Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Well, it’s official. The Premier Lacrosse League, a venture largely led by Paul Rabil, launched yesterday and will debut a six-team, 14-week season June 1, 2019.
Built by the players, for the fans. We’re humbled and excited to officially share with you the launch of the @PremierLacrosse. pic.twitter.com/lSJnllCN4N
— Paul Rabil (@PaulRabil) October 22, 2018
Rabil leaves Major League Lacrosse as its all-time leading scorer to become its leading competitor. He’ll play in the PLL and serve as its chief strategy officer, having already secured a media rights deal with NBC Sports Group and a diverse group of investors. The PLL will compensate its players, many of whom have switched over from the MLL, with full-time salaries and a benefits package.
Lacrosse on
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) October 22, 2018
"@NBCSports will present 17 games on NBC Sports Network, and two on @NBC, all of which will also be streamed on https://t.co/royBhOYgKy and the NBC Sports app. NBC Sports Gold will live stream 20 games."
More info https://t.co/iBAop0IeIo pic.twitter.com/qItnZNtnys
We’ll have more on this developing story today. Scroll down for additional media coverage.
2. Utah got its first taste of NCAA men’s lacrosse fall ball over the weekend at Tierney Field on the campus of US Lacrosse, and here’s a photo gallery of the Utes’ matchup with UMBC courtesy of John Strohsacker.
PHOTOS (via @laxphotos): @UtahLacrosse made its Division I debut — or at least its fall ball debut — at @USLacrosse HQ in Sparks, Md., against @UMBC_MLax https://t.co/ly8xdj43g2 pic.twitter.com/RdPT0sGCY9
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) October 22, 2018
3. More photos from fall ball, as Kevin Tucker covered the sixth annual University City Classic in Philadelphia.
The men’s event included Colgate, Delaware, Drexel, Hobart, Lafayette, Penn, Robert Morris, and Syracuse, and it raised funds for the Headstrong Foundation.
PHOTOS (via @kevinptucker): Colgate, Delaware, Drexel, Hobart, Lafayette, Penn, Robert Morris and Syracuse competed in the sixth-annual University City Classic at Penn Park in Philadelphia https://t.co/lmRIj0OBB2 pic.twitter.com/ONZnpERUFO
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) October 22, 2018
WHAT WE’RE READING
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Bloomberg reported on Wall Street’s support of the new Premier Lacrosse League, and Paul and Mike Rabil appeared on the network to discuss the venture.
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Here’s NBC Sports on the launch of the PLL.
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College Crosse on the introduction of the PLL and related details.
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Inside Lacrosse on the start of the PLL and on a visit to the Boston College women for a fall ball update.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Lax Sports Network interviewed Evan Washburn for some analysis of the new Premier Lacrosse League.
"The @PremierLacrosse League will succeed if ______" @LaxSportsNet analyst @EvanWashburn fills in the blank and breaks down @PaulRabil's new league. Full interview: https://t.co/9JTqXxkZbq #LacrosseNow pic.twitter.com/oXqwMksmrY
— Tom Eschen (@TomEschenJr) October 22, 2018
LSN also brought on Greg Gurenlian to talk about the potential for simplified faceoff rules in the PLL.
.@GregBeast32 is working with @PremierLacrosse to create more simplified face off rules for the new league.
— Travis Eldridge (@tgeldrid) October 22, 2018
What do they entail?
Full conversation up on @LaxSportsNet: https://t.co/f1m4y4gwy0pic.twitter.com/9bL5cH8oMQ
WHAT’S ON TAP
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Cover time. Watch for a look at the November edition of US Lacrosse Magazine as that issue mails to US Lacrosse members this week.
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We’ll have follow-up and reaction on the launch of the PLL.
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Also today, our #BestOfLax voting continues with the release of four finalists for the Best Men’s Performance of 2018.
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We’ll have several fall ball focus stories this week, including looks at the Boston University women and Ohio State men.