The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
20 Questions with Leslie Imber
09.30.2004 | Soccer
Another member of Texas' highly-touted 2004 recruiting class, Leslie Imber has already seen significant action this year as a freshman for the Texas soccer team. A tactically-sound player, Imber shows great knowledge of the game, anticipates well and has the ability to read the field both as a forward and as a defender. A native of Houston, Texas, Imber recently sat down to answer 20 questions for TexasSports.com.
1. Soccer is huge around the world, but not as big in the United States. This is interesting because so many kids grow up playing soccer in America. What are your thoughts on the status of soccer in America?
"I think people in the United States are just more apt to play baseball because it's always been an American sport. Football's also become a big deal. I think as far as women's athletics go, soccer is starting to pick up. As time passes, it will really start to build."
2. What do you consider your biggest accomplishment up until now?
"Playing for Texas. I think Texas is a great school and I've always wanted to come here. It has always been a dream of mine. So actually fulfilling that dream is a great experience for me. I have an older sister who is a junior here at Texas and both of my parents went here as well."
3. Since you are big on traveling, what is the best city you've visited?
"Probably Cozumel, Mexico, because I have a lot of good memories from there with my friends. We actually went there on spring break last year."
4. Who is someone you've always wanted to meet?
"The Pope. I know Caitlin said that too (because I told her too), but I think the Pope is a very interesting person and has experienced a lot over the years. I just think he's a unique person and it would be fun to see what he has to say and what his viewpoints are on various issues. I'm a Catholic myself, so that's another reason I really want to meet him."
5. What's your favorite holiday?
"Thanksgiving is my favorite because I love my mom's cooking. The Imber family tradition is to have a mid-afternoon dinner, then we would go out and play football together and see a movie afterwards. I haven't been home for Thanksgiving since middle school because of region team events for soccer, so I don't even know what movie they watched last year."
6. Tell me about your brother and sister.
"My sister is 20 and goes to UT as well. We call our little brother 'Man' because his name (Joseph Robert Imber III) is so long and he doesn't look like a Joseph or anything like that. Also when he was born, my grandfather said to my dad, 'Oh, you finally got your man,' and my sister thought that was his name, so we've called him 'Man' ever since."
7. What's your favorite sports team?
"The Houston Texans because I'm a native Houstonian. David Carr would probably be my favorite player on the team because he's really good looking."
8. What's in your CD player right now?
"Reckless Kelly. I listen to a lot of local bands like them and Pat Green. The last concert I went to was Jerry Jeff Walker in downtown Houston during the Super Bowl. I was actually on MTV's 'TRL' Super Bowl show and one of my friends got chosen for this contest where you had to ride a mechanical bull. He lost, but the guy who won got two free tickets to the game."
9. What's your dream sporting event to go to?
"The Super Bowl, definitely, because in the U.S. it's so big and the host city really gets into it with all kinds of events."
10. What's your favorite movie of all-time?
"I have a few actually. 'Airplane,' which is that really cheesy movie from the '80s which has a lot of great lines that I love to quote. One is, "Did you have the beef or the fish?" The other guy says, "Oh yeah I remember, I had the lasagna!" It really doesn't make sense to people who haven't seen the movie. 'Super Troopers' is also a favorite of mine because it's a good movie to quote, too. Any funny movie is good."
11. What's your favorite TV show of all time?
"I like 'That '70s Show,' 'Saved by the Bell,' 'Sex & the City' and 'Friends.'"
12. Let's say all of those shows were on at the same time, it's a season finale, and you have nothing to record with, which one would you watch?
"I'd probably have to go with Sex & the City."
13. Do you prefer to cook, bake or just eat?
"Actually, I like to cook a lot. At one point, I actually wanted to be a chef. I watch the Food Network all of the time. I used to watch 'Emeril' a lot and I like '$40 a day with Rachel Ray'."
14. What's your dream job?
"My dream job would be to travel the world while surfing. I would be a billionaire with no profession and just roam the world."
15. What is your biggest pet peeve?
"Having empty hangers in between my clothes. I don't know why, but it just really bothers me."
16. What one word or animal would you use to describe the overall personality of the soccer team?
"I would compare us to hyenas because we are always laughing."
17. Who is your favorite soccer player?
"Kelly Wilson because she works really, really hard and is a perfect example of what it takes. She is also someone who has worked extremely hard throughout her entire life and has actually succeeded at the highest level. She's always there for her teammates and she's a great leader both on and off the field."
18. What's your favorite animated Disney movie?
"'The Little Mermaid,' because I like the little crab, Sebastian, and the fish, Flounder. My favorite song in the movie is 'Under the Sea.'"
19. What's your "closet" CD?
"Ace of Base. It was my first-ever CD. My cousin actually gave it to me as a Christmas present and gave my sister a Seal CD. Wow, that was forever ago."
20. What accessory/appliance can you not live without?
"My purse because purses are fun. I have too many to count. An appliance would have to be my hair straightener because without it, I would have a big mess of fro. It would be a huge frizz-ball. Unless I wear it curly, which isn't very often, I always straighten it."
