July 26, 2007
GoRedbirds.com: What do you expect from the Illinois State tennis team next season?
Oscar Beich: It's sad for coach (Greg Kennett) to leave, but it will be exciting to get another perspective from a new coach. We have a lot of talent on our team, so it could be a real positive change with a new style of coaching. It could be the jolt that we need. Talent wise, we still have a strong team like last year and the year before. I'm trying to stay positive, even though coach Kennett had to resign, hopefully it's for the better.
GR: What have you been doing this summer to stay busy?
OB: I'm taking a summer school class, and I usually teach tennis over the summer. The past six years I've been working with Normal Parks and Recreation teaching tennis. This summer, I'm taking a break from that and just trying to get out and play tennis a lot and stay active.
GR: Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?
OB: Oh yeah! My favorite movie to pump me up is Rocky IV. I always watch it the night before a match. I have a soundtrack for pre-game on my iPod to get me pumped up and mentally ready, because you have to be focused when you go out there. I have to do it because it helps get me in the right mood, which is so important.
GR: What is your favorite sport besides tennis?
OB: I love to watch basketball and football, and my favorite to play is probably basketball. I did play in junior high and grade school. I almost chose it over tennis actually, but my dad wouldn't let me. My dad was only 5-foot-9, so he knew I wasn't going to be a giant. I'd say he made the right choice.
GR: What song gets you pumped up to play?
OB: I listen to "Eye of the Tiger" (by Survivor) and "The Second Coming" (by Juelz Santana), which is from the Nike LeBron James commercial.
GR: La Bamba or Qdoba Mexican Grill?
OB: I'm definitely a La Bamba guy. In fact, I almost resent Qdoba.
GR: Do you prefer singles or doubles?
OB: I've always preferred singles. Lately, I've started to like doubles a lot. But, of course I love singles. I like to be out there by myself. If you lose, it's your fault, not anybody else's fault.
GR: What was it like playing with former ISU teammate Tim Link, a fellow Bloomington High School graduate?
OB: It was always fun. It was good to always have somebody to relate with. He was also the only other American on the tennis team since I've been at ISU. We became very close friends because of this and we always had a lot of fun observing the different cultures on the team. I also got to play tennis with him a lot too. It nice to continue that because we finished runner-up at state in doubles before we both came to ISU. He kind of showed me the ropes when I came here.
GR: What has been your biggest thrill as an athlete?
OB: As a freshman, I played a little but not a lot and I really didn't think I could play on the team. My sophomore year, I started to beat some guys and played really well. I started getting in the lineup. I think that was my major feat. But, then on top of that we won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title that year for the first time in school history. I won a really big match to help us win the regular season championship. I was really happy to be a part of that championship.
But, my one favorite single moment was after we won the conference championship. The bus ride home was ridiculous, and coach let us turn the music up and we kind of partied all the way home.
GR: Your older siblings both played collegiate tennis. Who would win a round robin tourney between the three of you?
OB: It's definitely me, hands down. They both went to junior colleges. I started playing tennis at the same time they did. They started when they were teenagers and they both improved really fast and got good, but I started when I was only 4 years old. It's kinda funny because they have always kind of looked at me like I'm the prodigy of the family.
GR: What advice would you give to young tennis players out there?
OB: You're going lose, and you have to learn to deal with it. It's important to have fun, but not everybody can win. I used to cry after I lost when I was little; it was a tragedy for me. You got to stay competitive and still make sure you still have fun. Losing a tennis match is not like other sports, you can't blame anybody but yourself.
GR: Being a senior next year, leadership will be important. What things will you do to set an example?
OB: I'm usually pretty good at speaking up and being able to motivate others. When I started playing more as a sophomore, I came in right away and was speaking up. Being a senior really gives me some more clout and credibility. Mainly, I want to lead by example because you can only say so much. I want to be depended on to win matches.
GR: What is your favorite movie?
OB: I'm more of comedy guy. Almost Heroes comes to mind, and 300 is also good. I'm really looking forward to seeing Knocked Up because everybody tells me it's hilarious. Grandma's Boy is also great. That was kind of our team movie last year.
GR: What person has had the biggest impact on you as a young tennis player?
OB: Definitely my dad. He died my freshman year, so it was kind of hard for me to keep playing. He was the biggest coach and motivator in my life. He was always telling me to get out on the court and play. He was always motivating, and at times it was very forceful, but I am grateful that he was there to make me do things that I didn't always see the importance of. Those things definitely helped get me to where I am today.
GR: How has your game improved sing coming to ISU?
OB: Being from central Illinois, I became used to being the best. I really hadn't seen the level of talent that I've seen here at ISU. My biggest improvement has been being able to play at that higher level.
GR: Cubs or Cardinals?
OB: Cubs fan for sure.
GR: Pete Sampras or Andre Agassi?
OB: I'm a Sampras man. I love them both. My dad used to make me watch all of his (Sampras) matches. He's just a great guy.
GR: You are playing doubles with anybody you want to choose. Who is on the court with you?
OB: I would play against the Jensen brothers. They could both serve right and left handed. They were one of the best doubles teams ever. I would probably just want to play with (Roger) Federer I guess, just to make things even. It would be either him or Sampras.
GB: What is the best thing about going to college in your hometown?
OB: Even though I grew up in Bloomington, I really didn't know what know what ISU was like until I got here. It was good to be around when my dad got sick. I think that even if I had gone elsewhere, I would have ended up back here anyways. But who knows if at that point if I'm even able to get on the tennis team? Being able to be close home and to my dad through all that was really important. I also get to see all my nieces and nephews grow up too. I'm always around my mom and able to support her. It was one of the better and most important decisions I ever made. I had other scholarship offers, but choosing ISU was definitely the right decision.
GB: Who is your pick to win this year's U.S. Open?
OB: Umm ... I'm going say Roger Federer. I would like to see Andy Roddick do well. But Federer is really the best player right now.
