Georgina Lennon sits down with Rocks player Sterling Davis...
"Pearl" is a bit of strange nickname for a 6ft 7inch basketball player, but there is a unique story behind it. Sterling Davis’s father, Fred, used to call him ‘Sterl’ which through time became ‘Sterl the Pearl.’
“My dad would come to all my games and shout ‘Sterl the pearl’ from the stands. It was after his hero ‘Earl the Pearl’, 60s NBA star Earl Monroe,” explains Sterling.
Sterling has lived and breathed basketball since he was the tender age of six-years-old, thanks to his father.
“My dad coached high school basketball when he was younger so I was always in the gym watching their practise, at games and learning from my father. It was a great thing for us to do together, we really bonded through it,” said Sterling.
“My father is my hero. He’s the perfect example of what a man and father should be. He’s always been there supporting me,” he adds.
The importance of fatherhood is something Sterling knows about first hand, as he’s daddy to his two-year-old son, Mateo.
“He’s beginning to show an interest in the game and always tries to copy what I’m doing,” laughs Sterling. "The funny thing is though, every time he sees a basketball player he thinks daddy.”
Sterling is humble at what he does for a living and believes that it’s an honour to play professional basketball.
“So many people would love to play the game at this level and don’t get the opportunity, so my advice to anyone wanting a career in basketball is work hard, be committed and don’t take what you do for granted. Appreciate every moment,” says Sterling.
He was only supposed to be with the Rocks temporarily, however Sterling enjoyed being here so much that he accepted the offer to become a permanent member of the team.
“I was really pleased when I was asked to stay on. The fans are great and Glasgow is a good place to be – shame about the weather though.”
When not on the court, Sterling’s passion is for real estate. He loves going to see old and new property’s, especially ones that are unique inside. Or he likes to chill out and read a good book, particularly autobiographies.
Kobe Bryant is the player Sterling most admires, not only for his skill on the court but also for what he has overcome off the court. As someone who has a strong belief in God, and believes his faith will get him through tough times, Sterling thinks Kobe Bryant has shown great strength to deal with the adversity in his life.
Sterling’s personal moment of glory in basketball was when his team, Oklahoma Storm won the USBL Championship in 2002.
“Kareem Abdul Jabar was our coach. He is a legend and to play under him was a great honour for me,” said Sterling. “Plus it was the only title I ever won back home in America.”
For the remainder of the season Sterling hopes his team can start the play-offs on a high and can get that crucial home-tie game. “We’ve had a few hard games and came back fighting so hopefully we can continue to win and go out on a high,” said Sterling.
