TERRY BRADSHAW

In the 70s, Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl titles. Lately, he has evolved successful careers as a Fox N.F.L. commentator and as a breathless commercial spokesman. With his latest book, Its Only a Game, on the shelves, Bradshaw pauses to reflect on Li’l Abner, his championship horses, and the name Hank

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

To be content with today and to believe that, past disasters aside, the person I am today is O.K.

What is your greatest fear?

Failure. I am driven by a fear of failure.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Li’l Abner! ... Oh, historical? I thought you said hysterical.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Lying.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Buying horses. I don’t really spend much money on myself, but I do spend it on my horses. I love horses. And dogs.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

When you start rating virtues you’re already on the wrong path.

On what occasion do you lie?

I don’t tell big lies. I only lie to protect people. I don’t like hurting people. I’ve never told a father his son is less than an outstanding athlete, and every woman I’ve ever met is lovely. I admit, though, on occasion I do exaggerate; for example, my mother really has more than one tooth and she doesn’t drive a truck.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?

Besides being generally ugly? I like to say that if I looked like Brad Pitt it would take me an hour to shave every morning. Right now my record is 58 seconds. The truth is I have a hard time keeping my weight down and that bothers me. I don’t even mind being bald, but I don’t like being heavy.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Penny Clark, my high-school sweetheart. But the greatest passion of my life are my daughters, Erin and Rachel. Nothing else is even close.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I wish that I could sing.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Rachel and Erin.

What is your most treasured possession?

I do not -treasure material possessions. I can’t even find my Super Bowl rings. I treasure life, I treasure my health, but not one single possession.

What is your favorite occupation?

One day I hope to be a sports broadcaster. My dream would be to appear on Fox NFL Sunday, which is by far the finest show on television.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

True friendship. I don’t have many close friends, but I definitely value those that I do have.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

A good sense of humor. She needs to get the jokes.

What do you value most in your friends?

Loyalty.

Who are your heroes in real life?

My dad is my hero.

What are your favorite names?

I love Rachel, I love Erin. I named my first child Rachel Terry Bradshaw so if I ever had a son I wouldn’t be tempted to name him Terry junior. Hank is a fine, manly name. And Mary, the most beautiful name of all is Mary.

How would you like to die?

On the land, riding off into the sunset at an old age, at peace with the world and all those who inhabit it. Either that or on the Sunday show, just to see how long it would take before anybody realized I was actually dead and not just acting. Imagine the potential for ratings: “Last week on Fox NFL Sunday, Terry died. What will he do this week?”