By Michael Elliott
Lacrosse- In Cali? In SLO County? Yes and yes my friends. (I now have five, but more on that later). The sport of lacrosse is huge on the east coast as collegiate schools such as Duke, Syracuse and Virginia dominate the NCAA-sanctioned sport. Lacrosse has become a religion in those parts. It’s quite baffling as to why the sport has eluded the fascination of us left-coasters.
That fact may change in the very near future if one man in our area has his way! Peter Lee is the director of the SLO YMCA Youth Lacrosse Recreation Program. Pete’s unbridled enthusiasm for the sport has driven him to bring the intricacies of lacrosse to the children of SLO County.
I met up with Pete recently on a Saturday morning at Bishop’s Peak Elementary School and was quite taken by his love of the sport. For three years now Pete has volunteered his time to teach 9-15 year-old kids how to scoop the ball with the netted pole, how to pass unselfishly to teammates and how to defend against scores. Lacrosse is akin to ice hockey being played on a grass field. It’s a fun sport, and exciting!
Currently there are roughly 75 players registered in SLO, with about 14 of the lot being girls. The girls do have their own segment of the program. These mighty mites come from as far north as Templeton down to the Five Cities area. The sport has also been exposed to high school kids as Mr. Lee has held clinics in the past at Nipomo High. Also, as president of the non-profit 805 Youth Lacrosse Association Pete heads a boys Junior High and High School program for youth wishing to play at a more competitive level.
Pete played lacrosse in college from 1961 to 1965. He was a co-founder of the Sacramento Lacrosse Club of the Northern California Lacrosse Association in 1976. The man is passionate about the sport, and get this…he still plays and competes! In 2003 Mr. Lee hooked up with the Ohio Wesleyan University Legends and continues to play once or twice a year with the team.
It’s quite refreshing to see a man give selflessly of himself and his time in order to promote a sport which has not quite taken off in a certain area. Pete states that he is basically trying to grow the sport here in SLO County. If any of you out there are interested in learning more about the local lacrosse programs please contact Peter Lee through the SLO YMCA. Keep it growing Pete!
Uh-Oh!- In an earlier “Sports Shorts” column this writer made a boo-boo and was called out for it. And rightfully so! You put your name on it, you own it. I referred to “The Gong Show” master of ceremonies as Chuck Barry when in fact his name was Chuck Barris. An observant reader in Paso Robles alerted me to the mistake. Any type of feedback is welcomed and I appreciate you keeping me on my toes. I’m only human.
Blushing- I caught myself in a blushing pose the other day and it felt great! You know the pose of which I speak: Standing up, head tilted downward, chin to chest, lips pursed, cheeks glowingly warm, hands clasped at the waistline, feet pointed inwards.
For eighteen months now I have been blessed to have been able to write this column for Tolosa Press. At the end of each column the readers are encouraged to contact me at my personal email address. Well, miracles do happen! In the past three weeks I was contacted by two readers of the column via emails and by one reader in person. First contact in, well, 18 months. And hence, I blushed.
I now know that at least five readers are on board with the “Sports Shorts” snorts. My lovely wife Debra, our canine compadre Tug (he reads it as it sits beneath his food bowl), our aforementioned lacrosse expert Pete, correctable “Cousin Brucie” from Paso and neighbor Walt, who stopped me outside my yard the other day and in conversation mentioned that he enjoyed the column.
I would like to sincerely thank each and every one of you. Please allow me to now give you all my best 1985 Sally Field Oscar imitation speech in writing, by saying “You like me! You really like me!” And I like you all as well. Thank you.
All blushing aside, please feel free to contact Michael at [email protected]
