NLL Insider

This article appears in Volume 12, Issue 1 of Inside Lacrosse Magazine. To subscribe to the magazine, click here.

With Boston Cannons and Philadelphia Wings star John Christmas

On The Field

You helped Virginia win the 2003 NCAA title with two goals and an assist - what was that like? 
That was one of the best games of my life. Everyone dreams of winning a national championship. The whole thing was surreal. 

Your last collegiate game was pretty heart-breaking, Hopkins scoring with two seconds left to force overtime and eventually winning. Not to bring back bad memories but does that game still linger? 
Sometimes. A lot of folks say it was the best game they’ve ever seen. It was a great game for lacrosse. I thought it was great too, and it is a shame we came away with a loss. We would have played Duke afterwards. After the game I did a presser [press conference] with me and Dom, we went to the tailgate and it was surreal because I knew my college career was over.

How have you adjusted to a new role in the NLL? 
The indoor league has been awesome. A lot of players can’t adapt. I know what to do and I have to practice hard. You need to concentrate all the time, and you are constantly getting beat on and you have to pay attention all the time. The indoor game has made me a lot better.

What exactly does an NLL transition player do?
I’m basically a midfielder. Our coach has an interesting approach. He has players who can play both ends.

Is there anything in the sport of lacrosse harder than scoring on an NLL goalie?
A lot of people say that. Their [goalies] range of motion isn’t that great because they have so many pads on, so you can catch them off guard. It’s all about getting a goalie out of position. You just need to calm down, slow your hands down and make a good shot.

When you heard about the cancellation of the season, though it was changed back, what was going through your mind when it was announced?
I do a lot of clinics during the weekends, so though I wanted to play, this made my weekends open and I could still make money. I’m excited that it came back because I’ve played two years.

How close would you say you are to reaching your potential?
I think I’ve gotten so much better since college, playing with great players and being on your own schedule. College is a full-time job. I’m going to continue to get better because I want to keep on stepping up a level. I have a lot of goals, including making the U.S. Team.

What is your best lacrosse memory? 
Winning the national championship in college. Any lacrosse player who plays in the national championship and wins it can only be topped by winning a gold medal with the U.S. Team.

What is your worst lacrosse memory? 
We had a terrible year in my junior year, we got our butts kicked by Air Force and Denver in our first two games. We were ranked #1 in the country starting out, and that made starting 0-2 worse.

Off The Field

You founded 141 Lacrosse two years ago, how is that going?
I’m a big fan of soccer, and they had a 4-4-2 formation, and I decided to do one for a 1-4-1 formation. I have 150 clients for training and I focus on getting each kid better. When I first graduated I didn’t want a real job, and a lot of players do this kind of thing. I like seeing kids progress and you really have to like this. We have some of the best kids in Pennsylvania.

I see you’re a good artist, what got you into doing artwork?
My brothers have always been artistic. It is something I do when I’m bored, I just doodle when I’m not doing anything. I like having a creative side: it’s a way to get away from everyday life.

Is it true you appeared on a McDonald’s cup promotion? 
Yes, last year our PR person for the Wings got a promo deal with a local McDonald’s in Philly, and she mentioned it to me. I forgot about it until I got a call from my dad. It was really cool, and my mom tried to get 500 of them. I don’t own any myself, but my brother has four or five of them.

You also appeared in Sports Illustrated - how did that feel and what was it for? 
Back in college, I was in SI. It was good for the sport of lacrosse. Any time you get recognized for something it’s good for the sport. For me it’s all about performance and teaching these kids to play well - that’s the bottom line. One was SI on Campus with a bunch of athletes. It was a Q&A. The other was about my freshman year of lacrosse.

That is the funniest thing that was happened to you having Christmas as a last name? 
I don’t think there is anything too funny with it. “Christmas comes early”, “The Wings get an early Christmas gift” - a lot of it is how marketable they are.

Your parents are from Trinidad and Tobago. Do you ever go there? 
I haven’t been back since third grade, I would love to go back, but I don’t have time to go on vacation. It is beautiful and I want to go back.

You were a sociology major at Virginia. Why?
There is no getting by in Virginia. In my freshman year one professor said my major will find me. I stuck with sociology and I liked it. 

If you can only eat one food the rest of your life, what would it be? 
French onion soup. I had it for the first time in college. I just love it: the soup, the croutons. I go from city to city and I order French onion soup and I love it every time.

You win $500 million dollars in the lottery. What is the first thing you do?
Buy a few houses, and all of my friends wouldn’t work, just like in Entourage.

You can time travel to any time and place. When, where and why?
Prehistoric times to see what was going on with dinosaurs. It would be cool to see a T-Rex. That would be crazy.

Sadly, your home is burning down. All of your family, friends and pets are out safely. What is the one item you would run back in to save?
I have a lot of family albums: great pictures of my grandparents, my brothers. They’re great photo albums that my mom has and I’d want to save a few of them.

What’s one thing you’re afraid of?
Jay-Z said ‘I’m not afraid of dying, I’m afraid of not trying.’

Custom cell phone ring? 
Nope, I have the old-school ring tone, the one from the ’80s.

Best movie of all-time? 
Rushmore, the funniest movie ever. Jason Schartzman and the Wilson brothers and Bill Murray are the funniest guys ever.

Favorite movie character?
Jason Schwartzman in Rushmore: his character is Max Fisher. He’s in a situation where he doesn’t fit, but makes the best of it, and he is hysterical.

Favorite quote?
“Do what you have to do, so you can do what you want to.” -Denzel Washington

Any non-Virginia colligate teams you root for?
Yes, Florida State mainly. They always have those crazy athletes like Peter Warrick and Anquan Boldin. B-ball wise, I like Duke and UNC.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? 
Teleportation. I’ve been across the country and it would be cool to be in Pennsylvania one minute and then be in Monaco the next. That’s the best power.

You’re stranded on a desert island and can have only three things. What are they?
Three genies in a bottle. So I guess I’d have nine wishes.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Djimon Hounsou, from Blood Diamond.

What’s your worst habit? 
Judging people too early.

What was your first job? 
Working at CVS, behind the counter: sophomore year in high school.

What is your favorite word?
L’chayim. It’s Yiddish for “To life”.

What is your least favorite word? 
No. I don’t like telling people no.

Check out John Christmas’ exclusive training tips on InsideLacrosse.tv (search: Christmas).

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