Mr. Field Lacrosse, and more
By Morris Dalla Costa, Free Press Sports Columnist
The world field lacrosse championship is still two years away from coming to London but the man who had a huge hand in bringing it here is up to his neck in activity. Much of it comes from the 2006 world championship. But Tim Hobbs, co-chair of the event, also is an assistant manager with Team Scotland, which will compete in the 2006 championship and also play in the European championship this summer.
He also was recently named to the management team of Team Canada for 2006 as director of sponsorship, advertising and promotion.
Murray Wood, the other co-chair, is director of finance for the national team.
"Things are really happening," Hobbs says. "I don't think people realize how big an event this will be. . . .
"This is a true world championship" -- 5,000 players, 108 teams from 45 countries.
"We want to make it a spectacle and to win a gold with the tournament in our own country would be great."
In addition to Hobbs being being named to Team Canada, London will play host to the 2005 final selection camp for Team Canada. Two top NCAA teams will be brought in to play exhibition games against those hoping to make the Canadian team.
Hobbs also will bring the full 2005 provincial field lacrosse championship to London with 120 teams competing at all levels.
And he has begun registration for the first house league field lacrosse season with the Fanshawe Optimists donating $10,000 a year for the next two years to kickstart the program. Children from five to 19 will participate.
If all that isn't enough, Hobbs is still hopeful a field lacrosse "field of dreams" will be constructed sooner rather than later.
He has had contact with the city concerning a 50-acre parcel of land just north Adelaide Street and Windermere Road, which is deemed fringe floodplain.
"We can't build permanent structures but we've had very positive response from a number of parties about building eight multi-use fields," Hobbs says.
"The two biggest growing sports in the world are soccer and lacrosse. We presented a case to the city people and they were very receptive. We'd look after it for 30 years and turn it back to the city as a multi-use park at no cost to them."
A great many pieces of the puzzle need to fit but Hobbs is his usual optimistic self. Field lacrosse has grown quickly in recent years and the city seems to have gotten this event at the right time.
"When I presented our bid for the 2006 world championship and was asked how many fields in London were designated for field lacrosse, I told them none. I was almost laughed out of the room," Hobbs says.
"But I told them I didn't think we'd have a problem getting fields designated by the city.
"The city has now recognized field lacrosse as a real sport. We are going to share some fields and they are going to be co-operative in future planning, such as making sure things like soccer goalposts aren't cemented in so they can be moved to accommodate such things like lacrosse nets or rugby posts."
Hobbs's sons Jeff and Jeremy have both been selected to play for Team Scotland in the 2004 European championship in Prague.
Hobbs will be addressing the International Lacrosse Federation on the 2006 championship.
As part of all his work, he has been handed the Atonhnhetest Award for outstanding dedication in the spirit of international lacrosse. It's the highest honour handed out in international lacrosse.
All this and there are still two years to go before the main event. Who knows what Hobbs can come up with next.
