IL Indoor

With everything that is going on in the world of sports today one begins to wonder if the trickledown effect will takes its toll on the NLL. With all the substance abuse issues that are plaguing Major League Baseball these days I was thinking to myself as I rode the beautiful BC Ferries, what if that was the case in the National Lacrosse League. DISCLAIMER!!!!- In no way am I saying that the NLL is dealing with a steroid issue and I am most definitely not saying that players in our great game are ‘juicing’. I’m just bringing to light that this is an overall sports issue that I wanted to look at.

It appears as if Mark Steenhuis isn’t going to sit back and let Casey Powel run away with the 2009 scoring title that easy.  Fortunately for the NLL, the only thing that appears to be on human growth hormones is his hair! What an absolutely sick performance he put on this weekend at the HSBC. He continually breaks down defenses with his quick footwork and constantly displays a pure knack for finding the open man on the floor. His court vision is quickly becoming second to none. Every night out he is improving his game to a point where he is virtually unstoppable. It was only a matter of time, in my opinion, that he took his game to the level where he was considered one of the elite players in the NLL today. A lot of people look at Mark as too flashy and at times selfish with his wild and unorthodox style of play. But I think his style of play is exactly what allows the game of lacrosse to showcase all its facets.

Seventeen points in an NLL game is setting the bar at a pretty much unthinkable height in today’s game. I remember watching Derek Malawsky setting the previous mark. Ironically it was also at the HSBC, while he was playing for the Knighthawks. That night Derek was a huge part of the ‘Hawks team and it was as if he saw everything in slow motion. Now I didn’t witness Steenhuis’ effort Saturday night but one can only assume he was in a serious zone. Add to that the fact that he also buried 4 markers and plays at both ends of the floor makes his accomplishment that much more impressive. Now the fact that Mark is one of the more naturally gifted athletes lends itself to showing how awesome the game of lacrosse is!

 There is no room for steroids in the ‘little brother of war’. It goes against everything the game stands for. Battling for the creator and in the shadows of the spirits of our Native brethren that played the game to cure illness, bring peace and settle disputes. It was and is what made men, men! Illegal substances of any kind can only hamper a lacrosse player’s ability in a sport where it is all about hand eye coordination, quickness and stick skills. But more importantly it’s about having that sense of Zen and being in a sort of Nirvana like state. A clouded mind can only hamper a lacrosse player’s ability to play at the top of his game.

 If John Grant took human growth hormones, he wouldn’t be as shifty and slick with his stick as he is now. If Cory Bomberry was able to throw even harder, considering his shot is pretty damn heavy as it is, he would lose at ton of accuracy if he bulked up. Brodie Merril is a loose ball animal but in no way would taking performance enhancing drugs aid his game in any way shape of form. Our players pride themselves on being the most natural of natural athletes. We work out, we train and we strive to be the best we can but we also know that sacrificing skill for size doesn’t benefit us in anyway. Pure heart and desire is the only juice we need to continue bringing the fans the greatest game on earth every week.

There is a thread on Wingszone that questions ‘how Mark Steenhuis saved the NLL’.  Well it’s a pretty simple answer in my mind. The kid just continually goes out and plays the game he loves for the sake of proving to those watching in the stands, on the internet and in the sky that we are the greatest athletes in the world. But I imagine the scene in the movie ‘Juice’, staring the late Tupac, where at the end he takes out his rival and a bystander looks at him and says, ‘you’ve got the juice now man!’  Well in the NLL, that’s the only Juice we need; Respect!

Don’t forget to email me your comments and questions at ted.jenner@nllinsider.com

Battle on Boys

Rate This Story:

(+55 rating, 16 votes)

 Loading ...