Mr BioFile Interviews by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Status: Head coach of South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team.
Ht: 5-6 Wt: 134
DOB: May 4, 1970 In: Philadelphia, PA
Childhood Heroes: I’d have to say Maurice Cheeks was my favorite player.
Hobbies/Interests: Do jigsaw puzzles, play a little golf, work out and that’s about it.
Favorite Movie: About Last Night.
Musical Tastes: R&B, Anita Baker, Baby Face, Luther Vandross.
First Job: Basketball clinics at Kathy Rush Basketball Camp.
First Car: 1985 Chevy Cavalier. Ugly rust color with a blue door [laughs].
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Fruity Pebbles.
Favorite Meal: Potatoes, cooked any kind of way [laughs].
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cookies and cream.
Early Basketball Memory: I loved the purity of playing pick up basketball with the guys in Philadelphia. You had to be persistent. They had to know you were coming out there to play the game. Because basketball is a passion, it’s a job to some people in Philly. They take it very seriously. I kept going out there and finally they accepted me. (Did it help your skills development playing with guys?) Oh definitely it helped me. The crossover when I was playing with the guys and then went over to the girls – it was that much easier. That’s why I’m an advocate for little girls playing with little guys… because they’re stronger, they’re faster and they push you.
Greatest Sports Moment: Winning the gold medal at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996. Actually getting my medal, like when I bent over and she put it around my neck. That was the most exhilarating feeling that I’ve had in all my life.
Most Painful Career Moment: Losing in the National Championship (with Virginia) to Tennessee in 1991. We were so close. We tasted the victory and yet we ended up losing. You work all of your life for winning the National Championship… and to come up that short. It would have been better off losing by 20 points. We lost by four. But I had a chance to win it in regulation but I missed a lay-up. And then…
Favorite Athletes To Watch: Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Michael Jordan. Andre Waters (Eagles safety). Dirty Waters is what they called him. Big hitter. He’d push himself for every play. He’s looking to get a big hit on every play. You have to be all there to focus in on that. Ozzie Smith. Bobby Clarke. Steffi Graf. Tiger Woods.
Funny Basketball Memory: I guess one of the funniest to me was in summer league in high school. It was embarrassing. I ended up starting a fast break going the wrong way. I was running for a loose ball and it ended up going down the opposite end of the court. And I was wondering as I was doing it: why no one was trying to defend me? They just let me go, even my teammates [smiles].
Toughest Competitors Encountered: Teresa Edwards. Very, very, very, very competitive. Very competitive. I’ve never met anybody that was as competitive as she was. Played against her every day for the Olympic team. Every day we practiced. That was good…because it was contagious. We were opposing players but we made everyone rise up to our competitive level… to our hunger for the win.
Pre-Game Feeling: I feel good. My mind is clear. It’s totally on winning the basketball game. Helping my team, whether it’s sitting and cheering or involved in the game shooting a three or dishing it off for the two.
People Qualities Most Admired: I like the genuine people. People who are real. Regardless of who they’re around. I think the person who exemplifies that is Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
Career Accomplishments: Won three Olympics gold medals in 1996, 2000, 2004 as a player and one as a head coach 2021; Eight seasons in WNBA and six time WNBA All Star.
