For a stretch of about six seasons, it seemed as if injuries would put an early end to Grant Hill’s basketball career. Now, Hill is 37 years old and coming off the only season in his career in which he played in all 82 games.

He spoke with us about taking care of himself, giving his career new life and what he learned from the adversity:

Question: Is it true you’ve adopted Steve Nash’s diet?

Answer: No! He and I have different diets. I don’t know how he gets credit for having a healthy diet. He’s not the only one. I think it’s because Shaq coined it the Nash Diet. But the good thing about Steve, aside from our similar interests off the court, is that we’re both particular about taking care of our body. We run things past one another. I certainly have learned a great deal from him, and hopefully he’s learned from me. One of the common themes is we watch what we eat. Everybody’s body is different, but I don’t eat the way I did when I was younger.

Q: What have you cut out?

A: My first year in the NBA I ate nothing but fast food. There was a street in Michigan near my home that had seven or eight fast-food places. I went eeny-meeny-miney-moe. I got a chef my second year, but I still kept two or three pitchers of Kool-Aid in the refrigerator. And of course we had to have Sprite (which Hill endorsed commercially). And we made lot of cakes. So I would go to bed with a quarter of a cake and a Big Gulp-sized container of Kool-Aid. I’d take that to bed with me.

Q: When did you change?

A: It was gradual. At one point, I cut out all drinks except water. That’s when I started getting away from some of that. I was still eating red meat, less pasta. As I’ve gotten older and become more educated about it, I’ve slowly changed. My wife (Tamia) and I practice a macrobiotic diet. (A macrobiotic diet eliminates processed foods and emphasizes water, vegetables, fruits and organically grown grains, such as brown rice. It typically does not include red meat, dairy or eggs.) It’s hard to eat like that on the road, but you want to try to make healthy decisions. When we get on the plane after the game and the options are turkey with mashed potatoes and yams, or a Cobb salad with chicken, I’ll get the salad. I drink a lot of water. It’s just understanding what you put in your body and how it will affect your energy level.

Q: Is it hard to stick to it?

A: It’s a long season. You go to cities where you have favorite restaurants and you cheat a little bit. I think Jared (Dudley) said I’m maybe 75-25 (percent) whereas Nash is 90-10. If that’s the case, I’m not on the Nash Diet. I’m on the Hill Diet.

Q: Has it helped you on the court?

A: Just getting rest, eating correctly, for me personally, last year especially, allowed me to do some things out there I haven’t done for a long time. There were things I did last year on the court where I said, ‘I haven’t done that in 10 years.’ It might have been a cut, or guarding somebody and being able to anticipate where they’re going and being there. Four or five years ago, I used to say the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak because I’d want to get there I just couldn’t get there. But now I’m getting there.

Q: Are you thinking of playing beyond this contract?

A: You know, when I was young I watched Joe Dumars play when he was 34 and I used to ask him, ‘Man, why are you still playing? When I’m 34, I’m done.’ I think the combination of three things, missing a lot of time, having a real good support group here with this organization and then just taking care of myself have helped. Getting my rest. Not drinking alcohol. Eating correctly. And those years when I was out with an injury, watching my weight. I always thought all of that would pay off on the back end. One thing I’m interested in is athletes who have dominated or continued at a high level late into their 30s and early in their 40s. (Surfer) Laird Hamilton. Chris Chelios in hockey. (Olympic swimmer) Dara Torres. Certainly John Stockton when he played. Lance Armstrong. Genetics play a role, and luck. But the common theme is those people work at it. They make sacrifices in their lifestyle and diet. They do everything legally you can do. And you know what? It almost seems like, every year I feel more in control, more aware and have more of an understanding of what it takes. I feel good. I’m able to keep up. I may miss shots and make turnovers, but I feel like I can still run up and down with these guys. So, we’ll see. It would be nice to have an option this summer, and I’ll take it one year at a time.

Q: When you had your ankle reconstructed and your heel rebuilt, would you have imagined you’d still be out here pushing 40?

A: Honestly, I think I told myself I’ll make up for all of it on the back end. (Laughing) I probably thought the back end would have been over a few years ago! I don’t know if I believed that totally, but sometimes when you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel you need something to keep you going. I would tell myself that, and my dad would tell me he believed it.

Q: Do you have more appreciation and get more enjoyment from these years after what you had to go through?

A: Yeah. I’ve accepted what happened. It certainly wasn’t easy, but I’m not bitter about it. This is such a privilege to do what we do, every day you come out here. I tweaked my ankle the other day and missed the (Portland) game, and I was miserable. You want to be out there every time. You don’t want to miss a game or a practice just because when this over, it’s over. And also, I’m kind of proud I’ve been able to sort of change my game, going from a player who was at a high, high level and counted on to do certain things for his team, and now being able to still do some of those things, but play defense, take charges, do some of the little things. I’ve been able to redefine my game and my role. That’s not always an easy thing to do when you’ve been to the mountain top and you kind of have to humble yourself. I’ve learned more about myself through all the adversity and all the tough times, about my love for the game, perspective about what’s important and just values and lessons that apply to life. Prior to that, things were pretty easy. A lot of success early. All of a sudden, I had to lace on my shoes and go fight. I’m still fighting. ]]> http://granthill.com/hilltop/interviews/qa-with-grant-hill-of-phoenix-suns/feed 2 http://granthill.com/hilltop/hilltop/local-icon-grant-hill-featured-on-101-north-magazine http://granthill.com/hilltop/hilltop/local-icon-grant-hill-featured-on-101-north-magazine#comments Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:11:37 +0000 frank@risecreativegroup.com http://granthill.com/hilltop/?p=18
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.

Off the court, the big-name superstar has been busy with his two favorite little people: daughters Myla Grace, 5, and 4-month-old Lael (pronounced Lay-el) Rose. “It’s been fun as a parent,” Hill says. “I love them as much as I can love anything.”

Hill has been sharing daddy duty with his wife of eight years, rhythm-and-blues singer Tamia, 32. Together they’ve adapted to many changes this year and are glad to have found a resting spot in their Paradise Valley home. “We were very rooted in Central Florida,” Hill says. “But changing teams, changing cities and adding a new addition to our household has felt a little transitional. Sometimes change can be fun. Sometimes it can be scary. We’re excited now that we’re settled.”

The Valley is excited too. “I’m where I wanted to be. …Don’t go by what I did for Detroit, or what I did or didn’t do in Orlando. Just judge me on what you see. That’s all I ask for. …I’m good for the team and for the community. Just wait and see,” he says.

Hill sat down with 101 North magazine recently to talk about how he and his family are settling into their new lives.

Q: What was on your to-do list once you committed to moving here?

A: The first thing we wanted was to try and get Myla into a good school. Thankfully there was a spot at a school in Paradise Valley. Then, we wanted to find a home close to the school. My mom actually came out (since Tamia was in the no-fly state of her pregnancy), and we looked at a number of homes – I don’t think my wife trusted my judgment. But we ended up picking the house that I like and not the house that my mom liked.

Q: Tell us about your new home.

A: I fell in love with it. The house is great. We have grass, a backyard and a pool. It came furnished and has an Asian-modern feel. We spend a lot of time in the family room and kitchen area so we needed a place that still has that home feel. It’s very comfortable. It’s not to the point where we don’t feel like we can’t touch anything. So we’re very happy – a nice home, a nice neighborhood.

Q: What does it feel like to have two daughters now?

A: As a father it’s been fun to see Myla and her reaction to Lael. I can’t wait until Lael’s personality evolves and she’s able to understand what’s going on. To see her interaction with her big sister is going to be a lot of fun. As for daddy’s little girls – you hear about it, you read about it, you see it, but when you experience it – it’s a great feeling.

Q: How is Tamia feeling?

A: She’s doing well. She’s out and about, working out and getting ready to go back to work. She’s got some interesting things lined up for the future. She’s going to go back out and tour. Somebody in the family has to work. I always joke that I wanted five or six kids buts it’s a lot. She goes through so much with the delivery. If we went for another – great, but even if I just have girls I’m happy. I think she may go for it again. I have no say.

Q: Newspapers said the Suns picked you because you are a great playmaker. What are you bringing to your new team?

A: I don’t like patting my own back, but I think I am a skilled player – a guy who can make plays for others and make plays for myself. I like to think I have a pretty good basketball IQ. But most importantly, I’m hungry. I want to win. Not saying I never did before, but you feel like you have a chance. Nash, Marion – everybody’s hungry. They want to win. Expectations are championship. Some people look at it as pressure. I look at it as fun. I’ve been in situations where there weren’t any expectations and that’s no fun.

Q: Do you think your ankle injuries will prevent you from being a force this season?

A: Not at all. The last surgery I had on my ankle was April of 2003 so I haven’t had an ankle problem, but I have had other problems as a result of the compensation – stomach, sports hernia and things of that nature. I have goals for this season. I think you’ll see considering what I’ve been through to now be healthy and to now be playing, I’ve never felt my skills were a problem or a question mark of my health. It’s about moving forward. I’m going to make the most of it.

Q: Staying healthy must be important to you and your family. If we opened your refrigerator, what items would we find?

A: We have baby formula for Lael, lots of fruit and a lot of Popsicles and ice cream treats for Myla, which are very tempting but I try to stay away from. My wife and I try to live healthy so we have a lot of organic products, and I drink nothing but water. I have tons of water.

Q: You have to have a guilty pleasure. Please share.

A: Cookies. I’m the type if I’m in the mood, I can sit and eat a whole container of cookies, and white cake and white icing.

Q: You are an avid art collector. Are you still collecting?

A: We still collect. The most recent art we bought was a John Biggers piece. I’ve pretty much focused in on African-American art as a genre but being out here I’ve noticed there’s a lot of great Native American art. I’m looking to evolve as a collector and identify some of the young up-and-coming African-American artists. I have a lot of the older masters, but it would be interesting to try to get to know and see these artists grow during their lifetime The majority of the pieces I have are of artists all gone and passed away.

Q: What causes are near and dear to your heart?

A: My wife and I, through our foundation (Tamia & Grant Hill Foundation), don’t have a rhyme or reason to what we do or how we do it. …We support charities at a particular moment that are important to us – financially or with our time. My wife has multiple sclerosis so we’ve supported a number of places where they have made medical contributions to MS. We’re all over. Whatever is near and dear to our hearts. We live in a position where we have achieved a lot so it’s our responsibility to help others.

Q: Is Phoenix the end of the road for you?

A: It’s going to end at some point. …I’m looking forward to the opportunities that are out there when that day comes. We’ll see. One thing I’ve learned in the last seven years is that you can’t predict the future. …I love the game, and I love the team and I’d love to play for as long as I can.

DAVE HOLLANDER: What does Steve Nash mean to your game?

GRANT HILL: Steve’s a great player. We all know that. He’s a great person and he’s a fun guy to be around. He’s a great player who’s hungry to win a championship. Those are good qualities to have in a teammate. In the last two months I’ve been around him, I’ve been able to really appreciate his greatness. The opportunity to play with a great player like him doesn’t come around often.

DH: I see you guys as peas in pod — both very unselfish superstars, both politically outspoken, both intellectually versatile. How well did you guys know each other before this season?

GH: Not that well. Just from competing against one another. That was pretty much it. Of course, I’ve followed him from a far. You feel like you know somebody to a degree because you’ve read about them, so you know a little bit about their personality. But these last two months I’ve got to know him off the court. Our lockers are right next to each other. We’re close in age. He’s from Canada. I married a Canadian (R&B singer Tamia). Just the opportunity to get to know him, his beliefs, his likes — not just him but all the guys — but Steve in particular. The relationship is still evolving. I think we’ve clicked on the court extremely well in a short period of time. And I like to think we’ve clicked off the court as well. Our families got together in training camp and we’ve gone to dinner on the road. It’s a long season so it helps to win and to be around like-minded individuals — guys you enjoy being around during the course of the year. Steve is one of those guys.

DH: There’s been more than a little Canada in your life. In 2006, you received ankle rotation therapy from specialists in Vancouver, BC. Did you run into Steve up there?

GH: I had an injury called a “sports hernia” or athletic sports pubalgia, which means I tore the abdominal muscles off my pubic bone. It was a very difficult time. Steve has had back issue his whole career. There were two people up in Vancouver, the guy Steve works with and Alex McKechnie. They work together. Alex had worked with Shaquille and other athletes through the years who had the same injury. I did talk to Steve and got this advice on Alex and whole treatment protocol because Steve still adheres to it. And he was very helpful. While I was up in Vancouver I didn’t get a chance to see Steve but believe you me you could feel him. He had such a presence there in Vancouver, British Columbia and throughout the whole country of Canada.

DH: There’s another Grant Hill; a former Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party of Canada. The two of you have never been seen in the same room together. Can you confirm now that you’re not the same person?

GH: I wasn’t aware that there is a Canadian official with the same name. I was aware that there is a movie producer named Grant Hill. At one point he and I were staying in the same hotel. We were getting each other’s phone messages. This guy produced the Matrix films. I had some friends who went to see one of those films and they were like “Wow, I knew you were into a bunch of different things but I didn’t know you were a producing movies.”

DH: Those must’ve been some interesting phone messages.

GH: Nothing outrageous but I will say this, I definitely ran with the story for a while with my friends. “Oh yeah, I was involved with the Matrix.”

DH: Back to basketball. Phoenix has some great players and a great system. What’s your role on this team?

GH: We’re still sort of defining what those roles are. I’m the new guy. I’m the guy being added to the equation to a team that’s had tremendous success. I think it’s to provide leadership and versatility, be someone who can do a lot of different things on the court. On one hand I need to fit in and on the other hand do what I do. And that’s what I’ve been asked to do by our coach: be versatile, score, set up, be unselfish — to play defense, to be another weapon to help the team win. Prior to training camp, I was a little nervous. I want to assert but I don’t want to mess things up. I’ve been very surprised how well I’ve been able to fit in. It’s like I’ve been with these guys for three years instead of three weeks.

DH: Not because of you, but I know Shawn Marion wasn’t sure if he was fitting in this offseason. Is he all set to go?

GH: Matrix is fine. I spent a lot of time with him during training camp. Once again, here’s a guy I didn’t know other than competition against, but he’s a great guy and I think we really connected. I haven’t detected anything that was written about him over the summer. He’s been an unbelievable professional. Just like you see him in the games he brings that same effort and energy to practice. And he’s been a great teammate. It’s interesting you read one thing and then you see something totally different.

DH: You’ve really started to fit in locally, purchasing a home in Paradise Valley, a community where players for the Suns, Diamondbacks and other local sports franchises reside. You must have a heckuva waffle ball game at your block party.

GH: I haven’t met too many of my professional sports colleagues. The reason we moved there was because we got our daughter into a great school and we wanted to be close to the school. The school is in Paradise Valley. It’s a nice home, centrally located in the Phoenix area. Hopefully, in due time we’ll meet some of our famous neighbors.

DH: Phoenix has gotten so close to the title these past three years. What’s it going to take to beat San Antonio?

GH: San Antonio has had a tremendous run. They’re a dynasty. You have to tip your hat to them. You’d have to say what they’ve done last year and the last 10 years makes them the favorites going in. We’re just focusing on us, what we have to do, be mentally strong, pay attention to detail. It’s a long season. Ultimately to do what we want to do in June we first have to get to June. So everything we do from Day One has a purpose. That purpose has been identified and talked about and will continue to be talked about through the course of the season. Aside from not leaving the bench during the altercation, we have to be really good at what we do and be mentally strong and focused, not just when we play San Antonio but for the entire season.DH: Tell me about being the Nickelback music video “Rockstar.”

GH: The concept of the video is they got a number of famous people and fans of the band to lip sync the words to the song. Honestly, I never heard of Nickelback but they’re Canadian, my wife is Canadian and my wife’s management told me about it. I taped my small little part and now I can officially say I was in a music video. It’s kind of funny to see myself up there acting the fool.

DH: You’re definitely more of a high culture guy. You own a substantial collection of African-American art, centering around the work of Romare Bearden and Elizabeth Catlett. How does fine art and basketball mix?

GH: I always looked at basketball as a jazz ensemble. You have guys with different roles and little bit of structure but within that structure you have freedom to express yourself. Everyone does it their own way, whether it’s with fashion or various moves style of play. It is an art form. Whether it’s collecting art or my wife and her career I feel like I’m around creativity. I guess to a degree what I do on the court and in my career is creative in and of itself.

DH: I’m curious. Are you a Tyler Perry fan?

GH: I haven’t seen any of his movies. I have an appreciation for what he’s accomplished. I guess I’m a fan that.

DH: You publicly supported John Kerry on his 2004 presidential campaign. Who are you supporting this time?

GH: I’ve lent my support to Senator Obama. I actually co-chaired a fundraiser party in D.C. this summer. I read both of his books. I’ve heard his view on various issues. I hear his message. I just feel like it’s time for a change. It’s an interesting time in American politics. My family is friends with the Bush family and the Clinton family. But I have to think with over 300 million people in our country there has to be another family outside of those two that is capable of leading our country. As qualified as Hillary is, to have potentially another eight years of a Clinton or a Bush, well, that would be 20-some odd years of just two families. I really support [Obama] and feel like he’s a breath of fresh air and someone who’s a uniter — someone who can bring everyone in our country together at a point when people are very divided.

DH: You’re a Duke alum. How disappointed were you in the Duke faculty and administration with their rush to judgment on the lacrosse players?

GH: I wasn’t disappointed. I think it was a tough situation. I think it all stems from the rogue prosecutor. But I don’t have any issues with how it was all handled. Anytime a prosecutor brings up charges you have to make the assumption that there’s something there. I know we’re in a society where you’re innocent until proven guilty. I’m just not bitter the way Duke handled it. I thought they handled it well. Of course, in hindsight people are going to second guess decisions that were made. But a decision was made and you have to live with it. It was one of those situations no matter what you did, it was just a messy situation — a black eye. Those kids were wrongly accused but I feel like they shouldn’t have put themselves in that situation.

DH: The Knicks — the coach, the owner, the organization — were found guilty of sexual harassment. David Stern says he won’t do anything because it’s a civil matter, not criminal. What do you think about that?

GH: I read where Stern said that and I’ve read comments that there still might be some action taken. It’s one of those things where we all get painted with the same brush. Even though I’m far removed from that situation in New York, we’re all kind of lumped together as a result of it. It’s a tough situation. I’ve known Isiah. He’s been great to me. He’s helped me in some tough years with his advice. But if an offense was committed there should be some sort of punishment. Maybe the verdict of $11.6 million dollars is enough of a punishment. I don’t know. I’m surprised, really. It’s a little inconsistent with the way the league has reacted to some other things. But at the end of the day, it’s Stern’s call. I thought there would have been at least a few games suspension. Maybe there should’ve been, but I guess that’s why I’m not commissioner.

DH: How different do you think Stern would’ve reacted it was case of racial discrimination?

GH: I don’t know. I’m not sure. I kind of lump them in the same category. I know they’re two different situations and issues.

DH: Are they?

GH: Race and sex, I think they are two different things. They’re similar but they’re different. They’re both wrong. I don’t know what would’ve happened. That’s a good question. I think we’re very sensitive in our country to race. Of all the professional sports leagues, the NBA has been ahead of the game in terms of dealing with race; having people of color in prominent positions as coaches and in the front office. It’s interesting how various issues can be hot topics and touch people certain ways. Race is much like sexual harassment — it gets to people. And people have strong views on it. I don’t know what they would’ve done had it been racial discrimination. But I guess we have a precedent now with this sexual harassment case and we’ll see how the league handles it.

DH: We know one thing for sure that gets people riled up: dog fighting.

GH: (laughs) If there’s 300 million people in this country, probably 200 million have dogs. People are very emotional when it comes to their pets.

DH: I think the Spurs have been one of the great teams in NBA history and their style of basketball is very compelling. I’m baffled when people say the Spurs are boring. When you look at the totality of basketball being played on the floor is today’s NBA in a good place or a bad place?

GH: I think it’s in a pretty good place. I think you have a lot of talented individuals, a lot of really marketable young players. I think it’s important for those players to be on good teams. But there is good basketball out there. There’s different ways to skin a cat. The Spurs have a style of play that’s conducive to their personnel and they’ve had success with it. It doesn’t mean that’s the only way to go about things but they’ve had success so you can’t knock that. We’re in a society where it’s style over substance when ultimately it’s about winning. It’s part of this whole highlight generation. To me it’s exciting to watch a team play basketball the right way and win. Just like if your’e a fan of baseball. I don’t know baseball but (pauses) …

DH: You don’t need home runs all the time.

GH: Exactly! And it’s like we want home runs all the time. As a fan of basketball, I watched what the Spurs did last year and it’s remarkable. Okay, they don’t get up and down the court and slam dunk all the time, but you have to appreciate in the fact they win and how they win. I think the league is in good shape. You got a number of good teams, you got emerging teams, you go exciting teams, you got a little bit of everything. For whatever reason, the Spurs haven’t connected with the masses like the Bulls dynasty. Maybe it was because of Michael Jordan who was so electrifying and had so much charisma. I can’t quite figure out why the Spurs haven’t connected like the Bulls because what they’ve done is pretty amazing.

DH: Like you say, if the highlight shows don’t highlight team defense, ball distribution or boxing out then why should the people at home know those are a good things?

GH: We’ve been brought up as generation of people for whom it’s all about the highlights — the big hit, the home run, the slam dunk or the great one-on-one move. We’ve lost sight of the actual beauty of the game. That’s where we are as sports fans and maybe in some respects why certain teams connect and others don’t.

Dave Hollander is the author of 52 WEEKS: Interviews with Champions! Info at: www.davehollander.com

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.

He’s overcome injuries that normally cause freakishly talented pros to run from the sights, sounds and once in a lifetime heights of glory associated with super stardom. Legends primitive who become hood stars that saunter apprehensively and settle diminished into a lost world of sitting on stoops and embellishing past stories to any admirer who used to love them. A new day has dawned. The signing of Hill by Phoenix proves how serious the Suns are in their quest of obtaining the title forever elusive. Playing at Duke, where his Blue Devils were the first team to go back to back since Walton dreams and Kareem teams energized the UCLA dynasty, Grant was able to perform in a comfort zone that most athletes only dream of. Initially when Grant entered the NBA, he was one of the most gifted ballers to grace the scene. His unique combination of athleticism, intelligence and modesty was instrumental in Grant becoming the first rookie to lead any American sport in fan all-star total balloting. It wasn’t anything unusual for Grant to rack up multiple triple doubles per week as he positioned himself to become a true basketball icon. He was one of the first to be proclaimed the next Jordan and had the classiness and ambassador like presence of one Julius Erving. GHill was the truth before this generation’s definition of truth ever existed. His African American art has been on tour to give those not accustomed an inspiring renaissance of cultural thought. Grant and his R&B songstress wife Tamia are fam first, and committed to giving back to raise up those who live by means less amid socially distorting life distress.

Simply put, Grant is a winner. This cannot ever be questioned.

Michael Tillery: What prompts you to give so much back to so many organizations and not really receive well-deserved attention?

Grant Hill: I understand to a degree, to whom much is given, much is expected. We as athletes–celebrities and people that have financial security–are in positions where we can help. I think all of us…no matter who you are or where you are from…that achieve a certain level of success, can bring people along the way. My mindset is to try to help. It is as simple as that. Whether that is financial contributions, giving your name or actually getting out there, rolling up your sleeves and doing something for someone for a worthy cause, then that is important. Not to get deep or philosophical or anything like that, it is just how I am. My wife Tamia feels the same way and also does what she can to help in any way possible. We both have our organizations that we feel adamant supporting. It is good to be in a situation to be able to make a difference. Sometimes it is a big difference, sometimes it is on a smaller scale, but it is a difference nonetheless.

MT: It is known Grant that you do not speak of yourself in a flattering manner. You and your wife do so much for the community. How many organizations are the two of you involved in?

GH: I could not really tell you. If you look at a bio, you will see things that we have done over the years. You may read about something, someone may call or right a letter. You might have a friend and we might make an appearance. We might volunteer or give a contribution. You may do that for a year and move on to something else. There are also organizations that we have been supporting through the years. I do not know off the top of my head. I know what we are involved in now, but there is not a criteria, or game plan or goal that we want to do this or that. It is kind of whatever we are feeling or whatever we hear about. Whatever is important to us at that time, we try to do what we can do. What I am really trying to say is that it is no rhyme or reason. We do not say that we want to give to x amount of community service per year or give a certain amount of capital annually. It really rather fluctuates from year to year.

MT: Does the NBA mandate a certain amount of community hours geared to giving back?

GH: The NBA has programs. The NBA has different charities they support. Each team supports charities. I will say the teams I have been a part of do a good job to support charities, raising money, doing various things–which I think is great for the community. It is also great for young players to give them a model. I think it is good that the NBA and teams give a good example and say that we have certain latitude to show the community that we are accessible mentally, physically and financially.

MT: There are professional athletes and there are professional parents. You definitely have professional parents. How have they affected who you are and how can that positive example affect our collective upbringing?

GH: I am lucky. I am blessed for having their genetics that allows me to go out and do what I have done for years. My parents are educated; my parents are professionals. I am lucky to have had them play such a big role in my life. I cannot speak necessarily for other people, but positive parenting is important. I have a daughter and another one on the way any day now. We are excited about that. I know my daughter is watching everything. Not just for an example, but also to teach her right from wrong. I wish everyone had that. I know not everyone is that fortunate. Not everyone is going to have that upbringing from great people who have achieved much as I have. It definitely helps. I am very close with them. I am an only child. I still lean on them for support now like I did when I was younger. The one thing I realized watching them interact with their parents is that you never stop being a parent. Whether your child is in diapers or an adult, it is a very serious responsibility and that never changes.

As far as that affecting society, hopefully we all can try to be better parents. Nobody is perfect; we all make mistakes. I am in a wonderful position to do the best I can to shape, mold and teach my children to be the best they can be.

MT: I thought it was very poignant for your mother and daughter to be at the press conference introducing you to the Phoenix Suns organization. Speak about that moment as you enter a new stage in your career–going to a franchise that is on the cusp of all professional sports and currently one of the models that affect the way we choose to view sports.

GH: Well my wife could not be there because she is pregnant. The way I looked at it–this is going to sound crazy–we had to find a house and my wife could not travel. We also had to get my daughter interviewed and enrolled into a private school. I do not think my wife trusted me to find the right house (Grant and I laugh) so she sent my mom along to make sure we got something more in style.

*Note: Grant and Tamia are now the proud parents of a baby girl. I spoke to him via text message and he says the family is great although the little one is not yet sleeping through the night. Make sure you get ya sleep bruh. Nash’s passes are a beast

The few days that I was there, I spent time with the organization–the owner, the coach and Steve Kerr. It really is a family atmosphere and that is the approach Jerry Colangelo as an owner started. It is one that Sarver the current owner, Steve Kerr and Coach D’Antoni. It was fitting in that regard. They were extremely accommodating to my family and have been very helpful as we transition out there. I am not saying other organizations are not like them, but it just shows a lot about them. I am excited to have joined the Suns family and have my family be a part of their family.

MT: The Suns obviously play at break neck speed and seem to be ahead of the league condition wise. They conjure images of the Sac Kings from earlier in the decade, the Mavericks of the same period, Showtime and the Nuggets of the ‘80’s. Are you ready for this?

GH: The way they play is the way I like to play. I like to get up and down the court. I think I have excelled in the past–and even now–in the open court. You know it is weird. Coach D’Antoni gets credit for this style of play, but it really was the style of play in the ‘80’s. I am a fan. Coach D’Antoni went to Europe and came back and the style changed. It was more methodical–more walk it up and call every play. I think this system is fun. Players enjoy it. It is predicated on ball movement and getting out and running. I do not pretend to know a whole lot about it. I am sure Steve and Raja and those guys will help get me where I need to be. It is exciting. I believe we can win. The Lakers–they won–you know, Showtime. The Celtics of that same time got up and down the court when they needed to. I cannot wait to incorporate myself with the team and learn how the team approaches things. Most importantly, to try to win. Hopefully we can go out there, be successful and achieve our goal. I am very excited.

MT: Have you spoken to your teammates? Do you feel welcome?

GH: Yes, it has been great. Not only does the organization want you, but also talking to Steve, Amare and the rest of the guys, you can feel that they are tight. They have told me that they are glad that I am here. I look forward to not only playing with them, but also getting to know them and developing a repoire on and off the court. I really talked to Steve. We have known each other from competing over the years. He has been very, very helpful. I had many questions. There have been many things we have talked about. He sounds just as excited as I am.

MT: What specifically do you add to an already successful Phoenix Suns team?

GH: Another hungry veteran. A guy that can make plays. I do not like talking about myself, but I can play.

I look forward to proving it.

I want to show my teammates just what I can do. I am a smart player that can run, can finish and create. I am unselfish. These are the things I bring to the table. Like I said before, I do not feel comfortable patting my own back.

MT: Grant, I want to get into the lean years. The injury-riddled period where you were sitting on the bench–seemingly frustrated looking up at the scoreboard. What did you learn about the game and more importantly about yourself? How did you stay inspired?

GH: Wow. (Grant pauses) It was not easy for an athlete that is accustomed to playing all the time to not be out there. Whether it is a coach’s decision or in my case an injury, it is definitely hard. I went from being a player used to playing at a certain ability level to all the sudden have my career come to a halt. You are not able to compete, when you do compete you hurt. There is a frustration of not knowing if you are ever going to be healthy. Not knowing if I will ever compete. If my body is going to hold up. The desire is always there, but you start to have doubts. Doubting your health, doubting if you are ever going to play on a high level. I am not saying it is there all the time, but it starts to creep in. As these young guys say, you lose your swagger. Life is a bunch of peaks and valleys. From a career standpoint, it was a valley.

You do not let it beat you. You become stronger. You become better as a person. You become better as a teammate. You get a better appreciation and perspective for the game and a better understanding of life. That is how life is.

Yeah, I missed some prime years. I cannot get them back. It did not kill me. It was definitely a tough time. Even now, this is the first time that I finished the season healthy and walked off the court in so long. It is the first time I have been able to go into a summer and work on my game. I have not done that since the summer of ‘99.

MT: Wow! I had no idea it has been that long.

GH: Yeah, every summer I have been rehabbing. I was not working on my ball handling or working on this or that to get a better result. It was just rehab. I was testing my body. Will this hold up? Then all of the sudden the sports hernia–which was a different thing. It was never a case of doing what ballplayers do–which is wanting to get better and working on getting that done. It was always working on strategy. It felt like I have been focusing for so long on trying to get right and trying to get healthy. This summer is fun. I am having fun just working on things. I see an improvement in certain areas. These seven years have been very hard and I am just glad that I did not go crazy and I am given this opportunity. This is a wonderful, wonderful opportunity to play with this team and have a chance to do something very special.

MT: Who was instrumental in you getting better? Was it physiotherapist Alex McKechnie?

GH: There have been many guys that have been helpful. I had the sports hernia not this past year but the year before last. That kept me out most of the season. I went to see Alex after taking three months off and I still was hurting. I was in Vancouver for twelve weeks. Ten of those twelve weeks that I was up there, I worked my tail off. The sports hernia almost made me walk away from the game. He got me right and I went through the season without one problem. He was a lot of fun to work with. We spent hours working on drills to get me healthy. Now, I go on the court, do my drills and I am not thinking about my body. It is refreshing to be in this situation.

MT: I cannot help to make a comparison between you and Chris Webber. You both came into the league with gifted and almost ridiculous athleticism. You both were at the top of the league in triple doubles, which speaks of your all around talent. Then all of the sudden the debilitating injuries happen. It takes away from your basketball sense. Do you ever get the sense you were placed here to transcend the sport of basketball–using more of your being to become a more prominent figure in society?

GH: Wow. I have never really thought about it like that. I think everybody that goes through something always asks, “why me?” But, like you said, maybe there is a bigger purpose there. Bigger than our careers, bigger than our awards and bigger than something that I have not quite realized. Webber…I have known Chris since I was thirteen from playing against each other. We have two different injuries and issues surrounding them, but the thing is that we keep fighting. I am a neighbor of a different sport–Ken Griffey Jr. It is funny because we really did not know each other that well but we got to know one another a few years back. I am not comparing myself to him, but we can kind of relate to each other because I have been one to understand what he has been through and vice versa. We have both been robbed of some years. With all of us–we are different players with different styles and in Griffey’s case, a different sport–we are still doing it. We have not quit and we have not given up or mentally mailed it in. I am still here fighting. As a parent, you try to tell your children that when you get knocked down, you have to get back up. I am sure there have been guys that have packed it in. I have had teammates tell me that they would have quit a long time ago. They would say that I already have the money. It is all guaranteed.

I love to play. Once it is over, it is over.

I never looked at things quite this way, but now that I have been hurt, I have reached out to Sean Livingston. I call him and am in his ear to encourage him so he will not get frustrated. There is going to be a lot of emotion that he is going through and has gone through and will continue to go through as he gets back. You pull for guys like that because you know how tough it is. You know how lonely it is. You know exactly what that particular player is going through day in and day out. Guys get hurt and come back, but when they have the serious, serious injury where people question whether or not they will ever play again, you have to earn your way back. It is not going to be given to you.

MT: Hot topic question for you. What do you think about the referee gambling scandal involving–as far as we know–Tim Donaghy?

GH: I do not know a whole lot about it. Mainly just what I have read. It is very unfortunate. Hopefully, it is an isolated incident. I know the league right now has to defer to the federal investigation. I know Stern has the league’s best interest at heart and will make the right decisions regarding that. If someone is going to go through those kinds of measures, then gambling is a problem. I am sure there are guys in the league that like to play cards sometimes it can become an addiction. This particular case is the worse case scenario. The owner of the Philadelphia Eagles back in the eighties–Leonard Tose–spent all the money he had and went bankrupt because of a gambling addiction.

The league will do all they can to make this better and keep it moving forward. I have the utmost confidence in that.

MT: What are your experiences with USA Basketball? Will our country get back on track and claim what is rightfully ours?

GH: I was on the ‘96 team that won Gold in Atlanta. I was also a member of the 2000 team but broke my ankle and did not play. I was also a member of the developmental team that practiced with the Dream Team in 1992. We beat them in a scrimmage the first day. They came back and beat us the next three days. I found the tape of that game. The video guy for the Pistons when Chuck Daley was coach was also in Detroit when I was there and is still there now. He gave me a copy of it a couple of years ago, but I never looked at it. I found it the other day and watched it and was like wow that was a long time ago. I played in the Pan Am Games in 1991. It seems like now it is more organized. It is more structured. It is a little bit more serious. The rest of the world has definitely caught up. The NBA and USA basketball are definitely taking the right approach that hopefully will lead to the ultimate success–which is a Gold medal next summer.

MT: Is your collection of African American art still on exhibition?

GH: No, it is back. Most of it is in storage. We may in the future–as we continue to add more pieces–have something go out in the future on tour. It was a great opportunity to bring people out to museums that would not normally go. It was good to expose all young people, but more specifically kids in the inner-city schools come through and also take field trips to see the art exhibited.

It is important that they see more than great athletes and great entertainers. It is important that they see artists of color exhibit quality art at quality museums. It is not just an athletic thing. That was really important to me and the feedback was great.

Romare Bearden, John Biggers, Jacob Lawrence, Elizabeth Catlett, Charles Austin are some of the artists featured. All of them except Elizabeth Catlett are deceased. They were the masters or originators of an entire genre of African American art. There are some amazing works. I am lucky to be an owner of such a collection.

MT: When players see a would be champion developing in Boston, does the league take notice?

GH: You have to definitely take a look at the players that they have put together.

That is a great team.

Immediately, for that team, the fans there and the rest of the fans of the league the expectation level is raised. You are going to look at that team differently. You expect a team like that to be there at the end of the day. Teams that definitely have a chance to win will take notice. At some point, you have to focus on you.

Take a page out of the Spurs book last year. They focused on what they needed to do as a team. They go out, execute and do what they need to do day in and day out and they end up winning a championship.

Teams are going to make changes. Teams are going to get better. It does not make it any easier or any harder to win a championship. It is still the same. You have to go out there and do it. Boston, Milwaukee and New York were out of the playoffs last year. New York brings in Zach Randolph and potentially is better. They are coming off a year where they feel better about themselves. Milwaukee was a seven, eight seed last year that had to endure a lot of injuries. They expect to be better. You have Charlotte and Atlanta. Are those teams ready to take a step or are they two years away? You have legit teams fighting for eight spots. The Eastern Conference is going to be very competitive and that is somewhat new. The West is the West. The conference has been competitive for a while and will continue to be such next season. I think it is going to be very interesting to see who things play out in the Eastern Conference.

MT: Hypothetically–for fans, I am sure not for you personally–the final horn goes off in June. You have the ball in your hand and your other hand is raised. What kind of feeling will you have to finally be crowned NBA champion as a member of the Phoenix Suns?

GH: Wow! That’s everybody’s dream. To have that happen will be amazing. Because of what I have been through, that would be great. I do not know what I would do or what I would fee. I am hoping that I year from now I can tell you.

The three highlights of my career were winning two straight championships at Duke and winning a Gold medal. There is no greater feeling to know that at the end of the season or tournament that you are the best. You could sit here and debate who the better player is. Is this person better than that person. Either person can be right or wrong, but you cannot debate who is champion. It is the best. I always reflect on those three experiences and hopefully I can add a fourth.

Article by Michael Tillery

Posted on October 12, 2007

Time off from the game to recover from four ankle surgeries has given the Orlando Magic star plenty of time to contemplate life after basketball. We get the lowdown on his touring art collection, his latest business ventures, his family and his future plans.
By Stacy H. Small

OT: We’ve read a lot about your love for art and your “Something All Our Own” African-American art collection, which has been displayed in galleries nationwide. Why the decision to take your personal art collection on the road?

GH: I grew up with parents who were collectors, which meant I was always being dragged to and from galleries. I didn’t really appreciate it as a child, but through osmosis, I guess I developed my passion. My wife [Tamia] and I have been collecting art for years, and we thought it would be a neat idea to share our collection with the public. We felt that we could use our name/celebrity to draw more people into the world of African-American art and expose them to something they hadn’t seen before. We also wanted to show athletes who have hobbies and interests – and resources and some fame – that its okay to do things outside the box. Sometimes as athletes we don’t feel comfortable letting people know about our different interests, but we should, especially since we do have the resources to do so. We should take advantage of the opportunities to expose ourselves and our children to as many things as we can, whether it is art or something else we are passionate about.

OT: When did you start thinking about life beyond basketball?

GH: I’ve always been intrigued with business, largely because of how I grew up. My mom has her own business and so does my maternal grandma (who still makes false teeth at the age of 85!), so I’ve been surrounded by entrepreneurs my whole life. When I first entered the NBA, I actually started my own marketing company [Granhco] instead of hiring an agent to manage my relationships with companies like Sprite, GM and others who wanted to work with me. Like businesspeople do, I hired an attorney, not an agent. I got the chance to see what running a business was all about. I had to hire and fire people, sit in on marketing meetings and really get involved. Being in this environment was like getting my business degree, and the experience has helped prepare me over the last 10 years for the transition to life after sports. I still have this arm of the company, but I am now getting involved in real estate development, which is what I am really intrigued by.

OT: Did the injuries change your way of thinking about life during and after sports? How did the time off affect your family life?

GH: The time off has re-energized me. It’s been great for my physical healing, and it’s also allowed me to understand what I need to do on and off the court to be successful. When you are caught up in the rat race, you don’t have time to make adjustments or step back and realize what you can do better. The time off has also allowed me to spend a lot of quality time with my wife (we’d only been married a year when I got hurt) and my two-and-a-half year-old daughter. As an athlete, you don’t always realize the sacrifices your family has to make when you are constantly traveling, but having been away from that pace has allowed me to have a better understanding of this. It’s important for athletes to recognize the sacrifices their families make and spend as much quality time as possible with them. The time off has definitely helped me appreciate my family, and it’s also really given me time to focus on what I want to do after basketball.

OT: So tell us a little more about your latest business ventures. You mentioned you are getting into real estate. Is this what you plan to do once your playing days are over?

GH: I’ve always said that I was passionate about two things: basketball and Monopoly. Right now I only really have time to do small real estate and co-development deals, but my ultimate goal is to be a real estate developer, to have a piece of land and be part of the whole process from raw dirt to the finished product. In time, I want to be involved in every aspect of it – from the permit and zoning process to the end – and I want to be involved in big deals. In the past two years, I have been doing some co-development projects in Florida and Arizona, and I love it. Its enjoyable, profitable and tangible. I am addicted to it. Right now I am trying to learn as much as possible about real estate so when the day comes that I am done with basketball, I will be able to easily transition into this next phase of my life.

OT: How are you learning the real estate business? Who is your mentor?

GH: One of my parents’ best friends (he actually named me!) is Roger Staubach. He played football during the ’70s when you pretty much had to have a job in the off-season ,and I’ve seen what he’s done and how he has built himself a really nice commercial real estate business (The Staubach Company). Roger is my role model, and he’s taught me a lot. I’ve been watching him and following him, and I’ve also been calling and meeting with other people in the business who I know I can learn something from.

OT: Any advice for fellow athletes trying to figure out their post-sports careers?

GH: It’s really important for athletes to get to know people in the business that interests them, whether it’s the car industry, law or real estate or whatever. While you are in the spotlight, people would love nothing more than to share with you how their business works. At some point they may not return your calls, so learn as much from them as you can while you are hot. There’s going to be a growth curve, but don’t let this scare you. You can always keep learning, and there will always be people who want to teach you, so take advantage of this.

OT: Now that you’ve had some time off, you’re probably a bit more business-savvy than some of the other players, as well as a bit more mature. How will that affect your relationships with the guys on the team?

GH: Well, for one, I am a little older than I used to be. What happened? I used to be the youngest! Seriously, one of the things that plays a key role in winning is investing in each other. Whether you are Dwight Howard at 18 or Pat Garrity, who’s just a few years younger than me, what I want to do is share what I’ve learned about the world with my teammates. I want to share what I’ve learned about art, business, marriage – the little I know – with them. I get along with everybody and I plan to do my part, whatever it takes, to help strengthen the core of guys on the team and ultimately win a championship.

OT: What have you learned as an athlete that has helped you in the business world?

GH: The great thing about basketball is the team aspect, which carries over into the real world and into business. In basketball, you learn how to trust, how to make sacrifices, how to play your role and have collective responsibilities. These are all aspects of an athlete’s life, things we have learned and practiced all our lives. What we need to do is take the same principles and transition them to anything we choose to do, whether it’s business or marriage. You’ve got to learn how to give and take, how to make sacrifices, and how to play your role on the team.

OT: Any other advice for athletes regarding life after sports and the importance of preparing for tomorrow?

GH: Ultimately, don’t limit yourself to being just an athlete. There is more to all of us than our sport, and sports do not define who we are. Don’t be afraid to explore your interests and take advantage of the opportunities you have as an athlete. Don’t be afraid to let your passions show, and to think outside the box. Start preparing now for what you want to do after sports, because your playing days will go by fast, believe me.

For more on Grant Hill, visit www.granthill.com.