RACHEL BELLE

Russell Wilson explains why he chooses to Eat the Ball

Jul 20, 2015, 5:23 PM | Updated: Jul 21, 2015, 11:19 am

Rachel Belle poses awkwardly with Russell Wilson, after their interview at VMAC. (Rachel Belle)...

Rachel Belle poses awkwardly with Russell Wilson, after their interview at VMAC. (Rachel Belle)

(Rachel Belle)

After having to cancel a press event on Friday, Russell Wilson made up for it with a few media interviews at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton today. The event was put on by the Austrian company, Eat The Ball. They make bread shaped like footballs, basketballs, baseballs, volleyballs, and Wilson is now an investor and spokesman.

While the Eat the Ball people really wanted me to ask him about the bread product, they also said I could ask him anything, as long as it didn’t involve his contract. I figured this was my chance to get in some juicy questions about Ciara, controversy with rapper Future and more.

Rachel Belle: So why did you decide to get involved with Eat the Ball?

Russell Wilson: I think the really cool thing about the ball, it’s in the shape of the ball, hence the “Eat the Ball.” Also you have the idea of the education part behind it too. We have an earth ball. It looks like the shape of a globe. It comes in, obviously, the seven different continents. So the goal was to get Eat the Ball not just in tailgating parties, and not just in stadiums all across the country and the world, but also in schools, public schools and private schools. When kids go grab their piece of bread, now they have an earth ball where they get to see the seven continents and think about, “Okay, what continent is this? What place do I want to go on this continent?” And have discussions with the table they’re sitting at. That’s really, really cool, I think, and I think that’s what’s going to be lasting.

Rachel Belle: Okay, so it’s called Eat the Ball. All of us with 4th grade senses of humors are definitely enjoying this. Did you think about the name when you got involved?

Russell Wilson: Yeah! I think it’s been a play on words. I think that it’s a cute little way to have some fun with it, too. For kids, obviously the idea of eating the ball, the athletic ball, the football. But also, there’s some adult fun with it I guess, people can joke around. I think the idea of there’s one ball, one game. That’s what it is. We only have once chance on this earth to really have sustainability and I think that what we’re doing with the idea of full molds on these breaded balls, it makes a huge difference.

I figured I’d asked enough bread questions and moved on to the questions we all want to ask.

RB: Do you regret the comments that you made when you did that video interview talking about the fact that you and Ciara have chosen not to have sex? That’s something that was in the news nationally, internationally. Is that something you wish you never brought up?

RW: Well, it went from Eat the Ball to this, I don’t know how that happened. But, no, I don’t. I don’t have any regret, no. I’m a blessed man, I’m very, very grateful.

Last week, Future, Ciara’s ex and father of her one-year-old son Future Jr., was on a radio show reacting to a photo of Russell Wilson pushing his son in a stroller. Future told the hosts of The Breakfast Club that you never bring a new boyfriend around your child and that Wilson shouldn’t have been pushing the stroller.

RB: Do you have any reaction to Future’s comments?

RW: Uh, I don’t pay attention to all that.

RB: Have you always dreamed of being famous? You seem to like the red carpet and wearing a tux. It’s not for everyone, but it seems to suit you.

RW: Yeah, you know, I always say dress for the job you want, not the job you’ve got. I’m very blessed, I’m grateful for all the opportunities I get to have. Obviously going to the ESPY’s but also being the host of the Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports Awards. That was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. So I am very, very grateful.

RB: Let’s talk about football! You have gone to two Super Bowls, training camp is coming up, will the team do anything different this year?

RW: No, I believe in consistency. You don’t change anything, especially if you’ve gotten that far. To go to two Super Bowls in three years is pretty special. I don’t try and change my mindset at all. I just try and improve my mindset.

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Russell Wilson explains why he chooses to Eat the Ball