I just saw top 25 polls for NCAA lacrosse -- and was struck that almost all the teams are east of the Appalachians -- only Notre Dame and Ohio State lie west (not that much further west!) -- and go no further south than Durham/Chapel Hill. And I'm wondering why. Even water polo, which is anchored in California, has top teams scattered from Hawaii to Michigan to MIT (who knew!?).

I guess is it starts with the high schools -- prep schools, really. This U. of Michigan article shows that their club program -- which they hope to turn into a varsity program -- will aim at recruiting NE and Mid-Atlantic kids who might normally go to Division III schools.

In Wisconsin no kids play lacrosse -- we only know it as the name of a pretty city on the bluffs of the Mississippi!

Possibly, this phenomenon is related to the scarcity of Land Rover dealers in Wisconsin.

Lax is virtually unknown in HS in the Pacific Northwest until recently, and no doubt other west-of-the-Appalachian US (and Canada?) Hence, no crop of HS players to harvest.

Amazingly, even in urbane, sophisticated Alexandria VA, this is the first year for lax as a team sport at T. C. Williams HS, the school of "Remember the Titans" fame (or infamy).

http://www.outsports.com/ubb/ultimatebb.ph...ic&f=9&t=000134

http://www.acps.k12.va.us/tcw/index.html

Here in Baltimore, college lacrosse is very big. In fact, last Saturday when other ABC stations were showing an NHL playoff game, the ABC affiliate here had a college lacrosse game.

It looks like an interesting sport. I'd like to see more of it if I got the chance. There's a game tomorrow that perhaps I'll make an effort to see (if I don't sleep all morning...heh heh)

Here's a link to the College Lacrosse page of the Baltimore Sun's website...I think you have to register to read their articles, but there are links to the individual schools' websites.

It does not seem to be a "Popular School Sport" up here in Canada. (It is our national sport, I believe) I can't recall or think of any high school that had a lacrosse team while I was attending, of course this was back in the eighties. So if the average school student doesn't play it in school, what are the chances that it will gain popularity?????

Why is lacrosse regional? Because its birthplace was at the Bryn Mawr school in Philadelphia, which was the hotbed for years before it spread to the schools in New England and then up and down the East Coast.

This year Whittier, a Division III school, will be the first school in the west to make the men's tournament (they are having an outstanding year). We work tirelessly to promote the sport out west and there are a number of club teams. California and Colorado both have very strong high school programs and New Mexico is on the verge of adding--I'm going out there to do a clinic to help with that spread.

Colorado hosts the largest tournament in the country each year at Vail and this is a great couple weeks of lacrosse.

While the collegiate season is about to wind down (check here later for my predictions), if you do get the chance to come to a game,please do!! It's a very exciting sport--the fastest sport on two feet! And spread the word...the more people we have watching, the more people are going to love it.

[quote]Originally posted by Chip:
Why is lacrosse regional? Because its birthplace was at the Bryn Mawr school in Philadelphia, which was the hotbed for years

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Heh. I never knew this. I can't say I ever remember lacrosse being that popular.

It does have a lot to do with the availability of the sport to younger kids. The mid atlantic has played lacrosse much longer in the schools and in club teams than the south or west in the US. And even then, many colleges dont field teams for it so that lowers the interest among kids too.
When I went to high school in North Carolina, there were maybe a small handful of high schools in the whole state who fielded a lacrosse team and they did tend to be the schools of the higher society.
I worked for a company during college who sold soccer and lacrosse equipment, and even lacrosse players who played didnt know what kind of equipment to buy. So its pretty new to them even today. But if more people watched it I think that they would like it more. Its like field hockey for men almost. You get to whack a kid in the arms with a 60 inch titanium hexagonal stick. What could be more fun that that when youre a teenager??

Recycling an old thread...while the college game is very popular here in Baltimore, this article from the Baltimore Sun talks about the pro team that's playing this summer isn't drawing very well.

And did you know that the "Body By Jake" guy is the league's founder?

[ July 19, 2002: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

Give it time. Remember that these guys also have other full-time jobs and that they are basically transient for the summer MLL season.

The All-Star game this season is going to be played in Bowie, Md on Sunday. Again, the problem is that most people are going to be at Ocean City on Sunday and won't be driving past the stadium until after the game is long over (I mean those people coming back from the beach.)

I also agree....make it a fall sport, because many college teams have a fallball season. The two could work well in tandem and could be a great catch in tandem with football. Sure, there might be a slight conflict, but with schools in session and kids not away at camps and the beach, there is more potential to get the fans in the stands.

It's big here on Long Island- it was popular when I was in HS ('70-'74), but we had to raise our own money for it, as the school stuck to the 'traditional' sports (they wouldn't let us have soccer, either) My 11 year old nephew just finished his first season of lacrosse in their community. When I lived in Reno, people thought I was nuts. (not much of a stretch there) Pete

2nd Long Islander here and yeah its big. my nephew played in a week long mini camp (hes 8) and they had the biggest turnout ever and had to turn away 75 kids. LAX is big here. ( on an aside i took him to two practice days and let me just say hs and college guys in LAX shorts doing the coaching.... ok im 32 but when is his next practice im takin him again

Pix here:
http://www.alllacrosseamerica.com/entertai...ery/gallery.asp

And from upstate New York, Joe D'Arrigo of Henniger High School tries to block West Genesee player Andrew Hanover at Roosevelt Field in Syracuse.

[img]http://www.syracuse.com/cgi-bin/nph-cachecam.cgi?url=photo.live.advance.net/syr/images/613/050602_lax_gjw_.jpg&ct=10800[/img]

[ July 23, 2002: Message edited by: twin58 ]

I've kinda got an equiptment fetish, and let me tell ya what, this sport is awesome. I love the uniform, it's like a cross between preseason football, hockey, and BMX. These are some hot guys too!

**woof**

[quote]Originally posted by MSUBobcat:
I've kinda got an equiptment fetish,...

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Hmmm. I do a lot of yardsaling, and I love to buy secondhand sports equipment. Hockey, lacrosse, football: kids (or rather, their parents) sell that stuff off for pennies on the dollar.

I like to go out to garage sales too, big time. I enjoy buying used sports equiptment a lot more when it's some hottie that's willing to tell me the story behind why he's selling it. I just wish that more people would sell their stuff though, it's slim pickens here in town.

I like recieving **ummm** equiptment in the mail (accompanied by a picture of the origial owner in the equiptment) better. wink wink, nudge nudge. he he he

Yeah. I can't imagine that Helena would be much good for yard sales. Missoula and Bozeman would be lots better; maybe Butte too. There are a few thrift stores in Billings, probably Butte as well.

Well, moving away from the equipment angle...and wondering if someone, and I won't name any names, is the type who receives used jockstraps in the mail...

...I bought a ticket for the Baltimore Bayhawks game this Saturday night at Ravens Stadium, so I'll be attending my first lacrosse game. Well, outdoors, anyway--a lot of years ago I did see an indoor game in Philly (a different league than the indoor league that exists now).

One more quick visit to the Equiptment angle: I haven't recieved a Jock in the mail yet, but I don't think I'd protest too much if one showed up on my doorstep.

Ok back to lacrosse: I had a roomate in my fraternity in college that was from back east somewhere, and he played Lacrosse. He had the stick and everything. It was kind of weird to watch him practice all by himself due to the fact that "us Montana bumkins" tain't never seen a stick thingy with a net on it before. But he was pretty hot, and seemed to know what he was doing. Dang I wish I would have had him show me how to play while I was there.

[quote] Its like field hockey for men almost.

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Well, sort of, but men do play field hockey! I play both and they are very different!

JinP(, enjoy the Bayhawks game. Remember that it is not traditional lacrosse (2 point shots and shot clock) and there is more contact allowed in the MLL than in the college game, but it is still a version of the game and it's getting out there.

You men in LI should take a trip to see the Lizards play (pro team plays at Nassau). Of course, Hofstra, Adelphi, NY Tech & CW Post all have great teams and are really at the top of their game. If you get a chance in the spring to see them, you'll see some great lax.

LAX is also popular in the East for a couple other reasons, too. 1) economics....does not cost much to field a team and 2) it is somewhat perceived as a rich kids sport (not knocking it)and it is quite popular at the prep schools, the better public and private high schools and hence, private colleges. A number of the Div ll and 111 schools do not field football teams so it's LAX and soccer.

Great sport. Played while in Jr. High. Got whacked a few times more than I should..... explains a few things, I guess.

True its very phallic. When having to sell "shafts and balls" on the phone at Great Atlantic Lacrosse it used to be a little challenging to not laugh hysterically. Or when you had a kid call in and tell you his helmet wont fit because his "head" was too big, to the delightment of his friends in the background which also got me laughing. I felt bad for him

Well, my seat last Saturday was in a section roughly halfway between the goal and the center of the field. In row 1.

I'm not sure if this is any real reflection on how tickets are selling, or if it's a matter of releasing tickets for sale at certain times. I say this because I was checking the last few days for their game this coming Saturday, and the sections closest to the midfield line (according to the Ticketmaster website) and therefore more expensive ($20 against $15) gave me seats in row 30, with the closest I could get before today being in same section I was in Saturday, but in row 5 or 6. But today I checked again and found a ticket in the center section and in row 1. Why this ticket didn't come up yesterday I don't know. Perhaps they don't consider row 1 seats to be the best, that if you're a bit higher up you might get a better overall view of the game?

Anyway, other than the rather annoying kids who sat around me, I enjoyed the game. The Baltimore team fell behind 5-0 and called timeout, then gave up a 6th goal seconds after. But by the end of the first quarter the score was tied! But then Long Island pulled ahead again and went on to win. When the game ended the players came over to sign autographs, so I took a few pictures. The ones that came out well, I'm in the process of putting them online and when I do I'll post the link for you to see them. (There are also a couple of shots of Orioles players in the on-deck circle...that night my ticket was about 10 rows back.)

And I'll take some more this week. From row 1.

EDITED TO UPDATE: Go to this link and click on "sports pics I took" to see them. The better view is seen when you click on "full size" for each.

[ July 31, 2002: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

I'm pretty sure that is Jamie Hanford. He played for Bridgeport before being traded to the Bayhawks. He played at Loyola in college and is from your neck of the woods, JiP!

Just a note--there is no "full size" link. According to Yahoo, you are not allowed to share high-resolution full-size pictures unless you pay for their Premium Service. Which is too bad, because things look so much better when enlarged.