NLL Insider

Back in the Day

Looking back with … Gary Becker

Gary Becker will be the first to tell you he was no lacrosse superstar in the pro ranks. For starters, he’s American. Secondly, he played Division III lacrosse at Denison U. But he did play three seasons with the Washington Wave and Pittsburgh Bulls in 1989, 1990 and 1991. it might not be the glamorous side of the game, but still, he was a pro baller and that’s something that’ll never be taken away from him. So while Becker didn’t exactly set the lacrosse world on fire with his stats or style, he played with a heart and hustle that’s still evident in whichever tournament he’s playing in today, well past the days of spandex and JOFA helmets. READ MORE »

Back in the Day

Looking back with … Steve Govett

Steve Govett had some idea of what he was getting into, but he really was surprised by the amount of fun he had. Sure, playing lacrosse is fun. But when you get to play it professionally as a member of the Philadelphia Wings back when they were a dominate force of the Naitonal Lacrosse League, the fun factor increases exponentially. Govett’s career spanned five seasons with the Wings and he built a reputation as a tough competitor, the same kind of reputation he has today as general manager of the Colorado Mammoth. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for a trip down memory lane with Steve Govett. READ MORE »

Back in the Day

Looking back with … Scott Gabrielsen

When Scott Gabrielsen returned from traveling Europe following his graduation as an All-America midfielder from the University of Vermont, he confronted a pile of mail. In that pile was a letter from the Philadelphia Wings inviting him to a tryout for the team and 10 seasons later, he retired in 1998 as one of its most decorated and celebrated players in history. A captain, a leader and a fan favorite, Gabrielsen forged his role as a primary contributor for a Wings team that won five titles during his tenure in Philadelphia. Plenty of winning brings plenty of memories for Gabrielsen as he took some time to reflect on his days as a member of one of the National Lacrosse League’s most dominant eras. READ MORE »

Back in the Day

Looking back with … Jeff Klodzen

There was no draft party for Jeff Klodzen back in 1991. He wasn’t even a draft choice. All he did was make the right friends in the right places and when you’re playing in a lacrosse tournament in Syracuse that pits an All-Star team against a World team, that’s the right place. Especially when that place includes fellas like Ronny Klausner and Dave Pietramala, who convince you to move to Baltimore. That’s the story of Klodzen, whose pro box lacrosse career took him from Pittsburgh to Baltimore and then back home to Syracuse, where he lives today and looks back on his pro career with fondness. And no, we didn’t forsake a picture this week. We just got our hands on a gem and wanted to tease ya by making you click the “read more” button to see it. READ MORE »

Back in the Day

Looking back with … Brian Lemon

Brian Lemon entered professional box lacrosse with a wooden stick back in 1989. Today, the wooden stick isn’t used anymore by anyone in National Lacrosse League games, but Lemon’s still around and instead of wearing a jersey and shorts, he’s wearing a suit and tie as the National Lacrosse League’s Vice President of lacrosse operations. So if anyone is going to have a solid perspective of what players want and need in the world of professional indoor lacrosse, it’s a guy who played eight seasons in the league and Lemon brings just that to the NLL. He took some time out of his schedule to take us back to the day. READ MORE »

Back in the Day

Looking back with … Toby Boucher

The year is 1989 and all your lacrosse studs are rockin’ the Brine M1 head and gloves the size of pillows. Your shorts are nowhere near long enough to reach your knees and your tube socks are sportin’ three color rings. Welcome to the lacrosse world of Toby Boucher, the No. 2 overall draft pick by the New England Blazers out of Ohio Wesleyan. Today, it’s the National Lacrosse League and Boucher was eager to look back on the days when teams like the Blazers, the Thunder, the Bulls and the Turbos were gettin’ their game on. READ MORE »

Back in the Day

Looking back with … Mike French

If you’re in Philadelphia and you’re a fan of the National Lacrosse League’s Philadelphia Wings, you know who Mike French is. If you don’t, then you really don’t deserve the honor of being a Wings fan. Just kidding. Point is, French has been a part of the Wings organization ever since LL Cool J was Bigger and Deffer in 1987. Player, general manager coach and team exec, this Canada native has done it all for the Wings and he was more than happy to chat about his early days with the team. READ MORE »

Back in the Day

Looking back with … Gordon Purdie

What’s up with the National Lacrosse League being around long enough to officially have old-timers? Well, that’s where we’re at and Gordon Purdie even referred to himself as such, so we’re kicking off a series of profiles of former NLL ballers with none other than Purdie himself. Purdie’s NLL story is a good one, starting with him being the No. 5 overall draft pick in 1989 by the now-defunct New York Saints. The best part? He didn’t even know he’d been drafted. That’s the way it was back then, and Purdie was more than gracious to share his thoughts and memories. READ MORE »

Back in the Day

And now a message from vintage Gary Gait

In Rochester these days lacrosse fans have plenty to be pleased about. Who in their position wouldn’t want to kick back with a celebratory beer or a bottle of Bambino, the finest beverage you’ll ever have to purposefully open in your backyard? Well, well. Not so fast, Knighthawks fans.

Back in the Day

Box Lacrosse on the Reservation

This weekend I am headed to Six Nations, Ontario, for the 2008 Warrior’s Cup pre-season box lacrosse tournament.  US Indoor Lacrosse has put together a team with the intention of getting American field players box experience.  The whole process of working with Americans with little to no box experience has got me thinking about my early days learning the game.

When I was in high school and college I would play in an indoor league in Potsdam, N.Y.  Most of the players had no real box experience and the goalies were field players playing in a modified field net.  I think it was 5 feet high by 4 feet wide.  It was a ton of fun and got me used to playing in a hockey rink, but was far from box lacrosse.  I think this is a pretty typical experience for Americans playing “indoor” lacrosse.  So when I tried out for the Boston Blazers in the fall of ‘93 I thought I knew something about the game.  Obviously I was wrong, and I got cut from that team.

READ MORE »