Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Yesterday was a big day for the sport as pro men's outdoor lacrosse came back under one roof following the merger of the Premier Lacrosse League with Major League Lacrosse. The reactions were overwhelmingly positive as a unified effort has a better chance for long term success, but the move also means fewer opportunities in the short term and the end of some traditions. Here's a look at some of the reactions from the lacrosse world:
Absolutely ECSTATIC about today’s @MLL_Lacrosse & @PremierLacrosse #LaxMerger news. pic.twitter.com/QUV2OeG88p
— Greg Gurenlian (@GregBeast32) December 16, 2020
A united front for outdoor #lacrosse makes great #sportsbiz sense. The growth of the @nll in the indoor space shows value when all in season work as one. Congrats to our colleagues @PremierLacrosse & @MLL_Lacrosse on coming together, a big yr ahead for our sport! https://t.co/Kc5gB4tLk7
— Nick Sakiewicz (@NLLcommish) December 16, 2020
HUGE day for the sport of lacrosse https://t.co/BzinAxckOV
— Grant Ament (@GrantAment) December 16, 2020
@PaulRabil and @MichaelRabil are my business heroes. Talk about setting goals and achieving them. Let me go get my vision board
— Tari | Official Lax Girl™ (@officiallaxgirl) December 16, 2020
What the @PremierLacrosse has done is amazing but if this is the end of @MLL_Lacrosse then #lacrosse fans should raise a glass to @BodyByJake & Dave Morrow for being decades ahead of their time and making pro outdoor lacrosse a reality. https://t.co/7UlfjiOgE9
— Eamon McAnaney (@emacSNY) December 16, 2020
Having strong connections with the @PremierLacrosse & @MLL_Lacrosse this is a giant relief. On another note hoping many of the outstanding Coaches and staff in the MLL find a home in the merger.Some of these coaches are some of the best in the game!! Let’s all let this play out
— Joe Spallina (@JoeSpallina) December 16, 2020
Thanks for giving us a chance to continue our dreams! Great to see it will continue! https://t.co/BMPEa7kRrp
— Brett Hughes (@Brett_Hughes) December 16, 2020
As we all think about the magnitude of this merger and all the implications it will have on the players. Let’s pause and have a thought and prayer for all the behind the scenes people who just lost their job during the pandemic ridden holidays.
— John Grant Jr (@JohnGrantJr24) December 16, 2020
2. Kasey Stevens thought her basketball career ended five years ago, but the Jacksonville midfielder is temporarily trading in her lacrosse stick to help out the school’s undermanned basketball team. She played 32 minutes in the team’s win on Monday. Kenny DeJohn with more on this great story.
The @JAX_WBB team was down to four healthy players, so administration reached out to other women's teams on campus for help.
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) December 16, 2020
Enter Kasey Stevens of @JAX_WLAX, who played 32 (Thirty-two!) minutes in the team's win over Flagler on Monday.https://t.co/wSoUqbPcmq
3. “Dig In” is the mantra for the Georgetown College women’s lacrosse team this spring. Here’s why in the latest IWLCA “Behind the Whistle” blog.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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A guide for first-time attendees and veteran attendees to the US Lacrosse Convention.
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The Connecticut Hammerheads time in the state may be over before the team ever got a chance to play at Fairfield.
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Former Rutgers women’s lacrosse player Hailey Barnes has transitioned into a career in public relations.
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Belmont Abbey has been picked to win the men’s lacrosse championship in the Conference Carolinas preseason poll.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Lacrosse Film Study showcasing the epic 1998 men’s world championship game between Canada and the United States. Two summers later, the Major League Lacrosse Showcase tour launched the league.
1998, USA v Canada: The Game that Sparked Professional Lacrosse.
— Lacrosse Film Study (@LaxFilmStudy) December 16, 2020
Congratulations, @PremierLacrosse x MLL.
WATCH FULL GAME: https://t.co/47IrqW3OyF pic.twitter.com/WcvFFVQ9Nj
WHAT’S ON TAP
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We'll have more from the historic PLL-MLL merger, including interviews with Brodie Merrill, Rob Pannell, Tim Soudan and Bryce Wasserman among others.