Interview with Cort Kim of Talon Lacrosse

Cort Kim is the vice president at Talon Lacrosse-makers of the modern wood shaft. He, his twin brother Blake and Doug Appleton all share an undying passion for lacrosse's history and tradition. Cort has been playing and coaching lacrosse for 20 years with his twin brother Blake. He and his brother Blake have been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame of his alma mater at the University of Albany - the Great Danes being this year's Cinderella team is something he called at the beginning of the season, before they beat Hopkins. According to his bio on the Talon website:
His proudest playing moment occurred in the summer of 2002 when he represented South Korea in the World Lacrosse Championships in Perth, Australia. He continues to play competitive lacrosse in tournaments around the world for the Barbary Coast Lacrosse Club and the Crease Monkeys elite and masters travel teams.

Cort was kind enough to take time out and answer a veritable plethora of questions about California lacrosse, how he got started, why he likes lacrosse and it's traditions, what he tries to instill in players he coaches and, of course, good eats in San Francisco. He also answers some questions about some problems facing lacrosse as it continues to grow, how he met Doug Appleton and about Talon and the shafts (of which I have two-a Thunder and a Legend- that are amazing).

How did you first get interested in lacrosse? What hooked you?

I was first introduced to the sport in phys ed class as a freshman in high school (1985). I had a choice: ultimate frisbee or lacrosse. A good friend of mine, Kevin Mullaney, had a couple years of experience playing, and talked me into it. Not sure what exactly hooked me. I actually found it pretty frustrating at first, learning how to cradle, pass and catch. I stuck with it, borrowed a buddy's stick a short while later, brought it home to practice with my twin bro, Blake, and 22 years later, we're still trying to get better at lacrosse.

Why lacrosse?

I could go on for quite a bit on this one. First, it's easy for a beginner to pick up. Kids just seem to fall in love with the sport overnight. Also, it's got all the ingredients that make sports such a special part of our world: competitive fire, fast speed, physical play, unselfish teamwork, and a sense of community and camaraderie you just don't find in other sports. As my years of involvement in lacrosse grow, I've learned to appreciate much more of the history of the game of lacrosse, and can't help but feel immense gratitude to Native Americans for sharing their game with us.

How much fun was it playing with a twin brother?

I can honestly say I wouldn't be a fraction of the player, and more importantly the person I am today had it not been for Blake. Fun only describes a small part of it - we've got a ton of confidence in one another on the field. We're also pretty hard on each other, as you would expect from brothers. Our standards for the other are pretty high, but it motivates us to play well whenever we take the field.

How do you like playing for Barbary Coast Lacrosse club in the Bay Area? For the Crease Monkeys?

Playing for Barbary Coast has been a blast. We're going on our 6th year of playing with the BC boys - hard to believe it's been that long. I really believe BC typifies what club lacrosse is all about - a group of guys who still care a great deal about lacrosse, despite carrying on with respective families and lives, and enjoy hanging out with/playing lacrosse with each other.

The Crease Monkeys are a little different. I have to give a ton of credit to Harry Mazaheri, the Chief Monkey who was largely responsible for starting this club. For Blake and me, the Crease Monkeys have been about visiting some amazing places with some great people (Monkettes, too!) and ridiculously talented lacrosse players. It's an honor and a privilege for us to be a part of the Monkeys.

What kinds of changes, good and bad, have you seen over the years in the game of lacrosse?

With the growth of the game, there are certainly more athletes playing lacrosse these days - that's definitely a good thing. When I see East coast DI rosters with players' hometowns in CA, CO, TX, WA, UT, AZ, MO, I can't help but feel that's pretty special.

Not a big fan of the technology changes to the head of the stick in particular. The heads have become way too pinched toward the lower portion of the head. I'm hopeful that the rules committee comes up with a fair and effective modification to the stick dimensions toward the lower portion of the head. Stick protection doesn't take much skill on the part of the offensive player anymore. I don't blame defensemen for wanting to take arms off these days - I'd be frustrated, too. This is coming from an attackman: I actually miss the takeaway defenseman. That used to be such a great part of the game - guys I grew up watching, guys like Tom Haus, Dave Pietramala, Pat McCabe, they would just dissect attackmen - it was awesome to watch them at work. For me, an aggressive takeaway D-man helped me elevate my play so that I protected my stick better and used my footwork to keep him off balance. Now kids just have to cradle through checks and more often than not, they're fine. The only takeaway checks you see these days are the ones that literally take the sticks out of guy's hands, because they have to check that hard if they want the ball!

How has your game changed over the years?

I'm more patient in picking my spots to press. I'm also much more respectful of my body - Blake and I work pretty hard at keeping ourselves in the kind of shape we need to be in to play the game the way we want to play it.

How do you see technology advancing the game? Hindering the game?

I'm a big fan of the lighter weight materials and lower-profile construction of today's equipment. It's sped up the game, and has made it easier for kids to pick up lacrosse "out of the box."

What are some of the traditions in lacrosse that you resonate with and why?

I feel very strongly about "respecting the game." Some people may not exactly know what I mean by that, so let me try to explain. For me personally, the game of lacrosse has been arguably the biggest part of my life. I'm certain Blake would agree as far as its influence on his life. I will always have an appreciation for what the game of lacrosse has given me - opportunities to meet some very special people involved in the game of lacrosse, to travel all over the world and experience other cultures, to play the game at the highest level (or at least try to), and most importantly, to develop character in the way I conduct myself on and off the field. With all that the game of lacrosse has given me, I will always be respectful of it.

What are some of the challenges/issues facing lacrosse, across the board, with it's exponential growth?

Adequate numbers of coaches to grow the game at the youth level. Also, referees are often in short supply in areas new to the game of lacrosse.

What do you think of the explosion of lacrosse in California? Where do you see it going?

I think the explosion of lacrosse is fantastic, and not just out here. We're going to be hearing far less frequently commentators mentioning things like "This kid's from all the way out in California!" when broadcasting a game on ESPNU or CSTV. There are so many young players out here who are going to be the game's next stars - it's inevitable. The quality of coaches is very high out here, at least as far as I know around the immediate Bay Area. The players are starting out younger and younger. It's amazing to see.

What lacrosse skills/drills do you focus on in your coaching? Camps? Playing?

Fundamentals! Running fast. Picking up ground balls and moving the ball. Playing defense with your feet. Working obsessively on stick skills - always having the stick in your hands.

As an attackman, I work on always moving off-ball to keep my D-man's attention occupied - big pet peeve of mine whether I'm coaching or playing is guys who stand still and watch the game; they can do that from the sideline or in the stands.

What are 3 skills you look for in defensemen? Middies? Attack?

Defense - speed, footwork/agility, intelligence
Middies - endurance, toughness, intelligence
Attack - advanced stick skills, ability to ride, intelligence

How did you meet Doug Appleton?

He's a teammate of ours on our post-collegiate club lacrosse team, Barbary Coast, and has been on a few of our Crease Monkeys tournament teams in the past.

Where did you find the Ojibwe war club that you adapted for the Talon end cap?

Actually, we had only seen images of it, and thought it'd be special to honor a part of Native American history and recreate that kind of design in a contemporary end cap.

Who have been some of your most influential teachers in lacrosse?

Of course I'd say our high school and college coaches played an instrumental part in teaching us the game of lacrosse. I'd also have to say that players who probably never knew they were teaching guys like Blake and me were our biggest influence in learning the game. Here's a list of some of them: Brian Wood, Craig Bubier, Mike Morrill, Gary Seivold, Tim Goldstein, Dave Pietramala, Quint Kessenich, Del Dressel, Brendan Kelly, John Zulberti, the Gaits, Dom Fin, Ryan Wade, and the list goes on.

What's your favorite take out food?

You had to ask - you should know how tough this one is to answer, Luis - you lived in San Francisco! Delicious food everywhere. It's a toss-up between sushi, dim sum from Yank Sing, Goat Hill pizza, Pancho's steak and shrimp burrito, or a Sunset burger from Mel's.

How can people tell you apart from your twin brother, Blake?

Off the field, it's pretty easy once you meet us. On the field is a different issue - a little trickier with the gear on. I've always worn #3, Blake #9. Also, the socks - I wear black socks, Blake goes with white.

What's the best advice someone has given you?

Treat others the way you'd want to be treated.

Tell me about Talon Lacrosse...

Doug Appleton (our close friend, and Talon's President), Blake (my twin bro) and I had been discussing doing something significant in the lacrosse world for quite some time. We knew early on that we'd be perfect partners as we all had the same beliefs and goals: we wanted to honor the sport of lacrosse in some way, and each wanted to give back to the sport that has given us so much - we wouldn't be where we are today without it in our respective lives.

We believe we have re-invented the wooden lacrosse shaft to perform at the highest level in today's game of lacrosse. We have brought together what we consider the best that lacrosse equipment has to offer: wood has the warmth and aesthetic appeal that you simply can't get with metal alloys, whereas the fiberglass core gives the shafts the strength and lightweight performance benefits that a solid wood core cannot offer. We feel our product represents the history, tradition and culture of lacrosse (for centuries, wooden shafts were universally used in the game of lacrosse, and for many Native Americans and traditionalists, wood is still the shaft of choice), yet has all of the benefits of modern technology that today's shafts have to offer.

What are some future plans/endeavors for Talon?

We are hard at work at producing a Talon defensive shaft - it seems everybody wants one of these! We'd like to bring the phrase "Lay the wood to 'em!" back to the game of lacrosse. Defensemen will appreciate that, but not sure my fellow attackmen will.

We'd like to align ourselves with the Native American community and its lacrosse programs. We feel obligated to honor them and give back to them, as this is their game; they were the ones who shared it with us. I will always feel an appreciation for them for sharing their game with me.

Who came up with the name "Talon?"

Doug initially formed the company under the name "Piranha Lacrosse" after his nickname. When you get a chance to see him play, you'll understand the nickname. He's a fierce long stick middie who challenges you all over the field, refusing to give you an inch. His real strength is ground balls - he goes after every loose ball (and usually gets them). He later changed the name to Talon Lacrosse as the story behind the company began to develop. Truth be told, we all agreed that an eagle's talons are more representative and symbolic of Native American culture and their sport of lacrosse than a piranha!

When did you first start learning about the traditions and history of lacrosse?

Growing up in upstate NY, Blake and I were exposed very early on in our playing careers to the Native American influence on the modern game of lacrosse. We played with and against many Native American players, and were fortunate enough to compete against some Iroquois National teams in exhibitions and tournaments throughout upstate NY. We could tell that the game meant a lot more to them when we played them - they carried themselves with a fierce pride and spirit. Their stick skills were unprecedented - we'd never seen stick fakes thrown the way guys like Scott Burnham and Mike Benedict would throw them. They'd literally turn every defender's head on our team. From those early days, I've always felt tremendous respect for the history of their game. This respect has only grown stronger as my years involved in the sport continue to grow. I'm eager to learn more. We at Talon are determined to honor the game of lacrosse, and we will go to great lengths to make sure we are getting it right. Having the blessing of the Native American people is paramount to us.