Team USA 84-man player pool

The 84 man player pool has been established for the next iteration of the USA's national outdoor lacrosse team. The pool will be cut to 40 and then eventually to the ILF mandated 23 man roster. It is interesting to note that neither Casey [pictured] nor Mike Powell are listed, although Ryan is still eligible.

Most of the guys on the list played at the top [Cuse/UVA/UMD/Hopkins/Duke] tier of college lacrosse but there are a couple of notable exceptions in division 3 players Stephen Berger [WAC] and Eric Martin [Salisbury] and division 2 player Tom Zummo [NY Tech]. All 3 of them are big time players in the MLL.

It is impressive that Brian Dougherty is still in the running even though he graduated from UMD 13 years ago but what is even more impressive is that Dman John Gagliardi is still being considered. I mean, let's face it, goalies can stand around for much of the game and they don't have to be in tip-top shape if they are naturals [like Doc]. Dmen are expected to be able to cover the best offensive players in the game and in order to do so, they need to be in top condition. Gags is something special in that respect because he has always been a beast but his skill and precision with the longstick never ceases to amaze me. For further proof [and the opportunity for young dmen to learn some new skills!] check out this video from Maverik and Lax.com:

http://www.lax.com/story.phtml?story=2233

It will be interesting to see where the team ends up in terms of roster but so far the 84 men selected are skilled athletes that will represent the USA with pride and determination. A lot less repeat players were selected and that makes some sense considering what happened during the last world championships where the US lost to our neighbor to the North.

To see the entire list: http://insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=198911

MLL Craziness! Part III

follow the link below to a more detailed explanation of the MLL's impending contraction:
http://www.examiner.com/x-1475-Boston-Lacrosse-Examiner~y2009m2d13-Major-League-Lacrosse-reportedly-contracting-teams-Boston-Cannons-safe-for-now

I like the move to Toronto. Rochester was given their shot and couldn't make it work. Toronto did well with the NLL's Toronto Rock franchise so I sincerely hope the MLL team sees the same successes.

Seems like Boston, LI and the Bayhawks will all be fine. Chicago seems to be sticking it out but the fortunes of the Chicago Shamrox do not bode well for the Machine's future, nor do the Machine's past attendance numbers.

MLL Craziness! Part II

http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/news/pressreleases/index.html?article_id=1270

So the MLL is improving its social networking but reducing the number of teams in the league from 10 to 6? Wow.

Now I know that facebook is the biggest thing ever right now in terms of popularity. Supposedly it is even worth a lot of money. However, that money is not real money in the sense that the revenues minus the costs simply do not add up to the purported net present value of the asset[the asset being facebook]. The asset's value is SO high that there is even the potential to see a second DotCom style recession where many websites are simply not creating substantial returns [AGAIN!]and then just like the early 2000s we will see a major drop in values.

Back to the lax side of things...

The MLL needs to focus less on gimicks, less on social networking, less on dance teams and more on the actual products that relate to lacrosse. If they want to be successful they should also work on their website BASICS such as: updating scores quickly, supplying photos and game recaps for more than one game a week, streaming games online for a small fee or something along those lines. Facebook is great but why would someone sign up for the MLL's network when they can't even get the lacrosse and business part right first? There really isn't any one place to get good info on the MLL and the fact that the league itself is not providing this much needed info will not help them in the long run. It seems like the league doesn't even believe in its product enough to feature it on its own website!

MLL Craziness!

Looks like the MLL franchise in Philly is folding. Sad considering that they won the whole shabang a couple of times and were the closest thing the MLL had to a dynasty. LA and San Fran are also going down the drain... or you can place Chi-town on the list and remove one of the Cali squads. Seems like it is still up in the air. The Rochester to Toronto move seems to be real though.

http://www.lax.com/story.phtml?story=2218

On a side note: If 4 MLL teams actually fold this spring/summer the talent on those teams is going to be dispersed among the 6 teams left over. With Rochester moving to Toronoto, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Rattlers [Toronoto Rattlers? that makes about as much sense as the Utah Jazz!] add even more Canadian talent. This means that summer club tournaments may be getting back to the days where they were loaded with Div 1 All-Americans and you could see some of the best lacrosse players in the world for free... and maybe even play against them!

I remember playing with Billy Daye, Bill Edell and a bunch of other Cannons players before the MLL ever started and that opportunity made me a much better player. I remember playing against Paul Gait at Lake Placid and thinking to myself after the game, "I just threw a kayak covering one of the absolute best ever". These were terrific experiences and while I am sad to see the MLL shrink, I will try to look at it as an opportunity for a whole new generation to play against the best of the best in great summer places like Glastonbury, Lake Placid, Vail and all of the other summer club tourneys.





above: Glastonbury action from 2008

MLL in Canada? Possibly...

An investment group in Toronto is looking to lure Rochester's MLL franchise up to the great white North.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090210.LACROSSE10/TPStory/Sports

With a considerable amount of Canadian talent already on the team, the Rattlers would be primed for success in Toronto, where lacrosse is a relatively well known sport [albeit the indoor version]. The NLL franchise, the Toronto Rock, does quite well over the winter so it makes sense that fans would come out for lacrosse outdoors once the weather warms up a little.

It is interesting that while one team in the MLL is entertaining a move to another country, 5 others teams are still owned by the league... seems like all of these teams need to get on the same page because a fragmented league in an economic situation like our current one spells disaster.