in Sao Paolo. My good friend’s Aunt is actually Korean. It’s funny to see a Korean speak Portuguese.

ASIANCE: Do you have a favorite football player?

Will: It’s funny because you can ask that to someone on the street but it’s hard because I’ve played with all these great players. Everyone is a good player to me and I like to watch them and play with them. It’s so hard to pinpoint just one or even a team. I just like to see all my friends play well and not get hurt. I know the injuries of the game.

ASIANCE: Yes the injuries seem to be getting worse. We just had a Rutgers football player become paralyzed. Seems to be pushing these guys really hard.

Will: They don’t understand that it’s part of the game. That’s why you have to appreciate every day that you can walk or play football. You never know if that one play can hurt you for the rest of your life.