Issue 7

Twenty-four-year-old Jamie Langenbrunner is a star—a Dallas Star, that is.  Jamie began his ice skating life as a figure skater at the age of four. In International Falls, Minnesota, it was what all the kids did.  Jamie wasn’t wearing his Dallas Stars uniform then either.  Instead his mother dressed him in Batman and Winnie the Pooh costumes for figure skating shows. 

That was before Jamie started playing hockey.  When he blasted the puck across the outdoor rinks in Cloquet, MN, he wanted to win.  Jamie always played to win.  Plus, he was an all-around athlete.  He tried soccer, baseball, and golf.  But he always came back to his first love—hockey. 

The oldest of four boys, Jamie grew up in a family that values education.  His father is a school principal and his mother works with the Early Childhood Family Education program.  Jamie was always an Honor Roll student.  But when he signed his first professional contract at the age of seventeen, his parents worried. If Jamie started playing hockey, would he ever go to college?  They insisted that money be set aside in case he ever decides to go back to school. 

As he was growing up, Jamie heard two mottoes from his parents:  Work hard and have fun.  Jamie always dreamed of being a professional hockey player.  He says in regard to his career as a professional hockey player:  “I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world—except maybe being a professional golfer.  Every day is fun.” 

Jamie enjoys golf in his spare time—and fishing and reading.  He is a great fan of Tiger Woods.  In fact, after one of the Stanley Cup games, he called home on his car phone.  His mother answered and asked how he was feeling after the game.  Jamie said, “I didn’t call to talk about the game.  I called to tell you I got Tiger Woods’ autograph.” 

Jamie says that winning the Stanley Cup was “harder than I thought it would be.  It was hard work,” he says, “but well worth it.” 

Jamie admits to some gambling with his friends when he was younger.  “Now,” he says, “I can see the problems gambling can cause in a person’s life.”

Jamie strongly believes that extracurricular activities—whether playing sports or acting in a school play— can help keep kids out of trouble.  Jamie tells kids: “Pick something you want to do, not just something all your friends are doing or something your Mom and Dad want you to do.” 

Readers, send your interview ideas for  Amanda Asks to wannabet@wannabet.org .

©2000, MCCG, NATI. Not to be reproduced for commercial use.