Grant Hill Interviews

by Eric Patten

Hill joins Chauncey Billups as the second Clippers player in a row to win the Mannie Jackson Basketball Human Spirit Award. Hill was honored during a presentation Sept. 6 as part of the lead up to Saturday’s Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremonies.

Clippers forward Grant Hill was selected by the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame as a 2012 recipient of the Mannie Jackson Basketball Human Spirit Award. Hill, University of Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun, and Founder and Director of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, Dr. Richard Lapchick, received the award Sept. 6 during the events leading up to Saturday’s Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremonies.
Hill accepts his award at the Basketball Hall of Fame on September 6, 2012.
Photo: Richard Orr/Basketball Hall of Fame
According to the official Hall of Fame website, the three winners met criteria, including embracing the core values of the game through hard work, dedication, and resilience; striving to continuously improve the community they serve; and making an ongoing commitment to others.

These qualifications extend beyond the sport of basketball as winners also must reflect the values of Harlem Globetrotters chairman Mannie Jackson’s life-long mission to overcome obstacles and challenge the status quo, while also taking responsibility for personal actions and seeking the highest standard of excellence.

“We are proud to honor three of the most deserving selections since the award was established,” Jackson said. “Having known all three personally, I admire their sustained work and contributions to both the game of basketball and their communities.” Hill, 39, was chosen based on his “positive attitude, strong work ethic, and moral code.”

More: Watch Grant Hill’s Speech

He was recently awarded the key to the city in his hometown of Reston, Virginia with proceeds from that reception going to the Medical Care for Children Partnership, which provides medical services for children in need throughout Fairfax County.

In 17 NBA seasons, the Clippers’ forward has received a number of other accolades for his civic involvement. Sporting News named Hill one the “Good Guys in Sports,” he was the 2001 Richard and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award winner, and with his wife, Tamia, they have led multiple foundations, including the Tamia & Grant Hill Foundation.

While a member of the Pistons, Hill appeared on behalf of Foot Locker and Fila, at a Detroit middle school to start a program designed to replace backboards in 250 area schools, and GMC Trucks sponsored his visit to the Michigan Special Olympics women’s basketball team.

“Grant has been a leader on and off the court for a long time in this league,” Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro said. “I’m happy he was recognized by the Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game. There’s nobody more deserving of an award like this.”

Beginning in 2009, finalists for the Human Spirit Award were grouped into three categories, representing the professional, amateur, and grassroots levels of basketball. Hill is the second consecutive Clippers player selected as the representative from the professional category. Guard Chauncey Billups won the award last season. “[Winning the award] says a lot about the character of Grant and Chauncey and the kind of players and people they are,” Del Negro said. “I talk all the time about doing things the right way, and these guys have done things that way their entire careers.”

Originally printed in the Summer 2011 issue of ChopChop, The Fun Cooking Magazine for Families.

Grant Hill is a seven-time NBA all-star basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. Before he played for the Suns, he played for the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic after playing at Duke University and winning back-to-back NCAA Championships. As an athlete, Grant knows how important it is to eat healthy and stay active. Without eating well, Grant wouldn’t have the energy to be the great athlete he is. Grant eats a lot of fruits and vegetables, and only drinks water. Off the court, Grant is a dad and a husband and likes to cook with his daughters Myla and Lael. Myla interviewed her dad to get the inside scoop on what he likes to eat.

MYLA: My name is Myla. I am nine years old and I am going to interview my dad, Grant Hill. So, Grant Hill, what is your favorite food?
GRANT: My favorite food of all time is probably fish. I like salmon and sea bass.

MYLA: What fish do you not like?
GRANT: I don’t like tuna fish.

MYLA: Just like me.
GRANT: Just like you. High five.

MYLA: What other sports do you like besides basketball?
GRANT: I like to watch football. I like to watch my daughter play softball. I used to play soccer so I was a big fan of soccer—I enjoyed playing and watching soccer. You know, as an athlete I enjoy and appreciate all sports. I like tennis. So I really like them all. Especially the ones I can go out there and play myself. Any more questions, Miss Myla?

MYLA: How often do you train?
GRANT: Great question. I like to train 5 or 6 days a week, then take a day off. I like to sweat and do some sort of activity every day, either lifting or running or riding a bike. I like to get exercise, as you know.

MYLA: Who was your favorite athlete when growing up?
GRANT: Magic Johnson. Dr. J, who played basketball long before you were born. And then my father, who is your grandfather…

MYLA: Who is the awesomest.
GRANT: He was the awesomest, yes. He played football for the Cowboys and the Redskins. He was by far my favorite athlete growing up. Who is your favorite athlete?

MYLA: Hmmm…
GRANT: Don’t answer. Don’t answer.

MYLA: What is your favorite dessert, Mr. Hill?
GRANT: My favorite dessert is vanilla cake with vanilla icing. Yes, nothing too exciting. Kind of boring. But that’s probably my favorite dessert. And sugar cookies. You know I love sugar cookies, right? But, as an athlete I don’t eat a lot of those things. So every once in a while—birthdays, special occasions.

MYLA: How many meals do you eat a day?
GRANT: I usually eat three meals a day, but I like to snack a lot, maybe a handful of almonds or chips and salsa. I try to snack with something healthy.

Grant and Myla’s Quesadilla

When Grant isn’t playing basketball or watching football or joining Myla at her softball games or eating salmon, he likes to make quesadillas with his girls. Quesadillas are quick, easily adaptable and, above all, completely delicious.

Kitchen Gear

• Large plate
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoon
• Skillet
• Spatula
• Serving plate

Ingredients

• 4  10-inch whole-wheat tortillas
• 1  cup grated sharp cheddar or
• Mexican blend cheese
• 4  teaspoons olive oil
• 1  cup toppings, including a combination of black beans, cooked turkey bacon, diced tomatoes, chopped olives, sliced scallions or chopped cilantro leaves
• Plain yogurt or sour cream, for garnish
• Summer salsa, for garnish
• Guacamole, for garnish

Instructions
Wash your hands with soap and water. Clean the counter top. Gather all your kitchen gear and ingredients and put them on the clean counter.

1. Put one tortilla on the large plate and sprinkle ¼ cup grated cheese on one side of the tortilla. Try not to get it too close to the edge.
2. Top with ¼ cup toppings, then fold the tortilla in half to make a half-moon shape.
3. With the help of your adult, put the skillet on the stove and turn the heat to medium. When it is hot, carefully add 1 teaspoon olive oil.
4. Carefully, add the tortilla to the hot skillet and cook until the bottom is lightly browned and the cheese is all gooey, about 2 minutes. using the spatula, turn the tortilla over and cook another 2 minutes. Move the cooked tortilla to the serving plate.
5. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, cheese, olive oil and toppings.
6. Garnish and serve right away.

By Paul Coro, The Arizona Republic
Feb. 24, 2011 06:36 PM

Each week, The Republic spotlights a member of the Suns for a series of off-court questions.

Question: Did your father (former NFL running back Calvin Hill) want you to play football?

Answer: He wanted me to play and had a dream of me playing. The problem was he didn’t play until he was in high school. So the rule in our household was that I wasn’t allowed to play organized football until I was a freshman in high school. Growing up on the sidelines and locker room, all I wanted to do was play football. Not being able to play was like dangling a prize in front of me. At 14, when I was allowed, I resented it and didn’t want to play. To this day, I’m not a huge fan of football because I resented it as a kid.

Q: What position would you have played?

A: I used to play in the street and neighborhood. I went a lot of times to Redskin Park and to Cleveland (for practices) so I had pretty good hands. I don’t know what’s happened to them. And I used to throw the ball pretty well. I was pretty accurate. My dad was a quarterback in high school, went to Yale and they switched him to running back. I think he always wanted me to be a quarterback. He always worked on my throw and spiral. The problem was when I was 14, I was 6-5 and about 150 pounds. One hit and I probably would’ve been done.

Q: Is that why your full-court passes are so good?

A: That’s why when we (Duke) were down to Kentucky (in the 1992 NCAA East Regional final), Coach (Mike Krzyzewski) tapped me to make that pass (to Christian Laettner for a game-winning shot). We’d practice that baseball pass every day. Everybody would. I was usually the most accurate. It was good coaching on his part to have me do that (laughing).

Q: Where do you stand on your documentary about Duke track and field coaching great Al Buehler (Hill is executive producer of “Starting at the Finish Line”)?

A: We got accepted to the Atlanta Film Festival. We were turned down by the Phoenix Film Festival. We’re waiting on the Tribeca/ESPN Film Festival. We’ve talked to HBO, TNT, CBS, NBC. We’re just in the process of trying to find a home. We had talks with Oprah’s group about going on before the show shuts down and bringing the pro athletes this coach has touched, and we talked to OWN about coming on her network. We want to find the right place. It’s not about making money. It’s about the right avenue so people can appreciate it.

Q: Why is it important to tell his story?

A: I just knew him more as a teacher and thought of him as a man of high character. As we really dug into it, we started to see he was involved with civil rights, Title IX, women’s rights, the international scene. He brought the Russians to Durham (N.C.) during the ’60s and the Cold War, which was unheard of. He influenced a lot of high-profile athletes, like John Carlos and Tommy Smith, after everyone abandoned them. We have great interviews from them about how he stuck in their corner and advised them. I always felt there are great stories in sports that inspire.

Q: What is your role?

A: It started off I was just being interviewed as a basketball player who took his class. I came on as an executive producer and got involved more and more and was asked to narrate it. It wasn’t my baby from the get-go but I put a lot of work into it and I’m proud of it.

Q: What is Myla’s (his 9-year-old daughter) best sport?

A: Right now, I’d say softball. We’re going to go hard this summer. She’s going to train with me. She’s ready for it. She wants to try lacrosse. She loves to throw the football and is always asking why women can’t play football. She plays tennis and soccer. She really hits the ball well in softball.

Q: What did you do in the Bahamas during All-Star break?

A: A little swimming. Got some massages. Enjoyed the local cuisine. Worked out a little bit. I didn’t watch any basketball, see the highlights of the game or have access to Twitter. It was good to get away.

Q: What is your favorite Tamia (his wife) song?

A: Probably “You Put a Move on My Heart.” “Officially Missing You.” Her new album is shaping up to be my favorite. I like the work she’s doing. She’s really in a good space and knows what she wants from her career. It’s fun to follow and be a fan. She sacrificed a lot because one of us has to take a bit of a backseat. I look forward to, when I’m done, allowing her to go out and do more and I can be Bobby Brown. Joke.

From the moment the Phoenix Suns announced that NBA player Grant Hill would be coming to the Valley, endless talk ensued. Some Orlando Magic fans felt that after seven tumultuous seasons with their team, the 6-foot-8 Hill owed them a championship.

Critics even wondered why teams such as the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Maverick would be interested in courting Hill given his long history of injuries. But when the 35-year-old hoop star made mention of an early retirement, people wondered if this good guy’s days were about to be numbered. Luckily for fans here, Hill signed a two-year deal with the Suns. With the new season under way, he has joined Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, Raja Bell, Amare Stoudemire, Leandro Barbosa and his other teammates on the court in their determined quest for a championship. (more…)

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Many athletes are not afforded a second chance and ultimately languish among the has beens and what ifs. Grant Hill has become the soul model for athletes that haven’t the courage to fight and find their true sense of career satisfaction in the midst of adversity. (more…)

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