Q& A with Mark 'Mad Dog' Madsen

PHOTO BY QUAN NGUYEN

The Minnesota Timberwolves' recent success is nothing new to forward Mark Madsen. "Mad Dog," as he is known, has been through all this and more, spending his first two years winning NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Shaq and Kobe stole most of the spotlight, but Madsen quickly endeared himself to Laker fans with his intense work ethic and his never-ending supply of energy.

However, Angelenos best remember Madsen for his impromptu, oddly choreographed dance routines during the Lakers victory celebrations. First showcased during the Lakers' 2001 rally, the nation tuned into a 6'9'' Mormon committing all sorts of odd contortions to the delight of his teammates and the fans.

The Wolves signed Madsen this season for more than his dance moves, and he has not disappointed. He leads the squad out of the tunnel with a grin and a bounce in his step. He pals around with fans young and old. He's the first to congratulate a teammate after success or console after failure. Oh, and he's a fierce rebounder and pick-setter who makes other players look good and helps produce victories.

First off, where'd the name "Mad Dog" come from?

I got that back in 5th grade when I was playing kickball and the P.E. teacher had nicknames for all of the guys. He said to me, "Well, you're gonna have a nickname now, and it's going to be 'Mad Dog.'" Then my friends started calling me "Mad Dog," and it just kind of stuck wherever I went.

Okay, "Mad Dog," what do you feel you bring to this team?

I've always tried to do whatever the coach has asked of me. Whether it's bringing energy, playing defense, making moves, scoring, I'll do whatever the coach asks.

You're known as a fan favorite. What does that mean to you?

I want to thank the fans for all they bring to the game, and I just want to make it so fun and exciting and work so hard that fans walk out of here saying, "That was a great night!"

Do the fans make that big of a difference?

First of all, I think every member of this team is grateful to the fans that fill this arena. They are loud and knowledgeable, and that makes it fun to play here. Fans make the atmosphere

exciting for everybody.

You've been here for several months now. What's the difference between Wolves fans and Lakers fans?

There's such a different makeup to the crowd. In L.A., you have all the celebrities. You'll look over and there'll be Jack Nicholson and a whole range of stars. Here, there's a lot more families going to games.

What do you like best about the fans here?

The one thing I really enjoy about the Minnesota fan base are all the kids that are here before the games. In L.A., there were some young people, but here, there are always kids around, and it's fun to be able to interact with them every night.

The Lakers are used to intense coverage every night, and you were part of that. Now that the Wolves have become "America's Team" for the time being, how do you see the team handling it?

The great thing about this team is because of how we play, it has attracted a lot of interest. But really, inside the locker room, we don't talk about all the media coverage. The guys in this locker room, all we talk about is the one goal, and that's bringing a championship to Minnesota.

You mentioned championship. That brings to mind what you did the last time you were on a championship team. Can you tell us about your particular style of dancing?

Well, I think that each player has unique talents and abilities. Dancing is something that for a lot of people comes naturally. Others are slightly challenged. I'm in the latter category.

Didn't President Bush call off your dance routine when the Lakers visited the White House for fear that the Secret Service would react violently?

What happens if the Wolves find themselves visiting the president this year?

Let me just say this: We have a goal to be the last team standing in late June. If we reach that goal, I'll just have to cross that other bridge when I come to it.

-- Tom Carothers