Trudell Interviews Odom
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Mike Trudell, a Lakers Reporter, has posted an interesting interview that he conducted with Lamar Odom. Titled “Unplugged” the interview covers Lamar Odom’s life, in many different ways, off the court. Not a single question regarding basketball, the Lakers, or being a sixth man. Instead, the interview covers music, wrestling, and baseball. Take a look at the Lakers site for “Odom Unplugged.”
The following is the chat transcript:
MT: So Lamar, we’re going to start with some questions that are far more important than your hoops game. What’s at the top of your playlist right now?
Odom: I hear that. I’m going to say that Game’s album is good, any mix tape that 50 Cent comes out with and Robin Thick’s new album.MT: “Angel” is solid. I’ll tell that to the Game at the season opener. Do you get the mix tapes from New York?
Odom: Yeah I get them sent from home. Mix tapes are something that DJ’s do, a way to keep the street in tune with your music. A lot of rappers make music just for the streets.MT: Where can the rest of us find ‘em?
Odom: You can look online – if you go to 50Cent.com, or allhiphop.com, you can get some mixed tapes on there.MT: Interesting. OK, if you could be a WWE wrestler or an international soccer player, which would you choose?
Odom: A WWE wrestler.MT: Shocker. And your name would be…
Odom: Handsome.MT: Right. That’s what I figured.
Odom: I’d be kinda like a Rick Flair type of dude. I’d have the craziest interviews, be talking about doing all kinds of strange stuff.MT: I’m guessing you’d be more about weird moves than power…
Odom: Oh definitely. Definitely more moves than power. One-hundred percent. Submission holds, little chops*. Yeah.
Editor’s note: Odom actually demonstrated a chop during our dialogue, but he took most of the force off. Thankfully.MT: Which Laker would pose the biggest challenge to “Handsome?”
Odom: Ha. Man…MT: Well I was thinking you’d be able to outwit the young, huge Bynum, but Josh Powell might be tough.
Odom: Yeah, Josh Powell and D.J. Mbenga.MT: Good point. Any little guys give you a decent scrap?
Odom: Jordan (Farmar) would be a great little person wrestler.MT: OK switching topics on you: Who wins the World Series and why?
Odom: The Dodgers. They have great chemistry, it’s about time and they come from Brooklyn.MT: Well you’re from Jamaica Queens…
Odom: But I’ve got a lot of people, family from Brooklyn.MT: Anyway, can you see the coaching parallel between (Dodgers Manager) Joe Torre and Phil Jackson?
Odom: Sure. They both take their time, they’re both patient. They’re not extra talkers, they don’t show excitement and they’re winners. Success is in numbers.MT: That’s 13 combined coaching titles. What position would you play with the blue and white?
Odom: A pitcher. Man, I have heat, and a heck of a curveball.MT: Does it dip?
Odom: Oh come on, it goes down to about 75 or 80 (miles per hour), I can just dip that thing right outta there. Heck of a curveball.MT: We know you spent a lot of time at Rucker Park playing hoops in New York, but did you have any baseball fields around?
Odom: Well we had a pretty good baseball team at Christ the King High School – we had the No. 2 basketball team in the country – but we had a few baseball players that played in the major leagues like Allen Watson (used to play for the Yankees) and Steve Karsay, who used to play for St. Louis.MT: Do you hit bombs or liners?
Odom: I don’t know … I guess all-around. I can hit for contact, hit the ball in the gap, pull it, do whatever you want.MT: Fine. Am I for sure selecting you No. 1 in a Lakers baseball draft if I’m smart?
Odom: Jordan Farmar is a heck of a baseball player – his father was in the major leagues.MT: Kobe could probably figure it out. He’s probably good at most things.
Odom: Oh yeah he would. Premier athlete. Kobe Bryant would be a heck of a center fielder.MT: Your alma mater Rhode Island doesn’t have much of a football team. Have you adopted USC or UCLA?
Odom: I mean, I got into USC and UCLA when I got out here (with the Clippers), but I rooted for the Miami Hurricanes and Notre Dame when I was a kid. Know what I’m saying? Rocket Ismael, Tony Rice…

