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CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, Editorial, From the Stands, IL Indoor, National Lacrosse League, Toronto Rock, Toronto Shooting Stars

Guest Columnist: Chris Smith says Toronto may be the City of Champions in 2013

TorontoSkyline.ca

Editors Note: Today we have a special treat for you, especially if you bleed the Blue and White emblematic of Canada’s largest city. From out of the blue (and white), IL Indoor received the following column from Chris Smith, of the Toronto Smiths. Okay, we’re having a little fun, but this is a fun column. It’s also an interesting take on the resurgence of athletic success in Ontario’s capital, something that has been in short supply outside of Rock circles for quite a while. Enjoy.

The 2012 Argos may have kicked off a change in Canada’s largest city when they won the top prize in Canadian Football, the  103 year old Grey Cup. It was only the second championship for the team in 15 years, after a period of perennial powerhouses claiming the cup. Without even leaving the same building, the Toronto Blue Jays are set to be a powerhouse this summer after as series of surprise moves in the off-season have made them significantly better. Fans are more excited about the ball club this year than at any time since Joe Carter was instructed to touch ‘em all because he’ll never have a bigger moment. Even the Leafs might make the playoffs, however the Surgeon General is warning against the adverse health effects of Leaf Nation holding their collective breath on Lord Stanley being paraded down Yonge St. READ MORE »

From the Stands, IL Indoor, Inside Lacrosse, National Lacrosse League, Off the Rug, Rochester Knighthawks, The Life

Off the Crossebar Podcast with the NLL’s newest 200 club entrant

Craig Rybczynski (foreground), the first 200-game announcer in NLL history, with partner in crime Chris Driscoll.

Actually–he’s the only member of this elite club. 200 National Lacrosse League games under his belt yet he’s never scored a goal. He’s never assisted on one, either. 200 games and he’s never even suited up for an NLL team and yet he will most definitely be a candidate for the Hall of Fame one day.

For the past twelve NLL seasons, Craig Rybczynski has been the voice of the Rochester Knighthawks and he’s seen it all. Thrilling OT play-off games, sock-tricks, championship wins and loses as well as pretty much every great player to ever step foot on the NLL’s turfs. But this past weekend was extra special for the Buffalo, New York native who called his 200th NLL contest, the only broadcaster in that elusive club. But that’s not all. Just 24 hours earlier, he and his wife Amy welcomed their second child to the lacrosse family and an amazing weekend he will never forget was complete. READ MORE »

Behind the Scenes, From the Stands, IL Indoor, National Lacrosse League, Toronto Rock, Washington Stealth

Who knew that future Hall of Famers break dance? Hear more on Boxla Beat

There’s a reason why players are selected to be captains in the National Lacrosse League. It’s pretty easy to see the qualities that led to my guests today on Boxla Beat being named captain of their teams when you hear them talking about their teams and the game of lacrosse. Colin Doyle is a consummate veteran who balances mad skills with a strong sense of how the game should be played. You may not like him if he’s on another team, but if he played for your team you’d love him. Either way, he commands respect in the game. Kyle Sorensen is only 26 but has been viewed as a leader for years, both in Peterborough and Washington. Sorensen started wearing an A for the Lakers and Stealth in his early 20s. He’s still a young player but he was a natural for the Stealth’s leadership role when Jasom Bloom retired. Hear Doyle talk about the Rock’s team culture that demands a commitment to excellence and Sorensen talking about how the Stealth have turned it around to sit within a half-game of first in the West Division after missing the playoffs last year. And find out which lacrosse legend was break dancing in the Peterborough Lakers dressing room before Game 6 of the 2012 Mann Cup. All on this week’s episode of Boxla Beat on NLL Radio.

From the Stands, IL Indoor, National Lacrosse League

Check it out: NLLoverNHL.com

Show your friends this neat site. (Photo: NLLoverNHL.com)

Tired of the NHL lockout and high ticket prices? So are the folks who created the website NLLoverNHL.com. The site gives viewers reasons to watch National Lacrosse League games this season to either provide respite for NHL fans, or, in the best case scenario, create new full-time fans for the NLL. Developers of the site are encouraging fans to reply with the hashtag of #NLLoverNHL as a response to whining about the NHL and its current situation. The site’s made the rounds through Twitter for a while now. But if you missed it, here’s your chance to catch up with the times.

From the Stands, Washington Stealth

Who are those Green Men in Washington?

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. READ MORE »

From the Stands

Knighthawks: This one’s for you, Jack

The fellas of the National Lacrosse League run into all sorts of fans, but every once in a while, they get a special one. That’s what Jack Tuite was to the Rochester Knighthawks. A special fan. And that’s what makes his passing so difficult to fathom, especially in knowing he was just 20 years old. Tuite, a season-ticket holder, died the day after Rochester’s season-opening victory over the Buffalo Bandits. Throughout his 20 years, he dealt with Tourette’s Syndrome, epilepsy and diabetes, but it was heart failure on Jan. 10 that took him from this earth. Jack’s brother, Brendan, reached out to the Knighthawks and to help honor Jack’s memory, Brendan will drop the ceremonial faceoff before Saturday’s 2 p.m. game against the Boston Blazers. You can read all about it here in a touching story written by Warren Kosel of the Knighthawks.

From the Stands

Lacrosse Links: Lively discussions over on the NLL Forums

There’s a solid thread going right now over on the NLLInsider.com Forums discussing last week’s article about whether the Champions Cup should be a series or a one-game final. This, friends, is the stuff that the forums were built for. Drop in and throw your thoughts (and vote) in if you’ve got a free minute… READ MORE »

From the Stands, The Life

Vinitage photo project brings lacrosse history to life

We’re all lacrosse nuts ’round these parts, but some of us are history nuts too and that’s why it’s so cool to give ya’ll a heads-up about this project that Tim Prothero is working on. Tim’s got The Vintage LaX Project up on-line at his Flickr account and if you head on over to view these photos, make sure you’ve got some time. There are a bunch. “If you played lacrosse between 1968 and 1985 in the OLA or pros … you may find yourself, no matter what level you played,” Prothero told me in an e-mail. It’s a work of beauty and includes great photos like this one of Adam Oates, who obviously went on to NHL stardom. But there’s more. Plenty more. READ MORE »

From the Stands

Fan Poll: Growth of the National Lacrosse League

One of the more interesting news items we’ve seen this season was word that sports agency giant IMG has an interest in buying the media and sponsorship rights of the National Lacrosse League for the next five years.

Every potential business deal comes equipped with a list of pros and cons, but if it’s a building block for growing the game of indoor lacrosse and legitimizing the league in the eyes of the sports-going public, then what’s the problem?

Well? READ MORE »

From the Stands

Fan Poll: Veltman and Finneran look like they could be HOFers in ‘09

This week’s fan poll proved a few things.

One, a couple dudes from Victoria and Ashton have way, way, way too much time on their hands. And two, Jim Veltman looks like an overwhelming favorite for entrance into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

After you scrape-away all the “extra” votes from the readers that really need to find a hobby, the former Rock captain and current team assistant coach got by far the most love.

The buzz is he’s also the guy the league is hearing about the most in their plea to the fans for who they’d like to see inducted this winter too. READ MORE »