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Roman J. Salamon, Director of Communications
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FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT
September 21, 2010
Lampert, a Busy Man on the Move
D.J. Lampert
(Quincy, Ill.) This week's edition of Hanging with the Hawks features Quincy University sophomore goalkeeper D.J. Lampert. Lampert, the starting keeper for the Hawks, is a double major at Quincy and is an avid supporter and competitor in the Transplant Olympics.
DJ Lampert does it all. He travels the world. He’s a college student with a double major. He promotes organ donation after the success of his life-saving liver transplant. He competes in the Transplant Olympics and takes home medal after medal and award after award. He plays video games. Oh, and he’s also the starting goalie for the Quincy Hawks Soccer team. He’s a very interesting kid to talk to, if you can catch up with him that is. Luckily, Douglas Junior (that’s where DJ comes from) had time to answer a few questions for Hanging with the Hawks.
Does anyone call you Douglas anymore, or is it just DJ now?
My team mates call me that during training, mainly as a rousing thing to pick me up and encourage me to play better. They call me “Dougie” or reference the movie “the Hangover.” “Dougie” has been more of a nickname than my actual nickname of DJ.
You compete in the transplant Olympics. What exactly is the transplant Olympics?
The transplant games are Olympic style games to promote the positive effects of organ donation both nationally and internationally to people who might stereotypically think that recipients are not physically capable of such things. Events range from bowling to a virtual triathlon.
You’ve also had some success at the Transplant games. What’s that like? How does it make you feel? Does it mean anything special to you and why?
I have been competing in the games since 2000 and have yet to lose a medal in an individual event, but more than that I was honored to win the award for outstanding male athlete of the games in 2006 in Louisville, Ky. Also in 2002 in Orlando Florida I was recognized for promoting organ donation within my area and I was the 18 and under winner that year for the Jerry Cound award. This, in my opinion, is what I have been called to do since receiving my transplant. There are over 100,000 people waiting for a transplant at any given time with 17 people dying each day. My goal is tell as many people as possible so that if I even get one person to decide to donate their organs that will save so many people and be just a little thank you for my donor family who has given me so much.
What are your thoughts on the popularity of soccer around the world vs. here in the USA?
Soccer is life for most nations outside the USA. I have been to most of Western Europe, Australia, Thailand, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and many islands in the Caribbean and it simply is life. We as Americans have so many options to choose from that kids spread themselves out on this sport and that sport and there isn't a real focus on one sport. Along with that, soccer is a cheap and beautiful game. To quote my coach "all you need is a ball and a wall." To expand on that, you don't even need the wall just an open area.
What made you want to play soccer?
I don't remember what my initial reasons for playing soccer were because I have just always been playing. My best guess would be that my brother played and he needed someone else to kick the ball at so I think this is also where my goalie instincts came from too (survival).
What is the hardest part of playing goalkeeper? Is there a lot of pressure being the last thing between them and a goal?
Yes, the stress is high but that is something I enjoy. High pressure games are my favorite because it brings out the highest level in me. The hardest part is reading the game and the instinctual saves that have to be made. These are the things that a coach can tell you and show you on films but it’s really something that you, individually, have to just know and learn.
If you could spend the day with any Pro Soccer player, who would it be and why?
The one soccer player that I would like to spend the day with is Oliver Kahn. He played for the German national team for a number of years and retired a while ago. The reason I'd pick him is because he is a goalkeeper too and he is from a different era of soccer and I would just imagine him having so many stories that we could just sit and talk soccer all day.
Do you keep a water bottle in the goal with you? Why do goalies do that?
I do keep a water bottle by my goal. The general purpose is supposed to be for the field players to get a quick drink if they need during a stoppage and yet I find I'm the only one who ever drinks from it, even though I barely run.
Favorite thing to do in your free time?
In my spare time I enjoy talking to my friends and catching up with old friends who go to different universities. I do enjoy playing video games (Call of Duty and FIFA 10) for Xbox 360. If I have any length of time I love traveling and learning about new people and languages. My traveling actually led me to choose my majors, which are psychology and French.
Hanging with the Hawks is a weekly interview highlighting a student-athlete at Quincy University and what it is like to be a Hawks. Hanging with the Hawks is written by Stacey Wild of the Quincy University Sports Information office. Be sure to check out Hanging with the Hawks every week by going to the main athletics page and clicking on the link or to view previous Hanging with the Hawks interviews click HERE
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