Whacking Watermelons . . (and other fun at FanFest)

The Merry Marketeers were dining at the Inner Harbor when Tweety remarked on the parade of lacrosse jerseys and other lax apparel passing by our window.  Yes, the changing of the guard has occurred -- soccer coaches out, lacrosse operatives in. 

Another weekend of fun and games (not to mention educational seminars and live field demonstrations) as another sport with great popularity has a pow-wow in town.   The locally-based US Lacrosse National Convention draws more than 5,000 coaches, officials, and administrators for the weekend, beginning today and running through Sunday at the Baltimore Convention Center.

So what does this have to do with whacking watermelons, you ask?

One of the most popular elements of the weekend traditionally occurs on Saturday.   Known as the Fan Fest, the exhibit hall featuring everything that is new and groovy is open to the general public.  Lacrosse players of all ages, along with family, friends, and frat brothers, can attend the largest lacrosse exhibition in the country. More than 140 vendors will showcase the latest in equipment, clothing and technology. Tickets can be purchased on site for the 12:00 - 4:00 pm event for $10.00.  Youngsters between 7 and 12 years of age are admitted for $5.00 if they wear their team jerseys, and those 6 and under are admitted free.

Among the premiere attractions this year (if one can judge by viral videos) is the Reebok Watermelon Challenge.   The science based demonstration of a model product is enlightening, particularly when the demonstration is by a couple of professional lacrosse players.  But the real challenge is getting enough velocity in the stick to take out a watermelon with a lacrosse ball.  That's downright hilarious.

In order to see what a sticky mess (and irresistable challenge) this is, tune in here:

Reebok promises to have pro and college stars stepping up to the challenge, but they are also inviting the fans to take a swing as well.  (Do you think they give out kewpie dolls?  This could replace the sledgehammer bell at the state fair.)

So join in the fun and come to the official kick-off of lacrosse season. Even if you don't get splattered (maybe they could throw in a seed spitting contest with the casualties) there will be lots to do, see, and learn.

Fall Ball

It hardly seems the time to be talking about NCAA lacrosse. But seven months before the men's and women's championships take place over Memorial Day weekend (at M&T and Johnny U stadiums respectively)   many of the top men's and women's programs will be engaged in tournament play this weekend to give locals a good look at some contenders for the 2010 crown.

In Annapolis, Navy will host Maryland, Virginia and the U.S. Men's Lacrosse National Training Team in a fall tournament on the campus of the US Naval Academy.  The U.S. Men's Lacrosse National Training Team is preparing for the Federation of International Lacrosse World Championship in Manchester, England from July 10-24, 2010.  Coach Mike Pressler arranged the meeting with these three top NCAA programs to determine his final roster.  For the college teams, it is the chance to size up their league opponents before the spring season begins.

At Cedar Lane Regional Park in Bel Air, the 12th annual Price Modern Lacrosse for Leukemia Tournament will take place on Saturday, October 17, starting at 8:30 a.m.  This tournament will feature six men's and thirteen women's lacrosse teams from around the country.

The Lacrosse for Leukemia Tournament benefits the Maryland chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which raises money to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.  Over the years, this tournament has raised nearly a million dollars for research.

This year's event will feature men's teams from UMBC, Towson, Mt. Saint Mary's, Washington College, and the Air Force Academy (which includes Hannah's son, a freshman at the Academy.) The tournament will also feature women's teams from American, Duke, Duquesne, James Madison, Johns Hopkins, LaSalle, Loyola, Maryland, Mount St. Mary's, Rutgers, Towson, UMBC, and Temple.

So if you want a preview of the kind of lacrosse you will likely see in the championship rounds next spring, drop in on the tournaments this fall.  After all, this is Maryland.  Lacrosse is never out of season.