Paul Rabil is a phenomenon, it's undeniable. He has created a lacrosse persona that is so marketable that he has become the centrepiece of two seperate companies' advertising campaigns and has, far beyond expectations, become a star in both lacrosse disciplines, both outdoor and indoor. Rabil, after both a decorated high school and college career, has seen enormous success in the professional game, showing no difficulty in the transition from the regementation of college to the freedom of pro-lax, and was named the 2009 league MVP and MLL Offensive Player of the year.
Now some of you may accuse me of putting up this article purely for the purpose of throwing up a load of awesome Youtube videos, which, whilst in themselves would be a good reason anyway, I am also making a point about the direction of the sport and the growing importance of using athleticism as a key building block to creating a very effective lacrosse player.
Not everyone agrees with the idea of making the foundation of a player raw athletic ability and then on top of that placing lacrosse specific skillsets (passing, dodging, shooting), but Paul Rabil is a great example of a player who has done just that. This is not to, in anyway, disparage the amount of time Rabil will have put into his lacrosse skills, his shooting on the run is a thing of technical beauty, but without his level of explosive speed and strength he would not be able to execute these abilities to their fullest. Paul Rabil can be seen to be transforming the game as it stands, and he himself explains how in the following video:
Not everyone agrees with the idea of making the foundation of a player raw athletic ability and then on top of that placing lacrosse specific skillsets (passing, dodging, shooting), but Paul Rabil is a great example of a player who has done just that. This is not to, in anyway, disparage the amount of time Rabil will have put into his lacrosse skills, his shooting on the run is a thing of technical beauty, but without his level of explosive speed and strength he would not be able to execute these abilities to their fullest. Paul Rabil can be seen to be transforming the game as it stands, and he himself explains how in the following video:
"As a midfielder i'm trying to transcend the sport to a more athlete's game..."
Background on the man himself:
Rabil was a member of the 2005 and the 2007 NCAA Championship winning Blue Jay teams, quickly becoming a clutch force to be reckoned with, accountable for a good number of overtime goals and known for his effective hotheadedness under pressure. Rabil was awarded the 2007 McLaughlin Award given to the nation's most outstanding NCAA lacrosse midfielder because of his contribution to the Blue Jay's run all the way to the NCAA 2007 National Title. Rabil was also selected as one of the five finalists for the 2007 and 2008 Tewaaraton Trophy, awarded to the "Most Outstanding" collegiate lacrosse player in the United States, and many believed he had earnt it after hoisting Hopkins onto his back in 2008 and coming up with one of the most electrifying displays of lacrosse in the NCAA Final, where Rabil put up a massive 7 points, 6 goals display.
Here's a little taste of his college highlights, in a Youtube favourite of TopJLax's:
Rabil was a member of the 2005 and the 2007 NCAA Championship winning Blue Jay teams, quickly becoming a clutch force to be reckoned with, accountable for a good number of overtime goals and known for his effective hotheadedness under pressure. Rabil was awarded the 2007 McLaughlin Award given to the nation's most outstanding NCAA lacrosse midfielder because of his contribution to the Blue Jay's run all the way to the NCAA 2007 National Title. Rabil was also selected as one of the five finalists for the 2007 and 2008 Tewaaraton Trophy, awarded to the "Most Outstanding" collegiate lacrosse player in the United States, and many believed he had earnt it after hoisting Hopkins onto his back in 2008 and coming up with one of the most electrifying displays of lacrosse in the NCAA Final, where Rabil put up a massive 7 points, 6 goals display.
Here's a little taste of his college highlights, in a Youtube favourite of TopJLax's:
After graduating from Johns Hopkins, Rabil was chosen first in the 2008 MLL collegiate draft where he has paid back the faith shown in him by going from strength to strength. In his first season he put up a modest 34 points, quickly showing the quality to operate in a different type of game, one less about regimented playbooks and more about pragmatic, free-flowing lacrosse from a highly concentrated group of the best lacrosse players on the planet.
However in 2009 Rabil's lacrosse ability, and with it his points total, exploded. He put up a massive 53 points and in the process proved that the inclusion of a fourth pole, which he largely drew, was not going to stop this lacrosse juggernaut. He made even the greatest look slow and cumbersome, easily escaping the attentions of such great LSM's as Kyle Sweeney and Brodie Merrill.
However in 2009 Rabil's lacrosse ability, and with it his points total, exploded. He put up a massive 53 points and in the process proved that the inclusion of a fourth pole, which he largely drew, was not going to stop this lacrosse juggernaut. He made even the greatest look slow and cumbersome, easily escaping the attentions of such great LSM's as Kyle Sweeney and Brodie Merrill.
It is not just in the field game that Rabil has excelled since college, proving that with a the level of skill and athleticism he has he can be a weapon in the indoor game as well. As a transition midfielder he has proven to be a very valuable asset to both the San Jose Stealth and the Washington Stealth (relocation of the franchise at the end of the 2009 season), putting up over 30 points both seasons he has played. It is almost unheard of for a field lacrosse player to step up to the indoor game so quickly, but again, Rabil is a phenomenon: he is built to play the game. Put a stick in his hand and he creates plays that many would dream of but barely any could even think of executing.
He has helped power the Washington Stealth to become National Champions of the NLL in 2010 and will, if all things remain as they are, continue to be a monster on the pitch (even managing to garner the nickname 'The Beast from the East' from the Stealth faithful).
He has helped power the Washington Stealth to become National Champions of the NLL in 2010 and will, if all things remain as they are, continue to be a monster on the pitch (even managing to garner the nickname 'The Beast from the East' from the Stealth faithful).
We at TopJLax felt it was worth paying tribute to this modern lacrosse icon and we wish Paul 'Pauly Rabes' Rabil the best of luck in his future career.
He will be playing in Manchester this summer for the U.S national team at the World Games and this offers a chance for U.K fans to see the best midfielder in the world live, a chance you do not want to miss.
We'll see you there.
TopJLax.
He will be playing in Manchester this summer for the U.S national team at the World Games and this offers a chance for U.K fans to see the best midfielder in the world live, a chance you do not want to miss.
We'll see you there.
TopJLax.
