Welcome to Our Forums. Once you've registered and logged in, you're primed to talk football, among other topics, with the sharpest and most experienced fantasy players on the internet.
I played when I was younger, and would've played in HS but was continually injured from the fall soccer season and was never healthy for the spring lacrosse....I was never that good anyway.It's huge here at the high school level, but I don't follow HS lacrosse at all. Indoor lacrosse is actually huge here with the Buffalo Bandits. Probably the biggest NLL fanbase in the league, I'd think.I do follow college lacrosse, although I've only been following it for a few years. ESPNU has great coverage with a few games every weekend - there were some good games yesterday - Duke upset #1 UVA and the Army/Navy game.
I watched the JHU/MD game yesterday too. JHU really blew that early lead they had.
They really did. Very young squad though.
I almost PM'd you to come save this thread after it looked like it was destined for 0 replies
Bratton brothers are both sickETA: they were on last night in the UVA game....are they both seniors?
I think they are Jrs.Another thing that has changed the game immensely is the new turf that everyone uses. It has all but eliminated the bounce shot. I used to have my kids run one sprint every time they didnt bounce it and they were stopped. You cant do that anymore since it will bounce right to the goalie.I almost PM'd you to come save this thread after it looked like it was destined for 0 repliesBratton brothers are both sick
ETA: they were on last night in the UVA game....are they both seniors?
All i know is that in a year and a half, my brother went from never playing the sport and getting cut from his middle school team to starting on the varsity, making the top summer travel team in NJ and getting letters from D1 schools (including the Ivy's). If he can do that, after being very mediocre at every other sport he tried, i gotta think a 5'11 200 lb RB that runs a 4.4 would catch on pretty quick.
This is not far from the truth. All you need to be in lax is an athlete. There is a very quick learning curve. Many people can pick it up late and be very good if they are athletesIt doesnt diminish the sport though IMOAll i know is that in a year and a half, my brother went from never playing the sport and getting cut from his middle school team to starting on the varsity, making the top summer travel team in NJ and getting letters from D1 schools (including the Ivy's). If he can do that, after being very mediocre at every other sport he tried, i gotta think a 5'11 200 lb RB that runs a 4.4 would catch on pretty quick.
No doubt that great athletes can become very good lacrosse players. Great athletes can usually become very good at most sports with coaching and dedication.Your statement may have been intended as hyperbole. I hope so, because the idea that you could take a bunch of great athletes and introduce them to a completely new sport and have them be competitive with the top D-I programs in a year is just ludicrous.All i know is that in a year and a half, my brother went from never playing the sport and getting cut from his middle school team to starting on the varsity, making the top summer travel team in NJ and getting letters from D1 schools (including the Ivy's). If he can do that, after being very mediocre at every other sport he tried, i gotta think a 5'11 200 lb RB that runs a 4.4 would catch on pretty quick.
I think the general consensus is that most lacrosse players are not athletic enough to do D1 football or basketball - after all, Jim Brown is considered the best lacrosse player of all time. He was had such an athletic advantage over his competition.All i know is that in a year and a half, my brother went from never playing the sport and getting cut from his middle school team to starting on the varsity, making the top summer travel team in NJ and getting letters from D1 schools (including the Ivy's). If he can do that, after being very mediocre at every other sport he tried, i gotta think a 5'11 200 lb RB that runs a 4.4 would catch on pretty quick.
There is a slight amount of hyperbole in my statement. Maybe a year is too short a time frame. But honestly, given world class coaching (lets say the coach from Cuse of JHU or Duke or wherever) and a decent amount of time to mold a team out of a group of very high level D1 football players, i don't think it would take them a ton of time to be competitive. And honestly, if they had 2 years of practice as a team, i think they could be pretty darn good (maybe final 4 good). I respect the guys that play the sport, but its just a different level of athlete. Size and speed are just a huge part of the game and at this point, the guys that are playing it are almost entirely white kids from the northeast. Nothing against white kids from the northeast (I'm one of them) but the guys from other parts of the country (mostly black guys) are just on another level. Yeah, they'd need time to learn stick skills, but based on what I've seen of the Lax learning curve, it wouldn't take them that much time.No doubt that great athletes can become very good lacrosse players. Great athletes can usually become very good at most sports with coaching and dedication.Your statement may have been intended as hyperbole. I hope so, because the idea that you could take a bunch of great athletes and introduce them to a completely new sport and have them be competitive with the top D-I programs in a year is just ludicrous.All i know is that in a year and a half, my brother went from never playing the sport and getting cut from his middle school team to starting on the varsity, making the top summer travel team in NJ and getting letters from D1 schools (including the Ivy's). If he can do that, after being very mediocre at every other sport he tried, i gotta think a 5'11 200 lb RB that runs a 4.4 would catch on pretty quick.
As for your statement about the level of pure athlete that plays the sport at the college level, there is some truth to it. The average D-I lacrosse player isn't going to be comparable to a DB or RB at a major college football program in terms of size/strength or explosiveness. But as the sport grows in popularity nationally there are more and more truly athletic kids playing the game. A few are true athletic freaks.
Look at Virginia. The Bratton brothers are both elite athletes. Both Syracuse and Virginia have had players who turned down D-I football scholarships to play lacrosse over the last several years as well.
Or take a look at a guy like Paul Rabil, who was an AA at JHU a couple years back. He is 6'3" 225 pounds and is one of the fastest guys on the field. He has great feet and quickness. He can also shoot the ball 110 mph. And can shoot accurately, with either hand, while on the run. Could he play in the NFL? No. But he could have been a good LB or WR in college. Maybe not a top player at a BCS school, but he definitely has the athletic ability to have been a productive D-I football player.
Well, I can't disagree totally. There aren't too many real sports where being bigger AND faster than the other players isn't an advantage. The best lacrosse players have always been good athletes. Good feet, quickness and straight line speed all factor into that...as well as hand/eye coordination. So a guy who is 5'8" and 175 pounds, but quick and fast could have historically become a top flight lacrosse player if his skills were good enough. The difference between now and 20+ years ago is the size of the players. There are more and more good athletes who also happen to be big and strong who are playing the game. Is it isn't anything like football at this stage, though. And you can take a good natural athlete and turn them into a decent lacrosse player pretty quickly. I can't deny that...I've seen it happen.There is a slight amount of hyperbole in my statement. Maybe a year is too short a time frame. But honestly, given world class coaching (lets say the coach from Cuse of JHU or Duke or wherever) and a decent amount of time to mold a team out of a group of very high level D1 football players, i don't think it would take them a ton of time to be competitive. And honestly, if they had 2 years of practice as a team, i think they could be pretty darn good (maybe final 4 good). I respect the guys that play the sport, but its just a different level of athlete. Size and speed are just a huge part of the game and at this point, the guys that are playing it are almost entirely white kids from the northeast. Nothing against white kids from the northeast (I'm one of them) but the guys from other parts of the country (mostly black guys) are just on another level. Yeah, they'd need time to learn stick skills, but based on what I've seen of the Lax learning curve, it wouldn't take them that much time.No doubt that great athletes can become very good lacrosse players. Great athletes can usually become very good at most sports with coaching and dedication.Your statement may have been intended as hyperbole. I hope so, because the idea that you could take a bunch of great athletes and introduce them to a completely new sport and have them be competitive with the top D-I programs in a year is just ludicrous.All i know is that in a year and a half, my brother went from never playing the sport and getting cut from his middle school team to starting on the varsity, making the top summer travel team in NJ and getting letters from D1 schools (including the Ivy's). If he can do that, after being very mediocre at every other sport he tried, i gotta think a 5'11 200 lb RB that runs a 4.4 would catch on pretty quick.
As for your statement about the level of pure athlete that plays the sport at the college level, there is some truth to it. The average D-I lacrosse player isn't going to be comparable to a DB or RB at a major college football program in terms of size/strength or explosiveness. But as the sport grows in popularity nationally there are more and more truly athletic kids playing the game. A few are true athletic freaks.
Look at Virginia. The Bratton brothers are both elite athletes. Both Syracuse and Virginia have had players who turned down D-I football scholarships to play lacrosse over the last several years as well.
Or take a look at a guy like Paul Rabil, who was an AA at JHU a couple years back. He is 6'3" 225 pounds and is one of the fastest guys on the field. He has great feet and quickness. He can also shoot the ball 110 mph. And can shoot accurately, with either hand, while on the run. Could he play in the NFL? No. But he could have been a good LB or WR in college. Maybe not a top player at a BCS school, but he definitely has the athletic ability to have been a productive D-I football player.
Yeah, but he's also considered the best football player of all time.
The Claytons went thru our program. Great players and great kids. Last I heard, Brian was playing for Chicago in MLLFan through following Cornell for years.Although after the last couple of games vs Syracuse, I'm beginning to ask myself why I submit myself to the torture.
The championship game last year was a heart-breaker. I know the goalie who started for Cornell last year and I felt so bad for him. He and the defense gagged pretty badly in the last part of the 4th quarter. And it was a shame because Jake had been standing on his head for most of the tournament.Fan through following Cornell for years.Although after the last couple of games vs Syracuse, I'm beginning to ask myself why I submit myself to the torture.
I still don't like thinking about it. It was amazing how everything crumbled so quickly.At least I was more ready for it last week when SU won on a last second game-winning goal after the new kid made 20 saves.
:("Why is it when people copy their butts it comes out perfect?"
I was at the game at Gillette and still have never seen a tape of the full last half-minute from when Cornell had the restart after the bad pass out of bounds.What I thought was that the Cornell defenseman ... I can't remember if it was Moyer -- seemed to have an alley for the clear up the left side from where he started, but instead threw it across to the right side. That was where Syracuse's ride forced the turnover.Still, an unbelievable heartbreaker and a shame given how great the Big Red had played for 59+ minutes.The championship game last year was a heart-breaker. I know the goalie who started for Cornell last year and I felt so bad for him. He and the defense gagged pretty badly in the last part of the 4th quarter. And it was a shame because Jake had been standing on his head for most of the tournament.Fan through following Cornell for years.Although after the last couple of games vs Syracuse, I'm beginning to ask myself why I submit myself to the torture.
I had that on my DVR for a long time afterwards, but I've since deleted it.I remember I had to leave during the mid-3rd, and I set it to tape, making sure I put in a lot of extra time for OT. Good decision....I was at the game at Gillette and still have never seen a tape of the full last half-minute from when Cornell had the restart after the bad pass out of bounds.What I thought was that the Cornell defenseman ... I can't remember if it was Moyer -- seemed to have an alley for the clear up the left side from where he started, but instead threw it across to the right side. That was where Syracuse's ride forced the turnover.Still, an unbelievable heartbreaker and a shame given how great the Big Red had played for 59+ minutes.The championship game last year was a heart-breaker. I know the goalie who started for Cornell last year and I felt so bad for him. He and the defense gagged pretty badly in the last part of the 4th quarter. And it was a shame because Jake had been standing on his head for most of the tournament.Fan through following Cornell for years.Although after the last couple of games vs Syracuse, I'm beginning to ask myself why I submit myself to the torture.
Do you ever go to Bandits games?I had that on my DVR for a long time afterwards, but I've since deleted it.I remember I had to leave during the mid-3rd, and I set it to tape, making sure I put in a lot of extra time for OT. Good decision....I was at the game at Gillette and still have never seen a tape of the full last half-minute from when Cornell had the restart after the bad pass out of bounds.What I thought was that the Cornell defenseman ... I can't remember if it was Moyer -- seemed to have an alley for the clear up the left side from where he started, but instead threw it across to the right side. That was where Syracuse's ride forced the turnover.Still, an unbelievable heartbreaker and a shame given how great the Big Red had played for 59+ minutes.The championship game last year was a heart-breaker. I know the goalie who started for Cornell last year and I felt so bad for him. He and the defense gagged pretty badly in the last part of the 4th quarter. And it was a shame because Jake had been standing on his head for most of the tournament.Fan through following Cornell for years.Although after the last couple of games vs Syracuse, I'm beginning to ask myself why I submit myself to the torture.
Unfortunately not on TV tonight (ESPN U)And the Warrior Classic is on tomorrow
I have been to a few, I've been going to basically 1/year for the last few. Just started going fairly recently, although my parents say they used to take me when I was a little kid (not that I remember).They're absolutely huge around here, and routinely sell out (or come close to) the HSBC Arena. I went to a game in late January, they were 0-2 or 0-3 to start the season, and there were still 17,000 people there. Pretty crazy.
I brought my team to The NY Titans game a few years ago. Was a great experience. Lots of fun and an autograph session on the turf after the game.
For a minor league niche sport, the NLL has a pretty good product. The lack of a TV deal hurts the league tremendously though. That and the instability of the franchises outside of Buffalo, Philly and Rochester.
My school starts having clinics for 1st and 2nd graders. Official games do not start until 3rd grade.Your daughter is perfect age to start. I would say your son can start learning next year. Hopefully there is a good program near you.ETA: Hockey is a bum out for our program. We get tons of hockey players that play from grades 7-10 and then quit because hockey is such a commitment. We have a great hockey program (finished #2 in the state, lost in OT in semis, but were up 3-1 with 31 seconds left) but our lax program can benefit from the kids that quit.
Good info, thanks! UNC Women's LAX hosts a camp (unfortunately my girl is still in school), but besides that I see nothing for young kids out there. To my surprise (hey we have UNC and Duke 20 miles away), LAX is just cathcing on locally...which I think is great so my kids can actually play in HS.
Need to find out if my FIL went down for this and get an update from him if he did.
Only $5? I might pick it up....I'm sure the gameplay isn't anything great, but it's probably worth a try.
to Mark Steenhuis on the top right corner of the cover.
