(Editor’s Note: Former Bamberg-Ehrhardt and Clemson Tigers star defensive end Ricky Sapp is in Boca Raton, Fla., training at XPE Sports in preparation for the 2010 NFL Draft. The diary of Ricky Sapp, who is projected to be a first-round draft pick, will appear in The T&D each Sunday through the NFL Draft.)

I am in my second week of training here in Boca Raton, Florida.

As the days go by, I know that I’m getting closer and closer to combine time. This week was just about, or if not harder, than last week training-wise, but I have to keep my focus. I have one ultimate goal and that is to live my dream and become a professional football player. I am getting so close; it feels like I can just reach out and grab it. That feeling is in the pit of my stomach and that is what wakes me up every morning to train as hard as my body can.

The Senior Bowl was (Saturday), and I decided not to participate. I know a lot of people were wondering about that. And the reason why I didn’t play is because I felt like I have a lot more work to do to get my knee stronger and ready for the combine, and I just did not want to take any chances. Yes, I missed out on a great opportunity to play with all the great seniors from this season, but I felt like that was the best decision for me.

A special visit

This week something special happened; My parents flew down from Bamberg to visit me. This was their first time flying, and I felt so happy that I could fly them out and give them a mini-vacation to forget about everything and just give them time to enjoy themselves. The first day they got here I took them to eat at my new favorite restaurant — THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY!

After dinner we sat around and talked. We hadn’t had a chance to talk like that in so long. They loved it here. From the moment they got here they said they did not want to leave. The second day I took them down to Miami and we just walked around on the strip ... went down to the beach. We even went on South Beach and just relaxed! They left Sunday. So, overall I finished my week very well. Seeing my parents was the breath of fresh air that I needed. It motivated me a little more, and refreshed my mind of why I was working so hard.

For my family and me!!!

Ask Ricky

Question: Ricky, I heard that you had a couple of nicknames, “Batman” and “Charlie Brown.” Where did you get those nicknames and why? Da’Quan Bowers, Bamberg.

Sapp Says: Well, Da’Quan Bowers gave me the nickname “Batman.” Many people do not know this, but I used to have a hard time falling asleep at night. So, usually I would stay up all hours of the night and never go to sleep. So, that’s how I got “Batman.” As far as “Charlie Brown,” my boys from back home gave me that nickname just to be funny because they always said everyone treated me so bad like they used to always treat Charlie Brown out of the cartoon.

(Want to ask Ricky Sapp a question as he prepares for the 2010 NFL Draft? Readers are encouraged to submit questions for the “Ask Ricky” section of Sapp’s diary each week to blinder@timesanddemocrat.com. Make sure to include your first and last name as well as your location when submitting the question. Each week, the best question will be passed along for Sapp to answer.)

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