Erik Spoelstra. Photo: John Vanbeekum.
Erik Spoelstra
Erik Spoelstra, the new Miami Heat coach, is also the youngest in the NBA, at age 37. He is also one of Miami's most eligible bachelor's, especially now with his current role. But the University of Portland graduate who grew up in Illinois, Buffalo, New York and Portland, Oregon is a workaholic, so you probably won't catch him out much at Miami's trendy hotspots. Or maybe, now that he's the head guy, you will?
Miami Herald sports reporter Sarah Rothschild caught up with Spoelstra recently.
What are your favorite things to do outside of basketball?
" I don’t have a ton of hobbies. Everyone has stressed upon me I need hobbies. Every summer I try to get into golf. I’m a horrible, horrible golfer. I give it a try for a week or two and lose so many golf balls, it’s so time consuming. One of my very good friends on the PGA Tour, Ben Crane, he’s an excellent golfer and he’s been hounding on me to get into golf. It’s been a tough sell with me. I like watching golf, other than that I like reading. I read a lot. That’s very relaxing and spending time with friends and family. I also take spinning classes two or three times a week."
What's your favorite meal?
"(Assistant coach) Ron Rothstein would say every meal is my favorite meal. I guess my metabolism is very fast. I always have food in my office - not just snacks, but meals. I eat several times a day. It might be a nervous habit."
You have any favorite movies?
"Hoosiers, The Natural, Gladiator, Fletch and Shawshank Redemption."
What actor would you want to play you in a movie?
"I don’t know if I would want any actor to play me in a movie. People have joked with me Keanu Reeves - they say I look like Keanu. I didn’t know whether to get mad at that or just laugh."
What music is on your iPod?
"I have the most eclectic selection of music. I have easy listening, classical music, pop, rock, country. Probably some hip hop but not as much as our players. The only thing I don’t have on there is house or techno. I like to listen to classical music and movie soundtracks when I work. Shawshank Redemption is probably my favorite soundtrack."
What would you be doing if you weren’t working in the NBA?
"My friends have always kidded me about that. I don’t know if I have any other skills in this life. I would probably be some kind of, I don’t know…"
The last book you read was?
"I tend to read a few at a time. Freakonomics, Patriot Reign (on the New England Pats), Blink."
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