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This may not be the best place to post this, but I am an everday reader of Real GM Kings and a die hard Kings fan and I value your guys' advice so can you help me? I'm pretty nervous!

Okay so I have to write a profile essay for my college English class and interview the person I am profiling. I decided that I wanted to do my essay about a NBA or NCAAM player so I emailed nearly everyone I could think of. Omar Shamhan from St. Mary's Basketball, emailed me back agreeing to an interview. I have never interviewed an athlete before so I am kind of nervous. Anyone have any tips? And also, does anyone know where I can read a biography or some background info about Omar Shamhan?

I'm not sure if I can help you because I never interview anyone but you can go to google.com or something and search for interviewing tips or whatnot...

Here's one that I just searched:

http://www.quintcareers.com/information_phone.html

http://www.right-writing.com/steps.html

I think this could help you or maybe not.

And iirc one of our posters here are the beat writer for St. Mary's Basketball.

thanks kingsfan10! I am extremely excited about this opportunity haha!
I'm really nervous and can't find much about Samhan on google...
What is the beat writer's screen name? If you know... Thanks for all your help!

Hey, I haven't met the guy but know some people who know him DON'T BE NERVOUS!!! I've heard he is just an awesome guy and a funny dude, and trust me, I'm sure as soon as you meet him all your nerves are going to just fly away. He's that kind of guy from what I hear. Not too bad of a ball player either.

Heh, no problem.

Ugh, the beat writer's sn? I'm pretty sure it was lightning strike. *shrugs*

I don't get the chance to meet him in person, just over the phone.
I'm attending Cal Poly in San Luis Opisbo!
I read an interview he gave and I literally laughed out loud hahaha!
I watched him play tonight and was very impressed,
so I facebooked him and asked him ahaha!
And the fact that he agreed says alot about him.
I emailed alot of people seeking an interview, including half of the Kings roster hahaha!
Thank you all for your help =)! I'm excited!

I'm the Sports Editor here at SMC. Ironically the room I have now was Omar's last year, lol.

He's a nice guy and he'll give ya a good interview. Just be calm. I'm extremely nervious all the time during interviews but the players are just like you and me. Seriously, no reason to be nervious.

Have your questions before hand, of course, but of course be ready to ask new questions depending on his responces.

If you want info on him, smcgaels.com is the SMC website and will have decent info on him.

Thank You KingsFan10!
Thank You Lightning Strike!
To be honest, I'm not too sure of the direction I am going to take my essay yet.
I am pretty nervous but also pretty excited =)!
I am preparing my questions as we speak haah!
Thanks again =)!

My first intended career path was journalism (primarily photojournalism) back many eons ago. Although I eventually abandoned that path and ended up becoming an engineer, the interviewing skills I learned continue to help me to this day. I have been on both sides of interviewing several times, so I do have some tips for you.

As others have said, one of the big keys is to not be nervous. Just be yourself and treat it as a conversation. Another key is to be prepared and know where you want the conversation to go. You should go into the interview with some idea about what the primary focus of your story will be. Does he have some sort of interesting aspect from his past? Did he face any special challenges to get where he is today? What about him makes him a "person of interest"? Once you have your broader theme you can start to scope out some general questions. But don't treat those questions as a scripted questionnaire. Listen carefully to responses and be prepared to ask follow-up questions. Also, make sure the questions you are asking are open-ended questions...no questions that will just bring "yes/no" answers. The key is to get him talking about your theme and then for you to turn his words into your story.

okay so I kind of found out where I want my story to go...
and I have made a list of questions and I have 2 recheck to make sure they aren't yes/no answers!
I am a lil nervous but I am pretty good at hiding that!
I really appreciate all of your guyses help! =)
Now to wait for his fone call =)!

I have another interview with Ramses Barden on Monday!
Even though I only need 1 interview!
I think it will be great practice!
Ramses is entering the NFL Draft this year! Such a good WR!

Gezze, thats good luck man! A NCAA player and a NFL draftee? Wow!

Lightning Strike wrote:Gezze, thats good luck man! A NCAA player and a NFL draftee? Wow!

I couldn't be any more excited =)! Ramses is a celebrity here at Cal Poly haha!
Do you think Omar Samhan could make it 2 the NBA?

Not especially, no. He's a good player, no doubt, but he won't get drafted if he enters.

Thank you everyone for all of your help and support!
I just completed my interview with Omar + am currently typiing up the transcript!
He was a really good sport and my nerves went away after the first couple of minutes haha!
I doubt ne1 will but if ud like 2 hear or read the interview just let me kno! Thanks again! =)

Just thought I should post his answer to one of my questions and thought it's pretty cool!
B=Me and O=Omar Samhan

B: Yeah if you were to go into the NBA, like what’s your dream team?
O: I’d probably want to play for the Kings.
B: The Kings? I’m a Kings fan too!
O: *Laughs*
B: *Laughs*
O: The Maloofs are really cool! Sac’s a good area! I would say the Warriors but they don’t really play my style of Basketball. Sac’s more post game and stuff like that so yeah I’d say the Kings.
B: Yeah I’m from Sacramento so that’s pretty cool!
O: *Laughs*

No. Way dude.

You just gave me amunition if I ever interview him one on one XD

Lightning Strike wrote:No. Way dude.

You just gave me amunition if I ever interview him one on one XD

He has a super awesome guy! He made me laugh ALOT haha! I never thought ne1 would want to be drafted or play 4 the Kings so We might have a shot in 2010 =D! Haha

Oh, his pre-game ritual is hilarious! haha