Sports
Monday, January 20, 2003 3:22 A.M. Martin Luther King's Birthday
Leon Barmore Q&A: Restless heart
Scott Beder / Tech and GSU Reporter
Posted on January 20, 2003
The News-Star: Coach, this is your first season without being involved in basketball. How are you holding up so far?
Leon Barmore: I'm not going to kid you, it's been rough. I miss the game and miss it even more than I thought I would. I can't sit still. I miss the game bad. I watch it on TV and I keep up with the college game, men and women - always have. Watching good coaches and games makes you want to do it.
TNS: I've been to some of the men's practices and noticed you there taking notes. Does that help fill your basketball appetite?
LB: I am indebted to (Tech men's coach) Keith Richard. He's given me an opportunity to come hang around. I didn't think it was fair to ask (Techster coach) Kurt (Budke) to do that. Keith has come to my rescue, in that regard. I can't do some things because of (NCAA) rules. I can watch. He asks my advice now and then - and I appreciate that. It keeps me involved a little bit and I desperately needed that.
TNS: Have you come to any of the Techster games?
LB: I came to the Tennessee game and sat as high as I could. It's only fair to Kurt and the staff. They are a wonderful staff and group of kids. It's best for me to keep my distance. But I sure keep up with them - and I've called them a couple of times after a road trip.
TNS: Knowing how much the women's program is a part of your life, it must be really hard to sit and watch the girls play.
LB: I can sit and watch the men better than the girls. I didn't know it would be this hard. I know this: I feel good about what they're doing and how they're going about it. I was happy for (Amber) Obaze the other night. She busted out with a big game. I just love that kid.
TNS: When you retired, there was a lot of joking about all the golf you would play. But is there anything else you have found to occupy your time?
LB: You can't play golf all the time. In the spring and summer, you can certainly get out and play. I bought me a tread mill and try do a lot of exercising and watch my weight. But it's hard because I love sweets and Dr. Peppers. I hang out with Keith - and even went on one road trip, to Mississippi State, with them. My daughter has twin girls and we've been helping them with some things. I've still got a lot of gaps in the day that I've got to figure out. I haven't ever had this kind of time on my hands.
TNS: The free time seems to agree with you though. I saw you at the men's game the other night and you looked good.
LB: The last couple of years I worried so much about the program, and keeping it competitive, and the travel in the WAC got so hard. I want to coach, though. When you saw me the other night, I wasn't about to go out and do the real deal. But, down inside, I'm still trying to figure it out.
TNS: You miss the game so much. Do you think you will coach again? I know at one time you considered the WNBA but the WNBA looks like it could be in trouble. Would you consider coaching at another university?
LB: I want to keep coaching. I don't know about the WNBA or whether I would go to anbother university. I've stayed here because my family means the most to me. It's not something that I would just jump up and go to the WNBA, if something came along. I want to coach again but I can't coach any place. I can't just up and leave - not where I've put my roots down all my life, unless it's a good situation. I really think I've got five, six or seven years left but I don't know where and how.
TNS: You know, if you move, you'll have to leave Squire Creek (country club).
LB: That would be tough. There's not many of those courses around.
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