08-08-2020, 12:15 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-11-2020, 08:49 AM by Fordhammer.)
Following the night of the highly anticipated DSFL draft, I thought I would reach out to the player I'd been covering from the very beginning. I sat down over Zoom with brand-new middle linebacker for the Minnesota Grey Ducks, Wasrabi Gleel, to ask him a few questions about being drafted and what it means to be taken by the Grey Ducks in the 8th round.
PAM:
"Alright, there he his! Hello, Wasrabi, it's great to see you again, and thank you for agreeing to meet with us today to talk about your draft-day experience. I'm sure you and your family must be extremely proud!"
His mouth began moving, but there was no audio.
PAM:
"Y-you're. Wasrabi, Wasrabi, hold on, I think you're muted!"
He mouthed a few voiceless words as he began tinkering with the keyboard in front of him. After about ten seconds, his familiar baritone came through the headset.
WASRABI:
"--ing son of a--Hello? Hello?
PAM:
"There you are! That's better!
WASRABI:
"That's better? Good. I just got this laptop, man, and I have no idea what I'm doing. Anyways, yes! Hello again, Pam! Yeah, yesterday all my family came out to watch the draft, and I honestly couldn't be happier with Minnesota, y'know. They were the team that really reached out to me during this whole process, and I really felt like I connected with the people I was talking to. They were my low-key favorite, for sure."
PAM:
"The feeling certainly seems to be mutual, as word came down from the Ducks front office that you were among their top three linebackers on their draft board. They consider you a hell of a steal. How do you feel about where you were taken in the draft? You were the 58th overall pick, an eighth round pick."
WASRABI:
"Tsssss. . . I mean, we're all competitors, right? I think every player in the draft was hoping to be the first overall pick, that's just the swagger that comes with being a great football player. But at the same time, this draft pool has got to be the most talented group of football players I've ever been around, so there's no shame in watching great players get taken off the board before you. My job now is simple: Make all those other GM's look stupid."
PAM:
"Well, your certainly going to have a great mentor to help you along the way. Alejandro Chainbreaker was the Linebacker of the Year last year, and anyone who watches his game film has to be impressed with his high motor and understanding of the game What are you most looking forward to learning from Chainbreaker?"
WASRABI:
"I think I have a lot to learn in terms of what is needed to compete at the next level. Obviously there is a lot of technique and training tips to over, but really I'm looking forward to learning how to be a great teammate and a consummate professional. I'm going to forge my own path, after all I can't model my game after anyone else. I gotta be me! But I think that I'll be able to grow into a very strong complimentary player to the skills he brings. But let's not forget a guy by the name of Gib McGlib! My Landshark Linebacker brother! I've seen what he can do on the field and I gotta say, if I was a steal in the eighth then getting Gib as late as they did was downright robbery."
PAM:
"Speaking of the Tiburon Landsharks, we obviously know they stumbled their way out of the Prospect Bowl playoffs, but all things considered, the Landsharks were among one of the strongest teams in the Prospect Bowl. You must be excited to re-join some of your former teammates in Minnesota."
WASRABI:
"Oh, hell yeah! Big shout-outs to all my Landsharks! Our locker-room was really tight and I'm looking forward to hanging out with those cats again."
PAM:
"Now is it too early to begin speculating on how you think you'll do this season? Should we revisit this question after the preseason is over?"
WASRABI:
"Man, I just gotta stay humble. The DSFL has some players that can do stuff I've never seen before. I'm no longer the fastest, the strongest, the most experienced, or any of that. Until I pay some dues, I hesitate to make any grandiose predictions on my performance. What I can promise is that I'm going to be working my ass off to get better and compete in this league. In my life, I've always felt like the big fish leaving a small pond. I left my high school as a superstar, then got to Dartmouth and had to earn my starting spot. I'm approaching the DSFL the same way. Just gonna keep my nose clean and work my butt off until everyone knows my name."
PAM:
"So what happens next for you? Have you packed your things? Are you looking forward to Minnesota?"
WASRABI:
"Oh yeah, I got my flight booked tomorrow to head out there. To be honest, I don't know anything about Minnesota. I hear it's cold, but I'm used to that being from the Northeast. I'm looking forward to setting down some roots there and seeing what the community is like."
PAM:
"That's great. I think we have time for one more question: There is a lot to look forward to this upcoming DSFL season, but one thing I know that motivates you is competition. Is there anyone in this league right now that you are looking forward to competing against?"
WASRABI:
"That's a great question. Let me think: . . . Felix. My guy Felix Archstone, former Landshark. I respect the hell out of his game and I feel like I held back a bit in practice. I'd like to get a chance to go up against him when the Grey Ducks visit the Kansas City Coyotes. Also, he's a fantastic barber. He's actually the one who cut my hair last. Check the fade!"
Wasrabi turned his head to the side, revealing an immaculately sculpted fade.
WASRABI:
"Anyways, he's a friend of mine, but when the first whistle blows I am going to do everything I can to beat him like a drum. It wont be easy, believe me!"
PAM:
"Very good, me and the rest of the league are going to await those games with bated breath. Alright, Wasrabi, it's been wonderful hearing from you and congratulations again on being drafted! We'll be watching your career with great interest."
WASRABI:
"Thanks again, Pam. Can't wait for the season to start. Y'all just remember: When you hear the quack, he comes the sack, baby! WOOOO!"
((1110 Words))
PAM:
"Alright, there he his! Hello, Wasrabi, it's great to see you again, and thank you for agreeing to meet with us today to talk about your draft-day experience. I'm sure you and your family must be extremely proud!"
His mouth began moving, but there was no audio.
PAM:
"Y-you're. Wasrabi, Wasrabi, hold on, I think you're muted!"
He mouthed a few voiceless words as he began tinkering with the keyboard in front of him. After about ten seconds, his familiar baritone came through the headset.
WASRABI:
"--ing son of a--Hello? Hello?
PAM:
"There you are! That's better!
WASRABI:
"That's better? Good. I just got this laptop, man, and I have no idea what I'm doing. Anyways, yes! Hello again, Pam! Yeah, yesterday all my family came out to watch the draft, and I honestly couldn't be happier with Minnesota, y'know. They were the team that really reached out to me during this whole process, and I really felt like I connected with the people I was talking to. They were my low-key favorite, for sure."
PAM:
"The feeling certainly seems to be mutual, as word came down from the Ducks front office that you were among their top three linebackers on their draft board. They consider you a hell of a steal. How do you feel about where you were taken in the draft? You were the 58th overall pick, an eighth round pick."
WASRABI:
"Tsssss. . . I mean, we're all competitors, right? I think every player in the draft was hoping to be the first overall pick, that's just the swagger that comes with being a great football player. But at the same time, this draft pool has got to be the most talented group of football players I've ever been around, so there's no shame in watching great players get taken off the board before you. My job now is simple: Make all those other GM's look stupid."
PAM:
"Well, your certainly going to have a great mentor to help you along the way. Alejandro Chainbreaker was the Linebacker of the Year last year, and anyone who watches his game film has to be impressed with his high motor and understanding of the game What are you most looking forward to learning from Chainbreaker?"
WASRABI:
"I think I have a lot to learn in terms of what is needed to compete at the next level. Obviously there is a lot of technique and training tips to over, but really I'm looking forward to learning how to be a great teammate and a consummate professional. I'm going to forge my own path, after all I can't model my game after anyone else. I gotta be me! But I think that I'll be able to grow into a very strong complimentary player to the skills he brings. But let's not forget a guy by the name of Gib McGlib! My Landshark Linebacker brother! I've seen what he can do on the field and I gotta say, if I was a steal in the eighth then getting Gib as late as they did was downright robbery."
PAM:
"Speaking of the Tiburon Landsharks, we obviously know they stumbled their way out of the Prospect Bowl playoffs, but all things considered, the Landsharks were among one of the strongest teams in the Prospect Bowl. You must be excited to re-join some of your former teammates in Minnesota."
WASRABI:
"Oh, hell yeah! Big shout-outs to all my Landsharks! Our locker-room was really tight and I'm looking forward to hanging out with those cats again."
PAM:
"Now is it too early to begin speculating on how you think you'll do this season? Should we revisit this question after the preseason is over?"
WASRABI:
"Man, I just gotta stay humble. The DSFL has some players that can do stuff I've never seen before. I'm no longer the fastest, the strongest, the most experienced, or any of that. Until I pay some dues, I hesitate to make any grandiose predictions on my performance. What I can promise is that I'm going to be working my ass off to get better and compete in this league. In my life, I've always felt like the big fish leaving a small pond. I left my high school as a superstar, then got to Dartmouth and had to earn my starting spot. I'm approaching the DSFL the same way. Just gonna keep my nose clean and work my butt off until everyone knows my name."
PAM:
"So what happens next for you? Have you packed your things? Are you looking forward to Minnesota?"
WASRABI:
"Oh yeah, I got my flight booked tomorrow to head out there. To be honest, I don't know anything about Minnesota. I hear it's cold, but I'm used to that being from the Northeast. I'm looking forward to setting down some roots there and seeing what the community is like."
PAM:
"That's great. I think we have time for one more question: There is a lot to look forward to this upcoming DSFL season, but one thing I know that motivates you is competition. Is there anyone in this league right now that you are looking forward to competing against?"
WASRABI:
"That's a great question. Let me think: . . . Felix. My guy Felix Archstone, former Landshark. I respect the hell out of his game and I feel like I held back a bit in practice. I'd like to get a chance to go up against him when the Grey Ducks visit the Kansas City Coyotes. Also, he's a fantastic barber. He's actually the one who cut my hair last. Check the fade!"
Wasrabi turned his head to the side, revealing an immaculately sculpted fade.
WASRABI:
"Anyways, he's a friend of mine, but when the first whistle blows I am going to do everything I can to beat him like a drum. It wont be easy, believe me!"
PAM:
"Very good, me and the rest of the league are going to await those games with bated breath. Alright, Wasrabi, it's been wonderful hearing from you and congratulations again on being drafted! We'll be watching your career with great interest."
WASRABI:
"Thanks again, Pam. Can't wait for the season to start. Y'all just remember: When you hear the quack, he comes the sack, baby! WOOOO!"
((1110 Words))