Delonte West Player Mailbox

Comments: What kind of music do you like to listen to, before games, and in general?
First Name: Tay
City: Beachwood
State: OH

Delonte West: Before the game, I normally listen to mellow music. I don’t really listen to any up-tempo music that gets your adrenaline pumping too hard. I like to listen to some Bootsy Collins or Curtis Mayfield or Snoop or Pimp C.

I like to listen to mellow music so I can really mellow out and reflect on what got me here and reflect on what I have to do to be successful for the night.

For me, listening to loud music with a lot of bangin’ and boppin’ you can’t really concentrate on what you need to.

Comments: Why is it that every time you shot a 3, you say "BBQ Sauce"?
First Name: Rick
City: Washington
State: DC

West: My best friend and I growing up, we’d say “BBQ sauce” for everything.

My buddy, Rick – who probably sent this in – and my buddies, Brandon, Ronnie, Derek – we all made that up together. We’d just say “BBQ sauce” for everything. So, even when we say goodbye on the phone, we’d come up with food names. Like Rick might say “ham sandwich” and I’d say “BBQ sauce.”

It’s not even a three-point thing. We might say “mashed potatoes.” I think Rick started it and it just stuck with me.

Comments: What's your idea of a perfect date?
First Name: Emily
City: Bay Village
State: OH

West: My perfect date is sneaking some Popeye’s chicken into the movie theater and watching a good movie. A real good movie. Not eating popcorn or the stuff you get there, but bring your own food in.

She could really impress me if she would bring some fried chicken from home in her purse with some aluminum foil and her own Tabasco sauce. We could watch the movie – watch some “Roscoe Jenkins” and eat some chicken.

I would love a date where you could be extremely comfortable with who you’re with and be comfortable with yourself. If you could go on a date where you were walking on clouds and there was no such thing as lies and you could just be yourself and the person you’re with could be themselves. A date where you could just enjoy being with each other and not worry about all the stresses that you have to go through together and just put your best foot forward.

That’s my idea of a perfect date – (as long as you have fried chicken in there somewhere.)

Clouds and Popeye’s fried chicken. And a pillow. (Because a pillow is so comfortable.)

So – clouds, fried chicken (with some hot sauce), a pillow, and a good cartoon. A good, wholesome cartoon. Not just any cartoon, a good Walt Disney cartoon like “Aladdin” or “Horton Hears a Who.”

And some Popeye’s fried chicken.

And clouds.

Comments: Delonte, how many tattoos do you have and which one has the most meaning to you?
First Name: Tiffany
City: Marblehead
State: Ohio

West: They actually just did a feature on me in DIME magazine where they showed all my tattoos, so you can also check it out there as well and get some of the meanings.

But I want to say “Sunshine After the Rain” which is right there on my wrist. It’s always reminded me that a brighter day will come out again.

You can apply it to any situation in your life. The sun will always come out again. Whatever you’re going through, just keep pushing – push it to the limit.

Comments: When running the pick and roll, is it easier to run your game when the opponent goes over or under the screen?
First Name: Oren
City: Garfield Heights
State: Ohio

West: It doesn’t matter, really.

I’m actually a lot more versatile than people think I am. This year, I’ve played in different settings. If you look at previous years, I was a guy that you could not go under, at all. I was a flat-out shooter.

And definitely, it changes – being on two different teams. And it’s definitely effected my rhythm shooting the ball. But I’m starting to get it back now.

I like it either way they play me. I’m the type of guy where you have to pick your poison. If you go up top, I can get to the basket and create shots for others. And now I’m getting that confidence back where if you do go under, I’m going to pull up and shoot it.

Comments: Ever since the blockbuster trade brought you here, you've become popular among the women of Cleveland. Are you single? What kind of qualities do you look for in a woman?
First Name: Jamie
City: Cleveland
State: Ohio

West: I’m not out searching for anything. I think when you’re out looking for something, you end up with something that you think you want. But it’s not always the right person.

I think if you’re content with yourself and you just go out and do your daily grind – you’ll know when you bump into that person.

I think I have an idea. But I’m still young and I’m just enjoying my profession right now.

Comments: Why do you wear #13?
First Name: Chris
City: Cleveland
State: Ohio

West: Well, I originally wanted No. 15 when I got the Celtics and that number was retired, of course.

And my buddy, Eddie Basden, my good friend from back home – (he actually played in Cleveland for a while) – we had always dreamed and had aspirations of getting to the NBA together. I got there the year before him while he was still at UNC-Charlotte where he was wearing No. 13. And I told him, ‘I’m going to wear 13 and every time you see me play, that’s time to come on. I’m waiting on you.’

And sure enough he got into the league – I think he started out with the Bulls – and there’s a picture of us both in Chicago with our 13's on.

So, there’s no superstition. I just wear No. 13.

Comments: What is your favorite movie?
First Name: Baily
City: Stryker
State: Ohio

West: There’s so many. I have to have one in every category … favorite comedy, favorite drama.

Favorite comedy is a toss-up between “Coming to America” and “Harlem Nights.” For a cartoon, I’d say “The Lion King.” (Because I really feel like Simba.) For drama … man, there’s so many … but I’ll say “Scarface.” Horror, it’s “The Exorcist.” That’s the only movie that really ever scared me. Growing up in D.C. that movie really scared the heck out of me.

I’d have to say “Training Day” too. Oh, and definitely “300.” I know I’m one of the 300, for sure.

Comments: Who was your favorite player growing up and why?
First Name: Brock Breidinger
City: Greenville
State: Iowa

West: Michael Jordan. How could he not be?

Comments: I heard you were an avid prankster during your tenure at St. Joe's. So, I want to know what some of your best pranks ever were? My best prank involved me and my buds saran wrapping ever single car at a party. It cost us $20 worth of saran wrap, but was totally worth it.
First Name: Andrew
City: Chardon
State: OH

West: Well, I had a stress fracture in my leg during one part of the season at St. Joe’s and I was taking art classes. I had a cast on my leg, so the equipment guy loaned me the golf cart they used to haul equipment for field hockey and everything.

I was supposed to use the golf cart to take my artwork across the street to the art building, because I couldn’t walk.

So me and Dwayne Jones and a couple of my other roommates would take the cart and we’d do “drive-bys” – we’d fill up some water-balloons and just ride around campus throwing them at people from the golf cart.

But then I got caught driving it on City Line Avenue to go get some McDonald’s, and they took it from me.

That was the last golf cart outing.