Mike Powell and the Baltimore Bayhawks

[OutBurst]

E-lacrosse has new pictures of Mike Powell in the training camp using a CPX, PC Arm Pads, and the Swerve/Swizzle. What is going on with Warrior and their rule about only Warrior brand equipment? Has there been some sort of deal negotiated?

Mike Powell Pictures (http://www.e-lacrosse.com/2005/bhc2/index.htm)

[roycegracie47]

I think it's just the guy's wearing their own gear for practice since it has yet been established whether or not the in-game fines for non-warrior equipment applies to practice. And with Baltimore's open proactices this is way for players to show off any new stuff they're working on/with.

And didn't you mean Bayhawks in your title...not Barrage?

[laxdevil666]

maybe if there is a fine for practices, brine will just pick it up for mikey, but i could see that getting pretty costly...just a thought.

[Jerome]

I was asked to respond to this by members of my staff. During training camp players are only issued shorts and sweats. We do not issue equipment until the team is selected. Players may use there own sticks, shoes etc. without penalty. During the season players must wear all of the required gear in accordance with MLL rules for the purpose of sponsorhip fullfillment. At the begining of each game the head coach must certify to the ref that all players are in compliance. If the refs catch a player out of compliance therafter, both the player and coach are ejected and suspened for one game.
I hope this anwers your questions... Jay Pivec GM Baltimore Bayhawks

[roycegracie47]

^^^ I'll take that as a very good and concise answer, thanks Jay.

[liveforlax19]

thats rediculous... MLL needs to stop being gay... let your players be comfortable for cryin out loud...

i can understand if they want their products being used... but to the point where they have to be checked and what not... and the coach can get penlized? come on

[LaxD245]

I think it is ok to an extent. I mean, Warrior pays to sponsor MLL, and if they are going to put that much money into sponsoring the league, then i think the players should wear thei equipment, but i dont think that the penalty should be as bad. I mean, Warrior has their logo on everything that says MLL, so one pair of pads of one pair of cleats shouldn't make that big of a difference

[ahslax18]

they should allow one brand to sponser the whole league. each team should be able to choose their sponser

[Portlax]

mIke powell is going to rip it up this year. MVP

[Portlax]

Does any but me think that Mikey Powell isnt going to rip it up this year. MVP

[LaxD245]

they should allow one brand to sponser the whole league. each team should be able to choose their sponserthats a good idea, or they could just not be as anal about it

[Gee-Unit17]

I hate using Warrior stuff because having to wear Warrior stuff doesnt do **** for allowing players to become bigger stars because they are holding their potential sponsers down so I think Warrior is holding down the growth of the sport...if ur still with me. But If warrior is pumping all that money into the league then they have the right to not to the players use other people equipment. I just wish they wouldnt.

[lax_crazy027]

I can see warrior wanting them to weaer their stuff for advertising. Like Armpads and Gloves and helmets (soon or a later it will be all vikings). But let them choose the shoulder pads (you dont see the freakin things) and stick (cmon not everyone likes the PIMPING EVO PRO)
btw: INSANITIES!!!! and did anyone else notice mikeys pocket? simple eh, i wonder what brand mesh.

[Lax101]

I am tired of all of you warrior haters whining about the MLL's rule. Warrior is hurting the growth of the game? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! If Warrior didn't put so much funding and investment into the MLL then the MLL wouldn't have even been formed. They helped put this game on its feet, so the least the players can do is suck it up and use warrior gear. These players should be happy they get to play the game they love, after college.

Today, all gear is so similar, it's pointless. The face of a Swerve is damn similar to a finalizer, so Mikey can just use that. And guess why they're so similar? Mikey used a finalizer during his senior year at Syracuse, so when designing his own head he probably wanted it to be similar to it.

Do you see Gary Gait whining he can't use his G-Force line? No. Is Mikey going to suck it up and wear Warrior gear? Apparently, yes. These two players designed gear SPECIFICALLY for themselves, and they've even sucked it up and worn Warrior Gear. Don't cry about comfortable gear when these two guys aren't using gear they designed themselves.

I hate brine gear, and if I had the chance to play in a fledgling lacrosse league that was brine sponsored, I'd grab an E3, strap on some vent x's AG's and SP's, and pick up an F55, and I'm set.

Holding sponsors down? They're not hurting their sponsors unless that potential sponsor is named Brine, STX, or Gait. The MLL recently officially announced their partnership with Tommy Hilfiger, they've been sponsored by Bud Light for awhile, and lacrosse retailers, such as GA and Bacharach, have sponsored the game for years. If Mikey's going to cooperate and suck it up by wearing Warrior gear, then all of you Mikey Powell fanboys should shut up too.

And as for monopolizing the league, once again-Warrior has a right to. If STX put all that cash and investment into the league, then they should have the right to force their players to use their gear, too. Face it-all companies make quality gear at this point, even if you hate the company. Im being very repetitive here, but: I despise brine, and I even admit they make some good gear.

And as for violating the rules and its consequences, yeah, one pair of cleats doesnt make a big difference, but they need to keep that strict rule, or else it'll keep getting pushed and pushed to the point where everybody is using different stuff. This isn't a hard rule, and its a rule that's easily avoidable. This rule should NOT be an issue, if you just use the gear that's supplied to you.

[Hookem]

Well I like warrior and all, but I have to say that is kind of like a Monopoly. They are controlling it all.

You see Microsoft was called a Monopoly because it put its web browser Internet Explorer on ITS operating system. Warrior owns the MLL and its putting its gear in the MLL. So its like a Monopoly.

I dont agree with the Microsft issue, but apparently the Government does. So why don't they deal with the MLL issue? Obviously because its not as popular as a OS for a computer.

[Laxin2266]

I agree that warrior should not be able to monopolize the league

[shtbrkd00]

Why not? It's their league haha. Pretty good marketing tactic if you ask me.

[OutBurst]

I could have sworn I put "Baltimore Bayhawks" in the title. Would anyone mind to change it for me?

Since when was Lax101 back? I am glad he is though...

[CornerPicker22]

Yeah, why doesn't everyone complain over the fact that all NFL players have to wear Riddell helmets? They don't. Why? Because NFL players resign themselves to the fact that they have to wear it, and so they do. Yes they are getting paid millions more than MLL players, but willingness to participate in a league implies willingness to follow league rules.

If you haven't noticed already, Warrior spends loads of money on their advertisement. Why? Because they have a lot of money (from NewBalance) and so they can and will. And so, the MLL already probably figures that a Warrior sponsorship is what's best for the league. I'm not saying that Brine, deBeer or STX don't have a lot of money. But, do you think they would want to compete for a bid against Warrior for sponsorship? Too political if you ask me. That would probably be too unrealistic for those companies too because that would not only be the cost of sponsorship but also the cost of more advertising and money for development of better/competative prodcuts.

[Lockbox911]

being forced to wear a type of helmet is alot different than being forced to use warrior sticks and gloves. Sticks have alot more to do with personal preferance. Plus it takes away the ability to create superstars through equipment sales. Sorda like what mike jordan did with his shoes.

[jedimasterPIMP]

Yeah, why doesn't everyone complain over the fact that all NFL players have to wear Riddell helmets? They don't. Why? Because NFL players resign themselves to the fact that they have to wear it, and so they do. Yes they are getting paid millions more than MLL players, but willingness to participate in a league implies willingness to follow league rules.

If you haven't noticed already, Warrior spends loads of money on their advertisement. Why? Because they have a lot of money (from NewBalance) and so they can and will. And so, the MLL already probably figures that a Warrior sponsorship is what's best for the league. I'm not saying that Brine, deBeer or STX don't have a lot of money. But, do you think they would want to compete for a bid against Warrior for sponsorship? Too political if you ask me. That would probably be too unrealistic for those companies too because that would not only be the cost of sponsorship but also the cost of more advertising and money for development of better/competative prodcuts.

Actually not all players use riddell helmets in the NFL. If you look at Warren Sapp he wears an Adams helment.

[spartacus9]

I am tired of all of you warrior haters whining about the MLL's rule. Warrior is hurting the growth of the game? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! If Warrior didn't put so much funding and investment into the MLL then the MLL wouldn't have even been formed. They helped put this game on its feet, so the least the players can do is suck it up and use warrior gear. These players should be happy they get to play the game they love, after college.

Today, all gear is so similar, it's pointless. The face of a Swerve is damn similar to a finalizer, so Mikey can just use that. And guess why they're so similar? Mikey used a finalizer during his senior year at Syracuse, so when designing his own head he probably wanted it to be similar to it.

Do you see Gary Gait whining he can't use his G-Force line? No. Is Mikey going to suck it up and wear Warrior gear? Apparently, yes. These two players designed gear SPECIFICALLY for themselves, and they've even sucked it up and worn Warrior Gear. Don't cry about comfortable gear when these two guys aren't using gear they designed themselves.

I hate brine gear, and if I had the chance to play in a fledgling lacrosse league that was brine sponsored, I'd grab an E3, strap on some vent x's AG's and SP's, and pick up an F55, and I'm set.

Holding sponsors down? They're not hurting their sponsors unless that potential sponsor is named Brine, STX, or Gait. The MLL recently officially announced their partnership with Tommy Hilfiger, they've been sponsored by Bud Light for awhile, and lacrosse retailers, such as GA and Bacharach, have sponsored the game for years. If Mikey's going to cooperate and suck it up by wearing Warrior gear, then all of you Mikey Powell fanboys should shut up too.

And as for monopolizing the league, once again-Warrior has a right to. If STX put all that cash and investment into the league, then they should have the right to force their players to use their gear, too. Face it-all companies make quality gear at this point, even if you hate the company. Im being very repetitive here, but: I despise brine, and I even admit they make some good gear.

And as for violating the rules and its consequences, yeah, one pair of cleats doesnt make a big difference, but they need to keep that strict rule, or else it'll keep getting pushed and pushed to the point where everybody is using different stuff. This isn't a hard rule, and its a rule that's easily avoidable. This rule should NOT be an issue, if you just use the gear that's supplied to you.

i agree with u and i respect wut ur saying, but dont u think they should at least give brine and stx a chance? i mean at least let them choose wut sp's they wear.

[spartacus9]

its a good thing warrior doesnt make cups and mouthpieces. mmmmm it takes like warrior/crap.

[Lax101]

i agree with u and i respect wut ur saying, but dont u think they should at least give brine and stx a chance? i mean at least let them choose wut sp's they wear.
In principle they should, but they're not gunna let them have a chance. This is a business, where everyone struggles for power. They're not gunna just let brine and stx into the MLL out of the kindness of their heart. Brine and STX control the college game, and I don't see brine and stx handing over warrior their sponsorship to cuse or hopkins.

[Moxie990]

i personally think that warrior could make more money by lettin other companies personally sponser players (ex. brine w/ powell) but to do so, must pay warrior a certain amount ... this takes the burden off players who arent getting paid a lot and coaches too, but at the same time, it allows players like powell and gait who have their own lines (or other players too, this wouldnt be limited) to use the gear they are most comfortable with ... helmets and such would still be warrior to still give warrior the advertising edge (since thats what they want) plus they are gonna get more money from brine/stx/etc .... it seems sorta win win to me

[mrmccool]

if warrior was such a sweet company, why'd the powells leave? and by strangling out the other sponsers and not allowing them, doesnt that further add to the financial problems the league is having? monopolies are wrong because without competition, YOU as the consumer ultimately suffer. if warrior wants to run sh!t, and it gets out of control, we're gonna be left with one or two options of lax equipment and it's gonna be expensive and crappy. warrior isnt winning the sales battle with sick products, they're winning it with smart advertising and a good patent lawyer

[shtbrkd00]

And they will continue that way until the lacrosse market becomes more competitive. As long as alternatives are limited they can do what they want.

[mrmccool]

why would warrior fire it's headlining pro? do you know any more about this firing?

[mrmccool]

sounds right, i dont doubt that