Editor's Note: By request of the Fann Cup organizers, the Outsider's Guide is reproducing this pre-tournament press release. Although the primary audience is NLL players and coaches, everyone in the lacrosse community is welcome to attend. The Outsider's Guide is not affiliated in any other way with Fann Cup. Please direct queries to the author, at the telephone number or email address listed below.

For the last three years, the officers of the Rochester Knighthawks Krew have put together a weekend outing for fans from around the National Lacrosse League. This is a time for fans to get together and celebrate the great game of lacrosse.

In the past, we have made excursions to Rochester Rattlers (MLL) games, and even up to Six Nations for an OLA game. We’ve also had a golf outing, tailgate parties and other activities.

This year, the event will take place the weekend of 11-13 July in the Buffalo area. We've expanded on the original concept slightly, and the event will also raise some money for charity. All proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association.

Part One: The Fann Cup

Last year, the members of the Toronto Rock Roadies, Toronto’s unofficial fan club, challenged the members of the Rochester Knighthawks Krew and the Buffalo fans to a game of pickup lacrosse. Before we knew it, the game had exploded into a charity event. Both teams had jerseys made up, held practices and we invited the REAL players and their families to come out and watch. Donations were accepted at the door, and each fan that played made a small donation to charity. In less than six weeks of planning, we raised over $1200.00 that was split between two charities, one in Canada and one in the United States. The Roadies took home the coveted Fann Cup trophy, with a decisive 9-3 victory over the USA Krewhawks.

This year, we have four teams -- Buffalo, Rochester, Philadelphia and Toronto -- competing in what will be a round-robin tournament, with the top two teams going head-to-head to see who gets to take the trophy home this year.

We’d like to invite you to come out and watch the funniest lacrosse tournament you’ll ever see. This is your chance to give the fans a taste of their own medicine. Heckling of those on the floor for these games is not only allowed, but also highly encouraged.

When: Saturday, 12 July 2003
Time: 10:30 AM until 4:30 PM
Where: Sportsplex, 90 Ridge Rd., North Tonawanda, NY
Cost: Free (voluntary donations will be accepted at the door)

Part Two: The NLL Fanarama Golf Classic

This is the first of what we hope will become an annual event. A representative of Links Worldwide Tournament Services has graciously donated his time to organize this eighteen-hole tournament for us. There will be at least four prize holes, and an awards ceremony to follow. The cost will include greens fees, cart rental, lunch at the turn, and dinner and drinks at the awards ceremony. We’ll also be holding a silent auction during the post-event party.

We’d like to invite you to come out and spend some time with your fans while helping out a worthy cause at the same time. Our goal is to be able to allow the fans that come out to fill out their foursome with an NLL player, coach or other personnel if they choose. We’d really appreciate an early commitment if this is something you’re interested in, so that we can have an idea of how many of you will be there to play with the fans.

Tickets are also available for just the post-event party.

When: Sunday, 13 July 2003
Time: Tee times begin at 10:30 AM, Post-event party at 5:30 PM
Where: Niagara County Golf Course, 314 Davison Rd., Lockport, NY
Cost: $85.00 (US) (Party only $25.00 US)

If you’d like more information about either of these events, please contact Deb McAllister of The Buffalo Bandits Brigade at 716.553.2843 or by email at fanarama@lacrosse-network.com. If you have need of a particular tee time, please let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

Not a golfer, but still want to help us out with this event? We’re in need of volunteers to do many things throughout the day. Feel free to contact us and we can find some way for you to help out.