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Questions for Marty O'Neill

September 21, 2006

Earlier this week, Marty O'Neill was in the Twin Cities as reported in his GM Update on the Swarm's Team Website. He contacted me and said if I had any questions that he would answer them. I told him that I would use them on the message board I emailed numerous questions to him and he is answering 4 or 5 at a time considering the questions were many and he has life to lead.

Here are the first of the questions he has replied to in his own words:

1. Can you see and do you want to be the general manager of the Swarm five or ten years from now?

That’s a long time down the road, but yea, ultimately future success for our organization would be a great compliment in my life and I love living in the Twin Cities.

2. If you are still with the Swarm five and/or ten years from now, how do you see the Swarm fitting into the Twin Cities sports landscape?

The question is really geared towards the NLL in general. By being the best we can be and as professional as we can be, drawing a good amount of fans with upward mobility in that dept. every year….I think we have the chance to get much better recognition in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

3. What are the top three best decisions and top three regrets you have had since being general manager?

Top 3:

  1. Trading our 2006 1st round pick and Brock Robertson to Arizona for Ryan Cousins and Chad Culp. What a (emphasis) steal, and I got to use Cousins for two years before they replaced him!
  2. Trading a 2nd round pick to Toronto for the #6 spot in the Vancouver dispersal draft=Nick Patterson.
  3. All of our free agent signings - (Michael) Kilby, (Brock) Boyle, (Spencer) Martin, (Jon) Sullivan, (Mark) Miyashita. Take your pick! (Andrew) Biers trade was a steal, too.

3 Regrets:

  1. Not starting Matt Disher in the 2006 playoff game, (I had a gut feeling and didn’t follow it).
  2. Having to trade away a character guy like Shawn Nadelen, although it was the best thing for him in his life, and we did get Ryan Ward in that deal……
  3. Putting too much faith in veteran players when I could have put more time into Travis Hill or Rory McDade and not making the (Scott) Stewart/(Ryder) Bateman trade in the summer before the season started when I had the chance.

4. Name me three players who have to step up their performance this year and how they have to do it?

  1. Ryan Ward - His play is good, we need him to take charge of the power play, it needs help.
  2. Kelly Hall - A return to form is all we can hope for. To do that, showing up at camp in shape is a must, and (it) didn’t happen last season.
  3. Spencer Martin - To maintain the level of play he had this past summer is what I’m asking of him and his teammates deserve it. Spencer can truly help this team to a new level by accepting he has a responsibility to do more for this team in 2007, because I know he’s fully capable of it!