University of Tennessee Athletics
IN THE EXCHANGE ZONE...WITH TIANNA MADISON
June 08, 2005 | Women's Track
June 8, 2005
Though she's been busy uncorking world-leading measurements in the long jump and winning nearly every competition she's entered this season, Lady Vol sophomore long jumper Tianna Madison stepped into "The Exchange Zone" and took some time to answer some questions that ranged from serious to down right whimsical.
Without a doubt, Madison will have her game face on Wednesday as she competes in Sacramento, Calif., in the long jump qualifying round of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at 7:15 p.m. Pacific Time (10:15 p.m. ET). Madison will be attempting to match the national championship she won at the NCAA Indoor meet back in March.
What CD is in your CD player right now?
Mariah Carey's "The Emancipation of Mimi."
What do you do in your spare time?
I like to read and listen to music.
What is the best concert you ever went to?
Believe it or not, I have never been to a concert.
Who is your favorite professional sports athlete?
Boxer Roy Jones Jr.
As a Lady Vol, what do you want to be most remembered for?
I want to be remembered for my personality and my fighter mentality.
What three words best describe you?
Funny, unique, tough.
What is your favorite farm animal?
I would have to say horses, because they are pure runners.
Which brand of Macaroni and Cheese is the best?
Homemade mac and cheese is the best, but Kraft follows closely behind.
What is your dream car?
I want a Lincoln Aviator, fully loaded.
What are some tricks you use to prepare yourself for a meet?
I slow my music selection down - slow music relaxes me, and then I can visualize.
What lessons (life or academic) have you learned at Tennessee so far?
Anything worth having is worth fighting for, be it a 4.00 in the classroom or an NCAA Championship.
Are you an outdoorswoman or a beach bum?
I am a little bit of both.
If you could be on a team with anyone, who would be your teammates?
First pick, boxer Roy Jones Jr., then the 2004 Lady Vol sprint squad. Then I'd pick Lady Vol Nicole Cook and former UT standout Kameisha Bennett and the Phoenix Suns. I think I'd be ready to compete in anything from a boxing match to a track meet and everything in between.
Why do you love track and field so much?
I love track & field because it is so natural. I've been running and jumping (in some form) since I was a toddler.
What are your favorite pizza toppings?
I like meat-lovers' pizza!
What quote or motto do you always keep in the back of your head?
"God is able to do more than what we ask or imagine."
What is your idea of a perfect vacation?
A perfect vacation would be no practice, an unlimited shopping spree and a beach, not to mention a condo instead of a hotel. I have come to hate hotel rooms!
If you could invite four people for dinner, who would they be?
I would invite Angelina Jolie, Mike Epps, Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson (The "Thriller" Michael Jackson, not the current one).
What will you buy with your first paycheck?
Season one through six of the show "Sex and the City" on DVD, a 62-inch plasma TV with a surround sound stereo system and a subscription to Comcast On Demand with all HBOs included.
What is your most memorable sporting moment?
The day I jumped 14 feet at Junior Nationals and got escorted off the field with all the others who didn't make the final. Every competition, I flash back to that day. It will never happen again.
Love or Money, which is more important and why?
Love, ultimately, is more important, but because I am 19 I would say that a nice amount of money wouldn't hurt.
Do you ever look at the stars at night? If so, what are you thinking?
Once, when I was looking at the stars, I remember wondering how many people were looking at the same star at the same time.
What is heaven on earth to you?
Heaven on earth is a closet full of shoes!
What is your favorite holiday and why?
My favorite holiday is Christmas because my family uses that time to go somewhere we've never been. I can say that I have never been home for Christmas.
Who is the most famous person you've ever met?
Bill Cosby at the Penn Relays
When were you aware that you were athletically gifted?
It took me a little longer to notice my own talent than it did for other people to notice, but I was a sophomore in high school when I thought "I might be good at this."
What was the first event you competed in at an organized track meet?
It was the 100m dash. I won but should have been disqualified for running out of my lane.
Who is your favorite track and field Olympian and why?
It would be Gail Devers. She's been running for a long time, has been on top and she acknowledges that God gets the credit for her great career.
If you weren't competing in track and field, which sport would you be pursuing?
I would box.
What is your favorite book or magazine?
My favorite magazine is Cosmopolitan.
Which TV show is a must-see for you?
Sex and the City is a MUST NEVER MISS show for me.
What is your favorite reality TV show?
I like the Real World vs. Road Rules Challenges.
Complete the sentence: You'd be surprised to know that I...
...can't live without cheese. Here's the funny part - I am lactose intolerant, so it's a lose-lose situation.
