LAX is A-OK in my book
BY ED WRIGHT
April 19, 2010, 3:35
p.m.
On Saturday afternoon, I did something I very rarely do: I started
talking to myself.
Statements like, "Oh my gosh,
this is cool!" and "Did you
see that check!" started spewing out of my mouth -- and no one
was within 10 yards of me.
Thankfully, I didn't reply to myself, so as far as I know, my
mental health is O.K.
What stimulated the self-talking-to was the lacrosse match that
was unfolding before my eyes at the PCEP varsity stadium.
I've been covering sports full-time in this community for close
to six years and I'm ashamed to say Saturday's
Plymouth-Canton
showdown was just the second lacrosse game I'd ever attended.
I quickly found out what I've been missing.
This is not only a cool sport, but it is big-time intense and
requires a level of skill that totally blew my mind.
During the first 12-minute quarter alone, I saw a couple of
shots that were moving faster than a Justin Verlander fastball, a
couple of saves by Plymouth goalie Michael Justus and Canton net-minder
Sean Walsh that would make Chris Osgood proud, a couple of what looked
like clean, teeth-rattling checks (the ref threw his flag on both of
them, which shows you how much I still need to learn about lacrosse)
and some 20-yard-plus stick-to-stick passes that, well, you had to see
to believe.
I even saw a brief fight, which I totally don't condone (except
for the ones on the Jerry Springer
Show), but it
was proof of how high up on the intensity-level scale this game had
reached.
After watching two hours of lacrosse, it was easy to understand
why it is the fastest-growing sport in America.
For years, I've been taking calls and e-mails from the local
lacrosse coaches, who've graciously provided me with all the games'
vital statistics like shots on goal, saves and...ground balls?
Prior to Saturday, a ground ball to me was something I'd hit to
the shortstop with one out and a runner on first base in a slow-pitch
softball game -- or something I'd hit off a tee with my driver.
I quickly found out that ground balls in lacrosse are earned
when the ball is loose on the turf and you're able to gain possession
of the ball despite the efforts of six or seven other highly-skilled
players.
Like in all sports, possession of the ball is everything, so
piling up ground balls is essential.
Speaking of the ball, it looks like a billiards cue ball. For
the sake of the goalies, I hope it's not as hard.
As someone who has now been to just two lacrosse games in his
life, I am not an astute judge of talent, but take it from me, there
was some serious talent on the field Saturday.
Let's start with Plymouth's Ryan Renault and Mike Olevnik; and
Canton's Jake Underwood and Matt Rodgers, all of whom combined some
pretty amazing athleticism with the finesse the sport requires.
Despite the fact it was so cold Saturday that my Bic pen froze,
I thoroughly enjoyed myself watching a sport I have totally
underestimated all these years.
I like it so much, I'm going to Monday's Plymouth-Salem game.
If you like fast action, high skill and out-of-this-world
intensity, I'd advise you to go too.
Ed Wright
can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.
ED WRIGHT COLUMN
ARCHIVES
Wedgewood's performance was off-the-charts
amazing!
CEBL's 8-9-year-old Sixers proved winning
isn't everything
Canton's girls basketball team played like
true champions
There are some 'sick' performances unfolding
around these parts -- and we're not talking Swine Flu
Plymouth's Hahn well deserving of MHSAA's
scholar-athlete award
Unnesessary red
tape is tripping up Zech's college soccer career
Falcusan earns
"Greatest PCEP Female Athlete 2000-09" title with convincing victory
Goble-Rolfe showdown was one for the record
books
Local teams hit the high school basketball
lottery
Unscientific
survey will lead the "greatest" PCEP athlete from the past decade
They
don't make sports games like they used to
Annual poem saluting athletes who
excelled in 2009
Danny Cassidy will be remembered as
a
humble, happy young man who had the jump shot to be envied.
Steelers-Lions
rivalry brings out the best in junior gridiron heroes
Let's bury that crazy John
Glenn-Plymouth play
On
crazy finishes, sharp cornerbacks
and unheralded mid-fielders
Let's hear it
for the band, high school volleyball and 88-cent Corn Flakes
This
All-Star Football team has true
character(s)
The story
behind the creation of
PlymouthCantonSports.com
If you would like to advertise on
PlymouthCantonSports.com or if you have ideas for the site, please send
an e-mail to Ed Wright at info@plymouthcantonsports.com.
