- TBL.com: You not only signed with Tampa Bay before testing the free-agent market, but you agreed to a long-term deal. What excites you about playing for Tampa Bay, and what made you want to come here?
RM: I think the biggest thing was the night [VP of Hockey Operations Brian] Lawton and those guys made an offer. I went out to eat with a couple friends to think about it, and I got a fortune cookie that said, 'Don’t be afraid to take the next big step.' So that was a good sign. But honestly, I thought I really couldn’t paint a better picture for myself and my family. I think the owners in Tampa want to put a winning team on the ice every year, and that's the biggest thing is having a chance to win and get into the playoffs. Once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen. It's going to be exciting I think with the foundation that they have there with Vinny [Lecavalier] and St. Louis, they were a big part of their Stanley Cup year. A lot of those big pieces are back and it’s going to be a great team to play on.
- TBL.com: You and Darryl Sydor were named alternate captains for the Penguins in January, and Sydor was part of the 2004 Lightning Stanley Cup. Have you talked to him at all about his time in Tampa?
RM: Yes I did, and he absolutely loved it there. Even in Pittsburgh, our families went on a trip together, my wife and his wife are good friends. He’s a great guy and also a great leader, I think, helping out the younger defensemen we had on our team. He really got along with everybody and really showed people how to stay focused on and off the ice and in the weight room. He did a great job in Pittsburgh. He played for Barry Melrose, too, in LA, so that's who I was talking to about Barry. He said Tampa was great, the fans show a lot of support and obviously winning the Cup there was icing on the cake for him. He definitely loved the area and loved it for the family too, lots of stuff to do. There's a lot of positive reasons to look into Tampa, even besides the hockey. You look at the family stuff, where you're located and the entertainment around the area for the family, which is great. [I find this interesting! No wonder there are so many rumors going around that Sydor could be the next Penguin to sign with TB! He has alot of friends from Pittsburgh that are there and he enjoyed his time there before -- it makes sense!]
- TBL.com: How many tattoos do you have? What are they and what do they mean?
RM: I don’t really have a certain number, they're more areas of my body covered… [laughs] I have a couple on my arms. I have my first hockey team, when I was 8 years old, it was the Pittsburgh Hornets, we were called, so it’s a huge bumblebee kind of … hornet-type guy holding a hockey stick. It's kind of tough to explain. I'm also a dual citizen, so I have American, Canadian thing. The first tattoo I ever got was our family shield. Usually everyone has a family shield or a family crest, so that was the first tattoo I got. I have some 
Irish stuff as well, kind of, everywhere. It’s a bad habit. I probably would have more if I didn’t have this job, where if I go to the golf course and I’m covered in tattoos it probably looks a little out of place. Everything’s mostly hidden underneath a golf shirt. The one that means the most to me right now, I just recently got my son’s birthday, so I’d have to say that right now. My wife and I have different tattoos, matching tattoos that mean different things, as well.
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