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Late Bloomer
Brooks Bradley didn’t find lacrosse until college, but the National Campaign supporter has made up for lost time By Paul Krome
Sometimes, a casual conversation can change lives. Brooks Bradley is living proof, and kids gaining their first exposure to lacrosse can thank him for listening to a friend on an autumn day in Ithaca, N.Y., in 1969.
Bradley expressed to the friend a declining enthusiasm for football and baseball, in which he starred at Gilman (Md.) School and for which he began playing upon arrival at Cornell. “Why not play lacrosse for the freshman team in the spring?” his friend asked.
At the time, Ivy League rules prohibited freshmen on varsity rosters. An accomplished athlete that enjoys a challenge, Bradley followed the advice. Little did he know at the time that doing so would ignite a lifelong love for a sport he once looked at quizzically while catching on the diamond at Gilman. “I love football and baseball, but my passion is lacrosse,” Bradley said. “Second to the birth of my three sons, lacrosse has been the most important experience of my life.”
Bradley contributed as a sophomore to the Big Red’s 1971 NCAA championship team and became an All-American by his senior year in 1973 for Hall of Fame coach Richie Moran.
“There was no doubt Richie cared about his players on a personal level,” Bradley said. Bradley’s relationship with Moran has continued, and he honored his former coach by raising money to name the outdoor terrace at US Lacrosse’s current headquarters in Moran’s name. Despite discovering the sport late, Bradley recognized the value of the lessons he learned in lacrosse and recently has taken steps to help guarantee kids of the future will be able to experience what he did. A longtime donor to US Lacrosse through its First Sport Society, Bradley increased his role by becoming a member of the board of directors of the US Lacrosse Foundation (USLF), the philanthropic arm of US Lacrosse. Even more noteworthy, Bradley has made a significant donation to the National Campaign of Lacrosse, a multi-million dollar fundraising drive by the USLF to provide the sport’s national governing body with the resources needed to expand its programs that bring more kids into the sport. Additional goals of the campaign include a new facility for US Lacrosse and additional resources for research to make the sport safer.
“We are grateful to the leadership and support of people like Brooks Bradley, who are turning their love for lacrosse into significant action to secure its future,” said Susie Chase, vice president of the USLF. “The campaign is really important to help continue the growth of the sport,” Bradley said. “Supporting the campaign is necessary to make that happen.
21 >> USL JULY CALENDAR 10
The FIL World Championship gets underway in Commerce City, Colo.
Single-day, weekend, and full-event (best value) tickets are on sale at
WorldLacrosse2014.com. See page 52 for a preview.
24 LACROSSE MAGAZINE July 2014>> 18
Erin Smith, Kyle Boyer and TJ Buchanan of the US Lacrosse education and training
department travel to Washington, D.C., for the National Coaching Conference hosted by AAPHERD.
20
Deadline for US Lacrosse pilot chapters to identify local volunteers to serve as chapter
diversity representatives. A Publication of US Lacrosse
The sixth annual US Lacrosse U15 National Championships begin at Aurora Sports Park in Aurora, Colo. As many
as 64 of the nation’s best boys’ and girls’ U15 teams will battle over three days for nationwide bragging rights and the U15 national championship trophy. On the boys’ side, will defending champion 3d Select National (Colo.) put its proverbial home-field advantage to good use? Will the Top Guns (N.Y.) repeat on the girls’ side? Follow along at
LaxMagazine.com.
©BROOKS BRADLEY
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