Sports Shorts

Athlete of the Week

Every basketball player wants to win games — but there is also that elusive statistic of 1,000 points that so few players ever reach. Senior Malisha Richardson reached that goal after the Oberlin women’s basketball team defeated Lake Erie College on Jan. 20.
Despite a difficult season, Malisha nears the end of a remarkable career. In just two games in late January, incuding the one in which she reached her 1,000th point, she put up 62 points and 20 rebounds.
Both of these games resulted in a Yeowomen win; additionally, she added five assists, five steals, and two blocks in the wins over Lake Erie and Hiram College.
With five games left, Malisha looks to go beyond her already astounding record and help with a few more Yeowomen wins.

In the Locker Room With . . .

For the return of “In the Locker Room” after Winter Term, I chose to interview sophomore basketball player Bosko Tomasevic, who came all the way from Europe to Oberlin. Not an easy task considering that he towers over most men by a good foot...

So Bosko, where in Europe are you from again?

BT: I’m from Yugoslavia — the capital city, Belgrade.

Most people are probably wondering, what in the world brought you all the way to Oberlin, Ohio from Yugoslavia?

BT: Well, basketball brought me to the United States and Oberlin gave me a good academic scholarship. Plus, it’s a good school. To have the chance to play basketball and go to a good school is a hard thing to find so that’s really why I came to the United States.

Had you ever been to the United States before coming to college here?

BT: Yeah, I went to high school in New Jersey when I was a senior. Then I went to a junior college in Nebraska. After my freshman year in Nebraska I transferred to Oberlin. I just couldn’t stand Nebraska, it was too small for me.

So how different is the United States from home?

BT: The lifestyle is totally different. People here are a lot more busy than at home. At home it is much more relaxed. It’s so strict here, many more regulations and stuff. I prefer home to here.

How about basketball back home? Is it very different as well?

BT: It’s a really high level over there, same as here. There are some really great players there. In the U.S.A. they put much more emphasis on defense and it’s a faster game. Back home they tend to run the same plays. Yugoslavia beat the United States in the championships and really proved that some of the best players are the Europeans.

So it’s just as competitive?

BT: Western Europe is where all the money is for professional basketball in Europe. I already know a lot of people there and have the connections so maybe after I graduate I will play there.

When was the last time you were home?

BT: Last summer. I can’t go home now because of basketball season. It’s hard to adjust because when I go back home I’m from a really big city. But that’s a price I gotta pay to play and get an education at the same time.

Who is your favorite pro player and why?

BT: Peja Stojakovic, he plays on the Sacramento Kings and is from Yugoslavia too. He’s a really great player.

What do you want to do when you graduate?

BT: I probably will try to play overseas for a while, if I still have the desire to play professionally. If I decide to do that I’ll probably do that for a couple years to get some cash. If not, then I’ll use my diploma. My plans are for Europe though, not to stay here.

So we all know that this is your chance to crack on Dordje for all of Oberlin to see. So what you got?

BT: He’s my buddy and probably my best friend here. Sometimes he’s too serious. I’m a big joker and always laughing and sometimes he’s just too serious. But he’s a great guy and a really good basketball player.

The basketball team has had a tough season, how does the rest of the season and next year look?

BT: I mean, this year we’re just gonna show through the numbers. We’re missing some of the outside players like guards and wings but we have a really good coaching staff. They’re bringing in some great players, though, so next year will be fun to watch. This year we only have ten players, so it’s been tough.

What do you think about athletics at Oberlin College in general?

BT: People just don’t come to the athletic events and I can’t understand that. Other colleges fill the stands and have nice gyms. I just don’t understand why. I feel like they should advertise athletic events more here. It isn’t that hard to do.

So what do you think about teammate Steve Reid using Victoria’s Secret all the time?

BT: He’s from California and they’re all into that free spirit shit. After the games people always ask him and he has like six different kinds. It’s funny, he’s a big joker.

Anything else you want to say?

BT: Come to our game on Saturday. We only have three home games left with Senior Night on Feb, 22nd. It would be great to get a lot of people in the stands to support them.