A Riptide ripoff?

They are the Riptide, Los Angeles' proud entry into the Major League Lacrosse, the ball-and-stick activity that calls itself the "fastest sport on two feet." One of the other things they're apparently fast at is trying to extract cash from your wallet.
If you're just dying to see what the Riptide-itis is all about, the team announced today its individual ticket prices for the 2007 season, which begins on the road but finally ends up at one of the side venues at the Home Depot Center in Carson (not the main field; they need that for ... soccer?) on May 27 against something called the New Jersey Pride at 7 p.m..
Here's how the prices break down for each of the six home games:
VIP Center Sideline: $50
Center Sideline: $35
Reserved: $22
General Admission: $18
These are individual game prices, not season-long prices? Apparently so, because that VIP Center Sideline seat goes for $270 (a savings of $30 over six individual tickets), but it includes passes to the beer garden and a private event with the coaches and players.
This is a squad of basket-wackers coming off a 6-6 season, third-place finish in the Western Conference and no playoff appearance?
Hmmmmm. Let's think about this proposition.
Uh....
Pass.
For that kinda cash, we'd rather invest in the Season 2 and 3 boxed DVD set of that old TV show, "Riptide," watching Perry King and Joe Penny run around the Redondo Beach King Harbor with guns drawn. (Of course, we already have Season 1, but we're ready for more jellyfish hijinx).
We've made it already pretty clear that you couldn't pay us to attend one of these lacrosse things. Now, to actually see what they're charging for Year 2 gives us a better understanding of where this sport will go as a professional venture.
Right through the wickets. And we're sure that isn't even a term the snobby little prep kids use while playing it.
Here's a better (and free) idea: The team is having a contest to name its mascot (that creepy shark-thing pictured here). The top 10 ideas will be picked by the team staff and posted on the site. Whatever garnishes the most online votes by the May 18 deadline will win. And if the people pick the the name you came up with, the team will give you 10 tickets for you and your friends to the Riptide’s home opener, plus a prize pack that includes 2007 season seats, a Riptide T-shirt, and a Riptide lacrosse mini-stick (retail value: $350).
Here's our list of suggestions, just off the top of our head:
=Squidbreath
=Cesspool
=Nifong
=Rosenhaus
=Hasselhoff
=Osama chum Laden
=Duke Stripper
=Unnecessary Roughness
=LAXative
=Gait bait
=Skull fracture
Click on this link to see more about the contest.
For more info or inquiries on how you're supposed to afford these prices, to go www.lariptide.com or call (866) 4-LAX-TIX. They say they have some "mini-plans" available to fit your budget. How much more "mini" can a six-game home schedule be?