Photo by: Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images
Eleven Questions With No. 11
9/22/2010 3:15:11 PM | Men's Basketball
Actually, counting is not our strong suit.
It is morning in the SID office, and I am trying to ask former Davidson Wildcat and current Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry (you remember him, no?) about his gold-medal winning experience at the 2010 FIBA World Basketball Championships.
But we are having some technical difficulties with our phones.
SC: Hello?
ME: Hello? Can you hear me?
SC: Hello? Am I on speakerphone? Hello?
ME: Yes. Am I?
SC: Hello?
You get the point... this goes on for a while.
ME: Well, this isn't going to work. I'll call you back in a minute.
A few minutes later, I am back on the phone, relocated to SID Marc Gignac's office to see if maybe the problem is my phone. It is not.
SC: Hello, Domino's Pizza?
Well, it's nice to know that even after he becomes a lottery pick, signs an NBA contract, finishes second in Rookie of the Year voting and wins a gold medal, some things never change.
SC: You guys don't have those recorders you can plug into the phone? (I am trying to record off the speakerphone instead of write everything down. Because I am lazy sometimes).
ME: Um no, this isn't GQ.
SC: Yeah, I guess you guys do more setting up interviews than actually interviewing.
Let's just say he knows the drill in the SID office.
We arranged this chat Tuesday afternoon, when the World Champion stopped by Baker Sports Complex to visit, show off his medal and play some pickup.
“Wanna maybe do a little interview for the Web site sometime before you leave?,” I ask.
“With you? Yeah! (emphasis! mine!) I love your interviews.”
“It'll be a serious one.”
“Yeah, OK.”
I told you he knows the drill.
ME: Alright. Let's start with the ones from Davidson fans on Facebook and Twitter. Jeff Phillips wants to know, “What were your impressions of Turkey, the country, not the basketball team?”
SC: I believe the people there are called Turkins (This is a reference to what Stephen assures us was a misunderstanding about a joke he made in front of some reporters — didn't you pay attention in media training?).
SC: Istanbul is a great city. There's a lot of history there. There's a strait there, the Bosphorus, which divides Europe and Asia, and it's the only city in the world that is on two continents. And we were there during Ramadan, so we got to see the Muslim culture at its height with the call to prayer vibrating through the city every hour.
ME: COOL. Wells Black wants to know, “How did this experience differ from your experience on the U19 Team USA?”
SC: You're still representing your country, so that's the same, but the level of play is so much higher. And the World Championships of basketball is like the World Cup of soccer, and for some countries, it's more important than the Olympics. So that atmosphere gets a little intense.
ME: OK. Shane Montaya asks, “How have you adjusted to the different style of play in college, the NBA and FIBA? What's the biggest difference, and which do you like the best?”
SC: College and FIBA are pretty similar, but I'd say FIBA is the most physical. The NBA is less intense just because there are so many games. I really enjoyed my Team USA experience, getting to represent my country.
ME: Josh Worsham wants to know, “What are your impressions of Mike Krzyzewski (who also coaches his younger brother, Seth, at Duke)?”
SC: Go Heels. (For my benefit — as a Tar Heel, Stephen follows “Coach K” with “Go Heels” throughout the interview...) He's an experienced guy with a good sense of humor. A funny guy. He's definitely (I mock him back here, repeating definitely, his “lazy phrase” as our media trainer likes to call it, every time he says it) a great motivator, and he prepared us for what we had to do and kept us focused on the goal. The whole coaching staff was one of the best I've ever worked with, along with my college coaches, of course.
ME: Nice. Jennifer Willis (Field Hockey '07!) wants to know if you had a usual at the Wildcat Den?
SC: Oh yeah! You know what it is... ½ turkey, ½ ham on white with mayo and pickles. With either pretzels or a banana and a mango smoothie. (I can tell you he never finished his lunch, leaving things behind for whoever snapped them up first).
ME: Patrick Fernando asks, “Who was the most important teammate in the locker room? From a leadership standpoint and not necessarily based on on-court performance?
SC: (without hesitation) Chauncey Billups.
ME: Why?
SC: Just because he's that mature guy in the locker room. He's been around the game for a while, and he knows how to win. He also has that point-guard mentality. Guys really looked up to him and respected him.
ME: Ok, the last two are pretty similar so Ann Gray Harvey and @stayeduptolate want to know about your overall experience and how it felt to win the gold medal?
SC: It was awesome. Getting the chance to see so many different places and the chance to represent my country was definitely (definitely) one of the coolest experiences of my life.
ME: Hey, a huge thanks to everyone who wrote in with questions. That was cool. But I'll drive now. So... I know your family went over. Did most of the guys have people come over?
SC: Yeah everybody had somebody at different times.
ME: Well, before they got there, who did you hang out with?
SC: That would be www.facebook.com. Write it exactly like that. (Is he telling me what to do now?)
ME: Who was the coolest person you got to meet along the way?
SC: Khloe Kardashian (wife of Lamar Odom and star of Keeping Up with the Kardashians).
ME: Don't just say that for my benefit. (Confession: I love bad reality TV).
SC: I'm not. I watch the show.
ME: What did she say?
SC: She gave me a hug and just said congratulations on winning.
ME: Even though I don't want to, let's move on. What was your favorite city that you got to visit?
SC: (Without hesitation) Athens, Greece. It's a good blend of history and modern art, and you feel like you are between eras. We went to this really cool restaurant there, too, that overlooked the water.
ME: What's the best thing you ate?
SC: We didn't get to really experience the food on the trip for the most part because Team USA has a chef. I did get to go to the oldest restaurant in the world in Spain. I don't remember the name, but if you google it, you can probably find it. (Of course I can... According to the Guinness Book of World Records, via Google, this is the Botin Restaurant in Madrid, Spain).
ME: Have you ever experienced anything like the World Championships before? Would you compare it to the NCAA Tourney?
SC: Definitely (definitely). The last four games were just like the tourney, because they are one and done. Though you don't have a week in between games to get ready.
ME: Speaking of the NCAA Tournament... how was your mom during the championship game?
SC: She said she was nervous the whole time. She was definitely (definitely) hype when I hit my three. And she was jumping up and down, going crazy when we won.
ME: Have you and Seth (who won a gold medal at the 2009 U19 FIBA World Championships in New Zealand) compared medals yet, and did you trash talk with your dad?
SC: We haven't compared them yet, and no, we didn't talk trash. My dad is my biggest supporter. I sent my brother a picture of mine, and he said it is nicer than his.
ME: True or False: You practiced the dance you did on the platform at the medal ceremony beforehand?
SC: False… But I did perfect it afterwards.
ME: True or False: You wore your medal in the airport?
SC: True. I wore it for 24 hours straight before I took it off. Plus knowing me, I would lose it. (True story, he once left his mouth guard, the one that was hardly ever actually in his mouth, in our office) I didn't wanna leave it somewhere... We decided as a team to wear our Team USA sweats and medals until we got to our final destination.
ME: Even Coach K and the staff?
SC: Negative. Go Heels.
ME: So the gold medal goes where?
SC: In a trophy case. Next to the shoes and basketball that I got signed by everybody in the locker room afterwards — the players, coaches, trainers (I think you meant Athletic Trainers, right Ray Beltz?) and staff.
ME: Where's the trophy case? Your parents' house?
SC: It hasn't been built. It will go in my house, but I don't have a house yet.
ME: You know where you should buy one though? The lake!
SC: Lake Norman? So we can use Foxy's boat?
ME: Ha yeah. I'm sure he'd let you use his boat... Which reminds me, after playing some pickup the past couple of days, what do you think about the Wildcats?
SC: I think they are going to be really good. They have a lot of young talent, and Coach McKillop is going to make them into a really good team. With Brendan being the only senior, and Ben, Frank, Will and AJ behind him, they have the chance to play together for a long time.
ME: Gonna be watching again?
SC: Oh yeah. I'll have my Davidson All-Access login all ready to go again.
ME: What about Coach K and the Blue Devils?
SC: Go Heels. I will see them on Saturday (Sept. 18), so I'll know a little more then. But my brother is there, so they are going to be good. Go Heels.
ME: Last question, what do you think about the new logos?
SC: I love all the Davidson logos, especially the paw.
But we are having some technical difficulties with our phones.
SC: Hello?
ME: Hello? Can you hear me?
SC: Hello? Am I on speakerphone? Hello?
ME: Yes. Am I?
SC: Hello?
You get the point... this goes on for a while.
ME: Well, this isn't going to work. I'll call you back in a minute.
A few minutes later, I am back on the phone, relocated to SID Marc Gignac's office to see if maybe the problem is my phone. It is not.
SC: Hello, Domino's Pizza?
Well, it's nice to know that even after he becomes a lottery pick, signs an NBA contract, finishes second in Rookie of the Year voting and wins a gold medal, some things never change.
SC: You guys don't have those recorders you can plug into the phone? (I am trying to record off the speakerphone instead of write everything down. Because I am lazy sometimes).
ME: Um no, this isn't GQ.
SC: Yeah, I guess you guys do more setting up interviews than actually interviewing.
Let's just say he knows the drill in the SID office.
We arranged this chat Tuesday afternoon, when the World Champion stopped by Baker Sports Complex to visit, show off his medal and play some pickup.
“Wanna maybe do a little interview for the Web site sometime before you leave?,” I ask.
“With you? Yeah! (emphasis! mine!) I love your interviews.”
“It'll be a serious one.”
“Yeah, OK.”
I told you he knows the drill.
ME: Alright. Let's start with the ones from Davidson fans on Facebook and Twitter. Jeff Phillips wants to know, “What were your impressions of Turkey, the country, not the basketball team?”
SC: I believe the people there are called Turkins (This is a reference to what Stephen assures us was a misunderstanding about a joke he made in front of some reporters — didn't you pay attention in media training?).
SC: Istanbul is a great city. There's a lot of history there. There's a strait there, the Bosphorus, which divides Europe and Asia, and it's the only city in the world that is on two continents. And we were there during Ramadan, so we got to see the Muslim culture at its height with the call to prayer vibrating through the city every hour.
ME: COOL. Wells Black wants to know, “How did this experience differ from your experience on the U19 Team USA?”
SC: You're still representing your country, so that's the same, but the level of play is so much higher. And the World Championships of basketball is like the World Cup of soccer, and for some countries, it's more important than the Olympics. So that atmosphere gets a little intense.
ME: OK. Shane Montaya asks, “How have you adjusted to the different style of play in college, the NBA and FIBA? What's the biggest difference, and which do you like the best?”
SC: College and FIBA are pretty similar, but I'd say FIBA is the most physical. The NBA is less intense just because there are so many games. I really enjoyed my Team USA experience, getting to represent my country.
ME: Josh Worsham wants to know, “What are your impressions of Mike Krzyzewski (who also coaches his younger brother, Seth, at Duke)?”
SC: Go Heels. (For my benefit — as a Tar Heel, Stephen follows “Coach K” with “Go Heels” throughout the interview...) He's an experienced guy with a good sense of humor. A funny guy. He's definitely (I mock him back here, repeating definitely, his “lazy phrase” as our media trainer likes to call it, every time he says it) a great motivator, and he prepared us for what we had to do and kept us focused on the goal. The whole coaching staff was one of the best I've ever worked with, along with my college coaches, of course.
ME: Nice. Jennifer Willis (Field Hockey '07!) wants to know if you had a usual at the Wildcat Den?
SC: Oh yeah! You know what it is... ½ turkey, ½ ham on white with mayo and pickles. With either pretzels or a banana and a mango smoothie. (I can tell you he never finished his lunch, leaving things behind for whoever snapped them up first).
ME: Patrick Fernando asks, “Who was the most important teammate in the locker room? From a leadership standpoint and not necessarily based on on-court performance?
SC: (without hesitation) Chauncey Billups.
ME: Why?
SC: Just because he's that mature guy in the locker room. He's been around the game for a while, and he knows how to win. He also has that point-guard mentality. Guys really looked up to him and respected him.
ME: Ok, the last two are pretty similar so Ann Gray Harvey and @stayeduptolate want to know about your overall experience and how it felt to win the gold medal?
SC: It was awesome. Getting the chance to see so many different places and the chance to represent my country was definitely (definitely) one of the coolest experiences of my life.
ME: Hey, a huge thanks to everyone who wrote in with questions. That was cool. But I'll drive now. So... I know your family went over. Did most of the guys have people come over?
SC: Yeah everybody had somebody at different times.
ME: Well, before they got there, who did you hang out with?
SC: That would be www.facebook.com. Write it exactly like that. (Is he telling me what to do now?)
ME: Who was the coolest person you got to meet along the way?
SC: Khloe Kardashian (wife of Lamar Odom and star of Keeping Up with the Kardashians).
ME: Don't just say that for my benefit. (Confession: I love bad reality TV).
SC: I'm not. I watch the show.
ME: What did she say?
SC: She gave me a hug and just said congratulations on winning.
ME: Even though I don't want to, let's move on. What was your favorite city that you got to visit?
SC: (Without hesitation) Athens, Greece. It's a good blend of history and modern art, and you feel like you are between eras. We went to this really cool restaurant there, too, that overlooked the water.
ME: What's the best thing you ate?
SC: We didn't get to really experience the food on the trip for the most part because Team USA has a chef. I did get to go to the oldest restaurant in the world in Spain. I don't remember the name, but if you google it, you can probably find it. (Of course I can... According to the Guinness Book of World Records, via Google, this is the Botin Restaurant in Madrid, Spain).
ME: Have you ever experienced anything like the World Championships before? Would you compare it to the NCAA Tourney?
SC: Definitely (definitely). The last four games were just like the tourney, because they are one and done. Though you don't have a week in between games to get ready.
ME: Speaking of the NCAA Tournament... how was your mom during the championship game?
SC: She said she was nervous the whole time. She was definitely (definitely) hype when I hit my three. And she was jumping up and down, going crazy when we won.
SC: We haven't compared them yet, and no, we didn't talk trash. My dad is my biggest supporter. I sent my brother a picture of mine, and he said it is nicer than his.
ME: True or False: You practiced the dance you did on the platform at the medal ceremony beforehand?
SC: False… But I did perfect it afterwards.
ME: True or False: You wore your medal in the airport?
SC: True. I wore it for 24 hours straight before I took it off. Plus knowing me, I would lose it. (True story, he once left his mouth guard, the one that was hardly ever actually in his mouth, in our office) I didn't wanna leave it somewhere... We decided as a team to wear our Team USA sweats and medals until we got to our final destination.
ME: Even Coach K and the staff?
SC: Negative. Go Heels.
ME: So the gold medal goes where?
SC: In a trophy case. Next to the shoes and basketball that I got signed by everybody in the locker room afterwards — the players, coaches, trainers (I think you meant Athletic Trainers, right Ray Beltz?) and staff.
ME: Where's the trophy case? Your parents' house?
SC: It hasn't been built. It will go in my house, but I don't have a house yet.
ME: You know where you should buy one though? The lake!
SC: Lake Norman? So we can use Foxy's boat?
ME: Ha yeah. I'm sure he'd let you use his boat... Which reminds me, after playing some pickup the past couple of days, what do you think about the Wildcats?
SC: I think they are going to be really good. They have a lot of young talent, and Coach McKillop is going to make them into a really good team. With Brendan being the only senior, and Ben, Frank, Will and AJ behind him, they have the chance to play together for a long time.
ME: Gonna be watching again?
SC: Oh yeah. I'll have my Davidson All-Access login all ready to go again.
ME: What about Coach K and the Blue Devils?
SC: Go Heels. I will see them on Saturday (Sept. 18), so I'll know a little more then. But my brother is there, so they are going to be good. Go Heels.
ME: Last question, what do you think about the new logos?
SC: I love all the Davidson logos, especially the paw.
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