Bwog’s athletic connoisseur Max Rettig met with Columbia b-ball stars Alex Rosenberg and Maodo Lo for a little discussion about life on the court, and life on the team.
Bwog: Explain your sport in 10 words or less.
Alex: Eat, Sleep, Basketball
Maodo: Basketball never stops
B: What is the team culture like?
A: Everyone in the team is very close. The freshmen got integrated really well and many of us live together, so a lot of bonding opportunities and team chemistry.
M: The team does a really great job of recruiting guys with good character. We motivate each other. It’s all about the team.
B: How is life like your sport?
A: Ball is life.
M: It’s my main passion.
B: Describe your greatest sports achievement and your biggest gaffe.
A: My greatest achievement would be my gold medal in Israel in the Maccabi Games. Most embarrassing would be in high school when I got blocked on two dunks in a row; first by the rim, then by a defender.
M: My best achievement is just being able to play for Columbia, coming from Germany. My worst? That time I scored a double-double…double-digit points and double-digit turnovers.
Both: As a team, our win at Princeton was really a huge moment for the program. The first in 20 years, and by a buzzer-beater. The team has made huge strides since that game.
B: What drives your performances each game?
A: A lot of it is being counted on and being capable of success. We all count on each other to take good opportunities.
M: It’s really just a combination of the trust we have in each other and the confidence our coaches and teammates instill in us.
B: What pumps you up? Any songs, pre-game rituals, superstitions?
A: I love listening to Roots to get me in the zone.
M: A lot of it is rest, warming up, eating our pre-game meal with the team. We also have a fun half-court shot during warm-up.
B: You each come from very different places. What are your different perspectives?
A: I really like being near home because my family supports me at every game. The city is a cool change of scenery though.
M: I enjoy really focusing on my own life and what I have to do.
B: Make a sexual innuendo out of basketball
Both: It’s all about the 1-on-1 action.
B: Who are your sports role models?
A: My dad, grandfather and LeBron James. It’s all about the way you carry yourself and how hard you work. Never be satisfied.
M: Muhammad Ali, definitely. He has great charisma.
B: What’s it like being an athlete at an Ivy League school?
A: There’s a huge balance between relaxing and getting work done, so I just have to study whenever I can and make sure my work gets finished.
M: It’s a lot of discipline; whereas others have some leisure time, our schedules are so demanding that we just need to get down to work. Discipline is huge.
B: Finally, can you comment on the school spirit?
Both: We just really appreciate the support we get at games, every time. It’s us and Harvard that have the best home attendance in the Ivy League, and the crowd is a huge factor in our home record (12-2, best in Ivy League). We really appreciate the love and support; it’s a lot more fun to play with a full crowd. We think the culture is changing a little bit, so that’s definitely a good thing.
Alex Rosenberg and Maodo Lo via USAToday
5 Comments
@Anonymous Alex Rosenburg is the jewish Carmelo Anthony. Dude has the whole team on his back.
@Anonymous yeahh men’s bball! Come out to their final home games, tomorrow at 7 vs. Penn and Saturday at 7 vs Princeton!
@CC'11 I love going to home games. These guys are great!
@Anonymous these guys and the whole basketball team seem really cool
@CC '14 Awesome! This is my first year going to Columbia basketball games but now I can’t get enough.