LHUBlog: Thanks for giving up some of your time for us here at LakehillUnited.Blogspot coach. How has the first few days been with the club?
Holla: Thanks for having me. Yes - the last few days have been a bit of a blur really. From playing Who's Bum, to spotting the Malaysian Brett Poulis, my time here has gone quite quickly.
L: As a player, you were known for your quickness, has this helped over the last few days.
H: Not really. I like to do things slowly. But it has been an adventure.
Holla pulls out a flask at this point and takes a long, deliberate swig. He offers to us but we decline.
L: Uh...Coach, it's 8:30 am. Do you think you should really be drinking that?
H: What are you - my male nurse? Get back to the interview.
L: Sure - many have said you have an addictive personality. Do you have any addictions you want to tell us about?
H: Many of my addictions, and past problems for that matter, can't be spoken about for legal reasons. I can tell you that during the mid 90's, I developed a terrible addiction to Timbits. Something about those bits of Tim just sent me bonkers. I still can't go within 500 meters of a Tim Horton's.
Holla's Timbit years
L: What are your plans for the upcoming season coach?
H: Pretty much to keep it real. You know what they say don't you?
He produces the flask again and takes a long, hard sip.
L: No. What do they say?
H: When in Rome.
L: Ok....uh....Some say a real low point was when you last coached another Lakehill team a few years ago. Can you talk about it or is still too fresh in you mind?
H: Why would that be a low point? We had some of the most committed guys I've ever had the pleasure to coach before. Unfortunately, we only had about 5 of them...Holla takes another 3 or 4 drinks and stares over our shoulder for several long awkward minutes before continuing...
H: I got to play against the Sagres with Al Reid in our back line. Let me tell you, he owned his check. You call that a low point? You're a disgrace...
L: Sorry coach. Listen, do you have anything you want to tell the fans before the season starts?
H: Yeah - they should be playing World of Warcraft instead of reading this interview.
The Coach erupts from his chair, ranting incomprehensibly. We try to calm him down but he produces a small stick, points it at us, and the last thing he says is:
H: This is the Talking Stick....INTERVIEWUS OVERUS!!!!!
Artist's impression of the Talking Stick
A fine interview with the new coach and we look forward to talking to him more as the season progresses. Stay tuned in the next few days for preseason fitness with Mac.
