Gophers women’s tennis coach Martin Novak is a man who speaks his mind. He will give people an honest and straight-forward answer, whether they like it or not –regardless of the subject.
He was asked for his feelings on a series of random questions. The following excerpts prove once again that Martin Novak means what he says.
Daily: How do you feel today?
Novak: I feel very good.
D: How did you feel when I called you about doing this story?
N: I wanted to talk you face to face to see what the purpose of this story is going to be. Obviously, it’s not relevant to the tennis team. That’s my job. I didn’t see it as a, ‘Boy here we go.’ It sounds like a straight-forward deal.
D: How did you feel when you were born?
N: That was the best day of my life. It was the first very good day of my life. But I don’t recall much.
D: How do you feel when you get stuck in traffic?
N: That’s an aspect I’ve been working on. It used to drive me nuts when people wouldn’t use blinkers. Exercising patience is something I have learned quite a bit of in coaching. It’s the same feeling you have in the grocery store when you have 19 cashiers, and you stick with one and you wonder if you’re in the correct lane.
D: How do you feel when the tornado sirens go off?
N: I’m not much afraid of tornadoes. A tornado is like flying to me: It’s a calculated risk you take. Fear in that sense is not part of my existence.
D: How did you feel when you got married?
N: It was obviously a great experience because it really involved a lot of different aspects of my life — and yet I have no memory of the day. I have no idea what time of day it was. I have no idea what music was being played, and I have no memory of anything before the altar. And I was fairly relaxed. Everything has been great since.
D: How do you feel when it’s tax season?
N: This year a little worse than previously. Coming from Sweden, paying the percentages we’re paying here is still a relief. I’ve never seen taxes as a burden. For the lifestyle my wife and I are living, I don’t feel bad about paying taxes. I feel a social responsibility and I hope that if I’m ever in dire need that there is someone that helps me out.
D: How do you feel about the NBA Finals?
N: I’m a really big fan of Michael Jordan because of how he competes and how he makes players around him better. They have an underpaid superstar in Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, who I’d put in a different category. But when he plays, he comes to play. The wonderful stuff is Utah, in today’s free agency, how these guys have stuck together. They have to work together. So you have Chicago, who’s a little more talent-oriented, and then you have Utah, who is so disciplined in what they do. I’d be happy with Karl Malone, Stockton and Hornacek, and I’d be equally pleased to see Chicago pull through. I will be happy for either one of them.
D: How do you feel at the end of this interview?
N: I feel good. I hope you find some fun stuff in this. I’m relieved. I’m not afraid of answering your questions.

— This interview is real.