Kori Ellis
03-29-2007, 09:14 PM
Off The Court with Matt Bonner
by Laura McManus, spurs.com contributor
Now in his 3rd NBA Season, Spurs forward Matt Bonner is settling into life in San Antonio. Spurs.com recently sat down with Matt to find out a little more about his life off the court.
Q: Has your transition to San Antonio been smooth?
A: Really good. It’s easy with the guys on the team and the people in the organization. Everybody’s been really friendly and helpful.
Q: What was your biggest adjustment living in San Antonio besides the whole driving thing?
A: Definitely has to be driving. It’s totally different than what we have back home. You guys have access roads, and people are actually polite and nice and let you in when you’re trying to yield. It’s been a whole new experience driving. I mean I know it’s stupid, but other than that, everything else here has been pretty easy.
Q: What was it about the Pontiac that caught your eye?
A: I don't know. When I was test driving cars, I sat in it and it just felt right. Great leg room, good gas mileage, and I just felt at home inside that car. It’s indescribable.
Q: When the Spurs signed you in the off-season, you talked about your outside shot opening up the inside for Tim Duncan…do you think your role has changed from your expectations?
A: No, I mean that’s what I've been trying to help provide for the team. Aside from the role player job of setting screens, rebounding the ball, boxing out, hustling out…that stuff, just trying to get out and space the court for guys like Tim, Tony, and Manu.
Q: How has playing alongside veteran guys like Robert Horry changed your game?
A: Rob’s been really helpful just because this is a pretty complex system from what I’m used to. You know, offensively and defensively. I make mistakes; I’m still making mistakes. I mess up everyday, and he’s been really helpful in letting me know where I should be on the court and helping to teach me what’s made him successful.
Q: Florida is on another amazing run right now…you worked with Billy Donovan last summer. Can you talk about his influence on you and what makes him a special coach?
A: Florida Gators are going to repeat as national champs! Coach Donovan has a great work ethic. He works harder than any other coach. I remember when I was being recruited….I’m from new Hampshire and that’s a long way from Florida and yet within the set of recruiting rules, any spare minute they had they were watching me work out or calling me or whatever. And then once I got there, none of that changed. He worked with every player individually as much as was allowed, and he got the most out of the guys on the team. That work ethic is what made him so special. He taught me so much about principles and ideals. It’s more than working hard; he gets deep into it and helps you get the attitude you need to be successful.
Q: You did very well academically in high school and college. What was it that pushed you to work so hard?
A: My parents. My mom was an elementary school teacher, and growing up, I was always at school or in the classroom with her waiting to go home after school. What else was I going to do while I was waiting for her? I read and did math stuff. Also, before I as allowed to do anything fun, they made sure I got my homework done. I was always reading growing up. I didn’t have a TV in my room or anything. The work ethic they instilled in me carried over from high school and into college.
Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t playing in the NBA?
A: I really don’t know. I really like music. I mean, I have no talent for music whatsoever, but I really like listening to it. Maybe something to do with that or the business side of it.
Q: Didn’t you major in business management?
A: Yeah, originally, I was into the sciences. I was a big science guy in high school, so I was kind of going the pre-med route. But after the first year of college, I switched to business because the science labs are insane. My first year I was in school from 7:15 in the morning until 2:30, then practice from 3:00 to 6:00 and then study hall after that -- every single day. It was taking a toll on me, and I couldn’t keep up the pace. Three hour chem. labs and three hour physics labs were too much.
Q: Can you talk about your experience playing in Italy and why you did it? I heard it was a little rough.
A: Well, I wanted to play basketball as my job and I couldn’t make it into the NBA my first year. I was on kind of the renegade team. We were in a really good league, so I was playing against the best players outside the NBA, but we were one of the bottom teams. We didn’t have a budget that other teams had, and it was noticeable in everyday life. I had to go through two eviction notices; I had my electricity cut out once. I didn’t have hot water the whole year because the water heater went out, and it never got fixed. No internet, and there were only like 3 English TV stations. Basically, I just read a lot of books.
Q: What do you like to read?
A: A little bit of everything. I prefer fiction to non-fiction because it’s more interesting. But not trashy fiction. No romance novels; I leave that to the women out there. I really like John Grisham and Dan Brown. Did you know Dan’s from New Hampshire too? He’s written some good books, so hopefully he keeps them coming.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I like to go to concerts, play cribbage on the internet, watch movies, and read.
Q: What’s in your iPod right now?
A: A lot of indie rock…
Q: Did you get to go to South by Southwest in Austin at all?
A: Yeah, I did. I got to go for one day, and I saw a couple bands.
Q: Was that the last concert you went to?
A: No, last night I saw Flickerstick at Jack’s Patio Bar. They put on a great show!
Q: What are your pet peeves?
A: People who don’t use their directional when making turns! It annoys the heck out of me. It’s so simple. You know, you’re waiting to get out in traffic and there’s a car coming, and they’re kind of slowing down but don’t use their directional, so you don’t go…thinking they’re going to go straight. They end up turning, and you could have gone, and you end up waiting longer. That…UGH. Oh, and it bothers me when people litter. We do enough bad things to the environment as it is. That’s pure laziness that we don’t need to deal with.
Q: Most embarrassing moment?
A: So many to choose from…People always ask me, and I never have an answer so when embarrassing things happen, which is all the time, I always tell myself to write it down so I have an answer, but I never do…umm not being able to answer this question is kind of embarrassing.
Q: What’s something that most people don’t know about you?
A: I don’t know. I’m a pretty straightforward guy. I really like romantic comedy movies.
Q: Really….what’s your favorite?
A: Favorite of all time….I don’t know. I can’t even tell you because you’re going to laugh at me. I don’t know what it is about them. I just find them so hilarious. Like all those stupid romance novels...I mean, Failure to Launch is such a corny movie, but I think it’s just so funny.
Q: What is it about Subway that you love so much? What do you order at Subway everyday?
A: Me going three times a day to Subway is an urban legend, but I do go probably like once a day. It’s fast. Oh, this is something people don’t know about me. I don’t cook. I don’t cook anything. I don’t even use the microwave. In fact, my apartment in Toronto was kind of small so I used my stove as a book shelf, and uhh…what’s that thing you put plates and stuff in called?
Q: Cabinets?
A: Yeah yeah, I used to put clothes and hats in there. There is nothing in my fridge ever. I remember once I put a sandwich in there, and forgot about it till like four months later when somebody found it and was like “oh my god!” This segways into why I eat Subway. It’s fast, relatively healthy and good. I get the chicken sub.
Q: You never change it up?
A: Well, if I think I’ve put a good work out in, I might splurge and go for the meatball sub. But if I’m in a healthy mood, I go for the chicken.
Q: I heard you’re running in Brent’s 5K Run/Walk next weekend…
A: What?! Where did you hear that? Did Brent tell you that? I may walk it…I don’t think I can run that far. :lol
Q: Isn’t your dad planning to do it?
A: Ohh, yeah! My dad wants to do it! He loves for me to be involved in the community and charity. He’s been a mailman for forty years; he actually retires this June. He walks everyday, everywhere; he loves to do it.
Q: Who’s your hero?
A: My parents. They worked hard to raise a good family and keep us together and provide us with what we needed to be successful.
Oh, wait a second here’s an embarrassing moment. I’m in this lecture class called architectural history or something at (The University of) Florida. Literally it has 600 people in the class, and I’m sitting right in the middle of the lecture hall. We had these plastic swivel seats, and this guy (the professor) is going on and on about who knows what, and I’m getting sleepy. This was my freshman year when I started class at 7:00 in the morning. So, I was sleepy, and I start leaning back and leaning back. All of the sudden, the back of my chair just snaps in half, makes the loudest noise you’ve ever heard. 600 people are staring at me and the professor’s like “You alright back there?” I hold up the chair in the air and say, “Uhh my chair broke sir; I’m okay.” It was so embarrassing because 600 people were staring at me!
http://www.nba.com/spurs/features/bonner_070329.html
by Laura McManus, spurs.com contributor
Now in his 3rd NBA Season, Spurs forward Matt Bonner is settling into life in San Antonio. Spurs.com recently sat down with Matt to find out a little more about his life off the court.
Q: Has your transition to San Antonio been smooth?
A: Really good. It’s easy with the guys on the team and the people in the organization. Everybody’s been really friendly and helpful.
Q: What was your biggest adjustment living in San Antonio besides the whole driving thing?
A: Definitely has to be driving. It’s totally different than what we have back home. You guys have access roads, and people are actually polite and nice and let you in when you’re trying to yield. It’s been a whole new experience driving. I mean I know it’s stupid, but other than that, everything else here has been pretty easy.
Q: What was it about the Pontiac that caught your eye?
A: I don't know. When I was test driving cars, I sat in it and it just felt right. Great leg room, good gas mileage, and I just felt at home inside that car. It’s indescribable.
Q: When the Spurs signed you in the off-season, you talked about your outside shot opening up the inside for Tim Duncan…do you think your role has changed from your expectations?
A: No, I mean that’s what I've been trying to help provide for the team. Aside from the role player job of setting screens, rebounding the ball, boxing out, hustling out…that stuff, just trying to get out and space the court for guys like Tim, Tony, and Manu.
Q: How has playing alongside veteran guys like Robert Horry changed your game?
A: Rob’s been really helpful just because this is a pretty complex system from what I’m used to. You know, offensively and defensively. I make mistakes; I’m still making mistakes. I mess up everyday, and he’s been really helpful in letting me know where I should be on the court and helping to teach me what’s made him successful.
Q: Florida is on another amazing run right now…you worked with Billy Donovan last summer. Can you talk about his influence on you and what makes him a special coach?
A: Florida Gators are going to repeat as national champs! Coach Donovan has a great work ethic. He works harder than any other coach. I remember when I was being recruited….I’m from new Hampshire and that’s a long way from Florida and yet within the set of recruiting rules, any spare minute they had they were watching me work out or calling me or whatever. And then once I got there, none of that changed. He worked with every player individually as much as was allowed, and he got the most out of the guys on the team. That work ethic is what made him so special. He taught me so much about principles and ideals. It’s more than working hard; he gets deep into it and helps you get the attitude you need to be successful.
Q: You did very well academically in high school and college. What was it that pushed you to work so hard?
A: My parents. My mom was an elementary school teacher, and growing up, I was always at school or in the classroom with her waiting to go home after school. What else was I going to do while I was waiting for her? I read and did math stuff. Also, before I as allowed to do anything fun, they made sure I got my homework done. I was always reading growing up. I didn’t have a TV in my room or anything. The work ethic they instilled in me carried over from high school and into college.
Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t playing in the NBA?
A: I really don’t know. I really like music. I mean, I have no talent for music whatsoever, but I really like listening to it. Maybe something to do with that or the business side of it.
Q: Didn’t you major in business management?
A: Yeah, originally, I was into the sciences. I was a big science guy in high school, so I was kind of going the pre-med route. But after the first year of college, I switched to business because the science labs are insane. My first year I was in school from 7:15 in the morning until 2:30, then practice from 3:00 to 6:00 and then study hall after that -- every single day. It was taking a toll on me, and I couldn’t keep up the pace. Three hour chem. labs and three hour physics labs were too much.
Q: Can you talk about your experience playing in Italy and why you did it? I heard it was a little rough.
A: Well, I wanted to play basketball as my job and I couldn’t make it into the NBA my first year. I was on kind of the renegade team. We were in a really good league, so I was playing against the best players outside the NBA, but we were one of the bottom teams. We didn’t have a budget that other teams had, and it was noticeable in everyday life. I had to go through two eviction notices; I had my electricity cut out once. I didn’t have hot water the whole year because the water heater went out, and it never got fixed. No internet, and there were only like 3 English TV stations. Basically, I just read a lot of books.
Q: What do you like to read?
A: A little bit of everything. I prefer fiction to non-fiction because it’s more interesting. But not trashy fiction. No romance novels; I leave that to the women out there. I really like John Grisham and Dan Brown. Did you know Dan’s from New Hampshire too? He’s written some good books, so hopefully he keeps them coming.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I like to go to concerts, play cribbage on the internet, watch movies, and read.
Q: What’s in your iPod right now?
A: A lot of indie rock…
Q: Did you get to go to South by Southwest in Austin at all?
A: Yeah, I did. I got to go for one day, and I saw a couple bands.
Q: Was that the last concert you went to?
A: No, last night I saw Flickerstick at Jack’s Patio Bar. They put on a great show!
Q: What are your pet peeves?
A: People who don’t use their directional when making turns! It annoys the heck out of me. It’s so simple. You know, you’re waiting to get out in traffic and there’s a car coming, and they’re kind of slowing down but don’t use their directional, so you don’t go…thinking they’re going to go straight. They end up turning, and you could have gone, and you end up waiting longer. That…UGH. Oh, and it bothers me when people litter. We do enough bad things to the environment as it is. That’s pure laziness that we don’t need to deal with.
Q: Most embarrassing moment?
A: So many to choose from…People always ask me, and I never have an answer so when embarrassing things happen, which is all the time, I always tell myself to write it down so I have an answer, but I never do…umm not being able to answer this question is kind of embarrassing.
Q: What’s something that most people don’t know about you?
A: I don’t know. I’m a pretty straightforward guy. I really like romantic comedy movies.
Q: Really….what’s your favorite?
A: Favorite of all time….I don’t know. I can’t even tell you because you’re going to laugh at me. I don’t know what it is about them. I just find them so hilarious. Like all those stupid romance novels...I mean, Failure to Launch is such a corny movie, but I think it’s just so funny.
Q: What is it about Subway that you love so much? What do you order at Subway everyday?
A: Me going three times a day to Subway is an urban legend, but I do go probably like once a day. It’s fast. Oh, this is something people don’t know about me. I don’t cook. I don’t cook anything. I don’t even use the microwave. In fact, my apartment in Toronto was kind of small so I used my stove as a book shelf, and uhh…what’s that thing you put plates and stuff in called?
Q: Cabinets?
A: Yeah yeah, I used to put clothes and hats in there. There is nothing in my fridge ever. I remember once I put a sandwich in there, and forgot about it till like four months later when somebody found it and was like “oh my god!” This segways into why I eat Subway. It’s fast, relatively healthy and good. I get the chicken sub.
Q: You never change it up?
A: Well, if I think I’ve put a good work out in, I might splurge and go for the meatball sub. But if I’m in a healthy mood, I go for the chicken.
Q: I heard you’re running in Brent’s 5K Run/Walk next weekend…
A: What?! Where did you hear that? Did Brent tell you that? I may walk it…I don’t think I can run that far. :lol
Q: Isn’t your dad planning to do it?
A: Ohh, yeah! My dad wants to do it! He loves for me to be involved in the community and charity. He’s been a mailman for forty years; he actually retires this June. He walks everyday, everywhere; he loves to do it.
Q: Who’s your hero?
A: My parents. They worked hard to raise a good family and keep us together and provide us with what we needed to be successful.
Oh, wait a second here’s an embarrassing moment. I’m in this lecture class called architectural history or something at (The University of) Florida. Literally it has 600 people in the class, and I’m sitting right in the middle of the lecture hall. We had these plastic swivel seats, and this guy (the professor) is going on and on about who knows what, and I’m getting sleepy. This was my freshman year when I started class at 7:00 in the morning. So, I was sleepy, and I start leaning back and leaning back. All of the sudden, the back of my chair just snaps in half, makes the loudest noise you’ve ever heard. 600 people are staring at me and the professor’s like “You alright back there?” I hold up the chair in the air and say, “Uhh my chair broke sir; I’m okay.” It was so embarrassing because 600 people were staring at me!
http://www.nba.com/spurs/features/bonner_070329.html