We were able to round up a few more MLL studs who wanted to wax philosophical about the game they play and the league where they shine. So for this round we’ve turned it over to the finesse guys. The stylish and productive group of Kyle Harrison and Chazz Woodson of the LA Riptide, and Scott Urick and Matt Danowski of the New Jersey Pride share their thoughts below. How is your stick strung (is there any secret)? Danowski: A lot of whip Urick: Whatever way Dan Chemotti decides it should be strung. Woodson: My stick tends to be strung different ways different years. I’m very particular about how everything feels when I’m throwing, so it always takes me a while before I have it strung just the way I like (for that particular time period). Sometimes it’s a high pocket, sometimes very low. Right now, it’s kind of low, but very shallow. Harrison: Unfortunately, I don’t know how to string a stick, but I do have a few buddies that string them up for me. I like the pocket in the middle, and I don’t play with much whip at all. If you don’t string your own stick: (1) Who does? (2) Who strung the best stick you ever used? Urick: Dan Chemotti strings my sticks, and he is the best stick stringer on the planet. The secret is to ask him 1,000 times so that he finally finishes it for you. Woodson: Matt Shakespeare from Brown strung my stick last year, a couple of days before I was traded out to LA (when my production began to increase). Superstitious as I am, I didn’t want to stray too far from that style of stringing. So I’ve made slight modifications because I changed over to a Brine head, but the style is pretty much his. The two best strung sticks I’ve had were a Brine factory strung traditional edge that I played with in high school, and then I was stringing my sticks for two years in college with sweatshirt laces. It was AMAZING. But then we got new sweatshirts with a different type of lace. Harrison: (1) I’ve got a few people. Evan Kay (former UMBC player, now works for STX), Joe Walters, Benson Erwin, Maxx Davis (2) My boy from Hopkins, Jamison Koesterer, my senior year in college. It was the best stick I’ve ever had. Is there any special way you tape your shaft? why? Woodson: I try to stay away from having tape on my stick. That’s actually why I like the Swizzle a lot. Harrison: Nah, no special way, I only put a bit of tape on the bottom of the shaft, that’s it. What was your first stick? Danowski: A Viper with leather, it was tight Urick: Excalibur Woodson: I had a red Sam or Super Lite. Don’t remember which one. It was passed on to me by some older players. But the first brand new one I owned was a Syracuse Laser Hi-Wall, that I thought was the best thing since sliced bread. Had a “chrome” shaft. Best stick on the planet. Harrison: My dad’s old wooden one that I could hardly pick up. Got rid of that one ASAP and grabbed an STX Turbo head, but I don’t remember the shaft. Best lacrosse game you’ve watched was? why? Danowski: Duke vs. Cornell two years ago in the Final Four because we won, and it was nuts. Urick: 1998 gold medal game at the World Championships in Baltimore. Woodson: Very tough to say. But the list would include the UVA Final Four game in ‘05, the ’04 ‘Cuse-Navy Final, and the Hopkins Final in ‘05. There may be better ones, but I don’t watch too much lacrosse. Harrison: Well I actually didn’t watch too much lacrosse growing up. The best game you’ve ever played? What made it the best game? Danowski: 4g, 6a against UNC in the quarters because we were down by a bunch at halftime and came back to the Final Four. Urick: 1999 NCAA Quarterfinals—Georgetown vs. Duke. Woodson: Best game I ever played was in the Virginia Commonwealth Games I think as a freshman in high school. I was sick (literally sick) all game, and the heat was ridiculous, but that’s when my whole diving, jumping, etc. stuff really took off. For whatever reason, I was just on that day, and scored about as many possible ways as you can think of. Harrison: [Hopkins v] UVA in the Final Four in 2005 was the best game I’ve ever been a part of. The way they came back, the rain delay, [Jake] Byrnes’ goal with seconds left, Bense [Benson Erwin] getting the game winner in OT. Just a great game to be a prt of. What do you do, besides being a professional lacrosse player (if you have a 9-5 job, what is it)? Danowski: Masters student at Duke University Urick: I am an assistant lacrosse coach at Georgetown University Woodson: I run 3D ATHLETES. Essentially, it’s camps, appearances, private lessons. At present, it’s all me, but eventually I’m looking to bring on some other accomplished athletes in all sports, and expand into all sports. Harrison: I am signed with both STX and Nike, and run a camp company called Run N’ Gun Lacrosse with Joey Walters. Who is your biggest lacrosse influence? Danowski: My father Woodson: Definitely never would have gotten started without my father. He put a stick in my hand, and got me going big time. Beyond that, I’d have to say that Tom Duquette has had the biggest influence on me. I won’t throw his credentials out, but if you don’t know, Google him. Harrison: I’d have to say my father. He’s the reason I started playing the sport and the reason I’ve continued playing the sport. He’s my biggest fan and biggest critic. Through the years, you have had many coaches. Is there anything a coach said that still sticks out in your memory today? Danowski: My high school coach, Buddy Krumenacker, because he never let me settle for anything that wasn’t my best. Urick: If you want to dance you have to pay the fiddler. Woodson: There are TONS of things that stick out in my head. My dad always used to say that, “You don’t demand respect, you command it.” Tom York used to say all the time that, “80% of being here is just showing up.” The one that jumped into my head immediately was during football practice my junior year. There were news cameras out, and I was just running by and over people … I think it was coincidence to tell you the truth. But Tommy Lewis pulled me aside and simply said, “Always play like there are cameras around.” Harrison: Coach Petro saying to me the only way I’ll become great is to learn to play as hard as I possibly can on EVERY play of EVERY game. I had a tendency coming out of high school to coast through games. I think it was because we didn’t have a huge team at Friends (my high school) so I played A LOT and would coast through parts of the game and save energy for the end. When I got to college, that was definitely the hardest habit to break. I had to learn to leave it all out there every single time I stepped on the field. What songs are on your I-pod for pregame? Danowski: Lil’ Wayne Urick: “I Do Believe We’re Naked” by Funky See Funky Do Woodson: All kinds of things, from the Cupid Shuffle, to Black Ice (Spoken Word Artist), to Lil Wayne, Biggie … all depends on the mood I’m in. Harrison: I’ve got a lot of different stuff. No one song I play right before I go out. Got to have some Weezy, Jay-Z, Eminem, and a few others. Do you have any pregame superstitions? Woodson: Not so much superstition as much as routine. I like to get to the locker room early (contrary to popular belief), shoot hoops if I have the opportunity, relax, take my time getting dressed. Almost always change socks, spandex, and shirt before warm-ups. Music from hotel through warm-ups. Definitely PRAY. Harrison: Say a little prayer before I put my jersey on. The night before a game I must eat____? Danowski: Food Urick: Ham and turkey sandwich with honey mustard and sweet peppers. Harrison: I try to eat well, but I don’t have one particular thing I like to eat the night before. Michael Jordan had his UNC shorts. Is there something you must wear in a game? Woodson: Used to be that way. But everything is luck to me, until we lose, and then I have to get a new lucky, whatever it is … (might be food, might be a shirt, might be a song …). So tough to keep track of. Harrison: Yup, I’ve got to wear a grey cotton shirt under my jersey. I tried to get away from it this year and didn’t do it for two at the beginning of the season, and we lost both, and I didn’t play well. What three things can/should kids do to improve their game? Danowski: Watch film, stick skills, play other sports Urick: Practice at full speed! Woodson: GET ON THE WALL. Get in shape. Be creative – think outside the box. Harrison: Everyone says it, but constantly playing wall ball developing stick skills. Secondly, speed and agility work is extremely important as well. The past few years I’ve gotten away from just lifting weights and gotten more into becoming quicker and faster. What three drills should a kid always do when they are at the wall? Danowski: One-handed with both hands, behind the back, and between the legs with one hand. Urick: Work their off hand, quick sticks, practice catching bad passes. Woodson: Everything, lefty and righty. If you have a big wall, get your feet moving (up and back, side to side). Then at the end, always do some things that your coach tells you never to do. You may never consciously think to do it, but if you are prepared, it’ll come out when it’s supposed to. The MLL rules are a little different compared to high school and college lacrosse. What should a player be looking at when watching an MLL game? Danowski: How the team that plays the best together will most likely win. Kids should not just focus on individual skills but pick up on the little things that make each player and team great. Woodson: Focus on the stick skills, footwork, decision making. Sometimes any one or all of those may be horrendous, but you should be able to spot that as well. Just because we are pros, doesn’t mean that we are perfect. Harrison: While the rules are different, we’re all trying to accomplish the same goals. Stopping people on defense and putting the ball in the back of the net on offense. You’ve got the most talented players in the world playing in this league, so take as much from these guys as you can. Watch as many games as possible and focus on the players that play your position. Watch their moves, watch how they carry themselves, and watch everything they do. Finally, if you could tell all the young players reading this any advice, what would you tell them? Danowski: If you want to have the most fun possible playing lacrosse, practice your stick skills because without stick skills the game can be really frustrating. Play other sports as well, playing basketball and football helped me improve my lacrosse game, but most of all have fun and enjoy it. Urick: Through hard work anything is possible. Woodson: Enjoy yourself. If you ever get to the point where you don’t want to get better, stop playing. Harrison: I’d tell them a few things. One, enjoy this game man. We’re at a great time in our sport with the growth, media coverage and the amount of people playing this sport all over the country. Develop a work ethic at an early age and learn to compete as hard as you can anytime you get the opportunity to step on the field. Lastly, when you get out to an MLL game, and you get to talk to the players, ask these guys questions. You get the opportunity to talk to the best and most knowledgeable guys in the sport! Rather than asking for their socks, or sticks, or gloves, or helmets, ask them a question.