First and foremost, the salary issue … it is what it is. That’s not changing right now. If the league could pay more, they would. So, while there are a ton of ways to hypothetically “fix” this, we’re not there yet. I’m with you 100%, and I don’t think guys really sit around complaining about that as much as posts make it seem. Again, we sign the contracts.

I think that Thomas’s post brings up some very good points re: how management handles things in certain organizations. I have had (and have heard) plenty of these types of scenarios as well. I was deactivated from a roster last year with about 4 weeks left in the regular season. To this day, I haven’t heard a word from the organization since the day after the last game I played … and that conversation was initiated by me, and had nothing to do with my general standing on the team/roster. Again, just one of a bunch of stories I have and have heard, about how poorly some of these teams have been managed. Poor business, at the end of the day.

His points about Dave Gross are valid as well. Disclaimer: My interactions with Dave have 99% of the time been all up and up. I think he’s a good guy, and wants nothing more than to see the league succeed. After all, he’s put in a lot of time and energy into this as well! But around the league, amongst the players, there’s a terrible image of him as a commissioner and as a business man. I don’t have the answers, and I don’t think he does anything “just to do it.” It’s not a good look, however, when there’s a widespread lack of confidence in your leader.

I know I made comments about Warrior/NB’s relationship to the league. Despite my ultimate skepticism, I tried to at least point out that I don’t really know the lelgalities of that relationship, so what I was saying was speculation. And while they they may not “own the league” it’s still a very ironic situation, when there are so many connections. Even when it comes to commercial spots … You see STX and Maverick all through the spring in NCAA broadcasts, but then all of a sudden those stop when the MLL broadcasts hit (even during the slight MLL/NCAA overlap). At any rate, I think Adam addresses these points as well as anybody has thus far, so I’ll leave it at that.

A couple questions, as a player, to you are the following:
1) Are the equipment/apparel sponsorships up for bidding?
2) Why are the player contracts a year long (365 days), and exclusive when there’s no benefit for a player for 7 1/2 months of that? Is that the teams, the league, or a few people that are against ammending that?

To your point of the average MLL experience, more teams are run like the New Jersey Pride than the Denver Outlaws, which is why more teams share the fate of the Pride than the Outlaws.

Here are 4 incident’s that happened during my 30 days or so in the MLL. All of these incidents are reflective of poor management, completely absent of attendance and financial numbers.

Example 1, I was drafted, while not in attendance, and was not contacted by my team until I called them 6 or 7 days later.

Example 2, I was given my physical at half-time of my first game, which doesn’t really bother me, but is probably illegal in all 50 states (against the Outlaws).

Example 3, I asked for a mouth guard and was told they aren’t required. I insisted with Siebald on my scouting report, I’d prefer to wear a mouth guard. I was told they don’t have mouth guards and wished good luck.

Example 4, I figured out I was waived for a game by going to the airport and attempting to use a canceled airplane ticket. Sweet.

Example 4, there are countless other examples of poor business in the MLL from players far more seasoned than myself.

Disclaimer: I do not, in anyway, feel that I need special treatment. My short time in the league was a privilege and a lasting joy. I consider myself more lucky than skilled and I don’t put myself on the MLL player level. But looking at the MLL as a business, a pro-sports business at that, and not as a lacrosse league, it’s operations leave A LOT to be desired.

The MLL and its teams are run poorly, even in the context their financial concerns, it’s not a well run league. I always imagined Denver was the exception, every player I know wants to play there, so this is not a slight on your franchise. (Boston is also a solid team example.)

The players’ pay is obviously tied to the success of the league. The reason players want more latitude in their ability to sponsor themselves is because they have little faith in the people running the MLL.

I don’t like like David Gross; I’ve never met him, but I dislike him. Whether that’s fair or not, it’s how most people feel and that’s an issue. He has an image problem and that’s a problem.

The product is good, the salesmen are not. This frustrates players and pushes them into a position where they feel they could do more on their own, which I’d agree is not good for the long haul of the league.

As shallow as a measure as it may seem (it’s not), a concrete example of the league’s inability to market some of the most marketable athletes on the planet, is their Facebook page. Less than 14,000 deep, pathetic; seriously pathetic. What should be the social hub of lacrosse fans for two countries, is 14,000 deep, or 5,000 less people than believe that 90% of Lax is in Flow, which was grown in-between lax practice and Natty Lights.

Who buys tickets? Parents, but really kids. Are kids on Facebook? Yes. Does the MLL address a direct connection to their fans and their parents money? No. Can you blame the players for trying to wake dad up and get him to go to work? Nope.

-TK