Heavily Favored Hunter Stops by For Some Straight Talk

In part three of our series of Pre Tournament interviews, we were blessed with the opportunity to have a few moments with the heavily favored Jamie Hunter. We wanted to find out some more about what goes on when the cameras are not rolling and what drives him so hard to compete.

WTI: Mr. Hunter, it’s a privilege to be able to sit with you here today and hear what you have to say. I’d like to ask a few questions if that’s okay. You’re much more intimidating in person that we imagined. I can’t seem to put my finger on what it is. As I sit across from you, I am reminded of what it was like to line up opposite of Mike Singletary. I guess my first question is this; Why are you so intense?

Jamie: "You know for a long time I have been burdened with the weight of my people on my shoulders. When we were promised reparations like 3 acres and a mule, and we never got jack. Since then I took it upon myself to set things straight. My intensity reflects the frustration of a people who were lied to over and over again, so yeah. I guess I am pretty intense. You got a problem with that?"

WTI: No sir. How do you feel about the allegations that you are taking things a little too seriously? After all, isn’t it only a game?

Jamie: Man, Wii Sports is my life, so of course I take it seriously! My daddy taught me at a young age to come strong, or don’t come at all no matter what the task at hand is. Yeah, I was the kid in school doing lunges down the hall with my backpack and lunch box in between classes. Always trying to get that edge, you know?

WTI: I’m sure that you are more than aware of the attitudes of the participants. Many have threatened to boycott the events due to the way the scheduling was handled. An anonymous source told us that a few contestants are of the opinion that you have been training at 100% for weeks now and announced the last minute contest in order to give you an advantage. How do you respond?

Jamie: Sounds like sour grapes to me. Now I wont deny that I have upped my training regimen, but isn’t that what champions do? The object is to win this thing right? I’ve got a wife and kids to feed so I have to make and take any advantage that I can to bring home that prize. People are counting on me, and I’m sure those that are whinning about it would do the same thing! You know what I say? Just shut up and roll the rock! Shut up and roll the rock!

WTI: Let’s pretend for a moment that you are knocked out in the first round. The remaining contestants are in your house. What does a Jamie Hunter do then?

LG: Jamie: I’m not sure what you’re implying here, but I assure you this tournament will be conducted on the up and up. Now, in the unlikely event that I do lose in the first round would it be my fault if the conditions became very uncomfortable for the remaining participants? I mean we are playing in the middle of summer, right? So everyone should expect it to get pretty hot in there. I don’t have central air, and I can only use one fan at a time because of a faulty breaker in my electric system. Now if one of my kids happens to turn on all 4 of the fans at the same time and we lose power, the tournament would have to be called off. And I guess you’re saying it would be my fault, right? Gimme a break.

WTI: I would never imply anything along those lines. I was merely dealing in hypotheticals, sir. Moving on. I’d like to talk to you about the video that’s surfaced online recently. In it, you seem to be in a trance. Almost hell bent. What was going on there?

Jamie: That video was not supposed to be made public. That was during one of my intense work out sessions. In fact I didn’t even know I was being filmed. Now, I have to find out who leaked it and why. On the other hand if it intimidates some of my competitors, then so be it. Maybe they will wise up and drop out to save themselves from the humility of losing in front of all their friends. Either way it’s no sweat off my back. Remember the Bay of Pigs!

WTI: What are your plans for the prize money should you walk away with first place? What do you do first?

Jamie: See that’s just it! For me it’s never been about the money. I do this for the love of delivering beat downs, and for the love of the game. Knocking down trees is what I do for a living, but I would also do it for free. But since I am betting paid I do have plans for the prize money. I am going to invest in another set of Wii-mote, and maybe a game pad for my old school stuff. If anything’s left over I will buy groceries for the wife and kids. Man, they come first in my life no doubt about it. John 3:14.

WTI: I can sense your dedication to them. Do you have any special preparations for an event like this Saturday’s? Do you have any superstitions or rituals heading into the homestretch?

Jamie: Other than not eating pork or bean pies 48 hours leading up to the event I am not superstitious at all. Prepare well, and your fate lies squarely in your own hands. I don’t need luck. Luck is for hopeful losers. I’m a winner. Superstitious? Yeah, right.

WTI: I’d like to play word association with you. Please respond in as few words as possible when I say the following things. Luke Gaul.

Jamie: Sadly-mistaken. Because he thinks he can actually win this thing.

WTI: Okay. Trevor Paisley

Under-achiever. He could be better than he is, but he lacks the dedication required to compete that this level. Sad really.

WTI: One more. Shannon Hunter.

Jamie: My Ace Boon Coon. My Boo Boo. My La La.

WTI: Do you worry about facing her in the tournament? What happens if you do?

Jamie: You know I’ve often thought about that. In the end a win is a win though, so what else can I say. She would get her arse waxed just like everybody else. But at least it would be a little softer for after the tournament once everyone has gone………

WTI: Tell me a little bit about your daily regimen. What do you do in a typical day?

Jamie: In light of the tournament being right around the corner I’d rather not disclose my preparation strategy. I want to keep my competitive edge.

WTI: We definitely understand. I have two more questions and then we’ll let you get back to your day. First, tell us how you came to be so involved in this tournament, almost taking over the entire event. Was this a deliberate move to gain as much advantage as possible?

Jamie: You know, everyone has been saying that. But you know what? It took someone of my stature in the sport to organize a tournament with this much prestige and purse! Everyone complaining about it needs to remember how far I have brought this sport, and realize that without me it would still be merely a recreation. Not the full fledged competition that we all enjoy today. Gimme a break!

WTI: And finally, there are only 5 days to go before the tournament finally arrives. What would you like to say to your detractors and critics before this weekend?

Jamie: Everyone that’s saying I’m on the juice doesn’t really know me. They don’t know how much respect I have for this sport that I helped foster and nourish. Why would I do something to tarnish it? The game is bigger than any one person, and it’s up to all of us to preserve the integrity. All I’ve got to say is when the lumber starts falling on Saturday I plan to be the last Mii standing! Everybody else can show up to get rolled up! Out.

WTI: Thank you for spending some quality time with us Mr. Hunter. Good luck this weekend.

It was at this time that Jamie Hunter got up, looked us dead in the eyes and sneered. On the way out the door, he punched a hole in the wall and growled. He could be heard laughing maniacally from two floors away as he entered the limousine to take him back to his compound.