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THE SCOOP] lifestyles continued from page 11
One of 40 original MLL players, Millon was the league’s offensive player of the year in 2002 and 2003 and co-MVP in 2005. The caveat: He is 41 years old. His last pro lacrosse game was more than a half decade ago. “I texted him and was like, ‘Are you serious about this, or is this some kind of stunt?’” said Soudan, who played with Millon at UMass and on Team USA in 1994 and 1998.
Millon, who retired from the MLL as its all-time leading scorer, was serious. And on draft day Dec. 12, the Rattlers took the National Lacrosse Hall of Famer with their first pick, sending nostalgic shockwaves through the Twittersphere. “Even if Mark is at 75 percent from where he was 10 years ago, he still wouldn’t be somebody’s 23rd, 24th or 25th guy,” Soudan said. A ruthless competitor and tireless
worker, Millon was an ambidextrous threat who was as skilled around the goal as he was explosive in his prime. While he concedes he may have lost a step, Millon said he understands the game better and could provide a steadying presence for a young Rochester team.
“I don’t have a lot of confidence that my game will be exactly where it was — that would be unrealistic,” Millon said. “But I can tell you in just my shooting and change of direction that I haven’t slowed down a whole lot.”
For Millon, the biggest motivating factor for dusting off the turbojets was the opportunity to have his two sons, now 9 and 6 years old, watch him play and appreciate the dedication it takes to compete at the highest level. Since being drafted, Millon has been working out, shooting at St. Paul’s (Md.) School and hitting the wall.
“A lot has to go right,” Millon said of his chances to make the Rattlers. “I’m coming back to show my boys what it takes to get in shape for something. I’m coming back because of my competitiveness. I’m coming back to help Rochester get better.” LM
>>YOU DOWN WITH OCC? Onondaga Community College men’s and
women’s teams swept the No. 1 positions Lacrosse Magazine’s NJCAA preseason rankings. Both are defending champs. Lazers attackman Randy Staats also was named preseason player of the year.
Randy Staats 12 LACROSSE MAGAZINE February 2013 >> A Publication of US Lacrosse
Paul Rabil got his wish and landed in Philadelphia, where the Wings are intent on winning an NLL championship with a team comprised mostly of American players.
WINGS COACH/GM:
‘Rabil Validates Our League’
The Philadelphia Wings have a Canadian coach and general manager, Johnny Mouradian. Majority owner Mike French is a north-of-the- border native, too. But the National
Lacrosse League franchise is determined to win a Champion’s Cup with a roster of mostly Americans. “We want to be the U.S.’s team,” Mouradian said. “We’re the Dallas Cowboys of lacrosse.” Paul Rabil became the latest addition to the Wings’ stockpile when he was acquired Dec. 14 in a six- player trade with defending champ Rochester. Rabil was one of 16 Americans on the Wings’ active roster when the NLL season opened, a rarity n the Canadian-heavy league. Philadelphia sent brothers Dan and Paul Dawson and a first-round 2016 draft pick to Rochester for Jordan Hall, Joel White, Rob Campbell, a
second-round draft pick and Rabil, who hadn’t played in a regular-season NLL game since Feb. 10, 2011 with the Washington Stealth. Rabil was traded
twice before he landed in Philadelphia — first to Edmonton last season (he declined to report) and then to Rochester on July 27. “Paul Rabil really validates our league,” Mouradian said. “We gave up Dan Dawson, but at the end of the day, we need Paul Rabil in this league and we’re really excited to have him on our team.”
The Wings hope getting one of the world’s best lacrosse players — field and box variety combined — will help boost attendance at the Wells Fargo Center. They don’t have to worry about his ability to speed up their transition game. In a preseason contest against the Toronto Rock, Rabil gave
NJCAA Men Top 5 1. Onondaga 2. Nassau 3. Essex 4. Suffolk 5. Genesee
Preseason Player of the Year Randy Staats, Onondaga
a preview of things to come when he leapt high to dive across the front of the crease and stuff a ball behind goalie Nick Rose.
Mouradian hopes to give Rabil more chances with the ball in his stick. “We’re teaching him our offense,” Mouradian said. “He’ll have the opportunity to showcase his talents.” Rabil relishes the opportunity.
“I’m excited,” said Rabil, the former Johns Hopkins All-American and two-time Major League Lacrosse MVP with the Boston Cannons. “There are a lot of guys who have been playing [the indoor game] for a lot longer than me, and they are very skilled at what they do so, it’s always a learning experience for me to try to get better.”
— Corey McLaughlin and Neil Stevens
NJCAA Women Top 5 1. Onondaga 2. Monroe
3. Anne Arundel 4. Nassau 5. Essex
Preseason Player of the Year Meghenn Jackson, Anne Arundel
©LARRY PALUMBO (PR); ©GREG SHEMITZ (RS)
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