³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Matt Jones: How did you become members of the famous Harlem Globetrotters?

Rocket Rivers: The story is actually different for every 'trotter'. I got picked up from an exposure camp, but we have some guys that came straight from college and onto the team. We also have guys that have played in the NBA, so everyone's story is different.

MJ: Hi-Lite can you tell us a bit about your background?

Hi-Lite Bruton: I started playing basketball with the Benedict College Tigers, where I won the college slam dunk contest in the NCAA (National College Athletic Association) in 1994. I was also drafted by the Chicago Bulls the same year, but some injuries derailed me from staying there. It has always been a dream of mine to play with the world famous Harlem Globetrotters and I actually got that opportunity in 2001 when I became a part of the team. I've been here ever since and I'm loving every minute of it.

MJ: Injuries are obviously a massive low, what gave you the determination to get back to fitness and be successful?

HLB: I always wanted to play. I believed in myself and injuries are something that happens to your body which you have no control over. Mentally I was still ready to play, once I got my feeling back in my legs, and the strength, I was capable of coming back.

MJ: How important is preparation?

RR: Preparation is everything. If you go in there blind, and the other team has a game plan, they'll tear you apart. Preparation starts mentally. You can work out all you want, but if you don't have the mind-set that you're going to do something, then you can't achieve the things you want to achieve.

MJ: Looking back to the beginning of your career, are there any inspirational words from family members, friends or even players that spurred you on?

RR: I had quite a temper when I was younger, I was so competitive. One of my coaches, when I was about 13-years-old, he pulled me to the side and said "Clean up your act. You're sitting on the potential ability to be able to do anything you want as far as the game of basketball goes. I want you to just sit there and think about it." I was the best member of my team at the time and he just let me sit there for the rest of the game. I just thought he was crazy, but as I got older I realised that if you focus on what you can be good at, that can get you to where you want to. That aspect will take you further than somebody who has supreme talent.

MJ: It's key to have skills and natural talent, but how important is determination to get what you want?

HLB: Well to me that was the main thing. You have to have determination, but you also have to have positive reinforcement from older people, which could be your coaches or your parents. If you have someone constantly saying negative things to you, it can break a personality.

One thing that helped me, I always had positive reinforcement from my coaches and from my parents. They always said I could do it and I could be the first. I could be the first one to go to college in the family, so I did it. I could be the first one to play professional basketball and get paid, so I did it.

I wanted to live up to the expectations of my parents and my coaches. I didn't want to let them down because they were always backing me. Even if I didn't make it, I was going to reach as high as I could and hopefully I could fall amongst the stars.

MJ: What does it take to become a great player?

HLB: You have to believe in yourself, it all comes from you. No-one can pick your legs up and make you walk, no-one can take the basketball and make you shoot. No matter what sport you're playing, it comes from you and it takes hard work and dedication.

You have to keep yourself in shape, you have to watch what you eat and you have to want to be good. It starts when you wake up in the morning with a great attitude, 'What do I have to do today? I remember yesterday, the guy who blocked my shot, what do I have to do to get my shot?' That's what you work on.

MJ: What can young people take from sport?

RR: I look at it as a positive outlet. I can relate it to the Globetrotters. For two hours on the night we come to your town you have an outlet from everyday life. Whether you're going through the worst things or the greatest things, when you come to a Globetrotters show for two hours you're completely happy.

HLB: Never let anybody determine how far you can go. You may never make it to the NBA or to professional soccer or whatever, but let that be the last step, don't give up in the beginning. Don't let anybody say you can't make it because you're too short or you're too fat or too thin. Go as far as you can.

RR: When I was in high school everybody said "He's a great basketball player, but he's too small to play college ball." It was just words, now everybody can eat their words.