Steve Blake remains competitive with his kids

Below is a Q&A; segment featuring Lakers guard Steve Blake, who’s hosting basketball camps today through July 13 at Lake Oswego High School in Oregon and July 30-Aug.3 at Discovery Sports Center in Germantown, Md. This is the first part of an occasional series with Lakers players highlighting off-the-court questions.

Favorite music: It all depends on the day and how I’m feeling. I have periods where I listen to regular rap, Jay-Z, Eminem and Lil Wayne. The next day I might have some Christian alternative music. The next day I have on some dance music. It all varies what I listen to. Whatever is on when I get in or sometimes I feel like listening to something different. Before a game, I listen to something fast-paced, like house or club music, to try to get me going and wake me up.

Speaking of Eminem, Kobe [Bryant] told a few of us earlier this season that he’ll often call you Slim Shady, Eminem, Rabbit, 8 Mile. When did that come up? I don’t know. Every once in a while, he’ll throw out a different nickname. I think he likes to mess with me a little bit. He loves to throw different stuff out there. It’s not like an everyday thing. He does that every once in a while, but nothing ever sticks. He’s just joking around. He switches it up every time.

Favorite movies: I love movies a lot. I watch them on the hotel when we’re on the road. I like a lot of action movies. One of my favorites is “300.” The effects, story line and fighting are all pretty amazing.

You’re always a pretty nice guy off the court, but so many of your teammates mention how feisty and temperamental you can get. What gets under your skin? I can’t really talk about it [laughs].

They’re PG-13? Yeah, pretty much [laughs]. I’m very intense when it comes to basketball. In the heat of the moment, sometimes things come up.

Your wife, Kristen, tells me you’re pretty competitive with your kids (Nicholas, 6; Jamison, 3½; Zachary, 22 months). What games do you play with them? We’re into everything, from racing our Hot Wheels to playing basketball, to running down the hall. They get me going. My oldest son always wants to race. He’s kind of like me and it now has carried over to the other two. They’re all pretty competitive now. We do stuff in the pool. They’re like fish in water. They go all over the place. They’re kids. They like to play, have fun and compete with everything they do.

I’m told you haven’t lost yet. It’s not like I’m trying to win every time [laughs]. They’re only 6 and under. I let them win. It’s fun competition. Sometimes I win and then sometimes I let them win. Sometimes if I win, they get really mad.

How’s your golf and pool games going? I haven’t been able to golf much recently because it takes a lot of your day. But I loved to get out there and play when I was a little kid. I’ll definitely teach my kids and get them out there. I have a pool table at my house. When we have company over, I’ll always play pool. My game’s not very good because I haven’t played very much. I can do all right.

Kristen tells me you’ve struggled with yoga, though. How accurate is that? She’s funny. I’m probably the least flexible athlete you’ll find. When it comes to yoga, I can’t get in the positions and I can’t hold them. You have to be pretty flexible to do it. Once you get certain positions, you have to have the core strength to hold those positions. It’s a pretty good workout and a lot different from basketball.

Living in Portland, Ore., where do you like to eat out the most? El Gaucho. It’s a steakhouse. The service and people there are awesome. I’ve gotten to know them over the years. The service is great and it’s great good. The ambience is nice. They play music there and it relaxes you. It’s one of those nice steakhouses you always want to go back to.

How about in L.A.? Koi is another one of our favorites [a sushi restaurant on La Cienega]. It’s a good date-night place to go with my wife. We’ve been there a bunch of times and enjoy it every single time we go. That’s been our little spot lately.

ALSO:

Steve Blake eager to backup Steve Nash at point guard

Lakers need to build off of Steve Nash’s signing to get Howard

Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash share competitive bond

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