The Princeton Hot Seat is a new recurring photo blog to highlight the transient nature of the rowing community in the Princeton, New Jersey area.  It's open to anyone directly involved with the sport of rowing that comes to Princeton on rowing "business".  Could be rowers, coxswains, coaches, boatmen, officials, etc.

How does the Hot Seat Work?

Each subject gets four questions to answer, the first of which is simply, why are you here (in Princeton)?  Then the subject randomly draws the remaining three from a pool of pre-determined questions, of which half are rowing related, half are not...and can be pretty random.  They get one pass.

On the Hot Seat today is Mike Gennaro of the 2015 USA M8+.

Princeton Hot Seat - Why are you in Princeton?

Mike Gennaro - I'm in Princeton for business.

PHS - Do you recall any epic mid-race coxswain calls in your racing history?

MG -  In 2005, I was a sophomore in the St. Joseph's Prep varsity 8 racing in the quarterfinals at the Henley Royal Regatta. Two members of that year's SJP senior class had passed away, and we had five seniors in the lineup. Midway through the race, we were having a tough time breaking away from Pangbourne College when the coxswain, Mark DelGuercio, younger brother of Ned DelGuercio, made a call for "Pat and Pat, our fallen brothers" and we took off. It was a very epic and personal call that really resonated with everyone in the boat. The five seniors really took that call to heart and drove us across the line. 

PHS - What actor would you want to play you in a movie about your life and why?

MG -   Probably Bradley Cooper, because we're both funny, good looking guys from Philadelphia. But he's a Georgetown guy and I'm a Syracuse guy, so I'm not sure how that would work out.  If Bradley Cooper is too busy or has prior obligations, Taylor Kitsch would be the obvious back up for the lead role. 

PHS - Do you have any pre-race routines, superstitions or habits?

MG - I spend time on my phone. If anyone knows me, they know that I can't live without that thing. I've got all my music on there. I'll text my family and friends. I'll read over some notes that I've taken over the years. Scroll through Twitter and Instagram. I know that all sounds very "millennial-esque" but it's an effective way to keep an ADHD guy like myself calm and relaxed before it's time to warm up for the race. 

Coming to Princeton and want to give the hot seat a go?  Contact row2k here.