Interview with Jason Williams

Christy: What was your favorite part about high school? Williams: "Just going and meeting a bunch of new people. With a bunch of middle schools coming together, you get to meet a lot of people and participate in sports. I played hockey. I wasn’t able to play any other sports but to be able to watch football and be able to participate in homecoming and prom." C: Any interesting stories about homecoming/prom? W: None that we can talk about. Haha. Christy: So what is your favorite part about your job, being a Red Wings player?Williams: "Just being able to come and play hockey- something that I love doing. I’ve always dreamed about playing hockey. Ever since I was 4 or 5 years old, I’ve wanted to play in the National Hockey League. To consider this a job, I just don’t look at it as a job. You come here, you have fun- they are a great group of guys. Its just great coming down here everyday and doing something I love." Christy: What is your pregame routine like? Williams: "I usually get up around 8 o’clock and I’ll have breakfast – usually Special K with berries – and watch a little bit of ESPN. I’ll come down to the rink for the morning skate, which is where you basically get on the ice for half an hour shooting, doing some flow skating and just warming up. It’s mainly just to get you out of bed and get a sweat going. I’ll go back to Royal Oak where I live and eat my pregame meal at Andiamos. Steve, one of the cooks there, always hooks me up with what I want. Usually, I’ll have chicken with vegetables, a little bit of pasta, and salad. I go back to my place and relax for a bit – listen to music and watch some TV. I’ll take a nap from about 2-4 o’clock. Then I’ll get up and get ready, head to Starbucks and get my coffee. Everyone has to be at the rink two hours before the game, I like to get there around two and a half hours before the game." C: What do you usually do the two hours before a game? W: "I always come in and make sure my sticks are ready and tape them up. A little before warm-up starts I like to do a few exercises to get the body to start sweating whether it be jumping on the bike or doing some running with a few sprints and then I stretch and warm-up for the game." Christy: During practice, I noticed there is a lot of joking around going on. Is there anyone known as the jokester? Williams: "Well everyone has his own little personality. Depending on the day like one day a guy can be having a rough day and someone else will get on his case about it. Or if you’re not playing well out there – you’re going to here about it from the guys." Christy: Do you have a nickname that people usually call you?Williams: "Just Willy because of the last name." Christy: So what is one of the goals that you’d like to accomplish this season?Williams: "Obviously bringing the Stanley Cup back here which is the main goal. Just to have fun and learn as much as possible. It’s probably going to be my first full year in the national hockey league so to be here on an everyday basis and get to know what it takes – both the commitment on ice and the commitment off ice. To take it all in and be a better player each year off and on the ice." Christy: Do you guys do anything after practice? Williams: "Sometimes after practice we’ll work out. I never like to work the legs the day before the game. Depending on how I feel, I’ll add the upper body as well. Usually I’ll get my cardio done before practice because I hate having to do it afterwards."