It’s No Stretch to Call Him a Legman

Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen called from a limo after a stumping stint for Nike PLAY (Participate in the Lives of America’s Youth), the family fitness and sports event that will be held at the Inglewood Armory on April 20.

“Hey, my man. Go left,” Pippen, 30, said to the driver as they headed to the Forum. “I’m sorry,” he said, back on the horn. “I’m on my way to practice so. . . .”

So we talked faster than usual.

Question: Do you have any kind of a routine right before a game?

Answer: I just stretch so I don’t pull any muscles or a hamstring. But other than that--just to get myself mentally focused to play.

Q: That’s an exercise in itself. How do you do that?

A: Yeah, it is. You just try to put yourself in a zone to where you’re focusing on what you’ve got to do. I like to listen to music--anything that can either pump me up, to something slow to get my mind on what I’ve got to do.

Q: How soon do you eat before a game?

A: Couple of hours.

Q: Let me hear what you order.

A: New York strip cooked medium well and some broccoli and cauliflower. Baked potato with sour cream and a little butter, and I could use a nice salad with ranch dressing at times.

Q: Does your workout change depending on whether or not you’re playing?

A: Summertime I try to go all out and just wear myself out because I don’t have to worry about shooting the basketball or just tiring myself out, you know, like my arms. I lift weights. When the season is over, I go pretty heavy, 200 to 250 pounds.

I’m more focused on bulking up to endure a long 82-game season, so I try to eat right during that time, build muscle mass and just hopefully I can endure the season.

Q: How do you maintain when you’re playing?

A: By lifting weights--through the season it’s more light days, 150- to 175-pound weights--and I try to keep my flexibility. I do a lot of stretching and I work on different muscle groups on different days. There’s a leg day and there’s a day I work on my arms or my chest, and there’s a day I work on my back and some days I double up. So it just all depends on how I feel.

Q: Have you noticed that one exercise in particular makes a difference in how you play?

A: No, nothing that I can pinpoint other than just working out on my legs. I feel like that really is a big thing for me because, you know, that’s what’s going to be able to carry me through my career. If you don’t have good legs then, you know, you’re not going to be able to withstand a long career.

Q: Do you do any running?

A: No. At times I ride a stationary bike. I’ve got a treadmill at home, but I don’t care a whole lot for it.

Q: Why not?

A: I guess it’s just me thinking that it’s pounding on my legs. I think I get enough of that on the basketball court.

Q: How do you give your legs a decent workout?

A: I exercise a lot by bike riding and I just ride for the enjoyment. I stop at a restaurant, get a Coke or something.

Q: What other beverages do you like?

A: Iced tea or lemonade. I’m not big on milk. Only when I’m eating cereal.

Q: Do you watch what you eat?

A: No, not really. I mean, I try to eat pretty healthy.

Q: What do you consider healthy?

A: I eat breakfast every day. Mostly egg whites, hash browns, whole wheat toast. Some days I may eat pancakes or waffles with syrup, no butter.

Q: Drink coffee?

A: Yeah. And for lunch, normally a chicken sandwich. Sometimes I eat a burger. Some days I may just go have a nice sit-down, a big lunch. Maybe eat some pasta or some fish. Just depends on my appetite. Dinner--pretty much I like anything. I mean, some days I eat soul food and I really like all seafood.

Q: And your favorite seafood is?

A: If I had to pick one, well, I would say a catfish. But if I’m traveling to a city that is known for good, fresh seafood, I’d probably get salmon.

Q: You can get the best catfish in your own backyard--Arkansas.

A: Oh, yeah. That’s what I grew up on. Right. Sometimes I may even eat pork chops and, you know, I try to stay away from pork but I have my moments when I feel like I can cheat a little bit.

Q: It doesn’t sound like you have to watch what you eat.

A: I’m so active at this stage of my career, and I enjoy working out and doing things that burn off those calories. It happens pretty natural for me, so it’s nothing that I have to work really hard to fight off. I hope it lasts the rest of my life.

Guest Workout runs every other Wednesday in Life & Style.