Tricksters and lacrosse

He used to sleep with his lacrosse stick

08.10.2008 source: Plus 7 dní

With Eric Assimakopolus has a lot of things he love – mostly women and ice hokey. But this handsome Greek has one sport weakness. It is lacrosse, the fastest sport on two feet. For lacrosse he got Slovak citizenship. He did it so he could play for Slovak national team, despise being from abroad. ,,Lacrosse was the first sport I ever played. Back then I was 5 years old. I continued to play for my elementary school, where lacrosse and ice hockey were very important,” says known businessman. While studying at New Hamspire he was a part of lacrosse team that was high school state champion. Eric was also one of the hundred best lacrosse players. During that time he was one of the older players. During that time lacrosse was getting popular and games had about thousand spectators on a regular basis. ,,I like physical sports, and lacrosse sure is physical. It is similar to ice hockey. You have net, and you can pass behind it and in front of it. Everything is very fast, and that is exciting. I broke a lot bones – shoulder, knee, wrist even backbone. All this happened while playing lacrosse. I am not sure myself, why I like it so much,” says owner of luxurious hotels while laughing. First practice: How E.Assimakopolus became part of Slovak lacrosse team? ,,Slovak lacrosse federation contacted me about three years ago. I clearly remember my first practice in Tricksters lacrosse team. They didn’t have much of a experience, but they practiced with passion. But then it started to rain, and everybody started packing their things. I yelled at them ,,What are you doing? It doesn’t matter if it rains, you still have to play.” At the end everybody stayed at the practice. At the end of it, everybody was wet, but satisfied. Greek-American millionaire started to practice with guys on regular basis. From time to time he had a lot of work or injury. In any case, he was a great help for Slovak lacrosse team. ,,In Slovakia is main sport hockey, so I wanted to help develop lacrosse,” he says. He is preparing a book: Thanks to his experience he is coach advisor, he is even preparing How to play lacrosse book. ,,I have a good feeling, when I see people that love this sport as much as I do. When I was a child, I used to sleep with mine lacrosse stick. I used to take it everywhere with me and when I had an opportunity, I would do wall-ball,” says Eric. When it comes to financial aid, he didn’t just promised. He donated ten thousand Euros to Slovak lacrosse representation. ,,And besides that, team Tricksters lacrosse team is trying to have its own field, which is very difficult to achieve,” says manager of Slovak lacrosse federation, Pavol Kopernicky. Greek-American for Slovakia: Slovak lacrosse national team had very important event this summer – they attended European championship for the first time. Of course, they wanted to use Eric and his experience and that is why they asked him to be part of national team. Eric changed his permanent address to Slovakia, but he still isn’t citizen of Slovakia. Even against that, he put on Slovak national jersey and fought for our colors. ,,Official rules say, that in national team foreigners can’t play, which don’t have ancestors from country they want to represent. Referees in Finland gave us an exception. Help from USA or Canada is taken as little help to develop lacrosse in some countries. So they will shut one eye and let it go without problems. ,,Of course, if half of Slovak national team was Americans, they wouldn’t let us play,” explains P. Kopernicky. ,,When they asked me for help, I called my childhood friend from Boston. I told him that I am going to European championship as a part of Slovakian national team. He tried to put together Greek National lacrosse team, but he couldn’t, so he was jealous a little,” admits businessman. Eric was with his performance pleased. ,,I played for Slovakia four games and I had 12 points for goals and passes. Sure, it could went better, but this was for the first time that I played on international level.” Attackman with instinct: Because lacrosse, as many other sports, requires good cardio, higher age, overweight or not enough practice can be disadvantages in games. How is it in case of 38-years old chubby E. Assimakopolus? ,,Lacrosse player must have many skills. As far as stick-skills goes, I feel very comfortable with that. I am not the fasters of strongest as mine younger teammates. But when I use my knowledge and experience, I can play with this guys. I can do tricks and fakes, that will make my game easier. Big part of lacrosse is in knowing what is happening on the field. Everything is very fast. I am glad that I am attack-man, because I run less than midfielders,” he explains. Attractive for girls?: At the moment, E. Assimakopolus has dedicated his home for lacrosse. ,,While I wasn’t playing, gear and sticks had changed. I bought my last lacrosse stick 16 years ago. I had to find newer model and find out which one is best for me. Now I have ten of them,” he admits. He also has full gears, where one costs about thousands of dollars. This idol of gold diggers had 11 operations and has twenty-seven screws in his body. He is certain, that lacrosse cam be attractive for girls. ,,My mom used to watch our games, and she loved it. Boys that do sports are strong, have endurance, so they are attractive for girls,” he thinks. On question how girls react on this sport he just says: ,,I don’t think, that girl I know would come watch me play. I hadn’t even bought them to practice or game.” Invented by native Americans: Lacrosse has its roots on east coast of US. For native Americans it was trial for young warriors and also they thought it had healing powers. For similarities with old French stick game it was called “La crosse”. First official rules were written at 1850 and after that native and non-native teams started to spread this game to other continents. At the end of 19. Century lacrosse was in England, New Zeland but mostly on college cities all across east coast of US. First Slovakian lacrosse team, Tricksters Bratislava, was found in 2003. His founders were brothers Thomas and Mark Lichtner. Lacrosse started with humble roots with minimum gear, throwing wall-ball and slowly getting some experience in Danube lacrosse conference. Founders of Danube lacrosse conference were Tricksters Bratislava and Wiena Monarchs. At August this year was new-founded Slovak lacrosse federation attending European championship in Lahti, Finland. They ended on 12th place from 18 teams. Lacrosse is team sport. It is played on grass on turf field. Most common, field lacrosse is being played by ten players – 3 defense players, 3 midfileders, 3 attackmen and 1 goalie. Basic rules are simple. You have two teams, and your team is trying to score more goals than your opponent with special lacrosse stick. It’s made of aluminum or titanium with plastic frame and small net on the end. Lacrosse is physical sport, players can tackle while defending or attacking. That is why they need to wear protective gear which protects them from injuries. If players makes penalty they cannot play for certain amount of time.

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