Q: What was the relationship between Donald Trump and Herschel Walker of Georgia football fame during the early and mid-1980s?
—Richard Grimes, Stockbridge
A: Walker signed with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League after his junior year at UGA.
Trump bought the franchise in 1984, after the USFL’s first season, and began “a unique relationship” with Walker, Sports Illustrated’s Tim Rohan said in a video that accompanied his July article on Trump’s time as a team owner.
“Trump would invite Herschel to dinner,” Rohan said. “They hung out away from the field and became friends. Herschel even took Trump’s son, Donald Jr., to Disney World and the Bronx Zoo. From time to time, too, Trump would give Herschel advice, like an older brother.”
Walker said in the article: “At the time, my wife and I didn’t have any kids. And I was brought up in a large family with a lot of kids around and stuff. It was just taking a friend’s kids to the zoo.”
Walker supported Trump during his presidential campaign, but canceled his appearance at this summer’s Republican National Convention when he needed to see a friend who was sick, the AJC reported in July.
Walker, who also appeared on Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” in 2009, played for the Generals for three seasons before joining the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys in 1986.
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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