National Lacrosse League expands to NYC

This is a type of indoor box lacrosse, played in hockey arenas with astroturf-type carpet covering the playing surface. The unnamed team and the Chicago Shamrox bring the total number of teams in the league to 13.

Also in the league are the defending champion Colorado Mammoth, the Arizona Sting, the Buffalo Bandits, the Calgary Roughnecks, the Edmonton Rush, the Minnesota Swarm, the Philadelphia Wings, the Portland LumberJax, the Rochester Knighthawks, the San Jose Stealth and the Toronto Rock.

http://www.nll.com/article_2472.shtml

"It is my great pleasure to present New York City's first professional lacrosse team," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Showcasing lacrosse on the world's greatest stage here in New York City creates a partnership that will maintain lacrosse's position as the fastest growing sport in America."

There was another NLL team called the New York Saints but they didn't play in NYC proper -- they were based at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale -- and folded in 2003. This new team will play at least four of its eight home games at Madison Square Garden. The league, meanwhile, has a national TV contract with OLN, which will soon change its name to "Versus," apparently.

As an aside, the world men's field lacrosse championships begin later this week in London, Ontario. All indications are a US-Canada final, as usual. The US has only ever lost one game in world championship play -- in the 1978 final against Canada.

http://www.nll.com/article_2470.shtml