By DAVE CARTER of The Gazette
ROCHESTER – This was a state-of-the-league report about the National Lacrosse League on the eve of the playoff game here that may end the season for Montreal’s Les Quebecois, who trail the Rochester Griffins 3-1 in games in their best-of-seven semi-final series.
The speaker was Spence Lyons, who runs the league and knows about, if only from the experience of trying to get one going in 1968 – and failing.
Last year he was approached again on the subject, this time by Morley Kells and Jim Bishop, coach and general manager of the Rochester and Toronto National Lacrosse League franchises, respectively.
“First, I didn’t want anything to do with it,’’ says Lyons, “but after a meeting in Toronto 1 changed my tune.”what he’s talking Now the Toronto lawyer-real estate man — and the NLL’s first president — is satisfied.
“I like this game better than hockey now,” he says. “This six-team league is very competitive.
“I’ve been approached by businessmen out west who want to form a five-team league there. But there’s plenty of changes still to be made in this league. First, the Toronto (Tomahawks) team will definitely be moving – probably to the New York area.” Long Island? “Can’t say for sure yet.’’ says Lyons, “because we’ve had many requests for franchises and now we’re just considering them.”
Apart from the Toronto shift, Lyons points to the possibility of league expansion. “A minimum of two and maximum of four,” he says.
And while he talked of interested cities – Atlanta, Boston. New York, Quebec and Cincinnati — Quebec may have the edge because of the success of the Les Quebecois. Attendance at the Forum was 138,686, second only to Philadelphia which drew 174,746 for 20 home games.
“I’m very happy with the Montreal franchise,” says Lyons. “They’ve done an excellent job and they (team owners Nelson Stoll and Ferguson) have run a class organization.”
How about the other teams? “Toronto? The TV rights hurt them. People would rather watch it at home than sit in that sweat box (Maple Leaf Gardens).
Philadelphia? Lyons is very happy with Philly. “People there love the Wings as much as they love the Flyers (Stanley Cup champions).”
Any regrets? Yes, an incident after a Wings-Maryland Arrows’ playoff game last Sunday.
“It’s too bad it happened at the end of the game. Apparently (Jack) Bionda (Philadelphia’s GM) didn’t like the refereeing and tried to take a swing at referee Bill Dicks,” said Lyons. “I can’t have anybody trying that on my referees, so I fined him $1,000 and suspended him for the conclusion of the series.”
NOTES: Going into tonight’s game, Les Quebecois’ John Davis leads all the playoff goal-scorers with nine. Both Dale Mackenzie and Jim Lynch have eight with’ the closest Griffins are Kevin Parsons and Dave Wilfong with seven …
If the Quebecois win tonight, they’ll be back at the Forum Saturday night for the sixth game. And if that happens. it’ll be a night honoring Coco Blanchard, one of lacrosse’s great all-time stars in Canada and father of Les Quebecois’ Michel and Yvan…
