Mark Zupan stars in the film "Murderball," a documentary about wheelchair rugby players who represented the United States at the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, in 2004. Currently, Zupan works as a civil engineer in Austin, Texas, and is training for the upcoming World Championships team USA wheelchair rugby trials in November.

Q: How do you think the movie "Murderball" will affect the way people think about wheelchair sports?

A: I think this movie answers questions that people don't want to ask about quadriplegics. It shows that we take this (sport) seriously. We put time, blood and sweat into our sport, just like all the other athletes.

Q: Being a rugby player, how interesting do you find mainstream sports to watch and keep up with?

A: Are you kidding me? I've got three fantasy football teams and a fantasy baseball team. I watched the U.S. Open (tennis) like a fanatic. I love it all.

Q: You've traveled around to a lot of different places playing rugby, but have you found one city whose teams you cheer for more than the rest?

A: No, not really. I like the Marlins, the Indians and the Braves. But really, I just like watching the games. The teams are just a part of that.

Q: Baseball seems to be a favorite sport of yours. What do you think of the steroid issue?

A: You know, it's interesting. They're telling the players that they are going to start testing harder, so it doesn't make sense when these guys now are getting caught. Stop doing it! Just stop doing it! You're going to get caught, so stop doing it! Rafael Palmeiro, what were you thinking? Just stop doing it, guys!

Q: As the baseball season turns down its final stretch, who are your picks to make it to October?

A: I would love to see the Indians beat out the Yankees for the A.L. wildcard. I like the Braves in the regular season. Bobby Cox, in my opinion, is the best regular season manager ever, but when he gets to the postseason, he runs into trouble. I guess I have to go with the Boston Red Sox. They'll win it again over the (St. Louis) Cardinals in the World Series.

Q: So will Boston take home both the World Series and the Super Bowl titles again this year?

A: I think so. I'm curious to see how the Vikings will do without Randy (Moss). Terrell Owens is good, but he whines a lot. Just play man. I think it will boil down to the Patriots or the Colts in the AFC and the Eagles or the Falcons in the NFC. But really, when it boils down to it, the Patriots are going to win it again. They're just too strong. They're solid.

Q: You said you have three fantasy football teams, so who is your favorite fantasy player?

A: LaDainian Tomlinson. He's the most versatile player in the league. Peyton Manning dismantles teams, but Tomlinson's the man.

This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on September 15, 2005.