Lacrosse Magazine's "Sideline Chatter" series puts fans on the soapbox for all things lacrosse. Each month, LM poses a question to its readers and selects a winner, who receives new gear courtesy of adidas.
Your peeps are talking. Get in on the conversation today!
It's not all about the Benjamins, necessarily, but we know you're just as resourceful as you are passionate.
For the next "Sideline Chatter" installment, LM wants to know:
Fill in your answer below or chime in on Facebook, and yours could wind up in the next issue LM.
January 2010: Lax is _____. (fill in the blank)
Winning Response: Patrick Mack, Circle Pines, Minn. | All Responses
To me, lax is the way I express who I am. It’s something I’ve found that can relax me when the day has been rough, or hype me up when the day has been slow. The best things in my life have come from lacrosse. With lacrosse I always have something to look forward to. It’s one of the best reasons in my opinion to be alive. Some people might think I’m too into lacrosse, but isn’t that what you do when you love something? When I meet new people, I always introduce myself as a lacrosse player. It literally defines who I am, and it feels good to have that definition. Lacrosse has been a big part of my life ever since I started playing it. I just couldn’t imagine how life would be, or who I would be, without it. Lacrosse has always been there for me and I’ll always be there for it. Really, to me, lax is life.
December 2009: What pro athlete would make the best lacrosse player and why?
Winning Response: Alec Sheedy, Orange County, Calif. | All Responses
Chad Johnson. Ocho Cinco. First off he has skills. The guy is fast, he has good footwork, he can jump, and he is just on all-around amazing athlete. He would be an amazing player. But the more important thing is with a personality and ego like his, lacrosse would finally get the recognition it deserves. If you have a guy as loud as him, and with skills to back it up, it’s gonna be on ESPN. It will give lacrosse national recognition, it will bring money, ticket sales and expansion teams. Whether or not he is the most talented, he is the one that will bring the crowds.
November 2009: MLL or NLL? Which brand of pro lacrosse do you prefer and why?
Winning Response: Lyle Franz, Calgary, Alberta | All Responses
The National Lacrosse League is the league I like best. I like how much quicker it is, the big hits, etc. Outdoor purists can say it’s a bastardized version of lacrosse. But really, lacrosse was “bastardized” the day Mr. Beers put down rules limiting the number of players and field size. I like the MLL, but I LOVE the NLL.
October 2009: What is one feature a lacrosse video game must have?
Winning Response: Jack Pechet, Radnor, Pa. | All Responses
It’s got to have customizable features like creating your own team with real or made-up players, and using a real field or creating your own. Good graphics. Ability to change to any player at any time. Ability to change to different camera angles. Play as legends, retired or not, like the Gait brothers or the Barrage, even though they don’t exist anymore. Play a full season or a career. Choose your own stick or make up a completely new one and/or your own company. Make sure there are sequels like Madden, not just one that you can get bored playing after a while. Last but not least: advertise the game.
September 2009: What major college should add lacrosse as a varsity sport?
Winning Response: Catherine Connerty, Norwell, Mass. | All Responses
Some colleges don't have lacrosse?! What?! That's messed up. Who doesn't have lacrosse? I want names!
August 2009: What would you name the wild play at the end of regulation of the Cornell-Syracuse NCAA men's championship game?
Winning Responses: Aidan Brown, Garden City, N.Y. and Jay Mariani, Cincinnati, Ohio | All Responses
I think the play should be known as the Foxboro Flip. The last chance at a repeat for 'Cuse, Abbott flips the ball over his head into the stick of Nims waiting on the doorstep. Kids will be trying to replicate the Foxboro Flip in the backyard for years. -- A.B. The Foxboro Flip. As in, how the city of Foxboro flipped at Syracuse's comeback. Or, how Matt Abbott flipped the ball to Kenny Nims to net the game-tying goal. -- J.M.
July 2009: What rule would you change?
Winning Response: Greg McManus, Lincoln, Neb. | All Responses
Definitely a shot clock, but not too short. I would make it 75 seconds. Not a whole lot translates well from box lacrosse to field lacrosse and vice versa, but field could learn some things from the up tempo of the box game.
June 2009: What's the most bizarre thing you've seen at a lacrosse game?
Winning Response: Taylor Muto, Huntington Beach, Calif. | All Responses
While I was watching a local rec league game, an attackman on the opposing team had shorts that were too big that were giving him trouble throughout the entire game. Finally the inevitable happened, and when he iso'd to the net, his pants fell around his ankles. Stunned, the goalie on the opposing team didn't happen to realize that the kid was still going to shoot and didn't see the ball go into the net.
May 2009: Where would you put the NCAA championships?
Winning Response: Frank Amtann, Baltimore, Md. (via Facebook) | All Responses "Hawaii. Why? Because you're in Hawaii. I'll take my prize please." April 2009: Why is lacrosse better than baseball? Winning Response: Dan Martinetion, Commack, N.Y. | All Responses
"Exhibit A: Sammy Sosa. Muscular homerun hitter misses games because he hurt his back sneezing. Exhibit B: Wade Boggs. Hall-of-Famer misses games because he strained his back while putting cowboy boots on. Exhibit C: Kevin Mitchell was late reporting to spring training because he hurt himself eating a microwavable donut. (I'm not making this up.) Exhibit D: MVP Jeff Kent broke his wrist while washing a car at a self-serve car wash. Exhibit E: Marty Cordova burned his face in a tanning bed and had to miss a game. Seriously."
March 2009: What game do you have circled on your calendar and why?Winning Response: Patrick Winters, Highlands Ranch, Colo. | All Responses "Rochester Knighthawks at Colorado Mammoth on April 3. The return of Gary Gait to the home of the Mammoth, where his jersey hangs in the rafters." February 2009: What's the worst weather you've ever played in?Winning Response: Kim Imbesi, Durham, N.C. | All Responses "Oh man. We played Northwestern my sophomore year in Evanston and it was right on the lake. I had layers upon layers on, and Under Armour gloves underneath my goalie gloves. They had heaters on the sidelines, and somehow [Duke head coach] Kerstin [Kimel] went to warm her hands and set her gloves on fire. So in the timeouts, we couldn't take her seriously because she was trying to coach and gesture with these burnt gloves on. By far, that was the worst. I think they scored about 17 on me that day. But three hours later it was funny."
