Member Spotlight on Darren Smith

Name: Darren Smith

Nicknames: Smithy, Dags, Trumpet Man, Yeah Baby

High School: Caloundra High, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

What City are you living in: Bris-vegas

First Fanatics Tour:

1997 US Open Final. I heard a bunch of Aussie blokes ripping it up & giving Greg Rusedski a bit of lip service, so I did what any honorable Aussie traveller would do… I packed up my old kit bag, jumped over a few yanks and joined the boys for the inaugural Fanatic gig.

What do you do when you are not on tour:

National Sales Manager in the fitness industry, catch up on lost sleep and waxing quality control manager for my hair & beauty salon.

Favourite Sporting Moment while on tour with the Fanatics:

It would have to be my 3 sensational tries at the winery footy match in Adelaide. I sidestepped Bighead, and ran rings around the rest – I retired soon after ‘cause I didn’t want to make the other team cry …

Favourite non sporting moment while on tour with the Fanatics:

Giving the Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe the finger in Harare ( Zimbabwe, 1999 ) soon after our Pat flogged Byron Black.

One sporting event you haven’t been to but would love to attend:

Wimbledon

Where would people find you at 3am on a regular Saturday night :

The Regatta Hotel – Brisbane, or stumbling somewhere between the Regatta & my unit …

When you are on tour who is one person you hate rooming with & why:

This one is hard as I haven’t had to share rooms much in the past. But if I did, I wouldn’t like to share with Disco & Mongrel. Disco would make the big fella laugh, at which point Mongrel would fart …. & then we’d all die from asphyxiation !

Which song will always get you dancing on the bar:

No Second Prize – Jimmy Barnes. This song says it all & from the heart…. Barnesey …. Barnesey… Barnesey ….

Favourite Drink:

Bourbon & Coke – Jim Beam of course

Creation or Evolution:

Creation

Coke or Pepsi:

Lets think about this for a minute…. Apart form the 20 kilos of sugar in every can of Coke, it’s chemical agent properties have been used in everything from rust remover, paint stripper and weed kill. Pepsi however, is being promoted as a wholesome new product by Britnes Spears & Shakira. So, in answer to the question, I have but one thing to say …. Give me the bloody Coke … NOW !

Capitalist or Socialist:

My hair & beauty salon is called Godiva’s – a new ladies only hair, face and body retreat in Milton, Brisbane. You can call us on 07 3876 2055. So I guess with that said you could say I’m a Capitalist ….

Club or Pub:

Pub – Brissie’s club circuit is about as much fun as being dragged along to Sunday school in a light beige safari suit when the surf at Greenmount is 4 – 6 foot, clean & rising …

Which moment has the most significance in Australian sporting history, was it Cliff Young winning the Sydney to Melbourne marathon running in gumboots, Australia 2's winged keel, Pat Cash's checkered headband,the invention of the padded Torpedo bikepants for under rugby shorts, David Boons 56 tinnies on the flight to London, the collapse of the Hobart Devils NBL franchise, Warrick Cappers pink Ferrari & mullet haircut or something else:

I would say Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin’s recent attempt at breaking the high jump world record, just seconds after a 6 metre croc named ‘Graham’ decided Steve’s arse looked like lunch !!!
P.S … MUST have a talk to Graham about his choice of diet !!!!!

If you could invite 5 people to share a six pack of long necks with who would they be & why?:

• Sir Richard Branson – any tips for franchising my new business ??
  
• Billy Birmingham ( the 12th Man ) – What’s the story with THAT haircut mate ?
  
• Michael Voss ( Brisbane Lions Captain ) – 2 premierships = 2 beers ..Go the mighty Lions!
  
• Holly Valance – need I say more..
  
• Osama Bin Laden – Osama doesn’t drink, Vossy’s already had two … Ok, we’ll all take turns & beat the life out of him.

Can you give the people of Australia a tip ?

Life is not a trial run … Better the man that at best knows great triumph, and at the worst knows defeat while daring greatly, so he can never be accused as one of those timid souls that knew neither victory nor defeat – Theodore Roosevelt