Member Interview: Muttley

[teej]

Bobcats Planet name: Muttley
Real name (first only): Jonathan
Age: 26
Current City: Raleigh, NC
Hometown: Durham, NC
Occupation: grad student in Mathematics


1) How did you choose your screen name?

I got it from the dog Muttley from the cartoon "Wacky Races" which I would watch as a kid. Muttley and his owner/partner-in-crime Dick Dastardly would compete in the races and cheat the entire time. They never won. Muttley was know for his distinct laugh, which a friend once said sounded like my laugh.

2) Could you tell us a little about where you grew up and about your family?

I grew up in Durham where my extended family still lives, but during high school my parents moved us to upstate NY. My parents now live south of Charlotte, which is a convenient place to crash after Bobcats games.

3) Did you play in any sports or where you involved with any High School clubs and such?

I've played ultimate frisbee since middle school. I still play, but have also recently taken up soccer and long-distance running. I've run a marathon and 2 half-marathons. Does that equal 2 marathons? Not even close.

4) What is your fondest memory of your teenage years?

Playing guitar in a band with my friends.

5) What was your first job?

I worked at a pizzeria in high school. This was one of those real NY things. I loved it. I eventually got reliable enough to be a shift manager. I was very proud of that. My favorite part of the job was figuring out the most efficient routes to send drivers on to make multiple deliveries when we were really busy.

6) What lead to your dedicated following of the Bobcat's?

The opportunity to join/create a team's fanbase right from the very beginning. How awesome is that? After deciding I would be a Bobcats fan, the team sealed the deal by playing with more heart than other teams despite having less talent.

7) Could you tell us one of your favorite memories of the Bobcat's?

Beating the Celtics last year at home. I went to the game with my Mom and we had such a great time. More popular teams have thought in the past that they can just push the 'Cats around and they expect to win easily. I hope these teams continue to do that, especially the Lakers.

8 ) How did you find the Bobcats Planet and what keeps you active on the site?

I was vacationing in Ireland with my family in the summer of '07. It was draft day, but of course that wouldn't be on TV in Ireland. Luckily the hotel had the internet, and I found an awesome website of Bobcats supporters who weren't total homers, but still had a positive outlook for the team and a real knowledge of the game of basketball. Far more knowledge than I will ever have. BCP is a lot more populous place nowadays, but that underlying mentality of its members still remains.

9) What other sports teams do you follow?

The Carolina Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Mets, primarily. I also like the NY Jets from my time in NY and have recently followed the Packers and Brewers because my Wisonsonite girlfriend makes me.
I've also been an NCSU Wolfpack fan since birth (1983, a few months after the NCAA title win). Both of my parents and a whole slew of other family members attended NC State. It's not always easy to pull for them, but good things in life are rarely easy.

10) When you’re not on Bobcats Planet what could you likely be found doing with your spare time?

Spare time? Oh! You mean school work?

11) If you could have one moment being part of the Bobcats organization, what would it be?

I would love any job where I could represent the franchise and affect the quality of the product for the better.
It would awesome to be the guy at the end of the high-five tunnel during the intros that chest-bumps or shoulder-bumps the starters. I think Sean May was getting paid to do that last year so maybe the position is open.

12) How many trips have you made to the Time Warner Cable Arena?

I've been to at least one Bobcats game every year. Last year it was something like 8 games.

13) What is your worst fear?

I hate Band-aids. Seriously, they gross me out.
It's not so much a phobia, but my biggest fear right now is that I won't finish my dissertation in time.

14) What type of hobbies do you enjoy?

Crossword puzzles and brewing beer.

15) What’s your favorite food?

Sesame chicken.

16) Where are some of the places you’ve been, and where are some of your favorites.
I've been to Canada, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Italy, Argentina, Ireland and most recently China. Belize, Ireland, Italy and China are my favorites. The Isle of Capri might be tops.

17) What is one thing you've always wanted to do, but haven't done yet in your lifetime?

Don't really know. I guess to follow the last question, I've only got 3 more continents to cover: Africa, Antarctica and Australia. I'd like to go there.

18 ) If you could live anywhere where would it be?

The Caribbean or somewhere in North Carolina.

19) Name your favorite 3 Bobcats all time and explain the reason for one of them.

Gerald Wallace... [See answer to question 6, sentence number 3.]

(note: everyone else is a toss-up, but here are two players anyways.)

Derek Anderson... He played with his brain and his heart.
Raja Bell... He IS defense.

20) Up to this date, what is one of your favorite Bobcats Planet memories?

The '07 draft.

21) Anything else you'd like to add?

Teej, you've brought a lot of good stuff to the site. Keep it up!

Who would you like to nominate to be interviewed next?

Ammofan.

[davcbow]

Hey another Mets fan youre ok in my book....

[teej]

I got it from the dog Muttley from the cartoon "Wacky Races" which I would watch as a kid. Muttley and his owner/partner-in-crime Dick Dastardly would compete in the races and cheat the entire time. They never won. Muttley was know for his distinct laugh, which a friend once said sounded like my laugh.

My dad can do that laugh so well it's creepy. And I loved watching the wacky races.

[ziggy]

Anyone that has run a marathon gets HUGE respect in my book.. I dream of one day being able to run a half marathon... Unfortunately 5 miles is my current max

[Muttley]

Anyone that has run a marathon gets HUGE respect in my book.. I dream of one day being able to run a half marathon... Unfortunately 5 miles is my current max

Never having seen you, I think you could do a half-marathon if you had the time to do training runs. Even if you have to walk some, it doesn't matter, the feeling of finishing is the same, and it's awesome.

Also, I bolded the key phrase in your post. It's only one so far, and the time wasn't great, but hell, I ran one, and I am really proud of it.

[Muttley]

Hey another Mets fan youre ok in my book....

Sweet! I started watching them around 1999 with Mike Piazza and that crew. Baseball's not my favorite game, but it's fun to have on if you're just putzing around the house during the day.

[ziggy]

Never having seen you, I think you could do a half-marathon if you had the time to do training runs. Even if you have to walk some, it doesn't matter, the feeling of finishing is the same, and it's awesome.

Also, I bolded the key phrase in your post. It's only one so far, and the time wasn't great, but hell, I ran one, and I am really proud of it.

At 6'4" - 255lbs. my biggest problem is my size. When I start to do any serious mileage I get knee pain. I'm trying to gut through that and deal with the knee pain until I can drop 20 more pounds and get down to 235. I'm hoping that is the magic weight that eliminates the knee pain that I get following my runs. Then maybe I can seriously focus on that 13.1.

[Muttley]

At 6'4" - 255lbs. my biggest problem is my size. When I start to do any serious mileage I get knee pain. I'm trying to gut through that and deal with the knee pain until I can drop 20 more pounds and get down to 235. I'm hoping that is the magic weight that eliminates the knee pain that I get following my runs. Then maybe I can seriously focus on that 13.1.

Aw, knees are the worst spots to have trouble. Keep at it though, I'm sure you'll be able barring some catastrophic injury. For now, be proud of those 5 miles. 5 miles is way more than a lot of people run.