My Favorite Cigar
Fred “The Hammer” Williamson • Athlete/Actor
Arturo Fuente Seleccion Privada No. 1
"My first cigar was when I was about 12 years old,” says “The Hammer,” a self-referential nickname that the former NFL cornerback Fred Williamson earned for his forearm smashes to hapless wide receivers. That’s the age Williamson began lighting his father’s cigar because he liked the smell so much. From then on, their ritual began, continuing until Fred began lighting cigars of his own.
The former Steeler, Raider and Chief was a three-time AFL All-Star cornerback who played in Super Bowl I, but he’s been in movies, including M*A*S*H and Starksy & Hutch, a reboot based on the 1970s TV series of the same name. Now 83, the spry actor is still at it, with a new film out now and a couple due for release.
When he isn’t shooting high-octane films, the athlete/actor likes to dine out with his wife, Linda, taking an al fresco, post-meal cigar overlooking the mountains of Palm Springs, California where they live. The Hammer also enjoys smashing golf balls because he’s “happy to hit something that doesn’t hit back!"
“Hey, its been a joy ride and it ain’t nearly over yet. You can bend, but you don’t have to break . . . So says The Hammer.”
