I had the opportunity to exchange messages with one of the most creative and exciting players in lacrosse last week via Facebook.  He has wowed many fans with his acrobatic goals and no holds barred style of attack.  That player is none other than Chazz Woodson.  Chazz was in Thailand not too long ago helping to build the excitement about lacrosse.  Here is what he had to say about that trip and some other things in the lax world.

MSI: Tell us about the Lax scene in Thailand:

CW: Lax scene in Thailand is very interesting. It's as new as can be. And whereas in the States we try to start at the HS level, MS, or youth level, they've begun basically with their adult/national team. And it works for them, because a large percentage of the guys played some in the States (HS or club) and love the game. So that, coupled with the connections that some of the guys have in and around Bangkok, creates a healthy start for Thailand lax.

MSI: What brought you to Thailand?

CW: This was a very last minute decision for me. I received a text from John Christmas asking if I was interested in going to Thailand. It was literally Thursday night as I was packing to head to Providence on a Friday morning. So I got back to Miami Sunday, got all the information I could (not a whole lot), and left Tuesday for Thailand. I didn't know until I arrived that the equipment for their team was being done by Maverick. Thus the connection to JC. At Any rate, an opportunity to travel to the other side of the world (on someone else's tab!) to help grow the sport that has done so much for me was an opportunity that I couldn't turn down.

MSI: Where do you see the growth of lacrosse in Thailand in the next year?

CW: In the next year, it'll be interesting. We are already working on a camp over there. Steve Hess, from Loyola, is actually living there and coaching them. He's doing a great job and hopefully they will be able to push for a couple HSs to pick up lacrosse as well. Or at the very least, they can introduce it. I believe there's a club team (once defunct), that is now back in business since the "Friendly Game." There were over 100 people that contacted Thailand Lacrosse after the game saying that they were either interested in playing or learning more about the game. And there were over 600 people out watching the game in the pouring rain! So, while it's tough to really say what's going to happen, there are a lot of positive things working in their favor right now.

MSI: What is your view on the overall international growth of the sport?

CW:  This is my first real international lacrosse experience, so it's tough for me to comment on the international growth. it'd be nice to really see the game take off and to see the level of play even out a bit across the world.

MSI:  How can people help spread the word?

CW: Among other sites, etc, people can follow the growth at
http://www.thailandlacrosse.com/
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=162813473737087
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=265156931798
Harry Alford and Lacrosse Playground had a little coverage of it, and I think the word will spread little by little.

MSI: What other outreach are you doing?

CW: Down here in Miami, I've been working through Dade Lacrosse, Inc. to help unify some of the lacrosse efforts down here, and more importantly, to develop a youth structure. We will also look to That's my primary "outreach" focus. I also went down to Managua, Nicaragua with Lacrosse the Nations (www.lacrossethenations.org)on a very eyeopening trip. Hopefully I will head back next year with them. Other than that, I am still working diligently to pull together a program down here fusing community service, mentoring, and athletics. It's moving slowly, but I haven't given up in the least. Those are 3 things in life that I'm passionate about, and that's what I want to do when I have to hang up the cleats.

MSI: Where can fans see you play?

CW:  I played against Harvard with the US Team a couple weeks ago, and just played in my first LXM event Saturday in Jacksonville. That was a good time, and pretty cool to play in front of a lot of the young guys that come to my camps, and that I coach down here. I will be in Austin, TX running a clinic this weekend, and then I'm relaxing on the travel for a bit. I coach Basketball down here as well and we start in just a couple weeks. If I can get cleared to do so, I will probably play next in the LXM Pro: San Diego event, and then if they'll have me again, with the US Team in Orlando in late Jaunary. Additionally, I'm playing for the Dade Lacrosse Men's Team down here in the Florida Lacrosse League.

MSI: How else can fans keep up with you?

CW:  Anyone can follow me at the following:
www.chazzwoodson.com
www.facebook.com/chazz3
@ChazzWoodson on Twitter
www.chazzwoodson.blogspot.com