10 Random Thoughts

October, 2007

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10 Random Thoughts offers a different way to get into Adonal's head. The questions are randomly selected (without Adonal knowing ahead of time), allowing him to give his true genuine responses about anything from sports to why Pepsi is better than Coke:

1. What is the first thing you did when you set foot into Orlando as a member of the Magic?
[Adonal] Just basic things, really. I met with Magic general manager Otis Smith and had dinner with him. Then, I went to get a check-up. And once I got a clean bill of health, I signed the contract. Dinner, medical - then contract. The next day, I started looking for a place to live.

2. You also had the chance to speak with Tiger Woods while you were there. What was that like?
[Adonal] I had actually met Tiger before. Before he was as ridiculously famous as he is now, I used to attend a function for one of his foundations. It was a very small even in San Francisco and it was many, many years back. And I was there as a Warriors representative.

3. Is there anything in particular that you miss about being in the Bay Area?
[Adonal] The first thing I think about when it comes to the Bay Area is that I've grown to have such a big family there. I have really gotten close to a lot of communities. I've also gotten to know all of the security people who work at Oracle Arena in Oakland. And, of course, there are so many great places to eat. And so many places to listen to good music and go dance. There are so many things in the Bay Area that have been a part of my life. And they are things that I definitely miss.

4. With that said, is there anything about Orlando that you've absolutely fallen in love with?
[Adonal] I've definitely started going around and looking for places to eat and hang out. There are a couple of places that makes great food. But I'm still trying to make my way around the area. It took me a while to find all the great places in the Bay Area. So, it will only be a matter of time before I find them here.

5. What is the best show on TV right now?
[Adonal] That's hard. I'm definitely a Weeds guy. Weeds is definitely one of the best show to watch right now. I've always liked Smallville. And I'm totally into Boston Legal.

6. After getting to know some of your teammates, can you point out the best dressers on the team?
[Adonal] Dwight Howard can definitely dress up. So can Keyon Dooling. And probably J.J. Redick. I don't like to dress like I used to. If I could have it my way, I would never wear a suit. All I want is my jeans and T-shirt. That's it.

7. After the incident regarding referee Tim Donaghy during the offseason, are you concerned about the league and its attempt to win back its fans' faith in the game?
[Adonal] That was totally an unfortunate situation, any way you look at it. It speaks badly for the integrity of the sport - and certainly for the integrity for officials who take their job very seriously. (And I know a lot of referees who do, like Dick Bavetta and Joey Crawford). There are a lot of good refs in this league who take their jobs very seriously. With that in mind, we shouldn't judge all officials the same way we judge this one individual. When a player gets into a fight, we can't say that all NBA players are thugs. We have to isolate the incident. I've gotten to know a lot of referees who have dedicated their lives to the sport and take it very seriously. They are hurting very much because the reputation they have spent years building has been pulled down by this unfortunate incident.

8. Are you surprised that the season has started with Chris Webber and Gary Payton not being on any team's roster?
[Adonal] I believe Earl Boykins isn't on a team either. Anyhow, the league is about cycles. And it's more of a question of what guys are willing to play for. Maybe it's finances, maybe the only teams interested cannot offer the right things for that player. Maybe they won't be needed until it's time for a team to make a playoff run. Chris is still one of the best shooters from 15 feet and he's an incredible passer. And he's got a lot of things he can offer a team. The question is whether or not a team wants them right now. As for Gary, he's had an amazing career. And people constantly are making judgment on whether or not he can still do it. But it's up to a team's management to decide if he can truly bring something to a team.

9. You just purchased a new iPhone recently. How do you like it so far?
[Adonal] This thing is going to get me into an accident one of these days. I am totally addicted to this thing. There are so many things you can do with it, it's almost horrible. It's a horrible little machine because when you have it in your hand, you're not paying attention to anything else. You always want to play with it and you always want to do something with it. It's like being in your own little world. I just love it. When the iPod came out, I thought it was the most amazing invention ever because it allows you to put 21 CDs in the palm of your hands. Anything that gives you that much access to your music and lets you listen to it for a number of hours is truly extraordinary. And I think the iPhone is going to revolutionize how we use electronics because the iPhone is so many things built into one. It has an organizer, it has Internet, it has e-mail, you can watch movies, listen to music, look at photos. It has so many capabilities. Oh, and it's a phone.

10. Kobe Bryant has demanded to be traded. But he did it on a radio show. Do you have a problem with players airing out dirty laundry to the media?
[Adonal] There's always a very fine line. The balancing act as a player is to obviously not lie to the media. The press knows when players are upset, they know when they're telling the truth and they know when they are BSing. And I believe they've come to accept that. But sometimes, a player feels it is important to let the fans know that they're frustrated. I don't necessarily think what Kobe did was the right thing to do. But it definitely spoke of his frustration. And when you're part of a team, the job is to try and keep things in house as much as possible. Because once things leak out, it then becomes a team issue and everyone gets involves. It can become an incredible distraction to the team. I think the Kobe situation could have been handled differently. But he felt he really needed to say something. And I reserve the right for any player to say whatever he wants. Because the media is the ultimate place where he can express himself. And fans can see that players have frustrations, annoyance, all of these things. And the player wants to put it out there.

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