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Holding a double-degree in Business Marketing/Sport & Recreation Management gives an insight into the passion and knowledge that Mark holds for sport and recreation. To compliment his studies, Mark currently works in numerous roles within profession sport both during the week and on weekends. Mark was also heard from time to time on Western Australian radio, providing an expert insight into various sporting issues currently being discussed in the media.
On a personal note, Mark is heavily involved within his local sporting community, in particular with his basketball and indoor netball commitments.
As well as being the co-owner/manager with Daniel (DJC), Mark’s main areas of interest when it comes to writing are AFL, Cricket and Basketball, however as can be seen he will write on any sport and every sport! He is also responsible for keeping everyone as up to date as possible using the Pen and Paper Sports Facebook page.
Melbourne Tigers star Cam Tragardh has been good enough to return to Pen & Paper Sports for another interview and to give us a little more insight into his season so far. In my opinion his season is looking pretty damn good, he is leading the league in scoring after all and looks almost impossible to stop on the offensive end! Anyway, on with the questions -
1) Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way first! Unfortunately couldn’t get the W against the Breakers on Sunday, which end of the floor let us down?
I think both ends let us down a bit... Certainly giving up 50 points in the 2nd half is far too many but a big part of that was the pressure we put on ourselves with poor offensive execution.
2) From where I was sitting in the stands it looked like on the defensive end Cedric Jackson was getting into the lanes far too easily, on the offensive end it was looking good until the final period when there seemed to be a lid on the basket. Sound about right?
Yeah a few shots didn't drop for us in the 4th which hurt and Cedric Jackson was certainly running riot. He's a hell of a player.
3) Gold Coast Blaze are making the trip down here next Sunday, how do you personally prepare for them? You’ll be seeing a fair bit of Will Hudson, Mark Worthington and Anthony Petrie I’d imagine, so do you concentrate on them or on plays they might run?
They are such a deep team you really can't focus on 1 or 2 guys. They have so many weapons, it's gonna be a great battle.
4) How will the team as a whole prepare?
We must prepare for an up tempo, physical type of game. They love to play like that.
5) Turn the spotlight on you now! After a fairly quiet time last season you’re back to your best in the scoring department, leading the league in scoring. What’s changed this year for you?
I was disappointed last season so I made sure I had a huge offseason in the gym so I could be physically ready for the league this year. I just enjoy playing in our system and knowing your coach has confidence in you is huge as well.
6) You have so many different moves to go to when you’re around the basket, I’m sitting in the stands thinking it is almost impossible to stop you from scoring, how do you think the opponents are feeling?
There's no real secret to my game, I never go into a game planning to do any moves, my game is always what the defence gives me. If they back off I shoot if they get close I attack.
7) What about rebounding, as the main big on the team it’s expected for you to be a great presence on the boards. Do you feel your living up to those expectations?
Yeah I think so, you can always be better but I'm really a 4 man playing centre while Matty has been hurt. Giving up plenty of height and size to a lot of guys week in week out is tough so I'd say to be floating around the top 10 is a fair effort but I'm always trying to improve.
8) You’ve been around the league long enough now to have seen some of the good and bad times, can you pick one highlight and one lowlight for your career so far?
I'd say winning game 2 of the 2010 GF in front of a sell-out home crowd in the Gong would be the highlight, then losing the deciding game 3 a few days later the lowlight. But I'm still proud if our effort that year.
9) Which club have you learnt the most at, or which one has so far been the best for your career?
Going to Wollongong and getting a chance to play and get experience was huge. I learnt a lot from Gordie about being a complete player and a good teammate. In saying that I am also learning a lot from Trev here at the Tigers, little things that have helped me become a smarter player.
10) How far can you go this season, I’ve got no doubt that you will be in All-NBL First team but is this the year you get more?
Who knows mate, I'm just going to try and contribute every night to help the team and I'll let the rest take care of itself.
11) How do you see the remainder of the season playing out both for the Tigers and for yourself?
I see us getting better as a team and giving the league a real shake up. For me if I can keep making shots it'll make the defence make adjustments and free up some of my teammates so if they double team me and my numbers go down it doesn't matter as long as we win! I've been round the game long enough now to know it's all about getting wins, not stats. Then we all look good!
Another big thanks to Cam Tragardh and the Melbourne Tigers for allowing us to go ahead with this once again. It is greatly appreciated!
The Tigers take on the Gold Coast Blaze this Sunday at the "Cage" at 7.30pm, head on down there for what is promising to be a fast-paced and high scoring game!
For more information on the NBL or the Melbourne Tigers please head to the following websites -
www.nbl.com.au
www.tigers.com.au
MV
Image courtesy Jesse Drever, Melbourne Tigers
