NLL Insider 20Q: Paul Dawson

July 1st, 2009 by Paul Tutka

Boston Blazers and Brampton Excelsiors defender Paul Dawson.

One of the best quick reads in any issue of Inside Lacrosse is always Jon Brand’s Shooting from the Hip segment, where Brand fires off a handful of quickie questions at college ball players, and well, they answer them.

Trust us, it’s always a good read and one of the first pages we flick to when a new rag hits the mailbox.

We’re gonna run the same game this summer with our new NLL Insider 20Q segment, where we rifle off the same 20 questions at guys, and let you know exactly what they think on lacrosse related stuff, some personal and some game-wide.

So, after the the jump, check out the questions we threw at Boston Blazers and Brampton Excelsiors defender, Paul Dawson, and see what bounced back. Pretty good fight vid in there too, for the few that like that kinda stuff.

What athlete from any other sport outside of lacrosse, do you think is also custom made to play box lacrosse…
I would say a hockey player that plays a physical style at both ends of the ice. Someone like a Milan Lucic, who could be a beast at both sides of the lax floor. He likes the game too. Was at a Blazers game this year.

Lacrosse fan, the Boston Bruins Milan Lucic.

Best lacrosse team name at any level…
Ummm, I like the old school names like Salmonbellies, but I also like the new school ones like Roughnecks.

If you could pick just one pre-game meal to have for the rest of your career, what would it be…
A vodka pasta with grilled chicken and veggies.

Best surface to play box/indoor ball on, concrete, turf, or for those that have played on it, wood…
No contest, turf the whole way. So much better on your joints.

Worst injury you’ve ever sustained…
Sprained MCL

What past champ will bounce back to a pro championship faster, Rochester, Toronto or Philadelphia…
I’d have to say Rochester, depending on their health, but it will be interesting to see what Toronto comes up with.

Toughest arena, winter or summer, to get a win in…
The Peterborough Memorial Arena against the Senior A’s.

Best fight, at absolutely any level of the game, you’ve witnessed…
That’s a tough one. I think I’ve been in most of them to tell you the truth. Thought the one I had with Rory Smith was a dandy.

Scroll to the bottom of the page to check out Dawson’s tilt with Smith, which opens with the hit heard round the world.

Most famous person you’ve met cuz of your lax connections…
Got to meet Bill Belichick, coach of the New England Pats, this year.

Axl Rose screaming the league's anthem, Welcome to the Jungle.

Best player nickname…
Jon “Bubba” Durno

What one band’s tunes would be perfect to use as the NLL’s soundtrack…
Welcome to the jungle always gets the crowds and boys going.

One vet not currently in the NLL you think deserves a roster spot…
Sean Holmes (Mann Cup winner and former St. Catharines Sr. and Mississauga Jr.)

Are goalie pads too big in today’s game…
I think the league has done a good job of making the pads a decent size.

If you had to pick one trick as your signature move, what would it be…
Fake high, go five-hole.

Stylin' and proflin', Mr. Gary Gait.

That one coach that made a huge difference in your lacrosse career…
Now it would probably have to be Troy Cordingley. He helped me a lot with the switch from goalie to defender.

Dawson was a highly touted keeper, playing between the pipes for both the Burlington Chiefs and Brampton Excelsiors, before making the move to D in recent seasons. He was a first round draft pick of the San Jose Stealth as a tender.

After its first year, did video replay on “goals” help the game this past season…
Yeah, for sure, I think it was great. It does need a bit of improvement, but I think it was good to have on those close goals.

Who is the greatest ever to play the box/indoor game…
Gary Gait

One word to describe your game…
Sandpaper