The acclaimed documentary film, "Murderball" is about the triumphs and tribulations of the USA's quad-rugby team, and their road to the Athens Paralympics from last year. I interviewed two of the costars and players on Team USA, Scott Hogsett (SH), an ASU alum and Andy Cohn (AC), an Arizona native.
The State Press: How does it feel to be one of the few Olympians who are also ASU alumni?
Scott Hogsett:
SP: What kind of training goes into becoming a Murderball Olympian?
SH: For about four years I trained four to five hours. Pushing my wheel chair, practicing and doing scrimmages, weight lifting and swimming. We were training all over in different facilities. We lived together as a team. We had sessions of non stop Murderball.
SP: Do you play Murderball in Arizona?
SH: I play for the Phoenix Heat. Right now, I'm on a break, taking a few months off to get the fire back in me. I still work out everyday though.
SP: When is Murderball season?
SH: It's from November through April. We play mainly in the Mountain West Region, but travel all over the US. We play teams in Denver, San Antonio and Tucson. There are about 40 teams. The objective is to win the National Championship which is like the Super Bowl.
SP: How is the rugby team here in Phoenix?
SH: Phoenix has a good program. Top five for six or seven years.
SP: When you went to ASU, did you ever practice there?
SH: We practiced at their recreation center, but now we practice in Mesa.
SP: I've had classes at ASU where the lecturer talks about all of the facilities to make quadriplegics do everything that everybody else does; do you feel she was telling the truth?
SH: We call ASU quad heaven. It's so easy for people to get around. They cater to people with disabilities.
SP: How did you get involved with Murderball?
SH: I started playing after I was injured in '92, and had to endure six months of physical therapy. I was introduced to it back in Spokane, Washington, where I am from. They (the doctors) said to me that I should wait a year because of fears about my neck, but I just wanted to play.
SP: What position do you play?
SH: I'm a picker. I block like a full back. There's not a lot of glory. My chair is built a specific way. I do the grunt work but it's worth it in the long run.
Andy Cohn: I'm more of a ball handler.
SP: You did some volunteer work for the wounded American soldiers; can you describe how that felt?
AC: It wasn't any different for us because we're used to it. I do a lot of volunteering at St. Joseph's Hospital [in downtown Phoenix] too. You see so many people that are so young. Once you learn the ropes, you want to go back and help.
SP: Is the USA team close?
AC: Yes. When training for Athens, we lived together in training centers in Alabama for a month. We thought we were going to be sick of one another, but it ended up being the exact opposite.
SP: Now that you're in a wheel chair, is it true that you meet more women?
AC: Yes, we meet more women, because we get more attention. Some people look at us in different ways.
SP: What is the difference between the Paralympics and the Special Olympics?
AC: The Special Olympics occur every year and cater more for the mentally challenged. The Paralympics occur every four years just like the regular Olympics except that we are physically handicapped.
Reach the reporter at monis.rose@asu.edu.
