Lake Placid Lacrosse

We are going to Lake Placid this week to play in the Lake Placid Classic Lacrosse Tournament. It is definitely one of the highlights of my summer.

199 Lacrosse teams (the most ever) will descend on Lake Placid this week. Every age group, boys and girls, men and women...it is an amazing event. If you are a lacrosse player...field Lacrosse...you really need to put The Lake Placid Classic on your to do list.

We are in the Grand Masters Division, can't remember if that means we are really, really good, or really really old. We are called Team Ontario and our division consists of 16 teams. It is amazing to me how competitive these games are. There is some contact, but it is not too bad, usually by the fourth quarter it is hard enough to pick up the ball, let alone actually hit somebody. But everybody still wants to win, so everybody works hard.

Our team....Team Ontario, is a bizarre lot really, and I say that with all the love and respect in the world.....we are a mish mash of different styles, some field lacrosse savvy and some...not so much. We actually play more of a hybrid.....box/field/masters game....we kind of make it up as we go.

A lot of our guys think a "slide" is something you went down into the pool on, and think a "dodge" is a type of car. However, there is something special we all share. Pretty well all Canadian players played the "original" field lacrosse.....back yard lacrosse....when we were kids. Stu Aird will be there again and myself have been playing this game now for almost 50 years.

That is me in the top row and Stu wearing the big "C" in 1967.

It is in the backyards of Clarkson, Peterbourough, Brampton, Rexdale etc. that our talents began. That is why we do have a chance. We can move the ball. We do things that are  a little different from "traditional" field lacrosse....and it may not be right....but for us, it works, it is fun, and we will win some games.

My Dad in 1934 playing "Backyard" Lacrosse. (a leftie...but I still loved him)

                     

If you have any interest in following us, I will try to send out the odd story here and there over the next week, but you can also follow along on the Lake Placid Lacrosse website.

Actually, here is a link the page with all the teams....we are in Grand Masters Division 2. If you click on the Team Ontario icon, it will have results and the next game etc.  Our first game is Thursday Aug. 2 at 3pm against The Old Dogs....a team out of Doylestown, PA, north of Philadelphia.

Wish us luck.....but count on this, it will be a lot of fun. I am packed and ready to go.

                                               

I Am Canadian!!!

It is great to love your country. We all do. Different things get us excited, make us feel proud...and this time of year is just an easy time for me to love Canada.

The Canadian Open

I am a big golf fan and have enjoyed the PGA and European Tour this year, lots of different winners, young guns and veterans stepping up. Names like Bubba, Tiger and Hunter, Jason, Zach and Matt....and of course "the big easy" Ernie, fresh off an Open Championship....all these guys have had great years thus far.
The 2012 Canadian Open takes place at The Hamilton Golf Club...which is walking distance from my friends place in Ancaster. A spectacular tree lined "old school" golf course that seems to be a favorite of some of the best players in the world. This year for example, some of the names you will see.....are....Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh, Retief Gossen, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Sean O'Hair, and Ernie Els....and many more top golfers along with a great Canadian group including David Hearn, Graham Delaet, Stephen Ames....and my favorite (still) -Mike Weir, and many more.

Watch these guys this weekend, or better yet...try to get a ticket and go to the course. Last time they were in Ancaster, I went....and it was amazing.

                                                     Mike Weir (having a very tough year)


2012 Olympic Games

We are 2 days away from the London Olympic Games.

I absolutely love the Olympics.....I love the events, the drama, the sportsmanship and of course the athletes. The summer Olympics have a lot of different sports, and I have a few favorites.

I enjoy the Cycling, Diving, Rowing and even the Weightlifting.
The 100 m and 200 m running is fantastic theatre. I can't wait.

The Triathlon is also a sport that I enjoy....it is a gruelling test of an athlete and very exciting to watch, especially at the end.

The Canadians have a strong team going to London....and I will be cheering them on.

There is one sport missing however. Lacrosse. Where is Lacrosse? They were there in 1908. Hmmm.

                                       1908 Canadian Men's Lacrosse team (London Olympics)


I will be back to talk more Olympics over the next few weeks.

Canadian Lacrosse

And the last bit of Canadiana....Next Wednesday Aug 1st, yours truly and the rest of the (old) Lacrosse guys will make our trip to Lake Placid to represent Canada in the Grand Masters Field Lacrosse Tournament In Lake Placid.

The Lake Placid LAX Classic is an amazing event. Well organized...well attended and a beautiful back drop to play lacrosse. I can hardly wait.

                                        We are ready to play Lacrosse.

Colorado - Sad Story.

Life can hit you right between the eyes some days.

I woke up this morning, and heard of the horrible shooting in Colorado. 12 dead - 50 wounded last i heard.


I have family there.

My sister Laura, her husband Greg and their beautiful kids Jamey, Lindsay, Olivia and Jackson live not far from there. All of these people are dynamic, smart, witty and flat out fun to be with, and have a million ties through the community with friends, involving sports etc.

I felt sick in my stomach when I heard the news.....and of course (being a McMillan) - began to worry.

My sister is a Nurse, and she sent us this email.

Good morning,

Just to let you know -our family is all fine. The shooting happened in a mall right by the hospital where I work. The disaster relief plan is an action...on stand by right now to be called in.The area is well known for crime .....a place we never go to but certainly drive by on the way to work, hockey etc.
We all will try to go and donate blood or help out in any way possible.
Love to all of you - and let those around you know you love them too.

Laura  oxox

Ok - so I can breathe again. It has been a tough week in Toronto......and this shooting in Colorado is just another horrible tragedy. I feel for all the families involved......it affected me.....and I don't even live there.

I am going to Owen Sound this weekend, to spend time with family and friends.....I am thankful....and rather than spend time talking about the senselessness of these things....I think I am just going to enjoy their company. You have a great weekend too.

Give somebody a hug.....pass it on.

Tippy is 50!!!... (my best friends birthday)

              My baby brother Steve (Tippy) has reached the mid-century mark.
              Ouch.                 (Not for him....but for me)

              The last of six kids to make it. Not really a goal we set out for in life…but not really something you can control either. It just “somehow” happens.

               I grew up in Clarkson, Ontario…..5 boys and a girl…..4 boys – then Laura – then Steve. There was enough of a gap between the older boys (me being fourth) and Tippy, that it allowed us to really focus on “picking” on him…..and pick away we did. For example when he was very young – but old enough to understand us, we told him we found him in a car wreck….on the side of the highway, and he was laying there saying “Fiji”….“fiji”. That is another story…but he was upset when we called him that - so we did. Boys are mean. Tis a fact. As you get older you realize how many times you may have “pushed the envelope” – but when you are a young boy….you don’t.

              For an idea of how my brain worked…if you have not already read it, check out My Blog on “My Life as a Ten Year old” -  I did a whole series, and my brother Steve, was a star.

              http://passitonsportsca.blogspot.ca/2011/03/my-life-as-10-year-old.html

             The life changing episode was the famous “head kicking” episode.  You can read about that here.

             http://passitonsportsca.blogspot.ca/2011/05/my-siblings.html

            He took a lot of crap….but he took it…..

              That seems like a long time ago. (it was) – So much has happened since. As Steve would get older, he would of course get into sports, like the rest of us. He became a lacrosse goalie, really had no choice, the older brothers needed a target and who better than the youngest brother.

              I was a sports guy…but so was Steve...and that is how our bond began to cement itself – sports...I played Lacrosse, so did Steve….I played basketball….so did Steve….fishing, golfing, football, if you could throw it, catch it, score it, or hit it…whatever it was we did it. And we did well at it.

              As Steve got into high school, is athleticism showed...he was  good football player – he was tough (I was not) – He could high jump…really really well…I had no vertical. I was fast…he was faster….and although he was tougher, faster and could jump higher, it somehow never bothered me…because he was my bro – my bud.

               In high school he was on the 4 x 100 relay team. The four guys on the team were named Delroy, Everton, Garfield and Steve. Yes, he was fast.

              That was a curse and a blessing….and kind of led to the famous nickname he acquired in lacrosse. “Tippy” use to run out of his net all the time…on his tippy toes and chase after the ball. Of all the goalies I have ever seen play the game, Tippy was the most entertaining.  He would hit guys behind the net, intercept breakaway passes – get into fights….and with all this “risk taking” came a few goals against too. But that was Tippy. A very solid stopper, a risk taker….and flat out fun to watch play. He hs heard this more than once in his life...... "Tippy, Stay in your Net!!!!!!

              He has won the Mann Cup, The Presidents Cup and the Vanier Cup. Quite an accomplishment…..I wonder if he would trade all those in for the Coveted Green Jacket. (I think not)

              With all of the sports going on in our life…..so did our life go by. We have both had our share of the bad times along with a lot of good…..and we have always been able to talk to each other about everything…..the good and the bad. That is a rare thing, I have found.

              He has been such a good brother to me. I am proud of him. He is a great family man, and a great guy to party with. A razor like wit, combined with a heart of gold.

               I am going to Owen Sound this weekend to play in the Annual Cubby Cruickshank Masters Lacrosse Tournament. Simply the best Masters Lacrosse ATournament in the world. Over 30 years I have been playing in Owen Sound in some form or another. A great place to play the game. Friday night our Oakville team  plays against Owen Sound….and it is also Tippy’s big day. Could not have planned it better.

 

Owen Sound Tourney Last year (Tippy in Blue)

              Happy Birthday Tippy. You are my best friend. I love you.
               p.s. (nice job Mom and Dad)

Your Brother, Mike. (Junior)

Some pics!!  

                                                 Me and Tippy in 1985 (Owen Sound North Stars)
                                                              (Check out that Goalie gear)

                                           1992 Mann Cup Winners (Brampton Excelsiors)

Junior and Tippy in Manchester England -

 World Field Lacrosse Championships(2010 - Grand Masters Division - Silver Medalists)

Great memories......lots more to come.

Lacrosse and The Blues?

As of today Patti and I are 3 month residents of Burlington, Ontario, and if the secret is not already out of the bag......let me tell you.....We Love Burlington. It really has everything that we were looking for. Aside from being central to where we work....it has so much to offer.

A spectacular waterfront to begin with. We both love the water....but aside from that, and a huge add on, is all the events surrounding the waterfront.

There of course is the annual Sound of Music, where bands play all weekend (for free) - amazing bands. We thought that was great....but the next weekend was Canada Day, again there was so much going on. I went with Patti and her daughter Tristen....it was beautiful.

                                                                        Tristen and Patti (July 1)

There was so much going on down there and I was happy to say that there was a Water ski show, something I have always enjoyed, a fantastic sport.

                           In this one a guy gets pulled up, with the rope...no skis, and goes barefoot.

                                                  Here is a slalom skier, beautiful to watch.

                       This is something I had not seen before....sort of a hydro foil, huge air time.


We thought to ourselves, what a nice couple of weeks in Burlington.......but....there is more. This weekend is the Country and Blues fest on the waterfront. Again.....FREE!!

What grabbed my attention was the Stevie ray Vaughan tribute band, so we went to check it out.

If you ever wonder what lacrosse players do when they are not playing lacrosse...wonder no more.

Here is a picture of Gold Rush player Doug (slappin' da bass) Collier, from MOB Lacrosse fame. They put on a great show, loved it.

After that were The Lincolns, one of North America’s premiere Rhythm & Blues bands. A great horns section......was incredible.

And the Finale of the Friday night was the very entertaining DA BLOOZE BROTHERS, an explosive, funny and entertaining tribute to The Blues Brothers with music, action & comedy.

Da Blooze Brothers

Speaking of lacrosse Stars....check out these 2.

 Carl Krebss (Red Heat from MOB Lacrosse) and Oakville senior Masters and

 Carl is in his "Swan Song" year of lacrosse.  great goalie and a great guy. (not a bad singer either)
(and me) - doing our own Blues Brothers routine.

We had a great night, and this event goes on through Sunday night......check it out.