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Justin Papadakis Senior Profile
10/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C. ? Justin Papadakis sat down with GoDuke.com for his senior profile. Papadakis discusses his favorite professional soccer team, his favorite food, his dream job, plus much more.
GoDuke.com: What is your nickname?
Justin Papadakis: As one can image, a last name such as Papadakis lends itself kindly to many derivations, which include but not limited to: J-Pop, Pap, Pappa and Poppa-Doc.
GD: What do you have in your iPod before a game?
JP: Being born and raised in the south I have a natural affinity for Country music, which comprises the majority of my music library. However, this semester I am taking an English course in which we have studied Frank Sinatra. After being exposed to Sinatra for the first time, like most, I now consider myself a big fan.
GD: What is your favorite professional team?
JP: My favorite professional team is Benfica, which is based out of Lisbon, Portugal. The reason behind this is not due to their achievements on the field, which are many, but due primarily to my familiarity with the club from playing for them for two years during high school.
GD: Who is your favorite professional player outside your sport?
JP: I would choose Roger Federer or Tiger Woods because I believe that their many on-the-field accomplishments have not altered their priority structure, namely family, which is common in many athletes.
GD: Describe your SportsCenter moment.
JP: Winning the ACC Championship against UNC in 2005 in penalty kicks could be viewed as my SportsCenter moment because of the weight of the game and the storied rivalry between the two opponents.
GD: What's your favorite food?
JP: My favorite food is without question anything that my mother makes for me. However being at school I do not get to enjoy this very often, so while at school my favorite food is whatever Wendy at the Nosh Restaurant comes up with for her daily specials.
GD: Who's had the most impact on your life and why?
JP: This question is very easy for me answer on the surface but I cannot even begin to describe the impact that my family has had on my life. Athletically, my father and his unwavering support and teachings have provided me with the confidence and talent to participate at any level of the game. More importantly, teaching me about life that no school or book ever could. My mother ? there are no words for me to describe what she means to me. My sister is my best friend and has guided me through the good and the tough times. Finally, my grandparents have given me an outlook on life that, only now that I am getting older am beginning to understand their great wisdom.
GD: Who's had the most impact on your athletic career and why?
JP: My father ? all that I have accomplished and all that I will accomplish is due to his teachings and patience with me.
GD: What is your dream job?
JP: Commissioner of Major League Soccer because I truly believe that the game of soccer and Major League Soccer have a bright future in the United States.
GD: Where is your secret spot to study?
JP: Nosh Restaurant because it has the two necessary complements to a successful study night: good food and good coffee.
GD: What's the best advice you've ever received?
JP: Make it so you do not ever have to play soccer ? always pursue the dual track of athletics and academics, from my father.
GD: What is your advice to this year's freshmen on your team?
JP: Enjoy every moment of their time at Duke, on and off the field, because it will pass by very quickly.
GD: What do you do in your free time?
JP: School and soccer combine for a rather busy schedule, but in my free time I try to spend time with my sister, Maria, as much as I can. She has just entered her first year of law school at Case Western in Cleveland, Ohio, but she is planning on coming down for the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. My other favorite way to spend my free time is going for coffee with my mom.
Players Mentioned
GK
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