By John Ahern - Globe Staff - 4/29/1975
Rick Bisson of Long Island being chased down...
Box lacrosse finally came to our town last night and while it is almost as understandable as ancient Sanskrit, its effect on the blood pressure already has been felt.
That was obvious in the Garden during the debut where 8724 yelled themselves horse, booed the referees, criticized the opponents, second guessed the new coach, Larry Ferguson, and even left early as the home club, the Boston Bolts, played the familiar role as the loser.
This was the first loss against two victories, both on the road, and it came in overtime. It was then that the Long Island Tomahawks scored three times while our Bolts could score only once. And that left it: Tomahawks 19, Bolts 17.
Duffy McCarthy battles Long Island's Jan Magee...
In truth there is a lot of hockey in this brand of mayhem, a fact that allowed some of the gathering to realize after about a period and a half what was going on out there on the floor.
“They played defense just like some guys I watched all winter,’’ Bill Barboza of Everett growled. “They don’t know what the hell the word defense means. They and the Bruins should get together and take lessons. Me, I’m going to the track.”
Strangely, coach Ferguson agreed, although he did say he’ll stick around for the season.
“For a period we played all right, a little tight perhaps but all right. Played fair defense and took the lead. Then we got loose,” he said. “And they took it away from us. They had the fast break going and we didn’t. They took it away from us.”
Sound familiar?
Ted Greaves and Buff McGready battle at the Garden...
It wasn’t all criticism and sour grapes, though. For a long time early the crowd, wanting to like this new game, was having the time of its life.
The moan when the Tomahawks scored the first goal could have been heard at Andrew Square and when the Bolts started crawling back and then moved ahead, there was absolute jubilation even though a fan in back of the press box admitted loudly, “I don’t know what the hell they’re doing, but it’s great.”
They found some instant heroes as well. Buff McCready, the opening goaltender, got in a battle with Ted Greaves of Long Island in the opening moments, sticks were swung, and both departed for the night. Chalk one up for McCready. The gang loves a fighter.
They went slightly wacky over Al Lewthwaite, who has his own version of the Ali Shuffle when he does something good. And last night he treated the throng to six exhibitions of that. He had three goals, three assists. Each time he went into the act.
Al Lewthwaite
Then there’s the Bob Cousy behind the back pass. That brought loud acclaim each time it was done, about a dozen all told.
As for the game it was typical of so many seen here all season. Boston came from behind 7-5, at the end of the first period, then went ahead 10-5 in the second and it looked like a rout. But New York got five in a hurry and at the end of the period it was 11-11. Lewthwaite and Joe McCrea got going good and finally it looked like a successful debut, even though defense was not being played. Then, with 28 seconds left, Paul Warden tied it for Long Island and the overtime was a waltz.
Now the Bolts are back tomorrow for another attempt at educating the populace. That will be tough. They go against the Red Sox at Fenway, the Celtics on the tube. As a partner said late last night, “we need your prayers.”
