Batinovich Promotes Portland's New NLL Pro Team

*Photo 2nd from right: NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings.

3rd from left: Majority Owner Angela Batinovich

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The city known as “The City of Roses,” Portland, OR. is going to bloom even brighter starting next week and even more so once they hit January 2006. That is because the city is undergoing preparations for the launching of its newest professional sports team.

A group led by majority owner Angela Batinovich has brought the FAST PACED, HARD HITTING excitement of indoor lacrosse to Portland with an expansion team in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).

During a recent one on one interview, Batinovich told me this about the NLL, when it comes to what fans should expect. “The indoor game is not to be mistaken for the outdoor game. It is faster, harder and I think a lot more of a spectator sport. If you like hockey, you will LOVE this game. Also keep in mind this is not to be compared to arena football. This league is the highest level of lacrosse in the world.”

On July 7th Batinovich announced that former Head Coach of the Anaheim Storm Derek Keenan would serve as General Manager and Head Coach for the Franchise.

During the interview, Batinovich outlined the summer breakdown for the franchise, “The team name will be announced at a public press conference on Tuesday the 12th and then the two drafts to follow on the 13th and 14th. After that we will be working to make trades if necessary, start creating the merchandise and take a quick vacation before I get thrown into sixth gear when try-outs and training camps start in October. The entry draft which is the collegiate draft will happen live in Edmonton this year I believe around August 25th, which we also have first pick in. That is the most valuable due to the fact that the other teams want our first pick pretty bad.”

Batinovich also had the following to say when it comes to bringing an All-Star Game to the city, “I hope to do it in the next few seasons, but it is an expensive add-on to the budgets, not the best idea for a start-up expansion team. So if we sell out every game this season I will promise an All-Star host for the next one available”!

The Portland franchise will hold its home games at the Rose Garden. For more information visit the Official Site

Official Site: National Lacrosse League (NLL)

More announcements will come such as the team roster once the drafts are over.

Side Note: Many players are hot on the market as the two drafts approach and it will be interesting to see where some of them such as Ted Dowling the sixth-ranked All-Time Scorer who was left unprotected by Calgary will end up.

Both Portland and Edmonton will select up to nine players during the Expansion Draft and no team can lose more than two of its players.