3-on-1 with Tracy

A lot of people are idolized for a lot less than talent: movie stars with sculpted hairstyles, heiresses with inexhaustible wardrobes and a pet kinkajou, two-bit actresses who nab the most eligible of A-list actors for husbands. So it is refreshing when presented with someone legit, someone with pure, hands-down, heart-pounding, dream-inspiring talent. Someone who, even without the overextended reaches of a press agent, will still be heard of just because he’s amazingly good at what he does. Someone like NBA superstar Tracy McGrady.

Tracy McGrady – T-Mac to hordes of fans all over the world – earned the "superstar" status because he plays great basketball. Combined with and fueled by an inexorable passion, T-Mac’s talent has made possible a 25-point scoring average, an uncontested position in All Star games, the Most Improved Player award during the 2001 NBA season, and even miracle wins: in a game against the San Antonio Spurs during the 2004 season, the Houston Rocket forward scored 13 points in 35 seconds, eventually leading his team to a win over what T-Mac believes to be "the best defensive team in the league." Even if he had nothing else to offer, Tracy McGrady’s on-court accomplishments would more than legitimize the admiration of his rightfully star-struck fans.

Adidas was one of the first to recognize Tracy McGrady’s gift. In fact McGrady’s NBA draft potential was first realized in the ABCD Camp, a prestigious basketball camp for high school students sponsored by the sportswear giant. T-Mac was part of the camp in 1997, where he asserted himself and his abilities. (In one camp showdown, T-Mac convincingly beat Lamar Odom, who is now playing with the LA Lakers.) In 2002, Adidas took no chances and signed the NBA standout to a lifetime endorsement deal, an offer that sent T-Mac sailing through the roof – literally. Describes T-Mac: "I think I was in a room when I heard the news. It probably had a ceiling that was eight feet tall. When I heard the news I jumped up and banged my head. That’s how I felt." Tracy McGrady has come out with five shoes with Adidas since, all best sellers, although his very first signature shoe, the T-Mac 1, seems to be the most unforgettable. So much so that Adidas is reissuing 1,600 limited-edition pieces of this signature pair, each one individually numbered.

"The T-Mac 1 is really special for me because it was the first T-Mac signature shoe. As a kid I always wanted my own personal shoe and I wanted to see people wearing my shoe," T-Mac waxes nostalgic. "It is really going to be real special to see the special people that get those shoes." The limited edition T-Mac 1 will be sold only in the Asia Pacific region. Manila was one of T-Mac’s stops in a nine-day promotional tour that includes Korea, China and Hong Kong.

This is the NBA superstar’s second trip to Manila (the first was in 2000, also for Adidas). In the six years since his last visit, Tracy McGrady has played for two more teams (he was traded to the Orlando Magic from the Toronto Raptors in 2000, and from Orlando to the Houston Rockets in 2004) and has suffered and survived injuries and back spasms. But the talent is still there: more polished, more explosive. And, really, that’s all he needs. Unless you count his (self-proclaimed) sex appeal relevant…

ANA KALAW: What has been the most defining moment in your career so far?

TRACY MCGRADY: The most important one is getting drafted, getting the opportunity to play the game I love and take care of my family.

Ana: You have been quoted as saying that you don’t allow pressure to get to you.

What kind of mental preparations do you put yourself through?

It’s just a game. It is a game and it’s a game that I love to play so I am going to go out there and play and I am going to have fun with it. I am not going to put pressure on me or allow myself to be down just because I missed a shot. I am going to be upset but I am not going to lose sleep over it. I am going to come back and prepare myself and if I make the same shot, I am going to knock it down. In the course of leading my team to the finals, I still don’t feel pressure on that because I know how hard it is to win an NBA title. It’s tough. You have guys that are legends in our league that didn’t win the championships like Karl Malone and John Stockton and they are great players.

KATHY MORAN: Do you have any rituals that you follow before a game?

I don’t.

Ana: No superstitions?

No, I’m not superstitious.

Ana: Who is the toughest player you have had to play against?

T-Mac: The toughest I have had to play against is probably Allen Iverson – he’s really fast.

Kathy: Aside from you, who do you consider the best NBA player today?

Kobe Bryant.

Ana: You and Kobe are friends, right?

We’re okay. There is no animosity between us.

Ana: Who would be that one NBA legend you would want to play one-on-one with?

I would say magic Johnson. Magic Johnson was an inspiration to me when I was younger. He was the one who changed my game. He was a great floor general for his team.

Kathy: What kind of workout schedule do you follow when training?

I am always getting stronger and improving on every aspect of the game as far as individual skills are concerned. I am working on my shooting, and conditioning myself, all the things I need to do to stay on top of the game and all the things I need to do to maintain my endurance for the whole game and for the whole season because it’s a long season.

Kathy: You also work out at the gym?

Yes, I work out at the gym during the season and after the season. I can run off for a bit and then I get right back into it.

Ana: Do you have diet that you follow?

Yes, I am on a diet. I avoid a lot of fried food and the sweets, although the sweets are tough to stay away from. I eat a lot of fish and chicken. And lots of grilled stuff.

Kathy: What’s the most unhealthy thing you have ever done?

As far as eating? Most unhealthy thing? I guess, when I am training it’s eating sweets and not sticking to my diet. That’s pretty much it. Actually, I’m fit.

Ana: What do you do to relax?

Hang out with my kids and my family and I watch a lot of TV.

Ana: What are your favorite TV shows?

I like Flavor of Love. It’s about this guy who used to be a rapper. His name is Flavor Flav. It’s a competition where these girls go through the tests Flavor Flav puts them through. Like cooking, cleaning. And basically what the show is all about is that the one who Flavor Flav feels has true love for him will get the opportunity to be his girl. And it is crazy. It’s a funny show and the girls end up fighting. Some girls are there because they want to be on TV and they try to act like they don’t want to be on TV. It’s a funny show.

Kathy: Have you ever thought about making movies?

I am not an actor. The only acting I’m doing is a 30-second commercial.

Kathy: Do you have pets?

I had two ferrets, but I had to get rid of them because I travel too much. They bite but it doesn’t hurt. I think they were getting pissed at me because I was going out of town too much and wasn’t really spending any time with them. So every time I would get them out of the cage to play with them, they would always bite me.

Ana: Who are your favorite fashion designers?

That’s a good question because I get all my stuff custom-made. I don’t have a favorite.

Ana: What’s your favorite type of clothing?

If I am going to a banquet I will wear a suit. If I go to a charity dinner I like to wear a suit, but they are all custom-made. If I am going to watch a basketball game I will wear a polo shirt and some jeans: Sean John Jeans.

Kathy: Who chooses your earrings for you?

I do. Do you like ’em?

Kathy: They are nice.

Thank you.

Ana: How big are they?

They are four carats.

Ana: We hear you have your own jet?

I did. I sold it.

Ana: Would you fly it?

No, I am not a pilot. The closest thing I came to flying is that I went to NASA. I went there to learn everything about the Space Shuttle. It was like a virtual reality thing. They had a simulator and it was actually like you are really flying, and I landed the Space Shuttle and I was the pilot. It was fun and that was the closest I ever came to flying.

Kathy: How would you define sexy?

He’s right here. You’re looking at him. Why should I define it? He’s 6 feet 8 inches with this frame right here. Don’t you think I’m sexy?

Kathy: (coughs) Ahhh… yes.

Damn (laughs). You hurt me.

Ana: What do you find more exciting – scoring 13 points in 35 seconds or being on the cover of NBA Live 2007?

Oh, God. I have been on a lot of covers but it’s not many times that I have scored 13 points in 35 seconds. So, go figure.

Kathy: What’s your shoe size?

16 long.

Kathy: What three words would best describe Tracy McGrady?

Best three words. Laid-back, charming and caring.

Kathy: What three words would best describe Adidas?

Loyal, caring and exciting.

ALFRED BARTOLOME: What is your opinion of basketball players in the Philippines?

My opinion is that they are guys who approach the game in a respectful way. They have a lot of passion for the game. They really have a genuine love for the game of basketball. More so than some of the guys back home in my country.

Alfred: What is your advice to young basketball players?

Strive to be great. Work extremely hard and just hold on to their dreams.

Kathy: What do you think when you see people wearing Adidas T-Mac shoes?

It is the best feeling you can imagine. It really is: to see kids walking around with my T-Mac shoes on. I thought walking around with an NBA jersey and seeing myself in a video game was cool. But anybody that makes it to the NBA can be in a video game, anyone who makes it to the NBA can have their own jersey. But not every player can have their own signature shoe.

Kathy: Do you think that the kids who wear your shoe want to, one day, be just like you?

Hopefully they want to grow up and be better than me.

Kathy: Better, but not sexier?

They can’t be sexier (laughs).