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Barber, 31, wasn't always in such demand: Early in his pro career, coaches thought he was too small at 5'10" to carry the load of a star runner. And he was all but ignored by a sports media world that seemed to view him as just too nice (he's famous for saying he owes his success to his blockers). But this past season, his ninth, his performance was too impressive to ignore. He led the NFL in total yards gained (rushing and pass receiving) and finally earned recognition as a premier player.
A few years ago, Barber joined forces with the chief supporter in his life, his twin brother, Ronde, and began writing children's books based on their growing-up experiences (their third, entitled Teammates, is due out this fall). Ronde, of course, is an NFL star in his own right, a defensive back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yet the Barber twins were born premature and came into the world undersized and sickly. They were raised in Roanoke, Virginia, by a single mother, Geraldine, who supported them by working a variety of jobs including one at a local Girl Scouts council. She juggled her jobs so she could make all their games.
As they told Reader's Digest recently, the twins grew up leaning on each other. The bond between them remains strong to this day.
Tiki: The person who was literally always there for me was Ronde. Often we were the only black kids -- our neighborhood was mostly white. We were also very shy. So we found comfort in being together.
I think Ronde was always more fun-loving than me. But I had to keep up with him. In fact, we were always trying to top one another: "If you can do this, I can do it better!" One day, I tried to outdo him by riding my bike down a hill -- and ended up crashing and tearing up my knee.
Ronde: Tiki was trying to be too cautious coming down that hill, and I just flew down. I was more adventurous, and that's true to this day.
Tiki: I had to wear a brace for a long time after the accident. I couldn't even bend the knee. Ronde said, "I'll play for both of us." We were playing baseball then. After every game, he'd come back and tell me all about it. It made me feel like I was still involved.
That fall, when I started playing sports again, Ronde was my teammate -- he was always my teammate, because Mom wouldn't have it any other way. She knew Ronde and I had this amazing bond. Since I could run slightly faster than him, I became the star of the little league football team. I was given the ball, and Ronde had to block for me. Eventually, he got his chance to be the star -- and proved he could score touchdowns too. It's funny. I tended to have the early success, while Ronde would start slowly. Then, somehow, he'd surpass me.
Ronde: Tiki was always the more dynamic player. But I enjoyed blocking -- I wanted to see him score. When you're a kid, the fun is in just playing together. A lot of kids aren't the star of their team, yet they can still have fun being part of things.
Tiki: After being together for the first 21 years of our lives, we finished college at the University of Virginia on the same team and waited to see what would happen in the NFL draft. Getting drafted into pro football was something we'd both dreamed about. But it was bittersweet, because we knew this run of being teammates was about to end. We went our separate ways -- me to New York, Ronde to Tampa -- and it was really the first time we were without each other. We talked every day on the phone.
Ronde: I think I had a lien on my credit because of those phone bills!
Tiki: But we didn't coddle each other. I went through a rough period where I was fumbling the ball a lot. And Ronde would say, "This isn't like you. You need to figure this out."
Ronde: Lots of people have opinions on how you're playing, but it makes a difference when you hear a voice that really cares.
Tiki: When we finally played against each other, it was hard. I always want Ronde to do well and to win -- but at the same time, I'm loyal to my team. I told myself, Okay, this is my job. I just have to do it. During one play he tackled me hard -- I mean, he smacked me! I said to him, "Well, what's up, bro?" And he said, "I'm doing my job."
Ronde: That's how I tackle everybody. I'm telling you, man, if he had a chance to run me over, he would have.
Tiki: When the Giants made it to the Super Bowl in 2001, Ronde was there pulling for me -- and he was there for me after we lost. Two years later, Ronde got his chance at the Super Bowl. During the play-offs, I flew to Tampa to cheer him on. I was standing on the sideline when Ronde intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. He ran right by me.
Afterward, Ronde came over and gave me the ball. His team won that game and the next, and then played in the Super Bowl -- and won it. Like I said, I may do things first, but Ronde always surpasses me. Now he's won a Super Bowl and I haven't yet. It drives me to work harder to catch up.
Ronde: Being in New York, he'll probably be the first to get his own TV show. But maybe I'll be the one who wins an Emmy.
Tiki: We don't talk constantly the way we used to -- that began to change after we both got married and had kids -- but it's been great writing the books with Ronde. We got our love of reading from our mother. And we wanted to focus on the importance of believing in yourself and never giving up. Ronde and I are teammates again -- like when we were younger.
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