Name:
Martin Cochran
*Photo credit Scott Roeder.
Nicknames:
Birdman
Jersey #
28
Height:
6’4″
Date of birth:
16 September 1981
Place of birth:
Albany, OR
Current city of residence:
San Francisco, CA
Occupation:
Software Engineer at Google
College team(s):
University of Colorado Mamabird (2004-2008)
Former teams:
Johnny Bravo (2005-2006)
The Journeymen (Labor Day 2007)
Revolver (2008-present)
Accolades:
Southwest All-Region (2006-2008)
Mike Gerics 2nd team All-American (2008)
How I came to join Revolver:
I moved out to the Bay Area for work in the summer of 2008 and started talking with then captain Mike Payne. I was leaning toward not playing to make sure I got settled in with my job, plus I had taken three weeks in July to hike the John Muir Trail and had lost 20 lbs, but I played one tournament with Revolver and have been hooked ever since.
Funniest moment or joke on Revolver:
Wow, so many to choose from. Here’s the most family-friendly one that I could think of (ask me in person for others): Chucktown DOMINATING a lovely little restaurant in Sarasota after Nationals in 2008. He busted out his violin and started serenading each table. Daryl was so embarrassed for us that he paid for everyone’s dinner.
Favorite game or tournament moment on Revolver:
Playing Buzz Bullets in the semis at Worlds. I’ll never forget that game, which is too bad because I don’t think it was filmed as it was held at 9:00a so there weren’t very many spectators. The setting was surreal (in a gutted stadium used for communist propaganda demonstrations), and those guys are a true class act and inspiration. I’m still in a little disbelief that we won that game.
Favorite game or tournament moment outside of Revolver:
In 2007 the Southwest region had only one bid to Nationals and Mamabird duked it out with Black Tide in the finals. At one point it was 14-14 in a game to 16, but then we scored and I got the D to help put the game away at 16. I was completely drained after that game. I guess that’s why I love playing competitive Ultimate so much — it’s such a great feeling to put everything on the line and be completely invested in the outcome. It can be crushing in defeat, but success can be the best feeling in your life.
Favorite Ultimate player(s) in formative years:
Gotta be Joshua “Richter” Ackley. He was captain and Callahan winner my first year on Colorado, and I still think he’s the most fiery, competitive player I’ve seen.
Favorite tournament:
Club Nationals
What makes ___ so dangerous?
I like to think that I make everyone around me better. I like the process of building a team, getting better every day, and working things out with the teammates at practice. Also, I’m tall.
Theme song:
Trick Daddy – I’m a Thug
Pre-game ritual:
None. Fire up.
What I like to eat on Saturday night of a tournament:
Pasta, pasta, pasta.
If I didn’t play Ultimate, my main pastime outside of work would be:
After I retire I will learn to play the piano well enough to play Chopin Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op 64, No 2.
Favorite sports team outside of Ultimate:
Denver Nuggets
In terms of Kanners, how tan are you?
1/6
Something unknown about me:
Until I started playing Ultimate I had never broken a bone. Now I’m up to four: broken ribs/punctured lung; stress fracture in my foot; 5th meta-carpal; broken toe on Beau’s fat foot playing beach Ultimate.