Rush out for Dennis

Tonight a group of us went to see the Edmonton Rush lacrosse team play against the Calgary Roughnecks at Rexall Place. We actually all got free tickets, because another grad student's husband plays on the team and got us a bunch of tickets. So we trekked through the cold weather and went to see the game - which was totally fun!

There were cheerleaders and mascots and the music is played throughout the whole game. Unlike hockey, music can be played even when the game is on, which meant we had tunes to dance around to the whole time we were there. Our mascots were two sasquatches, who rode into the arena on some kickin' motorcycles. As well, they had DENNIS RODMAN (that's right, the basketball player) at the game! Now, who I am to judge the direction his career has taken him since retiring from the game of ball, but still, I wouldn't think that a lacrosse game in EDMONTON is that prestigious. In any case, he was there helping to announce at the game start and the half time show, although he didn't do anything that interesting and I couldn't really understand what he said that much. He's tall.

I was hoping that Dennis might do a slam dunk for us at one point, because they brought out a freestanding hoop at the half time show. However, when Dennis walked out with cowboy boots on, I knew it wasn't meant to be. Instead, some members from the crowd played a basketball game to win prizes. Dennis didn't even touch a basketball...oh well...The Trailor Park Boys are coming in a few weeks for the next lacrosse game - maybe they'd be more interesting?

Now, I don't know the rules for lacrosse very well, although I do remember a few of them from highschool when we had a unit on it. However, I don't remember it being as rough and tumble though! Lacrosse, is a tough game. They can basically whack each other with their sticks anywhere except the head. As such, grown men run around hitting each other with their lacrosse stick, pushing and smacking and swinging and whapping - it's a little crazy out there!

Speaking of running, it was very strange to see the players running down the field at the start of the game. Having watched hockey for my entire life, you don't realize how much you expect people to be skating when you watch a similar sport. It only took awhile to get used to it, but was still pretty strang at first.

Edmonton was ahead for most of the game, scorewise, however in the last quarter Calgary caught up and tied the game. A few minutes before the game was over, they scored again to take the lead! Edmonton played hard in those last few minutes trying to score, even pulling the goalie, however no luck. We did score in the last few seconds, however the buzzer had already gone and the goal didn't count, so we ended up losing. It was a fun evening, which we topped off with a beer at the pub before heading home.