Media workout days are
fascinating and remarkable events. Just hearing Seth Mitchell answer the
question, “Do you think your jab will be important in the Johnathon Banks
fight,” for the seventh time in 25 minutes in enthralling. And let’s not forget
the idiots who ask Mitchell about fighting one of the Klitschkos anytime soon.
Tomorrow, I will have a boxing story about Mitchell’s development and some
thoughts from his trainer, Andre Hunter. It will also ask the question: Is
Mitchell’s career really being served well by Al Haymon and HBO?
But at the media workout
day, I thought I’d ask a few questions about Mitchell’s beloved Michigan State
Spartans, the election (the workout day last Wednesday) and his family.
Alec Kohut: Seth,
are you frustrated that the Spartans are losing close games?
Seth
Mitchell: It’s frustrating, yeah. If you take away the Notre Dame game, we lost
four games by a combined 10 points. But that’s one thing you have to do in
order to be a champion and be a good team; you’ve got to win the close ones. When
it’s time to dig, you’ve got to be able to dig and we’re having a little
trouble doing that this year. But we’re Spartans, baby; we’re gonna bounce
back!
AK: How much support
are you getting from the Spartan community?
SM: A lot, lot of support, a lot of love on Twitter. Matter of fact, I
just talked to the equipment manager and my strength-and-conditioning coach
last week. We talked for a good 15-20 minutes, keeping in contact. So I have great
ties down there. And every now and then, I talk to [head coach] Tom Izzo.
AK: Who was the more important endorsement for President
Obama, Bruce Springsteen or Jay-Z?
SM: (After
a loud, heavy sigh) Probably
Jay-Z; probably Jay-Z.
AK: Did you think the race was over when Mitt Romney got
Meat Loaf and President Obama got Bruce Springsteen?
SM: Of course I wanted President Obama to win but I didn’t think he was
going to win. It wasn’t until before they announced he was the winner about
10:30 [p.m.], I was like, “I think we’re going to get it.” So I was a little
tired this morning because I stayed up until about 1:30 in the morning watching
election returns.
AK: How are the
kids?
SM:
They’re good; they’re good. My daughter just turned six on the second and
thinks she’s 16 already. My son, he’ll turn two on the 26th.
AK:
You’ve traveled a long road with your mother; she’s getting to see you grow as
a man. How good are things with you and her and how proud are you that you’re
able to do these things? And how proud are you of her that you two have been
able to do so much together and come so far?
SM: Words can’t really describe my mom and I. We have more of brother
and sister relationship. That’s my girl. We laugh; we joke. I talk to her about
anything. Before I met my wife, all of my motivation and determination was for
her. I want to get a better life for her and, of course, it’s still the same
thing. But now we have my wife, my kids and my Mom, so it’s good. To see her
smile when I’m on TV (laughing), she’s fighting in the ring when I’m fighting.
If you ever catch her, she’s throwing punches too.
AK: Is she enjoying being a grandmother?
SM: Absolutely.
AK: How much is changing now that you are an HBO fighter? When
you go out you get recognized, HBO cameras are following you. How is that
changing your life and your family life?
SM: It’s nice; it hasn’t got to the point where I can’t go to the mall
or go out to eat with my family for a nice lunch or dinner. But I definitely
get a lot of people stopping me just saying “Hi” and “Congratulations; I saw
you on HBO the other night.” Or they walk past as a couple and they’re whispering
and looking at me like, “I just saw that guy on HBO.” It’s pretty cool; it’s
nice.
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