NLL Insider

It’s not easy for a first-year player to make his mark in the always-competitive Western Lacrosse Association. There are a few tried and true ways of getting over the rookie jitters, however. Scoring a first goal, or celebrating a first win, maybe dropping the gloves with Langley Thunder heavyweight Matt Green off the opening face-off in a pre-season game. Wait, what? Welcome to Bubba Westwood’s world. The New Westminster Salmonbellies’ defender discusses what goes on before a fight, what goes on after, and who the one player is that you’ll never see him square off with.

So why the name Bubba? Not a big Clint Eastwood fan?
No, my dad is though!

Is that actually why you’re named that?!
I think so, but I’m not sure.

When did you pick up Bubba?
At a really young age, I can’t even remember. I don’t think I was ever really called Clint.

That’s funny. You’ve played a few games now as a member of the Sr. Salmonbellies. Have you found that your role has changed much from what it was on the Jr. team?
No, not at all I don’t think. [Head Coach] Bob Salt’s been making me go across centre, running and playing transition and I like that a lot. And I fought the first couple games, so…

I noticed! Does it ever bother you that you’re kind of just known as an enforcer?
Not at all.

So it won’t bother you if I ask a million questions about fighting?
Nope, won’t bother me.

What went into the decision to drop the mitts with Matt Green off that opening face-off? Was it kind of pre-determined?
Yeah, I think a lot of talk was going on around the league and then he asked me in warm-ups, he said ‘do you want to fight?’ and I just said yeah. I think he was kinda surprised. And then he said ‘first shift?’ and I said okay. He asked me why I wanted to fight him and I told him I might as well start at the top. At first I think he was upset that I wanted to fight him but then he realized that he probably would have done the same thing.

So it was kind of an honour.
Yeah, exactly. So then I guess he figured okay, might as well give the kid a shot.

How do you feel like that first fight went for you?
It was good! I think it went well. Neither of us landed any really solid punches but at the end of the fight he was like ‘good job, kid’ and I said thanks and that was that.

Are a lot of your fights like that? You kind of know going into a game who you’re going to fight?
Yeah and I like it better that way too, knowing that I’m going to have to fight somebody tonight. It’s easier knowing because I’m never really upset when I go into a fight.

Is there anyone you really wouldn’t want to find yourself squaring off with?
I think the only person I wouldn’t fight is my brother [George Westwood of the Victoria Shamrocks]. Just because my dad wouldn’t let us. We fought a lot when we were younger.

Are there guys you’re looking forward to fighting?
Not really, I mean obviously [Geoff] Snider is probably the toughest guy in the WLA. I don’t know, I’ve never fought him or anything. So maybe Snider.

So it turns out you were quite the hockey fighter as well in the WHL. Do you have a preference between hockey fights or lacrosse fights?
I was a bit of a hockey fighter I guess. I dabbled. I don’t prefer one to the other. Lacrosse is really different because you have your balance, plus I’m fighting men now. In junior hockey they’re not really adults in that league, and now I’m fighting 30 year-old men sometimes.

What do you think the biggest misconception is that people have about you?
That I’m mean or upset all the time. They think that just because I go out and fight and stuff that I’m going to be really serious all the time and then they find out after the game when we go hang out and have a drink or whatever that I just like to joke around.

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