Over the next few days, I will be interviewing a few of Bleacher Reports’ top NHL writers, both about hockey, and simply about themselves. I feel that it will give everyone a chance to get to know these writers better.
Eric Kuzmiak is a 20-year old who attends Pitt-Johnstown (a branch of UPitt), and is majoring in environmental science. When I told an anonymous BR member that I was going to interview Eric, a Penguins’ fan, for an article, he responded by saying, “Well, you can’t spell dumbass without BASS.” Thanks.
Alan: How were you first introduced to hockey, and when?
Eric: “Well, my dad was always a pretty big Penguins fan. He had never been to a game growing up, but after I was born he introduced me to the game and I developed, well, an obsession. He took me to my first game when I was 5 and the rest is history.
I don't specifically remember watching the first Cup, but the 2nd one I do remember. We have both series' on tape so I do remember watching them in the following years.”
A: Do you remember your first reactions when you were at that first game?
E: “I was overly excited, to say the least, after my first game. I kept asking my dad when we could go again. Growing up, my bedroom was (and still is) littered with Pens memorabilia and I can remember playing the early NHL video games on SEGA for hours at a time”
A: When was your first game?
E: “It would have had to have been the 92-93 season and it was against the Devils.”
A: Have you ever had any other favorite teams other than the Penguins? Or have you ever rooted for anyone other than the Pens?
E: “Yes. I love the Philadelphia Flyers”…Okay, I fudged that quote. The real answer was, “Nope. Never will.”
A: Who are your favorite NHL players?
E: “Growing up I was a huge fan of Mario [Lemieux], as if you didn't see that coming, but I also liked [Martin] Straka and [Alexei] Kovalev during their days with the Pens. Larry Murphy, Joe Mullen, Kevin Stevens were also up there on my list.
As far as today, I am the only person I know who owns an Erik Christensen jersey, but since his departure at the deadline, I took a liking to Malkin. I'm a fan of Gonchar, Orpik, Talbot, Fleury, and of course Sid (when he's not talking to the officials).”
A: So you agree that Sid whines sometimes?
E: “Yeah I do. I am not going to act like it doesn’t happen just because I’m a Pens’ fan. I'm not sure if it's exactly whining, or just him constantly expressing that he disagrees with the calls. I think he showed some more maturity this past season as opposed to his first two, but he still has a ways to go.”
A: Do you play hockey?
E: “I played roller hockey for 7 years, and only played ice hockey my senior year of high school. My buddies and I usually try to get a pickup game together when everyone is in town, which seems like isn’t very often anymore.”
A: At the time, did you agree with the Hossa trade, and what about now?
E: “You know, at the time I was kind of against it. It seemed like the team was meshing pretty well, everyone was starting to get healthy. Then the news broke and I was a little shocked. I'll agree that the trade definitely benefited the Pens-- I look at it as they traded Colby, Christensen's potential, and an uncertain youngster for one of the best wingers in the game.
Now that the season's over, and Hossa has gone all Benedict Arnold on Pittsburgh, I actually feel that it will make the core of the team stronger. The young guys seem to really have good chemistry, and I think that seeing guys like Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, Orpik take discounts to stay in town will only make the team stronger, whereas seeing Hossa walk because ‘Detroit offers me a better chance to win it all’ will just motivate the Pens even more.”
A: What is something about yourself that many people would be shocked to know?
E: “Something that is shocking to a lot of my friends and family is the fact that I don't like football, and I despise Ben Roethlisberger.
Football- I used to watch every Sunday, but it suddenly became boring to me. I realized that the time I was wasting watching the players walk back to the huddle after every play was time I could be spending doing something much more productive.
Worthlessberger-- I came across a picture of him holding a Flyers jersey with his name on the back, needless to say that didn't sit well. Other than that, he just comes off as an arrogant, money-hungry athlete that is more concerned about his paycheck than having legitimate players to play with. He won his super bowl, now it's time to make the money.”
A: What were the best and worst offseason moves this summer in the NHL?
E: “To be honest, I haven’t really followed the offseason moves of other teams all that closely, but I would have to say that Tampa Bay loading up their offense and disregarding their goaltender/defense situation seems like a pretty dumb move. The Wade Redden signing in New York was also a little vomit-inducing. It was stupid, Redden is way overrated.
The Rolston signing in New Jersey was a good one, and I like the Pens' acquisitions of Satan and Fedotenko. I think they'll do their part in replacing Hossa and Malone.”
A: What do you hate most about Flyers’ fans?
E: (Laughs). “Pretty much in general, growing up in western Pennsylvania, it's pretty hard to like anything about Philly. But the fans, and this doesn't apply to all, they are just arrogant without reason, and that applies to all major sports. I’ve heard stories of the taunting and harassing of the oppositions' fans in the streets outside the stadium/arenas and I just don’t see how a city that hasn’t won a major sports title in that long can feel obligated to participate in such acts. Maybe not obligated, but at least justified. I think the whole ‘Broad Street Bullies’ persona is still very much alive in the fans, and that translates to the ice as well.”
A: What are your “unbiased” predictions for the Penguins and the Stanley Cup right now?
E: “Well as biased as I am, an unbiased answer would be this: I still think they are another year away. This season will tell the tale. Fleury is finally blossoming (no pun intended), and Crosby and Malkin are on pace to become the best 1-2 punch in the league. The role players are the key. If Satan, Fedo[tenko], Sykora, and Gonchar continue to play great hockey, maybe they do win it this year, but I still think they are a year away, though I hope I am wrong.”
A: Give me five reasons why hockey is more of a sport than golf.
E: “5. "Dump and chase" in hockey is a play that requires significant skill and movement. In golf, it requires toilet paper and a cart.
4. In hockey, a shot is taken and 10 conditioned athletes race for the loose puck. In golf, one overweight, beer-guzzling school teacher strolls through the grass to hunt it down.
3. There are no goalies protecting the hole in golf. Where's the challenge in that?
2. When a 12-year old girl and/or 65-year old grandfather can adequately keep pace with a well-conditioned male in his early 20's in a "sporting event", the word "sport" should not even be considered in the activity description.
1. I'd like to see Vijay Singh stand toe-to-toe with Laraque, Parros, or Chara.”
I would like to thank Eric Kuzmiak for taking part in this interview and cooperating with me through my crazy schedule. There are more interviews coming, so everyone stay tuned!
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29 days ago
Great stuff guys! Alan, this was a terrific idea, and Eric, your golf answers were hilarious.
29 days ago
Nice job Alan, I think you captured the essence of the interview pretty well, thanks for your time.
And as far as the "dumBASS" comment goes: im sure that particular BR member is probably chasing golf balls down a fairway, donning his Ben Worthlessberger jersey with pride somewhere. Joke.
from 29 days ago
ahahahaha nice
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