March 1, 2010
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Each week, the staff at GoLeopards.com catches up with a student-athlete. Today we caught up with senior basketball Jeff Kari as he and his Leopards get ready for the Patriot League Tournament. The Economics and Business major talked money, karaoke and, of course, playoff basketball.
What's your major and what do you like about your major? I am an Economics and Business major pursuing a career in the financial industry. My major has given me the foundation and set of tools needed to succeed in my future endeavors. In simpler words, like all Econ majors, I'm trying to make that money.
What's been your most interesting class so far this semester? Corporate Finance with Professor Don Chambers. The finance and numbers part of the course is not so interesting, but rather Professor Chamber's discussions on the goods and evils of our economy, society and campus. He is a brilliant and very opinionated professor whose class I definitely recommend.
What is your earliest basketball memory? My older brother Jason use to dominate me on our driveway's hoop. I was probably six years old, but I just remember never wanting to stop playing - he would eventually get tired of winning and quit, which always irked me. I'd taunt him and use reverse psychology until he played one more, but it usually just ended in us wrestling before making up and going inside to play GI Joes. Note: Jason hasn't been able to see me on the court since I was 10...what's up Jay?!
What can you take from your sport and incorporate into everyday life? There is way too much to even try and begin listing things. Basketball has by far been the single most influential thing in my development as a person.
What do you still wish to accomplish (on or off the basketball court)? Since I will be retiring from the game of basketball after this season, I've only got a couple of weeks left to accomplish the top goal I've always had: make the NCAA Tournament!
My pregame ritual is... ...pretty dull in the sense that I don't have any strange superstitions or set routines. I basically just eat a good meal, take a nap, listen to some music and focus on what I need to do to get a win.
Most embarrassing thing that's happened to me on the basketball court is: At a high school game, they were raffling off a LeBron James jersey and called the winner to the scorer's table. Turns out the winner didn't realize she had the winning ticket until play had resumed. She immediately jumped up and without thinking ran to claim her prize. The refs blew their whistles because this lady was running across the middle of the court screaming, "I won, I won!" right as the game was going on! That lady was my mother (sorry, Mom).
Teammate who does the best impression of your coach? Ben Wheeler's is most on-point, but it's just hilarious to hear Marek try, so I'll go with Marek Koltun.
Sport you would play other than your own? I should say FootBAWWW because I played in high school and did pretty well, but how can I pass up the sweet Lax Bro lifestyle?
Something about me that others would be surprised to hear is: Yo hablo español.
Best road trip I ever took was... Sophomore year winter break we had something like four or five away games clumped in a row, so we were on the road for a week and a half straight. It was cool being with the team and just bouncing around different hotels and traveling. Plus, it took away from the depressing time we would have had to spend on campus while the students were at home for interim.
Spring break is only a few weeks away. Any plans yet? I have this Dance I gotta go to...
Who would play you in a movie and why? Some of my teammates think I look like Bruce Willis, but that's just absurd. I'd be okay with Justin Timberlake or Channing Tatum portraying me.
Favorite midnight snack? At that time I'm too lazy for anything besides delivery - so Chinese or pizza.
Go-to karaoke song? I've honestly never done karaoke. But karaoke can go one of two ways: 1. You're really good and can impress people by pulling of a tough song (showoffs), or 2. You're like me and realize you need to make a fool of yourself in order to get some laughs so you pick a goofy song - Backstreet Boys?
Morning or night person? Night, no question.
Word Association:
Lafayette: Been good to me.
Lafayette-Lehigh Rivalry: So sorry Lehigh.
Basketball: Made me
Coach O'Hanlon: Rainbow Johnson
Teammates: Forever family
