Marta Fernandez
: 08 sierpnia 2007, 19:29
fajny wywiad z Martą..
Los Angeles Sparks guard Marta Fernandez, a native of Spain, is one of the league’s oldest rookies. After playing eight years in the Spanish Liga Femenina's first division and earning the league's 2006 MVP award, Fernandez, 25, decided to test her skills in the WNBA. Averaging 9.1 points and 3.2 assists in 28.1 minutes a game, Fernandez is one of the top candidates for the Rookie of the Year award. While she is playing well in L.A., home is still an ocean away. WNBA.com’s Adam Hirshfield sat down with the rookie to get the inside scoop on how Fernandez is adjusting to life and basketball in America.
Q. Where do you live in Spain?
A. "I am from Barcelona and I live in Barcelona. It is a very nice city. It's the best city in Spain."
Q. Did you go to college in Spain or straight to the pros?
A. "In Spain it is different. You don't have college. I went to secondary school. It's not college, but it is similar."
Q. Did you play basketball there?
A. "Yes, I played while I was a student. When I finished, I played in the first division. I played eight years in the first division of Spain. I played in Barcelona the last three years and the other five years in Valencia for Ros Casares. Now they are the best team."
Q. How did you get started in basketball? How were you introduced to the game?
A. "My father, my mother and my brother all played basketball. All of my family plays basketball, my cousins too. Our life is basketball."
Q. Tell me about your brother, Rudy Fernandez, who was drafted this year to play in the NBA?
A. "My brother was drafted 24th in the first round by Phoenix in this year's NBA draft. Now he has been traded to Portland. He will stay in Barcelona one more year and then the next year he will come here. He is only 22."
Q. If you could play one-on-one against anyone, who would you choose?
A. "I like Sheryl Swoopes. It sucks that she's been injured most of this year. I played against her on the National Team. Before her, I liked Cynthia Cooper a lot."
Q. Is there a rivalry with American players and international players in the WNBA?
A. "No, not really. I am surprised because in the WNBA the people are very nice. Everyone says 'Hello, how are you?'. Everyone is very friendly and nice. I am surprised with the people. It is very good."
Q. What do you see as the main differences between basketball in Spain and America?
A. "Here it is very different with the "showtime" and the timeouts. It is the same in Spain with the men's. In Spain the men's and the women's games are very different. There is a show during the timeouts. In L.A., it is good. The music is good. In Spain there is music too, but it's different. The gym is very small in Spain. Here there are a lot of people. It is nice."
Q. What are the cultural differences between basketball here and in Spain?
A. "I got lucky because L.A. is very similar to Barcelona. It is bigger but it is similar. A lot of people in L.A. speak Spanish, so I don't have problems with the language. Everyone is very nice. The beaches are very nice. In Barcelona, the beaches are nice too. It is very similar. I don't have any problems."
Q. What do you think of the other cities you've traveled to here in the States?
A. "I like New York. This is my first time here. I am very excited. There are a lot of people here, but it's nice. I have not taken the subway yet, just taxis. I like Chicago a lot. I will go to San Antonio next week for the first time. I didn't see a lot of Houston, but it is very nice. It is very big. There are a lot of people. I like America."
Q. Are you going to stick around for a while here in the U.S.?
A. "I don't know. I hope to stay here but I don't know."
Q. Are you playing overseas this offseason?
A. "Yes, I am going to Poland to play over the winter. I will play for Krakow with Anna DeForge and Candice Dupree. It is the best team in Poland."
Q. Do you speak any languages other than Spanish?
A. "I speak Catalan also. I am doing better with English and I understand most of it, but I am shy with speaking."
Q. What is your favorite TV show here in the States?
A. "I don't watch a lot of television. I like Desperate Housewives, though. Yes, it's true! I like it!"
Q. Have you gotten into American music since you've been here?
A. "I like old music, both American and Spanish. I have a lot of music on my mp3 player. I like one of Snoop Doggy Dogg's songs. My favorite Spanish groups you won't know, but I like La Quinta Estación."
Q. Have you ever done karaoke? If so, what song?
A. "I do not like karaoke. I am shy. I have done it before but I don't know the name of the song I sang."
Q. What is your favorite movie?
A. "My favorite movies are Moulin Rouge and Grease. Yes, I wish I had time to see the Broadway show while I am in New York, but I don't have time."
Q. How would you describe your role on the Sparks this season? What has your experience been like as a slightly older rookie?
A. "When I arrived, I wasn't expecting to get a lot of minutes my first year. Coming here and learning the system was complicated, but I was ready and Coach (Michael Cooper) had a lot of confidence in me. I began to play a lot of minutes because Chamique Holdsclaw left the team, and I played point guard. In Spain I always played guard, but here I was asked to play point guard. Now I've been playing less because (point guard) Temeka (Johnson) is back, but I am very content. I am very happy with the team. Of course I hope to play a lot, but I am happy this year just to get some experience."
Q. Can the Sparks still make the playoffs?
A. "We need to win a lot of games. I hope the team goes to the playoffs. It will be difficult, but we will try."
www.wnba.com
Los Angeles Sparks guard Marta Fernandez, a native of Spain, is one of the league’s oldest rookies. After playing eight years in the Spanish Liga Femenina's first division and earning the league's 2006 MVP award, Fernandez, 25, decided to test her skills in the WNBA. Averaging 9.1 points and 3.2 assists in 28.1 minutes a game, Fernandez is one of the top candidates for the Rookie of the Year award. While she is playing well in L.A., home is still an ocean away. WNBA.com’s Adam Hirshfield sat down with the rookie to get the inside scoop on how Fernandez is adjusting to life and basketball in America.
Q. Where do you live in Spain?
A. "I am from Barcelona and I live in Barcelona. It is a very nice city. It's the best city in Spain."
Q. Did you go to college in Spain or straight to the pros?
A. "In Spain it is different. You don't have college. I went to secondary school. It's not college, but it is similar."
Q. Did you play basketball there?
A. "Yes, I played while I was a student. When I finished, I played in the first division. I played eight years in the first division of Spain. I played in Barcelona the last three years and the other five years in Valencia for Ros Casares. Now they are the best team."
Q. How did you get started in basketball? How were you introduced to the game?
A. "My father, my mother and my brother all played basketball. All of my family plays basketball, my cousins too. Our life is basketball."
Q. Tell me about your brother, Rudy Fernandez, who was drafted this year to play in the NBA?
A. "My brother was drafted 24th in the first round by Phoenix in this year's NBA draft. Now he has been traded to Portland. He will stay in Barcelona one more year and then the next year he will come here. He is only 22."
Q. If you could play one-on-one against anyone, who would you choose?
A. "I like Sheryl Swoopes. It sucks that she's been injured most of this year. I played against her on the National Team. Before her, I liked Cynthia Cooper a lot."
Q. Is there a rivalry with American players and international players in the WNBA?
A. "No, not really. I am surprised because in the WNBA the people are very nice. Everyone says 'Hello, how are you?'. Everyone is very friendly and nice. I am surprised with the people. It is very good."
Q. What do you see as the main differences between basketball in Spain and America?
A. "Here it is very different with the "showtime" and the timeouts. It is the same in Spain with the men's. In Spain the men's and the women's games are very different. There is a show during the timeouts. In L.A., it is good. The music is good. In Spain there is music too, but it's different. The gym is very small in Spain. Here there are a lot of people. It is nice."
Q. What are the cultural differences between basketball here and in Spain?
A. "I got lucky because L.A. is very similar to Barcelona. It is bigger but it is similar. A lot of people in L.A. speak Spanish, so I don't have problems with the language. Everyone is very nice. The beaches are very nice. In Barcelona, the beaches are nice too. It is very similar. I don't have any problems."
Q. What do you think of the other cities you've traveled to here in the States?
A. "I like New York. This is my first time here. I am very excited. There are a lot of people here, but it's nice. I have not taken the subway yet, just taxis. I like Chicago a lot. I will go to San Antonio next week for the first time. I didn't see a lot of Houston, but it is very nice. It is very big. There are a lot of people. I like America."
Q. Are you going to stick around for a while here in the U.S.?
A. "I don't know. I hope to stay here but I don't know."
Q. Are you playing overseas this offseason?
A. "Yes, I am going to Poland to play over the winter. I will play for Krakow with Anna DeForge and Candice Dupree. It is the best team in Poland."
Q. Do you speak any languages other than Spanish?
A. "I speak Catalan also. I am doing better with English and I understand most of it, but I am shy with speaking."
Q. What is your favorite TV show here in the States?
A. "I don't watch a lot of television. I like Desperate Housewives, though. Yes, it's true! I like it!"
Q. Have you gotten into American music since you've been here?
A. "I like old music, both American and Spanish. I have a lot of music on my mp3 player. I like one of Snoop Doggy Dogg's songs. My favorite Spanish groups you won't know, but I like La Quinta Estación."
Q. Have you ever done karaoke? If so, what song?
A. "I do not like karaoke. I am shy. I have done it before but I don't know the name of the song I sang."
Q. What is your favorite movie?
A. "My favorite movies are Moulin Rouge and Grease. Yes, I wish I had time to see the Broadway show while I am in New York, but I don't have time."
Q. How would you describe your role on the Sparks this season? What has your experience been like as a slightly older rookie?
A. "When I arrived, I wasn't expecting to get a lot of minutes my first year. Coming here and learning the system was complicated, but I was ready and Coach (Michael Cooper) had a lot of confidence in me. I began to play a lot of minutes because Chamique Holdsclaw left the team, and I played point guard. In Spain I always played guard, but here I was asked to play point guard. Now I've been playing less because (point guard) Temeka (Johnson) is back, but I am very content. I am very happy with the team. Of course I hope to play a lot, but I am happy this year just to get some experience."
Q. Can the Sparks still make the playoffs?
A. "We need to win a lot of games. I hope the team goes to the playoffs. It will be difficult, but we will try."
www.wnba.com
znam takie, co na tej pozycji za 3 rzucają o wiele gorzej. Zresztą Marta nie jest tu po to by z dystansu punkty zdobywać, bo od tego są w zespole inne osoby.
