Eighth-grader?s interview gives rare view of Burnett

Recently we ran across a uniquely warm and revealing interview with Southwest Missouri State College Lady Bears coach Cheryl Burnett.

It was conducted early last year by Casie Fenwick of Springfield, an eighth-grader at the time. Casie, now a sophomore and assistant sports editor of the Glendale High School student paper, posted it on her "Cheryl Burnett Online" Web site at www.geocities.com/mi ssourimustang.

We encourage all to visit the site to read the entire interview. For now, though, let us share with you these excerpts:

Fenwick: First of all, how does it feel to be in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame?

Burnett: It's a tremendous honor. Actually, when you're currently coaching and not 60 or over, I think it's even more of an honor. And I just have attributed it to, of course, our team success, but also to our fans, our administration, and of course, to all the past players that have worked so hard. I simply got to be the one to stand up there and receive the award. A tremendous compliment.

Fenwick: You're hard-working, successful, and very respected. I, along with many other people, really admire you. Do you think you are a role model?

Burnett: Absolutely. And, in fact, I thank you for those compliments. The reason I got into coaching was because I had a high school coach by the name of Jim Enlow that I felt was a tremendous role model for me, and everyone else at Centralia High School. .... I wanted to try to impact somebody's life the way he impacted mine. So, you gave me the ultimate compliment. Thank you.

Fenwick: I went to a game where there were over 9,100 people. Does it ever overwhelm you to see that many people?

Burnett: Every single time. I'll never forget the first time this building was full, and the emotions I had. Really, I felt the emotions as a player would because, when I was playing, I always dreamed in my mind of playing in front of a packed house with all that energy, and then saw it come to pass as a coach. But every single time this place is full, I almost cry. I always well up and feel that emotion in-side of me.

Fenwick: I have one left. Is there anything interesting about you you'd like to tell me?

Burnett: Oh, gosh! I'm the most boring person in the world! (Laughs) Somebody interviewed me a couple of years ago, and they said, Well coach, what do you do in your spare time?' I said, well, I either play basketball, or I watch basketball. He said, Ok, well what do you do on your off day?' Well, I either coach basketball, or I play basketball, or I watch it. I'm not saying I'm one-dimensional, but when you want to be successful at something, as I guess, I desire to do, then you're always active in what that is. The only other interesting thing is, I guess, I think my whole life is built around, again, spiritual aspects. I never lose sight of what is the most important thing to me in this world. And the last is when you're in a business that is as intense as this one, it's very important to, what I call, find a little miracle every single day. Whether it's the smile of a child, or a flower over there, that's really what I go into every day trying to do. That's why I love Oprah Winfrey. She's always sharing something that's just a very special, small thing. I don't really think I'm that interesting of an individual. But, I guess, that's as much as I can share about that.

Our thanks to Casie Fenwick for letting us print her interview here, and we want to thank Cheryl Burnett for, well, being Cheryl Burnett.