Robin Paul speaks out for special Q&A
I thought this would be a
good week to interview a
sports moms. Why not inter
view the mother of an athlete
for Mother's Day weekend?
My favorite athlete is my
main man Chris Paul. His
mother, Robin Paul, definitely
ranks up there with some of
my favorite moms ? espe
cially in sports. She's also a
big sports fan. 1 knew we
could talk a little sports and
have some fun. So, 1 caught
up with her on Tuesday to see
what her schedule was like. It
was busy as usual. She was
coming back to Winston
Salem from New Orleans. But
she made ^ome time for me
later that day, and I enjoyed it.
Robin is a great person,
with a huge heart. What's
even better is the fact that
she's so down to earth. It's
easy to feel like you've
known her for years after a
few conversations because
she's so easy to talk to and be
around. I still hug her as if
she's one of my family mem
bers when I see her out.
Earlier this week, we chat
ted about the NBA Playoffs,
CP3, MVP, NBA players and
gumbo. I also tried to see if 1
could get her to give me some
CP3 shoes on the house. I
couldn't get the shoes, but I
did get a great conversation.
Take a look at some of the
things Mrs. Paul and I rapped
about on Tuesday evening.
Anthony: (Smiles.)
What's going on, Robin?
Robin: Not a whole lot.
Just getting back from New
Orleans.
Anthony: I hear that.
And, CP and the guys are up
2-0 on the Spurs. You have to
give me your thoughts on that.
Robin: Oh, that's very
impressive. We're glad to be
where we are right now.
Anthony: Lot me ask you
this.
Robin: OK.
Anthony: How does it
make you feel to see Chris
highlights, or watch the reac
tion of some of the fans when
he does things during games?
File photo
Robin Paul, who's the mother of NBA star Chris Paul , poses with food diva Paula Deen.
Robin: I mean, we're
blessed. It makes us feel very
proud. But you have to realize
that we're right there cheering
with them. We're cheering for
the same player and team.
Anthony: When did you
realize that Chris was pretty
good?
Robin: You have to real
ize that I just see Chris as
being Chris. We all know that
he has a great talent. I just
look at it as being blessed
overall. I can't say that I real
ized Chris was good after he
did this or that. My husband
knew before I did. He has a
great talent, though.
Anthony: Today
(Tuesday) is CP's birthday,
right?
Robin: Today is his 23rd
birthday. It sure is.
As a matter of fact, he just
called the cell phone.
(Giggles.) Charles is talking
to him now. We did a big din
ner for him while we were out
there. He's real focused right
now. He's on a mission.
Anthony: Sunday is
Mother's Day. And, I am sure
you're going to be in San
Antonio.
Robin: Yes, we'll be in
San Antonio. I'm used to it.
I've, been in a gym through a
lot of Mother's Days, dating
back to AAU. We would be in
have to get your rest and be m
ready to roll.
Anthony: Where's the
best place you visited within
the last three years?
Robin: We don't go to a
* ? J
One-on-One
with i n than y Hill
a gym just about every
Mother's Day. We used to go
out and buy roses to give to
the other mothers. I see this as
being no different. We'll be in
another gym this coming
Sunday.
Anthony: How are you
able to deal with the crazy
travel schedule?
Robin: That part can get
hard sometimes.. Like this
morning, we had to get up at
3:30 to catch an early flight.
We're back and forth so
much. (Giggles.) But you
lot of the away games. Mainly
the home games.
Anthony: It doesn't have
to be for basketball. Just name
some of the places you've
gone to and enjoyed.
Robin: Hmm. Let me
think. I enjoyed Japan, when
we went over with the
Olympic team. That was
another culture. I enjoyed
that. Dallas, Salt Lake City
and L.A.
Anthony: Have you met
anyone that you've been in
awe over? I know that you
recently met Paula Dean.
Robin: Yeah, that was
great. There were a lot of stars
at the game last night. We met
Danny Glover, Forest
Whitaker, Jackie Long (from
"ATL.") and Diana '*Rpss'
daughter (Tracee Ellis Ross):
The one that's on
"Girlfriends." We met her the
night before last.
Anthony: Oh, OK.
Robin: All of them are
just real down to earth people.
They do what they have to
during the day, and chill and
come to the game at night.
Anthony: Cool. What is
your favorite thing to eat
nowadays?
Robin: It's probably
gumbo. (Both laugh . )
Anthony: I know you
make a killer dish of beans
and weenies.
Robin: Beans, weenie
and tuna. As a matter I cooked
that on Friday when we were
in New Orleans. I sure did.
Friday night. Tony Parker
, came by the house and ate
dinner with us. He enjoyed it.
Anthony: Do you have a
good relationship with most
of the players that Chris is
friends with?
Robin: Yes, wp do. We
sure do.
Anthony: That's one of
the biggest differences
between the new and old
NBA. Guys really used to not
like each other back in the
day. Now, some of the best
[flayers are friends.
Robin: Oh yeah, they're
really close. This is their job.
They have to get along with
people they work with. It's no
different than us with our co
workers.
Anthony: What else is
new Mrs. Paul?
Robin: Oh, nothing else
is really new. We just need to
go ahead and win this champi
onship.
Anthony: No doubt. Uh,
they announced that Kobe
won the MVP a little earlier
today. Is that disappointing to
you?
Robin: (Laughs.) We
were glad that Chris' name
was even mentioned. Here he
is in his third season, for him
to be mentioned as MVP was
a blessing. He'll always be the
MVP in our eyes anyway.
He'll get it one day.
Anthony: No doubt. Is
Chris going torbe able to make
the Hall of Fame ceremony on
Friday?
Robin: No, we will not be
able to make it. But someone
will be there to represent
Chris. Chris would have loved
to have been here. But he's
got to be in San Antonio right
now.
Anthony :
That's understandable. Mrs.
Paul^I need a pair of CP3's.
Robin: (Laughs.) OK. I
need a pair too. They're all
the mall.
Anthony:. (Laughs.) Oh, I
can't believe you're going to
do me like that. OK, let me
get a CP3 T-shirt or some
thing.
Robin: We can do a T
shirt.
Anthony: (Smiles.) That
sounds good to me. Um, let's
finish with free association so
you can enjoy the rest of your
day.
Robin: Oh, man.
Anthony: It's gonna be
easy.
Robin: OK.
Anthony: Hobart Jones.
Robin: My uncle and
cousin.
Anthony: Charles Paul.
Robin: My husband and
son.
Anthony: (Smiles.)
Winston-Salem.
Robin: Hometown.
Anthony: Robin Paul.
Robin: Charles' wife. C.J.
and Chris' mom. Rhonda's
(Rhonda Richardson) sister.
Anthony: New Orleans.
Robin: Hornets.
Anthony: Charlotte
Bobcats.
Robin: Raymond Felton
and Michael Jordan.
Anthony: Favorite bas
ketball player of all-time.
Robin: Michael Jordan.
Anthony: (Smiles.) All
right. We're done.
Wilkes & The Boys
Photo by Bca Hardee
Former Carver head foootball coach Keith Wilkes, who will take over a program in Georgia, poses with several of his
former coaches and players during a special celebration to honor his career last Saturday.
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