Comments on: The LXM PRO Tour Is Only Getting Better

By: Hater#1

Hater#1 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:42:00 +0000

Awesome…they have a bunch of guys that washed out of the MLL because they were too old or couldnt cut it anymore to make a traveling mokery of the sport…this is such a joke

By: Tom Huppmann

Tom Huppmann — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:33:00 +0000

Phillylacrosse.com (http://bit.ly/nxqwdr) reported “thousands” attended the 610 event. I personally think that number may be over-inflated, but I didn’t take a head count either. I think a thousand might be more in the ballpark of what I saw in the stands, but that doesn’t include the countless kids who took part in the free clinics that might not have attended the game for whatever reason. Numbers aside, and unless you’ve already made up your mind, I think you should make your own judgement by coming out to see one of the games instead of tracking attendance figures to determine whether or not its an enjoyable experience.

The MLL comparisons are fair and natural, but consider that the LXM has a full 1/3 of the teams that took the field last year in the MLL, 2 to the MLL’s 6. Consider also that the LXM doesn’t purport to be a league but rather a tour. Like I said in my article, if you can’t get past that, then there’s not much hope that you’ll ever come around to the LXM. Like Connor said, I think we all cut these guys some slack and see what kind of improvements are made. Vegas is on the calendar for all to see and we can all start a ticker to see if the 12 events actually happen.

To your last point that you fail to see how the LXM is good for the game, I ask, how is the LXM bad for the game? Even if they went exclusively to hotbed areas, how does that hurt the game? The MLL has tried and failed in several locations and people seem to give them the benefit of the doubt. Why doesn’t the LXM get a similar shake? I give them credit for providing another lax event if even to the lax saturated areas. Seems to me that I wouldn’t take a chance on a non-traditional lax area until I proved that this thing had legs. As you pointed out, if the turnout were poor, there would be those that pointed to the attendance numbers (or lack thereof) as a measure of failure.

All this being said, I appreciate your point of view and I know that it is shared with many. Perhaps this type of dialogue will make its way to the LXM brass and we’ll see some changes as they grow.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:40:00 +0000

I hear ya! But does the fact that it’s still only been about 12 months since the tour kicked off help them at all? Does that buy them a bigger window of time to imrpove and win you over as a fan?

What if they had 4 teams all out West in 2 years, played a season AND Tour and held a Champ game? WOuld you be more interested then?

I feel like it’s tough to say these guys were “good a few years ago” and leave the description of their talent at that. What do the LXM guys need to do to prove that they are legit?

By: What is this?

What is this? — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:07:00 +0000

Is this what we really want Lacrosse or Pro Lacrosse to be? Some guys who may have been good a few years ago and havent been playing competitive lacrosse, playing a few meaningless games a year? This is a glorified club game where the results mean less. And somehow they convince a few people to buy tickets to them. In no article have i seen attendance. Dont we usually base our opinions on pro sports, and particularly the MLL on how many people pay to watch, not by what the uniforms look like. People I know who attended these events say there were never more than a few hundred people there. And the only reason they came back to Philly was because thats where they thought their highest attendance was last time.
And they say they will have 12 events next year but havent they said that before? Remember when their website listed 10 places they were going to go, but NEVER did? They were supposed to play in Vegas last year but only did a clinic instead because they didnt have enough players. It seems like these guys talk out of their a$$ and people believe what they say when they have never been right before.
I fail to see how LXM is “good” for the game when they go to already established lacrosse areas, sell a few tickets to pay for guys who aren’t competing for anything. Do we want Lacrosse to be like the NHL, NFL or like skateboarding and BMX?

By: Gunnergordo

Gunnergordo — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:11:00 +0000

I was there guys and sadly I have to agree with the summer ball feel. There was ONE penalty called that resulted in a 1 min EMO the whole game for an illegal body check called in the 4th. While I did see some hard ball played at times (especially in the 4th) the players could pretty much drive on goal and not worry about someone putting them down. Guys were bombing the crease all day and using BTH and round the world shots inside. I enjoyed the game but LXM has a bunch of growing up to do and needs better logistics. Would have been nice to see a better fan turnout too. Not hating on LXM because I like what they do but when I go see pro ball I like to be able to have a team to root for.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:01:00 +0000

I was there.. Sunday was my fist LXM event. To be honest, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. When Tom and I arrived we headed to Vendor village where about 70 kids stood in front of a stage listening to a (very, very loud) D.J, at one point I looked at Tom and said “Jesus, that’s loud, I feel old”! We ventured down to the field to watch the players warm up. As we passed the bench i mentioned that some of the players looked old. I’m such a hater, I can’t help myself. Ha. As they warmed up, I quickly changed my mind about the players looking like they belonged on Tom’s masters league. Long story short, these players played as hard if not harder than the college teams we watched the day before. I was shocked at the trash talking and hard hits I witnessed. This was a “real” lacrosse game. To make comments based in a 30 second highlight clip seems silly.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:41:00 +0000

from the highlight I might agree, but everything IL showed was a goal. That doesn’t mean there weren’t hits, picked off passes, takeaways, saves, etc.

It did seem like a globetrotters game on tape, but that was almost every goal. There were still 47 minutes of play that were not what we saw.

SO!!!!! We need someone who was there to get involved in this conversation!

By: Zebralax

Zebralax — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:44:00 +0000

I can understand what you’re saying but after watching the highlights on Inside Lacrosse (link below), I wouldn’t call this a good lacrosse game. This again continues the whole pick-up game theme I feel. Defenses aren’t hitting, guys are able to take wide open shots. This is a great example of a summer league game, offensive oriented and that is NOT good lacrosse.

http://video.insidelacrosse.com/video/view/115623101/lxm610-highlights-from-radnor-pa

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:14:00 +0000

I think you’re right @89fa445e2f118354c2ecd932483244d1:disqus , at least on some of your points!

I agree it’s not a pro “league”, and that’s why I always refer to the LXM as a tour. It doesn’t have regular teams, 100% regular players and there are no playoffs, and no champion. All true. That being said, I would still probably go to a charity basketball game. In fact, I might be MORE likely to go to a charity game over an NBA game. But I’m sure that’s just me.

When it comes to their locations, I’d have to disagree. The LXM does want to grow the game, but they don’t want to do it in front of 150 people, so they still have to be picky about locations. Also, this is only their second year, so maybe we give them some additional time on that point? FLA, CA, TX, Vegas isn’t too bad, and to most people, NONE of those places are exactly considered hotbeds of lacrosse. There is definitely some GREAT lax in those areas… but being a hotbed is different.

I agree they need to try new places, and with 12 games lined up for 2012, it seems like they could see some new places. I’d love to see NOLA, Kentucky, Oregon and Idaho added to the new locations list… guess we’ll just have to wait and see on tht!

The uniforms WERE bad… but I’m saying that they are getting better. And honestly, as long as everyone has the same jerseys and shorts on, I’m cool with it. Teams being matchy matchy is not a top priority for me, especially not when I’m seeing an exhibition game.

I guess it just comes down to this: will you go watch a good lacrosse game, simply because it’s a good lacrosse game? I would say yes, it seems like you would say no. But I can’t say who is actually right!

By: Zebralax

Zebralax — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:49:00 +0000

I will never go to a LXM event. I like watching a professional league, in order to be a professional league there has to be something to play for, starting with a season and ending with a championship.

The LXM is nothing more than a talented pick-up game. Great. Some talented guys play kind of hard, show off and what’s the score? O who cares, we just had a fun time out there today. That isn’t a professional league. This is no different, to me, than what the NBA players are doing during the lock-out; having charity basketball games around the country.

I also have a problem with their locations too. They claim their goal is to help spread the sport and all that but why do they continue going to the same locations. Have they been to any states where lacrosse is just starting to spread? NO. Lacrosse is played at high levels in California, Florida, Pennsylvania and even in Texas. What about states in the midwest?! They won’t go there because they won’t get the hype and why is that? Because lacrosse isn’t huge there yet but is growing. However, if they want to spread the game, that is where they need to go.

Lastly, I am not a huge uniform guy but these jerseys are worse than most summer league rec jerseys. Put some money into it and look legit. Maybe some team gloves etc. Allowing whatever just looks again like a pick-up game.

Overall, LXM is a high talent pick-up game. Rosters change every game minus a few guys and at the end of the day who cares who wins because there isn’t a season, playoffs or championship.