Lacrosse prospers, slowly
Stars and execs gathered to play and plan
Feb. 26, 2006. 01:00 AM
CARMEN DI GREGORIO
SPORTS REPORTER
Lacrosse faces a long and winding road in its quest to become a major pro sport.
But if inroads the National Lacrosse League has made over its 20-year history are any indication of where the sport is headed, its best days are still to come.
The question for league executives in Toronto for All-Star Weekend was how much time will it take for the glory days to arrive.
"I'm hoping I'll be around to see it happen," said league co-founder Chris Fritz.
Given some of the poor decisions made, Fritz is amazed the NLL has come this far.
Take, for instance, the decision to move a team to North Carolina in 1996.
"Right when we saw the first ball drop in Charlotte, we said to ourselves, `Why are we here?'" Fritz said.
The East vs. West tilt at the Air Canada Centre, won 14-13 by the West, capped a string of league festivities.
On Thursday, the NLL enshrined it's inaugural class of Hall of Fame inductees at a gala event in downtown Toronto.
Fritz and fellow league founder Russ Cline, legendary players Gary and Paul Gait and late Toronto Rock GM-coach Les Bartley were honoured in a pre-game ceremony before Friday's inaugural Hall of Fame game at the ACC, in which the Rock edged the Philadelphia Wings 12-11 in overtime.
Although the house was half empty for the defensively challenged all-star affair, NLL commissioner Jim Jennings was thrilled with how the weekend shook out and remains confident things will only get better.
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