Major League Lacrosse had a successful All-Star Game in Houston on Saturday. With an announced crowd of 10,084 on hand to watch the game, it was a great way to showcase the league to a new audience. And, a what a great show they got. Two fans got to pick each team and named them after their high school mascots. The game was a fast-paced offensive explosion, which featured 142 shots and 42 goals. It is the way to get prospective MLL fans to want more.
I lived in Dallas in the late ’90’s, early ’00’s and whenever I had my stick out, people thought I was about to attack them. But, in the last 10-15 years, the sport has grown so much in Texas. Kids in Texas are just as likely to be playing lacrosse as they are baseball. It was great to bring the pro game to the Lone Star state and a rapidly growing audience. The response by Houston was outstanding and they did everything first class. They held three days of camps and clinics leading up to the game. Houston proved they are worthy of an expansion team. It would make sense to get into the fourth largest city in the United States with a ton of Fortune 500 companies there next year.
Add in Atlanta to the conversation after a successful Championship Game last season that saw over 8,000 fans see a one-goal thriller between Denver and Rochester. The league will head back to Kennesaw State in August further showing this market wants lacrosse.
These markets have shown they can draw the fans and host great events. It is time for the league to work its way into these markets starting next season.
All-Star Game Balls
Jeremy Boltus, Gladiators (Rochester): Captain Boltus took home Game MVP honors with six goals including a hat trick in the 4th quarter. As usual, Boltus got in the right spots, did the dirty work, and was able to finish.
Tyler Fiorito, Gladiators (Chesapeake): A much deserved All-Star start after an outstanding first half of the season, Fiorito shut out the Cowboys for more than 15 minutes from the end of the first quarter to late in the second. His team went on an 8-0 run during the stretch.
Tom Schreiber, Gladiators (Ohio): The second year pro and first time All-Star finished with four goals, two assists and five ground balls. It’s appropriate for the city that used to have the NFL Oilers to have one of the Machine oil up the game.
ASG MLL Top 8
1- New York (8-0). Seems like only arrogance and over confidence can take this team down.
2- Rochester (5-3). Galloway and defense may be the best in the MLL.
3- Ohio (5-3). Have won 5 of their last 6 and are a team no one wants to face.
4- Chesapeake (4-4). With Joe Walters back in the mix, this offense is hard to stop.
5-Denver (4-4). Strange to say, but goaltending has been a huge problem.
6- Boston (4-4). They are young and talented, but still having some growing pains.
7- Charlotte (1-7). Can’t score and struggle to defend, not a good combo.
8- Florida (1-7). All that talent yet they are the lowest scoring offense in the league.
Brendan McDaniels is a color analyst for the MLL Television broadcasts and can be seen Sunday, June 28th at 1 p.m. as the Rattlers host the Machine on ESPN3 and various Regional Sports Networks throughout the country. Follow Brendan on Twitter @BMcDTWCSports.
