The Lax Godess

The Lax Goddess' Blog

An Intro on LAXLife for Spirit of the Stick

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

What an amazing way to spend a day in my much needed vacation….sitting in my sister-in-law’s kitchen watching her paint a story stick for the newest all-encompassing obsession in my life. A little coffee…lots of chatting….the doggy supervisor interrupting every now and then to play….more chatting….

So…what is a story stick? Or a spirit stick? And why are we painting one for Spirit of the Stick? Well I guess to get here I need to tell you where the whole idea came from. Truth is that it is all Jim Veltman’s fault.

I am Jim’s biggest & best fan he is not related to. 2008 was to be the last in a long and illustrious lacrosse playing career. This required an appropriate gift to mark the occasion. And if that gift could reflect his lacrosse history, so much the better. Problem is that Jim & his family are not “stuff people”. They don’t collect things. Possessions are not high on their list of priorities. So the dilemma was to find something meaningful.

Now this problem had been on my mind for some time, knowing full well that a 40 year athlete, no matter what kind of excellent shape he kept himself in, could only deal with the game at that level for so long. Retirement was inevitable, as much as I wished he could just play forever. I had a few ideas but had seen somewhere, at a pow wow, a stick that told a story tellers “story”. And it planted a seed.

The short version is…my sister-in-law is a pretty talented artist so I got a traditional handmade wooden stick donated, did a lot of research and then, with some direction and suggestions, let the artist loose. The result was Jim’s history on an “instrument” that reflected his accomplishments and memories in one place. It was decorated with symbols that truly reflected his fan’s respect for him and his for the Creator’s game. And I am pleased to know that it holds a place of honour in his family’s home.

Fast forward to last fall…October….my living room on a Friday night. Jim & I had invited a group of like-minded lacrosse friends to talk about how we could give something back to the game that had given us so much.

The evening grew naturally out of a project that Jim & his family decided on to mark his retirement from the playing side of the game. They decided that it was time to give something back and so a trip was planned, after considerable research, to the northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat. Its purpose would be twofold- to run a lacrosse clinic for the children there and to provide their own children with some important life lessons.

I was privileged to help Jim & Teresa prepare for that trip but, at times, it was a bit like flying by the seat of your pants, so to speak. Getting stuff donated and then transported in time for the start of the clinic; making the most of the donated funds; getting them up there and back. Lots of fun but pretty overwhelming. In the end, it was all worth it as it was a great success.

Jim & I talked when he got back and we realized that there was a need for this sort of outreach, maybe even closer to home. Well if we realized this maybe we knew some people who felt the same way. Well then maybe we should get those people together to talk about this idea. A ton of food, a dozen friends, an equal number of regrets…..lots of wonderful discussion later and using Jim’s stick for inspiration, Spirit of the Stick was born.

This past year has been an adventure and then some. We have incorporated, hosted three distinctively different clinics, raised a few bucks and a lot of awareness and have developed an amazing network of supporters and volunteers. Our advisory committees read like the who’s who of lacrosse. And we have some pretty ambitious plans for year two.

Jim’s stick has provided us with some amazing inspiration but it is his. We needed our own. So…another donated stick, thanks to Delby Powless Senior, the inspiration of an amazing logo thanks to John Jacobs and the paint jars & brushes of my sister-in-law, Connie Anderchek. And this time it is her kitchen table instead of mine that is the work table for another story stick. This one will be a little different however.

The Spirit of the Stick’s stick will be just beginning its journey. It will tell our story. And my plan is to ask each clinic we do to provide us with a piece of the story. The first additions are waiting, thanks to our friends from the Chippewas of Georgina Island. We will add something from our other two clinics. And I will keep a journal so that its story will become part of who we are, so people will know what we have accomplished.

But the stick is giving other gifts as well. I get to spend a day, just me and Connie, planning and painting (well her at least), talking and sharing. It is a way for us to work on something together. It is a way for her to give back to the game that has given me so much. And that is important to her. And to me.

And it is a way for us to honour the traditions of the game that, in the beginning, was truly a gift from a generous and caring Creator.

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Godess Column…FINALLY!!!

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

It seems like forever since I have had the time or the energy to write anything. Not my fault. I intend to blame it on my right knee. Years of ignoring the occasional bit of swelling and discomfort and I found myself unable to walk without pain. An MRI, done in a timely fashion thanks to me knowing a guy….and it was determined that a surgical repair was in order before I could get back to work.

I do not like being on the “DL”. And basically all I had to do was miss some work and worry about my knee surgery for six weeks. It certainly gave me an appreciation for athletes who get hurt during the season and have to sit on the sidelines and watch their team play.

I was really pretty lucky, considering it was my driving leg that I did in. All I had to do was screw up the courage to ask people for favours. A drive here and there; some help with housecleaning; someone to carry my groceries up the stairs. Frustrating but it was only me that was put out. Oh and my boss who had to cover my shifts at work. And I knew the surgeon was going to be able to repair the damage so that I would be back to work mid-summer; not full speed but almost.

My forced rest got me thinking about how frustrating it must be to watch your teammates and not be able to play your part in the game plan. I remember in 2005 watching Glenn Clark on the sidelines. He “celebrated” the championship along with four guys he had played with for eight years…their fifth together. But it just wasn’t the same. He was part but not. All he could do was watch and encourage. He had to be a fan and I can’t even imagine how hard that was. I know how hard it is for me to watch and I can’t play worth beans.

What my forced sitting did for me, I think, was make it a little easier to be a fan.

*************************************************************************************Now…anyone who knows me will know for certain that I didn’t sit around doing nothing. There was training camp for my Senior “B” team and the resultant paperwork. Road trips with them. At least I didn’t have to miss a game because of work. Except the day of my surgery. But I was there in spirit, in the form of brownies & cookies & rice krispie squares for the ride home.

And of course, my Major team to watch. Couldn’t drive myself but I seem to have more friends than I realized so got to lots of their games and a bunch more as well. It was actually a real treat to get to games that I did nothing but watch and enjoy…no real stake in the outcome.

The physio kept me out of trouble during the days. A fabulous clinic that made it fun to work hard. I owe particular thanks for that to Uma the “Physioterrorist”. It made it a lot easier to take being in the Beaches with all their lovely patios and marvellous food for lunch al fresco.

Got a ton of reading done too! Which was great especially after I found a lawn chair that I could get in and out of without any help. Sunshine, a BIG glass of lemonade and an engrossing novel full of dragons and wizards and knight in shining armour can take your mind off of a lot of discomfort.

And there was Spirit of the Stick work on as well. Another column on that shortly but I do want to thank the two guys from The Lax Life for their ongoing support, especially with the insert in their new instructional video. Looney & Chedda are two of our biggest fans & we are proud to be associated with them. Oh congrats to them on back-to-back President’s Cups! Can never have too much jewellery.

So…back to 12 hour days. Still careful with the knee because it has good days and not-so-good ones. Full tilt with Spirit of the Stick. Getting ready for training camp. Had to find the time to watch my Excelsiors win back-to-back Mann Cups on my computer, in what was arguably the most exciting national senior championship ever. Busier than ever and trying to fit ongoing physio and trying to get back into shape and….well you get it. I do believe that the expression “no rest for the wicked” applies here.

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“As the playoffs begin…”

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

Okay! My beloved Rock missed the playoffs again. A season that seemed to start with so much promise…a bunch of very talented new guys; a coaching staff I really liked and still do for that matter; a new beginning. And somewhere the wheels fell off, so to speak. Sometimes this team looked like the best team around. And at other times….not so good, and that is being kind. So…now! Who to cheer for? That’s easy actually. My second favourite team, of course, and boys! So- the Calgary Roughnecks are my team through this series of single game crapshoots that is the NLL playoffs. Exciting but hard on the nerves for sure. Because on any day anything can happen. And the best prepared team will win. Just ask the 2003 Knighthawks. Now why the Roughies? Well they are a Canadian team but it has more to do with who than where. Kaleb Toth became a favourite when he played in Toronto, long before he scored “The Goal”. This young man took the time to be nice to a very special young friend of mine who had an awkward teenage crush on him. Pictures, autographs and always a kind word. And he has been just as nice to this fan as well. Add to him an overabundance of my summer team, the Brampton Excelsiors. Five to be precise. And one of my favourite team guys, Pat Campbell. Having been on a team with him a few summers ago, I know this team is lucky to have such a great team guy. Oh and that Kelusky fellow. Great chauffeur and tour guide. And a pretty good team leader. Then there is the coaching staff. Again- Brampton guys. Not sure who is a bigger fan of who but I can always count on the absolute truth from my pal, Troy Cordingley. And respect for what I bring to the game. And “T” Sanderson- the biggest softie in the game; and one of my fiercest defenders. So…hopefully these two can find a way to get their boys to bring their “A” game because they will need it. Problem for me, however, is that I have favourites on every team that made it into the playoff rounds. Some more than others so I guess that is how I decide who I actually cheer for. Except…in spite of that there are some teams I just can’t cheer out loud for. Why you ask? I have a fear, unfounded of course but fun none the less. I don’t want to break out into a rash or develop a permanent twitch so I don’t actually think I can say “Go B….Ba….Ban…Guys Who Wear Halloween Colours….Go”. But I do have a solution for that, thanks to some of my lacrosse buddies….”Go Not ‘Insert Team The Halloween Colour Guys Are Playing’”. Although in the first round I will not have to use that because I can actually cheer out loud for the other guys. Why? I have a whole bunch of reasons. Another of my favourites- a guy I have been following since he was an awkward teenager who hadn’t quite figured how to coordinate his 6’6” frame yet. Now people call him Dangerous Dan and his name is on most fans’ short list for league MVP. Plus his baby brother. Plus the next Veltman. Plus my dearest friend’s favourite goalie. Plus…plus…plus. So….Go Blazers. And all the other guys. Play nice. Please nobody get hurt. And may the best men win. And may we get closely contested games that keep fans where they should be- right on the edge of their seats. Because that is what is best for the league.

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On the Road to “Bah-stun”

Monday, March 16th, 2009

So…a very successful road trip draws to a close. And…I am writing this as we drive along the MassPike, as it is called on the signs with the cool hats.

I must admit that the road trips, of late, have been shorter AND far less satisfactory in nature. Amazing how actually winning, albeit in overtime which I abhor, does that for a little 900 or so kilometre jaunt across the border and into a state with 13 letters in its name.

I was excited to go on this road trip…an extra long weekend, a visit to a city I have never seen and one of my favourite players on the other team. So…organize rooms. Then get nephew, who is affectionately known as “The Dood Of Direction”, to create his usual fabulous directions. Pretty hard to get lost with directions that suggests things like not to attempt to cross the median to get to your hotel. Detailed down to how many kilometres…pretty hard to get lost, thank goodness. Although he did miss one toll.

Packing to leave is always fun, especially at this time of the year, with the weather so changeable. But when you are driving, just take outerwear to cover any possibility and all is well. Figuring out which jerseys was the easy part of this trip. And, as always, three bags for every one that my travelling partner brings. How can one be expected to be a goddess without all the right stuff?

Snacks and fill up the tank and we were off, with an overnight in Syracuse, just so we weren’t too pooped. Good thing breakfast foods are appropriate at any time of the day. And that Denny’s seems to be open all the time. 11 pm…And then 9 am…same one and on the road again.

One never thinks that they are going to run into anyone they know on an interstate, right? Wrong! Heading off towards our destination we passed a car with “ONTARIO” plates and next thing we know someone is waving furiously in the car behind us. Turns out the lacrosse decal in the back window, the sticks hanging in the windows and the customized plate were a dead giveaway. Thank goodness for all those nice little layovers along the way. We just pulled in to the next one and, while we all had a stretch, caught up on our plans that would apparently intersect before the game.

Off again only to discover that rush hour is pretty much the same in any big city. It sucks! Especially when you don’t really know where you are going except for the fabulous directions you have in hand.

Delicous and real Mexican food, which is very hard to find in Toronto, a meander around a 24-hour drug store/everything store, a good night’s sleep and we were all set for a fun day in Boston.

First off, I must say that Boston has to be one of the most polite and friendly cities I have ever visited. Please and thank-you seem to be the norm. People actually let you in when you signal in traffic. And, with my “funny” accent, people wanted to know where I was from. That led to the inevitable “why are you visiting?” inquiry. So….plenty of opportunity to talk lacrosse with total strangers, which is always fun.

Because we had a few hours on game day, we decided to just park by the harbour (pronounced much like “hah-bah” by the locals) because we were meeting friends for a pre-game dinner in that neighbourhood. And how beautiful the area was! Fresh smelling air and bright sunshine! A little chilly to start but it didn’t really seem to matter. Lots of wandering and then we decided we might have a look around a few stores for a few souvenirs for friends at home and a special birthday gift for a soon-to-be 80 year old friend who couldn’t make the trip because it has been a tough winter.

So…where to shop because we couldn’t actually see any stores? A store that ships lobster around the country seemed the obvious place to ask. Well! We figured out where we were going with a little sign language. Because we met the native Boston accent at it’s very thickest. It was almost like a foreign language….very cool sounding but did I ever have to work hard to figure out what this very friendly man was saying.

So….found the shopping common and who should we run in to? Yup! Our fellow driver. She had been on a bus tour that morning and comments just reinforced what I had already decided. Boston will make a great long weekend destination this fall. I even found a book of walking tours which I plan to study a bit, in anticipation of that return trip.

Souvenirs in hand and then off to eat some extremely fresh shellfish and get ready for the game with a bunch of fellow hometown fans and the father of my favourite player on the other team. And what could be better? A little friendly trash talk over a bucket of steamed peel-and-eat shrimp, a few crab legs, corn-on-the-cob and my very first bowl of “chow-dah”. And the “most interesting” crab cracking device I have ever encountered. A big rock and a pile of paper plates. Use your imagination. But the crab was delicious!

Then off to TD Banknorth “Gah-dans” and more friendly people. The Blazer staff did absolutely everything they could to make sure I was looked after. As did most of the arena staff. My “accent” sure stood out. Oh and my #32 All-Star jersey. All I can say is if this city doesn’t embrace this very good young team it won’t be for lack of trying by the staff. Special thanks to Dave who helped not only me but Spirit of the Stick as well; and was most interested at the post-game party in any comments I had on the game presentation itself.

So…now to the game. My Rock actually showed up for the whole sixty minutes. Completed passes, hard work on the “D” end and Whipper definitely on his game. As was Mr. Cosmo! In the end, the Rock just worked a little harder, as the Blazers clawed back to tie it in the fourth. A great game by Luke Wiles. Lots of hard work by Craig Conn, whose crease-crashing antics all night netted him a shiner & a bunch of stitches. Apparently, however, the “W” sure made them feel better and, as he told me, “Chicks dig scars”. I suggested that that was enough information.

This Blazer team has so much young talent. Fast…exhausting to watch at times, actually. How could I not love a team with my pretend nephew, the next Veltman, red hair and all? And a great leader in the guy who left me some excellent tickets, Dangerous Dan himself.

Danny told me, after the game, that he is working awfully hard. As, it seems, is everyone employed by the team. They are trying everything they can think of to sell this team, which is at the beginning of “very good”. They just need to get people into the seats. This team is out and about in the community all the time and, hopefully, their numbers will grow to match the passion and hard work of the players.

Now…to the game winner! By a most unlikely candidate who, I am sure, will milk it for all it’s worth, to some very good natured ribbing from his teammates. I have to admit that I really intensely dislike overtime. So hard on the nerves! But….that much sweeter when one of my boys scores. I am just glad Scott “Soupy” Campbell’s teammates didn’t hurt or break anything when they mobbed him in congratulations.

Then off to the post game. Lots of pictures and hugs all around. And that was with the Blazer players. These guys had to be disappointed, especially a guy like Anthony Cosmo, who used to be the heir apparent in-net for the Rock. But the game stays at the arena and the post game is time to catch up and enjoy.

I think for me the true highlight of the trip was something Chad Thompson yelled down the sidewalk as we headed off last night before the real silliness got underway. He thanked my travelling partner and me for making the trip. “It means a lot that you guys are here”. And that is a sentiment that was echoed, not just by my team but by the boys on the other team as well. And not just in Boston but every time we make an away trip. Makes the drive home a lot easier. And shorter too!

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Unapologetic

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

I am an unapologetic fan of my beloved Toronto Rock. And it pains me to watch them struggle as they are. I have, in the past few seasons- since that last championship on 2005- suffered through some pretty tough losses. But this season is different. It is almost like watching a loved one struggle with an illness. My team is suffering from, for want of a better term, heart failure. And I feel completely helpless. I really don’t know what I can do to help.

In the early years my team, on paper at least, was not the most talented. Sure we had some really talented players but none of the superstars who could score at will. In those days “the heart” lived in a solid stay-at-home defence. And if a guy got through that them, Whipper was there.

Two season and two championships. Les Bartley figured out what the right job was for each player. Then he made each man responsible to his teammates.

Another championship on the road in ’02 against another “better-on-paper” team.

And then it was ’03 in Rochester. That was probably the best game I have ever witnessed and, in 11 years, I have seen some pretty good ones. The defence did it again- stopping guys, fast breaks down the floor and scoring a few. I know that it was likely the toughest game Whipper ever played. On that night his heart was broken. His very best, long time fan was no longer with us. And so to heal that hurt, he played for that fan and inspired his team.

In ’05, the true “heart” of my Rock struggled with life itself. But that struggle inspired the five who remained from that very first game. Another ring and another celebration. Great joy. And then the very next day- that heart left us.

It has been as if he took something with him. And the five have become just one. First a free agent signing by a team with a young defence that needed an anchor. Then there were differences of opinion and a trade that was very unpopular with the fans. At the end of last season, the one who was most like that heart retired at the age of 42; old for a lacrosse player and ready to start the next phase of his career. A change of style and another retirement. And only Whipper remains- the goaltender most in the know would want on their team in the BIG game.

So now my Rock is one of the teams with tons of talent on paper- lots of speed, great conditioning, a BIG scorer, a couple of creative shooters, a new captain who can fly, some solid defensive veterans, considerable skill in the faceoff circle. We have a young man who has worked like a Trojan to come back from a knee injury that would have ended a lesser man’s career. At times this team is brilliant. But on for a quarter or a half. And at other times they look like a reasonably talented junior team could beat them soundly.

Some of these guys just flat out quit. Checks aren’t finished. Passes are sloppy. Bad decisions are made. And there are the excuses.

There are guys who are working as hard as ever; no quit and no excuses. But it must be awfully hard for those guys when they see teammates flat out quit.

And for a guy like Bob Watson it must be harder still. He was a member of all five of those championship teams with all those hearts.

And as is often the case, just writing this has made clear in my head, at least, what I can do to help. It is a small thing but….I will not quit. I will encourage and cheer. I will go to all those away arenas and proudly wear my 2002 championship #32 jersey. I will be as honest as I can when the guys ask. And I will not quit.

And…Just maybe….their hearts will heal. It won’t happen overnight. This team’s “heart” has been unwell for a long time. It will take it time to heal. Some changes will be necessary. I won’t like them all but…I will not quit.

And…Just maybe…with enough encouragement and love….just maybe…..

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Dallas and V and the Hall…

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

The thing that has always impressed me the most about lacrosse players is the way they treat the fans. Fans, for the guys who truly get it, are an important part of the game; not just something to be tolerated, which is the way things appear in so many professional sports.

And two guys who have that appropriate treatment down to a fine art comprise the 2009 National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame class. Two very different men- in appearance, style, outside career choices, hobbies- and they physically look nothing alike. They don’t even look much like athletes really. And yet they are exactly the right pair to enter the hall together, with no one else.

Dallas Eliuk’s goaltending stats in his 18 seasons in the league- 15 with the Philadelphia Wings and 3 with the Portland Lumberjax- have set the bar very high indeed.

4 Championships, including two game MVP awards. 9 times named All-Pro; 6 times an All-Star. 9 seasons with 400 or more shots faced. 200+ career games played. 76.24 save percentage. 12.24 goals against. And 6356 career saves. Numbers that are mind boggling.

I was far more impressed with the man I met. And the first time that happened I had no idea it was him. In 2003, I travelled to Vancouver Island with my Brampton Excelsiors for the Mann Cup. We were facing a Shamrocks team that included the likes of John Tavares, Blaine Manning, Kaleb Toth, Dwight Maetche and some guy named Jim Veltman. One of the afternoons my travelling companion and I were wandering around downtown and two guys enjoying ice cream at an outdoor café struck up a conversation about the game, thanks to a rather distinctive sweatshirt I was wearing. Nice friendly chat about the game and off we went.

The next time I would meet Dallas, and this time I actually knew who he was, was about a year and a half later. I had the opportunity to write for a new lacrosse publication and availed myself of the chance to schedule an interview with this legendary goaltender. It was game day & the Wings had travelled to Toronto that morning, after a game the night before, and so I was told I could have 15 minutes. The conversation, in the hotel lobby and interrupted by any number of other players, lasted an hour and a half. We discussed, over much laughter, everything from his art to the toughest shooter he had ever faced to the rather controversial artwork on his mask.

After the game that night, I took the opportunity to congratulate him on his defeat of my Rock in rather spectacular fashion. And his friend informed us both that we had actually met before. We had a good laugh when we realized that we were both really just lacrosse fans.

The guy joining Dallas in the hall this year was once described by a teammate as looking more like the waterboy than a player. Well! For a not-so-very-impressive physical specimen, Jim Veltman has left a pretty impressive legacy as well. All-Pro 12 times. 14 playoff appearances; 10 times to the championship game. In the early 90’s he won 3 rings with the Buffalo Bandits; from the end of the 90’s- 10 seasons with the Ontario Raiders/Toronto Rock that resulted in five more rings. The first recipient of the league’s sportsmanship award. The first and so far only, non-scoring champ winner of the league MVP. And a staggering 2417 loose balls. But again, the numbers only tell a small part of the total picture.

Jim has been described by teammates as a true captain; a leader on and off the floor. This was a guy who always knew his “job” and did it to the best of his ability.

The fans were part of his lacrosse family. After every game, win or loose, he was around the floor to wave and thank the fans for being there. The trot around that will be the picture I carry in my mind’s eye will be the last one. After he had played his final game, he came around, as usual, with his teammates. Lacrosse, for him, is a team game, first and foremost. His teammates almost had to force him around by himself to accept the respect and admiration of his fans. And much as he didn’t want to be the center of attention, he knew he owed his fans that last trip around the floor. And the emotion was palpable.

The other picture that will forever remain is Jim at center floor of the ACC, his arm around his friend and mentor, as they watched the 2003 championship banner lift into the rafters. Les Bartley was the man who taught him his “job” on his team. And it is absolutely appropriate that they sit together in the hall.

I have a picture of Dallas and Jim together only once. They are chatting on the bench after the 2004 All-Star game in Calgary; signing autographs for anyone who actually realized who they were. Nothing flashy about these two. Just two guys who forever changed the game they played with such determination and joy. Exactly the kind of men I would want my kids to grow up to be.

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Half Full

Sunday, January 25th, 2009

My lacrosse world flipped itself upside down this week. And I have found myself struggling to explain to people who asked why I am still a fan of my Toronto Rock, given that the team fired my friends a few days ago. I was reminded of something a dear friend said when she first started watching the game. She described the game as just a bit…okay maybe a lot…schizophrenic. This from a retired psychiatric nurse but oh so accurate.

In this small world, relatively speaking by a sports definition, there are only so many really good players to go around. And they all know one another…play together at various times of the year. Take the guys who played for the Mann Cup Champs this past summer, the Brampton Excelsiors. An absolutely fantastic team, by any observer’s definition. But now it is the winter and the NLL season is in full swing. If you look at most of the rosters, there are members of the Mann Cup champs present. In the summer- teammates. In the winter- opponents. And once the opening faceoff is done, it is game on. They do everything they can to defeat their “friends”. Their teammates are the guys wearing the same uniform, in that moment..

But the game is on the floor. And when it is over, it is over. Finished. Done. Time to go for a beer and be friends again. Things are pretty clearly defined for them.

And they should be for the fans as well. The game is on the floor and the team- players, coaches, staff, management- make the best decisions they can. Fans, however, don’t always understand that. Part of that inability to understand comes from the fact that they do not or, for that matter, cannot have all of the reasons behind decisions that seem incomprehensible.

But I find myself wondering, when talking to fans who think they deserve all the answers, what it was that attracted them to a team in the first place? Was it a specific player….like a Jim Veltman, for example? Was it the game itself…for its speed and excitement and non-stop action and skill and difficulty and…well you get the idea? Like my first ever game- at Maple leaf Gardens? Was it the fact that the home team won that first game and the feeling of pride that outcome carried with it? Was it the fact that a player for the “enemy” (some guy named Tavares) clobbered the only player you knew (some ‘tender named Whipper), late in the game and you were less than pleased with that and decided those guys in the black and orange made excellent “bad guys”?

In the end, I am not sure it really matters how a fan comes to find their favourite team. What really matters is how devoted you allow yourself to be. The word fan comes from the word fanatic and that is defined as…” marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion “. And it comes from the Latin, fanaticus, which is defined as “inspired by a deity, frenzied “. Doesn’t sound all that reality based to me and that is what being a fan is all about. Blind faith maybe but your team should be your team, no matter what. Same as with your players. Good, bad, ugly….they are your guys.

Now throw into that the fact that you hang around the game enough, maybe get involved in some volunteer work like managing a team or writing for a lacrosse publication or a few; getting to as many games as you can; maybe helping with a national championship or taking your team to compete in one. You get to see all sides and, if you pay close enough attention to the boys on the floor, you come to an understanding about how the game stays there.

I clearly remember an incident following my Senior B team’s defeat in the President’s Cup at the hands of a team from Alberta. During the post-game handshakes, I hugged the guys on the victorious team that I knew. A few guys razed the largest guy on their team about hugging the opposition. And when he was asked why he would do that he simply answered….”because I can”. I was disappointed my team had lost but I had no trouble being delighted for my player friends on the other team.

So…back to the original topic of my blog. Why, in heavens name, after they fired my friend, the head coach, and “demoted” my favourite player from coaching staff to “special advisor” could I still cheer for this team? Pretty simple really. This is my team. Has been from the very first game. And while I don’t know precisely why all of the decisions are made, I am really one of those glass more-than-half-full types. I assume, right or wrong, that the ones making the decisions are making the best ones they can. And that my team will win again. And those things will happen exactly the way they are supposed to.

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The 12 days of christmas

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

Just a few more sleeps until the start of the 2009 NLL season…the 11^th for my Rock….a chance to reflect on the past year and do something I have done since 2003….my 12 Wishes for Lax-mas…Christmas….Hanukah….Kwanza…Festivus….whatever holiday you celebrate. Of course I got looking at the ones I have already written, for inspiration mostly. A lot of the guys then are still around or, in some cases, back. A few of my favourites have retired and found other ways to be involved in the game. There are a couple of new guys. But, as always, I am grateful to have games to go to, great fans to hang with and a place to say my piece.

So…the 12^th day of Laxmas is, as usual, twelve special guys….

“Whipper” Watson….for making his best fan proud

Peter Lough…..for his help on a very special project

“Shooter” Sanderson…for sharing another Mann Cup

Nenad Gajic….for being so gracious in defeat, with that ever present smile

Chris “C” Driscoll….for his leadership

Cam Woods….for sharing his joy

Tracey Kelusky….for being the competitor that never, ever quits

Anthony Cosmo….for that precious picture with his favourite fan

Blaine Manning….for just being himself

Brodie Merrill…for noticing his fans

Lewis Ratcliff….for his help on a very special project

…and Rob Marshall….for helping his best fan be part of the game

The 11^th day can be none other than Johnny Who? Owner of the all-time scoring lead in the league; winner of yet another championship; with an ego that is so right sized he puts his team before his own accomplishments.

The 10^th day belongs to Aaron Wilson…now a member of the %$#@*&%$#% Knighthawks….but still our Wils.

The 9^th day Daddy, Kaleb, and the future #9, Deo. Proud as he should be!

The 8^th day to the Stroup cheerleading section…and their new home in Portland.

The 7^th day to a player who has become a leader on his team. Just hope Mr. Doyle has an off day when he and his Stealth come to the ACC this season.

The 6^th day to one of the originals, Laddy. One of only two members of that very first Rock championship still in uniform. Works hard, does what the coaching staff asks of him and always has time for his fans. The kind of guy every team needs.

The 5^th day is the five championship rings…and holding. Might this be the year my Rock get number six? The first for Clarky as a coach? Fingers crossed….I sure hope so.

The 4^th day is reserved for a few of those retired guys. Pat Coyle played with an intensity that always made him a force on the floor. He conquered his challenges off the floor the same way. Dallas Eliuk was, arguably, the best ‘tender ever. Now he will teach others. Kevin Finneran has been off the floor for a few seasons now but….back and trying to grow the sport. And Gary/Paul Gait….retired, Hall of Fame…and now they are back and together as player and coach.

The 3^rd day is for the Dawson boys….Dangerous Dan, Paul “Goaltender converted to Awesome Defender” and their best fan, Dad Joe. Something tells me the road trip to Boston is going to be a lot of fun.

The 2^nd day is the Knighthawk Infirmary. Good luck from this fan to Junior & Scotty. The game needs both of you. And if the air of you attack your recovery the same way as you play the game, your return will be sooner than later for sure.

And…the 1^st day belongs to….who else???? Jim “Scoop” Veltman retired from playing since the age of five. But he didn’t just walk off into the sunset thank heavens. He is now an assistant coach with my Rock. Will he be any good? Who knows but I would take the odds that he will.

And he didn’t just retire. He used this career milestone to bring to a community that has not had his advantages or opportunities. And stay tuned ‘cause he ain’t done yet.

There are lots more guys I have left out. Not on purpose, of course. Just not enough time and space to mention all of the friends I have made along the way in the past ten years. Please know that you all hold a special place in my heart and that one of these days, if I ever have enough hours in the day, I will find a way to write about you all.

In the meantime play safe. And remember that the Creator’s game was a gift. So take your gift and pass it along.

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Thoughts on Training Camps 2008/2009

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

Sometimes I forget how much my favourite lacrosse players give up just so they can play the game they love. Or how much their families & friends give up, but I was reminded recently.

The second weekend in November saw the official opening of training camp for my favourite National Lacrosse League team, the Toronto Rock. And for the first time in six years I wasn’t there. Now that surely made little difference to the guys on the floor but it annoyed the “you-know-what” out of me. I had to work. And as disappointed as I was, it got me thinking about what the players actually give up to play.

Every weekend from now until mid-December most teams in the NLL have some sort of floor time scheduled for their players and the new guys trying to make the rosters; rookies taking their first shot; guys just trying to find a spot in this ever improving, increasingly more competitive league. Each of those sessions runs around two hours of floor time. Then there is the prep, warm-up, get taped and stretched time before they even get on the floor. Plus the cool off, clean up, turn into a regular person time after. So…three hours or so right there.

Add to that the travel time. For a few guys on my team it is a few minutes. For some of them it is two to three hours one way. For some of the other teams- take Minnesota for example- guys are flying in from as far away as Victoria. The Edmonton Rush had their guys in Boise, Idaho for a weekend. The Mammoth flew their players and wanna-bes to Denver. For the boys from Toronto- a long weekend. And this is all before they even get down to business.

The season, from late December to early May, if they go all the way, requires the commitment of almost every weekend. For the players on the Rock who live in the GTA, home games mean they are actually home. But take a guy like Lewis Ratcliff. He and his wife and his baby have relocated to Toronto, from Victoria, for the winter. Saves the wear and tear of travel here every week and means he can watch Carter grow in his first year. But they have moved away from their family for over half a year. That is an enormous commitment.

Or a guy like Anthony Cosmo. This season he will likely feel like he has won the travel lottery, so to speak. For the past four seasons he has juggled a new teaching career with weekly trips to San Jose and wherever else the Stealth were playing on any given weekend. Training camp was pretty much non-existent for him. And as for team bonding. It was good thing he knew a lot of the guys he was playing with because his time with them was limited, to say the least. This year he will play for the Chicago Shamrox. At least it is only one time zone difference and a relatively short flight. And he can travel with his teammates from the GTA. But still, that commitment of almost every weekend.

These guys get paid to play. But it is by no means enough to support themselves, let alone a wife and kids. And so they all have real jobs- teacher, police office, fire fighter, tool & die maker, factory worker. You name it, there is likely a lacrosse player who does it. Some of them are lucky enough to have jobs in the lacrosse world, like Chris Driscoll who is the technical director for the Ontario Lacrosse Association. Or very a very understanding boss. Take Josh Sanderson for example. He works with his coach, who also happens to be his boss and his father. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t all kinds of manoeuvring to juggle a full time job, plus the game plus the three, soon to be four children, he and his wife have. I honestly can’t figure out how they do it sometimes.

But then I think about someone like Kim Ratcliff, who has uprooted her son to come to Toronto for the winter with her husband. Away from all of their family and close friends to follow Lewis’ dream. Or Colin Doyle who has moved himself and his wife and baby girl to the west coast for another season. Sure they have friends out there but all of their family is back in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

So, on second thought, maybe it isn’t the players I should be most grateful to. Sure they provide me with the best entertainment in sports, at least in my humble opinion. But when I really think about it, it is their wives/girlfriends and kids and parents and close family who really give up the most so that they can follow their dream.

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And on a final note….good luck and fingers crossed for our pal Chet as he tries to crack the Shamrox lineup. They will be lucky to have a guy with a heart that size.

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End of Summer Lax

Friday, September 12th, 2008

I can’t believe the summer is over! Sure sign….the Mann Cup has found a new home until we start again next spring.

Seems like it was just a few days ago that I was knee deep in paperwork for my Senior “B” team. First game, a whole bunch of rookies, a new assistant coach. And a lot of the same old guys- our wonderful training & equipment staff, a few players that have been there forever, an owner who is as generous as they come, a coach who wants to win. And new ball boy who, to paraphrase, had the “best summer ever just hanging out with the guys”.

Our trip to the national championship at our level last year, to challenge for the President’s Cup, was the finale for a lot of guys. And so we started to rebuild this year. We made a good start on what promises to be a really good team soon. But we have a lot to learn as a team and we will. Enough said that the season was a bit too short for my liking.

However, a pretty good representative went west from our league and I need to congratulate the Owen Sound Woodsmen on their victory. And, most especially, my two favourite players on that team. And yes I have favourites on the “bad guys”. That just seems to happen when you hang around the game long enough.

To Brandon Sanderson- congrats on ring number six!!!! That is just plain amazing. And to Chet Koneczny- big hugs for you my pal. Well deserved to two great team guys who work hard, not just to play the game but also to grow this sport we love so much.

So….as the summer ends and I find time to say a few things that I just haven’t had time for the past few months. I will start with a bunch of random thoughts but stay tuned. Now that I have time on my hands, at least until the NLL camps start, I will say it all.

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Before anything else, I need to ask anyone reading this that is truly a fan of the game to say a little prayer for a pretty good player who is fighting for his health, first and foremost.

John Grant Junior is arguably one of the best to ever pick up a stick. He has never been a personal favourite, except when he is playing for Team Canada. And that has nothing to do with his skill & ability. It has everything to do with the fact that he always seems to be on the other team. In the summer he is a member of the current arch rival of my Excelsiors. In the winter he is one of those teal & purple wearing Knighthawks. He is forever trying to score on my favourite team. So really? What’s to like?

Well, truth be told, he is pure magic to watch at times. One of those guys who thinks nothing of dragging three or four players with him as he scores one of those goals that makes you shake your head in amazement. And that is when his team is short handed.

Recently he was forced to watch his Lakers loose in the Ontario finals, to a team they have defeated in that same series the past four summers. No chance to repeat as Mann Cup champions.

But that, right now, is the least of his concerns. He is fighting an infection that has already sidelined him for the next year, according to his medical advice. And even then he has a long road back to health, let alone to playing the game he loves so much.

And so I ask anyone fan of the game to say a little prayer to whomever you say such things for John and his family. He and they will need all of our support in the coming months.

His NLL team, the Rochester Knighthawks, have set up a way for fans to send him their best wishes. And I am certain every single one will help.

jgrant@knighthawks.net

Or…by mail… John Grant, c/o The Rochester Knighthawks, The Blue Cross Arena, 100 Exchange Street, Rochester, NY 14614

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My shortened lacrosse summer was not for nothing though. It gave me time to get to a lot of other games. It meant I only had to miss one playoff game of the major series team I have been following since I was introduced to lacrosse over ten years ago. What a treat! Lots to talk about there, in days to come. I will share one story that proves to me just how important fans are to the players.

When all was said & done and the players finally came out of the dressing room after winning the trophy they prize the most, I had a chance to congratulate Brodie Merrill. In my ear he whispered how much it meant to look up into the crowd in game six, down 3 to 2 to the defending national champs, in their packed arena. And there was I and a whole lot of other Excelsiors fans. We made the trip to the often unfriendly confines of Memorial Arena in Peterborough.

I have heard, many times from many players, how much the “seventh man” does for them. Brodie wasn’t the only one who told me the other night. And they all meant it. These guys really do appreciate the support because they know it is how they get to play the game.

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My extra spare time also meant I could hang out at the Ontario Lacrosse Festival and watch a bunch of short guys play the game. More treats for me as I got to see the future. And if these kids are anything to base it on, the sport will grow.

Like the Walker brothers from Brampton. Not the biggest players on the floor but the biggest hearts. And fans as well. They have been to see their major team every time the games didn’t conflict with their commitment to their own team. These are the guys who may not grow up to be the best lacrosse players ever. But they will play and then coach. They will give back to the game just like they have been taught by their Dad & Mom.

Or the guys who played on my Tyke “A” Provincial Champs a couple of summers ago. Still, for the most part, together. What fun it was for me to watch them win again. Almost as much fun as when we did it together.

Or kids with last names like Clark, Hasen, Teat, Veltman, Williams. Coached by their fathers. Or by Uncle Pat the Goalie. Might not be stars. May decide at some point that would rather do something other than play lacrosse. But they are having fun now and they are learning one of life’s most important lessons. They are learning that you pay it forward. You give back by giving to the ones who come after you. That is how you thank the people who were there for you.

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All in all, it was a great summer! And I have a whole bunch of pictures to prove it. Just have to organize them and my thoughts and I will have a lot more to say about it. Maybe even an opinion or two or three…about the state of lacrosse in general; about how hard it is to be a referee; about the responsibilities of being a “good” fan; about all the babies in my lacrosse world. Just gotta’ catch up to myself first.

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