MLL Draft

[OAKS]

Pro football has some fairly significant differences from college football, Pro basketball has a longer 3-point arc, pro baseball doesn't allow metal bats, etc.

[Dan Warren]

all true, but the MLL is still pretty awful. It would be much better if they just kept the NCAA rules. There does not need to be 20+ goals per team every game. It makes it BORING. I don't know one person that is an MLL fan. I know there are some, but nobody that I know. The general consensus is that is stinks. 4 poles, no shot clock, then we have a league.

[NELAX21]

personally i like the shot clock, I think it could be extended a little but where it is now still works for me. The one thing i don't like is the 2 point line, it makes for interesting shots at the end of a close game. Coming from a goalie point of view though, with no LSM and players who can shoot 100 mph+ that is still a hard shot to stop. either way, i like the MLL and watching the best of the best lacrosse player draws me in, the rules could be changed to make it more "traditional" but it is a business and they are looking out for their financial interests and i am sure that what they are putting on the field is what they have been told will make them the most money. If they start losing money i am sure the rules will change,among other things, or we will not have this great league to watch anymore.

[StrykerFSU]

There is too much scoring which results in too many stoppages of play. There ends up being no flow in the game. I recently watched the LI/Philly game and had to turn it off in the 3rd quarter to go to dinner...didn't care who won, didn't care to watch the rest.

[onpoint]

I'm calling a lot of you out on snobbery, frankly. Our game with LA last weekend was 16-13 and was just as or more exciting than a 10-9 game. That's not to say your general 20-14 is not boring, but so is a 12-4 beatdown by Hopkins over Loyola, right?

The 2 point arc is a powerful tool and is all about risk/reward. It can help you extend your lead and put a game out of reach, it can get you back in the game when you are down and in the case of our game vs. Rochester last year, it actually tied the game for them with under 1:00 minute to go. I'm sorry, but that 27-26 overtime game was one of the most exciting, engaging games of lacrosse I've ever been a part of.

The reason scoring is so high is because the players are so good! There is more defensive (and offensive) game planning than you think. I do agree that a 4th pole would really add intrigue to the game, but that's because I believe it to be the most exciting position in lacrosse. I don't see it knocking scoring down significantly, but I could be wrong. A lot of teams now are employing a short stick down against an attackman and running an LSM anyway against the athletic middies in the MLL. LSMs on face-offs are basically moot because most of the f/o guys are so good that they pop the ball into their own stick within one second of the whistle.

I think there is a large misconception that players in the league don't care and that there is no team concept. At least from my experience, nothing could be further from the truth, especially as the depth and talent of the league starts to balance out. With one or two more expansion teams and a little more support from the local lacrosse communities, you will see the teams start to form identities and have personalities. Even now, it's not necessarily one band of all-stars against another.

Phildadelphia has become a slow-down, grind it out type of team. Rochester is a slick stick-handling bunch of Canadians with a mean, physical defense. LA plays team ball up and down the field and gets the most out of their role players. This is all exciting in its own right, but if you are a fan of watching Hopkins throw the ball around the horn for 2 minutes at a time, you aren't going to like it.

[byualum]

The 2 point arc is a powerful tool and is all about risk/reward. It can help you extend your lead and put a game out of reach, it can get you back in the game when you are down and in the case of our game vs. Rochester last year, it actually tied the game for them with under 1:00 minute to go. I'm sorry, but that 27-26 overtime game was one of the most exciting, engaging games of lacrosse I've ever been a part of.

I was at the Rochester game, and it was without a doubt one of the most entertaining games I've ever been to. It also left absolutely no doubt in my mind that John Grant, Jr. is the greatest lacrosse player on the earth at this time...8 goals (2 2-pt goals) and 4 assists. Rochester needed a 2-pt goal to tie with under a minute. Everyone in the stadium knew where the ball was going and he still scored. The guy is unreal.

[Dan Warren]

Alex

Great perspective. Good to hear from someone first hand. I just don't know what it is, but I can't get into the games. I have watched parts of 3 games this year, and maybe one whole game. Agreed that the 2pointer can add excitement at the end of game, it is just too gimmicky for me. The shot clock has good intentions, but I don't mind watching a team slow it down -to an extent. Maybe in the future, when rosters can get larger, their could be more room for defensive midfielders and the addition of a LSM position. I think that could keep the number of goals per game down, and the help with the flow a little.

I'm not giving up hope, I want it to work.

Best of luck to you

Dan

[StrykerFSU]

I'm sure a lot of those games are exciting in person or as a player but it just doesn't translate that well on TV, at least to me. I want the league to succeed and I don't doubt for one second the skill level of those involved having played with several current and former MLL stars. However it's not basketball. I don't think that fans need to see a goal every 30 seconds in order for the product to be profitable.

I think the league needs to bring in a 4th pole. It's part of the game and I think would help to address the advantage that offenses have. In talking with one former MLL All-Star middie I was told that he knew he wouldn't be able to do much to stop the opposing mids. But with only 18 roster spots you are going to see a lot of offense only middies and attackmen pretending to be middies out there getting their backsides handed to them on D. While 27-26 may have been exciting, I'm sure the 4-3 West Islip v. Ward Melville game was also exciting (though probably not as pretty).

At least on TV I will always have Quint K. to teach me how NOT to use the English language...Quint and Tim McCarver are doing play by play of the World Series of Poker telecast in my version of Hell.

[byualum]

Just curious...would you rather watch MLL or NLL.

Your feelings on the MLL, are exactly how I feel about the NLL...I just can't get through an indoor game on telelvision.

[onpoint]

I might argue that the game of lacrosse in general just doesn't translate well to TV, the NCAA Final Four notwithstanding. Stryker, your point is the same as mine - a good lacrosse game is a good lacrosse game. Total goals scored is not part of the equation.

[StrykerFSU]

Absolutely would rather watch MLL than NLL. Box just isn't in my DNA.

Agreed, Alex...good lacrosse is good lacrosse. Not so sure about the college game not translating to TV. I really enjoyed having ESPNU and CSTV last year and DVRed every game I couldn't watch live. Unfortunately we had to make some budget cuts this year and that was a tough one to justify keeping.

You have one heck of a task trying to stop those guys given all the advantages the offense has but you're living the dream. Best of luck this year.

[Gvlax]

MLL games in person are fun to watch, but its like baseball on tv, there's just something more entertaining on to watch. I always find myself flipping away from the channel and forgetting to go back. But i guess I also don't have an affiliation with a team. With college i feel more connected with the guys and so i find it more interesting to watch. I am the same way with football. I love watching the kids as they try their hardest to go pro but when they get there they just level off. MLL, just not my thing on tv but live in person is awesome. Wow, never thought i would compare lax and baseball.

[Chowdah Head]

Just throwing this out there, but in my opinion I feel like the tradition of NCAA lacrosse has a lot to do with its appeal (at least to me). Watching a good Maryland/Hopkins or a Syracuse/Princeton game evokes a lot of history and tradition in the programs. The MLL has been around for less than a decade so no real significant rivalries have taken shape yet.

Also, not to downplay the MLL players' dedication, but for most of them, they all have second jobs and lacrosse is a secondary focus. From what I hear most of them work throughout the week at their primary job, and fly into their team's city on Thursday or Friday morning, have one practice, play the next day, then fly home (Alex, please correct me if I'm wrong). NCAA players fully dedicate themselves to their team and program 7 days a week for 4 years. There's something a little more rewarding about watching people whose lives focus around lacrosse than post collegiate players where lacrosse is on the back burner. I'm sure a lot of you disagree with me, but I figure I'd throw out my opinion.

[Gvlax]

Just throwing this out there, but in my opinion I feel like the tradition of NCAA lacrosse has a lot to do with its appeal (at least to me). Watching a good Maryland/Hopkins or a Syracuse/Princeton game evokes a lot of history and tradition in the programs. The MLL has been around for less than a decade so no real significant rivalries have taken shape yet.

Also, not to downplay the MLL players' dedication, but for most of them, they all have second jobs and lacrosse is a secondary focus. From what I hear most of them work throughout the week at their primary job, and fly into their team's city on Thursday or Friday morning, have one practice, play the next day, then fly home (Alex, please correct me if I'm wrong). NCAA players fully dedicate themselves to their team and program 7 days a week for 4 years. There's something a little more rewarding about watching people whose lives focus around lacrosse than post collegiate players where lacrosse is on the back burner. I'm sure a lot of you disagree with me, but I figure I'd throw out my opinion.

Im sure many of them would focus on being pros more if they got paid more than 10,000 a year. They have to have second jobs unless you are kyle harrison or the powell's who get sponsor money.

[Troy Hood]

In reference to the question of whether or not the MLL or NLL is a "better watch", I'd have to say it is the NLL from my perspective.

I believe the box game makes a better TV product. The shot clock in the box game keeps things moving (even though subbing is liberal); you are guaranteed to see something happen.

That said, I believe they are two entirely different games. And, thus, we'll have two separate camps discussing the topic. My advice to both sides of "purists" is to give them both AN HONEST CHANCE. And, if you still don't like it, no big deal.

I believe the MLL could learn a little from the NLL in terms of how to market the game, and, in their front office structure. Getting partners from existing organizations (not unlike with the Outlaws have already done) would take a great deal of stress in promoting the game and tickets sales off of the MLL team staffs.