Okay, I think it's official. The "24 seconds with..." segment is now tunneling through the bottom of the barrel. 
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/100883.html
24 Seconds With... Kings center Vitaly Potapenko
Published 12:00 am PST Sunday, December 31, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C5
Q: One of the heavyweight boxing champions, Wladimir Klitschko, also is from Ukraine. Are you a big boxing fan?
A: Yeah. I watch whenever I have a chance. In the United States, they show a lot of fights. The different weights have some good fights.
Q: How big is Klitschko in Ukraine?
A: He's pretty big. He's very popular. Before, he was based in Germany. Now, he fights out of the United States, I believe. The older brother went into politics. But they're both pretty big back home.
Q: Are you more popular in Ukraine, or are the Klitschkos?
A: I think they're more popular. He's a champion, and boxing is a little bit different at home than basketball. It's more popular.
Q: How often do you get home?
A: Once in a while. Not that often.
Q: Do you miss it?
A: Yeah, sometimes. But I have the luxury to have my family here. They're here right now for the holidays. It helps.
Q: What is the biggest difference between living in the United States and living in Ukraine?
A: It's different cultures. There's culture barriers. Everybody has to adjust and go through it. The language, of course. But everybody (who comes here) has to do the same thing.
Q: Do many teammates ask you about life in Ukraine or playing in Europe?
A: A lot of them are interested in my life. 'How is everyday life?' 'People who live there, what do they do?' 'In European basketball, how does the system work?'
Q: What are they most curious about?
A: The way things get done there a little bit differently. They always ask about when it was a Communist regime, about how people were sent to gulags and what is that all about, and repressions. That sort of stuff.
Q: A lot of teammates ask about gulags?
A: Yeah. A couple guys ask.
Q: Do they think David Stern is tough until they start hearing about the gulags?
A: (Laughs) It's incomparable.
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/100883.html
24 Seconds With... Kings center Vitaly Potapenko
Published 12:00 am PST Sunday, December 31, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C5
Q: One of the heavyweight boxing champions, Wladimir Klitschko, also is from Ukraine. Are you a big boxing fan?
A: Yeah. I watch whenever I have a chance. In the United States, they show a lot of fights. The different weights have some good fights.
Q: How big is Klitschko in Ukraine?
A: He's pretty big. He's very popular. Before, he was based in Germany. Now, he fights out of the United States, I believe. The older brother went into politics. But they're both pretty big back home.
Q: Are you more popular in Ukraine, or are the Klitschkos?
A: I think they're more popular. He's a champion, and boxing is a little bit different at home than basketball. It's more popular.
Q: How often do you get home?
A: Once in a while. Not that often.
Q: Do you miss it?
A: Yeah, sometimes. But I have the luxury to have my family here. They're here right now for the holidays. It helps.
Q: What is the biggest difference between living in the United States and living in Ukraine?
A: It's different cultures. There's culture barriers. Everybody has to adjust and go through it. The language, of course. But everybody (who comes here) has to do the same thing.
Q: Do many teammates ask you about life in Ukraine or playing in Europe?
A: A lot of them are interested in my life. 'How is everyday life?' 'People who live there, what do they do?' 'In European basketball, how does the system work?'
Q: What are they most curious about?
A: The way things get done there a little bit differently. They always ask about when it was a Communist regime, about how people were sent to gulags and what is that all about, and repressions. That sort of stuff.
Q: A lot of teammates ask about gulags?
A: Yeah. A couple guys ask.
Q: Do they think David Stern is tough until they start hearing about the gulags?
A: (Laughs) It's incomparable.
