April 4, 2005
How have practices been going so far for you and for the team?
Practices have been going increasingly well over the season for both my team and myself. The team has improved so much over the fall and winter training, playing more consistently, smarter, and as a team ready to prove ourselves. The last month and a half has been difficult for me, being out of the water for the better part of it due to mono, but I have been getting in the last 3 weeks and am getting back quickly what I lost. We all work so hard and are ready for the challenging games that are approaching.
What opponent would you like to beat the most?
Both USC and UCLA are very big games for us to win, but for different reasons. USC is the defending championship team, which in the end of our season last year, we played well enough to beat, but did not. We are ready for our chance to play against them again. UCLA has a talented team on paper, including returning Olympians, and we are eager to play them again after having improved much since our first game against them at the Stanford Invite. The way we have been playing so far this year, we are a strong enough team to meet and outplay both USC and UCLA if we play to the level that we are capable.
Who is a current or former Stanford student-athlete that you enjoy watching perform?
It is amazing to watch Tony Azevedo play, which is a cliché in the water polo world, but is very true. I have known Tony for many years now, but each time I watch him play I see how he is able to make plays for his team by being so creative in the water and goes out there with a "no guts no glory" attitude. I remember a game last year that I watched Stanford play UCLA and Tony was fighting for a loose ball with two UCLA players. The ball was exchanging hands many times in a mess in front of the goal, when finally you see the ball in the air and then Tony's foot comes out of the water in order to kick the ball to himself, he caught the ball, and scored. It was incredible.
What is your favorite sport (to play or to watch) other than water polo?
My favorite sport to watch is football, but during the last Olympics, I was completely amazed and enthralled by the K1 and K2 events. It is amazing how the kayakers go down the raging river while fighting to make it through the gates. Their strength and agility was very impressive.
What do you think you might major or minor in?
I am going to major in Human Biology, but I do not know what I want my area of concentration to be yet. I also want to have psychology as a double major or as a minor. I am really excited to take some of the really interesting classes in both the HumBio and Psych department.
What is your favorite class at Stanford so far?
My favorite academic class has been an introductory seminar I took last quarter with Professor Gumbrecht about the convergences of philosophy and sports. It is a relatively undiscovered topic due to the lack of research thus far, so all our ideas were part of the research Gumbrecht is doing. It was very interesting to be exposed to a variety of philosophers and discuss the possible connections between the philosopher and the sports of that time. My favorite nonacademic class is Social Dance because we get to learn how to swing, waltz, salsa, and dance in many other genres. It is incredibly fun and a great break from the workload of other classes.
Do you have a favorite professor?
My favorite professor, so far in my limited experience, is Professor Hans Gumbrecht. He lectured in my first quarter of IHUM ("Sex: Its Pleasures and Cultures") and an introductory seminar that I took. The seminar was "Western Philosophy and Its Blind Spot" which dealt with philosophy and sports. He is a very intelligent and interesting professor who always contributes personal stories, has genuine concern for his students, and is incredibly interesting to listen to. I highly recommend classes he teaches.
What is the best book you've ever read?
One of the best books I have read thus far is The Life of Pi by Yann Martel, but it is hard to decide on just one. The book is about an Indian boy who on his way to North America from India with his family (zookeepers) finds himself stranded in a small boat with a tiger after the ship sinks along with everyone in it. The story is entertaining on the surface, but what really captured me were the subtle themes about human nature, spirituality, and the importance of life.
What is one moment in history that you wish you could have seen?
I would like to have seen Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech. It would be impossible to describe the overwhelming emotions that he evoked during his speech and it would be a extraordinary to see firsthand how one man can have the ability to change the world.
Do you have a favorite midnight or pre-game snack?
I would say, for the moment, my favorite midnight snack is sliced cheese from Whole Foods and Wheat Thins. Before games I like to eat dried fruit, especially mango, but a piece of dark chocolate is a great source of quick energy.
Who would you like most to switch places with for a day?
I would like to switch places with Laird Hamilton the pro-surfer. I love to surf, but being able to ride waves that are 60 feet would be the ultimate rush and would be a once in a lifetime opportunity.
If you were going on a road-trip and could only take one CD, what artist(s) would be on it?
That would definitely be Jimmy Buffett; I grew up on him and I could never get tired of listening to him. His songs are not only upbeat and inspiring, but can calm me down and make me laugh.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I will be just shy of 30 which means I will have a great job (it could be anything at this point, but probably something in medicine) and the makings of a family. I will have traveled to many parts of the world, perhaps with Doctors Without Borders, but anything can happen with my life and career path so I am just here for the ride seeing where life takes me.
What is your favorite quote?
One of my favorite quotes is from a Garth Brooks song and goes like this:
"How you ever gonna know
What its like to be there
How you ever gonna know
If you're the best
How you ever gonna know
What you believe in
If you don't put it to the test
How you ever gonna know
How it feels to hold him
How you ever gonna know
What livin is
How you ever gonna know
If you never chase the dream"