ESPN's Coverage of this weekend's NCAA championship

[LaxRef]

I love the way the refs checked the sticks where when checking to make sure the ball comes out they kind of throw the head forward and if it comes out it passes. Some refs will do that and as long as the ball pops out it's ok, but some refs will slowly tilt the head and if it's a warrior and you've played with it for more than a day then of course the heads going to be pinched enough to stop the ball when you tilt it slowly like that.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: Then don't buy Warrior products!

We're not supposed to throw the ball out, we're supposed to rotate it toward the ground. If that ball is in there when the stick gets to horizontal, it's illegal. Just don't buy a product you know is as likely as not to be illegal. If it's not the rollout with the warrior sticks, it's the head measurements.

[UkraineNotWeak]

I can't believe the long-haired defender from Virginia was named 1st team AA. He was atrocious. At least 4 of the goals Cuse scored were a result of his terrible play, including the game-winner when he went over the head and got beat top-side. I did not see many UVA games this year so it may have been an aberration, but that guy did not impress me one bit.

[TheBearcatHimself]

I love the way the refs checked the sticks where when checking to make sure the ball comes out they kind of throw the head forward and if it comes out it passes. Some refs will do that and as long as the ball pops out it's ok, but some refs will slowly tilt the head and if it's a warrior and you've played with it for more than a day then of course the heads going to be pinched enough to stop the ball when you tilt it slowly like that.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: Then don't buy Warrior products!

We're not supposed to throw the ball out, we're supposed to rotate it toward the ground. If that ball is in there when the stick gets to horizontal, it's illegal. Just don't buy a product you know is as likely as not to be illegal. If it's not the rollout with the warrior sticks, it's the head measurements.

I too was shocked at the nonchalant nature that the refs went about stick checks in the title game (and final four). It was like they didn't want a stick to be called illegal because the fans at home who don't understand lacrosse don't want to see a three minute penalty. I know if I had that kind of stick checking it would erase my 2 or 3 illegal sticks when I played. Regardless of what refs are "supposed" to do, many slowly tilt it to the point that it seems they want it to be illegal.

But alas, I agree with LaxRef, you can't blame the refs for illegal sticks. As an ardent supporter of the Evo Pro, I have learned that it is in the end my own damn fault if I haven't put a baseball in the throat the night before. Luckily in my men's club they don't check sticks

Another reason the new stick specifications will take away many coaches' headaches...

[IndianaJones]

My favorite part of the Championship weekend (besides seeing my own movie on the big screen) was seeing the U of Penn women's goalie wearing a pennie jersey during the Women's D1 national championship game vs. Northwestern.

Stay classy Quakers.....

[Gvlax]

I can't believe the long-haired defender from Virginia was named 1st team AA. He was atrocious. At least 4 of the goals Cuse scored were a result of his terrible play, including the game-winner when he went over the head and got beat top-side. I did not see many UVA games this year so it may have been an aberration, but that guy did not impress me one bit.

Ken Clausen is sick. Because you didnt watch any other UVA games you didnt get to see him play. Remember that he wasnt going up just against anyone vs Cuse. He had to guard the potential tewaaraton winner and did a pretty good job until late. He was going to go to Duke until that whole incident. Too bad for duke, he is one hell of a defender.

[Sonny]

The HD coverage on ESPN was very, very good. I loved the diagonal view behind the goal and the overhead shots.

The entire Syracuse/UVA semifinal and the first half of the Cuse/JHU final was very entertaining lacrosse.

[Tim Gray]

Pretty good photo gallery from Inside Lacrosse:

http://photos.insidelacrosse.com/D1.php

My favorite shots are those of that amazing save Gvozden made. One of the best saves I've ever seen. They are shots #14 and #15

[bste_lax]

Pretty good photo gallery from Inside Lacrosse:

http://photos.insidelacrosse.com/D1.php

My favorite shots are those of that amazing save Gvozden made. One of the best saves I've ever seen. They are shots #14 and #15

[Tim Gray]

Thanks. I couldn't figure out how to get those photos pasted here.

[swampthing]

We're not supposed to throw the ball out, we're supposed to rotate it toward the ground. If that ball is in there when the stick gets to horizontal, it's illegal.

If a head is really so pinched that it's giving a big advantage the ball won't come out with a decent movement forward anyhow. I'm not saying let's let the players get away with murder here, but let's standardize a movement where the stick is put forward with a little momentum to help out faceoff guys who are burning $250 a year on heads and stuffing cans of peas in the throat before games just b/c a little sidewall string or two is barely holding the ball in. I'm not upset with a ref at all though that calls an illegal stick penalty don't get me wrong, I'm pissed at Warrior for not fixing it when I'm addicted to their products (whoa, I suddenly sympathize with the average smoker...).

Funny story where my own philosophy actually bit me in the arse: Big lead on LMU, the ref stick checks us at the X, the ball doesn't come out of the other guys stick but the ref goes "whatever" and hands it back and I didn't want to slow the game down b/c of a 3 minute with such a lead anyhow so I don't say anything. 11 minutes and 7 goals later we lose in double overtime. That might make me switch sides, but like I mentioned earlier I had to drop an extra hundred right before nationals just to make sure I had a legal head (which is now already starting to pinch the ball).

[bste_lax]

Thanks. I couldn't figure out how to get those photos pasted here.

No prob, I used my l33t hax0r skillz.

[Highheat]

I can't believe the long-haired defender from Virginia was named 1st team AA. He was atrocious. At least 4 of the goals Cuse scored were a result of his terrible play, including the game-winner when he went over the head and got beat top-side. I did not see many UVA games this year so it may have been an aberration, but that guy did not impress me one bit.

At the same time long-haired Syd Smith on Cuse is an absolute beast of a defender. He has some of the cleanest pickups i've ever seen from a pole, and he really just stood out on the defensive end for Cuse IMO.