By PETER CONRADI - The Standard - 12-20-1991
Bob McCready has been taught a lesson or two since his last foray into the uncertain world of professional box lacrosse. He’s learned that greed kills.
“That, basically, is what destroyed every pro league I ever played in,” says the St. Catharines native. “Players, coaches and managers were in it for the quick buck. We were all too short-sighted and we ended up wiping out five leagues.”
That isn’t going to happen this time. McCready, who is coach of the expansion Buffalo Bandits of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League, says he’s much wiser now. So, apparently, are the people in charge.
The MILL is heading into its sixth season with a unique format for success — or at least for avoiding disaster. The MILL has an unyielding cap on the pay cheques of every player and club official. Superstar or journeyman, all are reimbursed with the same salary scale. Cheating? There is none, because all seven clubs are owned by league founders Chris Fritz and Russ Cline.
These Kansas City businessmen and promoters have no vested interests. They just want to put fans in the seats. “It’s a good system,” says Bandits’ general manager Johnny Mouradian, also a St. Catharines product. “The idea is to keep expenses under control while the league makes its mark. No one is going to get rich, but it’s a chance to make a few dollars and play a sport we all love as part-time professionals.”
Rookies, for example, get $125 (U.S.) per outing for an eight-game regular schedule. Salaries increase $50 per season to a maximum of $350 per game. As GM and coach, Mouradian and McCready make $550 and $450 respectively per game.
The MILL covers the teams’ travel, meal and hotel expenses, but nothing else. “There is no room for negotiating,” McCready says. “If you don’t like it, the league says goodbye. That’s the way it should be.” Mouradian says a few players have been able to supplement their incomes with product endorsements. “There aren’t a lot of those yet, but a few guys have them,” he says.
Mouradian cites Paul and Gary Gait, twin brothers from British Columbia who were leading field lacrosse attractions while attending Syracuse University, who have deals with Nike. The Gaits are members of the MILL defending champion Detroit Turbos.
“Hopefully that kind of thing will become available to more players as the league takes hold. But the first concern of everyone is the league itself. Everyone is committed to making it a success.”
So far the MILL has been holding its own, drawing respectable crowds in major U.S. cities that include Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, New York (Long Island), Pittsburgh, Detroit, and now Buffalo.
The league had an average gate of 8,990 in 1991; Philadelphia was by far the top draw with an average crowd of 15,542 for five home appearances at The Spectrum.
“We think we’ll be right up there (in attendance),” says Mouradian. “If we’re not, it won’t be for the lack of advertising and promotions.” Mouradian says the Bandits are benefiting from the public relations experience of the Buffalo Sabres, who have become minority owners of the MILL club.
“The Sabres are doing all the advertising,” Mouradian says. “They’re really pushing it hard. We’re in their program, they talk about us at their games — they’re doing a great job. We have to do our part and win some games.”
Mouradian, 39, a teacher at Kernanhan Park Secondary School currently studying for a master’s degree at Ithaca College, has called upon more than 25 years of knowledge gained as a player and coach to recruit what he believes will be a contending club. It’s been a hectic time for the ex-player and coach with Canada’s national field team — the Bandits weren’t added to the league until Oct. 1, and it was another 10 days before Mouradian was appointed GM.
His first step was to hire McCready. The 52-year-old General Motors employee has played professional in Montreal, Brantford, Boston, Baltimore, and St. Catharines.
As a coach, he guided the Niagara Warriors to the national junior B championship in 1981; he served behind the St. Catharines junior A Athletics’ bench in 1989.
The 25-man roster includes three former and current Athletics — Mike Mooradian, Darris Kilgour, and Richard Kilgour. Brock University graduate Ross Cowie, who was on three of Peterborough’s national junior A championship squads (1982-84), will handle most of the work in goal for Buffalo. The Bandits have 11 Canadians, a limit imposed by the league.
They are: Mooradian, Cowie, John Fusco of Brooklin, Bill Gerrie from Mississauga, Paul Day from Peterborough, Brian Hall from Mississauga, Bob Hamley from Guelph, Gerry Hiltz from Peterborough, Derek Keenan from Oshawa, John Tavares of Mississauga and Jim Veltman from Brampton.
The Bandits are playing an exhibition game tomorrow in Rochester against Detroit at 8 p.m. Buffalo opens the regular season at home Jan. 4 against New York.
