Throwback Q&A with Hawk's Jeff Teague

As some of you know, I'm starting to compile some of my favorite Q&A interviews with sports stars for a book that I hope to finish within this year.

I was looking over some interviews this morning while discussing the topic with a friend. Former Wake Forest guard Jeff Teague, who's presently the starting point guard for the Atlanta Hawks was one of my favorite athletes to talk to.

 

He's got a very good game. And, he's the first Wake guard to really impress me since my main man Chris Paul. I caught up with Teague a couple weeks before he declared for the NBA Draft in 2009. Take a look at some of the things we talked about during a cool conversation.

Anthony: What's going on, Jeff?

Jeff: Nothing, really. Just been chilling. Getting ready to head to Indy for the Easter break. It's going to be good to see family and friends I haven't seen in a while.

Anthony: Let's talk a little basketball for a minute.

Jeff: All right.

Anthony: Characterize this past season for me.

Teague during his days at Wake Forest

Jeff: I mean, we did pretty good. We were ranked number one for a minute. We beat some good teams. We did some good things. We definitely finished better than a lot of people predicted. It was kind of disappointing to not advance in the Dance. But Cleveland State wanted it more than we did that night.

Anthony: That's an understatment. What happen to you all that night? Nevermind. (Both laugh.) I don't even want to go there. I talked to someone that played against you in high school. And, he said that you drive to the cup more now. Do you penetrate more than you did in high school?

Jeff: Uh, I penetrated a lot in high school. But I also shot a lot of threes because it was easier to get my shot off. I guess you can say I'm a better penetrater now.

Anthony: (Smiles.) Who are you picking to win it all?

Jeff: UNC.

Anthony: No doubt. What are you usually doing when you're not balling, bruh?

Jeff: Probably in the locker room playing video games with James (Johnson) and Gary. I love fighting games.

Anthony: Do you have a favorite show you like to watch?

Jeff: I still watch old re-runs of the Jamie Foxx Show during the late night.

Anthony: What was the last CD you bought or copied?

Jeff: Probably some Lil' Wayne CD.

Anthony: If you could play one-on-one with anyone who would it be?

Jeff: Probably LeBron. He's one of my favorite players to watch. I probably wouldn't win. He's beat me 11-3 or something like that. But it would be fun to play him.

Anthony: OK. Who wins between you and CP (Chris Paul)?

Jeff: It depends on how many dribbles we get because CP can shake you up a little bit. If we only get three dribbles then I think I could get him. We've played a little game called one-on-one-on-one. I won a couple. He won most of them. (Both laugh.)

Anthony: Are you coming back next year?

Jeff: (Smiles.) Yes. I think I'll be back next year. I'm pretty sure I'll play my junior year.  

Anthony: If you could trade places with anyone who would it be?

Jeff: Bill Gates. I need some money. He's got all the money.

Anthony: What kind of car would you like to have right now?

Jeff: A range rover. Chris' brother, C.J., got a hot range. I've wanted one ever since I saw his last year.

Anthony: What are the hottest sneakers right now?

Jeff: Probably the latest Jordan packages.

Anthony: What do you think about my kicks. (I'm showing off my exclusive Josh Howard Air Jordans).

Jeff: (Smiles.) Oh, those are hot. Real hot. I like those.

Anthony: No doubt. Let's finish up with free association. Uh, Wake Forest basketball.

Jeff: Great program.

Anthony: Jeff Teague.

Jeff: Student-athlete.

Anthony: Josh Howard. (Utah Jazz forward.)

Jeff: One of the greatest.

Anthony: Best guard in the ACC.

Jeff: Tyrese Rice. (Boston College)

Anthony: We'll stop right there, bruh. I'll catch up with you later homie.

Panther's DeAngelo Williams chats with ya boy

I may not have met a cooler pro football player than Carolina Panther running back DeAngelo Williams. He and I met during his first year with the Panthers.

Williams was drafted 27th (first round) by the Carolina Panthers in the 2006 NFL Draft after a stellar career at the University of Memphis. I was at the press conference to welcome Williams a couple days when he was drafted. I instantly gravitated to the speedy running back. I think it was because how low key DeAngelo is most of the time. He's simply a funny and cool dude.

It seemed like just yesterday he and I were talking about how cool it was to be playing with and against guys he used to play with on video games and watch on television.

Take a look at some of the things DeAngelo and I discussed during a past interview.

Anthony: What's good, Dee?

DeAngelo: I'm doing all right, man. I'm hanging in there.

Anthony: (Smiles.) Let me ask you this. Has the league been everything you expected it to be?

DeAngelo: Yeah, it's all right. You remember...coming in, I thought it was going to be extremely fast, the guys were going to be extremely big. I overemphasized the characteristics of the NFL so it wouldn't be as bad as it would've been if I had underemphasized it. It's just about how fast you make your decisions. Plus, speed kills in this game. But you still have to know a lot about what's going on on the field. There's more to this league than being fast.

Anthony: I remember you were almost shocked during your first preseason game a few years ago. (Smiles.) I think it was against Buffalo.

DeAngelo: (Laughs.) Yeah. You still remember that?

Anthony: (Smiles.) No doubt.

DeAngelo: I wasn't ready for it. I was like, "Wow." I even had to pinch myself a couple time on the sidelines to make sure it was real. I mean, those were the guys that I used to watch on TV for years. After the game, you walk to the middle of the field and see some of those guys and you realize they're celebrities. But it's nothing now.

Anthony: (Smiles.) I feel you.

DeAngelo: I'm going to tell you what got me. The fact that there were so many guys willing to help me when I first got into the league. I thought things were a lot rougher in the league. Even my coaches at Memphis told me not to make many friends, and that everyone is competiting. But everyone wants to win.

Anthony: No doubt. Did you feel like you were better than Reggie Bush? I mean, it seemed like he was the big talk coming out of college -- for obvious reasons.

DeAngelo: It's not even that, man. We're in two different offenses and we both do our thing for our teams. The same about when we were in college. I don't compare myself to him. I'm sure he doesn't compare himself with me.

Anthony: How much have you enjoyed living in Charlotte?

DeAngelo: It's been all right. It's different, man. I don't go out much. I'm not a go-out-much person. I like to sit at home, or go bowling. Or, I'll watch a movie.

Anthony: We'll need to get you to come bowl during Chris Paul's celebrity bowling event for charity.

DeAngelo: (Smiles.) Yeah. I'd love to come get down.

Anthony: What do you listen to before games?

DeAngelo: It's strange,but I don't even listen to music.

Anthony: Whatever.

DeAngelo: Honestly. I don't. When I'm in the car I'm usually on the phone. I'll hear something on the radio and be like, "That's hot." My girl will probably download it to my iPod, but I will probably only listen to it two or three times a month.

Anthony: Why did you keep No. 34? I thought you would go back to your college number (20).

DeAngelo: I like 34. I wore that number in high school.

Anthony: Oh, OK. I didn't know that. What's your favorite television show?

DeAngelo: (Smiles.) I like the Boondocks and The Family Guy. I've even got the Boondocks box set.

Anthony: How much longer do you see yourself playing in the league?

DeAngelo: I honestly don't know, man. I'm still excited. I have a strong passion burning inside of me for this sport. I don't know anyone that can foreshadow my career. I don't take that many hits. I get tackled. There's a difference between getting tackled and getting hit. My running style helps me. I think that will further my career in the league.

Anthony: Do you have any nicknames?

DeAngelo: When I first got into the league DeShaun (Foster) called me Dark Wing, Bojangles, Razzle-Dazzle. He told me that I'm not Bo Jackson. He said that I'm Bojangles. (Both laugh.) You know I've got a little shake to my game. DeShaun used to call me anything, though.

Anthony: (Laughs.) I see. Let's finish with free association. Just tell me the first thing that comes to mind.

DeAngelo: OK.

Anthony: Wynne, Arkansas (DeAngelo's hometown).

DeAngelo: (Laughs.) Next question.

Anthony: (Smiles.) Memphis.

DeAngelo: Beautiful. I love it.

Anthony: DeAngelo Williams.

DeAngelo: A sight to see.

Anthony: Carolina Panthers.

DeAngelo: A team to be reckoned with.

Anthony: T.O. (Terrell Owens).

DeAngelo: A beast.

Anthony: Steve Smith.

DeAngelo: Ultimate game breaker.

Anthony: I agree. Well, we're done. I will see you later on this summer. Good luck to you this upcoming year.

DeAngelo: All right, bruh. Thanks.

"Throwback" Q&A with NBA star Chris Paul

Note: This was my first interview with NBA star Chris Paul. We've done numerous interviews and other things since then. But I thought I would post a real "throwback" interview after talking about it with a publisher recently. This is from Paul's senior year of high school. This was before the 2005-06 NBA Rookie of the Year and MVP runner-up honors. Take a look.

(From 2003) This was a copy of the first actual Q&A I did with NBA star Chris Paul. I caught up with CP3 moments after he put on another impressive show in an 84-47 victory over a NC high school rival, South Rowan  (Jan. 2003).

Anthony: What's going on Chris?

Chris: I'm all right. I'm just chillin'.

Anthony: Man, it looked like you simply exploded on those boys tonight. You must have been feeling it.

Chris: Well, South Rowan has always been a team in our conference that has played us real dirty by applying a lot of hard fouls. So, I was real pumped for this game.

Anthony: Speaking of hard fouls. I saw that guy come up under you before you "yoked" (dunked) on him. It looked as if you got a little mad and had a choice of words for him. What were you two jawing about?

Chris: I ain't say nothing. (Laughs.) It's just all in the game. I just want to win.

Anthony: What exactly did he do?

Chris: When I went up for the dunk he came up under and acted like he didn't do anything. I don't remember what I said. I don't even remember what he said. They were talking so much tonight.

Anthony: Man, it doesn't look like you even get tired out there. What kind of fuel are you running on?

Chris: You know what? I just wanna win so bad that I don't really get tired. That's just the emotions of basketball. This is what I do.

Anthony: Now, you scored 61 points on a team earlier this season. Is that the most you've ever scored in a single game.

Chris: Yeah. That was the most.

Anthony: What motivated you to score so many points?

Chris: My grandfather was murdered on Nov. 15. I signed to play with Wake on the 14th. My grandfather was my bestfriend and he was 61. After his funeral I felt like I was going to score those points for him. I had no idea I was actually going to score that many points though. Someone said something to me about it before the game. I just got on the court and started to do some things and then I felt like I could do it.

Check out CP while he was at Wake Forest.

Anthony: Wow. That was truly amazing. Let me ask you this, Chris. You're one of the premier players in high school basketball. What made you commit to Wake (Forest) so early?

Chris: I had offers from every team in the ACC and other teams that I liked. But, I knew where I wanted to play. I figured I wouldn't waste any other colleges time by recruiting me.

Anthony: You have a catalog of sick moves on the court. It looks like you've been watching a few "And 1 Mixtapes."

Chris: Yeah, I watch them. But, some of that stuff I wouldn't try in a game. I have full-court basketball court at my house and me and brother used to always play one on one everyday. I got most of those moves from him. He and my dad are definitely the reason I'm the player I am today. My dad used to make me and my brother put our right arms behind our backs so we would have to use our left hand to shoot.

Anthony: Let me ask you this: What are your interest outside of basketball? What are you going to pursue in college?

Chris: I'm going to Wake and I'm not really sure what I'm going to major in. I was thinking about computer science or something like that.

Anthony: Answer this for me. Which is better — a thunderous dunk or an embarrassing block?

Chris: Dunk. A "facial."

Anthony: What? But, you just started dunking this year.

Chris: True. I don't know. I guess I will say a good pass is the best feeling. (Both laugh.)

Anthony: Did you ever think about playing another sport? Or has basketball always been your main concentration?

Chris: I was the back-up quarterback for varsity my sophomore year. Everyone thought I was gonna drop basketball to play football.

Anthony: Really?

Chris: Yeah. I played football for 10 years.

Anthony: So what made you decide to play hoops?

Chris: (pause.). It was more fun to me. I started to think about which one I would rather do in college. So, I chose basketball.

Anthony: Let's switch this interview up a little bit. (Pause.) Did you have a favorite cartoon when you were growing up?

Chris: Woody Wood Pecker.

Anthony: (Both laugh.) Is there an athlete in which you've looked up to your entire life?

Chris: Oh yeah. Definitely, Michael Jordan. I used to watch him and see all the amazing things he's done throughout his career. So, I would say him.

Anthony: I'm sure that you have a lot more people claiming to be your friend now that you're getting all this media attention and praise. How rough is it having all kinds of strangers acting as if they know you?

Chris Paul is one of the top point guards in the NBA.

Chris: It's rough, but I know who the people are that were with me from the beginning. Family comes first for me.

Anthony: Let's jump into something I like to call "free association." I say one word and you tell me the first thing that comes to mind.

Chris: All right.

Anthony: Josh Howard.

Chris: Incredible defense.

Anthony: R.J. Reynolds Demons.

Chris: (Pause.) Rivalry.

Anthony: Favorite class.

Chris: Math.

Anthony: Dream date.

Chris: Halle Berry. (Both laugh.)

Anthony: Kobe Bryant.

Chris: One of my favorites.

Anthony: One final question. What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?

Chris: 10 years from now, HOPEFULLY I'LL BE IN THE NBA. (That seemed to work out nicely)

Anthony: Good luck with that, Chris.

Chris: Thanks a lot man.

Just ramblin'

I haven't written a blog of any kind in quite a while. So I thought I would write one tonight since I had quite a few things on my mind. Might as well share some of it through my blog, right?

I'm not that happy with quite a few things in my life. I may walk around, flashing a smile or even moving with a sense of stability and confidence. But I'm really quite down, sometimes angry, sad, lonely and confused-- to name a few.

Just like a lot of you, I'm dealing with family issues that aren't quite joyful right now. I wish I could see my father more too. I'm angry that I haven't made more time for my dad. I mean, he, my younger brother and other immediate family I don't need to name are really all I have now. I've honestly been a lot different since I lost my mother back in 2010. Seems like last week. I'm not nearly as up beat. I don't do a lot of the things I used to do. I don't have a lot of the same motivations.

I'm not even doing the same career. I was once a great (so I've been told) sports writer/ editor. Now I do media relations at Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well as help people realize they should live healthier lives by exercising, eating right and signing memberships at a health club in Charlotte.

I also freelance during football season. That gives me a slight writing/ reporting fix. I honestly miss being a full-time sports writer. But I also honestly want to be happy doing something completely different. Hope I'm not boring you yet.

I always tell my girlfriend, Ashley, about how frustrated I am about how my life is right now. It's not bad now, but it's NOT nearly as good as I imagined it would be at this point. Part of that is because of the loss I've dealt with, the unfortunate path of my younger brother, unexpected career alterations and a collection of other bad decisions I've made throughout the last three or four years -- both personal and professional.

NOW, the focus has to be on making the next phase good... instead of dwelling on what could've, should've or might've been. Ya know?

Where do I even start? When should I start? Right now. Today.

Got to make more time for family. Have to focus on the NEXT PHASE, and have to start appreciating today. I always tell friends not to wait until the JUDGE THROWS THE BOOK AT YOU BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO READ. What I mean by that is make changes for the best today. Don't wait on unfortunate incidents to make you do what we all know should be getting done today.

Let's "READ," so to speak.

Heart attack tackles former Raider McGlockton

My heart goes out to the family of former L.A. Raider and four-time pro bowl defensive end Chester McGlockton.

I read a news release that said McGlockton had passed early Wednesday morning. The 42-year-old Whiteville, NC native was a defensive assistant at Stanford the last two years.

He was a high school All-American before starring at Clemson for three seasons. He was selected 16th overall in the 1992 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Raiders and would go on to play 12 seasons in the league, making four Pro Bowls and finishing his career with 48.5 sacks.

He retired in 2003 after stints with the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets. In 2010, McGlockton completed his undergraduate degree at Tennessee-Martin. Later that year, he took a coaching job at Stanford.

"The thoughts and prayers of the Raider Nation are with the McGlockton family during this difficult time,'' Raiders CEO Amy Trask said in a statement.

McGlockton is survived by his wife, Zina, and two children.

NFL player gains twenty-plus eating sandwiches

I read an interesting story on Yahoo sports today (Oct. 26). It was a little write up about Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham. It talked about how he gained twenty pounds in two months.

I know you're probably thinking, "How did this guy gain so much weight in such a short period of time?" He apparently gained 2.5 pounds a week eating Philly cheesesteaks last year. The 2010 first-round draft pick tore his ACL last December and spent two months on crutches. His weight jumped from 270 to 290 during his recovery.

"You know what got me real big? The Philly cheesesteaks," Graham told PHILLY.COM. "Jim's. That's all I eat."

Ole buddy said he would eat a whole cheesesteak every time he went down the street to Jim's, the famed sandwich spot, which is mere blocks from where he lives. With no cardio and 1,000 to 1,200 calories a pop, it's easy to see how Graham packed on the pounds. That and admittedly eating two or three plates of food when he wasn't dining on the Philly classic.

Big Brandon is back down to around his fighting weight now. He changed his eating habits when he got off the crutches and has been more focused on his diet and exercise this year. He's still on the Eagles' Physically Unable to Perform list and will be until the team is sure he's all the way back, but he went through his first practice earlier this week.

That's good to know. But I still shake my head when I think about the weight gained simply from eating cheesesteaks. That's wild.

Life is truly a journey

I sat back and started thinking while I looked at some of my old friends and/ or old classmates (via facebook) earlier today.

It's amazing how much some of us have changed through the years. I know I have my share of alterations as well. But I would like to think that my changes fit me today. I am not simply talking about physical changes.

The bests football players I grew up around didn't make it to the league. A number of them didn't even make it out of college. One of those guys stick out in my mind more than the rest. I am not going to say his name. But he was the best running back I knew when I was younger. He and I used to always talk about how our lives were going to be different after we both made it to the NFL. Needless to say, neither one of us made it that far. His fall from glory is more of a surprise than my mine, though. Also, the best basketball player I grew up around ended up going to prison and gaining a lot of weight. He's living a normal, decent life now from what I can tell. But he's not in the NBA or balling like I imagined he would be when I was coming up.

Some of the prettiest girls don't quite look like they used to back in the day, to say the least. One of the smartest guys I knew turned out to be lose his way somewhere between high school graduation and his 22nd birthday. Today he's in a mental house. One reality that hurts me the most is to think about my little brother, who's everything to me. He's even made mistakes that have altered his life in ways I never could imagine. I never thought in a million years my younger brother would be in trouble with the law, be in prison or have a tough life.

It kind of makes me wish I could get in a time machine, go back to childhood and warn all of these people of the pitfalls they will face later. Give them advice on what to do to make it. Tell them all to stay focused and remain hungry for success.

There's so many examples that come to mind while I write this blog. Seriously. But there's no need to note everyone, or dwell on misfortunes. It's kind of one of those issues you wish you could bottle and deliver to younger people that may be dealing with things. You want to just show them the paths of some of the people from your life, and let them know that everything that glitters ain't gold, there's no guarantees or sure things. It also would help some of them realize that all things come to an end, no matter how great they may seem.

Everyone must make the proper audibles in life when things seem to be going the other way. Never give up or think things will change just because. DO SOMETHING. And, keep GOD first.