1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to Fitness Disrupted, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: I am Tom Holland and this is Fitness Disrupted Andy Towers. 3 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: Andy Towers. If you are a lacross person, you better 4 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: know that name. And this is a special show because 5 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: not only is he an amazing guest, he is a 6 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: friend of mine. I grew up with Andy. We played 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,239 Speaker 1: some sports together. We're gonna talk about that. And he 8 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 1: is one of a kind. He is a truly special person. 9 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 1: He was an an exceptional player, and I would argue 10 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: he's an even more exceptional coach. And we're gonna talk 11 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 1: about that as well. I'm gonna read you as bio 12 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: because it's long, but you need to hear it. He's incredible. 13 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: Talk about credentials. Let's get right to it, all right. 14 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: So he was recently inducted into the US Lacrosse Connecticut 15 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame as well as the Brown University Sports 16 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame. Towers had an illustrious career as a player. 17 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: After earning All American as a junior at New Canaan 18 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: High School in Connecticut, he went on to make the 19 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: night nineteen and under USA team at Brown. He led 20 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 1: the Bruins to IVY and New England championships, earned Division 21 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: One All American three times at two different positions. He 22 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: was All IVY three times, All New England three times, 23 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: and he earned IVY League Player of the Year honors once. 24 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: He still holds the records at Brown for both goals 25 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: in a season fifty nine and goals in a career 26 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty. After college, Towers continued his playing 27 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: career in the Professional Indoor League with the Philadelphia Wings, 28 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: the Boston Blazers, and the New York Saints, and in 29 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: the Outdoor League with the Boston Cannons and the Bridgeport Barrage, 30 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: earning All Star honors in Major League Lacrosse while leading 31 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: the league in face off winning percentage at fifty. Towers 32 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: began his coaching career in the IVY League, having served 33 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: as the assistant three years at Yale through two thousand one, 34 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: as well as two seasons at his alma mater, Brown, 35 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: and that was four and ninety six all Right. Towers 36 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: spent the two thousand and four season as the head 37 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: coach at the University of Hartford, as the team recorded 38 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: the highest team grade point average in the history of 39 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: the program. We're gonna talk about that. He's not just 40 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: about the sports. It's both, right. His one year stint 41 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: with the Hawks was preceded by two years at Fairfield 42 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,640 Speaker 1: University as the assistant head coach, as he helped guide 43 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,559 Speaker 1: the Stags to their first Great Western Lacrosse League championship 44 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:38,799 Speaker 1: and first appearance in the n c a A Tournament. 45 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: And he served as the assistant coach at Dartmouth College 46 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: from two thousand five through two thousand nine and head 47 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: men's lacrosse coach at Dartmouth from two thousand nine through 48 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: two thousand fourteen. He's got a long history as a 49 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: player in a coach, and he continues on. Finally, Towers 50 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: was named as one of the inaugural six head coaches 51 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: in the new Premier Lacrosse League in the spring of 52 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: two thousand nineteen. He went on to lead his team, 53 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: the Chaos, to a seven and three record in the 54 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: regular season, finishing a top the standings and claiming the 55 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: number one seed in the playoffs. This guy is lacrosse. 56 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: This guy is an incredible athlete, as I said, an 57 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 1: incredible person, and yes he now is an amazing coach. 58 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: And I've been watching his videos and the way the report, 59 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: the way he interacts with his players, it's awesome. It's awesome, 60 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 1: and that's really hard. And we all know how important 61 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: coaches can be. One wrong word from a coach can 62 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: impact you for the rest of your life. And I 63 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: would say Andy is the antithesis of that type of coach. 64 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: And you just see it in his players eyes when 65 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: they look at him, and you watch these videos and 66 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: you know he could lead them anywhere and they would 67 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: follow him. And I would follow Andy if I was 68 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: being coached by him, I would be that guy too, 69 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: all right, An enough, when we come back from the break, 70 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: Andy towers, all right and we are back. Could not 71 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,359 Speaker 1: be more excited, because I say that about all my guests, 72 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: but this guy. I know this guy. I know this 73 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: guy a little too well, and we'll talk about that. 74 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: We both know where the uh the bodies are buried, 75 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 1: as they say. But as I said in the intro, 76 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 1: I mean, if you're into a cross you know of 77 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: this guy, and if you don't, you should. But we're 78 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: gonna talk about much more than that. If you have 79 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: kids who are playing sports, if you're a coach, we're 80 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: gonna talk about all these things. And I'm gonna embarrass him. 81 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 1: But as I said in the intro, like this guy 82 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: was not only an amazing player, I would argue he's 83 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 1: even a more amazing coach. And that's saying a hell 84 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 1: of a lot. So Andy, thank you so much for 85 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: being on. I'm a little nervous as we can both 86 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: throw each other under the bus we go play back. 87 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: So I told people in the intro, you know, we 88 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: grew up together. We played some sports together, so I 89 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: I kind of want to start there. And because there's 90 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 1: so much about people specializing at a young age, tell 91 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: people to sports you play growing up. Well, first, I'll 92 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: tell you thanks so much for that leading. I really appreciate. 93 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: That's very humbling and it's a pleasure to be on 94 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: the show for sure, following your success, uh for the 95 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 1: last thirty years. Scene that we grew up together, and 96 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: I knew you, and I'm not at all surprised that 97 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: you reach the heights that you've been able to reach 98 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: to this point, and I know that you're going to 99 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: continue to dominate that landscape. So we've done as well. 100 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: Thank you. Um, you know, to answer your question, I 101 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: played all the sports you know, I I uh, you know, 102 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 1: I didn't play soccer. I should say I played you know, football, 103 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 1: I played basketball. I can't skate, so I never played hockey. 104 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 1: I played baseball and lacrosse. Growing up in the summers, 105 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: we played tennis and golf and pretty much played every 106 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: sport in game under the sun in the neighborhood. You 107 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 1: as you know and remember from growing up in the 108 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: seventies and eighties, you know, you go outside and you 109 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: play and you come back for dinner time. And that's 110 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: really the way that it was. We didn't have the 111 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:09,239 Speaker 1: draw video games, seeing that Pong was really the only game, 112 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: you know, playable at that time. And while it changed 113 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: a little bit over time, you know, essentially our livelihood 114 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: outside of school was you know, sports and games, and 115 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 1: so I pretty much played everything under the sun. And 116 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: I love that, Andy, because you know, I've had on 117 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: Mike Boyle from Boston strength and conditioning guru, right, and 118 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: all these you know, top strength and condition guys who 119 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: talk about exactly what you just said. Right. We get 120 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: good by practicing kind of on our own, and then 121 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: there's specific practice and we'll talk about that. But we 122 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: played football together, and you played all the way through, right, Well, 123 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 1: I played up until ninth grade. I didn't play as 124 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: a tenth grader. I'm mature, really late. You know, I 125 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 1: was what five eight pounds of high school freshman and 126 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 1: wasn't much bigger as a high school sophomore, and so 127 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 1: I didn't play football fall with my freshman year at 128 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: the King in high school. And you know when I 129 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: actually I did grew. I grew ten inches my you know, 130 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,480 Speaker 1: my junior year, but I you know, it was like 131 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: literally a hundred thirty pounds, and so at that point 132 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: the ship had sort of sailed as it related to 133 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: my football career. I wish I was the size I 134 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: am now back then it would have been a lot 135 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: more fun. Uh and I certainly would have been playing. 136 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: Andy says this, even when so and I thought you 137 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: played longer and you could hit, even though that was 138 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: your size. I still remember, and I talked about this 139 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: with my kids and other kids that you're timing. I 140 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: remember the defensive back you would you know, you could 141 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: you could hit pretty darn hard. So thank god you 142 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: you know, took a while to to uh grow and 143 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: now you're like, you know, scary. I mean, people who 144 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: see you now big now, but I still a little guy. 145 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: In a big and a big guys. I'm a little 146 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: guy mentally in a big guy's body. Well, I forgot, 147 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: so that's right. So our defensive backfield freshman year was 148 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: you were at short corner. Eric was a strong safety. 149 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: I was at wide corner. Who was free safe? It 150 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: was at Barnes. Yes, yep, yep. We would rotate him 151 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: in and out. That's right. God, you have a good memory. 152 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: That's crazy. And and none of us were more than like, 153 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: you know, we were tiny, all of us. You were 154 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: kind of jack like you you were. You were definitely 155 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 1: the most jacked between awesome. You know when you think 156 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: of Arrens, myself and Chris Barnes, like and Eric's was 157 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: even skinnier than me, and Barnes was even skinnier than him. 158 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:35,679 Speaker 1: So you love this? So yes, And I've done this 159 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:37,959 Speaker 1: show and I talk about push ups, and they talked 160 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: about herschel Walker and I talked about body weight exercises 161 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: and the story I tell and you may have been 162 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 1: the one to say it. I don't remember Jody Tang's house. 163 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: You're gonna love all these names, just gonna throw them 164 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: out there. I started doing push ups in like eighth grade, 165 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: because I read herschel Walker at three hundred a day. 166 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 1: Sports Illustrated start doing that, and I tell the story 167 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 1: that pool party Jody Tang's house took off my shirt. 168 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 1: I think it was, you know, freshman summer or something 169 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: like that, and someone looked at me and said, Holland 170 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:05,199 Speaker 1: has boots. Could have been you, but you know it's 171 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: a good chance, but it was all just push up. So, 172 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: oh my gosh. So since we're here, one of the 173 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 1: stories I remember you must have been heard or something. 174 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: And I tell my kids the story and they love it. 175 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 1: So it was a j V game, freshman year whatever, 176 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: and you were working the chains at one of our 177 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: games and I was a defensive sophmore year. It was 178 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: your sophomore year. Okay, so you weren't on the team. 179 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: Then I remember this soft football guys were playing on 180 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: the field and I was working the flag on the 181 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 1: sidelines against what Wilton or Jerian or something like that. Exactly. Yeah, okay, good, 182 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 1: because I'm never quite sure how much is you know, 183 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 1: revisionist history. So Andy's working the chains and he's next 184 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: to the opposing team, and um, the defense one of 185 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 1: the defense effects and Andy is feeding me the place. 186 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: You'd be like, you just whisper, Well, it really wasn't 187 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 1: the plays as much as it was runner passed, yes, remember, 188 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 1: And they'd be like, they just stay the play. I'd 189 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,199 Speaker 1: here and I'd look at you, and then we would 190 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: have made it the whole time, except because either like 191 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: you were Frank Bianco that kept looking over and give 192 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: it finally started going like thumbs up, like like get 193 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 1: to play a please right, and and I was going 194 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: past or run and they and they finally picked it 195 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 1: up and we got removed from That would be Frank, 196 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: because I would never be that obvious. So I'm gonna 197 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 1: throw Bianco under the bus. That's very, very true. So 198 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 1: what Andy saying all of a sudden, like he's feeding 199 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: the play, you know, pass or something. He whispers and 200 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,559 Speaker 1: the coach looks over and goes, are you telling them 201 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: the plays? And I think they almost chased you out. 202 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: I couldn't be and they caught us, but I was 203 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,319 Speaker 1: just like and the rest look at me and they 204 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: were like, are you telling them? And thus ended your 205 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 1: yeah chain holding rear. Oh my god, I haven't thought 206 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: about that story home. That's why I had to have 207 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 1: You were fourteen or fifteen years old. I mean that's 208 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 1: literally thirty five, thirty six years ago. See, but that 209 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 1: was one of the highlights of my career. As you know, 210 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:19,079 Speaker 1: I gained like nine thousand yards east west and about 211 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: four north south playing running back. So you know it 212 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: was they didn't have men. It's their fault, exactly, That's right, 213 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 1: you know what Andy, this goes to. And now I've 214 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: heard this story for years and I've never asked you 215 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 1: about it. So we'll cross and you're you know, one 216 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,079 Speaker 1: of your specialties was face off and I face offs 217 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 1: and I gave those stats and you know your records 218 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 1: for that as well. And the story was that back 219 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: in the day, you used to practice in your bedroom 220 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: and you had one of the old school tape recorders 221 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 1: that you recorded it just like an intermittent whistle, and 222 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: then you would fact. So this is a true story. 223 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: So this is a true story. So when we were 224 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: growing up, there was a guy uh Wilton High School. 225 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 1: Wilton High School was the premier Connecticut high school across 226 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: program from basically the beginning of high school across in 227 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: Connecticut until the mid you know, until the mid eighties 228 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: when we started a youth program and we finally caught 229 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: up to them. And then now a bunch of other 230 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 1: towns had youth programs, and you know, it's much more 231 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: wide open as it relates to the amount of great 232 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 1: town teams out there. Darians dominated a little bit more 233 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 1: than anything else. But yes, so this is what happened. 234 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: So Wilton had always beaten New Canaan, and it was 235 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: they had a player on their team that made high 236 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: school All American as a junior, this guy Manny Suarez, 237 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 1: and he was class at eighty five. He was a 238 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: stud and he started for them as a sophomore. And 239 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 1: when he was starting as a softbore, we were eighth 240 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: graders and my older brother Tommy was a senior on 241 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: the Mukainan team. So I've obviously go and watch the 242 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:55,079 Speaker 1: varsity games. And Wilton had this guy named Manny Suarez 243 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:57,719 Speaker 1: who won all the face offs, ended up being a 244 00:12:57,760 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 1: high school American, one of the best players in the 245 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 1: history of Connecticut across. And so when I went home 246 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:08,839 Speaker 1: one night after watching them, you know, play the game, 247 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: I took a helmet and uh an old helmet that 248 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: we had, and I wrote SWOREZ right on the top 249 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: of that helmet, and I had a a bed that 250 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: I jumped on a bunch of times. By you know, 251 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: at this point, the corner of the bed, the bed 252 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: frame was destroyed. It was pulled up by a milk crate, 253 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 1: an old school milk crate. And so what I did 254 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: is I stuck one of my lacrosse sticks in the 255 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: milk crate and taped it so it wouldn't budge. And 256 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 1: it was set up like a face off like I 257 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:49,320 Speaker 1: like I fay saw. So it was like the back 258 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: of the stick was sticking out of the corner of 259 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 1: my bed and on the bed post above it. I 260 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: put this helmet many swears is you know helmet that 261 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: was supposed to be him. And I made a a 262 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 1: tape of you know, set whistle, set whistle, and I 263 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 1: staggered the whistles and it was about a five minute tape. 264 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: And I, you know, I would go up there and 265 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 1: I would play the tape and just drill myself over 266 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:17,719 Speaker 1: and over and over and over again. And and so 267 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: that is absolutely one on So and see, I didn't 268 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 1: know the specifics, and it doesn't surprise me that, hey, 269 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: you knew the guy and you know all of the 270 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: and that's what great athletes do, Andy, as you know, 271 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: better than anyone. And there's so much in that story. 272 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 1: There's so much the fact that you were doing it 273 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: on your own, right. Your dad didn't tell you to 274 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: do that, your coach didn't tell you to do that. 275 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: You came up with that on your own, obviously, you know. 276 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 1: And and it's so funny. It's so good to talk 277 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 1: to you because I I hadn't even thought about that 278 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: either for a long time. Uh, you know, but but 279 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: that training technique was years ahead of its time. And 280 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: now you know, you can go onto the app store 281 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: on your iPhone and you can buy face off whistle cadences. 282 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: And you know, certainly that was you know, whether I 283 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 1: knew it at the time, I don't know how many 284 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: other kids have done that across the country, but but 285 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: it's certainly helped. It allowed me to get my ten 286 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: thousand hours in on my own, which was critical. And 287 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: you know what I'm gonna say zero, I'm just gonna 288 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: go out. I mean. And that was the thing too, Andy, 289 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: because I had heard of the you know, suddenly start 290 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: seeing the apps and you hear about these you know, 291 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 1: practice things with the face offs, and I go, I think, Andy, 292 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 1: Towers was doing that thirty years ago with one of 293 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: the old school tape records. So I think you got 294 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 1: ripped off. I think I think you have a couple 295 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 1: of million dollars. I appreciate that endorsement, and uh, you know, 296 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: I wouldn't be surprised if it's correct. Yeah, I mean, 297 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: how many guys were, you know, beating you at the 298 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 1: face offs doing the same thing. I don't I don't 299 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: think many, if any at all. So that is and 300 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: and that goes to actually, Andy, I did a show, 301 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: and you know, I studied sports psychology and love all 302 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: this stuff, and I just did one that practice doesn't 303 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: make perfect perfect, practice makes perfect, right, And when we 304 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: talk about the ten thousand hours, you're not just you know, 305 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 1: and you get are just playing, of course you do, 306 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: but you had a specific practice deliver practice you knew 307 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: And would you say to yourself, like, I'm gonna do 308 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: twenty minutes or thirty minutes, or was a certain number 309 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: of face off or would you just do it as 310 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 1: long as you wanted to. I was incredibly passionate about 311 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 1: not getting embarrassed, and that I told you that was 312 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 1: at the heart of my driving force. You know, I 313 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 1: did not want my older brother Tommy to be able 314 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 1: to say, yeah it that kid kicked your ass, you know, 315 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: and that the greatest fear it was was getting beaten. 316 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: And I just felt that if I put more work 317 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: in than the next person, that I was going to 318 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 1: have the advantage and I was ultimately going to be better. 319 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: And you know, little did I know that it would 320 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 1: read huge rewards for me and was part of the 321 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: reason that I was able to go to the college 322 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: that I went to and and have the success in 323 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: the sport that I was able to have. So it 324 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 1: was paid huge dividends. But but at the time it 325 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 1: was out of a drive. I was driven by the 326 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 1: fear of getting beaten not only by many sarez but 327 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: but by anybody at any time. That is, oh my gosh, 328 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: you know what I always think of two Andy. I 329 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:15,880 Speaker 1: still we're still in the same area, and I will 330 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: often ride my bike back through, like you know, the 331 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 1: New Canaan High School cut through and inevitably and I'll 332 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 1: see like one kid throwing a ball up against the wall, 333 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 1: and one kid on the soccer field kicking you know, 334 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 1: the ball, and I'll think of like you, and that 335 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: type of drive and intrinsic motivation. I'll go, that's the kid, 336 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 1: right who's probably not Probably he's going to be better. 337 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:41,360 Speaker 1: And back to your equipment. It didn't cost a grand right, 338 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:45,239 Speaker 1: it wasn't an expensive coach. You made it yourself, so 339 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:47,439 Speaker 1: it wasn't the expense. And it wasn't this. You know, 340 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: we've got these hockey trainers now may all these kind 341 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:51,640 Speaker 1: of things, right that are super expensive, and you took 342 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: a stick in, a helmet and a ball and a 343 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: tape recorder. I mean, yeah, it's not about the money 344 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 1: or the it's just about the drive. It's about the 345 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:01,200 Speaker 1: drive and the focus. You know, as you just said, 346 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: you know, it's not practice that makes you perfect, it's 347 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: perfect practice. And my technique ended up, you know, at 348 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: one point, arrogantly, I think I was, you know, from 349 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: a technique standpoint, the best in the planet at that 350 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: particular aspect of the game. And there's no question that 351 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: it became fine tuned over time, and really I became 352 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: as a student of it, and the result was the 353 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: evolution of a bunch of other techniques that came about 354 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: simply as counters to that specific technique. You know, Um, 355 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: and you just you just don't know where it's gonna go. 356 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:46,439 Speaker 1: But I just I don't think there's any substitute for 357 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: you know, putting in the work. People can talk about 358 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: it all the time, and you just you just referenced 359 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: whether they have you know, these specific uh you know 360 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 1: coaches or trainers or you know, real expensive equipment. It 361 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: doesn't come down to that. It comes down to wrapping 362 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:10,119 Speaker 1: yourself out intelligently and being humble enough to see opportunities 363 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: for self improvement and capitalizing on those. How long did 364 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: it take so far back? But I'm just curious, do 365 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:21,919 Speaker 1: you remember, like a after a month you started seeing 366 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 1: you know, or did you do this for months before 367 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: you even you know, played and faced off? Was there 368 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:30,439 Speaker 1: a specific time you remember? I remember the first example 369 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:33,439 Speaker 1: of it benefiting me. What happened was I was a 370 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 1: sophomore at New Canaan High School and and you know again, 371 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 1: I matured late physically, and so I was smaller and 372 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 1: uh and and and weaker than everybody else coach better. 373 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 1: They called me emaciated and that. And so that year 374 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 1: Soletto and Luciano and so many of our classmates got 375 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 1: brought up to the varsity and there was about you know, 376 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,159 Speaker 1: eight to ten of those guys that got brought up 377 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: after the tryout, and I was not brought up. I 378 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: was on JV, and you know, I was frustrated by it, 379 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:08,679 Speaker 1: but it was the right place based on how I 380 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:13,160 Speaker 1: was planning. And so just a week before the first 381 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:18,119 Speaker 1: varsity game, they organized the scrimmage with the JV scrimmaging 382 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 1: the varsity. So I was playing for the JV and 383 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: and most of our you know, best players were playing 384 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:25,880 Speaker 1: up on the varsity and and I faced off against 385 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:27,880 Speaker 1: I think it was Joey Di Francesco was the face 386 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 1: off guy for for the varsity team that year. And 387 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: in that scrimmage, I won I think seven of eight 388 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 1: face offs, and the varsity killed us. But I did really, 389 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 1: really well, and so I ended up getting brought up 390 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:42,639 Speaker 1: to the varsity after that game, just before the start 391 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:45,920 Speaker 1: of my sophomore year. And what facing off the data 392 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: is it allowed me to get the ball in my 393 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:51,199 Speaker 1: stick and that created opportunities for me to prove that 394 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: I was a competent player. And uh, you know, but 395 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 1: that was the first time where I remember thinking, wow, 396 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:00,199 Speaker 1: you know, all this hard work has paid off. You know, 397 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 1: it allowed me to make a team that if I 398 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: didn't have this skill set, I would have gotten caught. 399 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:08,399 Speaker 1: That's awesome, and that's like, it's so powerful. And because 400 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 1: you know, we all we've had the kids or you know, 401 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: you talk about Michael Jordan not making teams and things 402 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 1: like that. But so you could you could get down 403 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 1: in yourself. You go oh and and complain and be 404 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: angry with the coaches. But no, you kept practicing and 405 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 1: then you had eight reps right to uh, you know, 406 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:27,120 Speaker 1: to prove yourself. And you didn't get thirty. You got 407 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: a couple. And so that's the thing. You know, people 408 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 1: always talk about the door opening, Well, when the door opens, 409 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: you gotta step up right and it's not a long time. 410 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: And that's amazing and the fact you remember it with 411 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:39,879 Speaker 1: such clarity is not surprising. And was it from that 412 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: day forward you started getting you know, more reps? Is 413 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:46,479 Speaker 1: my guests, Well, what it created a data point in 414 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:51,399 Speaker 1: my life that I could reflect back on where I 415 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 1: didn't accomplish that a goal that I had set for myself, 416 00:21:56,119 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 1: and instead of pouting and blaming, I worked on it 417 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 1: and I doubled down on my investment of trying to 418 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 1: accomplish that goal and was able to do it. And 419 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 1: and so what that did is that inspired me in 420 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 1: other areas of my life, a lot of which was 421 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 1: in across as well too, you know, to to work hard. 422 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 1: That there was that there was no substitute for it. 423 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 1: You know, you can sit and pout, or you can 424 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 1: double down and work, work harder and wait for your turn. 425 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 1: And now as a coach, it's it's one of the 426 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:31,640 Speaker 1: things that I echo to the kids that I work 427 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:34,199 Speaker 1: with all the time. You know, with this day and 428 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,879 Speaker 1: age where you've got, you know, so many sports in 429 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: the area that are broken down into eight teams and 430 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:46,680 Speaker 1: B teams and see teams, you know, and and unfortunately, 431 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 1: with that dynamic currents get involved to the detriment of 432 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 1: their kids and fight their battles for them when they 433 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 1: don't make a specific team. And what they do in 434 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: the process of that is really a huge disservice to 435 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: the kid. Number one. You know, you're not allowing the 436 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: kid the opportunity to develop the self confidence and mental 437 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 1: toughness that goes along with struggle an overcoming struggle and 438 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 1: and becoming successful. And what that does for them as 439 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: people is invaluable. And and you know, it seems like 440 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:29,040 Speaker 1: today more so than ever before. If a kid doesn't 441 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 1: make a specific team, you know, his parents call him complain. 442 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,879 Speaker 1: Or a kid doesn't have a specific role on game day, uh, 443 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: you know, they pout and and bad amount the coach 444 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:44,920 Speaker 1: or their parents complain, you know, and it's it's kids 445 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 1: need to get back to understanding that it's not about them, 446 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: it's about their team. Okay. And if your role is 447 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: a starter, great, If your role is a player on 448 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:58,400 Speaker 1: game day, great, But some people start, some people play, 449 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:00,879 Speaker 1: and some people get the starters players are ready to 450 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 1: start and play. And if you don't like your role, 451 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: shut your mouth, work harder, and wait for your opportunity. Exactly. 452 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 1: One of the topics I wanted to touch on was 453 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 1: you just did it was the crazy parents, But it's 454 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: almost redundant now. And I love how you said it. 455 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:16,439 Speaker 1: And I say to my kids, I'm just gonna give 456 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: you get out of the way. I'm gonna give you 457 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 1: all the resources you need. And by the way, one 458 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 1: of my resources for my kids is getting coached by 459 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: Andy so which was a little friend. Let me say this, 460 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:28,640 Speaker 1: one of my favorite things is my son came home 461 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 1: and he's getting he does a private or semi private 462 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:34,399 Speaker 1: group lessons with with Andy for across and we're just 463 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:36,440 Speaker 1: talking and I said, I guess you do a planing 464 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:38,960 Speaker 1: challenge and there's there's a group that wins in a 465 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 1: group that loses. And my son said, you know what 466 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 1: Andy calls the group that loses, uh, super nice kids 467 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: because and he says, the super nice kids. So you 468 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 1: we got I could do three hours with you, Andy, 469 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 1: but you talked about Howard Benedict, let's go to the coaching, 470 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:57,440 Speaker 1: and you just you just went right into it. Coaching. 471 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,240 Speaker 1: It's one of the hardest things. I actually did a 472 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:03,439 Speaker 1: little after school thing for my younger son and I 473 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 1: stopped after one semester of doing it because I'm a 474 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,480 Speaker 1: horrible Kids can see me coming. I can't do it right. 475 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:13,400 Speaker 1: In other words, they know Mr Holland has no control. 476 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:15,920 Speaker 1: And it was like kindergarteners and you know, younger age. 477 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 1: But it's it's so hard. And I was saying in 478 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:23,359 Speaker 1: the intro, I was watching videos of you, and again 479 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:25,399 Speaker 1: I'm not just saying this. Not only were you an 480 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 1: amazing player, but I would argue and even better coach. 481 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: And that's harder to me, right. In other words, like 482 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,600 Speaker 1: you can practice your butt off and do those you know, 483 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 1: ten thousand specialized hours, but you know, reading kids and 484 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:39,800 Speaker 1: and getting respect and also being tough and and having 485 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:42,400 Speaker 1: them like you. Uh, you're doing all those You're checking 486 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:44,720 Speaker 1: all those boxes and and just talk about that from 487 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: was that benedict or or you know, did you learn 488 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,160 Speaker 1: from certain coaches or where'd that come from? Well, that's 489 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: I'm very very humbled by saying that. And as a 490 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 1: coach yourself, from working with people, there's no greater compliment 491 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: than that. Thank you so much for that. You know, 492 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: I think that you know, certainly, I approach is a 493 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:06,399 Speaker 1: combination of all of the great coaches and teachers you 494 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,200 Speaker 1: know that I've been able to to work with over 495 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: the years. You know, I think I think everybody is, 496 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:15,199 Speaker 1: you know, a reflection reflection of the leadership that they've gotten, 497 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: and so I take a little bit from everybody. I 498 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 1: perpetually am focused on learning from everyone. You can learn 499 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:27,280 Speaker 1: from the questions that a six year old asks as 500 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:29,440 Speaker 1: much as you can learn from a coach that's won 501 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: eight national championships. Uh, there's no question about it. It's 502 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:37,760 Speaker 1: it's about feeling like you've never made it. And that's 503 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:40,879 Speaker 1: my goal. And you know what I ask for out 504 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: of the people that I work with, I don't need 505 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,439 Speaker 1: them to be great. Um, what I want out of 506 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 1: them are three things that are all decisions, none of 507 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:55,399 Speaker 1: which are physical limitations. And that's I want focus, I 508 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 1: want effort, and I want grit. That's it. And all 509 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:03,360 Speaker 1: three of those things are decisions. And you know, if 510 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:08,800 Speaker 1: you can control what's controllable, and you can define your 511 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 1: success as your ability to effectively control what's controllable, you're 512 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:19,399 Speaker 1: gonna get the desired result a lot more than you 513 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 1: would if you didn't take that approach. And when you 514 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 1: don't get the desired result, whether that's a championship or 515 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 1: whatever it may be, winning a race, whatever it may be, 516 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: you're gonna be over it yesterday because there's nothing that 517 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:36,320 Speaker 1: you can do more than proactively control the controllables. And 518 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:40,119 Speaker 1: so that's my approach with everybody that I work with. UH. 519 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,600 Speaker 1: You know, some kids get it right away, some kids don't. UH, 520 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 1: And I've got ways that I try to get them 521 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 1: to appreciate the opportunity that they have. You know, one 522 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 1: of the things that resonates from our perspective of living 523 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:56,680 Speaker 1: in the area is that you know, these kids get 524 00:27:56,680 --> 00:28:00,399 Speaker 1: a lot of opportunities that most kids don't get. And 525 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,920 Speaker 1: I say it my first session with every single group 526 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:09,200 Speaker 1: that I work with, which is, nobody owes you this opportunity, right, 527 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 1: You have this opportunity because your parents work hard to 528 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 1: make the money to give you an opportunity that most 529 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 1: kids don't have. You owe them, and what you owe 530 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:26,119 Speaker 1: them is focus, effort, and grit. You don't owe them success, 531 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:30,440 Speaker 1: You don't owe them being the best. You owe them 532 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,199 Speaker 1: a commitment to controlling what's controllable. And if you do that, 533 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:36,679 Speaker 1: you will be a success and you will get the 534 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 1: desired result more often than you would if you don't 535 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:44,960 Speaker 1: do that. And that hopefully sets kids free emotionally from 536 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 1: feeling like they have to be the best kid at 537 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 1: the practice or in the class or during the game, 538 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:53,640 Speaker 1: which a lot of times can leads kids to putting 539 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 1: a stick down, you know, especially in this day and 540 00:28:56,160 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 1: age of you know, I need an immediate tangible reward 541 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 1: for what I just did. And um so that's that's 542 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 1: my primary focus. Unbelievable. You know, I actually end every 543 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 1: show Andy uh saying there's three things we can control, 544 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 1: you know, similar to what you're saying just a little 545 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 1: different on the fitness level. And I say, it's what 546 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:17,640 Speaker 1: you how much you move, what you put in your mouths, 547 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:19,800 Speaker 1: in your attitude. And that's awesome, right. No one, No 548 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:22,080 Speaker 1: one controls that, accept us how much we move what 549 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 1: we put into our mouths and our state of mind. 550 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:28,240 Speaker 1: And I love that you just, you know, even clarified 551 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:31,400 Speaker 1: that more and especially for the kids. I mean, you know, 552 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:33,240 Speaker 1: I just want to read, by the way, embarrass you 553 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 1: a little bit more. You know you you are so humble, 554 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:38,440 Speaker 1: and I don't think I've ever read anything I know, 555 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 1: I've never read anything like this from a professional coach. 556 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 1: So this is from the p LL Premier l Across 557 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:45,840 Speaker 1: League website. You wrote an article in the coaches Corner. 558 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:48,360 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna read. I condensed it down a little bit, 559 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 1: but you know, this is what you wrote recently about coaching. 560 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 1: You know, in this pro league. Imagine coaching people that 561 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 1: you don't have to encourage to work hard on their 562 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 1: respective skill set development. These guys have worked tirelessly on 563 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 1: a hating a total and complete skill set for years. 564 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:04,640 Speaker 1: And then you said, imagine working with guys that already 565 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:08,760 Speaker 1: possess an unbelievably high understanding of the game schematically, so 566 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:10,600 Speaker 1: you don't have to sell them on the schames you're 567 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:13,520 Speaker 1: putting in. And lastly, imagine being part of practices and 568 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 1: games whereas coaches, you don't have to ask your guys 569 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:19,640 Speaker 1: to run hard, work hard, be tough, stay resilient, get groundballs, 570 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:22,680 Speaker 1: make the extra pass, etcetera, because they all play that 571 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 1: way all the time. Now, I think you're being you know, uh, 572 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:28,840 Speaker 1: you know nice. I mean, obviously they have bad days, 573 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 1: but I've never read you know, a professional coach, you know, 574 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 1: not taking credit for the things that, uh that you're 575 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:38,000 Speaker 1: throwing out there. And I think I know that that's 576 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:41,720 Speaker 1: why your kids respect and mere and follow you the 577 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 1: way they do is because you respect the kids back, 578 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:47,080 Speaker 1: especially when they do those three things and give you 579 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:49,479 Speaker 1: those three things. And that's amazing. I mean, we need 580 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:52,840 Speaker 1: more coaches like you. Well, listen, I I forgot that 581 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:56,680 Speaker 1: I wrote that, um, but I agree with all of it. 582 00:30:56,640 --> 00:31:01,240 Speaker 1: It's really well written, right, I appreciate it. That's like 583 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 1: seven years of Brown will do for you. But listen, 584 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 1: I think that being a good teammate is perhaps the 585 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 1: most important thing that you can learn as you're growing up. 586 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 1: It's going to help you prepare to be a better husband, 587 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:18,720 Speaker 1: a better spouse. It's going to help you to be 588 00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:20,160 Speaker 1: a better father, it's going to help you to be 589 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:23,400 Speaker 1: a better coworker. You know, it's it. All it is 590 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:26,480 Speaker 1: gonna do is help you. And I think it goes 591 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 1: back to feeling like it's imperative to perpetually be learning, right, 592 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 1: I think that that is the most important thing. And 593 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 1: you know, in any team sport, no one succeeds by themselves, 594 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 1: and certainly coaching it can be an important part of it. 595 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:49,360 Speaker 1: You know, at the end of the day, I don't 596 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:51,000 Speaker 1: know a coach that's going out and throwing the vall 597 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:53,680 Speaker 1: in the goal or want to face off or made 598 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 1: a save. And so you know, a lot of of 599 00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:01,640 Speaker 1: what your job as is trying to get the players 600 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:04,600 Speaker 1: to put the goals of the group ahead of their 601 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:10,560 Speaker 1: own respective goals. And my approach is certainly that of 602 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,920 Speaker 1: trying to be the model for that behavior. You know, 603 00:32:13,960 --> 00:32:17,240 Speaker 1: I've made I've made some great coaching moves and we've lost, 604 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:20,520 Speaker 1: and I've made some terrible coaching moves and we've won. 605 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:24,280 Speaker 1: And so I'm not arrogant enough to think that you 606 00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:27,080 Speaker 1: know my performance is going to be able to dictate 607 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,960 Speaker 1: the outcome of a contest favorably, you know, with a win. 608 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:34,239 Speaker 1: The way that I wanted to what I what I 609 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:37,000 Speaker 1: am aware of and have been taught over the years, 610 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:40,440 Speaker 1: is that if you can get a group of individuals 611 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:44,800 Speaker 1: to put the success of the group ahead of everything else, 612 00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:48,280 Speaker 1: some great things can happen. And we've seen it so 613 00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:51,600 Speaker 1: many times in so many different sports. But it's also 614 00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 1: the same thing in companies and and you know, all 615 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:57,840 Speaker 1: relationships for that matter. So I'm simply just trying to 616 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:00,360 Speaker 1: be a positive, you know, piece of the chain and 617 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:03,400 Speaker 1: a positive piece of the puzzle with that approach. But 618 00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 1: but thank you for recognizing. Yeah, no, you do it. 619 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:07,920 Speaker 1: You do it better than than most because you know, 620 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:11,680 Speaker 1: all those proteins, they've all got pro kids or pro athletes, right, 621 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:14,600 Speaker 1: so you're a huge part of that. And again, it 622 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:17,000 Speaker 1: is so much fun to watch because it's just fun. 623 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:19,640 Speaker 1: And you know, Andy, like I, I had some really 624 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:22,720 Speaker 1: bad coaches and over the years, as you did, I'm 625 00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:27,320 Speaker 1: sure who you know would say that fun and performance 626 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 1: are mutually exclusive. Can't be having fun if you're working hard, 627 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:33,600 Speaker 1: And even the word fun is is probably not the 628 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 1: right term. But you know you can have all the above. 629 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:38,640 Speaker 1: You know, it's harder. So in other words, you don't 630 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:41,280 Speaker 1: have to scream at your kids. And and unfortunately that's 631 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:44,200 Speaker 1: a coaching technique that's far too uh you know, utilize, 632 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 1: especially at the higher levels. So you are such a 633 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: great example of Hey, these kids respect you. They will 634 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:52,360 Speaker 1: follow you to the end. And yeah, they're pros, but 635 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:54,160 Speaker 1: so are all the other kids. So I'm gonna say 636 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:56,440 Speaker 1: that you're doing you're doing it better. By the way, 637 00:33:56,440 --> 00:33:58,360 Speaker 1: I saw the coaches here. Where are five other coaches? 638 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:00,920 Speaker 1: Or are there more teams? Now? They added another team 639 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:03,800 Speaker 1: to the league this past spring, and so now there's 640 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:06,000 Speaker 1: seven teams in the p ll I saw a picture. 641 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 1: You can take all those coaches. By the way, if 642 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:11,759 Speaker 1: there was ever a brawl, there's no questions, like I 643 00:34:11,840 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 1: just listen, I I there's no question. And so since 644 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:19,520 Speaker 1: we're here, tell people. I mean, it's exciting you played 645 00:34:19,560 --> 00:34:21,719 Speaker 1: in your bio. I read it. But now we've got 646 00:34:21,719 --> 00:34:24,440 Speaker 1: this PLLL, So tell people what that's all about. The PLLL, 647 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:29,640 Speaker 1: the Premier Cross League is it's the way I would 648 00:34:29,680 --> 00:34:33,120 Speaker 1: equated is that it is. It's like the NBA. You know, 649 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:37,279 Speaker 1: there was another professional league preceding that, you know, that 650 00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:42,080 Speaker 1: had been in play for twenty years, and due to 651 00:34:43,200 --> 00:34:48,280 Speaker 1: a few different factors, uh, you know, arguably the best 652 00:34:48,320 --> 00:34:51,560 Speaker 1: player in the world in the last decade, decided to 653 00:34:51,680 --> 00:34:57,719 Speaker 1: launch another professional across league to challenge the existing one. 654 00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:02,120 Speaker 1: And basic what he did is he made the league 655 00:35:02,239 --> 00:35:06,279 Speaker 1: all about the players and put them at the forefront, 656 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:11,600 Speaker 1: quadruple did salaries, gave him health benefits, uh, you know, 657 00:35:12,040 --> 00:35:17,000 Speaker 1: consulted with and built a team of seasoned and experienced 658 00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 1: executives from other pro sports leagues, and the result of 659 00:35:22,040 --> 00:35:24,640 Speaker 1: all of those things together has been the Premier of 660 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:29,080 Speaker 1: Lacrosse League. And that's you know, We've got basically the 661 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:32,600 Speaker 1: best players in the world playing at a level that 662 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:36,200 Speaker 1: I have never seen before. And I played in the 663 00:35:36,239 --> 00:35:41,839 Speaker 1: other professional league I've been to you know, Team USA tryouts, 664 00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:45,560 Speaker 1: and the level of the compete level in the Premier 665 00:35:45,680 --> 00:35:51,960 Speaker 1: Across League every single game is staggering. I mean, the 666 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:55,440 Speaker 1: pace of play is off the charts, and I firmly 667 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:58,640 Speaker 1: believe that it's here to stay, and it's it's really 668 00:35:58,680 --> 00:36:01,080 Speaker 1: really humbling to be able to be part of it, 669 00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:04,560 Speaker 1: to be able to you know, have my family part 670 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:07,800 Speaker 1: of it to be able to work with the best 671 00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:11,640 Speaker 1: players in the world, who I gotta be honest, are 672 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:15,640 Speaker 1: are about the most humble group of guys that are 673 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:18,480 Speaker 1: the best at their craft. And I've ever been around, 674 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 1: and it's it's really exciting and I'm I'm looking forward 675 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 1: to hopefully year two of getting back right. We ask 676 00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:29,800 Speaker 1: this craziness, um, but for people that haven't seen the sport, 677 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:33,359 Speaker 1: you know, you don't have to have all across background 678 00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:39,520 Speaker 1: to appreciate the skill and the athleticism and the endurance 679 00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:43,080 Speaker 1: and the compete level and the toughness that these guys 680 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:45,480 Speaker 1: bring and play with. It's something to see and just 681 00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:47,600 Speaker 1: real quickly will kind of wrap it all up. But 682 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:49,759 Speaker 1: you know, I look at it, Andy and I want 683 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:52,520 Speaker 1: to generalize, but generalizations exist for a recent right, It's 684 00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:55,040 Speaker 1: like hockey players you're talking about just the type of 685 00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:57,719 Speaker 1: people they are. You know, the NBA, the NFL, it's 686 00:36:57,719 --> 00:37:00,080 Speaker 1: a little different. It's a little more flashy, and know 687 00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 1: it's a lot more money. So when you see not 688 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:05,640 Speaker 1: that the NHL guys aren't making good money now, but 689 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:08,080 Speaker 1: you know, these guys are truly playing for the love 690 00:37:08,080 --> 00:37:09,880 Speaker 1: of the game and thank goodness, it's great to hear that, 691 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:12,960 Speaker 1: you know, finally getting compensated somewhat along the lines of 692 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:15,520 Speaker 1: what they should. So as any's saying, like to watch 693 00:37:15,560 --> 00:37:18,800 Speaker 1: these games, it blows me away. It's frightening how quick 694 00:37:18,920 --> 00:37:21,480 Speaker 1: and good and and and they're not wearing by the way, 695 00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:23,920 Speaker 1: you're not wearing shoulder pads? Are you in the pros? 696 00:37:24,120 --> 00:37:27,520 Speaker 1: You know, it's it's really to those guys. I think 697 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:29,680 Speaker 1: what the fact is is, even though it's a very 698 00:37:29,680 --> 00:37:34,080 Speaker 1: physical game tom plate, at its best, it's more of 699 00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:38,160 Speaker 1: a finesse game than it is a physical game. It's 700 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:40,960 Speaker 1: it's you know, it's a physical sport, but it's not 701 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:44,440 Speaker 1: as physical as hockey. It's certainly not a collision sport 702 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:47,000 Speaker 1: like football. Do you get hit with sticks? Yeah, you 703 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:49,399 Speaker 1: get hit with sticks. Do you get knocked down? You 704 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:52,440 Speaker 1: you get knocked down. But the game, in my opinion, 705 00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:57,120 Speaker 1: when it's played at its best form, is closer to 706 00:37:57,239 --> 00:38:00,279 Speaker 1: basketball than it is to hockey and football. You know, 707 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:04,080 Speaker 1: you've got the tempo of hockey, which is a perpetually 708 00:38:04,680 --> 00:38:09,280 Speaker 1: unsettled environment. Even on the power play, you know, when 709 00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:12,400 Speaker 1: when they've got an extra man, it might be settled 710 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:15,799 Speaker 1: a little bit. But it's but it's it's it's a 711 00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:18,000 Speaker 1: it's a bunch of little two on one games. Is 712 00:38:18,080 --> 00:38:21,400 Speaker 1: essentially the way that hockey is, uh, you know, and 713 00:38:21,600 --> 00:38:24,880 Speaker 1: across even though it looks more like hockey, and that 714 00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:28,200 Speaker 1: you're carrying a stick, the tempo and the way that 715 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:32,360 Speaker 1: you generate shots on offense, the way that you defend individually, 716 00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:35,759 Speaker 1: and from a you know, a team perspective is that 717 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:39,359 Speaker 1: of basketball. You know, if you are astra more athletic team, 718 00:38:39,400 --> 00:38:41,600 Speaker 1: you can play like the Lakers did, you know back 719 00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:43,680 Speaker 1: in the eighties when Magic was running the point for them, 720 00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:46,319 Speaker 1: Or if you're not as athletic and you're a little 721 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:49,080 Speaker 1: more cerebral, maybe you're playing the way the Celtics did 722 00:38:49,160 --> 00:38:50,880 Speaker 1: back then and want to play a little bit more 723 00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:53,200 Speaker 1: of a half court game. That's the way the sport 724 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:55,640 Speaker 1: has played, and when it's at its best, it's it's 725 00:38:55,680 --> 00:39:00,000 Speaker 1: closest the best. Yeah, no, it's uh, it's it's unbelod 726 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:01,880 Speaker 1: evil to watch. As I said, I just know, you know, 727 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:05,160 Speaker 1: my son comes home and he laments the fact even 728 00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:07,680 Speaker 1: with the pads, you know, when when they're at that age, right, 729 00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:09,680 Speaker 1: you've got the big stick d who are just going 730 00:39:09,719 --> 00:39:12,799 Speaker 1: to town on these kids, and it's only and it's 731 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:14,839 Speaker 1: the big kid who doesn't go down right, who just 732 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:17,080 Speaker 1: gets And I'm not gonna name names, but you know, 733 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:19,879 Speaker 1: you can bear the brunt of you know, some good 734 00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:22,399 Speaker 1: defenseman as they're learning to get good. But as you said, 735 00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:24,200 Speaker 1: these guys are too quick, so a guy like me 736 00:39:24,239 --> 00:39:25,560 Speaker 1: has no chance. I mean, all I could do was 737 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:28,040 Speaker 1: hit back in hockey. I had no skills, so, uh, 738 00:39:28,120 --> 00:39:31,279 Speaker 1: that game is not for me. You actually would have 739 00:39:31,320 --> 00:39:34,560 Speaker 1: been great at because you were really fast, and you're tough, 740 00:39:34,719 --> 00:39:37,920 Speaker 1: and your cerebral and you're a good teammate and all 741 00:39:37,920 --> 00:39:41,520 Speaker 1: of those things. Uh, this sport rewards and your son, 742 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:44,520 Speaker 1: you know, is a pleasure to work with. He's he's uh, 743 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:47,719 Speaker 1: he's got a really bright future. He's got a great 744 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:50,520 Speaker 1: group of guys that he competes with and against. And 745 00:39:50,560 --> 00:39:53,200 Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to hopefully working with him and those 746 00:39:53,239 --> 00:39:55,600 Speaker 1: guys again in the future and certainly looking forward to 747 00:39:55,640 --> 00:39:57,799 Speaker 1: following all the success. Hey, thank you for that. And 748 00:39:57,840 --> 00:40:00,000 Speaker 1: what I will say and embarrass you one final time 749 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:02,279 Speaker 1: time is I am most happy that he is being 750 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:04,680 Speaker 1: coached by someone like you, because at the age he's at, 751 00:40:04,719 --> 00:40:07,359 Speaker 1: I would argue is one of the pivotal years and 752 00:40:07,760 --> 00:40:09,680 Speaker 1: can make a break. And you and I both know 753 00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:13,399 Speaker 1: that one wrong word out of a coach's mouth can 754 00:40:13,520 --> 00:40:17,120 Speaker 1: can really do like so much damage to these kids. So, 755 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:19,880 Speaker 1: you know, being coached by you, I feel so fortunate 756 00:40:19,920 --> 00:40:22,600 Speaker 1: for that. Listen, we have to do this again, hopefully 757 00:40:22,600 --> 00:40:24,880 Speaker 1: the season starts up. When what's the goal? I mean, 758 00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:27,920 Speaker 1: what are they talking about? Well, we have actually have 759 00:40:28,120 --> 00:40:31,719 Speaker 1: a conference call at two o'clock today and find out 760 00:40:31,719 --> 00:40:33,520 Speaker 1: a little more than that. The goal is to play 761 00:40:33,680 --> 00:40:36,279 Speaker 1: this season. I know that the league is dying, you know, 762 00:40:36,360 --> 00:40:38,880 Speaker 1: to get going. With that said, it certainly is not 763 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:43,160 Speaker 1: more important than managing a global pandemic. So you know, 764 00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:46,120 Speaker 1: assuming that we can get squared away from a health 765 00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:49,640 Speaker 1: perspective and everybody's safe, they're looking to go as quickly 766 00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:52,040 Speaker 1: as they can after that. If that ends up being 767 00:40:52,080 --> 00:40:54,279 Speaker 1: the second half of June, that would be great. It's 768 00:40:54,719 --> 00:40:57,399 Speaker 1: you know, the beginning of July or or July, it's great. 769 00:40:57,440 --> 00:40:59,759 Speaker 1: I know they're committed to playing, so I have a 770 00:41:00,040 --> 00:41:03,080 Speaker 1: thing that we will see the league. They did delay 771 00:41:03,160 --> 00:41:05,439 Speaker 1: the start. They postponed the start of the season which 772 00:41:05,480 --> 00:41:08,719 Speaker 1: was gonna be the last weekend in March, which was 773 00:41:08,719 --> 00:41:10,880 Speaker 1: gonna be up in Gillette Stadium, so they have pushed 774 00:41:10,880 --> 00:41:13,600 Speaker 1: that back, and like everything else in the world, it's 775 00:41:13,640 --> 00:41:16,839 Speaker 1: sort of a wait and see situation. So hopefully we 776 00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:20,040 Speaker 1: can get past this and uh and the world comes 777 00:41:20,040 --> 00:41:21,960 Speaker 1: out and with a little bit more of a humble 778 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:25,080 Speaker 1: perspective and we can get going right after that. It's 779 00:41:25,120 --> 00:41:28,520 Speaker 1: awesome And so anyone listening, you know, when that time comes, 780 00:41:28,840 --> 00:41:31,040 Speaker 1: you do not have to be across van. You don't 781 00:41:31,080 --> 00:41:33,080 Speaker 1: have to you know, be a sports fan. You just 782 00:41:33,120 --> 00:41:34,839 Speaker 1: need to, you know, if you have kids. It is 783 00:41:34,880 --> 00:41:38,480 Speaker 1: such a new, great experience to to watch the skill 784 00:41:38,560 --> 00:41:40,520 Speaker 1: level of these players and just the you know, the 785 00:41:40,680 --> 00:41:43,239 Speaker 1: the joy with which they play this game. So the 786 00:41:43,320 --> 00:41:46,359 Speaker 1: PLL Premier Lacrosse League, check it out, you know, check 787 00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:49,160 Speaker 1: it out online. Uh, you've got to deal with NBC Sports, 788 00:41:49,239 --> 00:41:52,560 Speaker 1: right Andy, So you're it's being televised now. It's just awesome. Um, 789 00:41:52,800 --> 00:41:54,640 Speaker 1: we're both doing what we love to do. Andy, isn't 790 00:41:54,680 --> 00:41:59,839 Speaker 1: that shocking after decades of struggle and working hard? You know, Uh, 791 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:03,040 Speaker 1: it's pretty nice. That's what it's all about. Find find 792 00:42:03,080 --> 00:42:06,840 Speaker 1: what you love and if you do it, I everything 793 00:42:06,840 --> 00:42:09,520 Speaker 1: should fall into place a quarteringly. So We're welcome to 794 00:42:10,440 --> 00:42:12,279 Speaker 1: and do what we do. There's no question about it. 795 00:42:12,320 --> 00:42:14,640 Speaker 1: The greatest jobs in the world. Thank you, Andy. I'm 796 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:17,239 Speaker 1: happy we didn't throw each other under the bus too 797 00:42:17,320 --> 00:42:24,640 Speaker 1: much and I got a bunch of we will absolutely 798 00:42:24,719 --> 00:42:27,759 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Andy Towers, coach of Is it 799 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:30,360 Speaker 1: just chaos or is it the chaos? What's the official 800 00:42:30,560 --> 00:42:33,640 Speaker 1: Chaos Lacrosse Club? Pay us lacross clod There you go, 801 00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:35,600 Speaker 1: all right, check it out. Andy, Thank you so much. 802 00:42:35,600 --> 00:42:38,520 Speaker 1: Look forward to speaking with you again. Thanks Tom, Andy Towers. Thanks, 803 00:42:38,680 --> 00:42:50,520 Speaker 1: We'll be right back, And we are back. I want 804 00:42:50,520 --> 00:42:53,799 Speaker 1: to thank Andy Towers one final time for taking the 805 00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:56,640 Speaker 1: time and and I haven't spoken with him in a while, 806 00:42:56,920 --> 00:42:59,719 Speaker 1: and I feel so fortunate to be able to not 807 00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:02,600 Speaker 1: we call him a friend, but to be able to 808 00:43:02,680 --> 00:43:06,719 Speaker 1: have him on the show. He just I can't say 809 00:43:06,760 --> 00:43:08,719 Speaker 1: enough about him, you know, as a player, as a coach, 810 00:43:08,719 --> 00:43:12,120 Speaker 1: as a person. He's been through a lot and just 811 00:43:12,360 --> 00:43:15,680 Speaker 1: now giving back. And I feel so fortunate that one 812 00:43:15,719 --> 00:43:18,160 Speaker 1: of my sons is being coached by him. You don't 813 00:43:18,160 --> 00:43:20,480 Speaker 1: have to be a sports person to have learned so 814 00:43:20,560 --> 00:43:24,960 Speaker 1: much from him. It's about grit and effort and focus, 815 00:43:25,600 --> 00:43:27,879 Speaker 1: you know. I talk about movement and what you put 816 00:43:27,920 --> 00:43:30,760 Speaker 1: in your mouths and attitude. But this is all about 817 00:43:30,760 --> 00:43:36,799 Speaker 1: what we can control. And Andy gosh does he just 818 00:43:36,840 --> 00:43:39,040 Speaker 1: cut to the chase, and it's about it's about putting 819 00:43:39,080 --> 00:43:42,200 Speaker 1: the time in the effort at what you love to do. 820 00:43:42,760 --> 00:43:46,239 Speaker 1: And this is all connected to fitness and nutrition and 821 00:43:46,400 --> 00:43:51,640 Speaker 1: health and happiness. It's all connected. And for him to 822 00:43:51,680 --> 00:43:55,839 Speaker 1: distill it down to those three terms, I just love 823 00:43:55,920 --> 00:43:58,600 Speaker 1: it when he when he started into that, it's just 824 00:43:58,640 --> 00:44:03,239 Speaker 1: like awesome. You know, focus, give your focus. I've said 825 00:44:03,239 --> 00:44:04,400 Speaker 1: this on the show, and I say it to my 826 00:44:04,480 --> 00:44:06,440 Speaker 1: kids all the time. Whatever you're doing. I said it 827 00:44:06,480 --> 00:44:09,480 Speaker 1: to my kids when I left to do the show today. 828 00:44:09,680 --> 00:44:11,920 Speaker 1: They're working doing their school work. I said, do your 829 00:44:11,920 --> 00:44:14,960 Speaker 1: school work and then work hard, play hard, and then 830 00:44:14,960 --> 00:44:18,200 Speaker 1: you're gonna go outside and play effort. Put the effort 831 00:44:18,200 --> 00:44:21,719 Speaker 1: in especially sports. You know, when I coach and coach hockey, 832 00:44:21,719 --> 00:44:24,080 Speaker 1: I would say to the kids, you know you're you're 833 00:44:24,160 --> 00:44:27,399 Speaker 1: practicing X number of hours per week during a game 834 00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:29,719 Speaker 1: and during your practices, but especially a game where you're 835 00:44:29,719 --> 00:44:33,440 Speaker 1: getting these short shifts time on the ice, work as 836 00:44:33,520 --> 00:44:37,200 Speaker 1: hard as you can for that sixty seconds effort and 837 00:44:37,200 --> 00:44:41,600 Speaker 1: then grit and grit is as he talked about the 838 00:44:41,719 --> 00:44:45,239 Speaker 1: parents and who are doing the kids a disservice by 839 00:44:45,360 --> 00:44:50,239 Speaker 1: not allowing them to fail, by not allowing them to 840 00:44:50,239 --> 00:44:54,960 Speaker 1: to get better and to work hard, you're not helping them. 841 00:44:54,960 --> 00:44:58,040 Speaker 1: You are putting them behind the eight ball. Because grit 842 00:44:58,480 --> 00:45:02,360 Speaker 1: and self efficacy come through struggle. The struggle is good. 843 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:05,279 Speaker 1: And Andy, we're gonna have him back on because I 844 00:45:05,360 --> 00:45:08,120 Speaker 1: know of his struggles and we both you know we're 845 00:45:08,160 --> 00:45:12,120 Speaker 1: where we are because of the struggles. So self efficacy, 846 00:45:12,360 --> 00:45:17,680 Speaker 1: situational confidence, grit, you know, working hard, it's all there. 847 00:45:18,640 --> 00:45:21,880 Speaker 1: It's all there, So I hope you enjoyed that. I'm 848 00:45:22,000 --> 00:45:24,600 Speaker 1: gonna have the guests like Andy on. We're gonna talk 849 00:45:24,640 --> 00:45:27,439 Speaker 1: about the nutrition, the science, the studies. But we're gonna 850 00:45:27,480 --> 00:45:30,000 Speaker 1: do all of it because it's all connected. As I 851 00:45:30,080 --> 00:45:34,680 Speaker 1: say so frequently, feeling good, looking good, living longer. It's 852 00:45:34,719 --> 00:45:37,240 Speaker 1: about how much we move what we put into our mouths. 853 00:45:37,320 --> 00:45:42,680 Speaker 1: And as Andy said, attitude things you can control. Don't 854 00:45:42,719 --> 00:45:47,520 Speaker 1: worry about those things. You can't put them aside and 855 00:45:47,600 --> 00:45:50,839 Speaker 1: be in the moment. What are you doing right now? 856 00:45:50,960 --> 00:45:52,839 Speaker 1: You're listening to the show, So listen to the show 857 00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:56,359 Speaker 1: and absorb this stuff. And you know, I feel so 858 00:45:56,480 --> 00:45:59,359 Speaker 1: fortunate to be able to interact with with people like 859 00:45:59,440 --> 00:46:01,560 Speaker 1: Andy who makes He made me a better person today 860 00:46:01,800 --> 00:46:05,840 Speaker 1: and hopefully you as well, all little steps forward, taking 861 00:46:05,840 --> 00:46:09,600 Speaker 1: the little things. And he is so humble. He's so humble. 862 00:46:10,600 --> 00:46:14,120 Speaker 1: And google Andy Towers and watch some of the videos 863 00:46:14,120 --> 00:46:18,680 Speaker 1: where he interacts with his players. He's an amazing, amazing 864 00:46:19,000 --> 00:46:22,240 Speaker 1: coach and an amazing person. So I hope you enjoyed 865 00:46:22,280 --> 00:46:26,080 Speaker 1: that I did immensely. I am Tom holland this is 866 00:46:26,120 --> 00:46:29,439 Speaker 1: Fitness Disrupted. Please if you can rate the show where 867 00:46:29,480 --> 00:46:31,680 Speaker 1: you listen, please do. If you want to leave a 868 00:46:31,719 --> 00:46:34,400 Speaker 1: comment or a question. I know you can't in certain places, 869 00:46:34,440 --> 00:46:36,359 Speaker 1: but if you can and you want to, I love 870 00:46:36,360 --> 00:46:39,440 Speaker 1: it and appreciate it, and we'll read everything I come across. 871 00:46:39,520 --> 00:46:42,560 Speaker 1: If you use the hashtag fitness disrupted on social media, 872 00:46:42,920 --> 00:46:45,879 Speaker 1: I will see it my social media Tom h Fit 873 00:46:45,960 --> 00:46:49,120 Speaker 1: for Twitter, Tom h Fit for Instagram, and you can 874 00:46:49,160 --> 00:46:52,759 Speaker 1: go to Fitness disrupted dot com and email me right 875 00:46:52,880 --> 00:46:56,399 Speaker 1: through the site. Again, I appreciate you listening more than 876 00:46:56,440 --> 00:47:00,080 Speaker 1: you know. I love my job. I love interacting and 877 00:47:00,200 --> 00:47:04,680 Speaker 1: interviewing people like Andy, friends or not. It's just an 878 00:47:04,719 --> 00:47:09,440 Speaker 1: amazing person who again made me better today. Thank you 879 00:47:09,520 --> 00:47:13,440 Speaker 1: to him. I am Tom Holland. This is Fitness Disrupted. 880 00:47:13,920 --> 00:47:25,000 Speaker 1: Believe in yourself. Fitness Disrupted is a production of I 881 00:47:25,200 --> 00:47:28,959 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. For more podcasts from my heart Radio, visit 882 00:47:29,000 --> 00:47:32,319 Speaker 1: the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 883 00:47:32,400 --> 00:47:33,760 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.