http://www.nllinsider.com/2008/09/08/full-draft-results/
http://www.nllinsider.com/2008/09/14/the-difference-in-the-2008-nll-entry-draft-100-us-commitment/
Despite Paul Tutka’s confidence that 2008 will be a make or break year for the National Lacrosse League, I will have to play Devil’s Advocate and go against his theories that Americans will make a difference in the NLL this season and in future seasons.
1. 2008 Draft Class Has Amazing Athletes-Just look at most of the Americans drafted in the NLL in 2008 (Kevin Huntley doesn’t count because I am sure his dad taught him all about box lacrosse). Paul Rabil, Matt Danowski, Kevin Buchanan, Joe Cinosky, Steven Brooks, Stephen Peyser, Matt Bocklet, Brendan Loftus, Mike Leveille, Terry Kiminer, Jordan Levine, Jerry Lambe, Tony McDevitt, Nick O’Hara, and Dan Cocoziello. They are all pretty great athletes. Some of them could probably get picked in the seventh round of the NFL draft just based on athletic skill. The National Lacrosse League would be fools to pass over most of those guys in favor of a less skilled Canadian player.
2. Lots of great athletes never made it in the NLL-From the first American picks since 2001, Josh Coffman is not around anymore, Josh Bergey never lasted even though his brother Jake did. Same with Jack Reid. Ryan Boyle is doing well and so is Frank Resetarits. Paul Rabil is iffy, he has tons of talent, but who knows if it will translate into the indoor game.
3. NLL is a novelty league-In the end, loud music and fighting will win over the NLL fans than good lacrosse skills. Canadians tend to give the NLL crowds more than what the Americans are willing to do. Americans want to play an indoor version of lacrosse. Canadians already have a totally different game strategy in mind when they strap on the pads, which takes Americans time to learn and often don’t succeed.
4. Business as usual-The NLL will probably get a few players from this draft class to stick in the league, but its not going to be anything out of the ordinary. Unless they want to redo the league rules to accommodate American style of play, coaches and GM’s are going to still use Canadians to fill their rosters. Although I have always thought it was smart for NLL teams in lacrosse hot beds to use as many American former NCAA players as possible for the fans to relate to someone on the team, and the Canadian and non hot bed franchises can use all Canadian rosters, because it does not make a difference to the fans.
September 15, 2008 at 12:58 pm |
You missed the point or ignored the third article you cited above about Americans commitment to the indoor game. With the rise of the New York Titans (a mostly American born team) and the Dave Huntley-hybrid-Philadelphia Wings and the fast paced Minnesota Swarm and Buffalo Bandits teams, the league has changed its game from brutish (as you describe it as novelty) to one of a skilled athleticism. (think Jarett Park) The teams that haven’t adopted to this new up-tempo game (namely the Toronto Rock) looked awful last season. I think you can only say “business as usual” if you did not pay attention to dramatic shift of last season. This change has caused these top NCAA stars to want to play in the NLL, whereas in the past these types of players looked down on the league.