lax culture from an insider

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Madlax VA and MD middle school teams seem to be coming up short compared to Bethesda, Club Blue and NL. Any thoughts on what's going on with that? My son plays, but we are cultural outsiders. I just know that the middle school kids ooh-and-ah over Madlax but I can't see why. Am I missing something?

My perspective as a parent who's son plays club ball and is in middle school ... Madlax does a very good job marketing the product, as it is a for profit business. There is the allure of the "National team" and the mythical National Champion. They've got a big following on social media, a professional photography/videographer who's son plays on their team who takes great photos/videos for the kids (and I don't fault him for doing so, it's his business). Their high school teams are also stronger then their middle school program; several D1 committed players.

All that being said, karma is a bitch. Cabell's reputation plays a lot into parents decision whether they want their kid to play for Madlax or not, and some don't like his hard sell tactics.

Unfortunately, boys who want to play fairly competitive lacrosse in Montgomery County are not met with many options when they want to move beyond the Bethesda rec league (which seems to be having many problems of its own). The travel teams, such as Next Level, Club Blue, and BLC, who see nearly a hundred kids at tryouts, are shut out to all but those who already play for the team or, in the case of BLC, are the coach’s son or friend of the coach’s son.

I think the entrance of Madlax into the field is a welcome one. Despite Cabell’s controversial reputation, he brings his passion for the sport to a successful business and his coaches show a similar passion, while maintaining composure and professionalism on the field. I think credit should go to these boys, who, having never played or practiced together as teams, go up week after week against teams who have largely been together for years. Sure, there are a few selfish players, but no more than on any of the other teams. I think once they work together this winter and into the spring, Cabell and his crew will have them in good shape! I hope they all stick with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, boys who want to play fairly competitive lacrosse in Montgomery County are not met with many options when they want to move beyond the Bethesda rec league (which seems to be having many problems of its own). The travel teams, such as Next Level, Club Blue, and BLC, who see nearly a hundred kids at tryouts, are shut out to all but those who already play for the team or, in the case of BLC, are the coach’s son or friend of the coach’s son.

I think the entrance of Madlax into the field is a welcome one. Despite Cabell’s controversial reputation, he brings his passion for the sport to a successful business and his coaches show a similar passion, while maintaining composure and professionalism on the field. I think credit should go to these boys, who, having never played or practiced together as teams, go up week after week against teams who have largely been together for years. Sure, there are a few selfish players, but no more than on any of the other teams. I think once they work together this winter and into the spring, Cabell and his crew will have them in good shape! I hope they all stick with it.

1. NL, CB and BLC are not getting "nearly a hundred kids at tryouts". Madlax and VLC do, but not those clubs.

2. Madlax is not new to kids in Montgomery County. Many of them have been playing for that club for a long time.

3. Have you watched the owner? If so, you would not put his name and "professionalism on the field" in the same sentence.

4. You must be new to lacrosse. Many of Madlax's teams have kids who've played together for a long time.

5. Before you tout the virtues of this owner, please read this article.

http://deadspin.com/hey-ungrateful-quitter-emails-from-an-angry-lacrosse-660703941

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, boys who want to play fairly competitive lacrosse in Montgomery County are not met with many options when they want to move beyond the Bethesda rec league (which seems to be having many problems of its own). The travel teams, such as Next Level, Club Blue, and BLC, who see nearly a hundred kids at tryouts, are shut out to all but those who already play for the team or, in the case of BLC, are the coach’s son or friend of the coach’s son.

I think the entrance of Madlax into the field is a welcome one. Despite Cabell’s controversial reputation, he brings his passion for the sport to a successful business and his coaches show a similar passion, while maintaining composure and professionalism on the field. I think credit should go to these boys, who, having never played or practiced together as teams, go up week after week against teams who have largely been together for years. Sure, there are a few selfish players, but no more than on any of the other teams. I think once they work together this winter and into the spring, Cabell and his crew will have them in good shape! I hope they all stick with it.

1. NL, CB and BLC are not getting "nearly a hundred kids at tryouts". Madlax and VLC do, but not those clubs.

2. Madlax is not new to kids in Montgomery County. Many of them have been playing for that club for a long time.

3. Have you watched the owner? If so, you would not put his name and "professionalism on the field" in the same sentence.

4. You must be new to lacrosse. Many of Madlax's teams have kids who've played together for a long time.

5. Before you tout the virtues of this owner, please read this article.

http://deadspin.com/hey-ungrateful-quitter-emails-from-an-angry-lacrosse-660703941

People pay money to have their kids around this person? Holy shit! I would pay money to keep him away from mine. I heard bad things about him but I had no idea they were this crazy.

[Anonymous]

So is the college placement really that extraordinary to tolerate all this/his insanity?

[Anonymous]

Does it matter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So is the college placement really that extraordinary to tolerate all this/his insanity?

Short answer: NO

Longer answer: Hell NO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So is the college placement really that extraordinary to tolerate all this/his insanity?

Short answer: NO

Longer answer: Hell NO

Blackwolf and VLC have placed more kids in college than Madlax (though Madlax's frosh and sophomore teams have fared better). No need to sell your soul and give money to this guy, especially when there are better alternatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So is the college placement really that extraordinary to tolerate all this/his insanity?

Short answer: NO

Longer answer: Hell NO

Blackwolf and VLC have placed more kids in college than Madlax (though Madlax's frosh and sophomore teams have fared better). No need to sell your soul and give money to this guy, especially when there are better alternatives.

What are they? Trig and Ryan are lunatics.

So what are these "better alternatives"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So is the college placement really that extraordinary to tolerate all this/his insanity?

Short answer: NO

Longer answer: Hell NO

Blackwolf and VLC have placed more kids in college than Madlax (though Madlax's frosh and sophomore teams have fared better). No need to sell your soul and give money to this guy, especially when there are better alternatives.

What are they? Trig and Ryan are lunatics.

So what are these "better alternatives"?

Trig is loud and obnoxious on the sideslines (as is the Madlax owner), but he's never threatened anyone

VLC is owned by the Crabs, but is not operated by the Crabs. The Crabs owner can be loud, but he's never threatened anyone.

Both are much better clubs to join than Madlax. You don't need to check your morals at the door every time you stroke a check.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So is the college placement really that extraordinary to tolerate all this/his insanity?

Short answer: NO

Longer answer: Hell NO

Blackwolf and VLC have placed more kids in college than Madlax (though Madlax's frosh and sophomore teams have fared better). No need to sell your soul and give money to this guy, especially when there are better alternatives.

What are they? Trig and Ryan are lunatics.

So what are these "better alternatives"?

Trig is loud and obnoxious on the sideslines (as is the Madlax owner), but he's never threatened anyone

VLC is owned by the Crabs, but is not operated by the Crabs. The Crabs owner can be loud, but he's never threatened anyone.

Both are much better clubs to join than Madlax. You don't need to check your morals at the door every time you stroke a check.

Trig had a scrimmage .. The black coaches' team was called "the brothers" the white coaches team was called "the crackers"

So who hat were you saying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So is the college placement really that extraordinary to tolerate all this/his insanity?

Short answer: NO

Longer answer: Hell NO

Blackwolf and VLC have placed more kids in college than Madlax (though Madlax's frosh and sophomore teams have fared better). No need to sell your soul and give money to this guy, especially when there are better alternatives.

What are they? Trig and Ryan are lunatics.

So what are these "better alternatives"?

Trig is loud and obnoxious on the sideslines (as is the Madlax owner), but he's never threatened anyone

VLC is owned by the Crabs, but is not operated by the Crabs. The Crabs owner can be loud, but he's never threatened anyone.

Both are much better clubs to join than Madlax. You don't need to check your morals at the door every time you stroke a check.

Trig had a scrimmage .. The black coaches' team was called "the brothers" the white coaches team was called "the crackers"

So who hat were you saying?

Even if the BW coach said that, a lot worse things are said on playing fields. That's not that big of a deal.

Regardless, that's nowhere near the Madlax guy. He is on a different level.

[Anonymous]

why do so many parents need to brag about a sport where you can't make a living off and you hardly receive any type of scholarship money for.

lacrosse kids COMMITTED to D1 programs, are not getting more than $10K a year off tuition, and that is towards the high end. Most kids are getting $3- $K year a off.

I played college in the 80's at a NESCAC school. My son attends a local boys school and I could care less if he wants to play college ball - I don't think he even knows.

[Anonymous]

First of all, nobody is bragging. Second, everyone knows there's no scholarship money in lax.

The point of lacrosse is a) some kids really like and some parents want to support their pursuits; and b) lacrosse can sometimes help someone get into a school they wouldn't get into otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So is the college placement really that extraordinary to tolerate all this/his insanity?

Short answer: NO

Longer answer: Hell NO

Blackwolf and VLC have placed more kids in college than Madlax (though Madlax's frosh and sophomore teams have fared better). No need to sell your soul and give money to this guy, especially when there are better alternatives.

What are they? Trig and Ryan are lunatics.

So what are these "better alternatives"?

Trig is loud and obnoxious on the sideslines (as is the Madlax owner), but he's never threatened anyone

VLC is owned by the Crabs, but is not operated by the Crabs. The Crabs owner can be loud, but he's never threatened anyone.

Both are much better clubs to join than Madlax. You don't need to check your morals at the door every time you stroke a check.

Trig had a scrimmage .. The black coaches' team was called "the brothers" the white coaches team was called "the crackers"

So who hat were you saying?

Even if the BW coach said that, a lot worse things are said on playing fields. That's not that big of a deal.

Regardless, that's nowhere near the Madlax guy. He is on a different level.

The exact problem with lax... "it's not THAT BAD"...

REALLY!!! White elitist kids are taught... that is "not that bad"

Go ahead writing your check to the lunatics and only point out one lunatic is bad. If you don't believe in financially supporting an a$$hole, fine but don't say Trig is "not that bad" and continue to write him a check.

Work to make it better. Don't support any of them or admit you are part of the problem.

Luckily WE (Baltimore) have more options than you do.

But you have to either admit MoCo has no options or that you have 3 equally shitty options and you choose to not care where the money goes.

Not that bad...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why do so many parents need to brag about a sport where you can't make a living off and you hardly receive any type of scholarship money for.

lacrosse kids COMMITTED to D1 programs, are not getting more than $10K a year off tuition, and that is towards the high end. Most kids are getting $3- $K year a off.

I played college in the 80's at a NESCAC school. My son attends a local boys school and I could care less if he wants to play college ball - I don't think he even knows.

I too wonder why it is so difficult for lacrosse parents to find a clue with a compass. There's so little money in lacrosse that it is foolish to view this any other way than perhaps having a kid get an academic preference for admission. Of course, that is also something that is less needed if a kid is focused on being a good student to begin with over being the best lacrosse player. I remember a generation ago at UVA the all sports All-America picture on the Rotunda steps. It was a big deal, and was made into the cover for the sports brochures and a poster for money raising. All the men in jacket & tie and women in sundresses forming a V on the Rotunda steps on a beautiful fall day. Coach told us get a haircut, get that shirt pressed and get that tie knotted perfect. UVA had an awesome soccer team then, so always a couple men's soccer players, same for women's bball. The football team stunk, but one or two there and then one to a small few swimmers, track, field hockey, volleyball, baseball etc. Some sports none. And then, 6-7 lacrosse players. I can still remember standing next to Dawn Staley, a legend in her own time in women's basketball, when she asked "if lacrosse is a sport that has a line-up card of 10 players like soccer, how is is even possible for one team to have 6?" One women's field hockey player next to her said loud enough for the lax bros to hear "because there are only 10 scholarship teams in D1 and it is not even a real sport." True.

That was then, and now there are about 70 D1 teams? At least 35 of them are underfunded or are at absolute crap academic colleges that have teams to attract male tuition paying students by the busload. That's you people and your kids. Way to go!