As I continue this journalistic experience I hope to relate the dedication and love for the sport of lacrosse that these players possess. When I think about professional player this man comes to mind: Scott Rodgers. If I had a pick in the expansion draft this man would be my first pick. Hardworking, confident yet humble, great teammate, and intense competitor. Welcome Scott and thanks taking the time to speak with us.
Q: You are very proud of your Long Island heritage and blue collar roots. How do you feel that shaped you as a player?
A: Man honestly, I love where I came from and how I grew up. My parents are the most supportive people on the planet but also always made sure nothing was given to me. They made sure if I fell on my face I knew how to pick myself up. I don’t think many kids these days know how to do that when the crap hits the fan. I think it has just made me mentally tougher and more resilient as a player.
Q: Family is very important to you as depicted on your social media. How does that carry over to your teammates?
A: Listen if you treat people with respect and have a relationship with each one of your teammates individually it makes the lines of communication easier and the message get across. My father and mother always said no matter how big you are always treat others with kindness and respect.
Q: What other sports did you play growing up?
I was my high schools male athlete of the year in 2005. I played football, basketball and lacrosse.
Q: When did you know lacrosse was going to be your main sport?
A: I knew I was always pretty good at lacrosse. I mean I loved football and played basketball to improve my footwork. But I knew lax was my bread and butter
Q: Did you play any other positions besides goalie?
A: Always a goalie
Q: You sat behind an All American Goalie at Notre Dame, but when you started you made the most of it (2010 Most Outstanding Championship Player, 2x All American, 2009 Great Western Lacrosse Player of the Year, led the nation in goals against average and save percentage just to name a few honors). Did you feel you had something to prove or was it business as usual?
A: Obviously I wanted to try to not disappoint after the career Joey Kemp had in front of me. But I played with a chip on my shoulder hell yea. I went from top goalie recruit to not playing for 3 years so I was hungry.
Q: Your thoughts on the expansion draft?
A: Expansion is great for the growth of our league and an opportunity to have guys play that did not have an opportunity.
Q: Where do you see the MLL in five years?
A: five years from now the MLL will be the elite mix of contact and speed in sports. All youth will want to try to play.
Q: Talk about the Unsung Hero Award.
A: The unsung hero award was honestly a humbling thing for me. It was my second one on the machine and these guys have accepted my loud obnoxious Long Island self like a brother.
Q: I feel your best qualities in cage are your save percentage and outlet passes (to the point I refuse to play you in pool or darts). Do you agree or disagree?
A: That is pretty accurate. I’m horrible at things that take finesse. Like golf or pool or darts ha-ha. My mother always said “Scott Michael You are a bull in a china shop”
Q: Your workouts with Tucker Durkin are making the rounds as some pretty intense competition. Who wins most of the time and what is a typical circuit for the both of you?
A: Tucker wins the time. I win the lbs thrown around. He’s honestly my favorite buddy to train with because he hates losing and will push me to the brink of passing out. Love to compete with the guy.
Q:What are the qualities you look for and develop in young goalies?
A: Young goalies can’t be scared of the ball. I also love a young keeper that is a bit of a lunatic with a personality because then I can get em to talk and communicate which I think is one of my strong attributes.
Q: Now you get to ask me a question.
A: My question for you. If you had to take a German suplex from me or Pedigree which one would it be?
Q: At least you didn’t invoke the steel cage like Tucker Durkin did. I am going for suplex because there would a chance using my lower center of gravity and reversing it into a belly to belly suplex or a spine buster. I would be too short for a bear hug to work on you and if you got the pedigree locked in…game over, cue the air horn.
