 Pat Garrity: aka NBAPA Secretary Treasurer
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Straight Shooter| What’s it like to be dunked on or get your ankles broken during a game? | Since I play the forward and guard the post more than the perimeter, I don’t have to worry too much about getting my ankles broken. Point guards and 2s are usually the ones doing the ankle breaking, and since I rarely find myself guarding those positions, I’m spared the humiliation. Since I’m not a shotblocker, getting dunked on hasn’t been much of a problem for me either. Usually the guys who go after everything at the rim are the ones on posters, and since I’m lucky to touch the rim, I find myself out of harm’s way. [Note to reader: Contrary to popular belief, I can still dunk, even though it happens in a game only about as often as the appearance of Halley’s Comet.] If a guy has a clear advantage on me and I know I can’t stop the dunk, I usually just try to foul him as hard as I can (without getting fined). Having said that, getting dunked on has happened to me on numerous occasions throughout my nine-year career. If it’s Shaq doing the dunking, well, it doesn’t feel that bad since I think he’s dunked on everyone in the NBA. It’s much worse getting dunked on by guards. |
| What exactly do you do as Secretary Treasurer of the NBAPA? | As Secretary Treasurer of the NBAPA, my role is similar to the other eight players on the executive committee. We provide input to our executive director, Billy Hunter, with respect to policy matters concerning the union and make decisions as a committee, which he and his staff then execute. In matters that require approval by a majority of the player representatives, we make recommendations on which the general assembly of reps vote. In addition, I work with our Director of Finance, an extremely talented and hard-working woman named Theresa Messer, in overseeing tasks such as budgeting and the investment of union assets. We employ professional investment advisers to craft and implement an investment strategy, so much of my work is simply to monitor the process along with Theresa and to approve changes or modifications recommended by our advisers. I also monitor the expenditures of the union and sign off on the annual report, which we are required to file with the U.S. Department of Labor. |
| What are your hobbies outside of basketball? | When I was younger, basketball was all I wanted to do, so if you were to ask me this question 10 years ago, I don’t know if I could have listed three other activities I enjoyed outside of playing basketball. I guess I could have said working out, but since the only reason I worked out was to become a better player, that doesn’t really count. As I’ve gotten older, however, I have developed some hobbies that provide a much needed escape. Reading is probably my favorite leisure-time hobby. My wife thinks it’s strange that I consider going to Barnes & Noble a date. I enjoy nonfiction more than fiction, and my interests range from politics and business to philosophy and religion (more historically based than inspirational). Right now, I’m reading Walter Isaacson’s biography of [Albert] Einstein. I also have become an avid cyclist ever since I purchased a road bike that was big enough for me. It provides me a great workout, and for some reason going riding for three or four hours seems more fun than work. I also enjoy fly-fishing when I can get out west to Colorado or Idaho. |
| Do you use Amway products? [Ed note: Team owner Rich Devos co-founded the Amway company.] | I don’t personally use Amway products at home, although we do have them in our locker room. I have on occasion used the hair gel, but I find it makes my hair a bit crispy and lately I’ve been going for a more understated and natural look. Amway also has a line of nutritional supplements that are made available to us, but since I don’t use supplements in general, I don’t use the products that we are provided. |
| Did you/will you ever consider changing your hairstyle? | See answer to the last question regarding my efforts to avoid the crispy look and achieve the more understated and natural look. |
| Do you ever get confused for someone famous? | My sister says I look like Ashton Kutcher, although I believe that I would be more accurately described as a “homeless man’s Ashton Kutcher.” Here in Orlando, I do get confused with Matt Harpring—even though it’s been seven years since he’s played here and I’m going on my ninth season with this team (not that it makes me bitter). |
From the Nov/Dec 2007 issue
