Ricky Williams Reflects on His Legacy at Cannadelic Miami
Miami — A mere 301 yards stand between Ricky Williams and the legendary Larry Csonka on the Miami Dolphins all-time rushing list. With 6,436 yards, Williams trails Csonka’s impressive 6,737 yards, a gap that brings mixed feelings for the former running back, now an astrologer and entrepreneur.
Ricky Williams Returns to South Florida
This weekend, Williams is back in South Florida for the Cannadelic Miami, a two-day festival that celebrates cannabis and psychedelics at the Miami Airport Convention Center. He took part in a thought-provoking panel discussion titled, “The Psychedelic Locker Room,” exploring how natural plant medicines like cannabis and psychedelics such as ayahuasca can facilitate healing, broaden awareness, and enrich life experiences.
A Legacy Beyond Football
During our conversation, I took Williams down memory lane, recalling our discussion from around 2009 or 2010 about his goal to reach 10,000 rushing yards, a benchmark often viewed as a stepping stone to the Hall of Fame.
“I had two paths I could have taken regarding the Hall of Fame,” he shared. “One path would have taken me closer to the Hall of Fame, one path would have taken me away from it. I consciously chose to go with the one that was away from it, and I’m glad that I did because of all that I’ve gotten in return.”
Williams treasures his time with the Dolphins, stating, “It’s where I had the most success as a professional, and I made a name for myself… I ran for a thousand yards multiple times, and I was the NFL leading rusher and an All-Pro. All that happened in Miami.”
Moving Forward
While Williams’s position as the No. 2 rusher in Dolphins history doesn’t haunt him, he has transitioned into a new life phase where he identifies primarily as an astrologer. “I do consultations, I write code for my app (Lila), and I teach,” he says, reflecting on the broader impact of his work beyond the football field.
Insights on Consciousness and Healing
Williams is passionate about exploring ways to foster awareness and healing. His involvement in Cannadelic Miami includes launching a cannabis line named “Highsman,” which he humorously timed to coincide with the recent opening of Goldflower, a local Miami dispensary.
“The plants and the medicine are tools that give us the potential to study what’s going on with consciousness,” he explains. “As more people are willing to use these tools to expand their consciousness, we’ll learn a whole lot more.”
Advocacy for Cannabis
When asked if he had any regrets regarding his past choices related to cannabis, Williams said he’d have advocated for it more during his career. “I think it’s easy to say in this day and age, but back then I didn’t realize how many advocacy groups were out there. I was in a position at my level in the NFL that I could have started that conversation.”
The Dolphins Community Reaction
While some Dolphins fans might still hold onto the memory of Williams’ abrupt retirement in 2004, former teammate Tim Bowens reflects a broader sentiment within the team, noting, “We were probably more confused than anything… most of the guys were probably on Rick’s side.” Bowens sees Williams as a trailblazer for his views on cannabis as a healing agent.
The Competitive Spirit Endures
Despite his ventures into astrology and cannabis, Williams still holds a competitive edge. He reflected on his desire to lead the Dolphins in all-time rushing yards. “The 10,000 yards would have come with it,” he said, emphasizing his longing to finish his career as the franchise’s leading rusher.
“That’s the only regret,” Williams concluded, “that I didn’t play my last year here.”
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