and the quarterback’s likability on television, and San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, who is an active watercolor painter. Who knew? “You can’t just work out every day and win,” Rabil said. “What else does he like? It’s all about authenticity.”
As for those endorsements, then came Maverik for equipment, EFX performance wristbands, Red Bull, Polk Audio, Nooka watches, New Balance, and in 2011 Warrior. The Warrior Rabil Collection and Rabil Next line are sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods. He picked out a Chipotle free- burritos-for-life card from his wallet, given to certain athletes, like skateboard legend Tony Hawk, as a marketing tool. Just worked again.
A couple of days before the day trip to Philadelphia and an interview for this story, Rabil was on the West Coast, packing meetings with potential business partners into a weekend trip. He came home with a deal with GoPro cameras, to shoot footage that he’ll use on various social media platforms and through the Paul Rabil Experience, a subscription-based digital service that will deliver video and instructional content. After fl ying back east, Rabil was in a recording studio on Tuesday night in Washington, D.C., hosting the fi rst “The Lacrosse Show” on SiriusXM radio with ESPN analyst Paul Carcaterra. The radio deal was arranged through
Rabil’s agency, Octagon, which he signed with nine months ago. Ira Rainess, a Baltimore lawyer and former agent for Cal Ripken Jr. and Ray Lewis who also represents Rob Pannell and Brendan Mundorf, had represented Rabil and remains a consultant. Octagon is a world- recognized fi rm that represents Michael Phelps, among others.
Clockwise from left: Rabil salutes fans after a six- goal performance in the 2008 NCAA final, as a youngster with his brother and sister, and at an event for his agency, Octagon.
“They sell me by selling the sport,” Rabil said. “If that’s successfully conveyed, they go, ‘Here’s the solution for recognizing that opportunity.’ It’s still not easy. I’m not even close to a mainstream recognized name.” Rabil signed a 42-show deal for the Sirius show, which will cover topics from the high school, college and pro games to lifestyle and training.
***
He’s lived the growth. When a 12-year-old Rabil, who also played soccer, basketball and track
growing up, fi rst started with lacrosse in a suburban D.C. youth program, there was no professional outdoor league. That didn’t happen until MLL’s inaugural 2001 season, when he was in high school at DeMatha Catholic High in Hyattsville, Md., where he eventually led the lacrosse team in scoring for three years. The realistic end-goal in the sport was to win a championship at a place like Johns Hopkins, Syracuse or Virginia, the schools he saw on television once a year come fi nal four time. North Carolina also factored heavily into the equation. Rabil came from a family with nearly 20 relatives who attended college in Chapel Hill, including his father, who has worked in sales most of his life. Rabil’s mother, Jean Anne, is a Catholic school art teacher. When Johns Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala made an initial phone call to Rabil the summer before his senior high school season, the coach hung up convinced the prized recruit, with the complete package of size, speed and stick skills, would wear a different shade of blue for his college years.
SEE THE BEST FOR LESS
US Lacrosse and Major League Lacrosse have teamed up to offer members a 15 percent discount on tickets to the MLL All-Star Game June 26 in Boston, which features Team USA vs. the MLL All-Stars. It’s one of the last steps in the evaluation process for Team USA, which must cut its roster to 23 players before the July 10 start of the FIL World Championship. Competition should be at its fi nest. For more information on the discount, visit
uslacrosse.org/ mll and, once you proceed to the Ticketmaster page, enter “USL” as the offer code.
40 LACROSSE MAGAZINE June 2014>>
Rabil was enamored with big-time basketball and big-time football, Pietramala heard from the other end of the phone. Johns Hopkins’ teams are Division III in those sports. His idol was Michael Jordan, a young Rabil said. No one could change the fact that the global icon was a North Carolina alum. Legendary Tar
A Publication of US Lacrosse
©KEVIN P. TUCKER (JHU); ©PAUL RABIL
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