FCA
AD
14 Photo by Greg Miller.
A-Town Dancer Profile: Kaylin
Randolph at the Movies 03 Woody’s MP3
Marvin’s Benz 05
Fashionista 07
Off Season Maneuvering 09
Mo Inked 10
Steve Holman: 11 The Big Swing West
2010 Must-See Match Ups 13
Emerald City Memories 16
Teague Plays Basketball, 19 NBA 2K10 Style
Coach Bibby, Version 2.0 20
Hawks Community 21
Rookie Prep Training 23 Watermelon Salad
Marvin Q&A 24
THE A COMPLETE LOOK INSIDE TH LIFESTYLE OF THE ATLANTA HA WKS
1
AD
FALL 2009, VOL. 02, ISSUE 02 Creative Director: Peter Sorckoff Art & Design: Matty Ryan Senior Editor: Arthur Triche Editor: Jon Steinberg Editorial Assistant: Jason Roose Staff Writer: Micah Hart Produced by: Atlanta Spirit, LLC 101 Marietta Street NW, Ste. 1900 Atlanta, GA 30303 Printed by: Tucker-Castleberry, Atlanta, GA Contributors: Erin Attaway, Andrea Carter, Jon Cooper, Samuel Morgan Cooper V, Micah Hart, Jen Lehren, Greg Miller, Kyle Payne, Chef Bradley Rouse, Courtney Schweers and Jon Steinberg
VIEWER
“ I highly recommend this film, but for mature audiences only.
Randolph Morris reviews Inglorious Basterds. I went to the theater to catch Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, Inglorious Basterds. It stars Brad Pitt as the leader of a secret guerilla military unit placed into Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Lieutenant Aldo Raine (aka Aldo the Apache), Pitt, is the leader of this mixture of Jewish-American soldiers. The only requirement to be in the “Basterds” is to be Jewish and to get the CO (Raine) 100 Nazi scalps. I would have to say my favorite member of the Basterds was the “Bear Jew,” portrayed by Eli Roth. This soldier was from Boston, and was notorious for his dexterity with his baseball bat. Without giving too much of the plot away, the climax will leave you cheering in your seat, though to call it fiction is an understatement. It was a well-acted movie, especially Austrian actor Christopher Waltz, who turned in an amazing performance as one of the Nazis. I highly recommend this film, but for mature audiences only. Tarantino is definitely on his game, and I don’t know if anyone else could have directed this film like he did.
PHOTO CREDITS: Cover: A. Horford by Greg Miller Pg. 1: Kaylin by Greg Miller Pg. 3: R. Morris by Greg Miller, M. Woodson by Scott Cunningham Pg. 5: M. Williams’ car by Samuel Morgan Cooper V Pg. 7: Z. Pachulia by Greg Miller Pg. 9: M. Bibby, J. Crawford and Z. Pachulia by Greg Miller Pg. 10: M. Evans by Greg Miller Pg. 13: J. Teague, R. Sund by Greg Miller, Action photos courtesy of Getty Images Pg. 14: Kaylin by Greg Miller Pg. 15: Kaylin by Greg Miller Pg. 16: J. Crawford, M. Williams by Scott Cunningham Pg. 19: J. Teague by Greg Miller Pg. 21: Zoo Visit by Scott Cunningham Make a Wish by Andrea Carter Pg. 23: J. Teague by Greg Miller Pg. 24: M. Williams by Greg Miller All Atlanta Hawks game photography by Scott Cunningham
Email us your idea, feedback, thoughts and suggestions at hawks360@atlantaspirit.com. © 2009 Atlanta Spirit, LLC. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced without written consent of the Atlanta Hawks.
HAWKS.COM
Inglorious Basterds image courtesy of The Weinstein Company and Universal Pictures. Randolph Morris photo by Greg Miller. Mike Woodson photo by Scott Cunningham.
A COMPLETE LOOK INSIDE THE TH LIFESTYLE OF THE ATLANTA HA WKS
OVERALL REVIEW “
INGLORIOUS
WHAT’S ON YOUR
MP3 PLAYER? Mike Woodson says,
“Here are my current favorites (among many others) on my MP3 player. All are jazz.”
Peter White (guitarist) Paul Taylor (saxophonist) Joe Sample (pianist and composer) Dave Koz (saxophonist) Walter Beasley (saxophonist) Rick Braun (trumpeter) Diana Krall (pianist and singer) Randy Crawford (singer) 3
AD
WHIP IT UP Marvin Williams “I’ve had this car (a 2008 Mercedes S63 AMG) for a couple years. I’m not what you’d call a ‘car guy.’ I basically have two cars that I actually drive, and then one old school car too. I love this Mercedes, and I drive it more than the others. It is fast (within the speed limit OF COURSE) and quick, but also incredibly comfortable for me, and I’m 6-foot-9! And it also drives very smoothly, as you’d expect. When I was growing up, my mom had a red Chevrolet Corsica. I would drop her off at the ferry so she could go to work, and I would be allowed to drive it to school and basketball practice. We finally just got rid of that one recently.”
Photos by Samuel Morgan Cooper V.
5
AD
From hardwood and carpet to paint, plumbing, and landscaping, you’ll get more project for your money. Helping you put your home in a new league. That’s the power of The Home Depot. ®
Proud sponsor of the Atlanta Hawks.
© 2009, HOMER TLC, Inc. All rights reserved. The Atlanta Hawks name and logo are registered trademarks of Atlanta Hawks, L.P. © 2009-10 Atlanta Hawks, L.P. All rights reserved.
Fashion
ISTA with Zaza Pachulia
As the Hawks’ resident fashion expert, Zaza Pachulia puts in his two cents worth in each issue of 360. This month he talks about his own style.
This is a custom-made shirt by Gucci. I like to wear collared shirts under sweaters when it starts getting cooler, and white goes with anything. This is a simple cotton v-neck from Gucci. Purple is one of my favorite colors, and is a hot color in fashion right now. Sweaters are a must in the fall. It’s an Emporio Armani. I got this one in Italy. I love large face watches. Watches should always match your outfit.
Overall, I definitely consider this a simple and comfortable outfit, something I can wear out for a nice dinner at Eno by Zaza, or on a flight out of town for a road game. Photo by Greg Miller.
7
AD
OFFSEASON
REVIEW
by Micah Hart
In their first summer with the Hawks, GM Rick Sund and Assistant GM Dave Pendergraft chose to tread slowly, spending a season evaluating the talent on hand before making any drastic changes. Their patience was rewarded, as the team earned the 4th spot in the Eastern Conference and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Still, there was no doubt their second offseason at the controls would allow no such opportunities. With two draft picks and a number of free agents, Sund, Pendergraft and staff went to work early to shape the future of the franchise, both in 2009-10 and beyond. Based on the results, you’d have to call their handiwork an unqualified success.
Now that the 2009-10 season is underway, let’s take a look back at the changes the team underwent over the summer. FREE AGENCY: “One of our priorities this offseason was to retain starters Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams, and our top backup big man Zaza Pachulia,” said Sund. “All three entered the summer as free agents. Each of these players explored their options throughout the league, and their desire to return to our team underscores their strong feelings about continuing to grow and excel together as a unit.” The addition of Jamal Crawford to the backcourt unfortunately meant there would be no place for Flip Murray, who ended up signing on to play with the Charlotte Bobcats. But retaining all three core players in Bibby, Pachulia, and Williams was an unqualified success for the front office. After going to work to re-sign their own players, the Hawks finished the offseason by adding some depth to the frontcourt, in the personage of veteran big men Joe Smith and Jason Collins. Said Sund: “We expect both players to provide quality depth and play an important role in our team’s success.”
2009 NBA DRAFT: It won’t be easy to climb the Eastern Conference ladder with the amount of talented teams on hand, but you can be sure that if the Hawks can continue to make moves like they have over the past few months, the future certainly looks bright.
Before the draft, Pendergraft talked about the difficulty of drafting before knowing how free agency will play out. “Unfortunately, you can’t know about the status of all your free agents before you pick a player, so that can sort of throw your priorities a little bit up into the air, “ said Pendergraft. “What you hope is to get a player who can help you. If a guy in the rotation goes down with an injury, you’d like to get someone who can maybe pick up some of those minutes, but can still project as a potential starter down the road.” By drafting Wake Forest point guard Jeff Teague at pick #19, the Hawks hope they have found someone who can do both. Teague has won rave reviews early in his rookie campaign.
TRADES: The Hawks only made one swap in the offseason, acquiring Jamal Crawford on draft day from Golden State for Speedy Claxton and Acie Law. “We feel we gained tremendous flexibility with the addition of Jamal,” said Sund. “He gives us balance in the backcourt, having produced at both point guard and shooting guard positions. Not only is Jamal a talented scorer, but he can also deliver quality production down the stretch of games.”
9
Mo Evans
Photos by Greg Miller.
“I got the “Only God Decides” tattoo prior to last season back in Austin, Texas. It’s definitely meaningful and special to me. It’s obviously Biblical, and just something I’ve always believed — that God alone determines our fate. It also speaks to not being judgemental towards other people in your own life.”
STEVE HOLMAN:
ON THE ROAD AGAIN Hawks Radio Voice Steve Holman, now entering his 25th season with the club (and riding a consecutive game streak of 1,703 including regular season and playoffs) has seen every NBA city inside and out during his travels over the years. A noted connoisseur of food and the occasional beverage, Holman shares some of his insights on the spots he was hoping to visit on the Hawks’ early West Coast road trip this season: “Traveling during an NBA season can certainly be a grind—back-to-backs, four-games-in-five-nights in four different cities, 4 a.m. arrivals in hotels, weather issues, security, etc. But one of the great perks of traveling during a long season is that occasional night off in a great restaurant city. The Hawks first road trip this season took us to Los Angeles, Portland, Sacramento, and Charlotte. Maybe it’s not the most traditional of road trips for sure, but all of these cities have outstanding dining and some places I always look forward to visiting.”
LOS ANGELES “Mastro’s Steakhouse on North Canon Drive (in Beverly Hills) has become one of our favorite stops. This spot has it all — great steaks, great service, an upstairs piano bar and great people watching. At any given time, you may bump into a celebrity.
NATE ’N AL’S
MASTRO’S STEAKHOUSE
STAPLES CENTER KATE MANTILINI
“Los Angeles also has some of America’s best deli’s. Nate ’n Al’s on North Beverly Drive is terrific for breakfast and lunch, and it’s pretty much a guarantee you will run into Larry King, who has his own booth there for breakfast. “Kate Mantilini on Wilshire Blvd is a great after the game spot.”
PORTLAND “As we move on to Portland, there are a few standouts. For seafood, Jake’s Famous Crawfish on 12th Ave is the spot. It has a new menu every day and a great atmosphere, as the old wooden bar is always hopping.
JAKE’S FAMOUS CRAWFISH
ROSE GARDEN ARENA
RINGSIDE WEST
EL GAUCHO
“If you’re hankering for a steak, there are two great places to consider. El Gaucho on Broadway at the Benson Hotel has a real steakhouse feel to it. And to boot, former NBA standout Detlef Schrempf is part-owner. “The real old-school steakhouse in Portland is Ringside West on Burnside. It features red leather booths, big steaks, and huge martinis (Those in the know have told me they are very good!).”
SACRAMENTO “As we travel back into California, Sacramento is a spot we only get to one time each season, so we don’t get much time to dine. But there are several good brew pubs, and Esquire Grill is a good after-game spot to wind down.”
CHARLOTTE “The last stop on the trip has really come on strong in recent years in the restaurant department. Since their new arena opened, we’ve started staying in the downtown area, and there are plenty of choices for all of the bankers who work there, and visitors like us.
CAPITAL GRILLE
TIME WARNER CABLE ARENA
“When we have a night off, my favorite spot is Capital Grille on North Tryon. Anyone from Atlanta knows the Capital Grille, and the Charlotte location is one of the best in the chain. It is clearly one of the top after-work hangouts in the Queen City, and the service, along with the food, is great as always. In addition to the financial types, you’ll often spot an NBA or NFL player, or a NASCAR driver enjoying a meal there.” That’s it for now, but as the season winds along, and our 41 regular season road games continue, I will share some more of my favorite establishments to visit. Stay tuned and Go Hawks!
Maps not drawn to scale.
11
ON SALE NOW! For only $15, ever y calendar includes T WO FREE Hawks tickets and a sp ecial offer from the Beau Rivage Casino and Resort.
AD
ATOWNDANCERS.COM The home of the Atlanta Hawks dance team featuring exclusive video, photo galleries, bio’s and blogs. Presented by
Go to ATOWNDANCERS.com for all of the details on this years calendar, autograph sessions and “Under the Lights” T V show on FSS and Sp orts South.
2009-10
by Micah Hart
MUST-SEE MATCH UPS After a terrific year that saw the Hawks finish 4th in the Eastern Conference and make it to the second round of the NBA Playoffs, Atlanta is building off its success in 2009-10. Let’s take a look at some highlights to watch for in the new season. Here are the top 5 must-see games:
5
FEBRUARY 10th vs. MIAMI
4
JANUARY 8th vs. BOSTON CELTICS
3
DWYANE WADE
Last season’s first round playoff series against the Heat was certainly interesting. The teams will likely be near each other in the standings again, and this one finishes off the season’s first half for the Hawks. KEVIN GARNETT
The Hawks’ budding rivalry with the Celtics continues on January 8th. The Hawks already won once this season in Boston, and the Celtics will be eager to even the score.
2
DECEMBER 29-30th vs. CLEVELAND
1
MARCH 31st vs. LA LAKERS
to watch for...
Can the Hawks keep improving? After recording more wins than the prior year for each of the last four seasons, the Hawks (led by GM Rick Sund) elected to keep the team’s nucleus intact, wagering that the young up-and-coming stars would continue to improve. If the early part of this season is any indication, that decision was a good one. Is growth from within a significant part of that improvement process? Josh Smith and Al Horford, in particular, have played at an All-Star level the first two months of the season, each showing significant improvement. Smith has improved dramatically at managing his game, while Horford has continued his progression as one of the top centers in the East. Is this the deepest team of the Woodson Era? Without question. The Jamal Crawford, Jeff Teague and Joe Smith acquisitions, along with holdovers Zaza Pachulia and Mo Evans, have given the Hawks one of the most productive and experienced benches in the NBA. Crawford is an early-season favorite to win the league’s Sixth Man award. What is the future for Jeff Teague? After an excellent mini-camp, training camp and preseason, Teague has begun to settle into the regular season rotation. Life as a rookie in the NBA is a major adjustment, especially at the point guard position. But his time on the court will be critical to the Hawks’ success, especially down the stretch and into the playoffs.
MARCH 24th vs. ORLANDO The Hawks hosted the defending Eastern champs on Thanksgiving night, in a primetime, nationally-televised meeting of Southeast Division rivals. In March they return to Philips Arena for the final showdown before Playoffs.
Storylines
JOSH SMITH AND DWIGHT HOWARD LEBRON JAMES
Atlanta and Cleveland will play each other on consecutive nights to close out the 2009 portion of the calendar, first in Atlanta and then again in Cleveland. It will be the first meetings between the teams since their 2nd round match-up in last year’s playoffs. KOBE BRYANT
The champs come to town, and Kobe draws the crowds as well as anyone in the league. No win is as satisfying as a win over the Lakers, and the Hawks will go for two straight after winning 86-76 a year ago at Philips. 13
Years on Team: 2 Hometown: Suwanee, GA Birthday: August 13 Nationality/Heritage: Norwegian, Cherokee Indian and Scotch-Irish. College: GA Perimeter College, Mass Communications major Profession: Student Dance background: 17 years Classical Ballet training, as well as Jazz, Character and Hip Hop.
Photo by Greg Miller.
Hobbies: Running, Dancing, Organizing, Fishing Favorite Car: Convertible Bentley Favorite movie: The Hangover Favorite food: Dove Chocolate Ice Cream! First concert attended: Christina Aguliera and the Pussycat Dolls in Atlanta
Websites frequently visited: My facebook, HAWKS.com, CNN.com and Perezhilton.com How would your friends describe you: Optimistic, Tall, Funny, Smart Dog or Cat: As long as it is little and really cute, I don’t care. Any guilty pleasures: Chocolate and the Food Network. I love Paula Dean! Which actress would play you in a movie about your life: I would choose Cameron Diaz because I think we have very similar personalities.
A-TOWN DANCER PROFILE:
Professional dance experience: Atlanta Hawks A-Town Dancers, Atlanta Thrashers Blue Crew, Atlanta Braves Tomahawk Team. Soloist performer and choreographer.
15
Photos courtesy of Getty images
EMERALD CITY
MEMORIES
by Jon Cooper
Marvin Williams and Jamal Crawford share more than NBA title aspirations.
The Atlanta Hawks’ off-season acquisition of Jamal Craw- “Gary Payton was my absolute favorite,” agreed Williams. “I remember when they played the Bulls ford was a dream-come-true for Marvin Williams and not in the Finals. I was just sick at home because I loved just because of the positives Crawford adds to the Hawks. Michael Jordan but I loved Gary Payton. I remember “ I’m excited to have him here,” said Williams. “He’s a that was just the argument at our school — what Michael Seattle guy for starters.” Jordan was going to do to the Sonics and all the Seattle Williams is five years Crawford’s junior but still fans would argue about how Gary Payton was one of the better defenders and he was going to stop all that.” carries vivid memories of him, when Crawford was the star player at Rainier Beach High School, in Renton, The heartbreak of losing that series in six games Wash., about 60 miles from where Williams grew up isn’t nearly as deep as the current heartache, which in Bremerton. began following the 2007-08 season, when the beloved “ He was state player of the year. Jamal was The Man.” franchise left for Oklahoma City, where they currently Williams raved. “I’m in seventh grade, eighth grade, reside as the Thunder. Crawford and Williams agree that the city needs, and eventually will get, another watching him play in the state tournament. I watched NBA franchise. him play when he was with Chicago. I used to go to Seattle when he would come to Seattle.” It turns out, “ I can’t picture them without a team and I think we’ll the admiration went both ways. have a team,” said Crawford. “I’m not sure when or how long it will take but we’ll have a team.” “ I definitely checked into Marvin’s high school. He was a legend,” remembered Crawford, who was For Williams, it hurts even more as an NBA player not beginning his fifth NBA season (his first in New being able to go back and play there in front of friends York) when Williams was a senior at Bremerand family. ton High School, earning McDonald’s and Parade All-American status and all-state honors. “To see “ It’s terrible to go back home and know you don’t make that trip,” he said. “It was a fun homecoming for me to another guy from Washington be so successful and then go back there and play. To know that there’s no team be on the team with him, it’s a bonus for me.” up there, it’s disheartening, but there’s talk about them Williams and Crawford share more than admiration getting a team back up there and I hope one day they than for each other. Both of them lived and died with the really can.” SuperSonics. Growing up Sonics fans when they did, it’s not surprising that they also shared admiration for Crawford and Williams, who had never really run into each other during past off-seasons, have already the same player. firmed up plans to do so in the immediate future. They “Gary Payton,” said Crawford. “Those guys going to the have talked specifically about Crawford’s summer [1996 NBA] Finals, him and Shawn Kemp, the league, which is attended by other Seattle-based pros synergy they had, the ally-oop passes. He was like New York’s Nate Robinson, Portland’s Brandon my favorite player and those are my best memRoy, Dallas’ Jason Terry and Houston’s Aaron Brooks, ories, going to those to name a few. games and watching them go to the Finals.” “We’re in the same back yard and only an hour away, so hopefully in years to come we’ll get together,” said Williams. “ Marvin says he’s going to play in the summer league this year, so that’s cool,” added Crawford.
17 17
AD
JEFF TEAGUE:
VIDEO GAME GURU
PRODUCT SPECS NBA 2K10
GETTING STARTED
AVAILABLE: Now
NBA 2K10 is great. Since I’m new to the NBA, I like to search around and take a look at all the teams and players.
PLATFORMS: Xbox® 360 Playstation® 3 Wii™ Playstation® 2 PSP® system PC
It is very easy to start the game as an established NBA player. It doesn’t matter how you play in Franchise mode, just whether you’re ahead at the final buzzer. The action on-court is fast-paced and if you have a decent point guard with some speed, you will be able to get into the paint just about every time down the floor. Some defenders can lock onto their man but it’s still easy to blow by them by moving sideways a few steps before hitting the turbo button and breaking an ankle or two on the way to the hoop.
MY PLAYER MODE
OTHER OPTIONS
I really like the My Player mode, which lets you create your own player from scratch and attempt to make it to the NBA. The creation tools are really detailed, letting you tweak not only standard options, such as your position and height, but also traits like what tattoo you have or what your fallaway jumper looks like.
Freelancing on your own (arcade style) and thinking your teammates will cover for you doesn’t work well… which really surprised me for a video game. There are also a bunch of different goals you have to reach each game (holding your man to under 10 points or shooting above 40 percent from three-point land) to help your chance of making it to the bigs. You almost feel like you’re a real player trying to earn a roster spot.
Playing through summer league is totally different from playing in the real NBA game mode. The crowd is almost nonexistent and the other players are struggling to make a team. The wins and losses also don’t matter nearly as much as they would in a real game. Chances are you won’t be picked up by a team based on your play in the summer league, so you have to play a number of games in the NBA Development League before you get a shot at the big time. In the My Player mode, you only control your created player and are rated on how good a teammate you are. There are lots of ways to earn a good grade like dishing out a sweet pass under the basket or getting your hand in the passing lane for a steal.
Tapping the D pad also brings up a few different plays. You can scroll through until you find something you like. Each team’s playbook is pretty different and has some plays to get people open. I had a hard time scrolling through plays and hanging onto the ball the first few times, but it gets easier when you know what plays you’re looking for.
JEFF’S TIP NBA 2K10 is all about speed and fun. It’s fast and exciting but strategy doesn’t seem to be as big a deal as it is in NBA Live 10. I found it easy to get caught up in the My Player mode and the online game play alone makes it a good buy.
OVERALL REVIEW NBA 2K10 is Jeff Teague approved!
19
MIKE BIBBY on coaching his kids
MIKE BIBBY AND HIS SON ENJOYING SOME VIDEO GAMES AT ALL-STAR WEEKEND
by Micah Hart
It is often said that a good point guard is like a coach on the court. So it should come as no surprise that Hawks PG Mike Bibby spent his offseason working on his coaching skills — at the helm of his son’s AAU team. “It’s stressful,” said Bibby, who has coached his son Michael’s team for the last three summers. “It’s way more stressful than when I play. I love these kids like they are my own, and I want to see them succeed, so I take a lot of responsibility for that.” Bibby, who was an AAU star in his own right growing up in Arizona, gets a lot of pleasure out of getting to work with his son. “I just want to help make him the best player he can be,” said Bibby. “I know what these kids are capable of, and I want to push them to achieve their potential. My son isn’t quite to my level yet when I was his age, but that’s because I was a little taller and longer than he is. He’s already a better shooter though.” Based on early results, whatever he is doing must be working.
“We’re a pretty good team. We just beat one of the best 8th-grade teams in Arizona in our last tournament, and our team is in 6th grade, so that’s pretty good,” said Bibby. “My goal is to keep these kids together, all the way through high school, and keep coaching them all the way through.” Bibby’s coaching style is hands-off, he says, but firm. “I want them to play basketball. We have plays, some of which we run here in Atlanta, but I generally want them to be aggressive. I’ll let them shoot, I won’t get on them for that. But I still do a lot of yelling at them if need be.” The experience has helped Bibby appreciate how difficult the job of the coach can be. “I try to take care of my team during the game,” he said. “I want to be the one to yell at the refs — I’ll take the technical, I don’t want the kids having to defend themselves out there. I always tell Woody (Hawks coach Mike Woodson) the same thing, don’t make me have to be a jerk to the refs, that’s your job.” MIKE BIBBY
Out &
About AL HORFORD GIVES A BOOST
Photo by Andrea Carter
Photo by Scott Cunningham
Al Horford continued his commitment to service, which earned him the Jason Collier Memorial Award last season. Al donated $5,000 to Caminar Latino, Georgia’s first and only. The organization is Georgia’s first and only comprehensive domesticviolence intervention program for Latino families. Children and their families will be special guests in Al’s Amigos section during the 2009-10 season. Visit http://www.caminarlatino.org/home_eng.htm for more information on Caminar Latino.
NBA CARES ABOUT PANDAS
JC’S FOUNDATION
MAKE A WISH WITH JOSH
In conjunction with the NBA Cares initiative, the Atlanta Hawks players made an appearance at Zoo Atlanta on October 4. The Hawks were stationed throughout the zoo, participating in numerous activities with zoo patrons. The entire roster assisted with live animal encounters, tours, parakeet feedings, arts and crafts, and volunteering in the nutrition kitchen. The event also coincided with the zoo’s “Give So They Stay” campaign, an effort to keep the zoo’s giant pandas (Lun Lun, Yang Yang and their offspring) in Atlanta. The care and study of giant pandas has been a major focus for Zoo Atlanta for more than a decade.
Jamal Crawford founded the Jamal Crawford Foundation in 2005 and this summer he continued to give back to his hometown of Seattle. In September, Crawford presented 10 Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Units, worth more than $15,000, to every Seattle Public High School. While Jamal hopes these never have to be used, he’s glad to know the devices are accessible for trainers who may one day need to save the life of a student-athlete or family member watching from the stands. Jamal looks forward to continuing his philanthropic ways in Atlanta, where plans are underway for future events, including his annual “Giving Tree” event.
Hawks forward Josh Smith took time during the off-season to lend a helping hand to former Hawks forward and Sacramento Kings assistant coach Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Josh joined Shareef and other notables, including Hawks alumnus and NBA-TV sportscaster Steve Smith for the launch of The Future Is Now WishGranting Tour, a part of Shareef’s The Future Foundation. During the grant wishing tour, Josh, Steve and local politicians and athletes dropped in on three unsuspecting Atlanta students at their schools to grant their wishes for a better future, from laptops to mentoring opportunities with celebrities.
21
AD
ROOKIE SEASON PREP Hawks rookie Jeff Teague has all the tools to be a force in his first season in the NBA. Jeff’s focus in the offseason was to get his body ready for the grind that is an NBA regular season. We caught up with the talented youngster to see what he did to prepare. Q: What is the biggest difference in getting ready for an NBA season against getting ready for a college campaign? A: In college you do a lot more running on the track, organized workouts and things like that. But here, we play basketball. Most of our guys, and even some other pro players, are around Atlanta all summer. Getting used to that kind of competition day in and day out in pick up games has really helped me, and it gave me a chance to get used to playing with some of my new teammates. Q: Have you ever played that much in an offseason? A: Never, when you are in college you have classes and other requirements, but here you get up every day and
presented by
WATERMELON & WATERCRESS SALAD with goat cheese foam
hit the gym and play ball. It’s a very competitive atmosphere and I can really tell the difference in my game after all that work over the summer. Q: Is there anyone that you were able to talk with about the rigors of an 82 game regular season? A: I have been talking to a buddy of mine, Courtney Lee of the New Jersey Nets who was a rookie last year. He has been telling me it is totally different playing 82 games in the league versus playing 35 games in college. He said that you definitely can hit a wall, but that if you prepare mentally and physically you can get through it at a high level. Q: What about the mental preparation, in college you were obviously a star and a player that played a lot of minutes. With this team having an established starting unit, how do you go about staying mentally sharp in a supporting role? A: It is different now, just like every other guy that gets into this league I have always been a go-to guy on my teams before. I have to adjust my mindset now and fill the role that this team needs me to fill. All the veterans are helping me out, and the coaching staff has let me know what they expect of me. Even if I am playing fewer minutes in games than I am used to, the extra work that goes into the game at this level is more intense than anything I have dealt with before. I just want to do whatever I can to help us win.
This is a Quick and easy way to create something a little different with your watermelon. You will need a cryovac machine and a whip cream charger. Cryovacing the melon intensifies the flavor and creates a unique texture in the fruit. I like to season it using grey French sea salt. It has high levels of clay which imparts an almost “pop rock” like texture. Dice watermelon, cryovac, let sit for about an hour. Open bag, remove melon. Season with Extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. Toss with a little water cress. Serve with goat cheese foam, crispy baguette and your favorite Rosé. For the goat cheese foam: 2 1/2 cups milk, 5 ounces soft goat cheese, 3 sheets gelatin, softened in cold water. Whip together, place in whip cream canister, charge and dispense in to a vessel for serving.
Q: Off the court, is there anything you have changed in your daily life to help you get ready? A: You have to eat right. I was a junk food guy in college. I would hit McDonald’s every day, sometimes three times a day! Obviously I can’t do that anymore, so I am watching what I eat. I am eating more vegetables and I am eating fish now too. Sometimes I still think about those McDonald’s cheeseburgers, but I pass it up now.
Chef Bradley Rouse keeps the Hawks well fed while monitoring their nutrition. In this edition of Hawks 360 he shares a light and refreshing alternative to a salad. 23
“It’s rare to see a team be able to stay together like we have here in Atlanta, in any professional sport. Usually when that happens, it’s because a team is good. I feel like we are really trying to make our mark.”
TALKING WITH
MARVIN Marvin Williams is in his fifth season in the NBA, having signed a new contract with the Hawks that will keep him in Atlanta for the foreseeable future. Now that the 2009-10 season is well underway, we caught up with Marvin to talk about the state of the team, his offseason, and his reputation as the cheapest guy on the team. On being a restricted free agent over the summer: “The biggest thing that Chills (Josh Childress) told me was to be patient. You have to leave your emotions out of it. As the weeks went by, that advice really came in handy. But eventually my agent and the team were able to come to an agreement, and I got to stay with my team and my teammates.” On continuity with the Hawks: “It’s rare to see a team be able to stay together like we have here in Atlanta, in any professional sport. Usually when that happens, it’s because a team is good. I feel like we are really trying to make our mark. We’ve made the playoffs the past two years, and we want to continue that and do even better this year. It definitely helps that our core guys have been together for so long, there’s no question about it.” On how he spent his summer: “I went back to school, like I always do. I love it there, and I love playing with the college guys. It’s a different atmosphere man, those kids are hungry. It’s not that the professionals aren’t hungry too, it’s just different. They keep me motivated, that’s for sure.” On if he bought anything after signing a new contract: “I think I’ve actually gotten cheaper (laughing). Ask around, the guys will tell you I’m cheap. I like nice things, don’t get me wrong, but I won’t go out and just buy anything. So not too much has changed — I think I’m cheaper now if you can believe it.” On validating his draft status: “ It’s never been an issue to me, personally. People may talk about it for the next 20 years, but I don’t care. I’ve never cared. I love what I do, and I would never let idle chatter like that affect me. I’ve been winning here, and I think I’m getting better as a player, and I think that’s what counts at the end of the day.”
Photo by Greg Miller.
STATS
24
Height: 6’-9” Weight: 240 lbs. College: North Carolina