INTERVIEW WITH MIMI BOSIKA, MLTT’s VP of COMPETITION

In a life inextricably intertwined with table tennis, MLTT’s Mimi Bosika’s Serbian background sometimes shows itself…you get the sense that she’d just as easily rip a backhand loop past you (like Ilija Lupulesku) as she would bounce a no-look pass from the high post on a backdoor cut for a layup (like Nikola Jokic). Nice kicks, Mimi!

January 17, 2024. Everyone associated with MLTT knows Mimi Bosika, and to know Mimi is to love Mimi. She is the One Woman Swiss Army Knife of the league and especially for the athletes…facilitating their travel and hotel arrangements, visa applications, payments, getting them on the right shuttle, answering all their questions about logistics and life in general, even making sure the Players Lounge is fully-stocked and a comfortable oasis away from the pressure of the table. Earlier in the season, we once referred to her as “MLTT Mother” and while she appreciated the sentiment, her immediate response was “Can we make it kind of a very caring older sister instead?” Consider it done! Whatever her moniker, everyone agrees that Mimi is the emotional heart and soul of MLTT team. We here at Majorponghead were honored when she agreed to answer a few questions for our first every interview article. So without any further ado, let’s all get to know Big Sis Mimi a bit better.

Athletes and coaches weren’t the only ones to participate in the media day photoshoot at Rock Hill….but I think you’ll agree that Mimi took it to another level. WOW!!!

MPH: You're the guru for the players’ (and coaches, and owners) arrangements surrounding travel, hotel, finances, logistics, questions and help for anything and everything. All the table tennis athletes know and love you. But your own history with table tennis is somewhat of a mystery. Can you give us the story of how you and TT came to be an item?

Mimi: Ever since I can remember, I used to visit my dad at work at his table tennis club. He was a world class coach in the former Yugoslavia, so I traveled with him to competitions and began playing when I was 5 years old. I trained and competed at a very intense club from a small town in what is now Serbia until we moved to the United States when I was 11 years old. I continued to train in Europe every summer and lived at the US Olympic Training Center in Michigan as a teenager. I was a top junior in the US and even won several US Open titles before going off to college. Since then, I have stayed active in table tennis by organizing coaching clinics in the US and abroad, running tournaments and doing exhibitions and corporate events.

MPH: We see you at every event seemingly doing everything to take care of the players. What's a typical MLTT competition day like for you? 

Mimi: A lot of the work I do happens before each competition weekend to make sure that player and coach logistics are seamless. During the competition, I am accountable for organizing practice times and transportation, managing match rosters, setting up the athlete lounge and anything relating to players and coaches to make sure that their experience is great and that each day runs smoothly.

MPH: What's the craziest thing that's ever happened with a player before, during or after an MLTT event? Feel free to leave out names to protect the innocent (or not-so-innocent).

Mimi: Other than the occasional broken finger or a player being stuck in a country without a passport, I have been pretty lucky not to encounter too many crazy things. Perhaps the craziest was having to speak with a player’s mother prior to our draft to convince her that I am not a scammer from Thailand trying to get her son to pay for a ticket to the US for the combine. He ended up coming and was drafted, so it all worked out.

MPH: From our discussions with the players, you seem to be universally adored. What are your thoughts on the MLTT athletes, and also on the present and future of the league?

Mimi: The feeling is mutual - I LOVE our players. It has been such a pleasure working with them. When Flint first approached me with the job description, I told him that it seemed to be written for me. I think that our league is very unique and exciting, and the people involved are very committed, so I expect great things to continue to happen as we grow. Things move so fast and I can’t wait to see where we will be in a few years.

MPH: Please give us a glimpse into the personal life of Mimi Bosika. Outside of MLTT and table tennis, what are your interests? And if you weren't involved in MLTT, where would your career path have taken you?

Mimi: Well, I studied entrepreneurship and economics at University of Chicago and I used my MBA to start several businesses about a decade ago in the wellness field. My business partner Eric (Owens) is the coach of the Chicago Wind and we met as teenagers when he was training with my dad at the US Olympic Training Center. Somehow I have always been surrounded by people in the table tennis community in everything I did. I recently became a mom to Leo, who is one, and I live with my partner PJ in Chicago. MLTT came into my life unexpectedly, but I always imagined that sports and wellness would continue to be a part of my professional life. One of my main interests is traveling, so I’m lucky that I get to do that for work and for fun. 

MPH: OK now we’re gonna put you on the spot. Here’s the scenario: it's 20-20 in the Golden Game of Life. You can pick any current MLTT player to go up and represent Team Mimi for the Ultimate Golden Point. Who do you select and why?

Mimi: As you know, we love the element of surprise at MLTT, which is why the lineups for the Golden Game are always done at the last minute. So, I’ll be keeping my Ultimate Golden Point player private until game time (editor’s note: Mimi’s answer to this question is what is known as “Ping-Pong Diplomacy”).

With the #1 draft pick in the 2045 MLTT draft, the expansion Las Vegas Lions select….Leo Bosika!