Interview with Hakim Warrick

Hakim Warrick is a forward on the Chicago Bulls. Him and Carmelo Anthony were important roles in helping Syracuse win a National Championship in 2003. He averaged 8.7 points this year with the Bulls and is nicknamed "Helicopter". Here is our interview:

BW: What was it like winning a National Championship?
HW: It was a dream come true.

BW: WHo is your idol and why?
HW: Penny Hardaway because I always liked how smooth he was and how easy he made it look so easy.

BW: Who is the toughest person for you to guard and why?
HW: Dirk [Nowitzki] because he's 7 foot and can shoot the and create his own shot like a guard.

BW: Why didn't you declare early with Carmelo?
HW: I wanted to come back and finish school and try to win another national championship.

BW: Who is your favorite teammate?

HW: My favorite teammate in college was my roommate Josh Pace.

BW: What is your most embarrassing moment?
HW: Losing 1st round to vermont my senior year.

BW: What do you do pre-game?
HW: Usually listen to music and try to relax and get ready for the game.

BW: What advice do you give to a young basketball player?
HW: To work hard and always believe in yourself because if you dont believe in yourself nobody will.

Interview with Will Barton

Will Barton is the 11th best player in the 2011 college class. He is a great guard who chose to go to Memphis over Kentucky, Villanova, Syracuse and more. Here is our interview:

BW: Why did you pick Memphis?

WB: Coach Pastner, and assistant coach Glen Cyprien. Also getting a chance to come in and play with my brother Antonio Barton, making it a family atmosphere, and good academics.

BW: How long do you plan on staying college?

WB: Until im ready for the NBA.

BW: Who was your favorite player growing up and why?

WB: Kobe bryant because he is a winner and the best. Also he is a shooting guard like me so I can model my game after him.

BW: Who was your idol and why?

WB:My mom because she has been through alot to raise me, my brother, and sister. She is a single parent and she has always been there for me.

BW: Who do you model your game after?

WB: Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant.

Interview with Jose Tabata

Jose Tabata was the Yankees second best prospect in 2008. He was in the trade that sent Ross Ohlendorf to the Pirates with Tabata and sent Marte and Xavier Nady to the Yankees. He is on his way to become an outfield star.

BW: Who is your idol? Why?

JT: Andres Galarraga followed the example and never made a dirty trick in his life in this case, overcame cancer and for his charisma and his way of life despite the fame.

BW: Who is your favorite baseball player?

JT: Derek Jeter is my favorite player because he is consistent and does not lose his groove despite the years he has played.

BW: What baseball player are you like?

JT: Players like Andruw Jones.

BW: What advice would you give to a young baseball player?

JT: Players like Andruw Jones would tell you, the advice to a player to not take criticisms the wrong way, and above all fight for what you want regardless of the obstacles you may encounter.

Interview with Tyrone Johnson

Tyrone Johnson is a quick and one of the best guards of the 2012 college freshman. He committed to be a Georgetown Hoya in two years and seems like a classy superstar. Here is our interview:

BW:How difficult is it for a basketball star to choose a college?
TJ: Its very difficult for a student athlete to choose the right institution for them for many reasons. Location, the prospect might want to stay close to home to friends and family. Education purposes, the school might want him to start for there basketball team but do not offer his major at there university. Size of the school, some prospects want to be seen with bigger names rather than a smaller school thats more family oriented.

BW:Who is your idol and why?
TJ: My idol is Martin Luther King Jr, because he fought for all people and stood up for what he believed in and people hated him for it but soo many more people loved him for it. He died for his dream and now because of his dream, the world is a better place.

BW:What NBA are you most similar to?
TJ: The NBA player I'm most similar to has to be LeBron James. He came from nothing with the world against him and became a success in the midst of drugs, crime, and adversity.

BW:Who is your favorite NBA team?
TJ:My favorite NBA team is the Cleveland Cavaliers.

BW:Were you always a Georgetown fan?If not, who were you a fan of?
TJ: No. I'm a North Carolina Tarheels fan. I love the winning tradition they have and how they go about keeping their tradition alive.

Interview with Brad Childress

Brad Childress is the coach of the division winning Minnesota Vikings. Brad was able to take the time to answer these questions despite a hectic draft week for the Vikings. Here is our interview:

BW:What do you want your legacy to be remembered as?
BC: I think the most important aspect our coaches want to be remembered by is our preparation. No team can win every game, but we always want to outhustle and outprepare our opponents so it gives us the best chance to succeed. In any sport, the way you go about practicing and preparing carries over to game day. To be a winner, you must prepare like one.

BW:What is your most embarrassing moment?
BC: I've learned from many mistakes on the job. The one I regret is cutting Marcus Robinson on Christmas Eve. I should not have handled the situation that way and should have shown more compassion. I do not regret cutting him, but I look back in embarrassment at cutting him on that particular day and time. Marcus has a family--that move could have waited until after the holiday season.

BW: What is the toughest part of being a head coach?
BC: To be a head coach, you must have thick skin. Luckily for myself, I have been around Andy Reid, Barry Alvarez and many other strong-willed, talented coaches in my career. The fans are always very important to us, but it's crucial a coach remains dedicated to what he believes in, even if it's unpopular among many fans.

BW: Who has been your favorite player to coach?
BC: I've enjoyed almost all of the young men I've had the pleasure of coaching. Two of my favorites have been Pat Williams and Antoine Winfield based on the way our relationships have changed over time. Both are great young men and very strong willed. I pushed Antoine and Pat to get better and they pushed me to get better. We didn't always have a smooth relationship initially, but now we have a great one.

BW: What team did you like as a kids?
BC: Growing up in Illinois, I was a Bears fan.

BW: Who was your idol when you were younger?
BC: Family has always been very important to me. I love football but family comes first, and they are my inspiration.

Interview with VT Coach Seth Greenberg

Seth Greenberg is the head coach of Virginia Tech men's basketball team. Coincidentally we are from the same town and we got to meet at the Jewish Hall of Fame. Here is our interview:

BW: Are you a good motivator considering you have beaten three top seeds as a coach (UNC, Duke, and Kansas; coincidentally who have won the past three National Championships)?

SG: I think we try to get our kids to play to their potential and be the best they can be and get them to understand to play every play and not to take a play off. To compete at the highest level each and every night is what our goal is as coaches?

BW: How do you think your team will do this coming season?

SG: I'm excited about our team. We returned, as long as Malcolm Delaney decides to come back and not go to the NBA then we return a lot of very good players. Now that doesn't mean because we were successful last year, really has nothing to do with this coming year. You've got to do it every single year. We have the potential to be really special?

BW: Who was your favorite coach as a kid?

SG: Probably Red Holzman. Who I looked up to when I got into to coaching was Larry Brown. Red Holzman because the concept of playing great defense, making the extra pass, ball-you-man defense, and moving without the ball. And Larry Brown because I thought he was a great communicator as a coach?

BW: What was your most challenging moment?

SG: You know your most challenging moment coaching is just trying to rebuild programs. At Virginia Tech we had to rebuild a program in the toughest basketball conference in the country, the ACC, but it is also your most rewarding moment.

BW: What was your proudest moment?

SG: Probably when we beat number one Kansas in Kansas. Winning on the road is so difficult.

BW: What goal do you want to accomplish by the time your career is over?

SG: To help mentor and develop young people and hopefully try to compete for a National Championship.

Interview with Bill Goldberg

Bill Goldberg was a professional wrestler and now is a star on Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice. He is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. Here is our interview:

BW: Did you ever find any challenges because you were Jewish?

BG: Absolutely. Everybody thinks that the stereotypes over the years continue on in the year 2010. That is just not the case. As a kid growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, there weren't many Jewish kids in Tulsa. For sure we were a minority. And did I get picked on as a kid, absolutely. But one day I stood up for myself, and I said, "Absolutely no more. No more." So the trials and tribulations I went through as a kid, I didn't want anyone else to go through. If I could find something in my life to help others deal with that situation then I'm gonna do it and I was lucky enough when I got hurt playing football I couldn't do that anymore so I wasn't as successful as I wanted to be so I went into professional wrestling and I got a bit lucky. The rest is history.

BW: Who do you want to star in a movie with?

BG: No one. I don't like movies.

BW: Who won The Celebrity Apprentice?

BG: Uhm, Rod Blagojeveich.

BW: Who were your favorite people to work with on The Celebrity Apprentice?

BG: Curtis Stone and Holly [Robinson] Peete.

BW: Is that Bret Michaels' real hair?

BG: I would say no.

Interview with Jon Scheyer

Jon Scheyer is one of the best players in Duke history. This year his Blue Devils beat Butler to win the National Championship. Here is our interview from the Jewish Hall of Fame:

BW: What made you decide to go to Duke?

JS: I would say many things played into going to Duke, one of them would be Coach K, being able to play in Cameron and their stadium, and I knew the players I would play with so it was exciting.

BW: What was going through your head when Gordon Heyward threw up the last shot in the National Championship game?

JS: I was a little nervous. I didn't think it was going in, but there's always that small doubt. Basically it changes whether or not you win the National Championship, but I was happy when it didn't go in.

BW: What was it like being a part of the North Carolina-Duke rivalry?

JS: Well it's the best rivalry in all of sports to me and one of the reasons that makes me feel that way is that you're five minutes apart, not a couple of hours, five minutes from each other.

BW: Who was your toughest defender?

JS: Toney Douglas was one of the toughest. He was a really tough guard and he is with the Knicks right now.

BW: Who is your idol and why?

JS: A couple of guys at Duke. Two that stand out are Shane Battier and JJ Redick. Just the way they present themselves how they competed and especially the way Shane was a great leader.

BW: What are your goals for the NBA?

JS: I want to get on a good team. I want to win and I want to be successful. I want to contribute.

Check in for new interviews for the next six days all at 8:09 AM Eastern Time.

From One WNBA Great to the Next: Interview with Courtney Paris

Courtney Paris was one of the best women's college basketball players of this era. She is now a member of the Chicago Sky and nice enough to do this interview with me:

BW: Do you regret going to Oklahoma over champ UConn?

CP: No, I don't regret going to Oklahoma over UConn... they were my top two schools but I feel like Imade the right choice. UConn is a great program and I wanted to go to Oklahoma and help make it become great as well.

BW: What was your most embarrasing moment of your career and why?

CP: Most embrarrssing moment had to be top of my junior year I was with the national team in Chile and I thought our game was 3 hours earlier then it was. So I had my uniform and bag and everything ready to go at our team lunch and I walk into the room and everyone else is in their normal clothes, then Diana Turasi goes, "Hey coach look like the rookies ready to play."

BW: What was your toughest moment and why?

CP:Toughest moment had to be my last college game in the Final Four, I really wanted to win a national championship but the thing that was really tough was knowing that it was the last time I would play with that group of girls.

BW: Who was your idol?

CP:I love Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever.

BW: Do you think women will play in the NBA? If so, do you think you will?

CP: Well right now we are forturnate to have our on National Basketball Association in the WNBA but if a women were to play in the NBA I would say it would be Candace Parker. Most post players in the nba are between 6'10- 7 feet. Candace is 6'5 and she has guard skills so she would probably be the best to do it.

BW: Who is your toughest opponent?

CP: I find most times the toughest opponent is myself.

Interview with Kym Hampton

She will undoubtedly go down as one of the most dominant centers in WNBA history. Known for her tough moves around the basket and tenacious rebounding, this Louisville, KY, native's playing career spanned two decades while her influence and community involvement is unmeasured. Her name is Kym Hampton and here is our interview:

BW: Who was your idol and why?

KH: I never really had one. I just appreciate people that are great at

what they do and carry themselves in a classy manor.

BW: What NBA were you similar to when in the WNBA?

KH: I'd say Charles Barkley and Oakley, Olajuwon (and I'm talking from

the onset to finish of my career).

BW: Do you think women will ever play in the NBA? If so, when?

KH: I don't think so. I wonder why people would want to diminish the

great skills of a woman by placing her in an environment that doesn't
consistently showcase those skills?

BW: How do you think the Liberty will be this year?

KH: I think the Liberty is going to have a great season this year. We

added some great players to the roster and they are ready to go! You
guy's should come to some games this year!

BW: Who is your favorite current WNBA player?

KH: I like Candice Dupree, Silvia Fowler, Cappie Pondexter, Shameka

Christon, Kia Vaughn, Diana Taurasi, Lauren Jackson...so many more.

BW: How long do you think the UConn womens win streak will last?

KH: Until this upcoming season.

Interview with Trevor Immelman

Trevor Immelman won the 2008 Masters. Both PGA Tour tournaments he won (The Masters and The Cialis Western Opens), Tiger finished second. He is from South Africa and was the 2008 PGA Rookie of the Year.Here is our interview:

BW: Who was your favorite golfer growing up?

TI:My favorite golfer growing up was Ernie Els.

BW: Who was your idol and why?

TI:The only idol I'll ever have is Jesus Christ.

BW: How hard is it to concentrate while playing the Masters?

TI:It can be hard to concentrate with so many people around, but you need to find a way to block it out and focus on your game.

BW: What was the first thought after you won the Masters?

TI:My first thought was " I can't believe it, I've won the Masters."

BW: Where is your "Green Jacket"?

TI: All past champions keep their Green Jackets in our lockers at Augusta National.

Interview with DeAndre McDaniel

Here is my interview with Clemson safety, DeAndre McDaniel. He is the best in his position for the 2011 Draft. Here is my questions:

BW: Who was your idol and why?

DM:My idol has always been Brian Dawkins! He always played with passion and was aways a good leader! Plays every play like it's his last.

BW: What NFL player are you similar to?

DM: Sean Taylor! I can play the box like a SS and play the middle of the like a FS.

BW:What team do you want to play for in the NFL?

DM: Doesn't matter! My favorite team is the Eagles even though Dawkins left.

BW:What is your most embarrasing moment?

DM: Falling off bike in front of friends and girls!

Interview with Gabe Carimi

Gabe Carimi is the top offensive tackle in next year’s NFL Draft. He is currently projected as a top-20 pick and to the NY Jets. Here is our interview:

BW: Who was your idol? Why?

GC: I don't really have one but I guess I always try to emulate my father's integrity and kindness because he is a care and sincere person. I guess you could say my father Is my Idol.

BW: When did you start playing football?

GC: I started in the 7th grade.

BW: What NFL player are you similar to?
GC: Joe Thomas

BW: What was your favorite moment as a football player?
GC: 1st Big ten opener started as a red shirt freshmen against Iowa in Camp Randell at night.

BW: What advice do you give to a young football player?

GC: Hard work is the only reason why I am in the position I am today.

BW: Does pressure come with being the top offensive tackle of next years draft class?

GC: I just try not to think about it and constantly try to focus on being better today.

Interview with Greg Anthony

Here is an interview with Greg Anthony. He has won a National Title and played in the NBA Finals. He is now an analyst on CBS and a great guy. Here is our interview:

BW: What was your greatest thrill of playing in the NBA?

GA: Playing for an NBA Championship under Pat Riley!

BW: What is your favorite part of announcing?

GA: The fact that I'm blessed enough to make a living doing something I would do for free. Every aspect of it is fun, allows me to stay in touch with the game that has meant so much to me my entire life.

BW: Where do you think Lebron’s going?

GA: I think Lebron is right where he's going! I can't see any scenario that would have him leave.

BW: What current player reminds you of yourself?

GA: Good question. I'd say Kalin Lucas at Michigan State.

BW: Who was your idol and why?

GA: My mom, I wish I could have told her that more often...She sacrificed everything so that I might have a chance to pursue my dreams...Magic Johnson was someone I admired because of how much joy he had in playing the game.

BW: Do you have any interest in coaching?

GA: I've thought about it yes, maybe down the road but I got an awesome job that I couldn't imagine doing anything else.

Interview with Deunta Williams

Deunta Williams is the top free safety in next years NFL draft. This Tar Heel is ready to be the NFL's next best free safety. Here are my questions for #27:

BW: Who was your idol?


DW: The person I idolize the most is my uncle. My uncle has taught me how to become a man. I grew up without my dad in my life so my uncles stood up and molded me to the person I am today.





BW: What NFL player are you most similar to?


DW: I would think I play like Ed Reed sometimes.





BW: Is your team good enough to contend for a National Title?


DW: I definitely believe that UNC is ready to win a Natty





BW: What NFL team do you want to play for?


DW: I don't have a favorite NFL team.





BW: What do you want to accomplish in your football career?


DW: I want to be the best, and win a championship.

Interview with Adrian Golden

Adrian Golden is a high school football player at Tarpon Springs High School in Florida. Some of the schools he is thinking about going to are Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, and more. He is the 58th best running back in next years college class.

BW: Is it difficult is it choosing a school to play at?

AG: Yes, because it's where you are going to get ur education and football for 3 or 4 years.

BW: What has been your favorite school to visit? Why?

AG: University of Florida was great area people are so nice there.

BW: What was your favorite school as a kid?

AG: University of Florida

BW: If you can play in the NFL, who do you want to play for?

AG: The Washington Redskins

BW: Who is your favorite football player and why?

AG: Sean Taylor and Clinton Portis because there are caring men, in they came from the florida, and like when i see them doing their thing makes me want it more. R.I.P Sean Taylor.

Looking to the Future

This morning I woke up with a friend request on Facebook. A kid named Daniel Poneman. We had two mutual friends, so I messaged him saying, "who ru?" Since then I have been talking to him all morning. If you don't know who this kid is, you should.

Daniel Poneman was 16 when he started "IllinoisHSBasketball.com." He is now a Chicago, 18-year old, who was written about in Sports Illustrated in 2007. He has taught me some great lessons in our couple of hours of contact. Poneman interviews kids who are up-and-coming high school players, and when he gets them scholarships, they become names that NBA fans know like Derrick Rose and Evan Turner.

He got to where he is "by not being selfish and putting kids first and helping myself second, by not worrying about making money and only worrying about learning and creating opportunities, and by working harder than every one of my competitors." He is the future of writing in all of basketball, along with me, and couldn't be a nicer kid. He is in contact with hundreds of division one basketball coaches such as Bill Self of Kansas and Tubby Smith of Minnesota.

So everyone, please check out his blog and YouTube videos, and keep tabs on this great reporter.

Interview with Rick Cerrone

No, not the ex-Yankee catcher, but the ex-Yankee Public Relations Director. Rick Cerrone was the PR director for the Bombers for 11 year, and also was the Vice President of PR with the Pirates when Barry Bonds played there. Here is one of the more interesting, and funny interviews I have had in a while.

BW: What was the hardest part of being the Director of PR?

RC: The hardest part of the job was probably the hours. Once spring training starts, there are very few days off during the season. You also have to be able to handle many, many things at once. You could be in the middle of doing something important and something else will come up. Sometimes maybe two, three or four things would happen at once.

BW: Who was nicest player you worked for? Why?

RC: Most players were very nice. Of the stars, I would say Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Darryl Strawberry. Hideki Matsui was unbelievably nice and a pleasure to work with. Roger Clemens was also very nice and very professional.
But there were so many others like Tony Clark, Mike Myers, Ron Coomer, Nick Green, Homer Bush, Aaron Small. almost too many to name.

BW: Who was the toughest player you worked for? Why?

RC: Let's say the most challenging player was Hideki Irabu, a Japanese pitcher. Nothing I did or suggested to him worked. He seemed like a very unhappy person. David Wells was challenging because he would say and do controversial things. He even got fined for writing a book. But I liked him,

BW: How was Barry Bonds to work with?

RC: I liked Barry...still do. He was challenging as well.

BW: Funniest story of being with the Yankees?

RC: I'll have to think about the funniest story with the Yankees. That's a good question.

BW: What was your favorite press conference?

RC: There were a lot of great press conferences, Brad. The signing of Matsui was ther biggest...mayber the biggest ever held. I also enjoyed the big announcements we made at the Stadium--A-Rod, Mussina, Sheffield.

Upcoming probable interviews include Anna Kournikova, Vincent Jackson, and more.

McSuper?

Will Donovan McNabb bring a title to Washington? Are the Redskins good enough?

The Redskins created a triple-back running game (Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker), a great coach, Hall of Fame quarterback, and will continue with bringing a big time draft pick to Washington. The Redskins already have a tough defense with Albert Haynesworth, London Fletcher, and young Brian Orakpo. But do they have enough to win a Super Bowl?

No. Clinton Portis has been decent the past few years. McNabb has Santana Moss to throw to and after that, there isn't much. But since McNabb said the past is forgotten with him and Terrell Owens, could the Redskins sign the 6-time Pro Bowler? Larry Johnson and Willie Parker have been off their great years since about 2007, but they could return with good health. But you never know with Mike Shanahan. Prove me wrong coach.

When they draft with the fourth-pick of the NFL Draft, most likely Sam Bradford and Ndamukong Suh will be off the board. So who will they draft? They need an offensive lineman. Now Russell Okung of Oklahoma State is well worth there pick, but if I am the Washington Redskins, I trade down to about the 20th pick and draft Idaho's Mike Iupati. They could gain the pick back that they lost in the McNabb trade and have another great lineman.

What A Story?

The number one seed of the 2010 NCAA Tournament is the Kansas Jayhawks. The second number one is the Kentucky Wildcats. And the third number one is the Syracuse Orange.

In most of the Final Four scenarios there was a lot of Jayhawks, Wildcats, Orange, and Villanova. I fell for the Villanova curse even though they clearly weren't good enough to go to the Final Four. I picked Baylor twice to go to the Final Four, but people hate Duke. People (me) had a problem with picking 'Cuse, so they picked Pitt(me)(YUCK!) and K-State.

Not once Butler. Not once Michigan State. Except for the crazy 200 people on ESPN that had perfect Final Fours. Now this gut feeling about Duke to the Final Four back at the beginning of March, tells me I gotta trust my gut. People picked Duke because it has been a common phrase, "Don't EVER trust Duke."

Well now here we have a National Championship between an under-estimated, small conference program, Butler, against the most hated one-seed and courageous Duke Blue Devils. This is a year where everyone was expecting that two of the biggest programs in college basketball, Kansas and Kentucky, would square off in a coaching duel and a game featuring seven first round draft picks. I should've thought that like most one-and-done's (Durant, Derrick Rose) usually never get the prize of a National Title.

Now to my prediction. After my dead on Finals prediction, of Butler by 2 and Duke with a Scheyer explosion, I think that I have to go with the villain. I mean the odds most definitely face the Butler Bulldogs. Home court, on a great run, and two future NBA pros, but I think if Duke could blowout WVU, they can take on Butler.

Butler 62, Duke 65.

Final Four Predictions...Last Minute

Ok, game time is in three minutes. Just finished part of my English homework. Recommend the book I read, Feed by M.T. Anderson. I am excited!

I think that in the first game, Butler will win the game. Michigan State has too much questions. Despite playing so well lately, I am going with the underestimated, home team in Butler. It feels like Davidson back in 2008. I think Butler wins by 2 and Gordon Hayward goes for 28. Would you ever guess that a fifth seed would be in the finals in a year with great Kansas and Kentucky? Or that Michigan State would be back in the Final Four?

On to the next game, the tough game, I love the Mountaineers, especially after the Big East Title game. I have this gut feeling about the Dukies, but I think I'm going with my gut. Duke's seniors played West Virginia in 2008 and lost. I think Scheyer goes crazy and Duke meets Butler in the championship.