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Player Spotlight highlights the finer details and elements while supplying insight to the fans on what a player's thought process may be pertaining to a certain play, game or situation. It brings the intensity, passion, and inner most thoughts of the individual player that otherwise may not be felt or heard. |
03/2/02 A few words with Ottawa Rebel's Forward Chris Konopliff following a 19-17 loss to the Philadelphia Wings. Chris talked about the loss with PLPA correspondent David Unkle | |
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The Philadelphia Wings lost their last three games (including a big Valentine's weekend loss to the 2-9 New Jersey). How does Philadelphia look going into their push for the playoffs? |
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They look OK but they're a little banged up right now. They are a veteran club and they always play a solid game but they have a few key injuries that guys are playing through and that might hurt them in the long run.
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The Rebel's have a short week; you play again on Thursday night against Washington? How does playing against two top teams in five days change your preparation and style of play? |
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I don't think it changes it at all…we just have to come in with the same mindset and just work hard every shift and that's what has been keeping us in these game. |
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Your team record is 2-10 after tonight's loss; what does this team need to accomplish with the remainder of the season? |
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You're playing for a sense of pride…I think we've come a long way since the beginning of the season…we had a coaching change, management change, a lot of changes since last year…we just want to finish off the year strong and keep playing the way we're playing.
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Going into next season, what do you see as the strengths of the Rebel? |
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I think one of strengths is that we're a young squad…we have a lot of young guys who work hard and have a great work ethic…we need that to carryover into next season.
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From your perspective, how have the teams in the league changed this year as compared to last year? |
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It's definitely wide-open…it just goes to show you that New Jersey comes in here [Philadelphia's First Union Center] and beats them. Any team on any night can beat any other team in this league...it's pretty much whomever wants it the most that given night…you can match up team for team, player for player pretty even…it's that kind of league and I think it will stay that way.
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What has changed in your game this year; you have more than doubled your 2001 season point total? |
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It's just more playing time…more playing time on the power play…coming in with a better focus and a little more experience.
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What are your pre-game rituals…how do you prepare mentally for a sixty minute battle? |
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I try and go through the same routine…to get into the right mind set; I'm always the last one to leave the dressing room and the last one to leave the floor.
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What can be done to get the word out about "The Fastest Game on Two Feet"? |
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I think it just a matter of more exposure...more publicity…just getting people interested in lacrosse. You can go talk to a lot of people that haven't even heard of lacrosse or if they have, they haven't seen a game…it's just a matter of getting people more interested and getting more television coverage. It's been pretty good for us, especially in Ottawa where we have good coverage and I think that's really helping us.
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What message can you share with the younger fans who dream of playing in the National Lacrosse League? |
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I think the biggest thing when I was a kid, I was told the same thing…practice. You have to get out to the lacrosse box and play... use your stick and shoot against the boards, shoot it on the net…the biggest thing is practice, practice, practice.
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| PLPA Correspondent David W. Unkle is the host of The Topcat & Taggart Sports Show aired on WNJC 1360-AM...Philadelphia's Renaissance Radio Station every Sunday from 4:30-5:30 PM (Eastern Time). The Topcat & Taggart Sports Show brings local and national sports figures of yesterday and today to the airwaves highlighting both the professional and personal dimensions. David also is a Staff Writer for South Jersey Sports On-Line (www.SJSports.com) covering the Philadelphia Wings. A former semi-professional football player and ice-hockey enthusiast, David covers the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL), Trenton Titans (ECHL) and Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (ECHL). You can write to David at: dunkle@sjsports.com |
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