Interview with Da'Quan Bowers

Da'Quan Bowers is defensive end on the Clemson Tigers. Bowers was a top prospect out of high school in 2008. Da'Quan is now a highly ranked 2011 NFL Draft prospect and in some sportswriters say that he is a front-runner to be the top pick of the NFL Draft. Here is my interview with Reggie White's clone:

BW: How did you learn to play football and when did you start playing?

DB: Well I started playing football around the age of 7 and I learned from an
older cousin who played at Clemson.

BW: What is your favorite NFL team?

DB: I am a Dallas Cowboy fan converting to a Eagle fan because of my cousin
Ricky [Sapp] being drafted.

BW: Why does an NFL team want you on their team? What will you bring to the

table?

DB: I bring leadership, and a work ethic, and they will be getting a hungry player.

BW: What are your goals for college football and after that?
DB: My college goal is to be a champion, and to go pro.

BW: What NFL coach do you want to play for?
DB: I would love to play for Bill Belichick [New England Patriots coach].

BW: What individual honor is most important to you?
DB: The most honarable honor I have gotten was the Under Armor MVP in first year.

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.