Interview
JUST SHOOTING FOOLS ISN'T ENOUGH ANYMORE. THE DRUG'S WORN OFF, THE KICKS ARE FADING. THE KIDS NEED A NEW AND BIGGER RUSH, A RUSH THAT ONLY COMES WHEN YOU PUSH THE ENVELOPE AS FAR AS MARKUS NIELSON DID WHEN HE WIPED A HIT AND THENW AVED AT A 2,000 STRONG CROWD . . .
- Reprinted from Paintball Games International issue 183
PGI: Were you in a lot of trouble at school?
Markus: Yeah, I was pretty bad at school. I was always in detention or in Saturday school. I just had a loud motuh, talked back too much.
Do you work?
I work for the team. I work with our sponsors and make sure that everything is organized. It's pretty tough. There's a lot more stuff to do than you think. I'm always on the phone, networking, planning something.
Do you train hard?
Right when I first picked up a gun I was better than most people, but I do practice a lot. It's just like anything you do; you've got to practice a lot. I play every weekend. I just play because I want to. I'm not bothered about training; I just want to know some people out. Everybody says drill and this and that, but I think you should just get out there and play as many games as you can. Just grind until you're out of paint every time. In California I'd play about 12-20 hours a week.
You're a captain's worst nightmare. Who carries the most scars?
I don't even know, man. Probably Renick[Miller], but there's always two sides to every story. I just hate the corporate politics bull**** used to try and screw over all the players. I'm the kind of person that will speak my opinion. I just don't take any ****.
What about from your days with Avalanche?
Chris Lasoya is one of the best players ever. I try to play like him and I learned a lot from watching him play. But, hes really hard to play for. He'll freak out on you, and you have to listen to whatever he says. He's like a big baby sometimes. I'm kind of similar that way too. Birds of a feather...
What's the shortest amount of time you've spent on a team?
I was on Lockout and I didn't even play a tournament with them. I never even made a practice. They bought me a plane ticket for a tournament, but then Aftershock called me and said that they needed a guy for Atlantic City. So, I left Lockout and played for them instead.
Have you been in many fights?
I try to avoid those beacuse I wouldn't win. I prefer to hit people when they're down, sucker punch them.
Why have you left so many teams?
I htink I'm just a free spirit. I like to travel and can't really plant in on one place for too long. Now this is my last deal. I've got a team and I'm a part of it. Even when I'm done I'm going to be coaching or whatever. I'm only 24 and people think I'm old. I'm pretty weathered; maybe beacuse I've been around so long, I'm already going bald.
If I play against another Pro team I usually know who they all are on the field. Through their goggles and everything. I think a lot of good Pro players do that. If I see a player that I know I'll call their name all the way across the field. If I'm not feeling very nice that day I might just shoot them about 12 times in the back of the head and try to knock them out.
Have you ever done that?
Yeah, I got about six confimed KOs, and a handful of those are TKOs. No one well known - I might have stunned a few of those guys, but I've never knocked any Pros out.
Just kids then?
I do that at walk-ons and stuff. I'll hunt down little kids' church groups.
In Germany you wiped in front of the crowd. What's your justification?
Yeah, that was great! We were playing Dynasty in a best-of-three semifinals match-up. We got blown off the field in the first game and the second game was a stalemate. We ahd to win the next game with about six alive to go through... Johnny[Perchak] shot me in the shoulder. So, I just blatantly rubbed it off, I even exaggerated it. Everyone just went crazy. I gave a lady who was going mad at me a little wave. It pisses people off, but they need to learn it is part of the game, you know? Judges are supposed to be better now. Thats why I think it's funny that I can wipe a hit right in front of a judge's face with 2,000 people watching and still get away with it. That's when you know you've got a gift.
But, I can play clean if I want to. I'd rather have all the judges gathered round watching me and ignoring the rest of my team. I can read refs. Everybody always says they weren't hit when they were hit, but you know damn well when you are. Winning is all that matters. I need to win really bad man.
www.markusnielson.com
www.dankthetank.com
Great guy, I wish I could be just like him. This is ballin at the next level.
Best interview. Ever. Better than Josh's. Read it now
