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Jason Bloom of the Stealth helped coach the Green Men, and didn't know it. (Photo: The Green Men)

The goal of any new team in any professional sport is to draw fans, and keep them. The National Lacrosse League’s Stealth are no different, working hard to win over a new fan base in Everett, Wash., after relocating from San Jose, Calif., for the 2010 season. Notching an 11-5 record in the regular season and a West Division title certainly helps draw fans, but anyone who’s watched the team this year, in person or on-line, has probably noticed that small group of fans at each Stealth game this season. They’re over there, right next to the penalty box and they’re tough to miss because they’re active fans. They’re also green. Thus follows the story of the Washington Stealth Green Men.

We caught up with a member of the Green Men via email this past week and make no mistake, they’re a proud bunch. Mostly anonymous, they’re a group of high school students from The Overlake School in Redmond, Wash., who purchased the green suits on-line as a way to support their high school basketball team and other school-related groups.

“We decided to wear the suits to one of the first Stealth games in order to show support, promote lacrosse awareness in our area, and have fun,” said the green man, who we’ll call A. “We began to come to the Stealth home games regularly to cheer on the team, bother the players in the penalty box, pass out lacrosse balls at half-time, dance, and dish out high-fives.”

It’s been a crazy success. A says the number of Green Men has varied for each Stealth game but it’s usually around 6 or 7 per game. They’re anonymous, for the most part, their identity known only among each other, some of their own lacrosse teammates and some of the Stealth players.

“Part of the whole fun of being in the green suits is being mysterious and nameless,” said A, who adds that the Green Men wear street clothes to the game and change into their suits in an arena bathroom. “Fans do not focus on us individually but as the idea of the green squad as a whole – further contributing to our mission to bring more spirit and energy to the games.”

The Green Men have made a name for themselves by harrassing the penalty box. (Photo: The Green Men)

Fans at the games have been great, asking for photos and exchanging high-fives. They’ll hand out lacrosse balls to fans and during some games, fans make their way to the Green Men just to hang with ‘em. But the real fun starts when opponents are sent to the penalty box.

“We have encountered only a few players that have laughed along with us,” said A. “A healthy number of the players are not happy to see us and simply attempt to ignore the yelling and taunting.”

But, sometimes they play along.

“An Edmonton defender in the West Division Final sprayed one of us in the face with water,” said A. “I would say that our taunting successfully got to his head.”

The Green Men have been lucky enough to meet several of the Stealth players, including Lewis Ratcliff and Paul Rabil at a local shooting clinic, said A. They also have met team captain Jason Bloom, or should we say Bloom has met them. Bloom actually coaches at Overlake and A says that about 1 month ago, the players at Overlake actually let him in on the secret that the players he coaches are the Green Men he’s seen at his own games.

“(He) didn’t know that his own players were among the Green Men cheering him on until around a month ago,” said A. “That conversation was hilarious. Other than Mr. Bloom, I assume that the remainder of the team does not personally know us.”

Yet for as much fun as the green men have, they may not be able to attend Saturday’s Champion’s Cup final. They’re scheduled to play King’s Way on Saturday, which is near the Washington-Oregon border. It’s a long drive and the current scheduled start time for the game will not allow them to return in time for the Stealth game.

So A offers this public plea to switch the start time of their game:

“Dear King’s Way lacrosse program,
“Please move your game with Overlake to an earlier time on Saturday, May 15th. The Stealth Green Men need to be at the Championship Game in Everett at 7:30 to cheer on Washington’s team. Because you nearly live in Oregon, I know you may not be as excited as us city-folk about the game, but it would be awesome if we had 3 hours to drive back up to Everett after we play. Thank you.

Sincerely, The Stealth Green Men”

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