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TAVARES FOCUSES ON TEAM

Future Hall-of-Famer hopes to bring title back to Buffalo

12/08/2007

Story courtesy of bandits.com

On the cusp of breaking Gary Gait's all-time goal record, John Tavares should theoretically be excited about making history this season.

He couldn't care less.

Entering his 17th season five scores shy of tying Gait's 596 career goals, Tavares shrugs off the milestone almost as if it were a bad game.

He would rather get through it and move on.

"I don't like when I am approaching these records," he said. "I just like getting them out of the way and try not to let them be a distraction. But when you are asked all the time about it, it's natural that it becomes just that. So it's nice to just get it over with."

Tavares is concerned, rather, with a different affair. Namely, winning the championship and staying focused on the season.

"Going in, I don't set a goal to break that record, I just want to perform well for the team," he said. "My role is to score so I better be breaking that record at some point, otherwise I am not doing my job. But I don't look at it as I have to break this record for myself. I look at it as I have to perform."

His reaction may seem like a standard response from an accomplished veteran downplaying another feat. Yet his demeanor implies sincerity.

When asked about his most memorable moments in lacrosse, Tavares listed Darris Kilgour's game-winning goal to clinch the 1993 MILL championship and the Bandits' first MILL championship in 1992 as the most vivid.

"It was the loudest I have ever heard the auditorium," he said, referring to Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium.

Tavares did not mention, however, that he was named the MVP of both games, nor that he scored the game-winning goal in 1992 against Philadelphia to win the championship in sudden-death overtime. He instead, chooses to focus on the Bandits as a team and hopes the attention will remain there.

"Like the other ones, the all-time points record for instance, was a big deal," Tavares said. "It just kind of seemed like the one game when I was close to breaking it, all of the attention was to get me the ball then try to score. It just disrupted the flow of the game... kind of affected the outcome. I just don't want that to happen again. There is no rush to do it. I don't care... as long as we are winning."

That team-first attitude may account for some of Tavares' success. He is, after all, ranked first in all-time career assists (648) in addition to points (1239).

There is, however, one aspect of the game he has yet to tackle.

"Eventually once I stop playing lacrosse I think I would like to coach or be a GM," Tavares said.

So maybe he has not broken every record. The coaching countdown may be soon to come.

In the meantime, Tavares is ranked second in career loose balls with 1695 behind former Bandit, Jim Veltman (2295).

But as far as Tavares is concerned, who cares?

He may be able to dismiss the hype of breaking records, but Tavares cannot deny his love of the game.