The Carolina Panthers open training camp on July 25. To get you ready, The Charlotte Observer staff writers David Scott and Stan Olson have asked some of the players to answer a few fun questions. Today's subject is starting quarterback Jake Delhomme:

Q: Who was your key mentor/motivator?

A: It had to have been Billy Joe Tolliver, a quarterback I played with in New Orleans. I was at that age -- a young age -- and I was able to follow him a lot.

He showed me the right things. How to prepare for a game, how to study, how to "swallow the sword," so to speak, when things go wrong.

Q: Do you have a hobby that gets you away from football?

A: Yeah, the horse racing, without a doubt. That's my escape. It's not golf, it's just that. Just being out and about with it.

It's an extremely humbling sport, because if you win 20 or 18 percent of the time, that's good. You have that percentage in any other sport, you're fired.

Q: What are you afraid of?

A: I have a big fear of not performing up to my standards.

I'm afraid of scary movies, I will say that, but I'm afraid of not performing up to my standards and what I think I need to do. But I hate scary movies. I hate 'em.

Q: TV shows that you won't miss, or at least record?

"American Idol." With a couple of young kids, it's limited, but definitely "American Idol." My wife and I, that's one thing because our 5-year-old is really into that, too. That would have to be the one. Because other than that, it's tough. We like "Grey's Anatomy" if we can; "The Bachelor" we watch.

Q: What's your favorite guilty pleasure?

A: I don't know if I feel guilty about too many things. I could sit down, put a computer on my lap and read my horse stuff; I could do that for awhile. I could get lazy doing that."

Q: What's your favorite vacation spot?

A: My favorite is Destin, Florida.

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