Research Blog Post (Interview #1)

I did my first interview with a character we will call Johnny Utah. He was a huge sports fanatic. He was also someone that frequents the place very regularly. I was surprised how well the interview went. I have learned that some people take this stuff very seriously. I asked him if he was a sports nut and his response was this: “I’m more devoted to the teams I love more than anyone else. I wake up earlier than I have to so I can watch Sportscenter before school or work. I visit ESPN.com at least 4-10 times per day. I also play sports at least 5 times a week.” Something that I learned from this interview and some other conversations I’ve had is that some people are still very bitter about stuff that happened a long time ago. While talking to him about his favorite sports teams, I learned that he was still bitter about Michael Jordan and the Bulls of 1998 when he famously pushed off Byron Russell to hit the game winning jumper against the Utah Jazz. I mean this was ten years ago, yet it still burns fiercely in this young man’s head.

I imagine most people gain interest in their favorite teams from something or someone that influenced them as a young child. Johnny Utah was no different. His grandmother who has recently passed raised their family on the Green Bay Packers. She watched the first three super bowls and was hooked ever since. That has carried down as family tradition and anyone that disputes the Packers in anyway were subject to numerous taunts and belittling that could last all day. Another thing I learned was how superstitious some sports fans can be. He has a Green Bay jersey that he refuses to wear on game day, as they have not won any of the times he has worn it while watching the game. He also has a Miami Heat jersey that they are supposedly undefeated when he wears it. Another tradition that he carries on is not watching a Green Bay Packer game with any non-Green Bay fan. “It just ruins the atmosphere and the karma we need for the game,” he says.

I asked him why he chose Buster’s as his preferred location to partake in the watching of various sporting events. His response was “I love the atmosphere. It is also 2 blocks from my house. I can get as hammered as I want and stagger home.” He also likes the young girls with not a lot of clothes on. “It doesn’t cost a lot to partake in the activities here, plus the other regulars enjoy the same things I do.” He also compared himself to the Cliff or Norm types from the classic TV show Cheers as far as how well he is known at this establishment.

The only thing I would do different for the next interview is make sure I was prepared with more questions. That was definitely my fault, but with my crappy schedule, I was unprepared once the interview started. Most of the initial questions I had led to further questions which was nice. But I think I could have gotten 5 times what I had, with just some more prepped questions. I also wish I would have gone the tape recorder route for the entire conversation, again my fault. He was however very courteous when he noticed I hadn’t caught up to him during his responses. He would slow down or stop all together until I did catch up. I do plan on a follow up interview with some more questions that I have. I didn’t get to talk to him about the involvement of alcohol and what role it plays during sports viewing. I am planning on going down there tonight (2-25) and tomorrow so I can catch up on my site visits. Hopefully I will run into him at least one of those nights. I also plan on a visit on the 29th as there is a very big NBA game that will be televised. I know for sure he will be there during that night.