10 Random Thoughts

October, 2006

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1. As a Philadelphia Eagles fan, you've now had the chance to see the Terrell Owens situation from a far. Has it now reached a point now where he will be ridiculed for just about anything that comes out of his mouth?
[Adonal] There's an old saying: "If you live by the sword, you're going to die by the sword." I think when you put yourself out there, in the manner in which T.O. has, it has the tendency to backfire. Certainly, if a player wants a clean slate, he can certainly go after it. We've seen it in the NBA with Rasheed Wallace. After he left Portland, he changed his attitude. And he was able to gain back the respect of the officials. They're no longer on top of Rasheed as when they used to be when he was in Portland.

2. What's the best new T.V. show that has come out this fall?
[Adonal] I really don't watch a lot of new T.V. shows because I'm so stuck on my old shows. There are too many old shows for me to watch that I can't get started on any new ones.

3. New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle recently died in a plane crash. He's been known to live life on the edge and got his pilots license months prior to his death. In the summer, Ben Roethlisberger was injured in a motorcycle accident and didn't wear a helmet. Do you think there should be stricter guidelines in a professional athlete's contract, allowing athletes to stay out of harm's way?
[Adonal] No. Clearly, the team needs to protect its assets and protect itself. But if a player wants to ride a motorcycle (or a car for that matter), it is his or her right to do so outside the field or court. If a player wants to become a pilot (he's not going to be a player for the rest of his life), I don't think anyone should limit that. Having said that, I don't think there's any more of a need to control the player and what he does off the field or off the court.

4. Do you have any certain fears/phobias?
[Adonal] I despise snakes. When I was a kid, we used to chase each other with these small snakes. It would just freak me out.

5. Did you purchase any cool items this summer?
[Adonal] I bought a deep muscle stimulator (DMS). It basically works like a jackhammer on your muscles. You put it on certain parts of your body and it really breaks down a lot of the tension and soreness.

6. A lot of times, you will see the media jump the gun on stories before gaining all the facts. Do you think there is a better method of releasing news stories?
[Adonal] I think it's more about the reaction to the age that we're in. I don't really believe in stopping technology. What we should do is have an open air and start holding the media responsible for telling the truth (and not just reporting speculation). It's very important that we continue to have standards about that. But because the world is so integrated, it's a good thing and it's bad thing. It's bad because information does come out before they gain all the facts. But it's also good because the theory is that media is owned by only three entities (radio, T.V. and newspapers). And if that's true, we do need other outlets like the Internet and have more news than the general media normally dishes out.

7. Ten years ago, cell phones were big and bulky. Now, they're smaller, the take pictures and they can play music. What are your thoughts on the evolution of the cell phone?
[Adonal] It's been very exciting to see the rise of the cell phone. I think one of the dangers, however, is that you're never safe anymore. If you go to a party, and if you're acting stupid, someone can use their phone to record you. The next thing you know, you're on YouTube the next day. So, there is a lack of privacy. But I'm always going to be in favor of technological advancement. Because I think that it can eliminate a lot of issues that we have.

8. Did you play any board games when you were a kid?
[Adonal] We played "Snakes and Ladders". I also played a little bit of "Monopoly". We didn't have too many board games. By the time I got my first board game, I was 10 years old.

9. In your own opinion, what is a bigger issue in the NBA, drugs or gambling?
[Adonal] I think gambling is certainly a bigger issue. I don't think people realize just how pervasive gambling is. As athletes, we're so competitive that gambling is sometimes a natural extension of the competition that guys inherit. Guys gamble for everything. "I bet you can't hit that shot from behind the backboard." Things like that. The union usually hands out a pamphlet about drugs before the season starts. This year, they handed out a pamphlet for gambling. So, they're raising awareness of how to gamble the right way, what is legal and what is illegal.

10. Regardless of what your thoughts on Barry Bonds are, would you personally like to see him break Hank Aaron's home run record?
[Adonal] I know that a lot of people DON'T want to see him break the record. But for me, if he can do it, I'd like to see it. What I don't want to see is him coming back, struggle at the plate and can't even run around the bases. If he comes back, and if he's able to help his team in the process, then that is something I would like to see.

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