Thoughts on the Weekend

I analyzed the stats, I thought that the Ratcliff trade might have been good, but a combination of an out of sync Rock offence and a solid game from Pat O'Toole did the Rock in.

Ratcliff played OK, but he looked lost out there at times, and made a couple of terrible passes to the far side to Manning and Wilson. I didn't see the game last night in Philadelphia, but I can only assume that it was better. He (Ratcliff) has to get fucking better or this team will be on the outside looking in.

I know Sanderson didn't do too well in Calgary, but the offence was clicking with him in Buffalo and against Edmonton right before the trade. If the team fails to reach double digits against Chicago then there needs to be more changes coming.

Greg Van Sickle was let go. Looking back at NLL.com it is hard to tell if he was a Kloepfer hire, but I have to believe he was responsible for the move, trying to take blame off of himself and transferring it the coaching staff. Sorry Mike, but you're the one that tore apart one of the greatest offensive teams ever assembled in the league. We could still have Josh Sanderson and Colin Doyle, but instead we are stuck with Ryan Benesch and Lewis Ratcliff. Which two would you rather have? I'll give you a hint, their names rhyme with Manderson and Foyle. Figure it out yet?

All I can say is if the Rock do manage to get into the playoffs, and make no mistake, it is going to be a challenge, then all the credit can go to Bob Watson. Watson deserved to win Saturday, and from what I heard deserved one on Sunday as well. Iannucci may break Gait's record, but if Watson wasn't in net for Toronto this year, I would really, really hate to see where the Rock would be at. I'm assuming below Chicago.

All in all, it was a shitty weekend. Does anybody else get pissed off seeing Kloepfer sitting (or waddling) near the bench around each warmup smiling in that ridiculous leather jacket, presumably admiring the destruction he has done to tear apart a great dynasty? Seeing the tribute to Les Bartley on Saturday before the 2nd half, one of the greatest lacrosse architechts of all time, made me sad. Sad that we have to put up with this guy running our time after so many years of sound decisions from Bartley and then from Terry Sanderson. If Mike Kloepfer isn't fired after this season, something is seriously, seriously wrong.