The new culture that has sprouted around lacrosse is being called “lax bro” culture. There are debates questioning the influence this culture can have on the growing sport, and whether those influences are good or bad. Lacrosse is attracting athletes from all different sports, but especially baseball, football, and hockey. The mindset, training, and strategies are similar to that of hockey. Football players are always looking for a sport similar…
Playing lacrosse in high school, I remember a teammate of mine. He was a year younger than but a very talented, athletic person; a solid performance on the varsity football team and varsity lacrosse starting his sophomore year. In a highly anticipated away game of ours, we drove two or three hours to the Lancaster, PA area to compete with an opponent who had a history of beating us. As…
There are many aspects to consider when thinking about the growth of lacrosse. The sport has its own culture; when expanding internationally there are thousands of national cultures that may (not) agree with the game’s style. In other words, just because lacrosse is accepted in the US and Canada does not mean global cultures will be as accepting or thrilled. Now, let’s channel this idea: American and Canadian lacrosse. For…
I had the privilege of being located near Hatfield, PA where the Philadelphia Wings hold their annual training camps at BucksMont Indoor Sports Complex courtesy of a season ticket-holding fan. I not only got to see good lacrosse (considering it’s training camp) but also had the chance to make many observations and be educated on the Wings specifically. I spoke with Rocco Granato, the ILWT representative who writes about the…
Two young players stand out to me when looking at the Buffalo Bandits going into their 2014 Preseason Training Camps: Nick Diachenko and Mitch Wilde. A quick background bio shows us the following:Mitch Wilde comes out of Robert Morris University and was selected by the MSL Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks in their 2012 draft. He was a second round 15thselection as a defender. While in college attendance, he played 26 career NCAA…
The Bulldogs have an interesting season ahead of them when you consider the 2013 spring season. Of all fifty full-team members seven have graduated. Forty-three returning teammates, having a season together under their belts, and coached by Andy Shay, Yale University Men’s lacrosse is in a great position to achieve high potential this upcoming season.
The NLL does not pay multi-million dollar salaries. Players make between nothing but paid expenses to a rare maximum of $30,000. Almost every player in the league holds a full time or a few part time jobs on the side. Some are teachers, others are contractors/landscapers and bartenders, to name a few. Games and practices mostly take place on weekends, and some players fly/long distance travel to participate. Most athletes…
Cornell University just released a statement regarding their dismissal of Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach Ben DeLuca this week. Though they stated his firing was entirely due to the direction they want the program to go, most beliefs are aiming at the recent reports of hazing on their team. There has been a lot of shady news in the world of sports across the board lately. Richie Incognito of the…
I like to consider myself an optimistic and sympathetic person. In addition, I find myself very analytical. On the latter subject of analysis, what in the lacrosse god’s name were the Bandits thinking when drafting Eric Penney this year? As my favorite NFL Monday Night Countdown hosts like to say, “C’mon, man!” The kid is 19 years old out of Rexdale, Ontario, a metropolitan area sitting geographically north…
Colin Boucher is a 25 year old coming from the Canadian Lacrosse League. Standing in on defense at 6’5” and 235 lbs, he is a big boy. It makes sense the Bandits would sign more defensemen as they focused heavily on forwards and transition players for the majority of the offseason. I have to ask, though, is Boucher a good fit for the Bandits? Boucher comes to Buffalo…