All-Alumni Tournament Set for Final Four Weekend!!!

[CPLaxGM]

What's the status on the WCLL All-Alumni Tournament? I heard from Albert a few weeks ago and he said to look for an email updating the tournament information, but so far I haven't heard anything. We are only about two months out from the WCLL Final Four and it's time to get these details ironed out.

I've talked to a lot of our CP alumni and the sentiment surrounding this tournament is nearly universal. They are very excited about the prospect of the tournament itself, but VERY skeptical of the prohibitive entrance fee. As one of our alumni pointed out, when most tournaments charge in the hundreds of dollars and even the Vail tournament only costs around $1000-$1500, the prospect of a $5200 tournament fee raises some significant red flags.

Are you out there DTrain? What's the status on the tournament? Some of us are old and have families and need to start putting our plans together.

[Ravaging Beast]

This is during the Final Four weekend, not the first four weekend.

[Ravaging Beast]

This is what I have heard so far. UCSB and UCSD are the only two teams fully committed to this thing. LMU, Cal Poly, and Santa Clara are almost committed. This is not a representation of the best the WCLL has to offer. Where is Sonoma, Cal, Arizona, ASU, Davis, UCLA, etc? All I can take from this is that the teams not committing are scared or intimidated by UCSB. Come on Sonoma, wouldn't you love to play UCSB for bragging rights? The deadline is approaching. If the only thing holding you back is that you don't know how to get the team together or you want to lead the charge for your team, PM me and I will set you up with the right people. This can be a great event and has to be a great event. If the SELC can do it, why can't we?

[westcoastlax]

Come on Sonoma, wouldn't you love to play UCSB for bragging rights?

Yes, but not at a price of thousands of dollars. Plus the majority of Sonoma alumni who play lacrosse still (who would be the ones most likely to sign up for the tournament) play for the 40 Thieves and Barbary Coast, and we are in the middle of our own seasons. I'm sure there are a lot of other alumni that would love to play as well, but there isn't anyone who has stepped up to try and organize the team.

If we can make it happen we will, but don't hold your breathe.

[Ravaging Beast]

I know some Sonoma guys interested. They play on BC and 40 Thieves. Sb guys are in season as well. It's really not that much money, and it will be well worth every penny.

[CATLAX MAN]

As one of our alumni pointed out, when most tournaments charge in the hundreds of dollars and even the Vail tournament only costs around $1000-$1500, the prospect of a $5200 tournament fee raises some significant red flags.

How many guy are on the roster of those teams...about 15? That would be $100 per head. In this case, it is $200 per head due the rosters having 26 players. Yes, it's more in total, but not egregiously more.

[CPLaxGM]

As one of our alumni pointed out, when most tournaments charge in the hundreds of dollars and even the Vail tournament only costs around $1000-$1500, the prospect of a $5200 tournament fee raises some significant red flags.

How many guy are on the roster of those teams...about 15? That would be $100 per head. In this case, it is $200 per head due the rosters having 26 players. Yes, it's more in total, but not egregiously more.

Well, let's use the Tahoe Tournament as an example. I've never played on a tournament team with less than 20 players so let's use that as an estimate. The fee for the 2008 Tahoe Tourney has been set at $675, which comes out to $34 per player. That's for three days worth of games with beer flowing freely on the sun drenched sidelines.

As the one who is trying to coordinate the alumni squad, I can tell you that there's a rather high percentage of potential players that think that $ amount is egregiously higher. It's not even the high entrance fee that disturbs most people I've talked to, it's the concern that the high entrance fee isn't being used to actually run the tournament but contribute to someone's personal retirement fund.

All that said, Cal Poly is still leaning toward going but have to work out some details first.

[CATLAX MAN]

There is also the alternative pricing:

We’ve gotten a flood of people truly excited about the event and we are committed to it. We have individuals that love the structure as it is now, and now a few individuals that say the money is an issue.

We are going to offer at an alternative structure, which eliminates some of the frills:

$140 per person, 24 person minimum roster per team
Teams must provide own uniform reversibles in school colors
Commemorative T-shirt still provided
3 full length 48 minute stop time games, guaranteed per team (games Friday night, games Saturday all day, championships on Sunday)
College rules
Admission to WCLL final 4’s still included
Stats and game recaps still posted on website
All tournament team announced at conclusion of the tournament
We will still hold an event Friday night. Location TBD
Same alumni player participation requirements

Eliminated- Cup, Trophies, MVP award, photographers, provided alumni team reversibles, Downtown club event.

Obviously we can’t please everyone, but the more WCLL alumni teams represented the better- with 16 teams participating being ideal. So, if money for the tournament is an issue affecting a team’s attendance, we will talk to teams’ alumni reps and see which format they prefer, current or alternative.

[dtrain34]

OOOOOOOH you got me! I have quit my job to live the high life on what comes to helping to organize the WCLL final four weekend and this tournament.

Maybe if every one was as good at simple math as you are at writing WCLL articles, they could start to piece together things like renting the fields, insurance, refs, trainers, the admission to the tournament, and the spot downtown (did I mention the fact that we don't have a confirmed set of teams or players on those teams to help exactly determine these things!!!!)

This was supposed to be something that was to help generate attendace and interest in the struggling WCLL final four weekend (the last three teams to host have LOST MONEY), and instead has turned into a group of unorganized groups of former players complaining about pennies.

I think that both Albert and my reputation with what we have been involved with in the past should have taken care of any doubt about us pading our "retirement funds."

Here is an idea for everyone on the fence, quite your whining and b.s., you have had months to save up (ie not buy a bag of weed each week), get you best group of players together, and represent your school.

[CPLaxGM]

Ahhh, an impassioned reproach from DTrain. It feels almost nostalgic.

Don't shoot the messenger. I'm the one trying to talk the alumni into the value of the tournament. You can say people are complaining about pennies, but when you come out with a $5200 price tag (I know, I know the old price) you've got to be prepared for a fair amount of skepticism.

Considering the lack of committment from even the historically premier WCLL teams, like Cal, Sonoma and Arizona, I would say the cost concerns are fairly widespread. You can ridicule the concerns all you want but that's not going to help get this thing off the ground.

[Ravaging Beast]

I have been making some calls around and I have heard that Sonoma is very close to putting together a team. They should have enough people to get it done. I have also heard that Cal is in the same boat. They almost have enough people as well. So it's looking good. I can't wait.

[dtrain34]

You are right in shooting the messenger a little bit. But I won't apologize, this has been beyond ridiculous.

The original price of $5,200 was absolutely high.....if you knew me a little bit better personally and my knack for the compulsive spending and extreme........I literally would have spent every last penny (to a live concert on the field, to a full fledge bar, live farms animals, whatever.....), basically that would have been the GREATEST three day party any of us had ever had playing lacrosse.

But, it admittingly was my ignorance to think that every team and every player was the same as UCSB and UCSD, and 20 some odd players and $200 each was not a problem. Absolutely that was my fault for my making that assumption.

Here is the deal, we have tried to meet everyone's request to get this thing done. I appreciate you trying to get a squad together for Poly.

I hope everyone else is able to get a squad together as well.

[dtrain34]

P.S. If you ever wanted to crack back on me, you’re not going to get a much better opening than my equation for a lacrosse utopia including a full bar with live farm animals…..

[onpoint]

Clerks 2?

[CPLaxGM]

P.S. If you ever wanted to crack back on me, you’re not going to get a much better opening than my equation for a lacrosse utopia including a full bar with live farm animals…..

I'm not going near that one DTrain. Besides, my intent was never to impugn your eminent reputation, just give voice to the concerns that I kept hearing.

Anyway, I do have one last question as we work toward finalizing our CP alumni roster. Is their a set tournament fee for each team or are you going to charge on per player basis? Here's our situation: I think we may have more than the 24 players, but quite a few them are old guys who only anticipate playing a minimal amount. Our idea was to have those old guys essentially buy a half share in the tournament, so instead of $140 they would pay $70.

You would still get the full tournament amount based on 24 players. Which is $3360, correct? Does that work? Feel free to post here or just email me directly from the tournament mailing list.