The MLL has found themselves in deep with an unfair labor charge filed by Rich Furlong on the behalf of four current MLL players: Jason and Jeremy Noble, Graeme Hossack, and Dillon Ward. The suit revolves around a clause in the contract that states players cannot discuss elements of their contracts with one another. Furlong has been involved in lacrosse for many years and has negotiated the Canadian Lacrosse Association’s agreement with the National Lacrosse Team Players Association (NLTPA). He claims that the clause in the contract is “… wholly illegal. There’s absolutely no question they’re illegal under the National Labor Relations Act.” However, the MLL Commissioner Sandy Brown does not seem to be worried about this due to his candid language and relaxed demeanor when asked questions about it. He states that “I’m overly concerned about. I believe we have the appropriate counsel handling the matter for us, people who are well-versed in working with the NLRB, so we’ll cooperate with it in whatever shape or form.” My gut is that this is not going to end well for him or the league after this. Perhaps this is just the tip of the ice berg and the introduction of the PLL showed us that this is not a random assertion.
The Beginning of Change
In October of this year, lacrosse’s first million dollar athlete announced that he and his brother were going to start a new professional lacrosse league dubbed the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). Paul Rabil has been one of lacrosse’s biggest name since he entered the league in 2008 and is now evolving the game into something new. After many years in the league, Rabil had begun tired of the routine Major League Lacrosse (MLL) schedule and the lack of growth within the league that has been happening in other levels of lacrosse. With the financial help from his brother, Mike, the two started the league with some of the games best players having already agreed to commit to playing in the inaugural 2019 season. The league will travel around the country to play in cities all over the country and especially those that are not currently being accessed by the MLL. The PLL also is compensating the players in a much different way in that they are now receiving basic benefits, such as health and dental care, are being granted financial stake within the league, and higher paying contracts. To read more about this new league, click on the link below.
https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/it-s-official-premier-lacrosse-league-announces-formation-for-2019-season/53198
2018 MLL Championship Highlights
Here are the highlights from the 2018 MLL Championship game between the Denver Outlaws and the Dallas Rattlers. Go Outlaws!