Denver loves Lacrosse
As the "Anonymous" Drew Wardlow pointed out in late comments on a recent post, we here in Denver love lacrosse. We proved it this weekend when a record-breaking 13,127 people showed up to see the newly formed professional Denver Outlaws trash the Chicago Machine, 24-14. This is outdoor lacrosse, and not to be confused with our indoor team, the Mammoth. It's worth noting that the previous attendance record was set last year in Denver when we hosted the Major League Lacrosse all-star game, and third runner up is some game in New York where only 9,000 people came.
The Outlaws roster features some amazing players, including previous Team USA goalie Trevor Tierney, around 8 Mammoth players, and some other medium-sized lacrosse names that none of you would recognize. Our next game is against the defending champions, the Baltimore Bayhawks, who our beloved Gary Gait still plays for, and who boasts one of the most ridiculously good group of Attackmen the world has ever seen.
The games are fun, but not as much fun as the indoor-bound NLL. It was the first game, it's true, and I'm sure kinks will be worked out, but it's hard to beat the indoor game. I emailed our general manager, former Mammoth player Brian Reese, about the announcing. He emailed me back personally and promptly, which made me feel strangely recognized. I know this isn't the NFL or anything, but professional sports players, coaches, managers, etc. still feel like inaccessible celebrities by default. It's still nice to know that sometimes your thoughts and opinions do get to the people who can make decisions, and that they're appreciated, and not to get some form letter from a computer.
Go Outlaws.
Totally Sweet.
posted by RJ @ 4:27 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
I realized this weekend when trying to describe the game to a friend that there's some confusion surrounding my own career that I'd like to clear up right now: I don't play professionally, for the outlaws or anyone else. Evan might, and Drew definitely will, but not me. I'm still recovering from injuries received in the war, where we lost a lot of good men down there.
so what did you and Brian Reese say about the announcing?
From: Drew Wardlow
To: RJ
So let’s talk about the Outlaws. First, they by far have the best name of the new MLL expansion teams and from what I've seen the best color scheme. Now down to business about Outlaws roster. Mike Law is apparently pretty darn good, he played at Denver and well I've heard very little about him but I recognized his name (if I haven't heard much about a lacrosse player then they have been hiding in some cave for the last 5 years). Secondly Outlaws have two of the best offensive middies in the league courtesy of the Baltimore shakedown where the Bayhawks decided to give every good player they had away or make them so mad at the MLL they quit (cough Mikey Powell and Gary Gait) good job Bayhawks, you only had the best lacrosse team ever. Josh Sims is fast, darn fast and can shoot and dodge with the best middies in the world, if I was a making a team I would pick him. Jeff Sonke is also a stud, I would also choose him. Outlaws pretty much have 2 of the top 6 middies in the country if you ask me (well you didn't but I'll tell you anyway). Next up you got Mike Lamonica. Went to Calvert Hall HS in Baltimore Maryland and played at University of Maryland. He did some shooting demos at the some camps that I was also at last summer. He can shoot the rock fo sho (I did say "fo sho). Lamonica also has a girlfriend that was on Team Australia that dethroned Team USA in the Women's Lacrosse World Championship, she is also a darn good lacrosse player. I know a lot of the other players on the Outlaws roster but I'll leave it at. Though I would also like to hate on Kyle Barrie who stinks, the end. My prediction the Outlaws win the MLL championship within next 3 years. Also Brian Reese is one of the dirtiest players I've ever seen.
Reese agreed with me. Dirty? He was good on the Mammoth, but indoor always looks dirty to you field pansies.
Mike Law also plays for the mammoth. I was stunned at how well he did outdoor because he's had very little playing time indoor. He was pretty frickin' amazing.
Sims is another Mammoth. I was pretty thrilled when I heard we had him. Whoever's doing our trading is a genius. Sims lives out here now, so that might've had something to do with it.
Well that is just sweet. When we come out sometime, you'll have to take us to a game. Oh and you can't stop me. I am posting like a badger that is trying to find a peanut butter and jelly sandwich under a merry-go-round with children on it.
I love Brian Langtry. Drew, thoughts?
AS much as I love lacrosse, I think its only fair to point out that in Denver we love anything that takes place in a stadium... the Rockies still sold most of their tickets a few years ago. In Denver if you start a sport it will sell tickets -- maybe not sell out, but sell a lot. Heck, we'd all pay to see professional Hi-Li as long as the tickets were pretty cheap.
I hate this anonymous but I'm too lazy to register as a blogger. First RJ I believe you are also one of those "outdoor pansies". I was actually referring to Mr. Reese's dirt play in the MLL. I recall driving up to Rochester in the summer of 2001 to watch the MLL Summer Showcase which was the summer before the first MLL season. Blake Miller (Current Team USA Middie) got nearly knocked out by Brian Reese at the 50 yard line as he caught a over the shoulder outlet pass from the goalie. As far as Brian Langtry I really don't know much about him besides he was benched for alittle bit by the Mammoth and I don't think he likes Gary Gait very much. Apparently though he is pretty sick, sorry for the lack of info. Also the trades in the MLL are at times pretty unprofessional. Say a guy like Sims gets a job in another city he would pretty much force his current team to trade him. Many of the trades have to do personal reasons of the players.
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