Watson: I’m not smiling on the court because it’s my job (VIDEO) 0
Travis Watson quickly became center piece in the paint for Zalgiris Kaunas. 28 year old American is leading Euroleague in rebounds and he confirmed his name on Thursday, collecting 17 boards in a loss vs. Montepaschi Siena. It was Watson’s personal best in Euroleague.
Earlier this week Travis found some time to answer fan mail questions sent by BasketNews.lt users. Here is what Watson had to say.
Q: Travis, when did you start to play basketball and when was the first time you dunked?
A: The first time I’ve played basketball was in 1988 and the first time I’ve dunked I was in a 7th grade. So I was 12 years old maybe. I don’t know how many 12 year old kids you know can dunk under 6 feet.
Q: Were you good or bad person when you were young? Were you fighting a lot?
A: No. Actually, I’m a good person. Everybody grows up, but I was moreover OK person. I wasn’t doing criminal things. I’ve played a lot of basketball, stayed out sometimes and I have got into fights before, but I don’t consider that to be a bad person. I never hurt anybody intentionally so most of the time I was protecting myself.
Q: You’re from San Antonio, have you ever played with any current or former Spurs player?
A: I’ve played with Roger Mason. We went to college together. He is there now in the current roster. I’ve met all the guys like Tim Duncun or David Robinson, but I’ve never played against them.
Q: What kind of cars do you like? Which one do you have?
A: I like many types of cars, but my favorite is a Cadillac. My own is Cadillac Escalade.
Q: What kind of music do you like? Do you have your favorite artists/bands?
A: I like all types of music. My favorite artist is Michael Jackson. That’s a musical icon. I grew up on all types of music and he also was one of my favorites so just to see anybody die is a sad thing, especially someone like him.
Q: Do you have friends who play in the NBA right now?
A: I do. I have some friends, one of them plays for the Spurs, Roger Mason. I have another one that plays for Blazers, Steve Blake. I know a lot of people, but I wouldn’t really say they are my best friends.
Q: Have you ever made unbelievable shot from mid-court at the buzzer?
A: No. I’ve tried but no. Never made it.
Q: Travis, you live in Lithuania for a couple of months now, do you enjoy Lithuanian food?
A: The cuisine over here is good. I’ve been to a couple places. I haven’t really tried too many traditional Lithuanian dishes, but the food is OK.
Q: Travis, what is your opinion about Lithuanian people, are they similar to Americans? What are the differences?
A: So far I’ve enjoyed myself a lot of nice people. I don’ really know too much differences between Americans. I think we all live our lifes the same. I have to work, go to sleep, wake up, eat. I’ve enjoyed myself since I’ve been here. With my teammates and everybody else associated with the team.
Q: Have you learned any Lithuanian words already?
A: I know three words. “Labas rytas” (Good morning) and “Taip” (Yes). That’s it. As time goes I will learn more, but now you have to start somewhere.
Q: Where did you get a scar close to your right eye?
A: Actualy from playing basketball in 2005. It was a rivalry, Furtitudo versus Virtus game. So I got elbow on an eye. I had about 20 stitches. So I don’t really say it’s bad.
Q: Where are you going to celebrate New year?
A: I don’t know. I will be in Kaunas, but I don’t know where.
Q: Travis, if you are not playing basketball, what kind of job would you like to have?
A: Actually, I wanted to be a banker. To work with money. If I wasn’t very talented in basketball I probably would have tried to go be a business man or something like that.
Q: Travis, what is easier for you? To get a rebound in a game or “hook up” a girl? I believe you don’t have any problems with both tasks
A: Wow. I guess it’s easier to rebound then to hook up with the girl, because the girl would have to wonder how hook up with me first. I guess rebounding is easy, I don’t know about hook up with the girl part. Women are women.
Q: Travis, during one game TV commentator said that probably you like to miss first shot, then rebound and make it. Is that true?
A: Let’s ask the commentator to do my job and I’ll do his job and make analysis of his game. He gets paid to talk I get paid to play.
Q: Travis, why are you so angry on all referees? You look so aggressively at them.
A: It’s just my nature on a court. I’m not that type of person away from the court. The referees do their job, I do mine, but it’s just my face I don’t really like to smile when I play basketball, because it’s a job. I think referees know that I’m not angry, I mean everybody is disappointed with the call. Sometimes they call one thing and they don’t call another thing. I don’t think I want to kill them or something like that. It’s just a look.
Q: Some people find you similar to actor Martin Lawrence, while Marcus Brown is a copy of Eddie Murphy. Do you make similar jokes and situations with Marcus, like Martin and Eddie did in “Life” movie?
A: I think we have great time on a team. Marcus is very funny and we joke around. We have good chemistry. I wouldn’t consider myself as Martin Lawrence, but whatever. It’s OK. He is a star and it’s not a problem. “Life” movie is great. I will say everybody should see that movie. Lots of great comedians in that movie.
Q: Will we see Marcus Brown and Travis Watson there?
A: No, I’m not that funny.
Q: Will you smile after you win your first trophy this year? At least more than 3 seconds?
A: Well, I did smile after we won our first trophy. So hopefully we get like four more trophies and of course I will smile. I always smile.
Travis Watson video interview:
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