We Independent Sports Media sat down with Arizona Outlaws rookie Tight End Charlie Law on the eve of the season's first game to discuss a number of topics relevant to the second round draft pick's career, philosophy, and future. Law was as you might expect after having seen him. Buoyant, joyful, playful, and like a giant ball of energy on the verge of being released at all times.
ISM: I want to go over some of the events of your professional career so far if you don't mind.
Law: Go for it.
ISM: Right away you were drafted higher than experts predicted. It didn't get much press when it happened, and the few who mentioned it chalked it up to the Outlaws being a stacked team who could afford to reach. Then amidst all the attention the league's rookies got, you barely merited a blip on the radar. Even when the Outlaws sent Joe Tkatchuk down to the DSFL, basically signalling you would be the starting Tight End, it didn't seem to register as news with anyone. Then you led the Outlaws in receptions during the preseason. Every sign points to a superstar on the rise. Yet here we are. No one is singing your praises. No one is pointing at you as one to watch or a breakout candidate. After all of this, and all of the effort you've put in to get here and yet still be this unheralded, how does it not bother you?
Law: Well, I can tell you that it drives a lot of my family and friends nuts. My agent is losing his mind at how little sponsorship opportunity I apparently currently have. I just...it's not where my focus is. All that stuff is gonna happen. I keep telling the media types..no offense that I've been through this cycle before. Coach Sandoval in high school wanted me to play defensive end. Didn't think I could be a tight end. I graduated top ten in the state in receptions. I was supposed to be a two star prospect who'd go to BSU and disappear. You saw what I did there. Now here I am on the same merry go round and I'm not getting dizzy. If anything I'm just glad some of these guys who maybe won't get their chances to shine for a while are getting a little now.
ISM: You believe you're going to get your chance?
Law: You're damn right I am. I won't settle for anything less than being the best I can possibly be to help my team take the next step forward. I busted my cute ass to get stronger, smarter, faster, and better in every way I could I still have a long way to go but I've also come a long way in a short time. And now I have the Smokey and the Bandit theme stuck in my head. But yeah. I'm going to get my chance. I'm an Outlaw and that uniform comes with a big ass target painted right on it because the entire league is gunning for us. And I'm going to make damn sure we hoist the Cup this year too.
ISM: If that happens, there will be those who attribute your success to simply being drafted by the right team.
Law: Well, I mean, I was. I'm not going to deny that. But that won't mean I won't be doing my part. Plus let's be real here. If we don't win do you think they're going to value my contributions any more than if we do? Because no. The answer is no. Hell, they might even try to blame me and Sam and Pat and Goddy and the other new faces. So I can't focus on that either. I can only keep working towards my name going on the Cup in the first place. Let whoever sort out the arbitrary credit afterwards. That job is difficult enough as it is. Making predictions, explaining how you weren't really wrong when you were wrong, never shutting up when you were right, and making sure to always have an excuse for why you got something wrong. Yes, I mentioned that twice. It's most of the job from what I can tell. No offense.
ISM: Is there a point when the noise becomes too much for you? Or at least gives you a little bulletin board material and a desire to go prove somebody wrong?
Law: I mean yeah a little. I'm not saying I'm immune to these things. I just don't focus on them. I'm not gonna go catch a touchdown a little harder just because some reporter who's never played a down thinks I'm not a notable draft pick or some guru decides that I'm a tier 3 fantasy Tight End or all that. I'm gonna do it because I'm gonna do it for my team. The rest is just....a little bonus. A cherry on top. It's the GM handing me an extra Dr. Pepper he got out of a vending machine one day just because. But it won't ever be as loud as the noise I make myself. When it comes to the space in my head I'm a screamer.
GRADED
ISM: I want to go over some of the events of your professional career so far if you don't mind.
Law: Go for it.
ISM: Right away you were drafted higher than experts predicted. It didn't get much press when it happened, and the few who mentioned it chalked it up to the Outlaws being a stacked team who could afford to reach. Then amidst all the attention the league's rookies got, you barely merited a blip on the radar. Even when the Outlaws sent Joe Tkatchuk down to the DSFL, basically signalling you would be the starting Tight End, it didn't seem to register as news with anyone. Then you led the Outlaws in receptions during the preseason. Every sign points to a superstar on the rise. Yet here we are. No one is singing your praises. No one is pointing at you as one to watch or a breakout candidate. After all of this, and all of the effort you've put in to get here and yet still be this unheralded, how does it not bother you?
Law: Well, I can tell you that it drives a lot of my family and friends nuts. My agent is losing his mind at how little sponsorship opportunity I apparently currently have. I just...it's not where my focus is. All that stuff is gonna happen. I keep telling the media types..no offense that I've been through this cycle before. Coach Sandoval in high school wanted me to play defensive end. Didn't think I could be a tight end. I graduated top ten in the state in receptions. I was supposed to be a two star prospect who'd go to BSU and disappear. You saw what I did there. Now here I am on the same merry go round and I'm not getting dizzy. If anything I'm just glad some of these guys who maybe won't get their chances to shine for a while are getting a little now.
ISM: You believe you're going to get your chance?
Law: You're damn right I am. I won't settle for anything less than being the best I can possibly be to help my team take the next step forward. I busted my cute ass to get stronger, smarter, faster, and better in every way I could I still have a long way to go but I've also come a long way in a short time. And now I have the Smokey and the Bandit theme stuck in my head. But yeah. I'm going to get my chance. I'm an Outlaw and that uniform comes with a big ass target painted right on it because the entire league is gunning for us. And I'm going to make damn sure we hoist the Cup this year too.
ISM: If that happens, there will be those who attribute your success to simply being drafted by the right team.
Law: Well, I mean, I was. I'm not going to deny that. But that won't mean I won't be doing my part. Plus let's be real here. If we don't win do you think they're going to value my contributions any more than if we do? Because no. The answer is no. Hell, they might even try to blame me and Sam and Pat and Goddy and the other new faces. So I can't focus on that either. I can only keep working towards my name going on the Cup in the first place. Let whoever sort out the arbitrary credit afterwards. That job is difficult enough as it is. Making predictions, explaining how you weren't really wrong when you were wrong, never shutting up when you were right, and making sure to always have an excuse for why you got something wrong. Yes, I mentioned that twice. It's most of the job from what I can tell. No offense.
ISM: Is there a point when the noise becomes too much for you? Or at least gives you a little bulletin board material and a desire to go prove somebody wrong?
Law: I mean yeah a little. I'm not saying I'm immune to these things. I just don't focus on them. I'm not gonna go catch a touchdown a little harder just because some reporter who's never played a down thinks I'm not a notable draft pick or some guru decides that I'm a tier 3 fantasy Tight End or all that. I'm gonna do it because I'm gonna do it for my team. The rest is just....a little bonus. A cherry on top. It's the GM handing me an extra Dr. Pepper he got out of a vending machine one day just because. But it won't ever be as loud as the noise I make myself. When it comes to the space in my head I'm a screamer.
Code:
871GRADED
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