As I sit and reflect on the past few weeks and the entries that have been put into the Blog, I’ve really come to a realization that I sort of always knew; lacrosse people are the greatest!
Take for example the interviews I’ve done to date with the stars of the NLL. At my first request, each interviewee I’ve approached has graciously agreed and answered my questions (no matter how unpolished my interviewing skills might be).
These guys fly out week after week to various cities in Canada and the U.S. but they don’t make the wages of an NHL, NBA, or Major League Baseball player. They play their weekend game(s), and fly back home to work at their “real job” like other real people during the week; making them in fact…real people.. Many players and coaches are forced to take time off of work or use vacation to play the game they love.
I was fortunate enough to play this game at a fairly high level in the mid to late 80’s and will say that the guys back then were a great group in most every center. I’m so pleased to see that 20 some years later, the players in the game still have that human side to them, and most every player I know always takes time for the kids, as well as many adults.
Beyond that, I looked at the OLA web site today at the link of all the Associations (not all were there but most). I quickly visited a number of sites and was amazed at the number of volunteers that step up in each center to help out in the game of lacrosse. It is truly amazing to see this game and where it is today compared to 30 some years ago (when I started).
No doubt the NLL has a lot to do with that. I believe the biggest reason is the people that are involved in the game at the grass roots level. Next, I believe, is the fact that the U.S. for the most part loves the game like we Canadians do, and therefore it is getting great exposure. Unlike hockey (which is still struggling in a lot of U.S. cities), lacrosse is a game that many U.S. states have and love, just in a different version (field lacrosse). Combining field and box players has made for great excitement.
I really hope that our “true” National Sport continues to grow. With accommodating players / coaches, and the countless hours put in by volunteers out there, there really is no limit to how big our game can become…..
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