Here at TopJ we are not sl*ts. We don't jump into bed with a lacrosse star and then never call them again. As our interviewees will testify we woo them a little, have a great time, and then show them a lil' love from then on out. So here we are, back again with king of lax Kyle Harrison to ask him a few more questions...who he is, what he likes to do? (aside from tomahawking kids with d-poles- see above) and why he is better than Paul Rabil. New users you may want to refer in our archives to 'Mr Harrison to you' to check out the first time we hooked up with Kyle, old faithfuls gather around and learn a little bit more about what it means to be Mr Lacrosse.
Flowseph: Kyle, welcome back to the casa del TopJLax!
Kyle: Thanks man, I love this!
Flowseph: Kicking off, Lacrosse was considered in the US to be somewhat of a white-dominated sport. Was it ever an issue when growing up, or throughout your career, being one of the few black lacrosse players?
Kyle: It’s never something I spent time worrying about. Of course, playing in youth league in Baltimore MD, I was the only pair of dark legs out there running around. But, I didn’t think twice about it. I loved playing the sport and while there were times when people would throw racial slurs my way, it had no real impact on me. I usually just viewed the person as ignorant, and it just made me want to become a better player and win. I get e-mails, calls and Facebook messages all the time from younger black lacrosse players saying “thank you” and that I’m the reason they’re able to go out and play this sport confidently and that’s a great feeling. If I wasn’t able to accomplish anything in this sport other than making those players feel comfortable and proud to be a black lacrosse player, it would have been worth it. A few days ago a 6th grader told me he’s going to be the 2nd black lacrosse player to win the Tewaaraton Trophy, and that’s great stuff.
Flowseph: Truly great stuff. Moving onto physical condition, what does your workout involve? How do you graft that explosive advantage?
Kyle: I train with two great Nike trainers out in LA. Check out www.ZoneReady.net for lacrosse specific workouts! For me, I spend a lot of time shooting at full speed outside of training. I think that’s the reason I’m able to keep my dodging/explosion tight. Most kids will work out hard, but not take that same energy and effort to a shooting session.
Flowseph: This season my team turned up to a game where the opposing team only had one of your super sick looking black k18 balls. I’m going to be honest it was a little difficult to play with…
Kyle: Ha, I definitely appreciate the support, but those balls were more for show/display! Not to play a game with! We got to get you all some white rocks!
Kyle: Thanks man, I love this!
Flowseph: Kicking off, Lacrosse was considered in the US to be somewhat of a white-dominated sport. Was it ever an issue when growing up, or throughout your career, being one of the few black lacrosse players?
Kyle: It’s never something I spent time worrying about. Of course, playing in youth league in Baltimore MD, I was the only pair of dark legs out there running around. But, I didn’t think twice about it. I loved playing the sport and while there were times when people would throw racial slurs my way, it had no real impact on me. I usually just viewed the person as ignorant, and it just made me want to become a better player and win. I get e-mails, calls and Facebook messages all the time from younger black lacrosse players saying “thank you” and that I’m the reason they’re able to go out and play this sport confidently and that’s a great feeling. If I wasn’t able to accomplish anything in this sport other than making those players feel comfortable and proud to be a black lacrosse player, it would have been worth it. A few days ago a 6th grader told me he’s going to be the 2nd black lacrosse player to win the Tewaaraton Trophy, and that’s great stuff.
Flowseph: Truly great stuff. Moving onto physical condition, what does your workout involve? How do you graft that explosive advantage?
Kyle: I train with two great Nike trainers out in LA. Check out www.ZoneReady.net for lacrosse specific workouts! For me, I spend a lot of time shooting at full speed outside of training. I think that’s the reason I’m able to keep my dodging/explosion tight. Most kids will work out hard, but not take that same energy and effort to a shooting session.
Flowseph: This season my team turned up to a game where the opposing team only had one of your super sick looking black k18 balls. I’m going to be honest it was a little difficult to play with…
Kyle: Ha, I definitely appreciate the support, but those balls were more for show/display! Not to play a game with! We got to get you all some white rocks!
Flowseph: Yeah for sure send some our way! Lacrosse players in the UK probably drink too much alcohol. Not to take this interview in a stupid direction, but who would win in a pint race between you and Paul Rabil?
Kyle: I don’t drink all that much, never have. So, I’ll give that one to the homey Paul. We’re both grossly competitive people, but this is one situation where I’d be OK taking an L, not really into the drinking game.
Flowseph: Damn Kyle…I don’t know what to say…How about scrabble?
Kyle: It’d be a battle and would last for four days. I can say whoever ended up winning the other would plead for best 2 out of 3.
Flowseph: That’s what I’m talking about! Hand-stand competition?
Kyle: All this depends on what kind of hand-stand contest we’re talking. Are we talking one where you can lean up against the wall so it’s just a test to see how long you can physically hold yourself up? Or, is it in the middle of the floor and you’ve got to hold yourself up and balance? I took gymnastics for a bit when I was younger, but I’m not certain how my hand-stand game is these days. I’d give it a shot, because I’d assume Paul hasn’t been getting it in with any practice either.
Flowseph: Yeah he said he’d beat you hands-down.
Kyle: Nice man…nice. We’ll in that case it’s on!
Flowseph: What about a wrestle?
Kyle: He’s definitely stronger, but I think I’m a little quicker. So, again, this would be another long one. I’d have to avoid getting too close to homeboy, because once he gets me I’m not going to be able to shake loose again. Would wait it out and try to score a quick take down at the end, or, let him take me down then try to escape and grab a point that way. Either way it’d be entertaining I’m sure. Oh yeah, if we’ve got to wear those lil’ wrestling singlets, count me OUT.
Flowseph: Dude, you can’t wrestle in anything but! So finally, as you are currently Offensive Co-ordinator at Chapman University in Orange County, we gotta ask you about our boy Con Bro Chill (Connor Martin)…
Kyle: Con is a great player and I couldn't be more proud of his success. I met him two years ago and had the opportunity to work out with him through out his final two years at Chapman. The kid absolutely loves this sport for all the right reasons and the passion he brings to it on a daily basis is like nothing I've ever seen. Say what you want about the kid, but he's loves this sport and will continue to grow as a player and at the end of the day, will have an impact on the growth of the sport with his unique approach.
Flowseph: That’s our boy! Well thank you very much for joining us for a chat Kyle. It’s been emotional.
Kyle: The pleasure is all mine my man, good luck with everything. Oh and that’s Mr Harrison to you!
Flowseph: Ha…brilliant
Kyle: I don’t drink all that much, never have. So, I’ll give that one to the homey Paul. We’re both grossly competitive people, but this is one situation where I’d be OK taking an L, not really into the drinking game.
Flowseph: Damn Kyle…I don’t know what to say…How about scrabble?
Kyle: It’d be a battle and would last for four days. I can say whoever ended up winning the other would plead for best 2 out of 3.
Flowseph: That’s what I’m talking about! Hand-stand competition?
Kyle: All this depends on what kind of hand-stand contest we’re talking. Are we talking one where you can lean up against the wall so it’s just a test to see how long you can physically hold yourself up? Or, is it in the middle of the floor and you’ve got to hold yourself up and balance? I took gymnastics for a bit when I was younger, but I’m not certain how my hand-stand game is these days. I’d give it a shot, because I’d assume Paul hasn’t been getting it in with any practice either.
Flowseph: Yeah he said he’d beat you hands-down.
Kyle: Nice man…nice. We’ll in that case it’s on!
Flowseph: What about a wrestle?
Kyle: He’s definitely stronger, but I think I’m a little quicker. So, again, this would be another long one. I’d have to avoid getting too close to homeboy, because once he gets me I’m not going to be able to shake loose again. Would wait it out and try to score a quick take down at the end, or, let him take me down then try to escape and grab a point that way. Either way it’d be entertaining I’m sure. Oh yeah, if we’ve got to wear those lil’ wrestling singlets, count me OUT.
Flowseph: Dude, you can’t wrestle in anything but! So finally, as you are currently Offensive Co-ordinator at Chapman University in Orange County, we gotta ask you about our boy Con Bro Chill (Connor Martin)…
Kyle: Con is a great player and I couldn't be more proud of his success. I met him two years ago and had the opportunity to work out with him through out his final two years at Chapman. The kid absolutely loves this sport for all the right reasons and the passion he brings to it on a daily basis is like nothing I've ever seen. Say what you want about the kid, but he's loves this sport and will continue to grow as a player and at the end of the day, will have an impact on the growth of the sport with his unique approach.
Flowseph: That’s our boy! Well thank you very much for joining us for a chat Kyle. It’s been emotional.
Kyle: The pleasure is all mine my man, good luck with everything. Oh and that’s Mr Harrison to you!
Flowseph: Ha…brilliant
In looking at Kyle's 2005 highlight reel, you will notice the separation he achieves with his split dodge to open himself up for the shot. This seamless transition between dodge and shot is an area that few people take the time to master; if the shot comes off too early there is often not enough separation between yourself and the d-pole/d-middie, if it comes too late then the angle is reduced too much. The trick here is to get early separation and put your defender on the back foot straight away. Kyle achieves this through an explosive acceleration grafted by hours of pyrometry and sprint training. The ability to then turn this explosive advantage into a powerful shot can only be achieved, as Kyle states, by shot practise done at game speed. We all love to casually hang around the goal ripping balls as hard as we can at our leisure, but that doesn't often/ever actually happen in a game. It is the dodge-to-shot that Kyle tore defence apart on on his way to the 2005 NCAA Championship, and in looking at the way he does it....he's done it a million times.
TopJLax would like to thank Kyle for taking the time to hang out and answer our questions. It's great to have such a big name on the site so we look forward to catching up with him again later down the line. Talking to a guy like this really gets you pumped up for the sport we all love. He's dedicated to progressing the game as far as it will go; in youth, in popularity, in recognition, in everything, and along the way he is staying 100% true to lax's first commandment: be cool and have fun. Well thank you Kyle and as for me, i'm going down South London to go play some lacrosse. Laterz.
