Tonight’s match up between the Albany Attack and the Toronto Rock continued
the Attack’s home game undefeated win streak, and yet another down to the
wire, nail biter game. The game proved to be one of the second lowest
scoring games in NLL history versus the defending league champions as the
Attack overcame Toronto 8-7 in regulation play. The game remained tied
throughout most of the second half when Gary Rosyski tied it up for Albany .
NLL goal-scoring leader Ted Dowling planted the game winner in the game’s
final minute with his third score of the day. PLPA correspondent Saul Davidson of arenamedia caught up with Ted in the locker room after the game
for what turned out to be a very colorful and candid spotlight!
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Being a 7 year / 5 team veteran in professional lacrosse, you’ve seen
several aspects and several rosters of the MILL / NLL. How does the Attack
differ from your teams of old?
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Coaching..they’ve got guys that study the game and know the game and
that’s the difference. Every teams got athletes and ever team has goal
scorers and defensive players and goalies but this team has the coach that’s
like Elmer’s Glue.
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This year undoubtedly looks to be your best season ever. Are there any
changes or preparations that you’ve made for your performances this season?
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Oh yeah, well I don’t eat pasta anymore before the games because I don’t. Ah…I always try to get a good night’s sleep on the plane. I don’t have
any real preparation from the game whatsoever. I just come and get prepared
and think about playing the game.
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In your seven seasons of play, 5 times you’ve scored 20 goals or more in
a season, currently number 1 in the league. Right now, you’re on fire… how
does this make you feel?
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I never really thought of it to be honest with you. No, I try not to
think of things like that as soon as you do the bottom falls out and that’s
tough. I think about one game at a time and that’s all that matters.
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As far as turning point plays and your big plays tonight. How do you
think the team stood in the 4th quarter rush?
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Well, the real turning point of the game was our defense and Blasdell
and how he played. On our offense, we only had 8 goals, and for Blasdell to
hold a championship team to seven goals is absolutely phenomenal and it’s
never really done in this league. That’s where our turning point was; our
offense really didn’t do anything tonight we just scored when we had to.
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As far as your game performance at home, you guys always look like you
have a great time out there, although your tempers heat up. Has the
attitude of the team remained consistent so far?
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Well, yeah. To be honest with ya, the (blanking) was awful out there.
The (blank) was so bad. I don’t even know where they find the (blanks).
HAHA, I can’t say the word you know I want to say. It was terrible, it
literally was. I have never seen so many (blank, blank, blank) out there.
That’s all I can say.
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As far as all the players in the league, you make one of the strongest
commitments in the league coming from all the way out west to play lacrosse.
Can you tell us about your passion for this game?
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To be honest with you, my passion for the game is three levels. The
commitment that I made along time ago to my family, to my father and my
parents, and on a personal level to my self. And on a third level, to my
teammates. I don’t want to let anybody down. Last year I felt I did. So I
made a commitment this year to totally give it whatever I had and to give to
my teammates so we can succeed and they can be successful.
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You’ve recently come under scrutiny by the league for some words
towards commissioner John Livsey and the league and the job that you think
he’s done as a commissioner. Can you tell us your feelings on that and
perhaps how the league reacted to your statements?
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Well, I think what I said speaks for itself. My honesty about that
should say enough about what kind of person I am. I am a very passionate
person. When someone asks me a question about how the league’s going and
what kind of leadership there is, um.. I am going to be honest. I’m going to
say Well, maybe you should discuss these questions with John Livsey. And
not me. You know, I’ve said some things and I stand by everything that I’
ve said. This is a league that has a tremendous potential. It’s a great
sport for those who watch it, and love it, and to see the decisions that
have been made in the head office make you have to ask some serious
questions. Questions that should be asked when someone’s contract is up
this year.
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Do you think you’ll be staying on board the Albany roster next season?
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Well the trade deadline is coming up. I’m not sure what the coach is
going to do. They may try to unload me. With the salary and everything,
the team may try to rebuild, that kind of thing.
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As far as major league lacrosse and the possibility of a field league in
the summer of 2001, is that something that’s going to interest you as a box
player?
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I have no interest in field lacrosse on a professional level whatsoever.
I spend so much time doing this. I need to spend time with my wife and my
family and that’s what the summer is for, for me.
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Going back a few questions ago and relating to your answers.. overall,
how do you feel that the officiating has been this year?
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Oh, I think that the officiating is awesome. I haven’t seen better
officiating in my entire career. You’re talking about the NHL right? The
NHL officiating is probably the best that I have seen in a long time. In
the NFL, I love what they did with the reply. I think that was a great idea
to bring that back. The WNBA for sure! More women, I love women. And I
think that the umpires in major league baseball they do a pretty good job.
The officiating is excellent.
Ted, in the world of media, I think I’m going to have to be a little bit
more specific in my questioning the next time around.
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As far as a Boston franchise, you once being a part of it. Would you
like to see them reenter the league sometime in the future?
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Yeah, Boston is one of the best cities that I ever lived in. It’s a
great place. I think that they deserve a team. They did support it well
when I was there. It’s just a matter of getting out there and getting
advertisement and people in the stands. And once you’re in the stands, you’
re gonna come back.
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Over your career, is this starting to look like your most memorable year
or is there another that sticks in your mind the most?
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That’s a tough one. I think the most memorable, this year is definitely
up there. Every season to me is memorable in one way or another. I take
different things from each season and probably my best season and my
favorite season, was the summer league when we won the Canadian championship
2 years ago. That was the most fulfilling to me.
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