05-07-2023, 02:08 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-08-2023, 10:53 AM by xenosthelegend. Edited 1 time in total.)
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
What's up Hank the Tank! I appreciate you for giving me the time to ask you a few questions. In this interview, I will ask you a couple of questions so I and people can get to know you better, including ISFL GMs! Let's begin with describing your experience with Minnesota from Scouting/Draft Day to today as we speak?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
Thanks for reaching out Ajax! I really liked your interview with Josh so I am happy to have the same opportunity. It was Lt. Hudz who reached out to me from Minnesota. It started off like a lot of the other conversations I had during scouting but Hudz gave me a lot of info about the Ducks and the current state of their roster. He even went as far as giving me some tips on media articles and the best way to do my pre draft presser. Looking back it was actually the longest conversation I had with any scout, though at the time I was convinced I was going to get drafted by Portland. Based on some research I had done it seemed like Minnesota had plenty of TEs on their roster, but since then 3 of them fell of for IA so I got slotted in as TE#2.
To touch on Draft Day, like I said I thought for sure I was going to Portland, so when Minnesota took me as 3rd over all I was blind sided. Minnesota wasn't on my radar and I definitely didn't expect to get picked so early. I've mentioned it on my podcast but my wife took a video of me bouncing around like a little kid after they said my name.
Since that day what can I say Minnesota has been a great place to call home. Our GMs are some of the best in the business we have the best w!honks in the discord and the gameday energy is insane. I am excited to start helping out with the sim testing if I can figure it out. In the meantime I try to do my best to help build up the LR energy, as the Offensive Team Captain its my job to make sure everyone is properly hype to smackdown whatever DSFL team we are playing.
We just wrapped up weeks 6 and 7, which we unfortunately lost but a lot of our losses seem to be at our hands (read sims hands) a handful of crucial turnovers on our own 20 yard line setting up our opponents to score some free points. As TE#2 I have managed to rack up some yards and even a couple TDs. I am trying to max earn so that I can be the best player for my team and have a large impact. Currently sitting at 205 TPE
I think I am somewhere in the top 10, if not top 15 S42 rookies.
We have half a season still to go and I am expecting big things from us!
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
I agree and you have made an impact even as the #2 TE on your roster! Thinking you are going somewhere and then not is what the draft is all about! 205 TPE is definitely one of the best in the league and you are well deserving of Offensive Team Captain with your ecstatic energy! I have only I thing to say, sim gonna sim am I right? How do you think your career will play out in the DSFL, do you want to stay down another year or go to the ISFL straight away?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
Sim gonna sim, from back to back turnovers to ridiculous consecutive penalties the sim will put you in your place one way or another. When I made my decision about joining the league I told myself it was more about being a team player than standing out as an individual. Don't get me wrong I would love to win some award for best Tight End or whatever, but really I am here to win an Ultimini/Ultimus championship with my team. If that means I need to stick around in the DSFL for another season or two I happy to. But if the ISFL team that drafts me needs me right away I'd be willing to step up to the plate.
I would like to help lead Minnesota to at least the playoffs if not further in my time with them. Because like I said I have really enjoyed the team so far, it has such a great LR culture and everyone there has a winning mentality. We had a couple bad burns this season. Mostly our trade for DL14, a capped WR, who 3 days later decided to retire his player. But we are still a good team with a positive outlook on the future. As it stands I don't think we are going to be affected too heavily by call ups, fingers crossed, so if not this year hopefully we can be a top contender next season.
I'd like to add that even if I am called up right away, I am hoping I can still help out the Ducks in some sort of supporting role, like by helping to scout players. Once a Duck always a Duck.
Looking forward I have some thoughts on where I think I will be drafted in the ISFL, but given my experience form DSFL draft night anything can happen!
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
Awesome and yes the draft is an unpredictable thing! Great to hear the LR experience is doing well! One thing I ask my interviewee’s is their pre-game routine. Would you mind telling us about yours?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
Before each game I like to take a nice lotion and lather up my hands. Dino Nuggets doesnt call Soft Hands Hank for no reason. Though weeks 3 and 4 I must not have really rubbed it in as every pass just slipped right out of my grasp. Outside of that I like to share funny images of ducks in the locker room to get everyone hyped up.
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
We all have our off games and that sounds fun! Okay I'm going to mix it up, if you were a poptart which flavor would you be and why?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
Really putting me on the hot seat here huh. Well I grew up exclusively eating blueberry poptarts. Weirdly controversial, I never liked putting them in the toaster. So if I had to pick one to be I would go with blueberry, the perfect balance so sweet and tart
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
That's a great flavor and I didn't toast em either. I don't know who does. Okay, what about favorite flavor of ice cream?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
Ok good, I knew I wasn't the only one who eats them untoasted. To answer your question, 100% cookies and cream and its not close.
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
Cookies and cream is pretty good but I am a die hard chocolate fan.
Anyone you want to thank in your experience so far?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
There are so many people who have made my short time with the ISFL such an enjoyable experience.
To start I'd like to thank all the rookie mentors who got barraged by my questions when I first joined the league. Whenever I reached out in the help channel they spent their time making sure I fully understood what I was doing.
I'd also like to thank all the guys at the head of Minnesota who opened up their team and locker room to me. Hudz, DinDog, TwoSocks have all been great at being team leaders and making sure everyone is having a great time.
I'd like to thank my fellow s42 rookies who have been so friendly and hilarious. Josh Patterson, Swoosh aka Dino Nuggets and my irl friend DangWookie
Last but not least Id like thank you for reaching out and putting this together
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
The mentors are some rad people and those are some great names including the very least one haha! One more thing before we finish up and you can ask me questions if you have any. Do you have anything to say to the ISFL GMs?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
To any of the ISFL GMs reading I just eant to let you know that Hank is a grinder and he is in it for the long haul. I look forward to talking to all of you during scouting and getting to know everyone.
Ajax, do you have any words of advice for a sim league newbie like myself?
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
1. Tpe wise, do every task. I don't care it's for 1 tpe or 20 it absolutely adds up in the long term.
2. Always support your teammates and fellow players. With the exception of some slight teasing Haha
3. Always appreciate any staff and GM. They put a lot of work in for this league
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
Definitely some great advice! When it comes to tpe im trying to gobble up as much as I can. Unfortunately weekly picks are living up to expectation lol. Alao want to give a shoutout to everyone who makes the league possible, all the behind the scenes guys in the HO, the graders, updaters and everyone else. You guys are great!
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
Well said! Well readers this has been the VanCast hosted by your very own LVN. If you are interested in getting your name out there in an interview hit me up on Discord it's Ajax#3214. Hope to see you next time on the VanCast!
Doc says 1616 but this says 1560ish
What's up Hank the Tank! I appreciate you for giving me the time to ask you a few questions. In this interview, I will ask you a couple of questions so I and people can get to know you better, including ISFL GMs! Let's begin with describing your experience with Minnesota from Scouting/Draft Day to today as we speak?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
Thanks for reaching out Ajax! I really liked your interview with Josh so I am happy to have the same opportunity. It was Lt. Hudz who reached out to me from Minnesota. It started off like a lot of the other conversations I had during scouting but Hudz gave me a lot of info about the Ducks and the current state of their roster. He even went as far as giving me some tips on media articles and the best way to do my pre draft presser. Looking back it was actually the longest conversation I had with any scout, though at the time I was convinced I was going to get drafted by Portland. Based on some research I had done it seemed like Minnesota had plenty of TEs on their roster, but since then 3 of them fell of for IA so I got slotted in as TE#2.
To touch on Draft Day, like I said I thought for sure I was going to Portland, so when Minnesota took me as 3rd over all I was blind sided. Minnesota wasn't on my radar and I definitely didn't expect to get picked so early. I've mentioned it on my podcast but my wife took a video of me bouncing around like a little kid after they said my name.
Since that day what can I say Minnesota has been a great place to call home. Our GMs are some of the best in the business we have the best w!honks in the discord and the gameday energy is insane. I am excited to start helping out with the sim testing if I can figure it out. In the meantime I try to do my best to help build up the LR energy, as the Offensive Team Captain its my job to make sure everyone is properly hype to smackdown whatever DSFL team we are playing.
We just wrapped up weeks 6 and 7, which we unfortunately lost but a lot of our losses seem to be at our hands (read sims hands) a handful of crucial turnovers on our own 20 yard line setting up our opponents to score some free points. As TE#2 I have managed to rack up some yards and even a couple TDs. I am trying to max earn so that I can be the best player for my team and have a large impact. Currently sitting at 205 TPE
I think I am somewhere in the top 10, if not top 15 S42 rookies.
We have half a season still to go and I am expecting big things from us!
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
I agree and you have made an impact even as the #2 TE on your roster! Thinking you are going somewhere and then not is what the draft is all about! 205 TPE is definitely one of the best in the league and you are well deserving of Offensive Team Captain with your ecstatic energy! I have only I thing to say, sim gonna sim am I right? How do you think your career will play out in the DSFL, do you want to stay down another year or go to the ISFL straight away?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
Sim gonna sim, from back to back turnovers to ridiculous consecutive penalties the sim will put you in your place one way or another. When I made my decision about joining the league I told myself it was more about being a team player than standing out as an individual. Don't get me wrong I would love to win some award for best Tight End or whatever, but really I am here to win an Ultimini/Ultimus championship with my team. If that means I need to stick around in the DSFL for another season or two I happy to. But if the ISFL team that drafts me needs me right away I'd be willing to step up to the plate.
I would like to help lead Minnesota to at least the playoffs if not further in my time with them. Because like I said I have really enjoyed the team so far, it has such a great LR culture and everyone there has a winning mentality. We had a couple bad burns this season. Mostly our trade for DL14, a capped WR, who 3 days later decided to retire his player. But we are still a good team with a positive outlook on the future. As it stands I don't think we are going to be affected too heavily by call ups, fingers crossed, so if not this year hopefully we can be a top contender next season.
I'd like to add that even if I am called up right away, I am hoping I can still help out the Ducks in some sort of supporting role, like by helping to scout players. Once a Duck always a Duck.
Looking forward I have some thoughts on where I think I will be drafted in the ISFL, but given my experience form DSFL draft night anything can happen!
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
Awesome and yes the draft is an unpredictable thing! Great to hear the LR experience is doing well! One thing I ask my interviewee’s is their pre-game routine. Would you mind telling us about yours?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
Before each game I like to take a nice lotion and lather up my hands. Dino Nuggets doesnt call Soft Hands Hank for no reason. Though weeks 3 and 4 I must not have really rubbed it in as every pass just slipped right out of my grasp. Outside of that I like to share funny images of ducks in the locker room to get everyone hyped up.
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
We all have our off games and that sounds fun! Okay I'm going to mix it up, if you were a poptart which flavor would you be and why?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
Really putting me on the hot seat here huh. Well I grew up exclusively eating blueberry poptarts. Weirdly controversial, I never liked putting them in the toaster. So if I had to pick one to be I would go with blueberry, the perfect balance so sweet and tart
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
That's a great flavor and I didn't toast em either. I don't know who does. Okay, what about favorite flavor of ice cream?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
Ok good, I knew I wasn't the only one who eats them untoasted. To answer your question, 100% cookies and cream and its not close.
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
Cookies and cream is pretty good but I am a die hard chocolate fan.
Anyone you want to thank in your experience so far?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
There are so many people who have made my short time with the ISFL such an enjoyable experience.
To start I'd like to thank all the rookie mentors who got barraged by my questions when I first joined the league. Whenever I reached out in the help channel they spent their time making sure I fully understood what I was doing.
I'd also like to thank all the guys at the head of Minnesota who opened up their team and locker room to me. Hudz, DinDog, TwoSocks have all been great at being team leaders and making sure everyone is having a great time.
I'd like to thank my fellow s42 rookies who have been so friendly and hilarious. Josh Patterson, Swoosh aka Dino Nuggets and my irl friend DangWookie
Last but not least Id like thank you for reaching out and putting this together
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
The mentors are some rad people and those are some great names including the very least one haha! One more thing before we finish up and you can ask me questions if you have any. Do you have anything to say to the ISFL GMs?
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
To any of the ISFL GMs reading I just eant to let you know that Hank is a grinder and he is in it for the long haul. I look forward to talking to all of you during scouting and getting to know everyone.
Ajax, do you have any words of advice for a sim league newbie like myself?
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
1. Tpe wise, do every task. I don't care it's for 1 tpe or 20 it absolutely adds up in the long term.
2. Always support your teammates and fellow players. With the exception of some slight teasing Haha
3. Always appreciate any staff and GM. They put a lot of work in for this league
Hank Mardukas-MINN-TE
Definitely some great advice! When it comes to tpe im trying to gobble up as much as I can. Unfortunately weekly picks are living up to expectation lol. Alao want to give a shoutout to everyone who makes the league possible, all the behind the scenes guys in the HO, the graders, updaters and everyone else. You guys are great!
(Host)Lukas Van Ness-NOLA-LB
Well said! Well readers this has been the VanCast hosted by your very own LVN. If you are interested in getting your name out there in an interview hit me up on Discord it's Ajax#3214. Hope to see you next time on the VanCast!
Doc says 1616 but this says 1560ish