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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. |
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Recently, John Tavares set the National Lacrosse League's all-time scoring record. Correspondent, Kevin M. Neibauer had the opportunity to discuss the record, the Buffalo Bandits, the state of the NLL and the birth of a baby with the fifteen year veteran. | |
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First of all, let me, congratulations on the record, and on the birth of your son. |
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Thank You |
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Your thoughts on the record |
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It's really special. I have played a lot of seasons, with a lot of different guys. There has been so much talent on this team. Other teams can't just can't key on one guy, so that has created a lot of chances which I have been fortunate enough to convert....there are a lot of younger guys in this league who are scoring a lot. So, the record will surely be broken.
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So, your wife went into labor right after your record shattering performance... |
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Actually, she had the baby the next day. Justin, our son, was born, he weighed in at eight pounds.
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How much longer do you see yourself playing? |
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At least a couple more years. As long as I am producing, I don't have to be the best guy on the team, but, I do want to contribute. Playing keeps me out of trouble...LOL, actually, with my day job, the games have become a night out for my wife and I. We have great friends that we like to hang out with. Guys like Steve Dietrich, Pat McCready, Kyle Couling. But, all the guys on the team are friends. The wives and girlfriends are all friends and they like the camaraderie. |
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You mentioned your day job, what is it? |
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I teach High School Mathematics.
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Other than the Bandits, who looks like the team to beat? |
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The whole league is tough. Other than Edmonton, everyone is very good and on any given weekend you can go from first to last. |
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If someone told you that the Toronto Rock would have five losses and still be in the hunt, what would you have thought? |
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They started out 0-4, but, since have gone 7-1. To me, they are the hottest team in the league. It's like I said, every team can beat you on any given night. So, it will come down to who wants it more.
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Do the Bandits watch game film to prepare for an opponent? |
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Some teams do, some don't. We, as a team, don't usually watch film. We have a game plan. We do what we can to stay with that plan. |
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Can a team stop the Bandits by limiting yourself and Mark Steenhuis? |
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It's really hard to key on one or two guys. We have a lot of offensive weapons. Unfortunately, we haven't scored too many goals lately. But, we are in a good position, we do have four losses, but, we have a few games in hand, so, we're right there. Thank You to the Buffalo Bandits and John Tavares for their assistance. |
| PLPA Correspondent Kevin M. Neibauer has been contiributing to several on-line sites for the past ten years. Kevin currently acts as the Philadelphia Phantoms correspondent for ProHockeyNews.com Besides his work on the hockey site, Neibauer also contributes to PhiladelphiaLacrosse.com Kevin has been a box lacrosse referee in Philadelphia. Bt day, Kevin is a Union Sheet Metal Worker out of Local 19 in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area |
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