Story:Niko's Interview With The Wildcard Press
Niko's Interview With The Wildcard Press
Written by Niko Collins
The following is the transcript of the interview between the members of the Wildcat Press, the school paper for Adelaide-Prescott High School in Biloxi, MS.
Would you first like to introduce yourself?
N.C.: My name is Niko Collins, I’m the new owner of the Biloxi Voodoos
It’s an honor to meet you, sir. Let’s start with an icebreaker question: Lovely. So, what is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
N.C.: That’s gotta be Cherry Garcia. That mix of cherry and chocolate is very pleasing. Mixes well.
I suppose it’s time we get to the question on everyone’s minds. As you know, you’re on a losing streak early on in the season and the fans are getting very worried. Now one would be quick to call it unnecessary, but you always have a common response. We know you are quick to say you guys will fix things internally. However, if this streak continues, people will wonder if you’re being serious or if you are doing nothing. Any response to this?
N.C.: Actually yeah. I didn’t wanna be the guy who keeps being consistently positive. I wanted to be neutral. If I say we were going to run our next opponent over and we don’t, I would look like a fool and a liar. So I decided to keep my response neutral.
Next question, if you don’t mind. I would like to get your thoughts about everyone on your team. Do you feel like there are guys who could be doing better? Be candid with us, if you can.
N.C.: Making me answer the tough ones I see. You guys are a group of teenagers putting a 20-something owner of an FBA on the spot. Look, I’m not one to call out my players or colleagues. It’s not how I’m built. However, I will tell both my players and the fans that this is a growing phase. I am slowly and surely learning the ins and outs of how to run a team. I’ve never done it before and it sorta shows. I can’t really tell ya more than that.
That makes sense. What exactly made you wanna own the Biloxi Voodoo?
N.C.: That’s a toughie. I had some connections with some friends who were in the FBA. I was a shoe artist at one point, working with people all over, from Puma, Pawz, Newt Balance, etc. I was one of the best. Prolific even. I gave it up because I wanted to explore a new thing. So when I heard that Biloxi was looking for a new owner, I, and a group of friends and investors, put our funds together and here we are. They decided to make me a figurehead so the team would have a public face that everyone recognized.
We Biloxi fans are hoping to see some improvement from the team, but what are you expecting from your players?
N.C.: I want them to play their best ball. We can promise a playoff birth right now, but if we don’t get it, we lied to our fans and that’s not cool. I expect three major things out of my players; Work Hard, Play Hard, and be Honest. We wanna openly call out our opponents and joke about it like that and that’s fine. However, we don’t ever wanna promise victory. Will Biloxi make another playoff? I wanna say yes, but I can’t say when. I can’t promise this season or any season after, but we will get a trophy.
Very insightful words. Speaking of, we have some personal questions that we cleared with your PR team. We hope you don’t mind answering them. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. However, answering them can let people learn more about you. Are you ready?
N.C.: Let’s do it.
Great! Okay, first question! Have any mental illnesses?
N.C.: Woooow. Okay okay! As a kid, I was diagnosed with ADHD. Turns out, I was just extremely hyper due to the sugar that was in my diet at the time. The medicine the doctors prescribed wasn’t helping, so eventually after years of therapy they realized I was just eating a lot of sugar and my body was just burning it off with all the running around I did.
Hate to ask, but how bad were your sugar crashes?
N.C.: I passed out on the couch a lot. My mom would always find me on the couch or the floor snoring. She’d let me sleep until my dad woke me up an hour or two later.
What is your biggest phobia?
N.C.: It’s definitely acrophobia. The fear of heights. I can handle flights on a plane, but not long ones. Like if I have to go to another country, you tell me what freight ship or boat of some kind is legally taking human passengers. Lucky for me, I bought a yacht that has enough food and water for long trips…however, the coast guard has advised me not to do that. Internally, we’re working on plans in case flights last longer than a few hours.
What is the closest you have ever been to dying?
N.C.: Yeah, I have been close to death, but it was when I was 15. I was walking through the woods, when a group of kids from my school dragged me into the woods, tied me up, and left me there. I was in the woods, calling for help for 2 days, tied to a tree.
That’s horrible! Why did they do that?!?
N.C.: I said “hi” to the ringleader’s girlfriend. Imagine being sorta crucified for hello to someone. Of all things. Luckily a forest ranger was nearby and heard my calling out and got me down. My mom had put out an amber alert the day previous and I was malnourished to all heck. The kids responsible were eventually charged with kidnapping and attempted murder…I think. Can’t exactly tell you as I was in a coma and what I was told was second-hand accounts. I woke up three days later, the fastest time anyone came out of a coma in that hospital, apparently.
Do you snore?
N.C.: No. Well, that's not entirely true. I used to snore, but I changed my pillow to one of those that cradle your head and your neck and it puts my head in such a way that prevents snoring.
Were you made fun of in school? Why?
N.C.: I was, but it was mostly for being the kid no one talked to. I had a few friends, but they weren’t very good ones. After I almost died, I was much more popular and people actually listened to and encouraged me to pursue shoemaking. It was nice to have people who legit cared about me and encouraged me to pursue my hobbies. A friend of mine actually tried one of the pairs I made one day.
I can’t think of a question to ask you. Have any comments?
N.C.: Good question. I do ask that Biloxi fans have patience. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a championship-level team. We’ll get there, but we’re not gonna promise you when. There’s so much that goes into making a good team. It’s not just the players, although that’s a major part. It’s also the right staff. The coaches, the GM, the trainers, etc. When everyone is working together as a well-oiled machine, nothing is impossible. Everyone is getting used to me being around, so it’s a growing pain of sorts.
Thanks for the interview, Mr. Collins. We do appreciate it and I’m sure the fans at both Adelaide-Prescott High and Biloxi fans in town and around the world will love it too.
N.C.: No problem.
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