SORSN: Okay dude, what’s up with the socks? Is it the same pair every game or do you have a drawer full of green striped tube socks?
Jason: First of all, I own 6 pairs of those socks. I bought them all at Journeys (store at mall). The wristbands I wear, I purchased NEW from EBAY. Between my freshmen and sophomore year I was looking for a unique style to call my own. Being a Larry Bird fan, I watched an old 80s Celtic game on ESPN Classic. I saw the socks they were wearing and I knew that was what I needed to get. I really like my “old school” style.
SORSN: Your one of the most intensive defensive players I’ve seen since Gabe Patterson (class ’95). You stick to your man as if you are conjoined twins. Is defense your favorite part of the game? Has anyone ever said “get off me!!!!!” or something worse while you’re guarding them?
Jason: I love defense! Taking charges is my favorite thing to do. (Look at the Coalfield gallery). I stick to my man because if I let him loose, he will get away and score on me. I have guarded like that since Jr. High because Coach Brackett taught me to do so. Also, my Dad always reminds to play like that because he can see in the games how much it will piss some of the guys off that I guard. I’ve had a lot of guys tell me to get off them or cuss at me. I have had guys push me off of them and get fouls called on them because of it. Jamie Hackler, of Rockwood, has elbowed me, because he got mad at me. It resulted in him getting a technical. In AAU basketball, I have been punched in the stomach for guarding them that way. It really bothers a lot of people the way I guard them, and a lot of times it mentally takes them out of the game.
SORSN: With socks such as those that you wear, surely you have some sort of pre-game ritual? Tie the right shoe first, fried bologna before every game, sing “You Can’t Touch This” in front of the mirror before heading to the gym, etc.
Jason: I do, I always get dressed a certain way and always drink an energy drink. Red Bull is what I’m currently drinking.
SORSN: You do know that Coca-Cola has some good energy drinks on the market: Full Throttle, Tab Energy, Rock Star, and Von Dutch; just to name a few
Jason: I always head to the locker room early in the first quarter of the girl’s game. I start by slowly taking my shirt off, and putting on my jersey. I open my Red Bull and take a sip. Then I take off my pants and put on my compression shorts and then my shorts.
SORSN: Okay that was way too much information and I’m making myself a memo now to be more careful with what questions I ask you.
Jason: Then I put on my socks and wristbands, all while drinking my Red Bull. Lastly, I put on my warm-ups. Finally, I go into coach’s office with Crabtree and we talk to coach about the game and watch TV (usually some type of college basketball or football).
SORSN: Would you believe me if I told you that Officer Walker (OW), aka “Dumas”….aka “Bryan Walker”, was once a basketball player? Would you also believe that he was once a football player, fullback, and could run the 40 in under 6 seconds? What would you guess his time at running the 40 is now? (running a 40 yard dash, not running to drink a 40 ouncer)
Jason: I’ve seen pictures of OW in the old yearbooks in sports, so I know those are true statements. But, as for the other questions I am going to say “NO COMMENT”, so I don’t get arrested.