Josh Howard gives the low down
People that follow my inter
views can tell you that I do a
Q&A with Dallas Maverick star
guard Josh Howard every sum
mer. It's almost like a tradition.
This summer was no different.
A lot of you probably don't
remember that my first ever
Q&A for The Chronicle was
with J-Ho. We did an interview
during his senior year at Wake
Forest. The uncut version of that
interview was something else.
I'm not going to go into details
about it. He and I talked about
that funny interview a couple
years ago, though. The truth of
the matter is J-Ho and I have
great conversations every time
we talk. He simply gives you
something that you want to hear.
He's honest. Howard's funny,
and he keeps it real with you
every time he opens his mouth.
I'm going to go ahead and
let you know that he and I didn't
talk too much about the radio
interview with Michael Irvin
that caused so much controver
sy. I told him that I didn't want
to go there on paper. But we
touched on a number of other
things, though.
Number Five and I talked
about his camp, his love for old
school cars, his new coach and
next season. J-Ho and I also
talked about whether or not he
planned on getting into a serious
relationship anytime soon.
Theje were a number of
other topics he and I touched on
during a very fun interview ear
lier this week. Take a look at
some of the things I was able to
get out of Josh.- on Tuesday
evening.
Anthony: Josh, what's
going on?
Josh: (Smiles) Nothing
much. You all right.
Anthony: I can't complain,
man. It's great to see you. And,
this camp is something else. I
thought I'd say that real quick.
Josh: It's just a blessing.
We've had a great turnout. I
guess I am making everyone eat
their words. First, I'm giving
praises to God for giving me the
ability to go out there and play
ball so that I can do things like
this. I've got the right team
around me. Guys like yourself
help me out a lot. And, I'm just
staying positive.
Anthony: No doubt. I've
got to ask you this, Josh. How
were you able to maintain when
all of the bad press hit you dur
ing the playoffs, and people
seemingly started to crucify
you?
Josh: It took me to tha point
to where it made me want to
work harder. It let me see that a
lot of people form an opinion
about things they don't even
know about without asking the
person that said it. It's sad that
the world is like that. I flipped it
around and turned it into a posi
tive. That's my motivation now.
I'm going to keep using it.
Anthony: How did you
take watching guys like Skip
Bayless and others talk about
you?
Josh: I just wish they would
contact the person they're talk
ing about before they go out and
make their assumptions. That's
what I think would be fair.
Instead of. just going out there
and blasting a person. And,
they'll give another person cred
it when they don't deserve it.
Find out what's really going on.
I don't really pay that much
attention to it.
Anthony: I feel that. Um,
do you want to be seen as a guy
that's purely about his commu
nity?
Josh: Definitely. That's the
way I've been from the jump. I
had a chance to play with the
Olympic team. But I turned that
down. That would be a big
dream for anybody else to go
out there and win a gold for the
United States. For me, growing
up in Momingside and walking
to Reynolds Park, I didn't have a
male role model besides my step
dad and my older cousin.
I feel like if I'm around these
young men and young women I
can show them that there s a
positive guy that's going to give
them a chance ? no matter
what. Hopefully they can see
they can do whatever they want
to do as long as they stay posi
tive.
Anthony: I was with you at
the league championship games
last night (Monday night).
Josh: Right
Anthony: And, I've seen
you here during the regular
games (Smiles.) It's funny
because most guys would've
just given their money and not
really come as much. But you're
interacting with the crowd.
You're seemingly so much a
pan of this league.
Josh: It's a special thing,
it s hands on. I'm able to see the
lives of these kids change with
me being here It's just a bless
ing. Hopefully one day they'll
be another Josh or Josh-ette
Paying in the NBA or
WNBA. (Both laugh.) That's
what I really want.
Anthony: (Smiles.) A lot of
people want to know what your
personal life is like. Have you
settled down with anyone?
Josh: (Laughs.) Nah. I
mean, I m slowing down. But
no giilfriend. I'm living life. I'm <
trying to get stuff set, so that
when 1 do decide to settle down
she won't have to worry. Nor,
will the kids have to worry.
Anthony: How does a guy
like yourself, or any profession
al athlete determine whether a
female is keeping it real, or sim
ply wants you for what you
have?
Josh: (Both laugh.) Number
one will be prayer. Number two
you have to trust in your gut
feeling, and the people that's
around you. Just watch people.
I'm a big watcher. I don't say
much, but I'll watch you all day.
You can read a lot of people off
that.
Anthony: Let's talk a little
basketball.
Josh: (Laughs.) OK.
Anthony: The season
ended on a bad note for you all.
How ready is Josh Howard for
this upcoming season?
Josh: I've been working
out. I took about two weeks off,
and started right back with the
new coach, Rick Carlisle. I'm
excited. That's the only word I
can really say to describe how I
feel about it. It's a new opportu
nity with a new coach. And, we
get a full season with Jason
Kidd. We only had him for 29
games. With him being a future
Hall of Famer you have to like
our chances.
Anthony: But I know you
were close to Devin (Harris).
Were yob really feeling that
trade?
Josh: Hmm. I understood
the business of it. As a friend,
that was my guy. Him, Marquis
(Daniels) and Diop.
Anthony: You recently got
Diop back, though.
Josh: (Smiles.) Right. He's
back now. That's another thing.
I think Dallas is trying to help
Getty Images/ NBA Photos
Dallas Maverick guard Josh Howard goes up for a score dur
ing a first round playoff game last season.
me out now. They are trying to
do things to make me more
comfortable. I appreciate them,
even though it took five years
for them to do that.
Anthony: (Laughs.) No
doubt. I was just on the website
looking at the banner and it had
you, Dirk and Jason Kidd. You
were first, though.
Josh: (Smiles.) Yeah. I've
been there for five years now.
Check my track record. I've
done so many positive things.
And that's one of the things that
I've always hung my had on.
I've never been a negative per
son.
Anthony: How much did it
affect you to see Avery Johnson
fired at the end of the year?
Josh: It's a business.
Everything coach Johnson
taught me on the court is valu
able to me. He taught me a lot
about defense and being more
patient on the, court. Things kind
of went wrong at the end of the
season. I felt like he didn't rep
resent the team like' he
should've. I really wasn't
expecting him to be fired. But
someone felt the same way I
did, evidently.
Anthony: OK. I saw you on
"MTV Cribs." (Smiles.) You
were bragging about that Kool
Aid. Is it really like that?
Josh: (Laughs.) That Kool
Aid is great. My mom can
vouch for that. My little brother
too. I'm the only one in the
house that could make the Kool
Aid growing up. I wasn't play
ing about that. And, I wasn't
playing about anyone challeng
ing me in pool.
Anthony: I think T.B. (a
mutual friend of ours) might try
to challenge you.
Josh: (Smiles.) I know he'll
play me. He's probably the only
one that will play me. He's a
good challenge.
Anthony: No doubt. If you
could trade places with anybody
who would it be?
Josh: I'm still on Hugh
Hefner. I told you that in col
lege. I want to be my age,
though.
Anthony: I know you're
cool with a lot of entertainers
and rappers. You have rap star
Jadakiss coming through later
this week. How do you come in
contact with guys like that?
Josh: I don't even know
where I was at. We just bumped
into each other somewhere. I'm
real close with one- of his guys,
Top Cat. I hang out with him.
It's great to have them be a part
of this. I have some other guys
coming through. Devin Harris is
outside now. Josh Powell is
coming. Jerry . Stackhouse is
coming. Shammond Williams
will be here tomorrow.
Anthony: OK. What have
you been bumping lately?
Josh: Of course , Lil ' Wayne
? the hottest rapper alive.
Anthony: No doubt. And,
shout out to Big John (Lil'
Wayne's bodyguard).
Josh: (Laughs.) Shout out
to Big John all day. My boy is in
the video stunting. We have peo
ple from Winston that are doing
things around the world I'm
proud to be from here.
Anthony: Who would you
like to play one-on-one?
Josh: Earl "The Pearl"
Monroe.
Anthony: Do you play any
other sports, besides pool, in
your spare time?
Josh: 1 can play golf a tittle
bit I don't really know what
club to use when I get out there
But that's about it. I just find
peace with my family. I'm' real
simple.
Anthony: Some people try
to get your contact information
from me. and I'm like no way
But how can people reach out to
you if they want to do some
thing with your foundation?
Josh: Josh Howard
Foundation.com. You can go to
the Dallas Maverick website.
Come up to Reynolds Park. Mr.
B (Bryant McCorkle). He's the
man they can talk to. That's it.
Anthony: OK. Let's finish
with a little free association.
Um, Josh Howard.
Josh: Still on the rise.
Anthony: NBA.
Josh: We'll come back to
that one.
Anthony: Carmelo
Anthony.
Josh: My guy.
Anthony: Jadakiss.
Josh: My guy.
Anthony: Pimp C. (Late
rapper)
Josh: Rest in peace.
Anthony: Chris Leak.
(Local Morgan Stanley financial
advisor)
Josh: I've heard of him.
(Smiles.) Just playing. Savvy 0
business guy. Great guy.
Anthony: Steve Nivens. (A
mutual friend)
Josh: That's my homie.
Anthony: Winston-Salem.
Josh: That's my home, my
blood. I live, breathe and die
Winston.
Anthony: Dallas.
Josh: My home away from
home.
Anthony: One more ques
tion. How's your grandmother?
Josh: Love her to death.
Hanging in there. Not a care in
the world. Just worried about
me having kids one day. That's
about it. (Both laugh.)
Anthony: (Smiles.) I hear
that. Well, that's it.
Josh: (Smiles.) OK.
One-on-One
with \nthoiiY llill
Thp more VOU redeem $10.00 off when you redeem 10,000 greenpoints!
SSf S1 00 oH whcn , 00?
the more you S<ive. 0ff^ good Wodmnmay Jn?y 30 tbromji 1W*4?y, Ainiuxt s. 2006.
u
5
crcruriir not:
rnm
inninn
V
pound
sa
w#i cord
top round
London broil
boneless beef
save
$2.80 lb
SEAFOOD
8*g
$6.00 H>
shrimp
previously frozen 10
wild product of USA
Edy's
icecream
48 oz -saws 153=
selected 24 peck 1 2 oz cans
ma'-. *Jr33
notion V PLUS
We welcome your calls on our toll-free Customer Hotline:
1 (888) 537-8646 or on the internet atwccnrp^ Iowesfoo0? QQm