*
Pittman discusses Olympics, overseas ball & more
I don't have this great intro
ductory paragraph explaining
why I chose to interview over
seas bailer Josh Pittman this
week. The truth of the matter is
I simply wanted to talk with
Josh because he's one of my
favorite people to interview.
Plus. I did want to discuss
some things with someone that
understands the overseas talent
more than the average bailer.
Pittman is a real star over there.
He even won MVP of the league
in Argentina in 2006. That's big
time. I'm all about the Olympics
right now, so wanted to talk
about that with him as well. We
also discussed the rumors of
NBA guys really wanting to
play overseas.
J-Pitgnan and I also talked
about women, Bernie Mac, Josh
Howard, Rob Little, playing for
another country in the Olympics
and East Forsyth. That's his old
high school. JP also told me how
much longer he plans on balling
and what's next for him. Take a
look at our conversation from
Tuesday evening.
Anthony: Josh, what's
going on?
Josh: Ah, nothing much.
You know. Doing the same ole.
Anthony: I see that you just
got finished working out. I
heard you took a year off. What
was up with that?
Josh: Nah, I took about four
months off. I had some impor
tant things that I wanted to get
done with my daughter. I went
ahead and got registered for
school. I'm getting my master's
degree. I figured it was a good
time to do it. I'll be back on the
grind next week.
Anthony: I hear that. How
hard was it for you to not be
playing for most of this year?
Josh: It was hard. It took
some adjusting. But I stayed in
the gym. I stayed on my weight
program. I stayed outside run
ning the track. I kind of went
back to my roots ? what Rob
Little taught us down at
Fourteenth Street. 1 got a good
workout partner in Tyson
Patterson. My body feels rested.
Honestly, the time flew by.
Anthony: Good. What kind
of injury did you have a couple
months ago. You sat out of the
Pro Am League because of the
injury. What was it?
Josh: I turned my ankle real
bad the week before the Pro Am
started. We were playing in the
Cleveland Church league. I kind
of landed the wrong way. It took
me about two to three weeks
before I could really get moving
again. So, I figured it wasn't
worth risking it.
Anthony: Are you going
back to Argentina?
Josh: Nah. I'm probably
Photo courtesy of Josh Pittman
Overseas star Josh Pittman is a former standout at East Forsyth and UNC-Asheville.
going to be going to Europe. I'm
looking at different offers. I'm
just weighing my options right
now. I told my agent that I will
probably decide on Monday. It's
all a blessing from God.
Anthony: (Smiles.) I know
that's right. Ay, you were about
to blow up. You are only two
years removed from that league
MVP.
Josh: (Laughs.) Yeah. Ypu
know how it is. I was on my way
to it this year. But I just didn't
feel it. I felt like I wanted to
come home and take care of
some things. I also wanted to
take a break from the game and
decide whether 1 should keep
playing or not.
Anthony: I feel that. We
have the Olympics going on in
China. You've seen a lot of the
guys playing on the basketball
teams. Do you think the U.S.
will get a gold, knowing what
they're up against?
Josh: I hope we do. It's an
adjustment. And it's difficult.
The key to winning gold is mak
ing some shots. We got to stop
listening to people say we can't
shoot and go ahead and shoot it.
Worry about the next shot and
not the one we just missed.
Anthony: That's good
advice. You are one of the over
seas stars. Now you have guys
like Kobe and LeBron flirting
with the possibility of playing
over there one day. Josh
Childress has already signed
with a foreign team. Is this
going to be a trend for NBA
guys?
Josh: I can't really say that
it will be. Players like Josh
Childress and (Earl) Boykins.
They say that Boykins just
signed with a team in Italy. But
guys like Josh Childress didn't
really have a great NBA career. 1
can see him going over there to
work on his game.
But he's got to know that
he's got to be the man now. No
more role playing. That might
be difficult for him. But 1 don't
I will do three and decide about
the fourth year. Right now I feel
like I can do this forever
Anthony: What are you
doing when you're not balling?
Josh: Right now I'm trying
to get my master's in Arts and
Education. I should be done
with that in June. I had to do a
lot of my courses online. I'm
either doing that or spending
One-on-One
with Anthony Hill
think a lot of NBA stars are
going to go overseas. I really
can't see that happening
Anthony: Why is playing
overseas even an option for an
NBA guy?
Josh: Probably because of
the tax free money. And you can
sign one-year deals A lot of the
overseas money isn't guaran
teed, though. Sometimes teams
fold. I've known some
Americans that have gone a
month or two without getting
paid. It's a rude awakening in
gome places.
Anthqny: That's crazy.
How much longer do you see
yourself lacing up?
Josh: My agent asked me
the same question. He said he
was going to try to get four more
?years out of me. I told him that
time with my daughter.
Anthony: 1 know that you
had an interest in coaching after
playing. What other things
would you like to do?
Josh: I'm probably gonna
try to get my Ph. D. That will
give me the opportunity to teach
in coflege. I wouldn't mind
coaching high school and giving
back. I want to teach some of the
things that was taught to me by
Rob Little and Brian Leak.
Those guys paved the# way for
me.
Anthony: (Smiles.) I'm hot
saying any names, but quite a
few guys didn't agree with you
saying you were the best bailer
to come out of Winston.
Remember, you said the stats
speak for themselves?
Josh: (Laughs.) That's all
opinion If you're a ball player
then you should feel that way. 1
don't find anything wrong with
anybody saying that ? if they
feel like they're up there and
they can get it done . A lot of
friends always come to me for
advice or what to work
on. mow i teel like I m
in the maturing role I
want to help others get
to another level. Help
guys expand on their
game more.
Anthony: Do you
feel like the J-Ho
speeding thing was
blown out of propor
uon a little Dit c_
Josh: Oh yeah.
LiKe ne saia, 1 tninK
they took a lot of things out of
context. I've gone real fast on
the streets beside aniffher ca^.
I've gotten a ticket. But you did
n't see my name in the paper
(Both laugh.) You know what I
mean? Josh is a great person
that's making good things hap
pen for the kids in our commu
nity.
Anthony: OK. Which NFL
team do you roll with?
Josh: My brother is a die
hard Pittsburgh fan. I like to see
them do good because I like to
see him happy. *
Anthony: How's your love
life, man?
Josh: Man, I'm single as all
outside. (Both laugh.) I pretty
much plan on staying that way
for a while. For a long while.
Anthony: (Smiles.) Seen
any good movies lately?
Josh: I saw, "Batman." That
was pretty good. I saw,
"Hancock." That was good. 1
also want to see the Mummy. I
heard that was decent too.
Anthony: OK. Did you
play Pop Warner football grow
ing up?
Josh: Yeah. I played with
the Indians. I played with the
Ardemore Wildcats one year,
and I played with the flhdians
after that. We won the Sertoma
Bowl. I was just a role player. 1
was playing with Jomo Legins.
He's probably a Pop Warner leg
end.
Anthony: What's your
most memorable moment in
high school?
Josh: Probably winning the
Metro 4A Player of the Year (at
East Forsyth) as a senior. I was
n't even expected to be on the
map. It was a wonderful thing to
come out of that strong confer
ence and win player of the year.
Anthony: Let's go back to
the Olympics real quick.
Josh: OK.
" Anthony: Is it possible for
you to be on another country 's
team?
Josh: Yeah. I had a chance
to get my citizenship in
Argentina. But they wanted me
to give up my American citizen
ship. I couldn't do it. It was an
opportunity. But it's not impor
tant enough to give up my
American citizenship.
Anthony: Not at all. What
other sports are you
checking out Reside
basketball?
Josh: ? To be
honest with you,
I've been watching
all of them. I've
been watching soc
cer. I take a lot of
heat overseas
because we usually
Pittman
-J don t do well in
soccer. I've been
watching swim
ming I'm keepii]? an eye on
Michael Phelps and his quest for
eight golds. (Smiles) I've, also
been watching women's volley
ball.
Anthony: (Both laugh.) I
hear that. What are your
thoughts on losing comedian
Bemie Mac?
Josh: That was surprising,
man. Bemie Mac is kind of with
our age group. He was blowing
up as >ve were coming up. That
was surprising to me with how
fast he passed. 1 remember his
PR person saying that he wasn't
endanger of death. He was just
ill. Then it shocked me when I
checked my email the next
morning. I hope he's in a better
place. That just lets us know that
it don't matter how much money
you get. If God chooses to come
and get you then you've got to
go
Anthoify: Definitely. Let's
close out with free association.
Uh, Josh Pittman.
Josh: Just trying to be the
best father, son and brother I can
possibly be.
Anthony: Winston-Salem
Josh: I love it. It's home.
Anthony: Late Nite
League.
Josh: I miss it. I wish they
could ve played this year.
Anthony: Tyson Patterson.
Josh: My partner. He's been
my boy since high school. I love
him like a brother. And, 1 wish
him continued success.
Anthony: Greece.
Josh: That's the place I
want to visit.* I've always
dreamed about sitting down and
looking at that water while I
reflect on life.
Anthony: Favorite interna
tional food.
Josh: Pizza.
Anthony: (Laughs.) Uh,
Nelo Pittman.
Josh: That's my boy. That's
ifiy brother. I love him with all
of my heart. He's gotten me
through good and bad. I would
n't be half the basketball player
or person I am without him.
Wonge signs with Japanese squad
Former Ram will play for the Tsusho Toyota Eagles
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
Former Winston-Salem State
Ram forward Darrell Wonge became
the second former WSSU student
athlete to sign a professional contract
in as many months when he signed a
contract to play for the Tsusho
Toyota Eagles in Nagoya, Japan.
Wonge is the second former Ram
to sign a professional sports contract
in as many months with former
WSSU defensive end William Hayes
signing with the Tennessee Titans in
July. He will depart for Japan on
Sept. 1.
"I'm just happy that I got the
opportunity to live out my dream of
playing professional basketball,"
Wonge said. "It was nerve-wracking
at first especially after a number of
other opportunities fell through, but
I'm very grateful for the opportunity
that I've received."
A 6'6", 210-pound forward,
Wonge was noticed at a player's
showcase where dozens of players
from both major and .mid-major
schools displayed their skills for a
number of professional teams. The
Fighting Eagles compete in the JBL2
League where the team recorded a
14-? record during the 2007-08 sea
son.
During his career, Wonge totaled
845 points at Winston-Salem State
with 408 career rebounds. Wonge
enjoyed a breakthrough season as a
senior when he averaged a career
best 10.7 points per game and pulled
in a career-high 150 rebounds for the
season. A versatile player, , Wonge
also dished out 89 career assists with
74 career steals.
File photo
Former
W S S U
standout
D a r r e I I
Wonge will
report to his
new team in
September.
JG>
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