April 2, 2007
Lana Armstrong
Talk about going home to Texas and playing there recently.
LA: It really was a great opportunity for my family to come watch, being so far away and with travel pretty expensive. They really only get to come to Texas, and then they'll be at the tailgate. It was a lot of fun. I had cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, grandparents and like three or four friends that came out.
How far is College Station from your home in Rowlett?
LA: Like 3.5 hours. It's a big state.
Do you think there is a difference between Texas and everywhere else?
LA: Definitely. Texans don't have a bad attitude, but we like to believe we come from the greatest state. There's a ton of Texas pride involved because it is so big. It kind of feels like another country.
Talk about hitting a home run against No. 4 Texas A&M with your family and friends watching.
LA: That was exciting. I think the greatest part of it was that I had two little cousins there that are around 10, and they both play ball. They were so excited to come out and watch, and the fact that I did hit a home run, they were really excited about it.
Did you get any goodies from Mom?
LA: My mom showed up with a bag - she went shopping for me - it had four shirts, she threw in little things like a bunch of sunscreen and lip gloss, makeup stuff. She likes to do stuff like that. She's constantly mailing me stuff, too.
How do you feel about the Rangers this year? I know you're a big fan.
LA: Yes, I'm a huge fan. The only disappointment that I had is that they might have to get rid of Mark Teixeira, my favorite player. I have his name all over the media guide in my questionnaire. It's a good thing that they're keeping Michael Young, though. Great player.
How do you feel about new acquisition Sammy Sosa?
LA: About Sosa? I'm not a big fan. I'm more for integrity.
Brooke Buzard
I read that if you were playing another sport rather than softball, you would play hockey?
BB: Well, I grew up watching the Mighty Ducks movies. I was never a good ice skater, but it was the sport that I always thought looked like a lot of fun, and I had a little crush on Emilio Estavez and Joshua Jackson growing up, you know. I think that would really be a fun sport to get into and get after.
Why not something like figure skating?
BB: Figure skating? Have you seen me? I'm not exactly the most graceful of people. I don't know, figure skating was a little too girlie for me.
You like to hit somebody?
BB: Yeah, exactly - a little aggression.
How do you make up for not playing hockey?
BB: You mean how do I take out my aggression? I like to run a lot, so endurance running relieves lots of stress. I'm not generally a mean person. I'm not going to go around hitting people.
Any similarities between softball and hockey?
BB: Especially as a pitcher, you really have to go after batters, and the same thing applies to hockey. You can't be afraid because, if you sit back, they're going to take advantage of you, get to the puck faster, hit you and take you out. Even though softball is not a contact sport, the part of being aggressive and attacking batters is very applicable.
Do you go to any hockey games?
BB: A couple of my friends play in high school, so I go to their games, and I've been to U of I games. Blackhawks tickets are pretty pricy up North, so you don't get to go to very many games.
Do you join in with the "Harassing Illini" student fan section?
BB: No, no. You've got to keep it G-rated, of course. Just cheering people on.
Were you a big JR fan, Chelios, all those Blackhawks?
BB: Yeah, my grandma's really into hockey too, so she would keep me on my toes and keep me into it. I had a soft spot in my heart for Chris Chelios.
What about all those pads and all the stuff that they have to wear?
BB: Oh, I couldn't play a sport with that much equipment, I don't think.
Sydney Lisy
I saw you like to play the harp?
SL: Yes, I do. I've been playing the harp since I was 11. It's kind of something interesting people don't expect out of me. I'm very aggressive and tough on the field, and I play this very elegant instrument. I'm very well-rounded.
How did you even get started playing the harp?
SL: My mom worked at a harp company in Chicago. I'd see the harps when I was a kid - they'd be in the showroom, and I really, really wanted to play. I was forced to play the violin for like five years to prove that I could be committed to an instrument and learn how to read music. After that I found a harp teacher and started taking lessons.
How long and how often do you practice?
SL: Normally I would practice about a half-hour. I actually don't practice right now because the harp is at home. I can't bring it to school because I don't have room for it, and it's very expensive instrument. I don't want it to get damaged at school.
Did you give recitals and performances in high school?
SL: Yeah, I was part of a harp ensemble. There was a quartet, then one of the girls went to college, and it became a trio. We would perform at high teas and stuff that our harp teacher would arrange.
Can you specialize the harp in terms of what type of music that you play, or is all pretty much straight classical?
SL: No, anything that I can find arrangements to. There's a lot of people who arrange harp music. They do new songs like stuff from Disney movies. When "Titanic" was popular, I learned how to play the song from "Titanic." It's not just classical. It's everything.
Do you like classical music?
SL: I do, I like classical music. I like going to the orchestras and the symphonies. I like hearing that kind of music.
