A club player talks about landing her and your dream job, complete with a roster of eligible bachelors. 

By Sara Crosby

Caught you at the Titans home opener. You looked very official with that walkie-talkie. Do launch codes come with that thing? 

Ha! I know, I felt very important carrying that thing around. We have a very small staff, so all of us have to wear different hats, so that was one way to stay connected. I think every arena uses them.  

How exciting was it to see lacrosse in Madison Square Garden for the first time ever? 

Oh my god, it was INCREDIBLE. The fact that lacrosse is being played at the Garden is amazing in and of itself, but the fact that the Titans did it in front of a crowd of over 13,000 is huge. I think having lacrosse at MSG is a big thing for the sport. The attention the Titans have gotten in the press and among sports fans is great and it certainly brings the sport center stage. 

Would you contribute the emergence of the National League Lacrosse (NLL) as the continued growth of lacrosse or as just another way for Major League Lacrosse (MLL) players to stay in shape over the winter? 

I think the NLL would argue that the MLL is just a way for NLL players to stay in shape over the summer! Obviously the indoor game is different than the outdoor game in many ways, but it is still lacrosse - it's just a quicker version of the same game. Plus, the indoor game has the added bonus that it plays in arenas, which makes the atmosphere of the games far more intense because of the noise level.

Also, just so readers know, the National Lacrosse League has been around for 21 years - way longer than the MLL - and draws an average of 11,000 fans per game. When the Titans played Buffalo this season, the Bandits sold out the ENTIRE HSBC Arena, which also houses the Buffalo Sabres and holds 18,000 seats. Seeing that many people show for a lacrosse game is totally electrifying. I can't even describe it. Guys in the league say the same thing. They love going on the road and playing at arenas that sell well because the fans heckle them like they do A-Rod when he plays... anywhere. It's awesome.

What responsibilities come with the walkie-talkie?

Oh man, there are too many to name, but I'll give you a basic break down. I am responsible for all aspects of the media (meaning press and advertising and certain game operations stuff) I'm also responsible for all content about our team - the media guide, yearbook, website stories, etc. I'm also responsible for over-seeing all the stats.

Before the game, I'm usually putting together credentials for staff and press, I'm arranging the press box with game notes for both teams, laying out media guides and press box instructions and setting up all the stats needs. I also have to get the line-up from both coaches and deliver it to the announcer, stats crew and press. During the game, I'm pretty much running around taking care of whatever needs to be taken care of - checking on stats crew, monitoring credentials, answering questions for media, etc. I also am preparing my game report which I file to the NLL, post on our website and disseminate to the members of the media in my distribution list. I take care of that post-game.... but first I direct the media to a post-game press conference with our head coach and then take the media into the locker room to interview players.

Then I go out and party. There's a post-game party after every NLL game hosted by the home team.

Do you go on the road with the team?

It depends - I went out for our first two home games and I didn't go out for our last one. But I still do all the work that needs to be done for each game from home - send game notes, write up a story and send it out to press, website, etc.

How'd you get involved with the Titans?

I was actually writing a story on the team for "Inside Lacrosse" and it turned out they were looking for a Media Relations Director. It sort of happened serendipitously - right place, right time, I guess.

What will you be going over the summer, while the NLL players stay in shape for the winter?

I'm not sure yet. I suspect I'll be using the time to prepare for the next season so as to make my job a little easier once the season starts. We'll also probably be putting together our marketing campaign.

What past work experience did you have going the Titans? Were you prepared?

I've been in journalism for the past several years and I've been writing about and been in the lacrosse world for quite some time, so I felt prepared for the job. It still is a new experience, and I'm learning something new every day, but it's great.

Have you always wanted to work in sports?

Yes. Yes. Yes. And I've always wanted to work for an organization where my ideas can have an impact - like a team in the NLL or a WNBA team. I've also always loved sports writing, but the lifestyle can be tough. I think I will continue to do freelance writing once the season is over.

Tell the truth, you took the job for the dating scene, right?

Ha! There are strict rules about that sort of thing! I'm off the market anyway... but for the ladies who aren't...