The World Lacrosse Men’s Championship was an incredible event and an impressive display of the progress lacrosse has made as an international sport. Nations including Japan, Peru, France, Italy, Israel, and Hong Kong all posted, or tied, their highest placement in program history. It was a great opportunity for individual players, and teams, to showcase their talents and stories. Not to be forgotten from those listed above, Jamaica and Uganda also put on impressive outings that resulted in their nation’s top ranks. To say that this was anything less than an extraordinary showing would be a disservice to the pride and passion which fueled these games. But, even with the spectacle and shine that came from newcomers on the scene, it was the oldest guard of the game which put forth their third consecutive third place finish that should teach generations to come about the true meaning of the game. I, obviously, am referring to the great Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
Nappy Roots: The Original Freestyle
To take a step back and appreciate lacrosse, one should understand the background of what we participate in as “modern lacrosse” and recognize the connection to the origins of the game. Lacrosse comes from an oral tradition of storytelling, and this begins with how “The Creator” was pleased by watching lacrosse being played. The land animals competed against the animals of the sky; and through adversity, the bat cemented its legacy as a key figure in the history of lacrosse. Or so the story goes…
The beauty of the oral tradition is that a story can change for a specific, or unintentional, or coincidental reason and forever alter the path which that story takes. Yet, it will still travel to and across generational lines as it spreads the knowledge and purpose for which it was created. Even when uttered by the same lips for the umpteenth time, the same story can have a different delivery of creativity that makes the familiar feel fantastical and shift our focus to what was not appreciated before.
The pastime of storytelling is an art that must be exercised to be properly utilized, and this is exactly why the re-retelling of a story can still provide new entertainment. While many people appreciate re-watching the same movie, or movie series, over and over again – nothing changes. Plenty of people have rewatched The Office more times than they’ve left their hometown, but they fail to see the what they could witness by rewalking the same path each day – where something will always change. The intricacies and nuances of minute differences create the space for massive and disruptive change to occur; and that’s how the Haudenosaunee people play lacrosse. No matter how far or wide you may seek, you will not find a level of familiarity and fervor that rivals the explosion that occurs when the purple and gold graces the field on gameday.
The International Game: A “Level” Playing Field
Whenever you get into international sports, there is going to be a level of discrepancy in competition that is inherent. Some countries are just bigger than others. Some countries are also a lot richer than others and are able to invest a lot of money into training facilities, coaches, equipment, and logistics for their national teams which others simply can not afford. But when the rubber meets the road or the jukebox is bopping, even the tackiest tires or slickest shoes won’t get you further than heart and skill. Even with pockets as deep as the ocean, you can’t buy that special sauce that makes everyone say “ewwww” when they see it.
To somewhat put my statements into perspective, the world made Iceland into it’s darling during the 2018 World Cup when they became the smallest nation to break into the group stage. And while Iceland literally did this with a part-time dentist/part-time soccer coach at the helm, it seems to fail in comparison to what the Haudenosaunee are pulling off on a consistent basis.
As I said before, this is the third time in a row that the Haudenosaunee Confederacy has achieved a third place finish at the world games. And while to some, that may be no great feat, this is an accomplishment that is truly unmatched in modern sport. Everyone loves that some random team like UMBC or Oral Roberts can play bracket buster and Cinderella in March, but Davidson isn’t making runs now that Steph Curry is gone. You do not see the little dogs fight outside of their weight class year in and year out like the Haudenosaunee do, but little is said about it. Their consistency is diminishing how their accomplishments are viewed, and it’s a shame that more people aren’t noticing Headlines aren’t printed about how crazy it is to win a bronze medal again, and again – but it can forever be talked about.
Perspective: Useful In Photography and Therapy
It can be difficult to convey or capture exactly what you are trying to communicate, but that is always the futility of language. The sooner you realize that you’re going to have natural failure, the quicker you can liberate yourself to ultimate expression. Have you not heard the Dead jam? Or at least Dead & Company, am I right? When you open yourself to opportunity and allow the flow of what surrounds you to dictate your reactions, you can be unafraid of mistakes as there are none to be made. Your “next” note in the song is just “a” note in the song, and it’s always in the right spot when you just keep playing along.
To watch, and I really mean REALLY watch the Haudenosaunee people play lacrosse is to witness the greatness of lacrosse. There are obvious stars on the team like the Staatses and the Thompsons, but you will not see a better example of what lacrosse was meant to be when you watch the team play an entire game as a whole. And while the Haudenosaunee are no different than the players of any other nation, it’s visibly evident that they are connected to the game in a way that transcends our conception of sport. It truly is a blessing to watch, and that is what I believe is meant when it is said that “playing lacrosse pleases the Creator.”
Like most other teams competing on the international stage, the Haudenosaunee know they are supremely disadvantaged in their fight of getting over the hump of Canada and the United States to reach the gold medal. But you can’t see that in their play. They play like they can win, and that is truthfully the only way a team outside of the top two ever will win. With a population that is less than 1% of Canada’s, and let’s not get into the math with the U.S., the Haudenosaunee are viciously competitive on the international stage and pull off some of the most gorgeous plays ever documented on film. To not appreciate what is occurring is to waste one’s presence in this time. So take a second – and TELL a friend about what’s going on. Tell them how a small few is battling a great many, and against all odds – they’re putting on the best damn show I’ve ever seen.
Cause and Effect: It’s A Global Game
To say that there has not been a greater Haudenosaunee influence in the current landscape of lacrosse is to be a foul-mouthed liar. As much as I hate to reference Steph Curry twice in one article, his unique skillset definitively altered how basketball is played at all levels. He didn’t just spread the floor at Oracle Arena, he truthfully pulled apart defenses in gyms across the world at all ages groups because players felt less fear in shooting. The same can be said, and seen, with the Haudenosaunee effect to lacrosse most predominantly championed by Lyle Thompson.
There’s undoubtedly a Canadian and American style of play in lacrosse, but it’s the Haudenosaunee influence that can been seen from top to bottom in lacrosse worldwide. You don’t get these Josh Byrne highlights without these years of Haudenosaunee creativity permeating into leagues across the world. Lacrosse simply does not reach where it has today without Lyle Thompson watermelon trickshots or all the electricity of the Staats brothers around the crease. We’re lucky enough to live in a time when we can re-watch these incredible feats on a loop, but if we fail to implement our interpretation of the skills into a form of communication what does that serve? In its most simplistic form, play is always something to be appreciated, in the same spirit as is intended for the Creator. But in its most complex, the play which we see is a palette to build upon in a tradition very akin to the storytelling origins of the sport itself.
