How old are you?

34

What city do you live in?

Dayton, Ohio

What do you do for a living?

I'm a Probation/Pretrial Officer, and have been for the last 12 years. 

What do you drive?

2009 Chevy Malibu.

What music are you into now days?

I enjoy most forms of music, with the exception of classical.  The standard for me is old school hip hop or harcore rock/metal.  Anything from Eric B and Rakim, EPMD, and Slick Rick to Hatebreed, Pantera, and Soulfly.

What beer do you buy to drink?

Typically, Miller Lite.

Republican or Democrat?

Neither.  But certainly more conservative in my ideals.

Favorite actor?

Matt Damon.  Rounders, the Ocean's movies, the Bourne movies, Good Will Hunting, etc...  Great actor and seems like a funny, down to earth kinda guy.

Are you more a sci fi guy or western?

Neither, but western if I had to pick.  Action and Comedy is pretty much where I roam.  That is, unless we count Tombstone as a “western”, as it doesn’t get any better than that movie. 

When you go out to eat with Kara, what do you wear?

Jeans and a t-shirt.  If I'm really getting fancy, I may put on a belt or a collared shirt.

What do you like to watch on TV?

I don't watch much TV, but we seem to watch the CSI shows semi-regularly.

Tell me how you met Kara your wife?

We actually met at the Stone Mountain Highland Games, but knew each other for quite some time prior to that from being in similar sports, knowing some of the same people, and frequenting some of the same message boards.  She came to watch the competition that day, and the rest is history. 

Tell me some of the things she has won?

Oh wow, where do I start?  She has competed most recently in Weightlifing, Powerlifting, and Strongman.  She has won Powerlifting Nationals multiple times in various federations, won Bench America, and has set and broken many All-time World Records. 

How many kids do you have and how old are they?

I have two, Makenna is 7 and Keegan is 8. 

Where were you born?

Dayton, Ohio.  I went to school at the University of Cincinnati, but then came back to Dayton as the job opportunity was better.

What sports did you do growing up?

Soccer, from as young as I can remember until I was 13.  Then switched to football until I tore my ACL/MCL and didn't play the last couple years of high school for fear I would be too slow.  I was a wide receiver.

How did you get into lifting weights?

I think like most boys, I always wanted to be big and strong from when I was young.  Looking at bodybuilding magazines will do that.  I lifted for football in high school, and continued after that, but didn't really get consistent until I was in college.  I remember being a freshman in college and pulling a 315 deadlift.  I thought that was big time, lol. 

How did you get into the highland games?

I was in college, training on a regular basis and working as a personal trainer in a gym.  My manager at the time, Mike Creemer, was into strength sports and often had copies of Milo around.  We saw highland games mentioned, found one close by, and after watching thought it would be fun.  I also began competing in Strongman at the same time.   

What was your first game?

Carrollton, Kentucky (1999)

Who was at your first game?

Kerry Overfelt, Bill Macdonald, John Smith, Lannie Pullon, Doug Ballard, and I am sure I’m forgetting some others.  I was terrible, like most first timers, but enjoyed it so much. 

Talk a little about competing as an am and what you liked?

I competed for a couple years with very little training just because it was fun and something to do on the weekends.  The camaraderie in Highland Games is unlike any other sport.  Everyone is accepting and always willing to help.  

What was your favorite game as an AM and why?

Hmmm…I did so many games as an Am that’s it would be difficult to narrow it down to a single game.  I traveled a lot to the south and threw many SSAAA games, which included being on multiple North/South teams, being on the USA vs. Scotland team, and winning the SSAAA Championship my last year as an amateur.  So I have to give thanks to the SSAAA and all the games they put on.  The East Coast Champs in Alexandria, Virginia was also a favorite, because it was such a goal to get to that game, as well a stepping stone to the Pros for many athletes.    

What is your favorite event?

It’s a tie between the stone and the caber, and could vary depending on what game we’re at.  They are my best two events, so it’s easy to say they are my favorite. 

What was your best or favorite throw at a game?

I’ve been lucky enough to hit a few decent throws in my career, but winning the Open Stone at the National Championship in 2007 with a 55’5” throw ranks really high.   Another memorable throw for me was throwing the heavy hammer 114+ in Frederick, Maryland in 2004.  The reason for that one is that while traveling to the game with Kerry Overfelt, I told him that I was going to throw 114’ the next day.  I called my shot, very Babe Ruthesque. 

What do you think about the spin in the WOB and how it changes the game?

I’m honestly not a fan and I think it should be an entirely different event.  It has changed the game tremendously though, some would call it evolution.  I would much rather prefer it to be viewed as more of a power event, and have the athletes stand and deliver.  I’m quite sure I’ve given up some prize money in the last few years by not committing to the spin.

Who do you follow in philosophy in weight training?

There isn’t one person or one philosophy that I follow, although I think a lot of people have some valuable information.  My training was always self-constructed, and evolved through trial and error.  It is still evolving to this day.  It’s a very long journey, and I have learned a lot.  I doubt many people would do what I do, or have done, despite the results that I have gotten. 

Tell us some about traveling with Kerry, as we know you run with him a lot.

F that guy... 

Seriously though, Kerry has been one of the best friends I have ever had.  We have spent an immeasurable amount of time traveling and competing together over the last 10 years, and I attribute a lot of the success that I have had to him.  I don’t know anyone who has worked harder than him to be a great athlete, and he deserves every accolade that he receives.  He has helped me more with throwing than anyone else, and I still look to him for coaching every single time we are on the field together.  On top of that, we are both insanely competitive, which makes for some fun times.  He is terrible at mini-golf though, and typically cheats in an attempt to win. 

What turns you on still throwing, what do you dig still to this day?

I still like to compete, but more than that I enjoy the people and the atmosphere.  2010 will be the fourth year that I haven’t touched an implement outside of a competition, so it’s hard for me to have expectations like I used to with regards to how far I throw things.  

What turns you off throwing?

Not much really, but after years and years I can see how people get burned out. 

How much poker do you play in a week?

I usually play about six days per week, anywhere from one to five hours a day, depending on what else is going on.  

How did you get started with playing poker?

I have played games/cards my whole life, so it was just a natural step I suppose.  I played off and on for quite some time, not really getting serious until late 2007.

What else do you do for fun?

Hang out with the family.  I have an awesome wife and awesome kids, and spending time with them is what I like to do.  That is also part of the reason I don’t compete as much as I used to, I enjoy being at home.   

Are you into the clan and history of the games, or do you just dig the throwing?

The throwing is what brought me in, but you can’t help but get wrapped up into the culture as well. 

How many games will you do this next year?

How old are you?

38 Years old

Where do you live now?

 Loretto, Kentucky

Tell us some about your wife

My wife is a hard working woman, she is a great person and a great mother.  She owns her own salon and is also very hot.

Tell us about your kids, names and ages

I have four step kids.  Heather who is 19, Jaren is 18, Hannah is 12(your biggest fan), and Christopher who is 11.  All my kids are very involved in sport.

Tell us what you do for a living

 I own a personal training business.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in rural Kentucky and then at the age of 6 moved to Cave City.

What sports did you play as a kid and tell us about it.

I played football in high school, I was not a very good athlete.

How did you get into weight lifting and at what age?

I started into weight training when I was 16, I had no idea what I was doing but I was looking at Muscle and Fitness and I started doing some of the exercises in the books.

Tell us about you in high school.

I was chubby until my senior year and I grew some and it made me look like I was husky, not fat.  I was not very athletic, or I did not think so.  I had lots of friends and was always trying to mack on some girl. Hahahahahaha.

Tell us about after high school, what you went into.

After high school I went one year to Eastern Kentucky College, then got out and tried working.  During my time at Eastern I got into weight lifting big time.  I entered into 4 bodybuilding shows and was hooked on working out. 

What was your first game and who was there?

My first game was the Glasgow Highland Game.  Todd McDougal was there.  He won that day.  I never really started into the games until 1998 when I was done with football. 

What was your favorite game as an AM?

My favorite game as an AM was all of them.  I loved the Jacksonville games in Florida.  I loved any southern games in the early part of the year.

How did you get onto the Highland games?

One day while working out with Brett Underwood who owned the local gym in Glasgow, he decided we should go try these games the Glasgow Highland Games.  Bam, that was it, I was hooked even though I sucked. 

Who did you first train with and who coached you?

I always have trained myself, but I have had many coaches along the way.  David Lyttle, Kearney Smith, Ryan Vierra was a big help a few years ago and still is.  Don Stewart helped me a few years ago with my lifting routine.  I have never had someone throwing with me that has coached me, I am self taught for the most part. 

You had to compete with David Lyttle, Chris St.Clair and K Monster a lot, what was that like?

Competing with Dave is always a blast.  That guy is a top notch soul that I feel it is an honor for me to know him.  K dogg and I have been together for a long time, I consider him to be a dear friend.  St.Clair is a big time bragging machine, hahahahaha just kidding.  St.Clair and I have been through a lot of battles together and I always love me some Chris at a game.  I love each of these guys.  The have helped me a lot through my career.  These guys have been so much fun to compete with.  I have so many stories and memories with these guys. 

What is your favorite event?

56 for Distance because I feel so confident with that implement.

When you talk to your fork, what do you say? 

My fork and I have a special relationship.  I try and talk it into getting that bag over the bar.  Of course the crowd loves it so a lot of times I just jibber to it. 

When you lift, what philosophy to you follow? Arnold, Kaz, Louie, Dorian, ect...

My lifting philosophy is basically geared more toward Louie Simmons I guess.  Years ago it would have been Dorian Yates style.  My arms looked good, but I did not throw as far, lol.  So now I am geared more to explosive power workouts. 

What kind of lifts do you enjoy?

I enjoy training period.  Bottom line is I just love coming in and torturing myself.

What are you strong at?

I enjoy all the lifts, but I am strongest in the dead lift.

With your diet, what are you trying to accomplish each day?

Oh boy my diet, lol.  Years ago I was super clean on my eating, then I let it go and started eating whatever.  I never say any difference in my throws, so I just kept eating like crap.  I have done better this year and eaten cleaner this off season, but I always try and eat 300 grams of protein a day.  

What kind of foods do you enjoy?

I love sweets, but I have to stay away from them.  Red Velvet cake with cream cheese icing, mmmmmmmmmm.

What beverage do you drink with your meals?

Water or un sweet tea.

What kind of music do you listen to?

When I am working out, old school rap or hardcore rap, Ronnie Coleman style.  I like to piss off the want to be hard core lifters that are 170 and have to listen to heavy metal junk.  I am not a huge music lover.

When you go out to eat, what do you wear? 

Depends on the restaurant.  Usually a polo or button up shirt with shorts or khakis.  On the road with the fellows a t shirt and shorts. 

Are you a republican or democrat?

I am not a democrat or republican.

What do you like to watch on TV?

I like college football and Sienfeld.  Sons of Anarchy is my favorite right now.

Do you mow your own yard and what kind of mower do you have?

I do mow my own yard, I don’t even know what I bought.

Are you a sci fi or western movie guy and what is a favorite?

I like both but westerns are my favorite.  I love Once upon a time in the West.  Anything with Clint Eastwood . 

You travel with Craig Smith a lot, what is that like? 

Craig is a total tool.  LoL

I would have to say that traveling with Craig has been some of my best times ever in the this sport.  Traveling with him is constant humor.  We have started off for Virginia and look up and we are headed to Indiana.  That kid gets us lost a lot.  He has gotten better though.  LOL.  He is truly one of the best friends I have ever had.  He and I have had some great times.  He has to be an A-1 guy to put up with my constant yacking the whole trip.

When you do a game, you seem to play to the crowd, how did that come about?

Playing the crowd came about when I figured out the AD’s want you to entertain the crowds, so in order to get invited to more games I started acting the fool. 

What can we look to see from you this next year on the field?

I hope to be even fatter than last year, LOL.  No, seriously I am working even harder this year than ever.  I hope you see a really explosive fat kid.

Do you compete for money, or the love of the sport?

I love the sport, but who does not love money?  I do it for the competition.  I like pushing myself past what I think I can do. 

Tell me about being a Christian and how and when that came about?

I have been a Christian since I was in High School.  I just never practiced it much.  I have become more spiritual as I have gotten older.  I also have kids and I want them to grow up knowing Christ as their lord and savior. 

In our sport who and what impresses you?

Craig Smith impresses me with his athletic ability.  Larry Brock with his sick technique and pop.  Sean Betz with his hammer speed.   Ryan Vierra with his dominance in the sport for so long.  Myles Wetzel with his never say die attitude, work ethic and drive to keep going.  Dan McKim with his sick caber power.  Mark Valenti with his complete stupidity, LOL. 

Anything else you wish to add?

How old are you?

I am 41 years of age.

Where were you born?

I was born in the great state of Kentucky, in Inez.  But lived in West Virginia on the Kentucky boarder.  It is all coal mining and moonshine country.  The county I lived in was called Mingo County.  Most people know it as bloody Mingo because of the family wars there.  The Hatfields and the McCoys and the killings from when the coal miners wanted to turn union.  I have three counties of kinfolk and you should see what happens at a family reunion.  It can get pretty wild.  A lot of history in those mountains.

Where do you live now?

I live in North Carolina.  I moved here when I was thirteen.  I guess I call it home now, but I still love those mountains back in West Virginia.

What do you drive?

I drive a 2000 red Z71 extended cab pick up with a big 350 engine in it.

What color do you like?

I like red and Chevy blue.

What do you do for a living?

I am the sergeant over the uniform patrol at the Carolina Beach Police Department.  I have been a police officer for 15 years. 

How did you get into that?

I tried different jobs and they all seemed so boring or the same o, same o.  My momma told me that I should try law enforcement, so I went to rookie school and here I am today.

What is the least favorite part of your job?

Putting up with a bunch of crybabies and bullshit calls.

In the line of duty has anyone ever hit you in the foot with their rump?

Oh yes.  Several times.  Sometimes when dealing with drunks or people on drugs you can’t always verbally reason with them and you have to close that lack of communication barrier in a different way.

Tell me how you met your wife?

I was at a new club down town hanging out with the boys.  She comes walking in with her short skirt on and knee high socks looking smoking hot.  The boys were all sweating her.  One boy took off his shirt and wrote his phone number on it and gave it to her.  I just laughed.  She kept looking at me and smiling.  So right before the club was going to shut down, she was slow dancing with some city looking yuppie, but she was still looking at me.  So I went up to her and asked her to dance.  She blew off the boy off and we danced and the rest is history.

How long did you date her?

We dated for a couple of years.

How did you propose to her?

We lived with each other for almost two years while dating.  We had lived together for long enough, so I asked her to marry me.  I told her my daddy always said you got to tame them before you can love them, and make sure they can cook too.

Tell me about your kids?

I have four Irish scrappers.  Christopher, Connor, Brendon and my baby girl Kylie.  I call her doodlebug.  They are all my little ruff necks.

Are you a strict parent?

It depends on what you call strict.  My kids say yes mam or yes sir or they get a rap on the head.  They all have chores to do.  They have to keep their grades up to A’s and B’s or they can’t play sports and they get another rap on the head.  I will whip their ass with a belt or switch if they need it, just like when I was a child.  They will respect their elders and other people.  If you think that is strict, then I guess I am.

As a kid growing up what was your first job?

I did odds and ends jobs.  Cutting grass, working on a horse farm for the summer putting up fence line.  Working at a car wash.  When I got older I worked for a telephone company putting in phone cable using heavy equipment.  I had a good time with all of them.  I learned a lot and it made me a hard worker.

 When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play?

I played baseball, football and basketball up into the 7^th and 8^th grade.  I started to get into hunting and fishing and got away from sports, but we still played football every Sunday with a pick up game. 

When and how did you get into lifting weights?

I lifted some in high school at gym time.  I did not start really lifting until I was about 26 or 27 years old.  I was always tall and lanky and wanted to put on some weight.  There was an old school gym called the Dungeon.  I was in a small country town.  A lot of older power lifters and body builders went there.  You could walk in with your overalls on and take off your shirt and lift.  You could play any kind of music you wanted, you could cuss and raise cain and it did not matter.  It had two power racks and dumbbells up to 120’s.  It had a cable machine and a sled.  It was great.  If the old guys like you they would give you tips on certain lifts.  They would show you what you were doing wrong.  You thought you were the man if they even said hello, it was good times.

What lift are you strong at?

I don’t think I am really strong at any lift to be honest with you.  Talking with some of the other throwers I think I am weak.

What was your first Highland Game?

My first game was the Lock Norman game.  I had no intention to compete, but to see all the different clans.  I did the highland wrestling that day and later on I met some of the old pros like Carl Braun.  He convinced me to come back and compete on Sunday, which I did.

Who was at that game?

The first person I saw on the field was Larry Brock wearing his black tank top shirt that said Testosterone, with his red bandanna on his big Charlie Brown head.  Then I met this skinny 14-year-old boy who was named Eric Fraisure, who I now call Kartman.  Chris St.Clair was out there as well, and then this dude came out on the field that looked like some machine, Dave Lyttle.

What made you decide to try and compete at a game?

I never felt that I was good at any sport growing up, so I decided to give the highland games a try.  Nine years later I still love it like day one.

Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport?

Larry lived about an hour away from me.  We started throwing together every chance we got.  Larry already had a lot of track and field experience and was at a much higher level than me, but he showed me a lot, teaching me power positions.  He is the first one to show me the South African style with the stone.  But it was just me by myself a lot of times with a Larry Satchwell training video.  I would watch him throw and then run outside and try it.  I don’t know how many times I have done that.  I would throw until it got dark and then turn the lights on the truck just to get one or two more throws in.  I remember the first time I hit 30 feet with the 56, I was yelling and screaming, jumping like a wild cat.  I ran inside and got the woman and dragged outside to show her the mark. 

Who helps you now in the sport?

Kerry Overfelt has really gone out of his way to help me.  He has even offered to let me stay at his house to help me more with throwing and lifts.  A true southern boy.  Craig Smith has helped me at games as well.  Mike Pokowski, and even your big ass has helped me when it comes to lifting my friend.  Everybody has tried to fix me or help me out, that is what makes this sport so great.  Ryan Vierra, Harrison aka Hootie, Big Dan McKim aka Wookie goes out of his way to help as well.  Great bunch of boys, good people.

What impresses you now in the sport?

Watching some of these great athletes throw huge throws and still try and help the fellow thrower.

What was your favorite game as an AM and why?

It has to be the first time I got picked for the south team.  I never got picked for anything and I was really proud they picked me.  The game was great and I knew all of the throwers, it was a good time.

What is your favorite event?

My favorite event is the 56 for distance.  I guess because it’s so hard to throw.  But the stones have to be my best event because it feels more natural for me to throw them. 

What do you like to do outside of the games?

Spend time with the family and relax, catch up on projects at the house I keep avoiding because of the games.

What other hobbies do you have?

I like to hunt and fish.  I fished more though when I was a yonker.  With me getting older I don’t like sitting out in that heat with a pole in my hand unless I can find a shady spot on a creek bank.  I take the boys hunting and canoeing to try and teach them about the woods and such the way my daddy and uncles did with me, but they are not into it as much as I was at their age.  I guess times have changed.

As a southern boy, what other part of the country do you like to visit?

I would like to go out west to Wyoming or Washington and up around Canada.  I have heard there is great hunting up that way.

What is your definition of a red neck?

A red neck is just a hell raiser.  Someone who likes to kick up the heels and get a little wild.  When people hear red neck they first think of the south.  That’s ok, I think we all have a little redneck in us.  Some more than others.  I am proud to be a redneck if people want to say it’s a southern thing.

What do you call the flag in the south, Southern, Dixie, Rebel? and why?

Where I come from it is called a southern or Dixie flag.  People up north that move south (transplants) call it a rebel flag.  They call it a rebel flag because a lot of southern states got political bullshit pressure about the flag and had to take it down from any county building or town seat.  So when people see it on a truck or in a yard flying high they say look at that rebel flag.  I personally do have a registered North Carolina tag on my truck with a beautiful Southern or Dixie flag on it.  That does not mean I am a skinhead or a racist, it means I am proud of my southern roots.  I tell my children to always be proud of who you are.  Always be proud of your last name.  Always be very proud that you are southern born and southern bred.

What is your favorite food?

Those who know me well like you know that steak, taters and rolls are my favorite foods.  I also like cookies, fudge rounds, Hostess cupcakes, Snickers bars and the list goes on.  You can’t just ask me the question about food, it is not a fair question, you can’t have one without the other.

What do you drink with a meal at home?

Water or Milk.

What beer do you like?

Killians Irish Red

Can you cook and are you good at it?

I can cook a mean breakfast with eggs and pancakes.  But the woman usually cooks.

How did the fan come about with you sleeping?

When I was a yonker it would get hot at night in the room, so I would put the fan right on me blowing in my face.  Well I even started to like it on in the wintertime, when it was cold blowing on me as well, even when I had two or three blankets on me.  I tried to sleep without it one time and I could not do it.  The room was too quiet and I am a very light sleeper so I heard everything going on.  So I had to have the thing blowing on high right in my face. 

Do you mow your own grass and what kind of mower do you have?

Yes I do, I have a Poulan riding mower.

Are you a Democrat or Republican? 

I was never either.  It is like choosing the lesser of two evils.  This year is the first time I voted republican.

What is your stance on immigration into the US?

If you are not legally in this country get the hell out because you are killing it.  Illegal immigrants have closed down I don’t know how many hospitals, taking over all the schools.  They take funding away from the poor children in this country.  They bring their gangs here and bring more crime and drugs into our great country.  They have already bankrupt California from what I understand.  New Mexico is right behind them.  But you can’t blame them, our lovely government let’s them roll right and it is not fair to the people coming into the country legally. 

Are you into Astrology?

I don’t know.

Can you swim?

Like a fish.

Do you float?

I have noticed that when I float belly down my butt goes up and I bob up and down like a big fishing bobber, so yes I do float.

Do you consider yourself a gassy person?

I am not a real gassy person unless my momma makes me a big pot of beans and corn bread with ham in them.  And if I eat them all day for two or three days, then I tend to be a little gassy.

What does your wife call you when nobody is around?

Redneck, Hill Billy, Jethro, Monkey hands, Big Fatty, Freak.  But she calls me those things in public as well.  She can be a little out spoken.  That is the Georgia redneck coming out of her.

When you go out to eat with the wife, what do you wear? 

In the summer I wear shorts and t-shirt. In winter it is jeans or Carharts and boots.

Where do you take her out to eat most times?

She is not picky, we go to the Outback, she likes the chicken there and knows I can get a steak.

What do you like to watch on TV?

A little bit of everything, mostly action movies.

Are you a western movie or sci fi person?  Tell a favorite.

I like both of them a lot, but I would have to go with a western.  I grew up watching Gun Smoke, Bonanza, The Rifleman.  To say that I have one favorite is hard to do.  I like all the John Wayne movies, Big Jake, McClintock, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and Clint Eastwood Josie Wales is one of the best.  All the old school westerns.  Jeremiah Johnson is probably one of my favorites as well.

What are the goals for the coming season and the off-season?

Just to be a better thrower.  I would love to be one of the top ten and get picked to compete in the big PA game.  I know I would not win it, there are too many great guys there who deserve it more than me, but just to say I got picked and competed at the game, I would be just happy as a pig in slop.  I have been training hard this last month and will continue all this off-season.  I have a lot of things I have to fix, hammers, cabers, sheaf, but I will keep working at it bit by bit and with a little help from my friends I am hoping I will be ready to go this coming season.

Thank you brother Chris.

How old are you?

58

Where were you born?

Bloomington Illinois

Where do you live now?

Blessed to live in Georgia

 How did you end up there?

After graduating from grad school in 1978 we were tired of the flat land and winters in Illinois so we looked to move someplace warmer.  I got a job in Grayson GA teaching elementary physical education and we have been here since.

What do you drive?

Dodge Dakota Pick up truck

What do you do for a living?

 I’m a elementary physical education teacher and coach high school shot and discus.

How did you get into that?

 I moved with my coach from Western IL to Northern IL in 1974.  I was a recreation major at Western and Northern didn’t have that major.  My minor at Western was PE so I just moved into that.  I did really care what my major was as long as I could throw.

Talk about being teacher of the year and how that came about.

 In 1995 I was honored to become the National Association for Sport and Physical Education Teacher of the Year. It was a process.  First nominated by a college to become the Georgia Physical Education Teacher of the Year, once having that honor the application moved to the district level.  After being named at that level, a video tape of my teaching and an interview at the National Conference determined the National winner from the six districts.  It was a great honor and one that I’ll never forget.

Tell us about your education?

I started college at Western IL from 1970-1973, transferred to Northern IL and graduated with BS in 1975 and MS in 1978; Piedmont College 2008 with an Education Specialist Degree.

Tell me how you met your wife?

 Another guy on my dorm floor and I were interested in meeting this great looking girl in our Zoology 101 class.  It was one of those huge lecture classes with well over 100 people.  One day we noticed an empty seat next to her.  We flipped for it and I won.  We will be married 36 years in May.

Tell me about your kids?

We have 6 great kids.  Niki the oldest has 3 kids with her husband Jeff and she is a high school math teacher.  Dana teaches orchestra in middle school.  Laura is a nurse, Ben just had a daughter and is a plumber.  Brianne is student teaching and hopes to teach next year.  The youngest goes to GA State U. 

As a kid growing up what was your first job?

 I was a YMCA camp counselor for my first job.  The first job I really made any money at was with the rural electric company treating poles in the summers with creosote. 

When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play?

 I did a lot- basketball, baseball, football, track, swimming, wrestling.

Did you throw in high school and if so what did you throw?

 I threw the shot and discus.  Not great but won several meets.  My senior year I was close to getting the school record that was held by my coach, when he realizes it- he stopped coaching me.  Nice guy huh- I think I missed it by a few inches.  I qualified for the State meet my senior year but the coach didn’t want to take me so I stayed home.

Tell us about throwing in college.

 At Western I was on ½ football and ½ track scholarship.  In spring football I broke my little finger on my throwing hand.  The track coach was really mad- first off that I had to do spring football and second- I could no longer hold the shot- one day at practice he threw a hammer down at my feet and told me to learn how to throw it or I was finished with track.  The following year I increased my track scholarship and dropped football.   Best move I ever made.

What was your first Highland Game and when was that?

 My first HG was at Stone Mountain in 1978.

Who was at that game?

It was the first year Stone ever had amateurs at the games.   I only remember Chris Justice as another am.   I remember, Jim Pauli, Ron Short and Fred Vaughn and Ed McComus at pros being there.  

What made you decide to try and compete at a game?

Are you kidding me?  We had moved to GA in the spring and in the course of checking out our new surroundings went to Stone Mountain Park and saw some posters.  I had seen the games on a TV show called the games people play- remember that with Fran Tarkenton? I could throw heavy things all day long.  What could be better?

What is your favorite event?

 It would have to be the sheaf.

What is a common mistake you see people make in that event?

 I think sticking the bag is the first important thing; the bags are a lot different these days.  I always let the bag do most of the work.  Second is not blocking in time.

Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport?

 It was a lot different when I got started.  There were not many pros on the east coast.  They were a very tight nit group.  I turned pro in 1980 at my third games- I had thrown at Stone the two previous years- they said I couldn’t throw there again unless I was a pro- I don’t remember anyone talking to me that first games.  The first guy that did help me was Jim Pauli.  I really didn’t have any coaching- not sure any of us did back then.

Talk some about throwing games as an amateur, what games you did and where.

 Like I said – I had two amateur games- Stone Mountain in 1978 and 1979.

Talk about some of the pro games you did and your favorites.

 Stone will always be my favorite.  Grandfather would follow so close that it could be a tie with Stone.  It was always great to go to Chicago because my family would come up and watch.  Glasgow KY is great- they always treated the pros great there.  We use to have 5 or 6 games in Florida every year- it was always nice to get down there in the early spring and winter.

Who did you enjoy competing with and why?

 Ken Starnes and I had some great battles.  It was always interesting to go to games with Tom Carmichael too.  There are a lot of great guys in the games.  It was always a pleasure to be around guys like Jim Pauli, Ron Short, Pete Hoyt, Ed McComus.

Talk about some of the throws, games and moments you are most proud of.

Breaking the sheaf record at Stone was really great- also in Charleston and again in Montgomery would have to be the high points.  Winning Glasgow and Chicago were great too.  The biggest surprise I had was winning the Orlando games.  I really wasn’t watching the scores or the places- just enjoying the competition and watching George Chiapwa work the crowd- when they announced to winner I was shocked.  My best game ever was in Arlington, TX.  I was sitting at home on a Friday night eating dinner and got a call that someone couldn’t make it and could I- I went to the airport got a flight and threw really well that weekend.

Since you are in fabulous condition, why do you not continue to compete?

I’ve got some issues with my knees. But more than anything were finding games to go to those last few years.  I wasn’t allowed to throw in several games in the Southeast because I had been a pro.  I know – masters are masters- but I stopped getting invited to Grandfather and couldn’t throw in the amateur games- so I was down to Stone Mountain and you just can’t stay motivated and competitive with one game a year.

Tell us about some of the injuries you had as an athlete.

 I had a partial tear in a rotator cuff in the mid 80’s set me back about a year.  It was hard to get back into games for a while because of the politics of the games at that time.  So in the early 90’s when I ruptured my bicep tendon, I threw left handed for a year just to hold my spot in some of the games.

How did you get into judging games and what do you enjoy about that?

 I still really enjoy being around the sport and since I didn’t throw anymore I started judging and announcing.  I really enjoy announcing more than judging.  I feel a good announcer can really bring a lot to the games and get people to come back next year. There are so many games that you go to and the people buying the tickets don’t really have a clue of what’s going on in the field.

You have seen the sport evolve a lot, what changes would you like to see?

 I would like to see it like it was when I started.  One national organization- The North American Scottish Games Association works for me. One set of rules- sanctioned meets and judges.

What impresses you now in the sport?

 The athletes!  They have taken the sport to a whole new level from my day.

Who makes you laugh at games now?

 You do Myles I mean com’ oooooooon!  KO is really funny with some great stories.

What do you like to do outside of the games?

I coach shot and discus at high school and play with the grandkids whenever possible.

 What other hobbies do you have?

I have a “mini farm” with a horse, goat, and several chickens.  I also garden and do some woodworking.

What is your favorite food?

Hamburgers! 

What supplements do you take?

Just multi vitamins and fish oil

What do you drink with a meal at home?

Unsweetened tea

What beer do you like?

 Hires root beer

Do you mow your own grass and what kind of mower do you have?

 Sure do- Yardman riding- 22 horse

Are you a Democrat or Republican? 

Republican but my democrat friends think I’m too conservative and my republican friends think I’m to liberal.

Are you into Astrology?  What sign are you?

 No- Capricorn I think

Are you a religious man, and if so, what do you practice?

More spiritual than religious- go to a Methodist church

 What does your wife call you when nobody is around?

 Lar

Where do you take the wife out to eat?

 Either a steakhouse or Chinese

What would your wife say is your best body part?

Shoulders

What do you like to watch on TV?

 Westerns- I like Lost and look forward to seeing how this all comes together this season.

Are you a western movie or sci fi person?  Tell a favorite.

 Western – favorites would include Jeremiah Johnson, The Searchers,

Thank you brother.

How old are you?

I am 30 Years old, I will turn 31 in May 13 2010

Where were you born?

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Where do you live now?

Charlotte, NC at the moment but I might be moving back near Fayetteville, NC

How did you end up there?

Well I stopped by Myers Park High School in Charlotte just to say hello to Chris St. Clair.  I was coaching and teaching in Fayetteville, NC at Cape Fear High School and I new that that job was not going to allow me to compete at the level I wanted to in the highland games.  So I set out to find a new job and I was heading up for an interview at Lake Norman High School near the Loch Norman Highland Games and on the way back to Fayetteville I drove down I77 to see Chris St Clair.  Myers Park had just hired a new football coach and he was teaching in the room right next to Chris and I talked to him and they needed some coaches and the rest is history.

What do you drive?

2002 F150 XLT (I bought is when I got my first teaching job)

What do you do for a living?

I’m a teacher and a coach (football and track) and I consider the highland games part of my living as well

How did you get into that?

I knew from early on I wanted to coach.  I have no idea what sparked it. I have always loved sports.  I knew that one day when I was done playing that I wanted to coach.  It’s a great job.  I like helping kids and other athletes (highland games) get better.

You work at the same school with Chris StClair, do they just think highland games athletes are common?  What is that like?

It’s good now that Chris has started training again.  He took some time off to focus on his career and become a national board certified teacher and make some more money, and he was also focusing on strongman as well.  He has now started throwing and lifting again, which is good. We actually have thrown twice in the past three days.  All of my kids know what I do and they ask me how I do at competitions. 

Tell us about your education?

I went to South Brunswick High School.  I graduated there in 1997.  I then went to Appalachian State University and I graduated there in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education.

Tell me how you met your wife?

She is a Saint.  We met in college in our senior year. We both are teachers...well we both were teachers, now she is a stay at home mom.  We worked hard for five years so she could stay home.  She is a great woman, she has put up with me leaving for months at a time to throw.  She has also dealt with me coaching and being gone all hours of the night to football games, basketball games, wrestling matches and track meets.  I owe a lot of my success in the games to her.  Before we had kids I would coach a football game on Friday night till 10:00pm or so. Then we would jump in the car and she would drive 4 hours or so to Richmond, Stone Mountain, etc etc so I could sleep and then compete.  She is a great coaches wife and a great highland games wife.  I have never met anyone like her. I knew from the first day I met her I wanted to marry her and I am so lucky that we are together.  I cannot imagine what my life would be like without her she is the best.

Tell me about your kids?

Awesome.  I have two kids under two...life is busy. I have my Boy Wee Gregor Allen Brock 1-26-08, and my sweet little girl Kylie Adele Brock 10-24-09.... yeah we didn’t waste anytime.  The best part of my day is coming home and seeing my boy run up to the window screaming "daddy"."daddy” its great I can’t wait till both of em can run up to me.  I love being a dad. 

As a kid growing up, what was your first job?

My first Job was cutting string on a tobacco stringer on my grandparent’s farm.  I would sit on the stringer, as the tobacco was being sewn onto the tobacco sticks and cut the strings in between the sticks.  I had me an old-timer knife and I was three or four so it was pretty cool to play with a knife when I was that young.  I also got to drive the tractor until I screwed up and ran over some irrigation pipes on the way back from the field with a load of tobacco.  I was six of seven then and I thought my uncle was going to kill me, but he was cool and sent me back to the stringer with my knife.

When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play?

My first organized team sport was Softball when I lived in Massachusetts.  My dad was working as an electrician up in mass and they stared my sister and me on a softball team, I had a blast.  I then started little league when we moved back to North Carolina in the 5th grade. I started playing football in the 6th grade.

Did you throw in high school and if so what did you throw?

I threw Shot and discus on my high school team and I also threw on a junior Olympic track team and I got to throw Javelin.  My high school prs in the Shot was 54'9" and 185'5" in the discus.... Javelin I cant remember I think I threw over 150 and got to go to nationals.  I was a big javelin thrower but it was fun.

Tell us about throwing in college.

Throwing in college was fun. I was on a football scholarship and they said I could do track...well that was not really the case.  I didn’t get to practice much because of football season, then winter conditioning, and then spring football.  At one point during college I was waking up at 5:30 to run until 7:00am with the football team, then I went to class all day and then track practice and them weight room.  I lost down from 305 when I reported to school to 255.  I was accused of being an underwear model because I was getting so skinny.  All in all throwing was fun.  I was two-time southern conference discus throw champion.  I also was named All-conference in shot put, javelin, and 35# weight throw indoors.  I wish I could have practiced more but I still had fun.

Tell us about playing football in college

Football was a full time job.  I had a lot of fun and learned how to deal with pain. I had a lot of injuries from football.  3 knee surgeries, elbow surgery and broken fibula.  Appalachian State Football is Great, I played from 1997-2002.  I started my last three years at guard. Our team won the 1999 southern conference championship and we made it to the 2000 semi finals.  I had some good tough coaches who taught me the right way to play.  I use what they taught me now when I coach.  I was lucky to have such great Coaches at Appalachian and It was a blessing to have been granted enough size and athletic ability to get to play at that level.

What was your first Highland Game and when was that?

1998 Grandfather Mountain

Who was at that game?

Kearney Smith, Donna Mcneilly, Greg Cameron, Todd Mcdougal, Chris StClair, Dave Lyttle, my team mate at app Adam Gilbert

What made you decide to try and compete at a game

Well my track coach suggested it and I thought it would be cool.  My cousin had told me about the games when I was in high school.  He had competed and showed me all his medals and tried to get me involved then but I was too busy throwing the shot and discus and playing football. Being that I knew he competed I called him and asked him to borrow his kilt.  So I woke up at 5:30 am and drove to the foot of grandfather mountain...about 10 miles from my house I paid for the shuttle up, paid the entry fee, and met over 30 competitors fighting it out for 10 spots.  I can honestly say I won the first event I ever did in the highland games...The Grandfather Mountain Stone (clachneart) Putt.  Which really pissed off the other throwers who had been doing it a while, because I was a "ringer"  but then they handed me the 56 wfd and I think I threw it 12 feet.  I was lucky enough to make the cut (and get my entry fee back) and I got my ass kicked in the rest of the events.  I left the mountain with the bagpipes ringing in my ear and reported to work as a dishwasher at Nicks restaurant until 2:00am...man that was 12 years ago.... memories

 You had to compete a lot with David Lyttle, KO, K Monster and the Clair when you started, what was that like.  Tell some stories about competing with them.

       David Lyttle:  We competed in our first highland games together at GMHG and I consider Dave a great guy and a tremendous athlete. Dave and I really had a lot in common with our track and field background.  Dave is a great guy and has worked hard to become a doctor. He is a wealth of knowledge and he has given back to highland games by putting on games, clinics etc.  Dave is a true southern gentleman and I value Dave as a friend and stand up guy

      KO:  One of my most respected rivals and a great friend.  Over the years Kerry and I have had some battles, we have also had some great times.  I love throwing with Kerry. Kerry and I have pushed each other to throw farther. Kerry and I share a common bond because we both coach football and throw. So we understand the work that goes into trying to juggle family, throwing, coaching etc etc.  Kerry is another athlete who is giving back to the sport by being an Athletic director and doing clinics and coaching and doing clinics etc.  He is a true southern brethren and I love him dearly.

     Kearney:  Kearney has been a trooper dealing with many injuries and still coming back.  Kearney loves throwing for throwing, He enjoys the games and I find him to be a very unique individual.  I can tell you that he can aggravate me more than any other athlete when I have to throw after him because half the time he is not ready to throw when its his turn.... but I still love the big teddy bear and I know he has worked hard to throw far.   Just don’t ever travel with him because Kearney time is not the same time as the rest of the world.

      Chris St. Clair:  He was my first training partner in Boone, NC.  He would come to Boone and we would train together.  I would play a football game on Saturday and be feeling like hell and then train on Sundays and have a blast. Chris is a good dude. I enjoy training with him and I ask him for advice on certain things and I try to help him when he needs it.  We have also traveled to a lot of games together this past year and I really have enjoyed our trips on the road.  We stopped at a Red Lobster on the way back from Virginia Scottish Games this year and had the all you can eat shrimp and man It was awesome.... all those little tasty morsels of sea delights...I’m hungry just thinking about that.  Back to Chris lol... he took some time off and I think he is ready to get going and have a good season this year.  Its good to have someone to train with and its even better to have a good quality thrower and friend like Chris around.

 What is your favorite event?

 Well it can vary from game to game.... but Id say I would rank it (Light Hammer/28 WFD/ 56 WFD/Heavy Hammer) 

What is a common mistake you see people make in that event?

Hammers---Short arms--low point floats.  Weights would be eating too much trig up at the back and not setting up the proper spring phase and fighting the weights

Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport

One of the first people to really help me at the games was Donna Mcneilly. She was score keeping at Grandfather and I really had no idea what I was doing. She explained the etiquette of the games. Which I still believe in like (returning your implement, weights, sheaf etc.)  Chris helped me tremendously when I first got started, we were pretty good with training together.  I got help from Larry Satchwell's training video that I purchased from him at a game early.  Kay Cummings was a big part of the amateur scene.  I learned a lot form the old UHATV videos.  I would watch Alistair Gunn, Ryan Vierra, Francis Brebner, Steve Pulcinella, Peter Gundmundson, Karl Dodge, and the list goes on.  I still have all those old UHA TAPES and I love watching them.  I am a bit envious that that kind of coverage is not around these days.  Ross Morrison was a big help to me as well. Chris Chafin and I also would practice together a lot early in my career and we had a lot of fun. Chris and I would have all day throw a thons.  All the events over and over again....hot hot hot practices when we would throw and then go inside for twenty mins then come back out and so on and so on.  I think it made us good throwers. 

Talk some about throwing games as an amateur, what games you did and where.

I did a lot of games in the southeast/mid Atlantic region (Grandfather, Loch, Charleston, Alexandria, Richmond, etc etc I also traveled to Massachusetts for the western mass games.)

What were your favorite amateur games?

Hands down Grandfather Mountain...even though as an amateur it is hard to get to but the spectacle that is grandfather is unreal.  It was my first game I ever did and I always hold grandfather as my favorite amateur games

 Talk about some of the pro games you have done and your favorites.

God has blessed me with a great family that has allowed me to travel the world and experience so many great places, games, cultures and people.  I have traveled to Indonesia which even though I got sick I still think that It was an awesome experience to get to see a place of the world that I never would have gone to unless it was for the games.  My favorite all time Pro games is The Aboyne Games.  Held in August Aboyne to me is what a true Scottish Games is.  It was very much what grandfather is in the US as far as implements, and the way the games run.  I also hold aboyne as a special place because that is where I first met the Great Bill Anderson. Aboyne to me is a game that for some reason I fell in love with.  If you win the game they engrave your name on a trophy, which has been around many many years.  My name is on a trophy with some of the best throwers of all time (Alistair Gunn, Francis Brebner, bill Anderson, grant Anderson, Arthur Rowe, Bruce Aitken and the list on that trophy goes on and I won it three times and I hope to one day when I’m old and beat up I can take my kids there and show them the Donald Dinnie trophy which stands about two feet tall and show them.

Who do you enjoy competing with and why?

Ryan Vierra: The Greatest Highland games athlete in US history. 

Sean Betz:  Tough Competitor, great person, and awesome thrower

Kerry Overfelt: I can’t imagine not having KO around, awesome friend and competitor

Harrison Bailey: Awesome athlete and I respect Harrison greatly.  He is a pioneer in the sport with the spin and a great person

James Parman: underrated thrower in the games, Super talented thrower and a great guy to learn the ropes from. Awesome guy

Craig Smith: Talented thrower, great strength and down to earth.  Fun to hang and throw with. 

Greg Hadley: Funny guy with loads of power. We have had some fun together, we can always quote movies. Hadley has great determination and I respect him for all he does with his games in Nova Scotia...Great Fun

Alistair Gunn: He is a legend and definately pound for pound the greatest thrower of all time

Chris Chafin: hard worker and enthusiastic. I always enjoy seeing Chris at games

 There is a lot of people I enjoy throwing with and the list is really long.... a lot of the times I really enjoy are the times when we are not competing and just having fun.

Talk about some of the throws, games and moments you are most proud of.

Favorite Accomplishments: 2007 US Championships, World hammer Championships, I also like to win at everything I do...but I think the biggest thing I like is the fact that I can be consistent.  The greatest feeling I have ever had was turning the caber in Edinburgh this year at the worlds.

You once saw a thrower loose his balance and catch himself on another thrower, can you explain why the man was so vilified over this miss understanding, as he was clearly a victim of circumstances?

Things happen...maybe he had vertigo??

Talk about training and your philosophy in that area?

My job although is to throw far...I get paid to throw far. So I train to throw far.  My philosophy is to train like a thrower.  I lift to throw farther.

Tell us about some of the injuries you had as an athlete.

Football: 3 knee scopes, broken fibula, elbow surgery, tore ac ligament in shoulder

Highland Games: 1 Knee surgery, Herniated disc in neck, torn quad, ankle sprain...more to come lol

What impresses you now in the sport?

I’m impressed with level of throwers in the United States.  I also am impressed with the organization of the Canadian federation (csaf), I’m impressed with the athletic directors who devote hours to the games.

Who makes you laugh at games now?

KO, Chris Chafin, Craig, Sean, Harrison, Craig Sinclair, Tommy Debruyn, Eric f, hell I laugh all day lol.... I always have a great time

What do you like to do outside of the games?

Coach Football, Track, BIG HUNTER,

What other hobbies do you have?

None really I am really into hunting

What is your favorite food?

Steak and shrimp

 What supplements do you take?

Creatine, Amino Acids, fast twitch, protein shakes

What do you drink with a meal at home?

Water...I’m too cheap to pay for drinks

What beer do you like?

Highland Brewing Company and yuengling

Do you mow your own grass and what kind of mower do you have?

I have a push mower that was left with the house when I bought the house.... the plastic doo hickey that kind of stops the grass from shooting everywhere is broken off so when I cut the grass it shoots all over the neighbors yard...lol

Do you like to garden?

I would but I’m never home to water it

Are you a Democrat or Republican? 

Democrat but I’m open to whomever I like...but mostly democrat. I don’t vote straight ticket

Are you into Astrology?  What sign are you?

Not into it but I am a Taurus

Are you a religious man, and if so, what do you practice?

Baptist need to go more than I do but I am a Christian and I do believe in God

 What does your wife call you when nobody is around?

Larry

Where do you take the wife out to eat?

We only eat out if we have a coupon...so wherever we have a buy one get one coupon.

What would your wife say is your best body part?

All Of It

Chris Chafin says you have a Charlie Brown head, what part of him reminds you of a cartoon character? 

Chafin reminds me of dangle from Reno 911...now that’s funny right there...Chris is a lot of fun and has worked hard to throw far.

 What do you like to watch on TV?

College Football, Survivor, Grays Anatomy, Friday Night Lights, American Idol, CMT

Are you a western movie or sci fi person?  Tell a favorite.

Neither

What is there left in the sport you wish to accomplish and what are the goals this year?

I want to be world champion, but I feel that I am lucky to have done what I have done up to this point. There are many others in this world who have not been blessed with the athletic talents and health as I have been.  I know that I am lucky.  I try not to take what God has given me for granted. 

I would really like to thank all the great people in the games and all the great competitors, judges and athletic directors who put in a lot of time and effort that makes the games continue to thrive all over the US and the world

As Always

Mark Valenti has been a pro a long time.  I met him a few years ago and have always enjoyed his company.  I think what I like is he is a straight talker.  No beating around with this guy, you are going to get his feelings on a topic.  I think from some of his answers here we can learn about ourselves.  Like some of the things posted on the NASGA board.  He is so on target in this area.  The guy has been working on his game and has some impressive wins over top opponents.  When you can boast wins over Craig Smith and Kerry Overfelt, among others, you are doing something right.  So enjoy the straight scoop from Mark.





How old are you? 36

Where were you born?  Erie, Pa

Where do you live now?  Amherst, Ohio

How did you end up there?  My father came here looking for a new job and we loved the town.

What do you drive?  Ford Escape

What do you do for a living?

I work for the courts doing intake for a juvenile detention center and I also run my own strength and conditioning business called Dynamo Sport Athletics

How did you get into that?

I have had the job at the court since I was 21...the Strength and Conditioning business was something I got into because I was working out at a gym that had a trainer working with local kids,,, he had a lot of kids and needed someone to help him.  He asked me and I said, "ok” 12 years later I'm still doing it and loving it.

Tell me about coaching and how that came about?

I started coaching track and field the same year I started training athletes.  I have a love hate relationship with the profession.  Right now I am switching to another school after 12 years at the high school I graduated from.  I have also done strength and conditioning for my high schools football team and am thinking I would like to get back into that with a different school.

Tell us about your education?

I have a degree in Criminal Justice from Lorain County Community College where the motto is "Tomorrow is yesterday"

Tell me how you met your wife?

She was a mail order bride from West "by God "Virginia...No actually we met at the gym and she stalked me until I asked her out...I stood her up for our first date.  She called and yelled at me and we went out that night...been together ever since.

Tell me about your kids?  I have a 4-year-old Hayden "Butch" Valenti who is in training for the 2028 Olympics.

As a kid growing up, what was your first job?  I worked at Finast Supermarket dragging in carts from the parking lot and bagging groceries.

When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play?

Football, wrestling, track and field, soccer, swimming and Tae Kwon Do (my first instructor was Billy Blanks of Tae Bo fame)

Did you throw in high school and if so what did you throw?

I threw the shot put mostly my best in a meet was 52'6" and played with the discus when my coach wasn't looking, he thought we should only focus on one event.

Tell us about throwing in college.

I got recruited by a lot of schools and ended up going to University of Toledo...I was there getting ready for indoors.  I taught myself to spin and was already better then the senior they had throwing for them.  One day the coach calls me into his office and says “ well we don't have any money for your scholarship like we had said we would have for you,,, we want you to throw for us and work at the football and basketball games to pay for your trips to track meets.  I basically told him to go F himself and started to look toward turning pro on the heavy events circuit.

What was your first Highland Game and when was that?  The Oberlin Ohio games and I was 17 years old.

Who was at that game?

Kurt Pauli and I were the ams along with another future pro Brian "Scooby" Alford and former worlds strongest man competitor Dave Waddington,, the pros were Jim Mcgoldrick, Paul Ferency, Ben Plucknett, Harvey Barkauskus, Jim Pauli, Mark Palmer and Carl Braun.  Quite a field,,,, and people wonder why I wanted to turn pro!

What made you decide to try and compete at a game?

My best friend at the time Brian Alford had done it the year before and I was throwing the shot put and thought it looked really cool...the local bus mechanic Norm Miller was an am and agreed to teach me how to throw the implements.  I was hooked after the first practice.

You travel a lot with KO and Craig, tell some stories about that.

Oh man there are so many freaking stories. I have had such a great time traveling with those two retards as well as Chafin.  I guess the best was me and Kerry flying to the Enumclaw, Wa games a couple years ago.  We got isle seats across from each other...This big girl gets up half way through the flight to go to the bathroom.  When she passes us she flat out grabs KO's arm and gives it a squeeze.  Now I'm laughing my ass off cause of the look on Kerry's face...well 5 mn. Later she comes back and this time she reaches down and rubs my chest...So now we are rolling laughing.  Half hour later here she comes again...this time she grabs Kerry's arm and rubs her butt across me and on her way back she switches directions.... We got totally violated by this big girl and we are just giggling the whole time.

What is your favorite event?

I’ve always loved the 56wfd,,, but lately I've been digging on the caber.  I have always wanted to be a big caber tosser and last year I started turning some big sticks.  I am really wanting to improve on that this year.

What is a common mistake you see people make in that event?

In the caber it's all timing and body positions....most guys will run...stop and then try and sink and explode up...well as you are doing that the caber is still moving full speed.  So by the time you go to pull the caber is pretty much horizontal and you have no prayer to turn it.... Run like hell and pull the shit out of it as soon as you stop. Don’t over think it.

Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport? 

The Pauli family has been a huge help to me and I always say it was Jim Pauli who taught me what it meant to be a "Pro", Ryan Vierra has influenced everyone in the sport and I am no exception.  I have learned a ton in the last 4-6 years from KO and Craig though. 

Talk some about throwing games as an amateur, what games you did and where. 

I did Ohio, Detroit, Carlton, KY, Alexandria, Va and Fredrick, MD.  Throwing am was great and I just tried to learn as much as I could.  My first year at Oberlin they made the ams shag weights for the pros after our games was over.  It sounds kind of degrading but I learned more about throwing that day then I did the whole year leading up to the competition.

What were your favorite amateur games?

Alexandria, VA....it was awesome to travel down there for the East Coast Championships. I really felt like it was an honor to be invited it was a huge deal to me.

Talk about some of the pro games you have done and your favorites.

I have always said if I could do Bethlehem, Pa,,,, Fergus, Ont. and Pleasanton, Ca I will feel like I had done it all as a pro.  I have thrown at all of those games and they are incredible games, top notch best in the business.

Portland, Detroit, Glasgow, Stone Mountain and Wisconsin are fast becoming historic type places to throw like those games are.

I kissed the ground in Fergus last year just like I did the first time I was invited to Bethlehem and Pleasanton,,,, I don't always do this where people see me,,, but it gets done.

Who do you enjoy competing with and why? 

There are very few people I don't enjoy throwing with these days.  We have a great group of guys on the circuit and we all seem to get a long really well.  Well everyone hates Will and Hadley but that's a given.

Talk about some of the throws, games and moments you are most proud of.

43' pr in Fergus last year in the 56 wfd felt great,,, as did turning the big stick in Wisconsin three out of 5 times last year.   Throwing 16' in the weight for height to beat Craig in Edinborough and take the overall was a real gut check moment.  I guess my favorite moment was beating Kerry in Michigan last year...he was so jealous he stole my trophy...can you believe that guy.  Glory hog.

Why don’t you post more on the NASGA board and what would you change there? 

The board is really frustrating,,, I think if you ask people I am more then willing to help anyone who asks with training advice or throwing, but the people on that board I think are in a totally different sport then I am.  I am training my balls off on a daily basis to throw far and win.  When I see posts about traveling kilts, getting drunk or doing overhead squats I just get a little sick to my stomach.

Every time you post on there, someone will write something just to bash ya.  Now don't get me wrong I love the smack talk,,, hell I created it on that board, but if someone is posting something and they are better then you,,, stop and listen,,, no one cares about your opinion.

I remember a few years ago Mcgoldrick was posting about caber tossing, I mean f**king gold mine right?, and the thread got totally hijacked with other people giving their thoughts...no one f**king cares! It’s the big chief! Shut your pie hole and listen!

Talk about training and your philosophy in that area?

I have had the great fortune to work with and listen to some great people over the years including Jud Logan at Ashland univ. where I spent two seasons just sucking his head dry.  I think my whole philosophy about lifting changed when I heard Louie Simmons talk for the first time...I was really impressed with his approach to training.  I started making some trips down to Westside Barbell in Columbus and I have learned so much from him.  Kerry and I actually took him to Hooters in Nashville a couple of years ago and just picked his brain for two hours.  The guy is a gold mine.

I believe in the Max effort method,, pull, squat and press something heavy every week!  I believe in the dynamic method for throwers,,, train for speed on a different day!  I believe that Olympic lifting is great if you are a good Olympic lifter,,,, most people are not good Olympic lifters.  I haven't done a clean in about 4 years.  They aren't necessary for explosive power.  I feel that in most cases the weights are too light due to poor form or injuries and the time under tension is way too short.

My question is are good Olympic lifters explosive because they Olympic lift or are they good Olympic lifters cause they are already explosive.

 Tell us about some of the injuries you had as an athlete.

Thank the Gods nothing major...I had a really bad ankle sprain a few years ago, I did it two days before the Wisconsin games and was going to drop out and Craig guilted me into trying to throw on it.  So I did...ugggggh that was a rough weekend.

What impresses you now in the sport?

Athletic directors are starting to impress me...they are really going out of their way to make us feel wanted at these games.  When I first started they acted like you were a piece of shit cause you were taking cash.  Now the ADs see how much time and energy and sacrifice is put into doing this and they are really doing great jobs to make their games successful ...Gord Walsh, Alex Murray, Richard Jackson and a bunch of others im forgetting...great job folks.

Who makes you laugh at games now?  Hands down Chafin...funniest guy in the games and he doesn't even know he’s funny.  That's what makes him so funny.  It’s like traveling with a drunk caveman.

If you were watching Larry Brock wind up in the hammer and it slipped from his hands, who in the sport would you most like to see the hammer hit in the sack?  Kerry no doubt about it.  I'm laughing just thinking about it.

You have gotten a lot more serious in the gym these days, tell us about that change and why?  I have been in the games for 19 years and I learned to train 3 years ago.  I switched to full Westside with some minor modifications and have never looked back...Kerry also got me to stop throwing so much and let myself recover. So that helped as well.

What training philosophy do you follow in the gym?  Westside!

What do you like to do outside of the games? 

I love to travel down to those little latitudes ...just south of Florida.  Gimme Duval street on a Friday night and I am in seventh heaven.

What other hobbies do you have? 

Does porn count?

What is your favorite food?  Mom’s cabbage rolls.

What supplements do you take?  What’s a supplement?  Really all that stuff is junk.

What do you drink with a meal at home?  Usually just water or sweet tea when I come south.

What beer do you like?  Landshark or Carona .

Do you mow your own grass and what kind of mower do you have?

I have a guy who I hire to do it...he charges me like $30, it’s a big yard and I'm lazy.  I do have a rider when I really feel motivated Ill go out and mow it as fast as the thing will carry me.

Do you like to garden?  hahahahahahahahahahaaha

Are you a Democrat or Republican? I am just right of Attila the Hun

Are you into Astrology?   NO  What sign are you?  I'm a Libra

Are you a religious man, and if so, what do you practice?

I was raised Roman Catholic like all daigos, but I told my son the other day when he asked me "who created the Earth?"   "The Gods did"

How did you find Jimmy Buffet music in Ohio?

When you deal with sub zero temps for a good portion of the year you need an escape.  My parents gave me a love for all things involving the beach.... We lived in the Outerbanks for most every summer of my life.  I found him in high school my senior year and after my first show at Buckeye Lake I was a Parrot Head...FINS UP!

 What does your wife call you when nobody is around?  Asshole

Where do you take the wife out to eat?  The town I live in has some great places...So we hit the local BBQ joint or maybe Mexican.

What would your wife say is your best body part?  She likes my ass,,, I have the lips and ass of a black guy...to bad it stops there.

Chris Chafin told me when he first saw you he thought a midget was following you, then he realized it was your ass.  What did you think when you first saw him?   I’m laughing that's a good one...I remember thinking he looked top heavy.

What do you like to watch on TV?  Sons of Anarchy, Man vs. Food, UFC and the Jersey Shore (fist pump bitches!)

Are you a western movie or sci fi person?  Tell a favorite.   Western for sure,,,,, The Searchers.

What are the goals for this year?  Prs baby,,, lots of PRs,,, I want my 28 back over 80' and I want to turn every stick I get my hands on. EVERY STICK

Thank you brother.

My pleasure and thank you.

Steve Pulcinella is legend in the games.  If you don't know, he has been around and competed for years with so many wins you can't list them all.  The guy is one of the original strong men before it was cool.  If your looking for political correctness then you better stop now.  The guy is an original and a straight shooter.  He has worked for everything he has and in my eyes is a real champion.  I think you will find most of the big throwers love the guy.  I know from the very first time I met him at the East Coast Championship, the guy treated me first class.  This is someone the new guys need to watch, listen and follow to know how to do the games the right way.  So here comes the rooster.  
 

How old are you?

I’m 44 years old but feel wayyy older than that.

Where were you born?

Born in southwest Philly and grew up there until I was in 3^rd grade. That neighborhood used to be fit for decent people but it’s so bad there now you can’t even walk down the street.

Where do you live now?

I live in Ridley PA which is a suburb of Philly

How did you end up there?

My parents moved us there from the city when the neighborhood starting going downhill. I grew up in Ridley and still live there. It’s a kind of a nice blue collar area just minutes outside of the city. Plus I have Ridley on lockdown, everyone knows me, I’m kind of a big deal there.

What do you drive?

I’m whipping a ’08 Jeep 4-door Wrangler with my gym logos on it.

How long have you been in the gym business?

We started a 1600sq ft key club type of operation back in 1995, then got into a bigger 7200sq ft place in 1999 and opened a commercial operation up.

How did you get into that?

Isn’t it every gym rat’s dream to own a gym? I was just stupid enough to actually do it. I needed a gym where we could really hang and bang in and the local places just weren’t cutting it. I started small and just borrowed money when I could and just kept adding to the place.

Tell us about your education?

Nothing to tell, I spent most of my high school years reading muscle magazines in the back of my classrooms and watching the clock until it was time to get out and go to the gym. I never went to college. My real education came from the older guys in the gyms I belonged to. To me that was more important.

Tell me about your kids?

I have two total hotty daughters. Alyssa is 21 and Carmen is 18. I had my kids when I was pretty young with my first wife. Everyone always jokes about my girls having a big scary looking dad like me and I always give fathers this advice: Don’t worry about the guys they bring home, worry about the guys that they are NOT bringing home.

As a kid growing up, what was your first job?

I was lucky enough to have a job waiting for me in my fathers printing shop which I dutifully started the day after I graduated from high school and stayed there for 24 years. I did tedious pre-press work at first and graduated to sales and customer service. It was a family business so all my family worked there.

When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play?

I never played an organized sport growing up. We played a lot of street hockey and pick up games of football and all but I just wasn’t a “team sport” kind of guy. In my Sr year of high school I was 235lb kid who could bench 365 and deadlift over 500 and didn’t play football….blasphemy! I hate football and the last thing I wanted to do in August was stop lifting and go run around the track at my school in full pads while the history teacher yelled at me.

Did you throw in high school and if so what did you throw?

I did join the track team in my Sr year to throw shot and discus. That was my one regret in school was not doing that sooner. I LOVED the discus the minute I picked it up. With literally no coaching I taught myself how to throw it and did ok. I had throws over 170 in practice the second day I ever picked one up. I think I barely broke 50’ with the shot by just skipping back and punching it.

How did you get into weight lifting and when?

I started pretty young, I was about 13 when I really got hooked. My older brother Joe was lifting and wrestling, my cousin Dave was doing it and since we were all pretty close it was just something that we did. Dave went on to be a really accomplished bodybuilder. When I think back to some of the goofy workout sessions we used to do in our basement back then. It makes me cringe. But we trained hard and learned a lot through trial and error.

Talk about doing strength sports and starting out in that?

I really think it all started with two things. The first few years of the Worlds Strongest Man contest were aired on Wide World of Sports right around that time and I thought those guys were awesome. Big huge guys moving all this heavy stuff around really appealed to me. I knew I wanted SIZE and STRENGTH. The other thing was a book that I had gotten when I was a kid called Inside Powerlifting by Terry Todd. Just looking at the pictures of Doug Young made me push hard so that I could look like that. Those factors are what molded me and what I wanted to do with these muscles I was trying to build.

Tell about some international games you did and some of the people there?

I was kind of lucky enough to be on that tail end of the generation before me and compete in meets with Jim McGoldrick, Paul Ferency, Francis Brebner, Kenny Starnes, Alistair Gunn, Dave McKenzie, Carl Braun Etc. And also compete long enough to compete with the current crop of studs like Kerry Overfelt, Sean Betz, Craig Smith, Harrison Bailey, Larry Brock etc. Then of course the guys I got to battle it out against almost every week like Kurt Pauli, Karl Dodge, Ryan Vierra, Mark Valenti, Chris Rusher, Petur Gudmunnson, James Parman, Art Mcdermott, Mike Smith, Harry McDonald, Dave Barron etc. When I look back at the level of talent that I have shared the field with its amazing.

Bethlehem wasn’t the nationals back then but it was more of an international invitational and it was one of my favorite games. Just being so close to home, a great time of year to throw and the guys that would be there was always a blast. Carl Braun used to run a nice international games that just didn’t quite take off financially. It was a shame, he always had a great field of throwers there.

What was your first Highland Game and when was that?

The first games I did were a small am games in VA called Scotchtown. I don’t think that festival exists anymore though. That was back in 1993.

Who was at that game?

I remember Dave McKenzie and Dave Strunk ran the show and guys like Greg Martz, John Stenard, Mark Landis, John Paul Wright, Mike Thompson and James Kieth were throwing. I had never even tried the events before so I remember some of the guys teaching me the throws during warm-ups. I did ok in a few events and was totally dumbfounded in a few but I loved it and was hooked.

What made you decide to try and compete at a game?

There was a festival near me called the Delco Games in Devon PA. A buddy said I should go try it and I went up there but didn’t have a kilt and they wouldn’t let me throw. There were pros there so I watched them to see what it was all about. I remember it as Carl Braun, Frazier Pehmuller, Harry McDonald and Phil Martin. I was about 290 at the time and saw those guys and I was like “Damn, these guys are freaking big”.

You have seen the Highland Games change a lot over the years, what changes do you like and not like?

Ok, I’m partial to this one but I just don’t like the spinning WOB. I was always the top dog when it came to that event standing and then it all changed once day. Thanks HB! I do like how the games have a more legitimate qualifying system for the national championships now. Years back all the championships were still “invitational”.

What is your favorite event?

I love the caber, it’s the event that always gets that pop from the crowd. It’s always a great feeling to be the first guy to get a really big stick over and excite the folks.

What is a common mistake you see people make in that event?

I think the one wrong thing that people do is panic. It takes a lot of practice to pick a caber and wait till you maintain balance before you think about starting your run. When you are new to it you feel that thing in your hands and just want to get rid of it. Early on when I started throwing I would practice just picking the caber I had and walking all the way across the field slowly just to get comfortable with the stick in my hand.

Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport?

Paul Ferency lives only an hour and half from me so he would come down to my house or I would go up to his place and get together. We used to have a good crew of guys that we used to throw with back then. Me, Paul, Rich Costello, Troy Herr and this crazy dude Mark Moyer. We used to have some legendary practices.

Talk some about throwing games as an amateur, what games you did and where.

I only did three small games as an am so really not much to speak of. There was such a shortage of pros on the east coast around that time that because I was big and strong that qualified me to move up I guess. I learned real quick after that though.

Talk about some of the pro games you have done and your favorites.

I loved Bethlehem, Loon Mt NH, Glasgow KY, Alexandria VA and Portland OR the most. Each was just fun, the crowds were always good. But there was one small festival that we would do each year in Oct. Anne Arundel MD wasn’t a prestigious game at all but it was the week after Bethlehem and all the guys would stay in the area and compete in it. It would just be a great relaxing day with awesome throwing and just tons of laughs. In 1996 we had Ryan, Petur, Harry, Troupe, Braun, Brebner, Pehmuller, myself, Costello, Ferency all there at once and I have a video of that meet and all you can hear in the background was all of us laughing our asses off. That was the day that Francis broke the world record in the 28. That’s when we coined the phrase “It’s all fun and games . . . until somebody breaks a world record.

Who do you enjoy competing with and why?

Currently of course my boy Valenti has to be in my top three. I like throwing with Craig Smith, he’s just a cool cat to be around. I have gotten to share the field with Sean Betz, its awesome to see his focus and preparation. And you gotta love KO, he’s just always having a good time no matter what. As a master I had a few battles with my good friend Gene Flynn in 2008. We have had a great rivalry since we were both ams, then pros and now masters.

Talk about some of the throws, games and moments you are most proud of.

There are so many of the throws and games that stand out. The one game in my career that stands out would be the international challenge meet at Loon Mt HN in 2000. I won the overall in the field that included Harry McDonald, Petur, Alistair, Don Stewart, HB, Wout Zylstra and a few others all at the top of their game. I just had a career day where everything seemed to just come together.

There was one particular WOB throw that I made in 1998 at Carl Braun’s games. I was shooting for 16’9” to break the field record and David Webster was sitting right there on the mic telling the crowd that it was highly unlikely that this record will be broken. I was so pissed I looked at him and said “hey David, watch this!” and I freaking threw that weight a good foot over the bar and just walked off. I have video of it taken by UHA at the level of the bar and it was a whopper of a toss. Webster was speechless.

Another throw that I am pretty proud of was just last season in Ohio when only two guys could turn this nasty stick out of a field of top pros and I was one of them. I hadn’t touched a caber in over a year when I did that. I felt . . . less old after I did that.

Another thing I was lucky enough to be a part of was the short lived UHA series on ESPN. It was a blast getting filmed for TV and then actually seeing yourself in reruns and all. I remember being in a big sports bar one time and there we were all over the bar on TV and people were all looking at me in the bar. Glad I could be part of that era, sorry to see that it’s over.

Why don’t you post more on the NASGA board and what would you change there?

I still post there when I have something to add. I just don’t really check in on it that much.

Talk about training and your philosophy in throwing?

When I first started doing games it was obvious that I would have to practice a LOT. I would just throw until the sun when down. My philosophy was, get strong and practice a lot. Nothing fancy. One thing I always tell people that helped me a lot early on was video taping myself practicing. I always advise guys to do that.

Tell us about some of the injuries you had as an athlete.

I was bullet proof until I was about 37 and then it all came crashing down on me. In 1999 Carl Braun was winding a 16lb hammer during warm-ups like his life depended on it and the hammer head flew off. I was standing there waiting my turn and I was talking to Steve King and all the sudden this cannonball comes flying at us. It didn’t even one hop, it hit me clean on the fly and broke my leg. I told everyone there that I jumped in front of it to save the people in the sponsors tent. I recovered from that ok and the years that followed I have had four knee surgeries, one shoulder surgery, a torn achilles in one ankle and my other ankle totally reconstructed. All that stuff lead to my semi-retirement.

What impresses you now in the sport?

Kerry really does, how does a little fat kid like that throw so far?? Ryan always impressed me. I’ve seen him throw in so many games in the last 15 years and rarely have I ever seen him make a mistake. And of course you Myles, you are like that terminator that has no skin, bashed legs, one eye and is still coming at us. You take situations that would stop just about anybody else and you keep coming back hard. I’d share a foxhole with you any time.

Who makes you laugh at games now?

I met Chaffin last year in Ohio and we had a great time. Kerry never shuts the hell up and he’s funny as hell, I love his attitude. Valenti is always good for a laugh….for a long time we just laughed AT him. That has always been the best thing about the games. I remember traveling with Troy Herr, Rich Costello and Paul and just laughing so much our stomachs would be sore.

If you were watching Carl Braun wind up in the hammer and it slipped from his hands, who in the sport would you most like to see the hammer hit in the sack?

Uuugh don’t even say that, if that hammer would have hit me in the sack that day I think I would be dead. It sounded like a side of beef getting hit with a bat. THWACK!

When I mention these athletes names, just write a few words about them you think of when you see it.

Ryan; The best there ever was. Completely changed the sport

Harrison; Probably the best pure athlete in the games.

Gundmunndson; STONE KING! Man could that guy throw a stone

Alistair; Winner. Never count him out because he is always looking for a way to win.

Don Stewart; What else can you say? Ageless. He is getting better each year it seems

McGoldrick; precise. He was always a cool guy to watch.

Paul Ferency; A throwers thrower. He is so much a thrower that he wears shot putting shoes as sneakers 24/7. Who does that?

In all your years competing, what was the toughest loss and to who, that sticks in your craw and bothers you?

Seriously I’m so much more competitive with myself and the times I was most pissed off at games it was at myself. I was happy coming in 5^th or 6^th place in a big game as long as I threw well.

What challenge can you get up for now days?

Just the challenge of getting through my workouts without getting hurt. My body just seems so much more beat up than a 44 year old should feel. I’m always working around some aches and pains. The other challenge is just to get a chance to get the hell out of work to compete. I’m stuck at the gym so much and can’t seem to get away.

What training philosophy do you follow in the gym?

I’m totally instinctive. My training follows no rhyme or reason. I go as heavy as my body allows me on any given day.

What do you like to do outside of the games?

When I am not working I do nothing. I have no hobbies, I enjoy nothing, I’m basically miserable. I swear, all I do is watch TV and sleep.

What is your favorite food?

Lately I have this thing for chicken burritos from Qdoba. I crave them daily.  But am happiest with a really good cut of steak and a buttery baked potato.

What supplements do you take?

None. I know I probably should take something but I’m basically too lazy and cheap to actually go out and buy them and remember to take them.

What do you drink with a meal at home?

Crystal Lite ice tea. I drink that stuff by the gallon.

What beer do you like?

I know this sounds gay but I think beer is gross and never developed a taste for it.

Do you mow your own grass and what kind of mower do you have?

Yeah, I push that god damn thing around my yard once a week. I think it’s a Toro. I got it on sale at Home Depot. Cutting my grass seriously cuts into my sitting on my chair time. But I’m too cheap to pay anyone to do it . . . thus my dilemma.

Do you like to garden?

Every self respecting Italian guy from Philly grows tomatoes and peppers in their yards. It’s a good thing I know a lot of them that are willing to give me the tomatoes because I sure as shit aint doing no gardening.

Are you a Democrat or Republican? 

I’m really not political at all. But in Ridley it really pays to be a registered Republican. All the local politicians are Republican so it helps. Believe it or not but the last couple presidential elections I have been stuck at the gym from the times the polls open until after they were closed and missed being able to vote. Prisoners get to vote but I don’t.

Are you into Astrology?  What sign are you?

Nah, I don’t pay that stuff any mind. I’m a Libra though.

Are you a religious man, and if so, what do you practice?

I was Christened catholic but that was as far as it went. I probably could use a little churchin’ though.

What kind of music do you like?

I’m not really a huge music guy, I listen to a little bit of everything. I never owned any kind of iPod or anything. Not a fan of hard metal screaming stuff. I like Dave Matthews, saw him this summer in concert. I would rather listen to old school rap when I train than metal. When Paul Ferency comes down to train that’s what we put on and the other guys in my gym hate it.

 Do you have any nicknames?

The only nickname I ever had that only a few people ever called me was “Pickles”. Here is the story behind that name. Me and a few other guys were picking up Parman at the airport before Pleasanton I think, and James comes off the plane and sees me weighing 320lbs with a big neck roll and says in his winy Texan accent “Jesus Christ Pulcinella, that pickle on your head gets bigger every time I see you!” That was the birth of Pickles.

Where do you like to go to eat?

I like meat so any steakhouse is all good with me. I drag my wife to Qdoba once a week religiously so I can get my burrito. The Philly area is the awesome sandwich capital of the US so you can always get a good cheesesteak or hoagie just about anywhere here.

What is your best body part?

I used to call my throwing arm “the money maker”. Before big games I wouldn’t even use it during sex so as not to wear it out. It used to frustrate my wife.

What do you like to watch on TV?

I watch everything from cheesy reality shows to really boring educational stuff. The only sport I watch is baseball. The Phillies have been pretty exciting the last few years.

Are you a western movie or sci fi person?  Tell a favorite.

I’m really into neither but my favorite western has go to be high plains drifter. Clint was bad ass in that movie.

What are the goals for this year?

I told myself this year I wanted to do four or five pro games. Its really just a matter finding games that will let an old has-been in and whether or not I can get the hell out of the gym.

What are we going to see you doing down the road from now in sport?

I would really want to continue to be a part of the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem. The last few years I have been there doing the announcing and this year Paul has been named as the AD. We really want to build these games more and more and make it into the real culmination of the season for all the guys. Maybe I’ll get involved in a couple other games too.

How old are you?  47

Where were you born?  Oklahoma City, OK

Where do you live now?  Concord, NH

How did you end up there?  I took a job here in Concord and met my wife

What do you drive?  Gulp. A Kia Sedona mini van. (Erik Sauve loves to ride in it)

What do you do for a living? I am a physician and I work as a hospitalist.

How did you get into that?  I have family members in medicine and I was a geek in school

Tell us about your education?  I graduated from the University of NC, graduate school at Columbia University, graduated from New York Medical College in 1995, residency in surgery at Lahey Clinic, MA and residency in family Medicine at Dartmouth

Tell me about your kids? We have 7 year old twins, a boy Billy and a girl Abby

Talk about your wife and how you met her?  Many of the guys know my wife Holly, who is very instrumental in putting together the athletics here at Loon. She worked at my clinic here in Concord as a medical assistant and we really hit it off. We had to keep our relationship under wraps until we made our engagement public. I think she was shooting for job security but signed on for alot more.

As a kid growing up, what was your first job?  Splitting wood.

When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play?  The usual.  Baseball, football and growing up in North Carolina we played basketball alot but my body type didn't allow me to play on a basketball team. Being built like a T Rex isn't exactly condusive to hitting a J.

Did you throw in school?  Yes, discus and shot put. Last I checked my discus record is still intact at my high school.

How did you get into weight lifting and when?  I am fortunate to have grown up with a great uncle who had been a competitive weightlifter. My Uncle Junior was my grandfathers brother and he had lifted with the likes of Paul Anderson. He taught me the snatch, C&J and squats when I was 15.  I started lifting competitively at age 17 after my uncle introduced me to Jack King.  As a matter of fact the old High Point YMCA in High Point, NC was the site of Paul Anderson's first official 400 lb clean and press.  The old wide well York plates he did the lift with were the first weights I lifted, if you don't count my Sears plastic and concrete set at home.

You trained at a gym with two famous weight lifters.  Can you talk some about watching them and the type of training they did.

You are referring to Jack King and Bill Starr. I trained at Jack King's Gym in Winston Salem, NC, which is still there.  Bill Starr would visit Jack for extended periods of time in the summers and I would also receive coaching from Bill.  Looking back, that was phenomonal.  In Bill's "The Strongest Shall Survive", he has a list of credits of those who influenced his thoughts on training and the first name on the list is Jack King. The basic philosophy was to squat hard and then replicate training for the Olympic lifts to shadow meet conditions. No mirrors near the platform at Jack's gym and he would make the lifters change bars and types of plates so we weren't in a comfort zone. Frankly, meets were easy after being trained by Jack. My Olympic lifts took off when Jack had me start soming we called Rapid Squats. Rapid Squats were pretty ballistic high bar squats where I would go to the bottom, stand and as soon as I stood I would go back to the bottom. I did 5 x 5 with 450 to 500 lbs on Tuesdays and Thursdays for years. Snatch on Monday, Rapid Squats on Tues and Thurs, then C&J on Saturday. Another favorite staple of Jack and Bill were to do C&J and then do a max rep set of 10 on the back squat on the same day. Lifting in a power rack was also a staple for us using short movements with lots of weight. I have to also mention that I trained with Jimmy Cook, 198 lb American Open Champion and also some with Lee James, 1976 Olympic Silver medalist as a 90 kg lifter.

Did they mentor you in some way and what did you get out of that?  Jack is like a father to me. He taught me The Riddle of Steel. The discipline I received from him carried over into every other aspect of my life. I took that discipline and applied it to my studies to become a doctor.

I am sure there are some basic ideas these men believe in with training.  Can you expound on some of the basics they taught and lived?  Back to their training philosophies, they were both inovative in that they could diagnose a problem with a lift for a particular lifter and give a remedie, like a prescription, with corrective exercises. I think that could be used for throwing as well. They didn't teach a certain way to lift for everybody, but a way to lift that was best for that lifter. I think throwers can do the same as not everyone is the same. For example, for lifters with longer torsos he would have us put our feet closer together so that we would pull the bar a little higher to help with catching the weight in a snatch or clean.

Can you just talk about the gym, location and some of the equipment it had.  Jack's Gym is old school.  A lifting platform with bumper plates, power racks and old Nautilus machines. Pictures of Gerd Bonk (East German lifter), Steve Jeck and Arnold adorn the walls. Jack's Gym used to be on Hawhorne St in Winston Salem but has moved to an old auto garage which actually added to the old school feel.  Jack is 72 and still does weighted chins and hundreds of push ups a week. If you can go to Jack's do it and he is usually there and loves to give advice about training.

What was your first Highland Game and when was that?  I got into Games later in life. I threw at the 2000 Rhode Island Highland Games.

Who was at that game?  Dana Florence and Erik Sauve ran the games. Don Stewart, Gerard Benderoth and Drew Hickey were some of the throwers. No classes. Just weights and we all threw together.

What made you decide to try and compete at a game? My Scottish heritage had exposed me to the games and no matter what I did as a lifter, my dad would always say - It's not the Games. Meaning real strength athletes toss the caber. I had grown up going to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

You work with Loon on the game there, talk about your position and what you do with this game.  I am on the Board of Directors for the New Hampshire Gathering of Scottish Clans. I serve as the Chairman of Athletics. I really am a leader of a team as no one person could pull this off. Finding sponsors, inviting athletes, projecting a vision of what I think the Games should look like and essentially assembling the team of people who work the event are my main jobs. Frankly, it is a labor of love as I want this to be a one of a kind event and we have been very fortunate to have a beautiful location and a devote following of people who make this so special.

Talk about the history of the Loon game.  This year is our 35th Anniversary.  I am told the first year it was a picnic with 100 people and an 8 track tape of bagpiping. John Lundstrom ran the athletics as the AD for years and frankly all the throwers in New England can trace their heritage to him.  The NHHG now has weekend crowds in the 10's of thousands with a full time staff who pull the whole thing together. I want to mention Ray and Cinda D'Amante as they are our major sponsor each year and they throw a big shindig at their house on the ski mountain for us the weekend of the Games.

Talk about Wayne and his involvement in the games and some about him in general.  Wayne Hill is a rocket scientist.  He went to U Penn and then received his PhD from MIT. No kidding, he really is a rocket scientist. Wayne is thorough with putting together a games with implements that are made by a rocket scientist. Many of you have tossed his NASA approved composite, fabricated, calibrated, urethane coated cabers. Mostly Wayne is a friend who serves on the Board with me. He is a thrower so he knows how to make things right for the athletes. He is also a great guy as I am sure many of you know.

You write in Milo.  How do you draw your inspiration for your articles and how did you get into this?  Talk some of what you get from writing.  I have a unique background as a lifter, thrower and doctor so I felt I had something to contribute. I contacted Randall and sent him and article.  As for inspiration, it comes from my love of strength and my friends, mostly Erik, Dana, Robert, Don, Petur and many others. I try to also give some medical advice to hopefully help some of us live a little healthier.

You have seen the Highland Games change a lot over the years, what changes do you like and not like?  We used to have to scrounge around for throwers but we now have loads of athletes which is good.  I wish there were more top Scottish throwers for sure.  I don't have anything that is glaringly wrong with the sport but I think all the people coming up should understand the history of our sport.  If that is lost, our sport is lost.

What is your favorite event?  Caber.

What is a common mistake you see people make in that event?  Pulling too late.

Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport?  Dana Florence and Erik Sauve showed me how to throw. I have had lots of coaching from Don Stewart who is an encyclopedia of knowledge. I can't thank them enough for their friendship and support over the years.

Who do you enjoy competing with and why?  Dana, Erik, Don and Robert mostly. These are funny guys. For example, Erik, Robert and myself were deadlifting in the off season.  Robert was tired of the jokes about a giraffe or something. So referring to Erik's height challenged existence (we call him Tattoo), Robert stands up with the bar and says "Hey Erik, come do some chin ups".  Don hears about the story and asks Erik "How many reps did you get?" It gets pretty brutal around the New England crowd.

Talk about some of the throws, games and moments you are most proud of.  For me personally, I am truly proud to be on the field every time I am out there. Wearing the kilt and being with my people, the throwers, who are great people, is what I am most proud of.

You are known for lifting stones.  Talk about how that came about and some of the stones you have lifted all over the world.  Erik and Dana got me into lifting stones. They make you strong in ways that only stones can.  The functional and core strength from lifting stones carries over to throwing as well in my opinion. In Scotland I have lifted The Stone of the Fianna, The Inver Stone and the Dinnie Stones. In Iceland, I have been successful to carry the Husafell stone around The Pen, lifted all the Dritvik Stones, The Stones of Latra, The Judas Stone, The Brynjolfstak, The Peturs Stein and The Leggstein (The Tombstone).  I love to lift natural stones here in New Hampshire as well.

What impresses you now in the sport?  The American throwers seem to keep getting better and more competitive. The Masters, or Legends as I like to call them, are really putting up some great numbers.

Who makes you laugh at games now?  I kind of talked about it before, but I always get a laugh with all those guys I mentioned earlier.

When I mention these athletes names, just write a few words about them you think of when you see it.

Ryan;  The King of Highland Games

Stewart; The Teacher

Benderoth;  A freak of nature

Gundmunndson;  A great athlete and great friend

Pulcinella;  One strong, funny person

Gunn;  Hammers. The kind you throw and the kind he used to build storage units in my garage. A legend.

What fires you up now days in the games?  Seeing a guy flip a big stick is always a favorite. I have to say that seeing Zolkiewicz on a good day in the weight over bar gets me inspired to train hard.  Really, just being out there either running the games or throwing gets me fired up.  As poor Petur.  After watching him have all the fun over the weekend I always sucker him into lifting or throwing a day or two after the games.

What training philosophy do you follow in the gym?  As a maturing athlete I like to think I am getting wiser. But as anyone can tell you I am a "More-on". The more on the the bar the better. I think hip loading and shoulder loading in a number of various lifts, speeds and positions will translate the best into throwing and also my other love of stonelifting.

What do you like to do outside of the games?  Spend time with my family.

What other hobbies do you have?  I read lots of books. Like I said, I'm actually a geek.

What is your favorite food?  Protein in all its forms.

What supplements do you take?  Multi vitamin with a high octane B complex vitamins, fish oil, glucosamine, vitamin C and protein shakes.

What do you drink with a meal at home?  Mostly milk.

What beer do you like?  Mostly micro brews. But my all time favorite is Skullsplitter.

Do you mow your own grass and what kind of mower do you have?  Some cheap thing I bought at Home Depot. One of my neighbors told me I looked angry at the mower because I jerk it all over the yard. And yes, I do consider puch mowing my grass a cardio workout.

Do you like to garden?  I have a small garden in the yard.  Nothing is more satisfying than eating your own beans and tomatoes you just picked.

Are you a Democrat or Republican?  I wish there was a third party, because I would join. I register as an independent but I mostly vote conservative.

Are you into Astrology?  What sign are you?  Myles, are you trying to pick me up?

Are you a religious man, and if so, what do you practice?  I am a Catholic.

What kind of music do you like?  Classical.  Seriously, I love opera.

Where do you like to go to eat?  My favorite is Japanese.

What does your wife think is your best body part?  My butt, because that is the part I get out of bed everyday and go to work.

What does your wife think about you lifting in the gym, stones and the highland games?  She has been unbelievably supportive. She tells people about me and I think she is proud of my throwing in Games and the stonelifting. I lift in the basement and she is constantly coming down and telling me I have too much weight on the bar. Actually to quote, "You are a beast. You are going to kill yourself".  She hates watching me do strongman. Last year I was able to compete in the strongman competition at The Gathering in Edinburgh and she was telling all the guys to take it easy on me because I am old. But I did lift the McGlashan Stones.

What do you like to watch on TV? History Channel.

Are you a western movie or sci fi person?  Tell a favorite.  Conan the Barbarian, Braveheart and those types of movies. And I love a comedy classics like Animal House.

What are the goals for this year?  I am really motivated this year to throw.  But first, the winds across the great fjords of Iceland are calling me to Husafell in May.  Old habits are hard to break.

 Let’s talk about your name first, who are you named after and talk about the pride in that some.

I am named after my father & grandfather.  To of the best men I have ever known.  I can't imagine what type of father or man I would be without them.  It is truly amazing to know that you were loved so deeply.  My great grandfather was believed to be an Irish sailor but I don't know any details.  That's were the "Bailey" came from. 

How old are you?

37 on 3/23/10 

Where were you born?

South Bronx, NYC 

Where do you live now?

Williams Township, Pa. (Just south of Easton, Pa)

How did you end up there?

I grew up in Lakewood, NJ and left for college in 1991.  Went to college in Easton, Pa. (Lafayette).  Never really left.

What do you drive?

Dodge Ram 1500 - Wouldn't drive anything else, except maybe a 2500.

What do you do for a living?

Assistant Principal at a high school for the past 9 years.

How did you get into that?

I originally wanted to go into public speaking.  I wanted to travel to colleges and talk to teams and college organizations about rape, sexual harassment and the male image in America.  Fortunately, I was a decent football player, and played a year of Arena 1 football for the Conneticut Coyotes.  After that, I knew I needed grad school and got a job at a teacher training school while going to Lehigh University.  At the end of getting my Masters of Ed. I decided I loved working with kids and wanted to be an administrator.  I truly believe that when we are lucky enough to recognize what God means for us to do, you can't walk away from it. 

Tell us about your education?

BA - Anthropology & Sociology at Lafayette College

M. Ed - Education (Spec. Ed.) at Lehigh University

Principalship Cert. at Lehigh University

Tell me about your kids?

Love them!!!!  HB4 is as smart as a whip.  He is 5 but says things that make you think he is 50. 

Torin James is almost 3.  He is my bull in a china shop.  He loves to get a rise out of you and then smiles in a way to melt your heart.  They are going to be quite the pair.  Actually, we have kept it under wraps but we are expecting a third.  I would love to have a girl but as long as he/she is healthy, that is all I need.  I just hope I am half the father my dad was.

Talk about your wife and how you met her?

She is a damn saint.  We met in grad school and the school we taught at.  She hooked me by drinking beers and smoking a cigar or two.  Ofcourse, all that ended when we got hitched!!!  She is like half my height but we are an incredible match.  Any woman that can put up with my work and HG schedule should be given a parade. 

As a kid growing up, what was your first job?

I set up and broke down party rooms in a banquet house.  To this day I can't stand to touch other people's food.

When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play?

Soccer & Wrestling.  A million different backyard sports.  I didn't play organized football until 9th grade. 

Did you throw in school?

Yes, I threw discus and Jav. in HS. I even ran high hurdles.  It was awesome to watch other runners faces as they watched me take a throw in the discus, run over to the hurdles, race, and  run back to the discus.  Senior year I was 215lbs running high hurdles.  I threw 176ft in the discus in HS and 176.6ft in college.   I have never regretted playing football but I always wonder how far I would have thrown if I had been able to concentrate on it. 

How did you get into weight lifting and when?

Religiously, not until college.  It really all started freshman year with Big Paul Ferency as my throws coach.  He had me going hard core, old school lifting.  I was squatting, cleaning, benching, and throwing 3x's a week.  Hey, when you are 18 you can do that stuff.  Let's put it this way, from 11/1991 to 4/1992 I went from 219lbs running a 4.79 forty (electronic eye) to 237lbs running a 4.65.  He got me strong.  I have learned to listen to my body over the years and made some adaptations, but all in all I still use his appoach to lifting.

What was your first Highland Game and when was that?

Long Island , NY - 8/1997 - It only had 3 events: stone, caber, & w/h

Who was at that game?

Not many.  I know that it was my first intro to the pretty boy of the games - Roy Bogue.

What made you decide to try and compete at a game?

I knew Paul did the games and after Arena football I needed to keep competing.   I asked Paul to train me and the rest was history. I owe him a great deal for my success.  I also had the chance to throw with Ryan Vierra and Francis Brebner when they stayed with Paul.  I was just a kid and they were bigger legends than I even realized. 

All athletes have reservations regarding the first time or two competing, but you crossed a barrier that most of our athletes don’t.  Talk about that and what that was like. 

Very good question.  Yes, I'm the first and only black guy to throw on the pro circuit.  Honestly, that has not been a very big issue for me.  I have met guys from all over world and I have had very few incidents, in the games.  If I am going to be honest, my mother always taught me that I was going to need to be at my best to get ahead.  So, I trained as hard as I could so that games wanted me there, regardless of their personal politics.  My only specific issue occurred when I was an am.  I got uninvited to the North South Challenge my first year.  It was going to be held in New Orleans and I was told that K. Cummings was worried about racial problems from Civil War reenactors.  Jim Pauli told me during a competition at Ligoneer and I think I hit 3 PR's that day.   I guess I could complain that I haven't competed in many games in the south but hey, neither have many other northerners. Most of the southern pros have treated me just fine, except that damn racist KO.  (Just kidding, for all you sensitive types.)

How has that changed now as the years have gone on in the sport?

I think people's attitudes regarding diversity has changed quite a bit.  Look at the strides Shannon Hartnett and all the women after her have made.  At the end of the day, we are all dreamers in pursuit of the big throws.  Regardless of race, sex, religion, etc., we can all appreciate a world record.  Honestly, I am at a point in my life that if guys are still stuck on that nonsense I feel sorry for them.  Evolve already!!!

You have seen the Highland Games change a lot over the years, what changes do you like and not like?

I think the Nasga board is one of the most progressive tools created in during my throwing career.  Hats off to K. Pauli.  I also think the work that Ryan V. has put in to help organize the US and now World Championships has been monumental. 

What is your favorite event?

That has changed from season to season.  I would probably say the hwd or sheaf.  Yes, I said sheaf.

What is a common mistake you see people make in that event?

WFD - They don't spend enough time practicing the first turn.  If you don't set the ball in the right orbit and your not landing in a drive position, the throw is over before you start.  Sheaf - Back swing, back swing , back swing.

Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport?

Paul Ferency for both.  I also got to throw with Ryan V. and Francis B. while  was in college.

Talk some about throwing games as an amateur, what games you did and where.

Ligoneer, Alexandria, P-Town, Carlisle, Richmond, Long Island, Kansas &  Elizabethtown to name a few.

I honestly owe all of those AD's a lot. They let me get my foot in the door and when I was unknown.

What were your favorite amateur games?

Probably P-town.  It was my first national championship comp. and what a venue.  Every AM should try and experience that one.  Alexandria was awesome also.  East Coast Championships!!!

Talk about some of the pro games you have done and your favorites.

Sacramento  - Ususally the first big games of the year.

Alaska - Absolutely amazing people & great low key games.

Durness, Scotland - Most beautiful games

Ligoneer - My first pro games

Halkirk, Scotland - My "this is what scotland is about" games

Edinburgh, Scotland - Best throwing field venue

Fergus - Consistantly one of the best international comps

Rio, Brazil - Once in a lifetime

Cortland - Best low key games around

Portland - The old days at Portland Brewing

Detroit - Most thrower friendly games

Bethlehem - Hometown games, National Championship, Throw far or go home games, NEED I SAY MORE!!!

Who do you enjoy competing with and why?

Barron Boys - Guys who love the games & just great fellas

Brock - win or lose great laughs

Vierra - An unmatched competitor, clutch thrower

Betz - I always watch him and say "how the hell did he do that???"

Zolk - Work horse and solid competior

Talk about some of the throws, games and moments you are most proud of.

Am - I broke 4 am records at Elizabethtown one day and Roy B posted it on Nasga.  That felt great.

Pro - New Hampshire right after 9-11.  I won and they played the National Anthem.  It gave me chills.

        Celtic 2001 or 2002 - breaking Paul F. WFH record and then breaking the world record.  Paul was there to congratulate me.

Why don’t you post more on the NASGA board and what would you change there?

I post when I have something useful to say.  I wish more guys took advantage of asking throwing questions on the board.  It is an incredible resource.  Maybe add a section were people could add video clips.  I am glad the old arguments seemed to have died (am vs pro, stand vs spin, clean vs dirty).  I am all for free speech but these issues tend to turn personal and end up unproductive.  

Talk about training and your philosophy in throwing?

From April through July, I try to throw 4 days a week.  Not more than 2 events in a session.  At this stage I work on quality over quantity but I put in good number of reps.  I use a lot of video.  If I had to do it all over again, I would have used video from the start.  I have been able to correct so many technique flaws by taking 3-4 throws, watching myself on video, and then throwing again.  I can always find something to fix.  I am also infamous for changing up styles.  For example, I have changed:  Stone - 3x, WFD - 3x, Ham - 2x, Sheaf - 2x, WFH - 3x.   These haven't always been monumental changes but I believe you need to figure out what works for you. 

What is your favorite drill you do and why do you think it helps you?

In the off season I do a lot of drive drills and position drills.  Ryan V once told me, "Position creates distance, not speed."  I have always believed that.  I don't care how strong or fast you are, if you can't get into the position to use it, who cares!

Tell us about some of the injuries you had as an athlete.

Separated shoulder, torn ham string, torn groin, torn achilles, torn bicep  (Those were the severe ones)

After the Achilles injury, talk about the mental aspect of coming back into the sport.

Being a competitive athlete is either in your genes or it's not.  I knew I would come back.  Hell, I competed 6 months after surgery and threw well.  The mental part was knowing how hard to push without additional injury.  The worst part was that it forced me into bad habits.  Because I couldn't drive off my right foot/toes, I started heel turning.  That bad habit killed my throws for a few years and still creeps back in when I get careless or tired.  I should have listened to my doc and wife and laid off it for the year.  But, I am as much of a games whore as one can be.

What impresses you now in the sport?

The level of competition has gone through the roof in the past few years.  There were always 3-4 guys at a time that were incredible but now there are a dozen guys in the sport that can hand you your jock at any games. 

Who makes you laugh at games now?

Brock, Chaffin, & KO. 

Funniest Time: ( Enumclaw 2 yrs ago)  We all walk into a Baskin Robbins, after dinner and Chaffin accepts the challenge to try and eat an entire ice cream cake at the counter.  After the dozen of us all place our bets, the workers and owner get in on the action and then every customer that walks in gets involved.  We end up with 20 - 30 people packed into this little store cheering on Chaffin as he deperately try to keep himself from puking.  Absolutely hilarious. 

When I mention these athletes names, just write a few words about them you think of when you see it.

Ryan;  Hands down the greatest thrower of all time

Overfelt;   racist, little people lover (Ha,ha), one of the most improved throwers on the circuit

C. Smith;  strong guy with a stronger opinion (but I respect him for his honesty)

Gundmunndson;  Best stone thrower I have ever seen

Pulcinella;  Extremely strong guy, if he had been able to put a few healthy seasons together he would have done awesome

Betz;  Great guy, class act, hell of a thrower

Brock;  Incredible technician & greatest hustler in the games

What fires you up now days in the games? 

Figuring out techniques in events that have killed me for years (caber, stand. wob)

What training philosophy do you follow in the gym?

Weight room: Late Nov - March   Reps: 10(Nov) down to 2 & 1(March)    Week Routine:  Day 1-lift  Day 2-Drill   Day 3-Rest   Repeat

Lifts - Pull (High pull (hang/floor/box),  Squat (Back & Zerch),  Deads (floor/box)    

I use bands almost every set until I want to go test heavy.  I don't go into my weight room after mid April.   This program really works for me.

What do you like to do outside of the games?

Hanging with the family, house projects, wood work, hiking and getting into sailing.

What other hobbies do you have?

Collect old tools

What is your favorite food?

Split b/w pizza and a good steak 

What supplements do you take?

A lot of vitamins, fish oil, protein shakes, & cell drive

What do you drink with a meal at home?

Green Iced tea

What beer do you like?

Guiness & Moosehead

Do you mow your own grass and what kind of mower do you have?

John Deere Rider (2 acres)

Do you like to garden?

That is the wifes thing but there is nothing like fresh veg. from your own yard.

Are you a Democrat or Republican? 

Absolute Democrat.  You know I'm loving this Obama thing, on sooooo many levels!

Are you into Astrology?  What sign are you?

No. Aries

Are you a religious man, and if so, what do you practice?

It might sound nutty but I consider myself very spiritual but not very religious.  Definition:  I love, praise and respect god but don't get into all the ceremonial church stuff. 

What kind of music do you like?

Mostly R & B, some Hip Hop & funk, old Rat Pack stuff, and some old rock when I train (Kiss, ACDC)

Where do you like to go to eat?

5 Guys (Burgers) and Don Pablo's for Mexican.  Pizza is my common downfall.

What does your wife think is your best body part?

Good question??????

What do you like to watch on TV?

Sit coms - Modern Family;    MSNBC - Politics;     Dramas -  Brothers & Sisters

Are you a western movie or sci fi person?  Tell a favorite.

Actually more of a comedy & action guy but if I had to pick, sci fi. 

What are the goals for this year?

How old are you?

27 (Dec 5, 1982)

Where were you born?

Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada

Where do you live now?

Still in ‘The Nish’. I’m all about small towns and don’t see myself leaving. 

What do you drive?

2007 Jeep Wrangler X. I love that machine.

You ever changed your own oil?

Never. It’s shocking how little I know about the inner workings of a vehicle.

How many languages do you speak?

Just English. I took French in school until grade 10 but dropped it first chance I got. I actually regret it now.

Have you gone green?

Flying every weekend of the summer to competitions and driving a gas guzzling Jeep probably wouldn’t put me into that category, but I do recycle.

What do you think about global warming?

We should probably chill out on fossil fuels.

Do they push global warming in Canada?

I don’t think so. Our media gives it a good deal of coverage and I think most Canadians are willing to make some lifestyle changes.

What do you do for a living?

I’m a high school history teacher. I teach grade 12 global history (post WW2) and Canadian History.

How did you get into that?

Honestly, growing up and becoming a teacher wasn’t on the radar screen as I really wanted to be in the RCMP. But as I started narrowing down career choices in university it seemed like a good fit. It’s challenging, entertaining and allows me the time to keep throwing. I can’t say I’ll be at it for an entire career, but I do enjoy it. 

Tell us about your education?

I have a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from St. Francis Xavier University here in Antigonish; a Bachelor of Education also from St.F.X and last year was due to begin a Masters in Political Science but had to put that on hold due to changes in my teaching position.

As a kid growing up, what was your first job?

I cleaned telephones for the phone company. Every summer my Dad (who works for the phone company) would put me to work cleaning dorm room phones from the university. It was flat out nasty but pretty legit scratch. I would wear two pairs of rubber gloves to avoid touching the filth those squalor-living university students would jam into their phones.

When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play?

I grew up playing basketball, but gave that up as I stopped growing up and started growing out. I still love the game and can see myself coaching someday. I studied Tae Kwon Do for seven or eight years and earned a black belt. Former Canadian Highland Games Champion Doug MacDonald was actually my instructor. I played football in high school and threw track. I also played football for 4 years at university. 

Did you throw in high school and if so what did you throw?

I threw shot and disc. I can’t remember what my best distances were, but they were nothing special. My football coach was also my throwing coach. He had very little experience and would often simply tell me to “get pissed off and throw this thing”. Good times.

Tell us about throwing in college.

My university didn’t have an official track and field team at the time so I competed almost as an independent. I remember asking the cross country running team coach if I could throw and maybe catch a ride or two on their team bus to meets. I had no facilities so I just grabbed a 16lb indoor shot and started training in the main gym. I sent a lot of emails with video to people asking for advice. I ended up with a best collegiate shot distance of 15.83m. Not bad I suppose for no coach, facilities or team. 

What was your first Highland Game and when was that?

My first heavy events competition was in 1996 when I was 13 years old. My hometown games (Antigonish) has a junior program for kids 13-18 that gave me my start. Doug MacDonald, who was just getting into the games himself, asked me if I would be interested in competing as he and another local thrower were starting a junior program. I grew up watching the sport so I jumped at the chance.

Who was at that game?

Just a bunch of skinny kids. Some stayed with the sport, others moved on after turning 18.

What made you decide to try and compete at a game?

I could remember watching the heavy events as a young kid with my father every summer at the Antigonish Highland Games. I guess I was always fascinated with strength and because I was a bigger kid, it seemed like a good fit. I had a ton of fun that summer and knew this was something I would stick with.

What is your favorite event?

Probably the 56lb WFD. I also dig the hammers and caber. I’m in the process of drafting a formal petition to ban the 28lb WFD from highland games competition. Any fellow 28 haters want to back me up on this?

What is a common mistake you see people make in that event?

Not sinking and driving with the weight. I think the key with the HWFD is the middle phase between rotations. If you are patient, sink and really drive it’s amazing how the weight will take off and do the work for you. Once I discovered that I was in HW heaven.

Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport?

Doug MacDonald and Marty Gilfoy. Doug’s accomplishments are well known: Cdn Champ, World Caber Toss Champ and one of the best caber tossers of all time. Marty Gilfoy is a local, recently retired thrower who enjoyed a good career and now coaches the junior program. He has been a tremendous help to me over the years. Both these guys have been instrumental in my development as a thrower. Great guys and even better friends.

Talk some about throwing games as an amateur, what games you did and where.

My amateur career is a little grey. Throwing in Canada didn’t give me the luxury of competing in amateur-only competitions, so I cut my teeth in the much debated “Open Class”. Prior to turning pro I did the Nova Scotia circuit with the odd competition in Ontario. In 2003 I decided to try my hand at some bigger AM games (most notably Pleasanton, after some advice from Matt Sandford) and had some good results. I officially turned pro in 2004.

What was your favorite amateur games?

Without a doubt Pleasanton. It was 2003 and I was having a great year. After checking around, everyone kept telling me that if you really wanted to see where you are as an AM, go to Pleasanton. So, I and two other 19 year old backwood Nova Scotians boarded a plane and flew to San Francisco. We landed on a Friday and did a frantic sightseeing expedition before heading to the hotel. Steve Conway was a tremendous help to us, something I’ll never forget. I ended winning the competition and having a ball.

Talk about some of the pro games you have done and your favorites.

It’s tough to narrow it down. I love competing at home and at some of the smaller games here in Nova Scotia. Pleasanton will always have a soft spot in my heart. I love Maxville, Fergus, Victoria, Calgary, Ohio and Texas (there are some great people at those games). I also love competing in Scotland. Competing at the Worlds last year in Edinburgh was among the most memorable events of my career. I really have been lucky to get to some great games run by great people.

Other than Canada, what country do you enjoy competing in the most, and why?

I always dig spending time in the good ole US of A. I have some great friends south of the border. I’ve been to Scotland twice....awesome. This summer I’m competing in France which should be unreal. The travel is one of the best parts of the games.

Who do you enjoy competing with and why?

Now this is a tough question. In no particular order; Dirk Bishop (my homie), Adam Ogilvie, Lyle Barron, Ryan Vierra, Brock, Sean Betz, HB3, Zolk, Scott Rider, Gonzago Gonzales, Will and Dave Barron, CSmith, Mark ‘CPAP’ Valenti, Danny Frame, Matt Doherty, Doug Steiger, KO, Tommy DeB, CSinclair....man, I could go on.  Everyone of those guys are great people. We have a ton of fun and it’s an honour sharing the field with them.

Let me mention some names and you comment on them;

Vierra; The biggest influence in my heavy events career and the best highland games competitor in history.

St.Clair; Fellow history teacher. I don’t see Chris all that often but it’s always a pleasure to throw with him.

Brock; HB nailed it....”I’m a hustla baby, and I want you to know.....” Great guy. We had a ball in Scotland last summer. Looking forward to meeting up with him in Paris.

Craig Smith; Straight shooter. Shoots from the hip. No love for his consistent front squat beat downs and interweb lingo (imo, +1, etc.)

KO; Piece of work. Too many laughs to remember. Just don’t take him gambling.

Will Barron; Great guy. Was a pleasure to invite him to Antigonish in 2009. I get a kick out of his training regime....shadowboxing anyone?

Dave Barron; Rockstar.

Betz; Another tremendous influence on my career. One of the most humble and impressive throwers I’ve ever met. I love seeing Sean do well.

Talk about some of the throws, games and moments you are most proud of.

Winning the Canadian title the last five years is the accomplishment I am most proud of. It’s an honour representing Canada and has opened a lot of doors for me. Winning the AM title in Pleasanton was another unforgettable moment. Competing at the World Team Championship last summer in Antigonish was another standout competition. I could go on.

Talk about training and your philosophy in the area of throwing?

Hard work. I’m short and stubby, so I have to put in the time to compensate for those shortcomings. All my offseason lifting is centered on throwing. I lift 4 days per week and usually work in 1 dedicated plyo/indoor throwing session. As the weather gets nice I’ll back off and spend more time outdoors getting reps with the implements. The bottom line is that is takes a long time to get good at this sport so you have to put in the time. No one lift or drill is going to make you good, it’s a matter of spending hours refining your technique. I tell people you have to embrace loneliness because it’s a lonely road.

Tell us about some of the injuries you had as an athlete.

Knock on wood I have had no major injuries. I get the usual aches and pains and the odd abdominal strain, but so far so good. I do have to say that I am keeping a closer eye on injury prevention in my training as of late.

 What impresses you now in the sport?

2 things. The level of competition and the growth of the sport in Canada. It’s amazing that you can go to top level games, throw numbers like 52’, 43’, 81’, 108’, 130’ and 15’ and still finish in the middle of the pack. There are so many freaks out there now who are focusing their training on the highland games and the results are reflecting that. I think Ryan Vierra revolutionized the training aspect of throwing. I don’t know too many athletes who don’t follow a Vierra-inspired training regime. It’s also been great to see the level of competition increase so much lately in Canada. More Canadians than ever are travelling to international meets and doing well. The sport has come a long way in the Great White North.

Who makes you laugh at games now?

Dirk Bishop is a riot, as is fellow Nova Scotia thrower Danny Frame. Both those dudes get me in stitches. Tommy DeBruijn is priceless as well. Brock and KO know how to keep it light.

If you were watching Larry Brock wind up in the hammer and it slipped from his hands, who in the sport would you most like to see the hammer hit in the sack?

This is a beauty question. Either KO or CSmith. KO needs something for that autograph stunt he pulled on me last year in Ohio (I’ll save that story for another time). I’m pretty sure CSmith would take the hammer in the balls, laugh, and walk away as if nothing happened. I think that would be cool to see.

Have you always pushed hard in the gym or is this a recent thing with you?

I’ve always been a hard worker, basically because I’ve never been a guy who can pick something up and automatically be good at it. I’ve taken that approach to both my sporting and professional life.

What training philosophy do you follow in the gym?

I think the highland games are best represented with 5 movements; Front Squat/Box Squat, Hip Power Snatch, Behind the Neck Push Press, Deadlift and a Core Movement. I make my programs to maximize my performance in those lifts. I also do a lot of jumping and have seen a noticeable improvement in my throwing since starting a dedicated plyo program. I lift heavy all offseason and have never been big into periodization. When I’m tired I rest. My training philosophy is pretty simple in that regard. I also use a lot of variety in my lifts. I allot about 5 months of true offseason lifting during the year....that isn’t a lot of time so I hit it hard. I like lifting just as much as throwing.

When did you start lifting weights and what got you started?

I started when I was 16 after some encouragement from my father. Both my parents are/were avid weightlifters, in fact my mom still hits the weight room hard. We always had a home gym set up in the basement for my parents to use so I grew up around it. As soon as I was old enough, I started training. Initially it was to help with my performance in football, but when I was around 20-21, I started focusing my lifting specifically for the highland games. I was always into strength. I had used to tape the old World Strongest Man competitions when I was a teenager and watch them over and over. I also had a few stacks of Flex magazines....

Are all the plates in Kilo’s in Canada?

Everything is in kilos. EVERYTHING!

What do you like to do outside of the games?

Spend time with my family/girlfriend/friends. I’m very close with my family so we hang out a lot. I do some reading, mostly books on politics, war, and stuff like that and some volunteer coaching when I’m not training for the highland games.

What other hobbies do you have?

Not much outside of work and training. I like watching movies, though.

What is your favorite food?

Za. Steak. Sweet potatos. Salmon. Rice. Anything chocolate. Ice cream. Chicken. Tuna. Dub Cheese from McDicks.

We all know Mexican or Cuban food, but what is Canadian food?

Think American. Just served colder.

Do you BBQ up there?

Like you wouldn’t believe.

What supplements do you take?

2 protein shakes per day (about 80g total). 4 fish oil capsules daily. Tribulus every once in awhile. That’s about it. A good diet is all you need.

What do you drink with a meal at home?

Usually water or skim milk. I drink a lot of OJ & Cran. I’ve never been big on pop...or “soda” as you Americans call it.

What beer do you like?

Canadian stuff:  Alexander Keith’s, Labatt’s Blue. I also like Heineken, Stella and Coors Light.

Do you live in a house, apartment or?

A house by a nice river.

Do you like to garden?

I don’t.

Are you a cat or dog person?

Neither. I don’t care for animals.

In America we have Democrat or Republican, what do you have in Canada and what are you?

We have the Liberal Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Green Party, Bloc Quebecois and a few smaller ones. My Dad was a union man so I have traditionally supported the New Democrats (liberal), although I find myself lately drifting a little bit more toward the center. Much like Valenti, I’m all about universal health care, second chances, and strong welfare systems.

Are you into Astrology?  What sign are you?

I used to read my horoscope every morning, but haven’t lately. Maybe I should start again. I’m a Sagittarius.

Are you a religious man, and if so, what do you practice?

I am officially retired from religion.

Talk about some of the music you listen to at different times.

I am all over the place. I like a wide range of music. When I train it’s usually heavy metal (Disturbed, BLS, Maiden, Zombie, Manson) or gangsta rap. At home it’s everything from easy listening to alternative. I’ve been on a big Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana kick lately. I’m also a big 80’s metal fan. I’ve seen Motley Crue a bunch of times. Sometimes I wish I was in my prime in 1985. I’d love to see Phil Collins live.

Where do you like to go out to eat?

Usually higher end restaurants. I love fine foods and wine. When it’s fast food, always subway.

What do you like to watch on TV?

I don’t watch a lot of TV anymore. Any spare time and I'm usually floating around the web. My favourite show by a mile is Seinfeld. A close second is Curb Your Enthusiasm. I love watching UFC and crime dramas. HBO is cool.

Are you a western movie or sci fi person?  Tell a favorite.

Def sci-fi. I’ve never been into westerns. Is Back to the Future sci-fi?

What are the goals for this year?

Defend my Canadian title, something that is getting harder every year. Moving up internationally is another big goal. I hope to be consistent and improve my all around game.

Thank you brother.

How old are you?

I am 36 years old. But my body feels 50.

Where were you born?

Hulst in the Netherlands. Is a small city just across the Belgian border. In the war 250 years ago this was a little piece of Belgium which Napoleon Bonaparte did not gave back.

Where do you live now?

I live in Belgium for more than ten years now. But the border is nearby.. just 10 minutes..

How did you end up there?

I married a beautiful Belgian girl and she has her own company  here and I already had a company in Belgium so we decided to stay here. Dutch people easier go the Belgium than the other way round.

What languages do you speak?

Dutch which is my native language. English , German and some French but the last one is not that good. I can understand it. Also a bit Afrikaans because this is close to Dutch.

I therefore hope that my English when it comes down to writing will be good enough for everybody to read in this interview

How did you learn these languages?

Belgium is a bilingual country like Canada. So when you go to school you learn both languages. It’s mandatory. I only went to school here when I was really young. I went back to the Netherlands to school and there German is a second language. Not in the country but on school. Don’t ask me why. We fought to get these people out 60 years ago. Some of them still stole my granddads  bicycle to get back.

What do you drive?

An Audi A6 . I know it’s a German car.. But he is fast !  

I also have a van which is handy for al my throwing gear.  I am looking for another car now. A BMW X5 or an Audi Q7. I am looking for something bigger..

What do you do for a living?

I run two businesses..

I have a security company for over ten years now.  I have more than a hundred guys working as security guards. In all sorts of security work. Stores, harbor, factories, festivals, clubs etc.

I also run what you Americans would call a Bunnyfarm.. I already had three athletes who applied for a job.

Larry Brock: Bartender

Ryan Vierra: Food and Beverages

Greg Hadley: Wants to work the door..

How did you get into that?

I worked the door with my brother and half brother years ago at some big clubs in Belgium. We did good work and were asked on other jobs as well. After a while it was so busy we had to ask other guys to come and work for us. After some years I started a official company and started to do more kinds of other security work. For clubs you didn’t need a license more than ten years ago. Now you do. Better this way because in the old days you had a lot of eastern European mobsters working the doors here.

The Bunnyfarm was run by a good friend of mine but he died a couple of years ago and I took over the business. It’s a legalized good and healthy business with all independent woman who earn a good living. We do screen all our clients.

Tell us about your education?

I am a chemical engineer. I studied at a University in Holland and worked several years at GE. A big American company you probably know. I worked at the plastic division. I have many technical diploma’s.  I also have a lot of diploma’s for security and also studied security management. You can compare this with a universal degree.

Tell me about your kids?

I have two beautiful kids. A boy and a girl. Duncan (Mcleod) and Xena (the warrior princess). 9 years old and 6 years old. Duncan plays soccer on a high level but also does track and field. He is quite good with the shot and wfd. I just let him play for now and will start his training in a couple of years.. You will see him one day in the NASGA rankings !

Talk about your wife and how you met her?

I am married for ten years now with my wife Sabien. She is a great wife who really support me in everything I do. She is also the organizer of the Belgian Championship and she is also the main organizer of the IHGF masters in Belgium. She also loves the games although she never competed but just loves to be part of it.

We married on 9/11  the day the planes flew in the WTC towers. Not a real great to marry but I never forget my wedding day..

As a kid growing up, what was your first job?

I worked at a grocery store. I bought my first motorcycle with my hard earned money.. After my education I worked for seven years at General Electric .. I had a good job there but deiced to start my own business. A risk but my wife supported me and I took a chance.

When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play?

I wrestled, karate and played soccer. I started kickboxing at the age of 9 and competed in lots of games. I even boxed in Bangkok several times when I was between the age of 17 and 24.  I was not bad..

Did you throw in school?

We did not do a lot of sports in school. The system work totally different over here. Here you have sport clubs that are not owned by schools.  I wish the system was like in the US. It’s a great way to breed talent. I spend some time over at Ryan Vierra place and saw how he coached in college.. Great way to learn the throw.. He does a great job with the kids over there.

Talk about throwing shot and traveling to do that.

I started to throw the shot when I was 32 years old. When my highland games career started. Not earlier than that.

How did you get into weight lifting and when?

My older brother lofted weights together with my dad. He was a Olympic judo. He was a big guy just like me. Very strong. Bench pressed 364pound at the age of 15 !

He teached me to lift weights and I started at the age of 16.. I was tall and skinny but after a year I started to get stronger and gained weight.. Then I got really motivated.

What was your first Highland Game and when was that?

I knew Wout Zijlstra from the strongman circuit. I organized a strongman game several years ago for charity. For kids with muscle diseases. He was a great guy and we became good friends. My wife organized a highland game and I was a spectator and helped out with the games. When the final event the WFH started Wout asked me if I would like to try it one time. More than a thousand people where watching. I threw 16ft… Everybody got silent.. from then on I started to train at Wouts place.

Who was at that game?

Wout Zijlstra, Hans Lolkema. And several Dutch and Fries athletes.

What made you decide to try and compete at a game?

I love to throw and the combination between strength and technique in highland games is great. I think it is absolutely one of the most underestimated sports there is.

Talk about some of your favorite games and doing them.

In Holland and Belgian you have some nice games in Destelbergen where the Belgian Championships are. In Holland I like Rotterdam and Tilburg. Good crowd and a nice people.

In Scotland you have many nice small games. Tomintoul, Inverary , Stonehaven..

I never competed in the US but I would love to do that one day.

I once visited Canada in Greg Hadleys hometown of Antoginish and that games was great.. Great town, good people..

You have seen the Highland Games change a lot over the years, what changes do you like and not like?

I am what Mr. Edmunds would call a traditionalist. I don’t like the Highlander Challenges. My personal opinion is that they invented it for two  reasons.

Some guys would not like the thing I say but as I said it is a personal opinion and I am entitled to have one. We have an old traditional and cultural sport which we have to preserve and cherish. Not f**k up.

I also don’t like the change in the WFH with the spin but I can except as an separate event.   

What is your favorite event?

The weight for height.

What is a common mistake you see people make in that event?

Not using their legs. Just bending their back.

Do you like the sheaf throw and do they contest that in Europe?

I like the sheaf throw but here in Europe they do not do it often.

Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport?

Wout Zijlstra. He brought the sport to Holland and Belgium and did great thing for the sport. He coached me in the beginning..

Who do you enjoy competing with and why?

My buddy Jimmy who is the recent Belgian Champion. He is eager to throw and gives everything he’s got. He is also someone which I can talk on a professional level about training and the sport in general. Also my buddy Wulbert who does a lot to keep up our website and coordinates the athletes for all the games. He is also a good and passionate thrower.

In Scotland I like the American guys like Larry, Sean, Ryan and the little Canadian sasquatch called Hadley..

They are always friendly and willing to help you out.

Talk about some of the throws, games and moments you are most proud of.

I loved the two time I became Dutch and Belgian Champion and beated Wout and Hans Lolkema at several games.

I also loved the throw in Destelbergen 2008 at the Belgian Championships when I broke the Dutch record with the Braemar stone. It still stands.

What impresses you now in the sport?

What impresses me is that the speed of some events like wfd and hammer throw is still gets more.. Athletes become faster with more bodyweight.

Who makes you laugh at games now?

Larry Brock YEAH !! (he knows what this means)

And Koalaboy.. (That is how I call Aaron Neighbour)

Also Scrumbearilicious Ryan Vierra is a great laugh some times.

I love it when we can have a laugh at a game. We are professional athletes I know but a laugh relaxes me from time to time.

Your promoting a game this year for masters throwers.  Talk about this game, the people that are coming and the venue.

We decided last year to try to promote a big of bigger game for a small country like Belgium. We wanted to bring the games to a next level. I loved the idea of a class of the legends. Old champions and getting them motivated to compete again in a big international game. I did not had to trigger them because they were already fired up when the heard the idea.  

The games are held at a place where they always have a yearly Scottish festival. It’s a great castle in the East of Belgium. Before this game they only had some amateur throwing but mostly dancing and pipes.

When I mention these athletes names, just write a few words about them you think of when you see it.

Ryan; Great athlete, good friend, good coach and a person who changed the sport.

Brebner; great guy, top thrower and passionate about our sport. Does a great job with David Webster.

Gundmunndson; great putter ! Never met him but love his throws

Pulcinella; Looks strong. Never had the privilege to meet him.  

Gunn; The greatest and the smallest.. The giant killer. When he stands beside me he is as tall as my son. When you do not know him he is an asshole but he is a good guy.

What fires you up now days in the games? 

When Hans Lolkema is there..

What training philosophy do you follow in the gym?

Explosion.. Fast and hard..

What do you like to do outside of the games?

Spend time with my family. I am a family man.  

What other hobbies do you have?

 I am a hard rock and heavy metal fan and I love to visit concerts.

I also collect comics and love to watch movies.

What is your favorite food?

My mother’s homemade spaghetti …

What supplements do you take?

Amino acids, creatine, whey protein and sometime I use some energy boosters but nothing more..

What do you drink with a meal at home?

Water, lots of water..

What beer do you like?

I am more of a whiskey drinker but I love some good heavy Belgian beers that are brewed by the monks.

Do you mow your own grass and what kind of mower do you have?

I have a penthouse..

Do you like to garden?

I do but I do not miss it.

In America we talk Republican or Democrat.  What would I ask you about politics in your country?µ

Republic. But Bush was a nitwit..

Are you into Astrology?  What sign are you?

I do not believe in all of that crap.. What sign ? I am born on the 10^th of September which makes me a virgin.

Are you a religious man, and if so, what do you practice?

I was raised catholic. And still am.

What kind of music do you like?

Heavy metal.

Where do you like to go to eat?

Somewhere where my kids are welcome and the steaks are big !

What does your wife think is your best body part?

My third leg..

What does your wife think about you competing?

She loves the games. She really supports me. When she is not working she comes along.

Lets talk about injuries and how you got them.

I have a bad right knee which I have been struggling with for two years now. I am not competing this year because my doctor has advised me to take a year off with competing to let the injury heal completely.

How I got it is a good question. I twisted my knee sometimes but mostly it damage due to heavy training

What do you like to watch on TV?

Series like 24 or Sons of Anarchy and the Sopranos.

Are you a western movie or sci fi person?  Tell a favorite.

Absloutly SCI FI.. I am a great Star Wars and star trek fan. Love to watch it.. also Stargate and several other shows you have on Sci Fi channel

What are the goals for this year?

Recovering is the priority. But besides that I am still involved with the Dutch and Belgian Highlandgames Federation. Helping out with games and coaching some of the new athletes. But the mail goal is getting ready again for next year. I will be back

Thank you brother.

How old are you? 33 years old

Where were you born? Greeley, Colorado

Where do you live now? Omaha, Nebraska

How did you end up there? I went to college in a nearby town (Fremont) and met Rachel and we stayed around here and got married.

What do you drive?  2002 Ford Explorer, it has 170,000 miles.  I need to get a new vehicle soon.

Are you a fast driver or slow ?  When I managed a health club I drove real fast and got 3 speeding tickets in 1 month 1 time.   Since I've become a trainer again I drive slow.

You ever change your own oil?  I changed the oil of a plane a few times, but never my own vehicle.

Do you like to fly?  Not really.  Omaha has alot of small planes. I've gotten used to it.

Have you gone green?  No.  I don't think its bad to take care of the earth.  But I do think we aren't going to make the difference in whether or not the earth survives.

What do you think about global warming?  Think it is mostly media smoke.   Just a way for progressive liberals to make more money.

Talk about meeting your wife and you getting married some.   I saw her in lunch line in college.  Thought she was cute.  Asked her out a few weeks later.  We became good friends and it grew into a marriage later.  I'm very lucky to have met Rachel.  She is beautiful, a great wife, mom, and great cook as well.  I cant believe any wife handling me traveling and competing any better than her.  All of us pros have unbelievably supportive wives.  We couldn't do what we do without them.

When you’re away from home, do you call home a lot and talk to the wife?  How often?  Maybe 1 time a day.   More now since we have 2 sons.  Rachel is pretty simple.  She's not a phone talker or shopper for that matter.

Talk about the kids and ages and what that means to you to have family.  I have 2 sons, Aidan(4), and Eli (4months old).  There everything to me and Rachel.  Eli is 20lbs and about 30inches tall at 4 months old.  Aidan is 4 foot tall at 4.  Both are going to be throwers!

What do you do for a living? I'm a personal trainer and a professional highland games athlete.

How did you get into that?  I applied at a 24 hour fitness nearby.  I proved I could train people and have been there 11 years.  Outlasted nearly everyone.  It's coming to an end soon as I'm going into my own business this summer.

Tell us about your education?  I have a bachelor of science degree,  Youth and Family ministry

As a kid growing up, what was your first job?Worked for a cropduster company.  Thats where I changed a plane's oil.  I wouldn't of flown it afterward.

When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play? Football, Basketball, Baseball, Field and Track

Did you throw in high school and if so what did you throw?Threw the shot and discus.

Tell us about throwing in college.  I loved competing in college.  I was at Midland college an NAIA school.  My senior year I was an all-american in the discus getting 3rd place.  I was a consistent 54-55 foot shotputter and 160+ discus thrower.  Really never had a coach.

What was your first Highland Game and when was that? Evans, Colorado  June of 1999

Who was at that game?  Karl Dodge ran the games. He was at his peak.  Craig Palm, Matt Rauzi, Bert Budge to name a few.  I registered as a C thrower.  The next weekend was the KC games and they moved me up to an A thrower.

What made you decide to try and compete at a game?  It looked fun.  I thought that I wouldn't totally embarrass myself.

Talk about competing as an AM and some of the games you enjoyed.  I loved the local games in Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado.  McPherson was my favorite because of the small town, good field of athletes and great guy running it(Al Myers).  I liked Pleasanton and the East Coast champs in Alexandria as well. 

What is your favorite event? It changes.  Right now probably the light hammer.

What is a common mistake you see people make in that event?  They let their low point float left and don't use their feet or hips.

Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport?  Ryan Vierra first and foremost.  Really learned the most from watching him and asking questions.  Al myers, and Karl Dodge as an am and Coach Mac for a short time in 2002.

Talk about some of the pro games you have done and your favorites.  Bethlehem, Pleasanton, Fergus,  Victoria, Edinburgh2009.  My favorites were Fergus 2005 Worlds and West Virginia 2008 Worlds, because of they way we were treated.  In Scotland I love the halkirk games and Inverary games.  Ireland has a great games too.

Other than the USA, what country do you enjoy competing in the most, and why?  Its a toss up between Canada and Scotland.  Canadians treat you great and have great venues.  Scotland has all the old records by Capes, Rowe, and Bill Anderson.  It's equal in my mind.

Who do you enjoy competing with and why?  Larry Brock, Ryan Vierra, Dan McKim, Pockoski, HB3, KO, etc. and everyone else in the class.  Everyone just competes hard every weekend and we all know each other very well.  It is evident when they had Larry anounce in KC.  He knew all of our hometowns and everything about us.  I think we all know these things about each other.  Plus there is alot of depth of talent in the pro class right now.  You have to be on your game.

Let me mention some names and you comment on them;

Vierra;  He is the highland games to alot of us.  Will help you out even when your challenging him.  Taught alot of us how to act as professionals as well.  Best of all time in my book.

St.Clair; Very intelligent.  Will take time to listen to you.  Very strong.  Good to see him back throwing more.

Brock; Great thrower.  Extremely fast and athletic.  Always tells you the truth.  Has become one of my best friends on the circuit. Although he is frugal, he is also very generous to his friends and puts alot of time in for athletic directors. 

Craig Smith; when he is healthy he is one of the best.  When he is not healthy he still competes very hard and doesn't cry about it or blame it on his injury.  Well respected

KO;  Me and KO are two different people with the same career, same faith, and same love for the sport.  I know KO is always putting the time in to be better.  Obviously a very strong thrower.

Will Barron;  Great intensity.  Great guy.  Has a pure love for the sport. Will do anything for you.  Has thrown very far at every event at different times in his career.

Dave Barron; a very clutch competitor.  I have seen dave go from 8th to 1st or 2nd in an event more times than I can count.   A very intelligent yet down to earth guy.  Has as much talent for the sport as anyone.

HBIII;  Phenomenal athlete.  Can't believe I actually compete on the same field as him.  Even a better person.  Has had an awesome career.   Has his priorities right.

Hadley; extremely strong and explosive.  Has matured alot over the last few years into a well-rounded thrower.  Loves the sport as much as anyone.  Will do what it takes to get better.  Future world-champion.

Talk about some of the throws, games and moments you are most proud of.  I would say turning the caber in West Virginia at the 2008 worlds.  I was the first person to turn it and it was the beginning of the 3rd round, and a huge caber.  By doing that I pretty much secured the win.  It was my worst event and although ryan and larry finished above me in that event, the 3rd place kept me in 1st, knowing all I had to do was clear 15feet in the wob.

Talk about training and your philosophy in the area of throwing?Like most I lift more in the winter and throw more in the spring.  I alternate between a technique type day and a harder drill day.

Tell us about some of the injuries you had as an athlete.  None majore.  Just some knee and back issues every now and then.  The worst injury I suffered was at the Halkirk games in Scotland where the bar detached from the ropes on the WOB.  It came crashing down on my head and sliced me open.  I bled pretty badly and was taken to the emergency room.

What impresses you now in the sport?  How much depth of talent is in the pro class and how much athletes of all classes love the sport and spend alot of resources to try and get better at it.

Who makes you laugh at games now?Watching will barron warm-up for each event.

If you were winding up in the hammer and it slipped from your hands, who in the sport would you most like to see the hammer hit in the sack?Probably my own.  I don't know how I would handle hurting somebody else that bad.

What training philosophy do you follow in the gym?Good basic movements without all the assistance movements.  Olympic lifts,deadlifts, squats and variations, standing presses and push presses.  I change reps and set alot.  I really like doing multiple sets of medium to heavy weight for 1's, 2's, and 3's.

When did you start lifting weights and what got you started?Seriously in college.  I was always a good athlete but wasn't strong.  My freshman year in college I worked out hard and learned alot about myself.  I have really loved working out ever since.  I worked out in high school but it wasn't serious and everybody worries to much about what each other is lifting.

If I told you that you could only do one movement in the gym, what would that be and why?Snatch grip deadlift because of the extra leg involvement and obviously hips, back, and good stability work.  The extra few inches of range of motion hit more things.

Put together a week for us in season in terms of lifting days and volume and throwing days and volume?With a games at the end of the week I like to lift tuesday and throw wednesday.  I would do like 6 sets of 2 hang snatch, some front squat, and maybe superset it with push presses.  With no games at the end.  I would do 2 days of lifting and 2 days of throwing.  Each day being different/

Talk about the mental preparation you might do for a game, or a throw?  I like to write down 1 thing to work on in each event.  I throw well when I'm confident.

Do you have any rituals?I always carry the implements to the trig with my left hand.  I don't know why.  Usually hookgripping it.

In the off-season, what are your goals?Have longer throws on average. 

Do you prefer to throw alone or with someone in practice?  Usually alone.

When you won the world championship, talk about how you felt inside and what this meant to you. I couldn't believe I had done it, but I knew I was prepared enough for it.  When I first started in this sport I never thought that I would win the world championhships.  When it really hit me is when David Webster gave me the Jon Pall Sigmarrson sash that all the world-champions have worn.  I looked at all the names and realized that I was only the 3rd american to ever wear it in the 30 years of the worlds.  That gave me goosebumps.

Talk about some other wins that really had meaning to you and why?Winning in Pleasanton 2007.  It was my first major win over a stacked field.  I've always deeply respected that games and am very honored to have won it a couple of times.

I find the men in the Highland Games funny and nice, do you agree and why do you think this is?You can just be yourself and bring your family and throw things.  It puts everyone in a good mood.

Talk some about the hammer, what you are thinking about, what you are trying to accomplish with the throw and your thoughts on training it.  Coach us up on this event from the Betz perspective.  I really keep the low point on my right side and catch the hammer behind me.  Once I really utilized a heel toe foot movement like the olympic hammer it has smoothed things out.  For a few years I went only two winds to work on the finish of the movement.  To be able to sit back then lift lock and block and throwing my head back I started to get good throws.  I then went back to 3 winds 3 years ago and have built it into my most consistent event other than the stones.

What do you like to do outside of the games?  I used to hunt and fish alot growing up.  Don't have much time now.  I like to go to church and be with my family. 

What other hobbies do you have?I play the guitar occasionally.

Are you really into the history of the games or do you just like to compete?  I like seeing the history of it in Scotland.  That is what its about.  Here in the states I don't really think about it.  To be honest the bagpipes start getting annoying and you hear them in your sleep.  Mainly just the competing.

What is your favorite food?everyone who knows me knows that its mexican food.

What supplements do you take?multi, protein, amino acids, occasionally creatine and fish oil

What do you drink with a meal at home?Water

What beer do you like? Dont drink much.  Blue moon if I have one.

Do you live in a house, apartment or ?house for 6 years now

Do you like to garden? I don't know, never really tried it.

Do you mow your own grass and what day do you do this in season when traveling?  Rachel likes to do it.  I will do it if I have time during the day.  She is home with the boys and Aidan loves watching the grass being mowed.

Are you a cat or dog person?dog

Are you to the political right or left?right

Are you into Astrology?  What sign are you?Cancer but I don't get into Astrology

Are you a religious man, and if so, what do you practice?I'm a Christian.  I believe a man named Jesus lived and died and rose again so that we all could be saved.  But its our choice to accept it and let it change your life.

Talk about some of the music you listen to at different times.  favorite is Van Halen.  I like most rock music.  Anything that is motivational.  I don't get into the hate type stuff.  If it sounds like a demonic dog barking it doesn't motivate me. 

Where do you like to go out to eat?Lina's cafe.  A new mexican place in town.  2 burritos for 6 dollars.

What do you like to watch on TV?The Ultimate Fighter is my favorite.  Pawn stars on the history channel.  I like watching any sports events.

Do you watch more O’reilly or Oberman?definitely O'reilly.  can't stand oberman.  way to cynical and sarcastic.  Not a way to live your life.

Are you a western movie or sci fi person?  Tell a favorite.  I like the clint eastwood stuff.  Pale rider and hang-em high is good

What are the goals for this year?  Win the worlds again.  Most definitely win the Celtic classic.  I've finished 2nd 3 times and 3rd 2 times there.  Maybe throw 150 in the light hammer and finally get 17 standing wob.  I've hit 16 feet probably 100 times and 16'6" 15 times, but never 17.

Thank you brother.

647 years old.  Born in the 13^th century into a community of Celtic Druids, I am an Immortal. I stopped aging when I was 32 – as I appear now.

Where were you born?

In the Ancient Pagan district of New York City.

Where do you live now?

Syracuse NY

How did you end up there?

After spending most of my life in the Northeast, I moved from Maine out to Colorado to explore more of the country (which was awesome). Then my wife was accepted into a Ph D. program in Syracuse and we came back East.

What do you drive?

I just got a new company car – a brand new Toyota Corolla. I love it. I used to have a Black Toyota Tacoma like my buddy Kerry Overfelt but eventually ran out of money to put in its gas tank.

You ever change your own oil?

I assume lawn mowers count.

 What is your heritage?  Italian, German?  Give some percentages.

I am very exotic and diverse. If you’ve ever heard of the United Kingdom you may be familiar.  I am part Welsh, Scottish, Irish and English.

Have you gone green?

I did institute a recycling program at my last 3 employers and my wife and I use cloth diapers for our daughters that we launder ourselves.  We buy much of our vegetables from a local organic farm. But I wouldn’t say so…well, maybe.

What do you think about global warming?

I am terrified that the overwhelming scientific evidence that even scientists employed by Oil companies agree with is true. I am even more terrified by how little most people seem to give a shit.

What do you do for a living?

I am a sales rep for Pella Window and Door Corp. – the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 “Energy Star Company of the Year” – which is an award given by the Environmental Protection Agency

How did you get into that?

After college, the only direction I had was wanting to learn how to someday be able to build my own house. So I started framing houses in Northern Colorado, then managed a skylight and passive solar installation company and eventually got into sales with an Energy Star vinyl window manufacturer. I have worked for 2 different window companies previous to starting this job with Pella.

Tell us about your education?

I went to a small liberal arts college in rural Maine – Colby College.  I started as a Philosophy major and then decided to change to Anthropology. It was a pretty intense academic school and I really was excited by studying Anthropology - but am not sure what benefit I thought it could possibly have given me after college. Oh well.  It was a pretty fun place to go to school with plenty of opportunities to hike, kayak and snowboard.  I played drums and guitar in a bunch of college bands and it was in one of the bands that I met my wife.

                      I spent half a year living in Kathmandu, Nepal doing Anthropological studies, living in a mud hut and sleeping on the ground.  For the last month of the trip I studied with an 85 year old Swami (a Hindu Holy Man) who spoke like 9 languages and had lived alone in the wilderness for 10 years and came back to teach others about the Universality of all religion. I stayed at his Yoga ashram (temple) at the top of a small mountain (you had to hike the mountain to get there)

As a kid growing up, what was your first job?

I worked with my friends father doing odd land-scaping jobs and stone wall building. Plus the old favorite task of insulating attics in the middle of summer with fiberglass insulation.

When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play?

I won the softball throw with ease in elementary school. Every kid in little league feared me. I had many games with at least 2 home runs. I was 200 lbs and almost 6’ in 7^th grade. I was a pretty good center on my middle school basketball team. I played football and wrestled for 2 years in High School but quit after that as I was just bored and sick of spending so much time at practice. I finally picked up the shot and discus and throwing took over my athletic interests from them on. Well, that and ultimate frisbee….(which is throwing!)

Did you throw in high school and if so what did you throw?

I threw shot, discus and javelin. My crappy High School bests were: 49’, 149’, 165’

Did you fight with your brother when young?

Nope. Wrestled yes.

Tell us about Dave, what was he like as a young athlete?

Very similar to me. Quit football to focus on track. He was (is) a better shotputter than me. I could (and still can) shame him throwing the baseball though.

Tell us about throwing in college.

I loved it – but my passion for throwing was mostly related to Highland Games.  I was pretty obsessed with the games starting in ’97. I eventually gave up the shot put and discus as it was too time consuming to travel for a whole weekend track meet just to compete for 2 hours in my two events and it conflicted with too many opportunities for my band to play a show. Plus, my college team had the nations #1 Div. 3 Hammer Thrower – Jamie Brewster – so he kept all the spotlight.

What was your first Highland Game and when was that?

My first full amateur competition was in 1994 at the Round Hill Highland Games. I was 15 at the time. 

Who was at that game?

 Besides my brother, I believe Don Mackenzie, Bill Sutherland, Ed Stephens and a puny Roy Bogue.

What made you decide to try and compete at a game?

I pretty much wanted to do everything that my brother was doing.

What is your favorite event?

The 28 lb. weight throw.

What is a common mistake you see people make in that event?

Performing the second spin only slightly faster than the first. It should be an all out blitzkrieg. (I know, cool word).  I also have a different starting cast technique than most throwers which is what some call the “figure 8”. I learned this from watching Matt Sandford’s enormous weight throws and believe that this is the secret to throwing far in the weight throw events. There are some excellent youtube videos of Matt throwing the World record at Estes Park for those that want to see what I am talking about.

Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport?

Dana Florence, Eric Sauve, Don Stewart, Art MacDermott, Bill Sutherland, Don Mackenzie

Talk some about throwing games as an amateur, what games you did and where.

I did all the big ones and loved it. East Coast Champs at Alexandria, Estes Park, Pleasonton, Kansas City, North South Challenge, USA vs Scotland…

What were your favorite amateur games?

Kay Cummings and his family did an incredible job of organizing championship amateur competitions that made us feel like real celebrities - like the North South Challenge in New Orleans, and the Usa vs Scotland in Newtonmore Scotland. Pleasonton was an amazing experience for me the year before I went pro. I had 4 personal bests and placed 2^nd to Ken Lowther. Sean Betz and I battled it out that whole weekend and pushed each other. He’s a little better than me now…J

Talk about some of the pro games you have done and your favorites.

The Fair Hill games has a small field that is overlooked by a huge bleacher area that puts the crowd right on top of you. It is an outstanding venue for crowd support and probably the competition I look forward to the most every year (since its usually the first games of the year for me after the long winter.)

The Celtic Classic really is the most exciting venue to compete at.  It usually has been a tough effort to qualify and its an incredible reward to get to compete in front of so many spectators. The festival doesn’t charge admission and as a result the crowd swells to absolutely enormous numbers. Its just awesome. The Pleasonton games are equally as exciting.  I have done a handful of games in Scotland and really loved throwing over there. The most beautiful of all the games in Scotland for me was the one amateur games I did in Newtonmore. Other North American favorites are Estes Park, the Glengarry Games in Maxville, Ontario, the Portland Highland Games and the Maine Highland Games.

What accomplishment are you most proud of in the games?

Well, I am proud to have held the Amateur World Record in the HWD at one time. Placing top 5 at multiple Pro National Championships and winning the IHGF World Team Championships with Sean Betz in 2009 at the Antigonish Games.

Who do you enjoy competing with and why?

Just about all of the pros in this sport have gotten to where they are as pro Heavies because they truly love the Highland Games events and festival atmosphere. It’s awesome to spend a day throwing with all the other pros as all of a sudden you are surrounded by guys who understand and share your love of throwing heavy shit with kilts on. I love all the guys I share the field with.  Its also really great to get to compete with my brother as often as we do.

Let me mention some names and you comment on them;

Vierra; - Ryan is one of greatest people to have made his mark on the heavy events. His domination of the sport was unbelievable and yet he still is always incredibly friendly and happy to offer coaching advice. One of my favorite guys to go out to eat with. My passion for food increases (if possible) when he is around – the man gets truly excited. Really glad that he is at the helm of IHGF with Francis and David Webster.

St.Clair; - Chris is just an awesome guy and I wish I traveled more these days down to games in the South to see him. This man is freaky strong. He has turned the biggest cabers I have ever seen. Got to travel with him in Scotland and had a great time.

Brock; Kerry Overfelt told me back in like 2002 or something that once Larry stopped focusing on football that he would develop into the World Champion. Larry’s focus and drive in this sport motivates me a ton. Also a really great dude. Really happy to see him finally take the World title.

Craig Smith – When I first met Craig in 2003 I did not expect him to kick everyones ass so badly. But he and I became friends immediately and I have met few guys on the circuit as nice as this guy.  His laid back personality always helps mellow me out on the field.

KO; I wish I had a KO that lived in my town.  No one – NO ONE tells stories as well as Kerry.  I am usually conflicted about going out to breakfast before a comp with him (not really) because without fail I will physically be sore from laughing when it comes time to throw.  Probably the nicest guy in Highland Games.

Betz;  -  Sean has truly helped me become a better athlete throughout the years. One of the best examples of champion sportsmanship and humility. He will without a doubt be World Champ again. A really good friend as well.

Lyttle; David was the first southerner in the games to welcome me when I started traveling the circuit down south. He has given me an enormous amount of valuable coaching both on the field and in the training hall and he’s also kicked my ass plenty of times. One of the few athletes who can say they defeated Ryan Vierra…Another guy I wish I saw more often.

Talk about training and your philosophy in the area of throwing?

I have spent 10 times more time on the throwing field than in the weight room. I just love throwing. I have way more fun throwing the stone 100 times than doing squats…withouth a doubt I would have bigger pr’s if I spent more of this energy squating. I have spent lots and lots of hours watching video of other top throwers and experimented with lots of technique ideas. I think that watching video, hitting pause and going out to try something with the implement helped me throw farther. But after obsessing over technique for the last 12 years – I am now trying to spend a lot more time in the weight room.  That being said, I think the most important part of throwing far is being totally rested, injury free and crazy caffeinated.

Talk about a practice and what you would go out and do with drills or throwing with implements and reps?

Karl Dodge taught me to do a dynamic warm up before throwing – high knees, skipping, karaoke etc. No throwing until you are sweating a bit.  After about 10 minutes of that and a little stretching, I just throw all out. I rarely throw less than 100% in practice. But only do about 10 – 20 throws per event, 1-2 events. At my highest volume I will throw 4 times a week. I have never done drills. Not that that’s a good thing…

Tell us about some of the injuries you had as an athlete.

After competition had ended, I was fooling around with a light caber and accidentally dropped it on my big toe at the Costa Mesa Highland Games. Ryan let me wear his flip flops since with my toe nail sticking straight in the air I couldn’t wear my shoes. I struggled to throw well for a while after that (about 2 months). I haven’t really ever had any major injuries.  Pretty damn lucky – I know.

Would you say your more of a fighter or negotiator?

100% a negotiator. I have never been in a fight.  I avoid scary people.

What impresses you now in the sport? 

Anybody who can turn really heavy cabers and stand 17’ + in the WOB.

Talk about a couple of funny moments you have had at games or while attending games?

I dropped a caber on my big toe at a games in Costa Mesa once. Later on, Ryan was daring me while we both cracked up to rip the toe nail right off the toe with pliers. I eventually did….

Also, I once threw the Haggis directly into the crowd during a haggis hurl. I own that North American record by the way. Stole it from Larry Brock.

Have you almost ever killed anyone at a game?

Well this is a little awkward…Why yes, I almost killed you once with a stone. Sorry again about that.

If you were watching Larry Brock wind up in the hammer and it slipped from his hands, who would you most like to see the hammer hit in the sack?

Tie between Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin.

What training philosophy do you follow in the gym?

Hmmm. I like to do cleans, snatches, push presses and front squats. Heavy as possible. Sometimes I do deads too.  Those are hard. I once followed a Russian Front Squat routine…

When did you start lifting weights and what got you started?

After benching 200 x 3 when I was 14, I was told by my football coach that I was strong and should try to get stronger. I followed a power lifting routine occasionally and did a benching meet in 10^th grade. Then I discovered hang cleans and loved them. Squats, bench and cleans became my staple when I graduated high school.

What do you like to do outside of the games?

I play guitar in a folky bluegrass band with my wife and I love to go camping with my family (usually before a highland games).  I also love to play tennis with my wife. 

What other hobbies do you have?

I played African hand drums and Australian didjeridoo in a band before – I still enjoy playing those instruments on my own.  I enjoy mountain biking and kayaking too.

What is your favorite food?

Indian food, fresh bagels or pizza. 

Do you BBQ up there?

Sure. Couple times a month.

Do you BBQ on the grille or does your wife do that?

 I’d say its about a 50/50 split.

Coals or gas grille?

Gas.

What supplements do you take?

Multi vitamin, whey protein shakes about 3x per day and occasionally Con-crete creatine.  On competition day I will drink an NO-Xplode or something similar.

What do you drink with a meal at home?

Usually water or sometimes beer or wine.

What beer do you like?

I prefer to drink a microbrewed beer. Recently, a Geary’s Pale Ale from Maine is my favorite. I also love Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Sometimes flavored fruity beer is my thing (especially Blueberry Ale.)

Do you live in a house, apartment or ?

We live in a house. 

Talk about your family, talk about your plans for a family in the future.

We have two daughters. I could be content with just the two girls -  I love them so much…but my wife wants like 5 more…I am unsure about such things.

Do you like to garden?

Nope. Am I made to? Yup.

Are you a cat or dog person?  What do you have?

We have 3 dogs.

Are you a Democrat or Republican?

Before George Bush was president I was enrolled in the Green Party and voted for Nader.  Since then I have been a democrat trying to undo what was done.

Are you into Astrology?  What sign are you?

My wife is super into astrology and is very knowledgeable. I am not. She is my handy almanac – should I ever decide to start paying attention. I am an Aquarius with a Taurus Moon sign. I am unsure of my Sun Rising sign.

Are you a religious man, and if so, what do you practice?

Grew up congregational, withdrew from my confirmation class, was a religious studies minor and was blessed and initiated by a Hindu Holy man into Yogism. Nothing really these days – but thinking of attending a Unitarian Universalist Church.

Talk about some of the music you listen to at different times.

My favorite artists are Bela Fleck and Leo Kotke. Both are amazing instrumentalists (banjo and guitar). I also love Celtic music like the Chieftains and Albanach. I do like to listen to Metallica and some other heavy stuff too – especially in the weight room.

Where do you like to go out to eat?

We have the #2 Nationally ranked BBQ place in the country – Dinosaur BBQ. Also Indian food.  My favorite meal to eat out though is breakfast.

What do you like to watch on TV?

I don’t really – although I did watch 24 this season and I watch football and the Olympics when they are on. I used to watch Southpark. Gotten too stupid though (the show – not me)

Are you a western movie or sci fi person?  Tell a favorite.

I do love Sci Fi. The Matrix is probably my favorite Sci Fi.

What are the goals for this year?

Get strong! Qualify for the Celtic Classic. Have fun.

Thank you brother.

Interview with Matt Sandford (6/21/10)

Here he is, the legend Matt Sanford.  Enjoy reading about a guy who had some wild numbers and won a lot of games. 


How old are you?

 39

Where were you born?

 Melbourne Australia

Where do you live now?

 About 5 miles away from where i was born

How did you end up there?

 Family mainly

How big were you in your prime, height and weight?

Best throws about 117 to 122 g  191cm

What do you drive?

Izuzu 4 door small truck

You ever change your own oil?

Used too, but not anymore

How many languages do you speak?  And what are they?

Just English

What do you think about global warming?

 Little unsure ,lot of propaganda in the press

You ever recycle anything?

 Yeah lots of stuff  ,Where i live you get three bins  landfill, recycle,green waste

What do you do for a living?

 Carpenter

How did you get into that?

 Left school a little early and done a little carpentry before

Tell us about your education?

 Left school when i was 17 and then trade school off and on next 2 years

As a kid growing up, what was your first job?

 Brickies labourer

When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play?

Soccer  Track @field   Aussie rules football

Did you throw in school and if so what did you throw?

 Started throwing in little Athletics at 5 years of age.

What was your first Highland Game and when was that?

 Geelong which is about 1 and a half hours drive west of Melbourne

Who was at that game?

 Joe Quigley is the only name that you will know

What made you decide to try and compete at a game?

 I was pretty much training full time with the wire hammer then and a few guys said to give it a try

What is your favorite event?

 Hammer

What is a common mistake you see people make in that event?

I think a lot of people tend to bend their arms and shorten the radius

Talk about how you would put your week together in terms of lifting weights and throwing practice in season.

 Used to lift on mon squat and pull     tues morning bench  wed  throw then do ab work Thurs same as monday  fri morning bench sat throw sun core stuff  rest

When you practiced, please talk about how many events and repetitions in each event at a practice.

 When  i throw i chase a certain feel   sometimes its there other times not,always tried to throw 80% of my max no matter how i felt.When the feel was there i just threw range type throwing

What are your favorite drills?

  Rotating down a line up to 15 times  good for balance and awearness

Did you do any type of mental work for a game or practice?

 Yes sometimes  i would just shut my eyes and run the throw through my head

For a game day, did you have any types of routines or superstitions?

 Had a favorite sweat shirt

Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport?

 My father is the biggest influence and helped coach me for 30 odd years  and at times wore a lot of frustration

Lets just talk about hammer some.  Please just give as much information as you can on what your trying to do with the hammer, how you train it and what your goals are in terms of wind and delivery.

 I will try keep it simple  i like to use the first to winds to set it up so i can go back grab it then apply full force.

Talk about some of the games you have done and your favorites.

So many wonderful games and people

 I did about 35 games a year  and towards the end it became a lot like work.The big ones in Scotland  Braemar Crieff were always fun.One year at Crieff   Bruce and  i tied for the overall ,same points, same firsts  the judges said you cant tie , i had not putted well so Bruce won.Then having a few beers later i looked at the trophy  there it was, engraved on the side  Capes Anderson Tie form the 80s

What country do you enjoy competing in the most, and why?

 I loved to compete and throughout my career even with the ups and downs thats a hard question to answer

Who do you enjoy competing with and why?

 Some of my favorites are East and West coast Dave B Jay little lots of conversation some times relevant to throwing others totally off tap

Let me mention some names and you comment on them;

Gunn;

I think i need to do a number 2

Gundmunndson

Gentleman Wish i had of meet him ten years earlier

Zylstra;

Powerhouse

Big Chief;

Only threw against him once  Class athlete

Francis;

The ex blonde bombshell    Good Friend true ambassador for the games

Talk about some of the throws, games and moments you are most proud of.

 Throwing well at Halkirk  wish i had of dug in 2 inches closer to the trig for the heavy hammer Ptown in 2000 should have taken my extra throws in wob

Talk about training and your philosophy in the area of throwing?

Keys to throwing well

1 try and relax let everything run

2 Big lifts are good if your a lifter

3 always finish on a throw that feels good  dont worry about how far it is

Tell us about some of the injuries you had as an athlete.

I have been very lucky and had only a few injuries (mainly soft tissue) which enable me to throw well fof the years that i competed .I suffered a back injury which required surgery in 2006

What impresses you now in the sport?

 Blown out of the water with 56 for distance results

If you were winding up in the hammer and it slipped out from your hands, who in the sport would you most like to see the hammer hit in the sack?

 Alistair Gunn

When and how did you get into weight lifting?

 I started olympic lifting at 12 years old to improve my throwing.

What training philosophy do you follow in the gym?

 All my work was over or at 80% of my max and didnt bother doing much unrelated to throwing

What lifts did you do for WOB?

one arm deads wide grip pulls and throwing 60lb weight

In the off season what did you focus on?

 Tried to just maintain my strength

Talk about meeting your wife and about her some.

 Meet her in high school  great mother  good person married the wrong guy

How many kids do you have and talk about them some.

3Kids  boy almost 20 now training to be a plumber .twin girls 18 both still studying

What do you like to do outside of the games?

 Relaxing fishing tinkering with cars

What other hobbies do you have?

 Cooking    Cattle

What is your favorite food?

 Mexican  Asian

Do you consider yourself a liberal or conservative?

 Liberal

What do you drink with a meal at home?

 Beer red wine

What beer do you like?

 Any  pilsner favourite

Do you live in a house, apartment or ?

 House

Do you like to garden?

I  love to look at gardens and admire peoples hard work but doesnt really appeal to me

What kind of lawn mower do you have? 

 VICTA 2 stroke

Are you a cat or dog person?

 Both but leading towards dogs

Are you into Astrology?  What sign are you?

 No  Cancer

Are you a religious man, and if so, what do you practice?

 Not by choice     non practicing catholic

Talk about some of the music you listen to at different times.

 Just turn on the radio  like the 60 and 70 s  never bought a record tape or cd

Where do you like to go out to eat?

 Indian

What do you like to watch on TV?

 Crime shows  Docos

Are you a western movie or sci fi person?  Tell a favorite.

 Sci fi Star wars   and those tacky plastic suits that looked so good 30 years ago

What are the goals for this year?

 Stay healthy and maybe throw a little next year for fun and catch up with friends

How old are you? I am 48 years old but feel much younger. 
  
Where were you born? Born in 1962, ninth of mars. 
  
Where do you live now? In Reykjavik, Iceland. The house is on a hillside and I got a fabulous view over the city and the ocean. 
  
How did you end up there? It was always the plan after Alabama to go back to Iceland. 
  
What do you drive? I drive a big Hyundai van, it is 4x4 and serves me great for everything that I need to do. 
  
You ever change your own oil? I  did that when I was younger and had less money, Now I take it to the shop. 
  
How many languages do you speak? I speak two languages, Icelandic and English and I can manage in Danish. 
  
Have you gone green? In a way. We do separate the garbage, paper, plastic, glass and bio. 
  
What do you think about global warming? It is good for Iceland, it is getting warmer over here. But honestly I think this is something much bigger than just from pollution. 
  
Do they push going green in Iceland? Yes. 
  
How did you end up in Tuscaloosa? I got recruited in 1983 at UA as a shot-putter. I only studied there for one winter, got badly injured in my right hip and had a surgery in Iceland. Did not at that time think of a comeback and met my wife and got married. 
So in 1994 when I was looking for a warm country to train in for the 1996 Olympics, Alabama came right up because off my connection to the UA. So at that time we had four children at the age range from nine months to 12 years. These yeasr were great, a choice I do not regret. 
  
How long did you live there? We lived there for almost 7 great years. 
  
What did you think about that nasty powerlifter that lived there and trained in the gym with you, the tall one with the black hair? That guy looked scary to me but he was very interested in what I and my brother, Hilmar, were doing in the backyard. Tossing cabers and throwing the Highland stuff. So after I got to know him he turned out to be a great guy with a very high passion for lifting weights and staying strong. I always remember the first time he tried to turn a stick. His arms were bigger than the caber and he launched it into the air like a rocket. 
  
Did you think he ever had a chance at being a good thrower? He came very late into the throwing world and therefore had a lot to learn. He certainly had the mentality and strength to become a good all around thrower. I remember I told him to do alot of drills and bounding exercises to get more mobile for the lighter events. But it is hard to school and old dog and this dog is a stubborn stallion. He instantly got good at the heavier events but still needs quicker feats for the stone and weights. Still can do it. Look out next season for this one. 
  
What do you do for a living? I am a full time police officer and I also coach throwers in track and field. Rather busy all the time, training myself and helping others throwing. 
  
How did you get into that? My father was a police officer so it was easy to take that path. Coaching comes naturally to me and  i love it. I have so many things to share in the field of throwing. 
  
Tell us about your education? After regular education as a child and a teenager I went into carpentry. I learned that but then after my shot put career started I realized that a hard work like carpentry does not go well with throwing and lifting so I went for the Police academy and graduated from that in 1990. In Alabama I studied Criminal Justice and graduated in may 2001 with a masters degree. Great times at the UA, ROLL TIDE. 
  
As a kid growing up, what was your first job? I lived on a farm so I had all the jobs that go with taking care of cows and sheep. Jobs that make anybody strong. As I grew up I learned carpentry and built houses for a while. The carpentry did not really go with my training for throwing so It was easy to just tray the police. 
  
When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play? I played allot of socker at first but as a teenager I got to know throwing so I tried all of the throwing, javelin, disk, hammer and shot. I also played volleyball for years and I really think all that bounding really helped my throwing later on. The schokker is that my first event that I really practisihed in track and field was a polevault.
  
Did you throw in high school and if so what did you throw? No, not as a planned sport. I lived on a farm and there I threw everything, and it was all home made. A net circle was my discus, my spear was a broomstick with an iron end. My shots were real shots and I threw them every day and sometimes up to three times a day. Those years I was skinny and also practiced for pole polevault. At the age of 16 I got more serious for throwing and started lifting weights. 
  
Tell us about throwing in college. 
I threw for Alabama in the year of 1983. Threw the shot 55‘5“ at the age of 21. I tore my right gluteus max, had a surgery and quit throwing for several years while recovering.  
  
Talk about the Olympics and some memories from that? I competed at the 88 games in Seoul, south Korea and placed 14th there. Just missed the finals of the greatest shot put competition ever. Timmerman, Barnes, Gunther, Bayer. I also competed at the 92 games in Barcelona, Spain. And I got 14th again. I was called Petur the 14th for a while after that. I did qualify for the 96 games at Atlanta but did not compete due to injuries to my right hand. 
  
What was your best game in the shot? My best ever was 69‘9“3/4. Thrown in Iceland in the fall of 1990. That year I was ranked 10th in Track and Field News. 
  
What was your first Highland Game and when was that? My first games were in Scotland way back in the old century. It was sometime in the late 1980s. 
  
Who was at that game? Douglas Edmunds invited me to compete at the worlds and I think my invitation was to get me acquainted to the games and also to beat Capes in the stones. I a really proud to say that I did that. This was Capes last games and my first. I meet Capes a few years ago in Portugal and we talked about this competition. Macoldric won the title there. 
 
  
What made you decide to try and compete at a game? I love to throw and the Highland Games is a festival for every thrower, just great. 
  
What is your favorite event? Well, stone put, but just because I was good at it. Caber toss is really the signature event for Highland Games and I feel that one really challenging. 
  
What is a common mistake you see people make in that event? In stone, it is when strong men try to throw the stone in stead of putting the stone. There is a reason for the name, stone put or shot put, it is not a throw in a sense. You got to use all of your body to get the stone out there. I got to say about the caber, people tend to loose it away from them and pull to late or to far from the body. A good friend of mine from Scotland, sometimes called the giant killer told me once regarding the caber, „think when youn are running with the caber,“ pull before you stop“ or block“.  
  
Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport? I remember Douglas Edmunds trying to teach me to throw the 28 in Scotland. He wanted me to take the weight once over head and then take the approach we all know. Magnus Ver Magnusson taught me how to swing the weight for height and to turn the caber. Stone was self taught. Hammers I never learned properly but many have tried to help me out there, men like Ryan, Francis, Alistair, Bruce and others. Thanks to them I managed to become an average hammer thrower with best of 133“11‘ and 106“6‘. My best numbers in the other events are 61´6 in open, world records in the Breamar, 86‘something in the 28, roughly 40‘ in the 56 for distance, 17‘ wob, 32‘2 20lbs sheaf. Not the best numbers but make me proud.
  
Talk about some of the pro games you have done and your favorites. I have been to many of the greats but still has not gone to Breamar, got to do it.