Grow the Game®

Michael Watson
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Lettin’ It Rip with Michael Watson

Editor’s note: Each week Ryan Powell interviews one current or former professional lacrosse player, asking them some quick hitter questions to better understand them as a person and lacrosse player. It is often these players that have driven, and continue to drive, the game of lacrosse to the next level.

We hope you enjoy learning some fun facts that you might not have known about some of the greatest players to pick up a stick. This week Rhino interviews Michael Watson, former UVA stud, Attackman of the Year, and US World Team Champion.
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Michael Watson

Name: Michael Watson

Nickname: Wah

Position: Attack

Birthday: Oct 24

Hometown: Baltimore

College: UVA

High School: St.Paul’s School

Awards: 4X All American (3rd,2nd,1st,1st) , NCAA Attackman of Year, ACC Rookie of Year & Player of Year, 4X All ACC, MVP NCAA Tournament, US World Team Champion, 4X MLL All Star

Current Gig: Owner Lax West (laxwestlacrosse.com) & Managing Partner Motive Pure (motivepure.com)

Michael Watson

Time to let it rip!

What was the first vehicle that you had? What kind of vehicle do you currently drive?

Ford Explorer Sport.  Toyota Land Cruiser.

Last meal, what is it?  

Maryland Blue Crab soft shell sandwich

Who do you look up to most today and why (your idol or mentor)?

Dom Starsia.  His display of integrity and class has transcended generations of players and the prominent program he has built.  He has never lost sight of what is important in his work and that is the development of young men and the regard for the game that is much bigger than any person.

What is your biggest fear?

A dirty bomb in this country.

If you had to redo college and had to go to another school and you were going to play lacrosse at the new school, where would you go?

Syracuse.  I have always had great respect for the program and how they play the game.  I look back on the rivalry with UVA as 2 explosive teams who refused to back down and play anything other than their own game.  I sight those examples as the way the game should be payed.

What is the one thing that you need on a daily basis?

Yerba Mate.

Yerba Cup (ArizonaGourds.com)

What’s in your DVD collection? 

Old School, Wedding Crashers, Best in Show, Snatch, Shawshank Redemption, Band of Brothers, Reservoir Dogs , Anchorman, The Man from Snowy River, Hoosiers, September Sessions, The Search.

Are you a cat person or a dog person?

I like all animals but do not own any.

What are some of your household chores?  

Sweeping sand off the front porch and weeding the yard.

What is your favorite TV show?

Californication, Shameless, Boardwalk Empire, Deadliest Catch.

What is your favorite song?

Impossible to narrow down but I will go with Redemption Song.  Simple, beautiful, meaningful, and straight from a legend’s heart.

https://youtu.be/OFGgbT_VasI

What would you say if someone on the street asked you for 20 bucks?

What do you need it for?

What was the best lacrosse stick that you ever owned?

The one I use now.  The Nike Legacy.

If you could be a video game character, who would you be and why?

I am not a gamer but I it would be cool to be Superman.  He pretty much has it all.

What is your favorite quote? 

“Success is not something that just happens – success is learned, success is practiced and then it is shared.” – Sparky Anderson

If you did not choose lacrosse as your sport, what sport would you have chosen?

Golf.  I was a 4 handicap at age 14.

Michael Watson

What do you want to be remembered for?

Being someone who was looked up to by his peers, and who impacted the life of numerous young people and influenced them to grow as people and athletes.  Someone who contributed greatly to the development of the game that gave me so much.

What kind of cologne do you wear?

I don’t!

If you could be any color of a crayon, what would you be?

Orange.

What is your favorite pizza topping?

Jalapenos.

If you could visit anywhere in the world that you have not visited before, where would it be?

Galapagos Islands.

Galapagos Islands (OliviaPalermo.com)

Did you have a nickname as a kid?

Wah.

If you were to play an instrument what would it be?

Drums.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?

Kangaroo.

If you could meet anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be and what would say?

Tiger Woods – “Why in the world couldn’t you make it out of your own driveway without hitting a tree?”

Favorite restaurant of all time? Name and what city?

Raw Bar – Ocean Reef, Key Largo, Florida.

The Ocean Reef Club (Wowowow.com)

What is the longest you’ve gone without a shower? 

3 weeks, I was camping in a remote area of Central America.

Tell us one random thing about yourself?

My dream as a kid was to go to ASU and play both Ice Hockey and Golf.

If you knew you were going to be stranded on a desert island, what 3 items would you take with you?

A Leatherman utility tool, fishing line, Adriana Lima.

Who is your celebrity crush?

See the last question.

Adriana Lima

Do you have a pre-game ritual? If so, what is it?  

I am superstitious about not being superstitious, but I might listen to some Tool.

Are you a good tipper?  

Always 20% or more.

What do you put on your hot dog?  

Great question:  spicy mustard and sauerkraut.

On your day off, you wake up and…?  

Go to the beach and surf, or maybe play golf at Torrey Pines.

Torrey Pines Golf Course (SandieGoGolf.info)

Why do you wear the # that you wear?  

I wanted a single digit number when I went to UVA and 4 was available.

Do you have a questions that we could ask the next pro lacrosse players?

Who is the player featured in the MLL logo?  hahaha.  Also if you had to move to another country which would it be and why?

What’s your favorite lacrosse memory and why?

There are so many, but scoring the game winning goal in overtime as a freshman to upset ‘Cuse in the Final Four in front of a packed Bird Stadium was a rush that I have not felt since.  For an 18 year old kid that is a big deal.

Michael Watson

Who were your favorite players to watch when you were young?

It was all about the Gait Brothers, also Tim Whiteley & Dennis Goldstein.