AMES, Iowa - Welcome to a new cyclones.com and Iowa State Letterwinners Club feature. Each week through the spring and summer, cyclones.com and the Letterwinners Club will feature a former student-athlete and letterwinner and give a fans a brief Q & A and report. This week's featured letterwinner is:
Mike Born
1. Earliest sports memory...
Being coached by my dad in baseball and flag football.
2. What did your parents do?
My dad played football at Drake University and then coached there for many years.
3. Who was/is your biggest role model and why?
My parents were huge role models for me in living life the proper way. My dad was my biggest influence on me when it came to sports. He coached me in various sports and I was always in the gym or football field when growing up. I also was a huge Bobby Hansenfan when heplayed at West Des Moines Dowling High School. I loved how hard he played and how he shot the ball inhigh schooland followed him in many of his games.
4. Why did you choose Iowa State?
I transferred to ISU from the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO). The two main reasons I decided on ISU were first, I wanted to get into architecture and ISU has a terrific art & design program. Second, I met with Coach Orr and he told me he would give me a chance to tryout for the team. All I wanted to know was I was going to have a chance and I would try to make the best of it. ISU and Coach Orr gave me that opportunity. It was a difficult decision leaving UNO but one in which I was very happy I did what I did. It changed the course of my life.
5. Favorite Moments at ISU:
- When Brian Pearson made a 3-pointer right before the half vs. Oklahoma Stateand scoring 26 points at Hilton vs. Kansas.
- Playing in the NCAA Tournament in both seasons I played at ISU.
- Starting out the 1987-88 season 16-2 and being ranked inTop 10in the country.
- Lafester Rhodes scoring 54 pts vs. Iowa in Hilton.
- The wonderful friendships I developed with the coaches, players and many other people within the university.
- The fans of Hilton. They were amazing.
6. What does being an ISU Letterwinner mean to you?
Being a member and athlete of a terrific academic and sports programs of Iowa State.
7. What advice would you give to a current or future ISU student-athlete?
Take advantage of everything ISU has to offer both as a student and as an athlete. They have terrific professors, coaches, support staff, facilities and fans. It was an amazing three years for me and I still feel blessed that I had the opportunity to attend school at ISU and represent it as student-athlete.
8. Funniest memory at ISU:
We were playing Missouri when they had Derrick Chievous (his nickname was the Band-Aid man because he always wore band aids when he played). I was on the scout team along with Lafester Rhodes. Lafester was going to play Chievous in practice as we prepared to play Missouri that next day and run all their plays vs. our starters. Lafester came running on the floor before practice and must have had 25 band aids all over his body. That was how Lafester kept practices loose. I can still see him sprinting onto the floor in Hilton that day!
9. Do you still come back to visit ISU?
I try to attend the major basketball functions when I can visit.
10. What do you do now?
Director of NBA Scouting for the Portland Trail Blazers.
11. Do you have any children? Do they play sports?
I havethree wonderful kids (most of the time). Our daughter Amron is 11 and infifth grade. Andtwo boys - Bowen who is 8 and in second grade and Redek who is three. They all play sports. Amrons favorite sport is softball. Bowen is big time into hoops and shoots constantly. Redek is into them all. He goes to so many games and he is getting well-versed in sports.
12. Provide a summary from graduation until now:
Still have not worked a day of a real job yet. I just know how blessed I am to do what I love to do. Teach, coach, evaluate basketball games and players. It has been a wonderful ride.
Born's Favorites
Movie: Hoosiers, of course
Web link: www.hoopshype.com
Quote:"He who never made a mistake, nevermade a discovery"- Samuel Smiles
Hangout spot at Iowa State: State Gym and Beyer Hall
Greatest accomplishment: My family
One item you can't live without: My wife and kids
Best advice ever given: Stay humble and hungry
"Catching Up With" Archives:
>> Lyndsey (Medders) Fennelly (4/5/2010)
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