lax culture from an insider

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, but the guys at Miami make no pretense about the business they are in. Have you ever heard them brag about their school? It's about real athletics and they are headed for the Pros.
The lax bros I know in the mid-Atlantic State schools are wimpy and elitist non athletes for whom the rides ends abruptly if and when they graduate from college ... if they get that far.

Any one have stats to back up the notion that college lax players have a higher graduation rate than football/basketball?

I'm sure they do, given the socio-economic status of a good proportion of college lacrosse players (although not all are prep school products, of course -- Long Island and the Syracuse area have long been a hotbed of public school/less affluent lacrosse types). It still strikes me, as an observer of lacrosse in this area, that there is a party culture that, unfortunately, can feed into substance abuse problems at the college level for some of these players. Have seen it from our "local" school -- some sad stories of college careers gone awry where the lacrosse appeared to be part of the issue, not a path away from alcohol and drugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The telling qoute in the Washington Post article is "stereotypes have a basis in fact." This is true whether you're talking about racial stereotypes, religious stereotypes or laxer stereotypes. There is always some factual basis for the stereotype ( which does NOT men that the stereotype actually applies to all). The way to eliminate the stereotype is for the entire group to change the behavior that resulted in the stereotype. Laxers have to clean up their image instead of complaining about those who draw rational conclusions based on what they observe.

Well put!

[Anonymous]

It's really about the parents. These affluent lax kids are drinking, most likely, from 13-14 on. WHere are the parents? Parties need to be monitored, alcohol in the house needs to be watched, etc. Somebody's introducing these kids to binge drinking. And it's done under the nose of affluent, educated parents. The issue is more about affluent preppy society and unaccountable kids than about the specific sport. I'd be surprised if public school laxers were dramatically more likely to binge drink than other athletes, though of course I could be wrong.

[Anonymous]

You are wrong. You probably just have a younger child. Not sure about 13 or 14, but must high school kids (14, 15) start drinking freshman year. Parents can do all the snooping, party crashing they want but high school kids are going to drink. That's true at every single school discussed on this forum. And there is nothing you can do it about as a parent but be hyper vigilant and keep an open dialogue.

[Anonymous]

High school kids are going to drink only because they are not monitored well enough. I have no doubt huguely started drinking in junior high or 9th grade. Kids who drink this early have much higher likelihood of becoming addicted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd want my kid to play lacrosse. I wish I had played. Seems like an automatic ticket to popularity, hot women, college admissions somewhat better than you deserve, and $$$ jobs out of school.

Reality takes the bite out of what was meant to be dripping sarcasm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd want my kid to play lacrosse. I wish I had played. Seems like an automatic ticket to popularity, hot women, college admissions somewhat better than you deserve, and $$$ jobs out of school.

Reality takes the bite out of what was meant to be dripping sarcasm.

That was the general sentiment in high school. The $ and connections for jobs holds true for what to do when actually in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd want my kid to play lacrosse. I wish I had played. Seems like an automatic ticket to popularity, hot women, college admissions somewhat better than you deserve, and $$$ jobs out of school.

Reality takes the bite out of what was meant to be dripping sarcasm.

Funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd want my kid to play lacrosse. I wish I had played. Seems like an automatic ticket to popularity, hot women, college admissions somewhat better than you deserve, and $$$ jobs out of school.

Reality takes the bite out of what was meant to be dripping sarcasm.

It wasn't meant to be sarcasm at all. It was meant to be true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Why has lacrosse become the sport for rich, nonathletic degenerates? "

Because all the crew team spots are taken.

I am no great fan of LAX for all the obvious reasons. But LAX players, like basketball and hockey players, are some of the best and most coordinated athletes around. The good ones are fast, have good endurance, have to be quick and have great hand-eye coordination.

Hate to bust your bubble but laxers who don't have the size and strength to make the football team are typically one sport athletes

[Anonymous]

I like lacrosse -- it's a great game and it's wonderful that it is growing as a sport (for both boys and girls) nationwide. But let's just say that the only sports in which the best athletes are 5'10" white guys are sports in which the only athletes are the 5'10" white guys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like lacrosse -- it's a great game and it's wonderful that it is growing as a sport (for both boys and girls) nationwide. But let's just say that the only sports in which the best athletes are 5'10" white guys are sports in which the only athletes are the 5'10" white guys.

5'10 white guys with speed and strength and coordination. Unlike your 7 foot center in basketball who does nothing but be tall and dunk a ball, or the 300 lb lineman in football who blocks people with his massive size. Lax requires athleticism at all positions. PS it's not the only sport where you don't have to be tall or black to be a star. Tennis, golf, soccer, baseball...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like lacrosse -- it's a great game and it's wonderful that it is growing as a sport (for both boys and girls) nationwide. But let's just say that the only sports in which the best athletes are 5'10" white guys are sports in which the only athletes are the 5'10" white guys.

5'10 white guys with speed and strength and coordination. Unlike your 7 foot center in basketball who does nothing but be tall and dunk a ball, or the 300 lb lineman in football who blocks people with his massive size. Lax requires athleticism at all positions. PS it's not the only sport where you don't have to be tall or black to be a star. Tennis, golf, soccer, baseball...

Imagine if the 6' 5" plus basketball player was given the opportunity to play lacrosse or if some lax coaches encouraged the football players...

But then the usual laxer crowd might not get gametime or help with college admissions - the others might not be the right sort. I've seen the rosters in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like lacrosse -- it's a great game and it's wonderful that it is growing as a sport (for both boys and girls) nationwide. But let's just say that the only sports in which the best athletes are 5'10" white guys are sports in which the only athletes are the 5'10" white guys.

5'10 white guys with speed and strength and coordination. Unlike your 7 foot center in basketball who does nothing but be tall and dunk a ball, or the 300 lb lineman in football who blocks people with his massive size. Lax requires athleticism at all positions. PS it's not the only sport where you don't have to be tall or black to be a star. Tennis, golf, soccer, baseball...

Imagine if the 6' 5" plus basketball player was given the opportunity to play lacrosse or if some lax coaches encouraged the football players...

But then the usual laxer crowd might not get gametime or help with college admissions - the others might not be the right sort. I've seen the rosters in high school.

because you are in high school...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like lacrosse -- it's a great game and it's wonderful that it is growing as a sport (for both boys and girls) nationwide. But let's just say that the only sports in which the best athletes are 5'10" white guys are sports in which the only athletes are the 5'10" white guys.

5'10 white guys with speed and strength and coordination. Unlike your 7 foot center in basketball who does nothing but be tall and dunk a ball, or the 300 lb lineman in football who blocks people with his massive size. Lax requires athleticism at all positions. PS it's not the only sport where you don't have to be tall or black to be a star. Tennis, golf, soccer, baseball...

I agree the 5'10" white guys who play at UVA and UNC and Syracuse are wonderful athletes. However, market analysis says that if they could truly excel at a sport with a major economic payoff, they would be doing that. I would venture to say almost any 3d string running back in the major football conferences would be a lacrosse superstar within about a year of picking up the game.