NOT LIKE MIKE - By: Dan Freshman
There aren’t many memorable MLL games any given summer.
Yes, there are playoff and all-star games—by default, they’re important. But for the casual fan, how many regular season games will you never forget—not just because you were there to see it? How many MLL games are still in your TiVo?
Last Saturday’s Cannons-Lizards game was one of the games Ryan and Beninati would write a sappy column about. There was a Hail Mary, a buzzer beater, a climactic fourth quarter and a horde of MLL interns waddling around in mascot uniforms in 90 degree weather proposing to cheerleaders before the game. Tom Zummo—shaken, tired and desperately needing 20 CC’s of whoopee pies—tumbled off the field and asked if he and John Christmas reminded us of Brady and Moss. It did. Zummo, too, can now impregnate Brazilian supermodels and A-list actresses.
Zummo, Christmas and Poskay hit SportsCenter. Alrich, Morris and Christmas were pictured on the Cannons Web site. Kip Turner had possibly the best game of his career. Chris Passavia took a nasty shot off the head but returned to the game—even if he confused Ray Megill’s short stick for his six-foot long pole as he ran off the field. Ryan Curtis laid some vintage coma slides. And Paul Rabil ripped one of his apparently-110 mph shots. Every Cannons star seemed to shine…
Except the biggest of them all.
Mikey Powell wasn’t on the field amidst that miracle pass. He wasn’t on the sidelines, or in Harvard Stadium. Powell was scratched during warm-ups when he felt tenderness, once again, in his hamstrings. His name was called during the player introductions, but he never saw the field, the sidelines or the autograph booth after the game. The biggest star on the Cannons wasn’t a part of the greatest game in franchise history.
Nevertheless, that same day Powell was announced to the All-Star Game Freestyle Competition. In effect, Powell could have redeemed himself on national television and gain that SportsCenter highlight clip for days to come. Five days later, Powell skipped that too.
Powell is perplexing. Beyond the generic articles worshipping the rock-star-lacrosse player double agent, Powell is simultaneously the most publicized and clandestine star in all of lacrosse. When he was the first overall pick in the MLL draft, he chose not to play. When fans want his autograph the most, he doesn’t stick around the longest. When he was named a starting attackman for Team USA, he didn’t play that summer either.
He doesn’t even get face time in Poskay’s video blog. I have as many appearances (one) in Poskay’s blog as Powell.
Yet at the same time, he appears on covers of lacrosse magazines that poorly attempt to defend him, national commercials that crown him the king of cool, equipment lines, billboards on the Mass. Turnpike and on several hundred un-purchased charity bobble head dolls in the Cannons office.
If someone took Powell’s actions the wrong way, they might be a bit ticked off. Maybe call him a prima donna. Say he’s all front (flip) and no back(bone). Or better yet: overrated.
Last Saturday there was a 30-foot Dunkin Donuts banner emblazoned with Powell diving across the crease at Harvard Stadium, but not Powell himself. Last Thursday, Joe Beninati mentioned Powell three times during the Freestyle Competition, but Powell made not one appearance. To argue that Powell is overrated would imply that Powell does not produce as much as promised. To produce, doesn’t Powell need to show up in the first place?
When calling someone overrated, we blame the person first. Unlike other players, Powell’s job is lacrosse. He doesn’t sell real estate, teach math or work at Hooters during the year. People involved in the MLL have held all three of those professions.
Yet if it’s truly his job, he used up all of his vacation days three years ago. Powell could have played during the summer of 2004. He may have not liked it, but he never cited any reasons other than he didn’t want to. Powell could have played in 2006, when nearly every other Team USA member was on an MLL roster. Again, against his own will it could have happened as well.
In all his ad campaigns, billboards and equipment lines, Powell rarely gets to speak. When he does, he clearly states: he doesn’t take the game seriously. When he does, he doesn’t perform well. He prefers having fun. He doesn’t like high pressure situations.
He needs to relax.
Almost every time Powell speaks, he stresses he hates stress.
Powell didn’t apply for his job. He had legacy, a camera-friendly playing style and a college career more decorated than the Gait brothers. The job is expected of him.
Given that opportunity, most aspiring players would seize all opportunities possible, to gain fandom, glory, money and adoration from his peers. It’s the sensible, logical, rational route. But that’s not Powell’s style, no matter how much the media bills him as a rock star. It’s his choice, so let’s stop pretending Powell is more than he is.
Powell is still one of the best players in the league. He still is one of the most exciting athletes in any sport. He would have crushed Chazz Woodson in the Freestyle Competition, and with Powell, that thriller at Harvard Stadium would have never happened, because Powell would have opened up the Cannons offense against a struggling goalie like Matt McMonagle. But Powell isn’t necessarily the player that can carry the league, its advertising campaigns and its pressure to succeed on his shoulders.
As a result, Powell has grown a massive crowd of haters, headed by myself. But Powell doesn’t owe us anything. Powell doesn’t choose to get this press. Other people would take far better advantage of his disposition, but if Powell were that way, he wouldn’t be as unorthodox or dynamic of a player. There’s only so much fans can push him to be the person he isn’t.
He’s not the chosen one.
POWER RANKINGS
- Denver. Five players registered three points or more against San Francisco Saturday, including six from Matt Brown. A college girl once told me she was seeing stars after interviewing a sweaty Matt Brown after an Arizona Sting game.
- Philadelphia/homeless. The Barrage are peaking at the right time. Where do they stay during bye weeks? On the tour bus? In astral limbo? At the bottom of Doc’s Funion bags?
- Rochester. As predicted, the Rattlers smashed faces, stomped curbs, kneecapped and violated the Bayhawks. They’re wildly inconsistent, but the team itself stays the same; it hasn’t made one player transaction since June.
- Boston. As the article stays, less Mikey may be a good thing. For the first time this season, Sean Morris showed Saturday that he’s more than a talented feeder.
- Los Angeles. The Riptide do not have a player in the top 20 in scoring. How much longer will Kevin Huntley win Rookie of the Week awards and Kyle Harrison score like he did in college?
- Long Island. Stephen Berger stated in his blog that he used two new sticks for the Boston game. Note to Stephen (2 shots on goal on 11 shots): get your old sticks back.
- New Jersey. Twenty-seven players have worn Pride jerseys at one point this year but no longer do today. Add in the 20 players or so who are on the roster or practice squad, and that’s nearly 50 players—or the equivalent to the average Pride game attendance.
- Washington. The Kyle Dixon bandwagon is officially over. Dixon has one point in his last two games. The Bayhawks’ season might as well be over, too.
- Chicago. I’m placing the Machine in front of the Dragons, who beat the Machine last week, for three reasons: 1) the Machine have a brighter future, 2) Pat Heim’s dad is the man and 3) WHERE IS BRAD HERITAGE’S BLOG!? I NEED IT!
- San Francisco. I could do without Greg Gurenlian’s blog.
Recent News 
