Photo essay from the 2010 Coaches Convention in Baltimore. Let’s Lax.

What a lovely trip to Baltimore.

No time for sight seeing.

Let’s get inside the Convention like now.

Apparently, Champion got the memo that lacrosse is popular. They were the premiere sponsor. This was the first sign people saw when they entered the convention center.

Nothing legitimizes your sport like Vietnam war paint.

To the vendor floor!

Jimalax was in attendance selling colored mesh pieces for $3.

They were also giving away white mesh kits for free.

We are now stocked for the season. Did not know they were Arizona based.

Talon was recently bought by Easton which will easily go down as a top 10 business decision of the century.

The Tribute is their first head. Ton of holes for multiple stringing options. “Native American iconography” all over the plastic.

One mother had to speak privately with a sales rep to ask him to illustrate to her son that nothing was available for purchase.

He was sub 12. Don’t see anyone at the high school or college level trusting a Talon head.

If you don’t know who Tribe 7 is, we suggest you maintain that state of mind.

We aren’t going to lower ourselves by posting any of those horrific videos.

Their product line in person is even more embarrassing.

Zebra print? Real Housewives of New Jersey edition stick?

We watched their founder give a demonstration by throwing and catching with one of his sticks that feature a ridiculous pocket technology. You know you’re in good shape when the stick you created is throwing right into the ground and you cover your tracks by saying “uh oh.”

They are doing an absolutely fantastic thing by selling inexpensive lacrosse equipment. The problem is people who purchase sporting items at introductory prices are beginners. Parents don’t but buy flashy items for their son or daughter who is just starting the sport.

We don’t expect Animal Print 7 to be around very long.

Helmets Gone Beserk

Elevation Lacrosse brought a chromed out Brine

Cascade brought a see through helmet and a navy North Carolina helmet with the trend being new and interesting ways of decorating their visor.

Bold predictions: you’ll see a chrome or metallic gold helmet in NCAA D1 this season before a see through helmet.

They also had an offensive Ohio State helmet which had a black and white checker board pattern on the visor. Didn’t bother to take a picture.

Great collection of retro sticks. We want one for a graduation present.

Oh Adidas Lacrosse

Why is there silver on the cuff?

Reminds us of Roman gladiator armor. Not as offensive as the gloves and their general existence as a lacrosse company however.

corporate logo < team logo

And, not the other way around.

Brine was a laughing stock for releasing the Rhinoskin shoulder pad shirt… years ago.

Just because you put it in team colors and make it look like motocross shoulders doesn’t make a bad idea better. One of the worst items from a major company at the convention.

Tough to muck up UCLA clothing.

Those guys need to get a grip fast before they launch more gear.

Stylish Salisbury reversible. Forget the supplier. Sorry we’re not sorry.

LaxWorld Exclusives

STX Rebel

We feel like this hat has been out for some time but we didn’t really care until our new found appreciation for the South (after watching True Blood) made us see the hat with new eyes.

Several options.

Looking for respectable decoration for your dorm room or bro cave?

Fantastic stuff from The Art of Lax.

Pick up a t shirt as well.

Vermont Originals

Mixed feelings about this company.

There is no denying those are wonderful. Our second favorite thing we saw all weekend.

Here is the problem. As we stood in front of their booth, mouth agape, fireworks in our trousers, we asked if it was possible to order just one beanie.

The man at the booth said yes and handed over a sheet with bulk order prices.

Again we asked, is it possible to order just one.

To which the man replied, “Yes, but we are only here to talk to coaches.”

Give that a minute to sink into your soul.

The second the last syllable in coaches exited his mouth he turned away from us and started speaking with a more adult looking human, presumably a coach.

We were stunned. Number one, that’s not the best way to treat customers. Number two, that’s not the best way to treat a customer who happen to be vice president of a club lacrosse team obsessed with custom gear. And C, that’s not the best way to treat a customer who happens to be wearing a media pass.

So, we gave the guy a “welp see ya later,” he wasn’t listening any way and walked to the next booth.

Here is the strategic plan.

We’re still going to purchase a hat. But, first we are going to email them our story. Then we are going to tell them about our website and specifically today’s article. Needless to say, we don’t expect to pay full price.

God help the state of Vermont if we don’t get such an apology.

Fit 2 Win

The third best sporting good we saw all weekend.

The fourth best sporting good we saw all weekend.

Great hoody.

Oh Debeer Lacrosse

The USA women’s team is sponsored by Debeer. That’s a shame because their goalie brought this helmet along.

We stopped by their booth and asked the following questions.

412: Why wasn’t the Recon glove released to the general public last season?

Debeer rep: Uh…they just wanted to give Virginia something special. Do you like it?

412: No I would never use it in fact I feel ridiculous for even coming to your booth. What’s the reception been like for the helmet?

Debeer rep: Uh…well it’s been good. We don’t have one here because there have been some delays. We’re still trying to fix some things but it’s been good.

412: Welp, see ya later.

Not looking good for the Debeer camp.

On Field Demo Highlights

The USA team graced the convention with their presence sans Rabil.

Stephen Peyser had a difficult Saturday.

First, he forgot the proper footwear.

Then, he had to purchase his own refreshment. We understand the economy is tough but help out your athletes US Lacrosse.

Then he was forced to sign the Team USA poster even though he is no where to be found on said poster.

After he signed ours we bailed as a sign of protest.

Kyle Dixon and Joe Cinosky almost ran us over on the convention floor.

Dixon is roughly 8 feet tall crouching.

Solo captain chilling.

Smartest player to ever play the game chilling.

The accessibility we as fans have to the biggest names in the sport is unbelievable. You won’t find the Dream Team spending all day at a convention talking to fans and coaches about how to become a better basketball player.

The lighting was brutal. Our camera didn’t help.

Rather hard signage from Warrior

Dr. Lou’s speech was very entertaining. LAS will have video of it shortly.

He provided 3 keys to how to live your life, 8 keys to how to live your life, and a final 4 keys on how to live your life.

There was also a magic trick. He was given a retro wooden stick as a thank you.

The president of US Lacrosse gave a disastrous speech prior to Dr. Lou’s performance. The convention is a major event for the governing body of the sport and you are the leader of said governing body. Assuming you are allowed back next year, make sure you memorize your speech just a tad more.

Thanks for burying your head in the document. Oratory skills of a deceased mime.

Everyone of the ties he owned must have been dirty for he did not sport such a garb.

Again, the convention is a major event on the lacrosse calender. Some people suggested it was losing its luster. The leader of US Lacrosse not being dressed correctly is fuel for said fire.

And in another clothing scandal, a woman got on stage to present an award, that no one seemed to care about, wearing a black dress that revealed maybe 15 inches of cleavage.

Maybe should have worn something a little more conservative because when she was shown on the big screens on either side of the stage the 15 inches turned into 15 feet.

So Many Lax Rats

Saturday the kids arrived on the vendor floor.

This youngster was dressed and groomed for success.

These two were not.

We understand being fired up and bringing your stick to carry around but reversibles?

Over a t-shirt?

Is this real life?

From the Department of Regrettable Company Names

Does not help that they were selling neon everything…for girls.

Does not help that the S is shaped like what you think it is shaped like.

Mystic Fold Jock Straps were the booth over.

Get lost Spunk Wear.

Brine’s Crystal Ball

We met with Brine Saturday afternoon to take a sneak peak at their Final Four gear.

The gloves we saw might be the most aesthetically pleasing gloves we have ever seen. They will be the top seller in 2011 hands down. It doesn’t hurt that they are game ready out of the box either.

Side note, in 2007 we came up with a glove design that featured pinstripes. Three years before the Vengeance gloves were released. Not saying copyright infringement. Just saying we were ahead of our time.

We know exactly where those drawings were stashed unsure if they remain in said location. If we find them, they’ll be launched.

Back to new Brine gear, the elbow pads borrow a little from another sport. No, not motocross like Adidas.

They have also taken the concept of a factory dyed head to the next level.

When the  legal teams permit us to say more, we will.

Brine also hooked us up with the Clutch X6 for NCAA play only which doesn’t hit stores nationwide for another few weeks however we have heard it was spotted at a Lacrosse Unlimited in Connecticut.

That is the first Brine head we have owned since 2002. We are going to dye it up, string it up, and put it through the paces against the STX Professor. Hopefully, a confident decision will  be reached by our first game next week.

Notes

412 Lax’s close friend Hayden Dixon made a poster for a tournament

For those of you confused or unsure how to say our name, its pronounced four-one-two. Got a lot of four-twelve this weekend. Never again.

Pitt scrimmage versus Seton Hill on Friday.

Conference check ins all this week.

More from  our convention experience tomorrow including our doomed dinner Friday night.