NLL Insider

Where the hell did the time go? Somehow I completely lost track of the past two months. It seems as if it was only yesterday when we were witnessing the Brampton Excelsiors and New Westminster Salmonbellies battle it out in what will go down as one of, if not THE BEST, Mann Cup series in history. Now, we are just a month away from the big fat guy making his annual appearance and then it’s just under two weekstill the 2010 NLL season is upon us. Obviously we here at Insider want to keep you up to date with the goings on and breaking news from all 11 camps coast to coast.

I’m a little behind on the stats (Tutka, Kojima and Chavez have no lives and all they do is wait for GM’s to call or email them with breaking news) as I am trying to improve life and lacrosse all at the same time. The news of the Toronto Rock showing 9 games on live TV got me all excited as I quickly got the ‘mouse on the wheel’ in hopes of helping out. I even had the support from a few of you die-hards out there. It turns out that the deal between TSN and the Rock was just that, a two man deal. The NLL had nothing to do with it so they will not be supplying any ‘talent’. Not sure who will provide play-by-play but it’s pretty much a given, that our good friend Shanny, will be behind the colour commentary mic come January 9^th when the Rock visit the Blazers.

But as my mommy always tells me with every door closed a door will open and with fingers crossed and a gracious universe I will still be able to provide extensive coverage to the entire lax world.

There have been some major stories over the past few months that have been chronicled on Insider but I wanted to make sure I gave a few, special mentions.

The appointment of John Gallant as captain in Colorado is a huge acknowledgement to a guy that often goes unnoticed but gets the job done. With the team since their days in Washington he has been a part of the franchise from bad to good to mediocre. He may not be the most vocal guy, the most aggressive guy or even the flashiest but he will make sure they know they “are a good team” and nobody rocks a pair of dockers quite like Johnny GQ. The Mammoth fans know how valuable he is to their team and I know John will be a great leader and fill the shoes of former captain Gavin Prout just fine.

From playing for a ring to coaching with one on his hand, Curt Malawsky will make the transition from sitting on the bench to standing on it this season with the Roughnecks. For years players in the NLL have said that the guy they would expect to make the leap from player to coach the easiest was Malawsky and for ‘Necks GM Brad Bannister, it was an easy choice after Troy Cordingly and Terry Sanderson jettisoned for Toronto. The fire that flows through Curt’s veins is composed of pure passion, unbridled adrenaline and no fears what so ever.  When you take a guy that has never been more than 175lbs soaking wet, give him a rubber body and tell him to go take a beating night in and night out you’d expect him to take a shift off. Well Curt not only never took a shift off, he came back asking for more. The 2010 defending champs from Calgary may be under a lot of pressure to repeat but one thing’s for sure, they will always be prepared and they will never roll over- and that all starts with the guy in the suit behind the bench (still rockin’ a bit of a mullet).

Finally, well finally for today at least, gotta give a shout out to Scott Evans and John Grant. Coming back from ACL surgery and back onto the field can be a long arduous task, one that I and many others have gone through. Just in time for the NLL season, both players feel they are ready to jump right back into the pool. Sure both guys got some action during the late summer months but neither were that instrumental in their teams’ success indoors.  Now both feel healthy and ready to help the Hawks back to Eastern supremacy.

Over the year I and the rest of the Insider cronies will be working hard to keep you as up to date and informed as possible. Just don’t test Tutka’s knowledge or we will be forced to deal with his lacrosse trivia questions again. We get it Paul, you’re a lax guru, why don’t you go win an award or something.

Fans, the season is almost here so dust off your jerseys, face paint, cardboard, beads and fuzzy slippers; its going to be an awesome season in the NLL with big plans ahead! 

Happy Thanksgiving to all my southern friends, hope you enjoy as much turkey and fixins as possible!

It’s lax time folks- Who’s excited?

Jenner is a two-time Mann Cup champion with six years of NLL experience. Email him at ted.jenner@nllinsider.com Currently the voice of the BombSquad in Everett and pursuing pro lacrosse in BC in the Arena and on the radio

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