Mack Attack October

[pugsood 97]

The Sun Gazzette continues its monthly coverage and update of Northern Virginia native and current SBA basketball player Alvin Mack, as he continues to be eligible in the VHL, despite not having entertained any overtures by the league and its general managers to date. Our beat reporter Jordan Smith caught up with Mack on October 18th at the rooftop bar atop the downtown Atlanta Marriott.

 

Smith: Same question, different month - any plans on pursuing hockey?

Mack: Well, it's my last season in the SBA, my 9th year, hopefully ending on a strong note. I think I need to play this season out and then just, well, reassess everything about how the past months and years have gone for me, and how hockey may or may not fit into that.

 

Smith: You decided not to re-sign with Philadelphia in the offseason, choosing instead to go to Atlanta which is why we're conducting this interview in Atlanta. Was Philly not what you wanted or expected it to be?

Mack: My decision had very little to do with the team, it was more so about what I'm trying to accomplish in my last season. I had a good time in Philadelphia, competed hard, got to know some great young players and a new GM. Philly ended up basically being exactly what I expected it to be, minus fading toward the end of the year and not making the playoffs. But the Prowlers were committed to me, I was committed to them, and they got the best version of Mack at my prime. I think we all walk away feeling good about how things went. I signed with Atlanta because I trust the staff, have rapport with some of the guys on the team, and think this could be a great place for my last hurrah before I hang up my sneakers.

 

Smith: You mentioned reassessing things after retirement. Do you see yourself coming back and giving up basketball entirely and just focusing on a new sport, like hockey?

Mack: That's not what I'm going to do. While basketball isn't my first love, per se, it's been the sport that I've been able to excel at, play with the utmost passion, and has afforded me the greatest opportunities for my family and friends. If I decided in my next life to play hockey or any other sport, it'll be in addition to basketball, not replacing it.

 

Smith: Jon Gruden was fired by the Las Vegas Raiders for comments he made over email while employed by ESPN. What are your thoughts on that situation?

Mack: I think, to a man, every single person in every single professional sports league, front office, players, you name it, has some skeleton in their closet that you could find in a text, iMessage, email, you name it. That North Korea only decided to hack Sony Pictures and release their emails and not the SBA or VHL or EFL is a real break for everyone associated with those leagues. I'm not excusing what Gruden said but I'll take the totality of his good works any day over what he said in those emails. Hell if you want to label him a racist, I certainly hope all racists do the amount of good work he's done to support minorities that he has in his lifetime.

 

Smith: So you have skeletons in your closet?

Mack: I'd argue I have a lot less than the average person given I use encrypted services. But yes if you looked at my messages from grade school, I'm 100% certain I used derogatory language about someone, sometime. I also was voted class president, a friend to everyone I met, a volunteer, a captain, so I'd venture to say those actions speak for themselves.