<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Mike Trudell Wolves Reporter Actually, it's more like 28 questions ... But whatever. We asked Al Jefferson about playing 1-on-1 with Mad Dog, his nickname for Craig Smith, why he loves Minnesota and much more. MT: First of all, Al, you and Craig Smith are constantly messing with one another; you even have respective nicknames. Please explain. Jefferson: Craig Smith watches a lot of movies and a lot of TV shows - and I do too - but I never thought I'd meet somebody who watches just as many movies or more movies than me. Craig is that guy. He could say a line from a movie that nobody (knows). Actually, he knows every line from every movie. I call him Big Dookie because of a movie from the early 90's called "House Party 3". MT: Featuring Kid & Play? Jefferson: For sure. There was a short line in there with this dude Big Dookie, and Craig was the only one that could remember that line when I said it in the locker room, so that's why I call him that. MT: And he calls you... Jefferson: Big Worm, from the guy on Friday, with Ice Cube and Chris Tucker and all that. MT: Right. For those that don't get to see you and your teammates interact off the court... Jefferson: It's been real fun. The locker room is live. I heard a couple of vets say that we make them feel young again. We're always talking and having a good time. Laughing. It's been a long season, a rough season, so you can't be serious all the time. There's a time to have fun, put a little life in the locker room, and a time to get serious and ready to play. We make the best of it. MT: Who's the funniest guy on the squad? Jefferson: (laughs) Everybody is funny in their own way. Everybody could be a different person on a different day ... Chris (Richard), Big Dukie, Bassy (Telfair), 'Toine (Antoine Walker), Buck (Greg Buckner), Mad Dog... MT: Well, I was going to ask you who's funnier: Your favorite actor Eddie Murphy, or Mad Dog? Jefferson: I have to go with Eddie Murphy, but Mad Dog is crazy. He'll surprise you. He'll say something and you're like 'Wow, that's Mad Dog!' Every time someone makes a joke on him, he can reverse it. Every time. MT: How many times has Dog mentioned his two championship rings to close an argument? Jefferson: Oh man. (Thinking). I've heard it probably, 25 to 40 ... thousand times. MT: Basically, any time you start with him on something, and he doesn't have a comeback, it's ring time. Jefferson: Yes. But he's got something a lot of people don't have. MT: No doubt about that. But be honest with us ... You can't take Mad Dog 1-on-1. Jefferson: I am really scared of Mad Dog 1-on-1. I wouldn't want to play Mad Dog if I had to. Now, we've played, but ... I'm very scared of Mad Dog 1-on-1. MT: Got it. Now, on a different note, can you talk about your growing relationship with the fans here in Minnesota? Jefferson: When we played Boston here and they had that standing ovation for Kevin Garnett, and then they called starting lineup for us, it kind of looked like they were showing Kevin Garnett that they appreciated everything he did here. But they also showed me so much love. Like, 'OK, we thank you Garnett, but here is our new leader, and we have his back too.' That made me feel really good, knowing how they cheered for me and represented me too. I love the fans here, and I'm glad that the fans are patient and understand that this season is one that we're not looking to have again. It's a learning process. We have to work really hard and get the fans what they want and get us back to the playoffs. MT: On the court, defensively, you've looked more like your basketball idol Hakeem Olajuwon and less like Mark Blount in the last two weeks, with your (roughly) three swats a game. Are you good at swatting other things besides basketballs? Flies, for example? Jefferson: Yeah, coming from the South, there are lot of a flies you have to keep out of your face, and other little bugs. I'm pretty good at swatting them too. MT: I can understand that. Jefferson: Yeah, you know, you get tired of eating bugs. You have to swat them. MT: Who is the non-basketball athlete you admire the most? Jefferson: I'd have to say Jerry Rice. He's from Mississippi, and a lot of people used to doubt him when he was in college, saying he wasn't good enough, that he wasn't going to make a great pro. But he's one of the best wide receivers that ever played the game. MT: What TV show is this quote from: "Reject a woman and she will never let it go. One of the many defects of their kind. Also, weak arms." Jefferson: I don't know. MT: That's "The Office." OK, How about this one: "Pam, do you prefer to be called "Ms. Or Mr."? Jefferson: That's "Martin." That's my favorite show. I started watching "Martin" when it first came out in 1992. One of my favorite episodes was the first Halloween episode, when Martin was saying that nobody can scare him. But they played a heck of a trick to scare him, and it was real funny. MT: Are you a season DVD purchaser, or do you watch all the re-runs? Jefferson: Well, they come out on TV about three times a night. I've seen every episode like a thousand times. It's a wonderful show. MT: Something you enjoy about Minneosta? Jefferson: Other than the people, there are a lot of unique things about the city that I love, like the skyway. You can walk all over downtown without going outside. Also, there are a lot of great restaurants, like Ruth's Chris and Manny's. MT: What about Mississippi, where you grew up? Jefferson: I miss the nice winter days when you go outside in the middle of the winter and it's still nice enough to be out there ... Throw on a barbecue, be around my family. There are a lot of things I miss, but it's not like I can't see Mississippi when I want to, especially in the offseason. MT: Speaking of Mississippi, you joined several NBA and WNBA players in Operation Rebound to offer food and assistance victims of Hurricane Katrina in your home state. That must have been very meaningful for you: Jefferson: It was really good. There were people from all over, not only from Mississippi and New Orleans that got involved and came together. That was big, and I was really thankful to be a part of it. MT: Who's going to win the Final Four? Jefferson: I don't know. With all four number one teams ... I think North Carolina has the best chance. MT: Now, you just turned 23. Let's say you had to go play for one of these programs. Which would it be? Jefferson: I really don't know too much about those coaches, but I guess I'd have to say North Carolina. That's a winning program - not to say the other schools aren't. But they've put a lot of guys in the league from North Carolina, so I'd have to go there. MT: You'd do OK in the tourney. So, the Twins opened their season at the Metrodome on Monday. Could you step in and hit a ball? Jefferson: No, I can't play baseball, but I always support the home team. MT: The best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Floyd Mayweather, defeated "The Big Show" in WrestleMania XXIV this weekend, knocking him out by hitting him on the head with a chair and then nailing him with a right hook. What about Big Al vs. Mayweather? Jefferson: No way, I wouldn't want them problems. It's kind of like him playing me 1-on-1 in the post. MT: Fairly stated. Jefferson: Yeah. He's the professional fighter. MT: You think the Rhino could take him? Jefferson: He might think he can, but he wouldn't want them problems either. MT: Tennis star Andy Roddick just proposed to Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker. But I heard she had a crush on you, so that's weird. Jefferson: He better keep her out of my eyesight then. MT: That's what I thought. What's playing on the Big Al IPOD? Jefferson: I'm more of an old-school guy, but I'll always keep some R. Kelly, some Ashante. R. Kelly is coming out with a new CD this summer so I'm really looking forward to that. MT: Finally, what was the first thing you bought when you signed your new contract? Jefferson: I bought a new Range Rover. MT: Can't blame you. Thanks Al. Jefferson: No doubt.</div> Source
