Highlights From the Previous Season!
Interview with #20 Kristi Mokube
I recently had the opportunity to sit down and talk with one of the women’s basketball players here at The Florida State University. I am a huge sports fan and figured that this would be an amazing experience to have and cherish while I am a student at Florida State University.
On Sunday, July 31, 2011, I had the chance to meet Kristi Mokube in the first floor lobby of Landis Hall. I politely introduced myself and explained to her about the interviewing process. She seemed much honored that I called upon her rather than many of her other teammates for the interview. After our greeting, she asked if I was ready to go and to be aware that the travel was not going to be short; from there we took a journey to the Basketball Training Center.
While going to the center, we engaged in conversation that was far from usual. I actually had the chance to see Kristi outside of just being a very talented basketball player. She enlightened me on how she wants to change her major as well as some of the things she likes to do besides basketball. Finally reaching the center, she typed in the code to the door and from there I had an all access pass behind the scenes of our women’s basketball team. My eyes became immense for I was extremely shocked by the scenery that I was seeing. From the locker room, to the lounge area, to the practice courts and to the stadium, I seemed to be engaged throughout the entire tour. We returned back to the locker room, and from there I began my interviewing process.
Here are the questions and answers from my interview with player #20 Kristi Mokube:
Q: When did you start playing basketball?
A: “Well, I started playing basketball when I was 5 years old and I feel in love with the sport so I just continued to play.”
A: “Well, I started playing basketball when I was 5 years old and I feel in love with the sport so I just continued to play.”
Q: What is your motivation?
A: “My mother is my motivation. I try to be the best that I can be so that I can make her proud.”
A: “My mother is my motivation. I try to be the best that I can be so that I can make her proud.”
Q: What is your daily routine like? Do you have morning workouts or study hall?
A: “First I have tutoring from 8-9 a.m. and then class at 9:30-10:45 a.m. and then from 11 a.m.-12:15 I have class and then I eat from 12:30-1 p.m. and then I go workout from 1-2 p.m.”
A: “First I have tutoring from 8-9 a.m. and then class at 9:30-10:45 a.m. and then from 11 a.m.-12:15 I have class and then I eat from 12:30-1 p.m. and then I go workout from 1-2 p.m.”
Q: Ok, so do you all have to watch film or anything?
A: “Not yet, well not until the season starts later on.”
A: “Not yet, well not until the season starts later on.”
Q: Does the team have a separate gym where they practice from everyone else besides leach?
A: “Yes, we work out here at the Basketball Training Center also known as B.T.C. and this is where all of the basketball athletes go.”
A: “Yes, we work out here at the Basketball Training Center also known as B.T.C. and this is where all of the basketball athletes go.”
Q: How do you manage to balance your work and practice at the same time? Do you all practice a lot now?
A: “No, it’s not that much practice now. We don’t even practice, all we do is work out. Like during the summer we work out and go to our classes. But when we come back for school in the fall, that’s when we start to practice more.”
A: “No, it’s not that much practice now. We don’t even practice, all we do is work out. Like during the summer we work out and go to our classes. But when we come back for school in the fall, that’s when we start to practice more.”
Q: Are you nervous about returning for practice in the fall?
A: “Yes, I don’t even know how crazy it will be then due to the extended amounts of practice time and having more classes.”
A: “Yes, I don’t even know how crazy it will be then due to the extended amounts of practice time and having more classes.”
Q: Is your coach big on academics?
A: “Yes, she demands that we be a student first and an athlete second.”
A: “Yes, she demands that we be a student first and an athlete second.”
Kristi began to crack jokes about her coach and the funny things she says during practice.
Q: Tell me the advantages of being a women’s basketball player.
A: “Advantages? Well you do get a full ride. You don’t have to pay for books, class expenses, and meals. Basically you live for free! But they basically take it out of our scholarship money”
A: “Advantages? Well you do get a full ride. You don’t have to pay for books, class expenses, and meals. Basically you live for free! But they basically take it out of our scholarship money”
Q: Does the team get free clothing such as practice wear? Who sponsors it?
A: “We get free practice wear such as shorts, shirts, socks, shoes and they are sponsored by Nike.”
A: “We get free practice wear such as shorts, shirts, socks, shoes and they are sponsored by Nike.”
Q: What are the disadvantages of being a women’s basketball player?
A: “Well, in the fall I won’t be able to party like I want to. It will be the routine of do your work, go to practice, then go to sleep.”
A: “Well, in the fall I won’t be able to party like I want to. It will be the routine of do your work, go to practice, then go to sleep.”
Q: Do you feel as though men’s basketball gets more coverage than women’s basketball?
A: “No, I feel as though they are covered equally.”
A: “No, I feel as though they are covered equally.”
Q: If in the case you or any of the players get injured, are you all covered?
A: “Yes, and we get to keep our scholarship. Our personal trainers or physical therapists will work with us so that we are able to recover properly.”
A: “Yes, and we get to keep our scholarship. Our personal trainers or physical therapists will work with us so that we are able to recover properly.”
Q: What was the recruitment process?
A: “I played for an AAU team during the summer and we played in different states and the coaches came to watch us at tournaments. That was the recruitment process right there. I didn’t have to send in any tape or anything. They just came and saw us play and since they wanted us, they contacted my coach.”
A: “I played for an AAU team during the summer and we played in different states and the coaches came to watch us at tournaments. That was the recruitment process right there. I didn’t have to send in any tape or anything. They just came and saw us play and since they wanted us, they contacted my coach.”
Q: What made you chose F.S.U.? Did you have any other options?
A: “Yes I did, but the academics here are awesome. They are well known school for my major, which is theater. And most importantly, basketball, I mean the team isn’t sorry, at all! The coaches have a lot of energy and my personality is ENERGY, ENERGY, ENERGY, so we connect really well. It’s really a friendly environment.”
A: “Yes I did, but the academics here are awesome. They are well known school for my major, which is theater. And most importantly, basketball, I mean the team isn’t sorry, at all! The coaches have a lot of energy and my personality is ENERGY, ENERGY, ENERGY, so we connect really well. It’s really a friendly environment.”
Q: What do you think is the possibility of the team winning the National Championship within the next four years?
A: “Impossible is possible. That is all I have to say about that. And plus we are a really talented team.”
A: “Impossible is possible. That is all I have to say about that. And plus we are a really talented team.”
Q: Tell me something about the team that most people don’t know.
A: “Our team bond is amazing. We will just gather together and play football or dodge ball, which is really fun. You should try it.”
A: “Our team bond is amazing. We will just gather together and play football or dodge ball, which is really fun. You should try it.”
Kristi pointed to the football lying in the middle of the floor. She was telling me that they had just finished a game of flag football the day before prior to attending practice. I found it very ironic simply because it was the women’s basketball locker room, not the women’s flag football team.
Q: How do you feel about the NBA lockout?
A: “I think it is crazy. I think they need to get along and give the people their money and get along. I mean I would love to see the NBA games just as much as people would like to watch the NFL.”
A: “I think it is crazy. I think they need to get along and give the people their money and get along. I mean I would love to see the NBA games just as much as people would like to watch the NFL.”
Here are some images from my interview with Kristi Mokube:
The Girl's Locker Room
Kristi's Name Tag
Kristi cracking jokes about the coach during the inetrview
Slam DUNK!
Kristi and I playing One on One (I won the game)
Women's Basketball Sign right in front of the locker room
The lounge in the locker room where the team hangs out
