Man-o'-war: A vessel designed and outfitted for battle

When I was at the Claremont Colleges, I had the good fortune to help in the development of our college's lacrosse program. My teammates and I took the responsibility seriously. From the team's colors to the mascot, we had control over every last detail. Out of a collective vision, tradition was born. It was a special experience, unique to the MCLA, and something I will always cherish. It inspired me to pursue a career in coaching, perhaps in an attempt to recapture those feelings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlEO6yXd9FE&NR=1

I've been a Bear, a Pioneer, a Stag, a Coug, a Falcon, a Gael, and now a Flying Dutchmen.

Just having a good mascot helps. Finding a way to identify with "who you are" can galvanize a program. The key to the "buy in" is good leadership and believing in the vision. The bridge from nothing to something is built with a good plan and a willingness to follow.

That said, the 2010 (inaugural) version of the LVC Flying Dutchmen resembles a dinghy. Responsive. Small but strong. Helmed by a guy saltier than Davey Jones. It's going to take every bit of his expertise to navigate the treacherous waters of a 15 game NCAA schedule. While the crew struggles to find their sea legs, Calypso is doing her best to sabotage our maiden voyage.

Construction of a Frigate is underway.

(We've been getting cozy in the field house. Changing things up, dose of reality, shock the body...These are the practices you remember.)

Fortunately, the tools we need to aid our navigation arrive on Saturday in the form of a scrimmage with some guys in different uniforms.

Let it Snow!

10days away from our opening scrimmage. 23 days, 21 hours, 51 minutes and 20 seconds away from our program’s opening game. And the snow continues to fall at record-breaking pace. After spending the better part of 5 years at Western Reserve Academy (near Cleveland) I thought I knew something about winter weather. I’m trying to be patient, but 2010, you’re being ridiculous. Like “Dewy, I’m cut in half real bad” ridiculous:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqwlLLm87xU

Listen, I’m a control freak with an obsessive-compulsive personality. Frankly, being Type A usually helps me more than its hurts me, and I’m ok with it. I love my job and I want to be great at my job. I’m no Bud Kilmer, but trust me when I tell you that I want to excel at everything and coaching is no different. I want my teams to win and I want my players to be successful. I enjoy working toward perfection. I feel if I work hard enough and keep my eyes open, every so often I can get a glimpse. I love those moments, but they come at a cost. There is no substitute for practice, it's the sustenance by which all teams survive/succeed.

I complain about the weather. We all do. It sucks. I suppose I should be grateful. At LVC, we are fortunate to have access to a tremendous indoor facility and that’s great. Personally, I feel lacrosse indoors is like buying generic; some things are just sacred. The thought of heading into this scrimmage without any legitimate full field outdoor practices makes uncomfortable.

College athletes give up a whole bunch of things they really enjoy hoping for a big payoff in the end. Sure, everybody enjoys the process, loves their teammates, and makes lasting memories, but only one team hoists the trophy at the end, and that only sits well with everybody else years after the fact.

College athletes dedicate themselves because they want to win. Lacrosse players, doesn’t matter what level (D1-MCLA), dedicate themselves religiously and practice is their Salah. Practice is a cathartic ritual to be taken very seriously. It’s an obligation. Like breathing.

For many reasons, I feel practices are more meaningful than games. As a coach, I can only measure consistent progress in practice. When things click it’s palpable and the players feel it. Collectively, they carry that with them into games. For the individual, nothing could be more important in terms of preparation than the repetitive nature of practice. Repetition builds confidence. There is nothing more dangerous than a team of confident, well prepared players. We ask two things from our players every practice: effort and concentration. If they do their part and we do ours, WE will improve every single day.

As I get older, I am becoming more aware of my surroundings. I’m learning to let go of bad days or at least pretend better. I tell myself bad practices are just minor set backs, to be more like Tony Dungy. His expression never changed, and he never let his insecurities decay the confidence of his players or his players confidence in him.

A bad practice used to have a direct impact on my feelings of self worth. (Type A. See above.) If we had a good practice, I was Leo on the bow of the Titanic. If we had a bad one, I felt sick, like how Paula Abdul must have felt watching American Idol the other night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pB3gAjivrY&feature=related

Leading me to my point, this weather is rendering me (and everybody else) completely powerless. How I deal with it is what really matters. More importantly, it’s seriously jeopardizing the quality of college lacrosse in 2010. Okay, that’s a bit of a stretch. I’m just jammed up because we gave the kids the day off.

Field of Dreams

Last weekend, I made the trek down to Baltimore for my first US Lacrosse Convention. Despite being months away from our first game, I couldn't help but get caught up in the collective excitement shared by so many laxheads. I met some of the sports brightest stars, heard and felt the words of Dr. Lou, and caught up with old teammates. The whole experience reminded me of the many reasons why I love lacrosse.

The Voice: Go the distance.

I’ve been out of college for a few years and working full-time as a college coach almost as long. Looking back and thinking ahead, it’s hard to imagine life without Lacrosse. Some would love to label our sport as elitist or exclusive, I have had a much different experience. I love the relative "smallness" of our sport. I’ve seen a poster of Mark Millon hanging in a Japanese dorm room, introduced Aussies to the Armadillo, and I've bent an elbow while watching old Princeton games on the telly in a British Pub. I’ve witnessed our sport transcend cultural and language barriers in across the globe. Most of my favorite memories and many of my best friends share lacrosse in common. In return, I feel it’s my duty to share the game.

If you're interested in playing lacrosse in a far off land, experiencing another culture, and making some great friendships, please check out the USA Starz program at www.globalstarzlax.com.

Annie Kinsella: If you build what, who will come?

Ray Kinsella: He didn't say.

Like many of you, I have spent the better part of winter fighting back my nervous excitement for the upcoming 2010 season. This spring I am setting sail with the Flying Dutchmen of Lebanon Valley College: new school, new boss, and new kids. Uncharted waters.

Ray Kinsella: What are you grinning at ghost?

(Lebanon Valley College Lacrosse undefeated since 1985)

Lebanon Valley College is a great liberal arts college tucked quietly between Philly, Long Island, and Baltimore. Last January, the college elected to bring lacrosse back as a varsity sport for both men and women in 2010. Resurrecting a lacrosse program from the dead is no easy chore, but to the college’s credit, they have hired two coaches with serious pedigrees to lead their respective programs. (LVC is a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference and we play a 15 game NCAA D3 schedule, www.godutchmen.com)

Mark: When did these ball players get here?

Now that school is back in session, we will use the next few weeks to separate the players from the pretenders. Like many programs, we are starting off with a gambit of fitness tests. Players freak out about these tests, which is strange because if you do the work, then there's no reason to be nervous. Frankly, self discipline can be a tough concept for many college students. Playing time, however, is fairly straight forward. Commitment is really the only thing worth measuring.

Terence Mann: You're seeing a whole team of psychiatrists, aren't you?

As coaches, we have realistic expectations for year one, but we're doing our best to enhance the student-athlete experience and create a "big time" feel. Our friends at Cascade, STX, Nike, Adrenaline, and Silverfin have joined in the effort, helping us outfit our athletes in the best equipment on the market. LVC is a little program with big goals. Recruiting is going well. We are beginning to cultivate a culture of hard work. The foundation is being built, and word is spreading throughout our tiny community. Sure, we have to crawl before we walk. This program is in its infancy; we understand we are going to fall down and get some bruises along the way. Growing up can be hard to do, but time is the biggest obstacle standing in our way, and like with any child...patience is the key.

Terence Mann: People will come Ray. People will most definitely come.

Toughness

After reading the article on “toughness” in college hoops, I instantly put it in terms of college lacrosse. As a player in college, I, (like Mr. Bilas) thought I was tough. I wasn’t. If it weren’t for some incredible teammates my career probably would have fizzled out after my sophomore year. I’ve had old coaches tell me that lacrosse is a game wasted on the youth. Maybe I’m just getting old, but I’m starting to see their point. My biggest regret as a lacrosse player “is that I didn’t truly ‘get it’ much earlier in my playing career.” Now, as a coach, my feeling about the composition of a truly great player has much less to do with size, strength, and athleticism and much more to do with character, toughness, and dedication.

At the end of last season, not much was made out of a kid like John Glynn (Cornell ’09). But every kid that first picks up a stick has been exposed to Mikey Powell. Marketing isn’t ahead of the curve in today’s lacrosse culture, it controls the curve. What’s been lost in the shuffle are the truly tough lacrosse players, the students of the game, the kids that make the smart play, plays that help their teams win.

Patton helped lead UCSB to 2 straight National Titles

Quite frankly, I feel there is a lack of toughness permeating throughout our sport. I believe in many ways style has transcended substance. The sad irony is that our sport, once considered exclusive, is actually losing its toughness during a period of huge gains in mainstream credibility.

Call me old school… but tilt, flow, and eye black don’t make you tough and won’t help you get a W. I’m a firm believer in the philosophy “look good to play good,” but lacrosse players today spend more time studying each other’s kits than they do their scouting reports. In an attempt to bridge the gap, I thought about some players from my generation that defined “toughness.” Guys like Will Patton (UCSB ‘05) and Steven Merrell (USD ’06).

Metoyer lookin' tough

Surprisingly, one of the toughest players I’ve ever been around is a product of Chapman University. By most accounts, Chaptown is Mecca for all aspiring lax bros: “babe city,” home of the undyrun and the flowbucket. Don’t get me wrong, the Panthers have had their share of great players, but as a fan and an opponent, Danny Metoyer was TOUGH.

Completely average height, a buck fifty (soaking wet), and yet the kid absolutely dominated the MCLA ranks throughout his career. Danny was perpetual motion; like Rip Hamilton or Ray Allen, but on the lacrosse field. Other than Chad Donnelly, there is nobody more integral to the growth of Chapman Lacrosse. Without Danny, there would be no Con Bro Chill. He was the embodiment of west coast lacrosse – adrenaline named socks after him – but make no mistake, Danny was all substance; Danny was the part, looking the part came naturally.

Here are some ways toughness is exhibited in lacrosse:

FOCUS

Tough lacrosse players are smart. They hustle. They are constantly thinking ahead of the play. Tough players work hard to concentrate on every play. Nowhere is this more evident than in the clearing game. The tough player communicates who has onside responsibility. The lazy player uses dead ball situations to catch his breath, jogs, and his team gets burned by the quick whistle. The tough player understands the importance of being pre-whistle ready, sprints to his spot, even if it’s from the box to the far corner…especially if it’s to the far corner.

RIDE

Tough attackmen ride hard. If defense wins championships, the toughest attackman realizes he becomes a defender the second the ball is turned over. Riding creates extra opportunities, often times easy transition goals. Riding disrupts substitutions and adds a dimension of pressure that wears down an opponent.

The lazy attackmen trails the ball carrier, throws a one handed hack, and hurts his team with penalties for slashing. Tough attackman do the work, take good pursuit angles, turn the ball carrier back toward pressure, and force them to make an extra pass. Tough players go as hard as they can for as long as they can. A tough player is not deterred by a missed shot. A tough player values his performance first by how well he defended.

NEVER STAND STILL

Toughest players rarely make skip passes. They communicate and carry the ball with confidence until a safe pass can be made. They seldom put their teammates in a bad spot to receive the ball. On the flipside, the toughest players never stand and watch. They keep their defender engaged at all times, making it difficult for their defender to talk and identify slides. They never wait on the pass; they always run to the ball. They understand how to use their own momentum to gain a step, even though it usually means absorbing a check.

#8 Merrell, 2006 Championship Game Defensive MVP

WEAK SIDE D

The toughest defenders are in and out on a string. They understand team defense. They fill on the weak side no matter how quickly the opposition moves the ball, and they communicate what they’re seeing. When on defense, the tough defenders move as the ball moves. The toughest players move on the flight of the ball, not when it gets to its destination. In lacrosse, like basketball, defenders cannot see the ball and hug their man, because they are afraid to get beat. A tough defender plays the ball and sees his man. There is a difference.

STICKS HIS NOSE IN THERE, HENCE THE EXPRESSION “TOUGH NOSED”

Whether it’s at the X or right in front of the cage, the toughest players aren’t afraid to get hit. They’re usually in the middle of a GB scrum or catching and finishing in traffic. Tough players get hit, hard, a lot, and they pop right back up.

FINISH CHECKS

Whether it’s just getting the ball around or after a shot attempt, the toughest defensemen are in position to finish with a hard check: legal, annoying, often painful, reminders that they are gonna be there all day.

FINISH PLAYS

They don’t give up on a play or assume that a teammate will do it. A tough player plays through to the whistle. Tough players study the opponent. They understand the match ups, they work to exploit the mismatch, and they execute whether or not it means points in their stat column. Hockey assists aren’t a stat in lacrosse; however, the toughest players regularly draw the slide and unselfishly move the ball setting up his teammate two passes away.

TAKE AND GIVE CRITICISM

Tough players can take criticism without feeling the need to answer back or give excuses. They are open to getting better and expect to be challenged and hear tough things. You will never again in your life have the opportunity you have now at the college level: a coaching staff that is totally and completely dedicated to making you and your team better. Tough players listen and are not afraid to say what other teammates may not want to hear, but need to hear.

GREAT TEAMMATES

Tough players take nothing for granted. They keep their foot on the accelerator. Tough players don’t waste time celebrating a good play or lamenting a bad one. They don’t care about the weather. They don’t whine to officials, coaches, or teammates. They never react negatively to a mistake of a teammate.

They make the extra pass. They chase shots to the end line like their lives depend on the next possession. They move the ball immediately after getting it off the ground. They always look coaches and teammates in the eye, because if they are talking, it is important to them and to you. They treat the locker room better than they treat their pocket.

Tough players never cheat the game.

JAM

I'm struggling with the loss of one of the best human beings I've known. She wasn't family, and I wasn't her friend, rather I was her coach. In my heart, I hope she saw me as all three.

Losing Jenny has turned my world upside down. My beliefs, which aren't all that pious, are better summarized as Karma, but given the circumstances my "beliefs" are failing me horribly. Jenny was innately good. Losing her just doesn't add up. She radiated happiness unlike anybody I've ever met.

It helps knowing that she and her family have such a strong faith. They're hurting in a way I will never fully understand, and their belief in God gives them some measure of control; sadly, that knowledge only exacerbates the guilt, confusion, and frustration that I'm feeling.

It's impossible to think about Jenny and not recall her most prominent characteristics. Her goodness, her work ethic, her tremendous potential, and her selflessness. I think of these things, and I remember how much she enjoyed life. I'd regularly look at her and think to myself, "she just gets it." She experienced life in a way I can both envy and aspire toward. She loved the journey more than the destination. She loved the process as much as the final product. Jenny loved preparing for games as much as winning them. She genuinely found fulfillment in helping her teammates improve, which I'm certain transcended lacrosse. This was her way.

I'm just a narrow-minded coach. If we lose, I feel I've failed my players. So it struck me in a weird way when I found Jenny smiling after a loss this fall. I found it equally odd that I felt compelled to smile with her. Jenny was very competitive, but she had the ability to put things in perspective with a smile (yet another amazing quality of hers). A smile from her conveyed her appreciation for being an athlete, and her love for the game, her teammates, and us. Suddenly, I felt a little embarrassed.

It was impossible to get upset with this girl because her heart was always in the right place. As her coach, it was my job to be critical, but I was powerless against her undeniable benevolence. Often, you'll hear coaches say they yell at players because they love them; they yell because they genuinely want them to get better. I never once yelled at Jenny, I couldn't, and that's one of my biggest regrets. Jenny made mistakes on the field. She got frustrated at times, just like everybody else, but she so passionately wanted to do well I just never felt the need. Tomorrow we will have our first practice without Jenny.

Life's cruel joke. If I could have one more practice with her, I'd make sure to yell at her.

Knowing Jenny she would accept my criticism, thanking me eagerly, and rush back to the end of the line waiting to get another crack at it. What more could a teacher ask for in a student?

Our team is missing her. I'm missing her. I want so badly to frame this loss in a way I can feel at ease with, but a picture can never be complete if you're missing a piece of the puzzle. Maybe that's the point. Jenny would say life is finding beauty in the picture, even when there are missing pieces. I bet Jenny loved puzzles.

Ronny Mexico

I'm not really a religious person. Never have been. I needed to imdb "Seven" just to figure out which of the deadly sins was most appropriate for this story, and even that didn't help my understanding much. At any rate, sitting here, listening to ESPN blabber on and on about today's greediest, most vain sports personalities, I began to think about my favorites...

Did you know Pete Carroll is giving up 2 timeouts in next week's game against cross town rival UCLA, just to wear home jerseys in the Rose bowl? What an arrogant, classless, prideful bastard. That's badass. Stupid. But cool.

Here is my problem. If it's sports related, I'm not just interested, I'm gulping it down in excess. See you all in hell (see Gluttony).

Big time sports generate big time cash money. Everybody knows the scrutiny that comes with that kind of loot, and with 24hour news shrinking the world, today's athletes have little room for error. (Pacman Jones. Really? You've heard Mo Money Mo Probems. Making it Rain? Figure it out.)

Maybe I'm just pissed off because when I'm sitting at the bar in Maui, I'd like to be able to focus on a pivotal college football match up (OU vs. OSU, huge BCS implications). I don't appreciate the assault on my concentration by a barrage of news regarding the latest superstar to implode. Why is it when they collapse into their self made black holes they have to suck me in too?

I'm not gonna lie, sometimes seeing them blowing it is painfully entertaining. That said, I'm not shocked by the overexposure of Plaxico "Cheddar Bob" Burress. He plays in the Apple, for the defending Super Bowl champs, the New York Giants. I get it. Major market... blah blah blah.

The facts are pretty bland, some over payed punk, a wannabe thug carrying a gun in a nightclub, illegally, shot himself in the leg. In the process, he obliterated his already rapidly deteriorating reputation as an athlete and flushed his exorbitant paycheck down the toilet.

Modern Religion ought to include stupidity as the 8th major sin, though it's rarely deadly, it's certainly fun to watch.

49er + 1= #50.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfYhYft8dwI

"Samurai Mike." Wow.

An ode to the "Minister of Defense:"
On a week where speeches by noteworthy new leaders were abundant, yours stole the show.
(side note: originally I wrote "took the cake," but wtf does that expression even mean?)

Having been involved with team sports for the better part of my life, listening to your rant was unbelievably gratifying. I'm not a complete idiot, I realize a post-game press conference and the acceptance speech from President-Elect Obama are hardly comparable, however, I'm fascinated with the few similarities.

Just to be clear, the 49ers aren't my team, but when you envision the Montana/Young 49ers you can't help but think of a proud tradition, a culture of success...America the Beautiful. Those Niners represented a golden era in professional football. Unfortunately, much like the Niners, few can argue that these United States have been poorly managed in recent years.

I admire Americans because at least we can channel our desperation into funny snl skits, but the truth is the (under)performance of our government has been truly laughably pathetic...just like the post-Debartolo Niners.

The parrallels are pretty obvious.

Mr. Singletary, your press conference was, for the 49er faithful, an impromptu State of the Union address. Sadly, the (Niner) Nation has lost faith and probably deserves an apology. But I really wish you didn't. Never once have I heard President-Elect Obama making apologies for the years of inept decision making by President Bush.

It's alright though Mike, I don't blame you, it was coming from the heart. That I can tolerate. I understand you're new to this Head Coaching thing, in fact, your (lack of) experience is tantamount to our new President's, and I'm certainly going to give him that leeway: if he gets it then shouldn't you?

You're just a football coach. I mean, you didn't have a staff of writers or a teleprompter to put the words in your mouth. You didn't have on the job training in the form of a campaign trail (pre-season). However, you did inherit a dejected disenfranchised group of constituents (San Fran fan base), somebody else's problems, ironically, he wore a suit to work too (Coach Nolan), and a win/loss column that mirrors America's.

All of that in mind, you took the podium, filled with emotion, and said the words that needed to be said, rather, the words that needed to be heard. I listened and nod my head in agreement, started to do the math, and smiled. Because the numbers add up; 2+2 does equal 4. Niners fans and Americans alike, finally have people in leadership roles that actually embody the American Dream. You personify progress. I smiled because a generation of kids younger than me are about to care. Just like I cared when Montana, Rice, and Craig killed it on SuperTecmo Bowl and Starter jackets were status symbols.

I smiled because sports do reflect life.

Then I stopped smiling because I remembered you coach the 49ers not the Browns. And I remembered Obama doesn't get in office until January. But it's cool. I'm a good sport:
"we'll get 'em next year."
D