When people think about professional sports in Buffalo, they can usually only name the Bills and the Sabres. As such, there is an opinion that this city cannot win championships.
Both of these ideas are terribly misguided.
For those who don't know who the Buffalo Bandits are, you need to shimmy out from under your rocks and buckle yourself in for an awesome experience.
The Bandits are a professional lacrosse team that plays in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The 10-team league has franchises all across the U.S., and stretches up to include three teams in Canada.
For all the haters who are going to deny that lacrosse is a major professional sport, I'd have to call shenanigans. Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing sports across the U.S., not only at a professional level, but also at the collegiate levels and lower.
The Bandits have been a top competitor in the league since their establishment in 1992. They have been successful in winning four championships in 1992, 1993, 1996, and 2008. That's right – as the Bills had lost their third- and fourth-straight Super Bowls, the Bandits were winning championships in their inaugural seasons.
The Bandits play their home games at HSBC Arena. The games, which typically are on Friday and Saturday nights, are played on artificial turf that is laid down on top of the ice on which the Sabres play.
The game is played five-on-five plus a goaltender for each team in four 15-minute quarters. The game is kept fast-paced by only allowing a 30-second shot clock for each team. Padding is minimal, physicality is high, and the energy is through the roof.
Music is played throughout the game and in-house announcer, Chris "Swennie" Swenson, keeps the crowd involved with his larger-than-life attitude and quirky sayings that demand the audience's attention. Whether it's celebrating a goal or trying to get the crowd riled up, Swenson is regarded as one of the league's best arena announcers.
Games are also MC'd by local radio personality Rich "The Bull" Gaenzler. The Bull is up in the stands with fans, doing ticket-giveaways, T-shirt launches, and raffle announcements along with the team mascot, Rax.
One player that really serves as the driving force to attract people to the game of lacrosse is John Tavares. The 42-year-old Ontario native has written the record books and is arguably the best lacrosse player in the history of the sport. Tavares holds the league record for career assists, goals, and points and continues to play the game with ageless wonder.
What may be most amazing about the game of lacrosse is the fact that the players themselves do not rely on it as a full-time income. Many players have other jobs or are students during the week and play lacrosse on the side, earning them the nickname "weekend warriors." Tavares, for example, is a high school math teacher in Ontario.
The Bandits, now in their 20th season, are seated atop the East division with a 10-4 record and own the tiebreaker against every opponent in their division. They're coming off of a successful weekend during which they fended off two division rivals, the Toronto Rock and the Rochester Knighthawks, each in away games.
I am still shocked at how many people I encounter who have never experienced a Bandits game. With two games left in the regular season and a playoff berth secured, the opportunity still exists this season to attend a game.
As for me, I'll be cheering on the Bandits, rooting them on to another championship cup. Good luck doing that at Ralph Wilson Stadium next season.
Disclosure: Wrobel has been affiliated with the Buffalo Bandits.
Email: stevenwr@buffalo.edu
