"Can Paul Rabil Make Lacrosse Sexy?"

      Recently, James Vlahos, a columnist at The New York Times, profiled lacrosse sensation Paul Rabil in a "Fashion & Style" section feature article. Vlahos explored not only Rabil's own rise to fame, but also his sport's ethos, one that has recently been unfairly tarnished by such scandals as the Duke rape scandal and George Hughely's murder of ex-girlfriend Yardley Love last spring at the University of Virginia. While Vlahos does not go as far as to defend the sport from these controversies, he certainly offers an alternate perspective of lacrosse and of those who play it.
     Painting Rabil as a well-educated, street-smart, and otherwise worldly athlete, he indirectly rebuts many stereotypes commonly associated with lacrosse. Vlahos acknowledges that in light of those aforementioned controversies and stereotypes, the sport of lacrosse could use a few well-intentioned heroes, both to redeem their sport's image and to inspire future generations of players. Rabil, Vlahos argues, is just that kind of hero. He impresses upon readers that not only is Rabil an awing physical specimen, but also a player both keen on commercializing lacrosse and maintaining a close relationship with his community, particularly with aspiring players in youth leagues and developmental programs.
      Vlahos appropriately credits Rabil for all of his positive qualities, including his perseverance, sportsmanship, and leadership abilities. He chooses to project both Rabil and his sport in a well-deserved positive light, rather than draw on Rabil's physical and personal shortcomings. While Rabil certainly is not perfect, he is a role model and is personally invested in fostering a deep love of lacrosse in all who watch him play.
       The author takes note of the bad press lacrosse has received in recent years, and offers a more balanced, and far more personal, account of the sport. Through its in depth reporting, Vlahos's exposition provides readers with a more exacting glimpse at the life of an individual lacrosse star, shattering readers' preconceptions and their abilities to make generalizations about lacrosse players en masse. In fact, Rabil himself facilitates this juxtaposition; as Vlahos notes, he does not fit the mold of the stereotypical lacrosse player (accurate or not). Rather, Rabil's long hair and perfected grunge look contrast the prep style so quickly associated with the sport. His uniqueness invites readers of the article, and observers of the sport in general, to reconsider their conceptions of lacrosse.
       Rabil commands the utmost respect from both inside and outside the lacrosse community. As a one-time Hopkins star, Rabil garnered the attention and adoration of those in the sport's community. By personal account, it is certainly impossible to watch Rabil take over a game at Homewood Field and lead the Jays to a victory and not be in complete awe of his abilities, physical and otherwise. He has continued to dominate play in both the outdoor and indoor major leagues, ensuring that he will continue to demand this respect from players and insiders. At the same time, Rabil, like few others in the sport, has  used smart advertising strategies and exacting brand extension to successfully pioneer his way into a mainstream commercial consciousness.
     By demonstrating some of the virtuous personal qualities that Vlahos extols in his article, Rabil has also brought the sport closer to this consciousness and made lacrosse both more appealing and more accessible to the public. Rabil is the first lacrosse player that has been truly successful in garnering a hero status outside of the lacrosse community (others preceding him, including the Gates brothers, Powell brothers, and Rabil's former teammate Kyle Harrison have successfully captured this status within the sport, but are now extemporaneous or remain largely unrecognizable outside of the lacrosse circuit).
     Rabil exemplifies the best of lacrosse through top level play, business savvy, his admirable public comportment, and sex appeal. He has used championship rings, selective marketing, and an apparent good-guy vibe to transcend the lacrosse bubble and reach beyond his sport's traditional demographic. Rabil's ascendancy to fame only bodes well for lacrosse's future as the "fastest game on two feet," and arguably the fastest growing sport in America.