[Houston Sports Talk podcast] Interview w/veteran Rockets Ball Boy

Says Mark Jackson cussed at them for not paying attention when he was a Pacer, but later turned out to be a great guy to deal with, when he came to Houston. Says he "took care of him" when he left.

Battier one of his favorites to deal with. Sent shane a gift for his newborn once and shane mailed him back a thank you note, along with a check for his playoff bonus for that year (or part of the bonus, can't really tell from how he said it).

Also says these younger players don't take care of the little guys, who help out with the team, like guys in the past used to do. There's only a few older guys who still do it, but that type is becoming extinct.

Langhi, Nachbar, Rice, all great/nice guys.

Says Yao and Dwight are actually similar, don't take things too seriously.

Once mentioned to Lin to call him by his first name because players will sometimes call him kid, dawg, etc. and Lin was very apologetic towards him and said he would because it's the professional thing to do. Next day Lin remembered and told him he'd thought about it a lot and wouldn't forget.

Hayes, Lowry, and tmac once played on his team in a softball league he's part of.

 

Thanks for the transcript, RV6!

I look hearing behind the scene stuff. Can't wait to give it a listen. Also, anyone know how old the ball boy is?

 

Probably around 31. Have to be 16 to start and I think that's when he started.

 

How much are ballboys paid? Like minimum wage?

 

I imagine so. But if you count the free seats to Rockets games over 15 years...dude's probably getting paid a respectable amount.

 

Is he the husky looking fella?

 

Nope… Gage is skinny and has short brown hair. His brother Greg is one of the dunkers on acrodunk.

 

He sounds entitled. like the younger players really have THAT much extra cash.

 

I think he was referring to the new school wave of players, not necessarily young guys in age like Canaan, Jones, etc. I'd guess he means those that came in within the last 7 year or so. It does feel like players are less "grown" in the last decade, at least to how i remember it in the 90s. Back then the top teams were all like KG's celtics or spurs. Now you're said to be done at 32 and eveyone is looking for the next young thing.