I returned to Seattle this past Monday after a brief five day stay on the eastern seaboard of the United States, more specifically Baltimore, MD.

The buzz around Lacrosse this time of year especially in that region of the country is tremendous. For some reason, even after living there for four plus years I struggle to explain - People that reproduce near the Mason Dixon line are strongly connected to this sport.

As an athlete prepares for the game, one of the most powerful entities that gives some the edge to power through these “walls” of maintaining focus in the “4th Quarter” is the way he/she conditions themselves for the playing environment. Here is an introduction to what can be done pre, post, and during the lacrosse season.

Welcome to the Editorials Section.   Sometimes it'll be controversial, sometimes it'll be an observation but it'll always be looking for your c

For the better part of the last two decades, Derek Keenan has been involved with the professional indoor game. Entering the league via Buffalo where he played until joining the Toronto Rock for the ’99 season, first as a player then as assistant coach. In 2005 he was appointed the head coach and GM for the Expansion Portland Lumberjacks who would go on to an 11-5 record in their inaugural season. As an east coast Ontario native, now commuting to the West Coast, Keenan has seen it all. Walax caught up with the current Coach/GM to get his thoughts on East vs. West, a little history, and of course the Game itself.

What’s good?

I Hope everyone is having a very enjoyable week. I can’t say that I’m not, weather has sustained, and a New York Knick won the slam dunk contest (I’ll get back to that later)*, they now have berry flavored Nerds on a rope! I ordered some new shoes (Lebron Zoom VI) all black of course and last but not least, we are one week closer to the start of the season…

What’s happening Walax faithful?  In order to help some of you get ready for the upcoming spring season, this week I will be covering the most critical component of a lax pocket – the sidewall strings. While there are dozens of different knots and methods that can be employed when stringing your sidewall string, I will be teaching you a method that I feel maximizes the consistency with which the ball releases even in the presence of rain. As noted in the first article, mesh will break in and want to bag-out when in the presence of water, in order to minimize the effects of this, my pocket technique is based around one simple maneuver, what I like to refer to as the ‘inside to outside interlocking knot’.

PORTLAND – Head Coach/General Manager Derek Keenan announced the 2009, 23-man active roster for the Portland LumberJax today.  14 players return from last season’s final 23-man roster.