Can Paul Rabil Make Lacrosse Sexy?

PAUL RABIL, “the LeBron James of lacrosse” to loyal fans, was shooting. He can fire the ball at up to 111 miles an hour, faster than a slap shot in hockey and only slightly slower than an archer’s hurtling arrow. But this time the shot missed, hitting the top goal post and ricocheting out toward the stands. A little girl in the line of fire screamed in an accelerating crescendo, “I don’t want to get hit, I don’t want to get killed!” The ball sailed harmlessly overhead. Calming down she asked, “Who shot that?”

“Paul Rabil,” her mother replied, as people nearby in the stands nodded appreciatively.

It was a sweltering August afternoon near Annapolis, Md., and the Boston Cannons had gathered for their final practice before facing the Chesapeake Bayhawks in the semifinals of Major League Lacrosse, the sport’s outdoor professional league. The formidable powers of Mr. Rabil are no secret to anyone who follows the sport. At Johns Hopkins University, he set a school record for goals, points and assists. After graduating in 2008 he signed with two professional teams: the Cannons and the Washington Stealth, part of the National Lacrosse League, which competes indoors.

He quickly established himself as a ferocious competitor, and in 2009 Major League Lacrosse named him its most valuable player. This year was even busier. He powered the Stealth to the league title, then snagged a gold medal and the M.V.P. crown with Team USA at the world championships. And he helped propel the Cannons to its semifinal showdown against the Bayhawks.

If the Cannons were to prevail this season, Mr. Rabil would have claimed the lacrosse equivalent of the Triple Crown. “Ask anybody,” Cannons Coach Bill Daye said. “Paul is the best player in Major League Lacrosse.”

What excites the faithful, though, is not just Mr. Rabil’s dominance on field but his potential for fame off of it. Like Danica Patrick, or a before-the-fall Tiger Woods, Mr. Rabil is seen as someone who can both raise the profile of his sport and perhaps even transcend it to become that most revered of American figures: a celebrity.

Three years into his pro career, Mr. Rabil has snared not only sponsors like Maverik, which makes lacrosse equipment, but also more mainstream brands like Red Bull and Under Armour. Lacrosse ads traditionally feature teams or nameless players, but Mr. Rabil’s campaigns position him front and center as a role model.

Lacrosse cheerleaders welcome the spotlight. “We’ve always believed that having heroes is an important part of what drives the popularity of the game,” said Steve Stenersen, president of US Lacrosse, the sport’s governing body.

If lacrosse has a particular need for heroes, that’s because the spotlight has lately been hogged by alleged villains. First there were the Duke lacrosse players accused of raping a stripper in 2006. Then, this year, a University of Virginia lacrosse player, George Huguely, was charged with murdering his ex-girlfriend, also a lacrosse player. In 2007 the North Carolina attorney general exonerated the Duke players, and their original prosecutor was disbarred for suppressing exculpatory DNA evidence. Mr. Huguely has yet to be tried.

In both cases, though, the news media and public seemed all too ready to pounce. Lacrosse has an image problem, deservedly or not, and it is against this fraught backdrop that Mr. Rabil has emerged onto the scene.

THE Paul Rabil story begins on field, where a key reason for his success was obvious as he juked defenders and ripped off shots at the practice before the semifinal game. “He’s a freak of an athlete,” Mr. Daye said. “He’s strong, fast and can stop or change directions on a dime.”

At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Mr. Rabil had the physique and slashing moves of an N.F.L. running back. “People might not think of lacrosse players as matching up to other team sports athletes, but Paul is as big and strong as anyone,” said his agent, Ira Rainess, a lawyer in Baltimore who has also represented Cal Ripken Jr. and the All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis.

Mr. Rabil, however, doesn’t rest on his genetically blessed laurels. He is known for his ferocious work ethic, both in the gym and on the field. As the practice wound down Mr. Daye summoned the players to the center of the field for a pep talk. “It all comes down to us, right here,” he shouted. “It doesn’t matter what anybody else does. Let’s go out there tomorrow and have some fun!” The huddle was dispersing when Mr. Rabil piped up. “Uh, coach, could we run a few more sets?”

Lacrosse may not be widely played but it is certainly well established — it is among the oldest sports in North America. Its origins go back to the Native Americans and, starting in the late 19th century, a modern version of the game was embraced by prep schools and elite universities. While the sport today is played at far more public schools than private ones, it is still considered an elitist game because “the stereotype hasn’t caught up with reality,” Mr. Stenersen said.

Thousands of articles have been written about the lacrosse scandals of the last few years, but you only have to skim a handful to learn the stereotypes. Players party too much. They’re prone to violence. They’re entitled rich kids smashing mailboxes with their lacrosse sticks before blazing off in daddy’s Ferrari. A sampling of recent headlines includes “Lacrosse Afflicted by Sense of Entitlement” (The Baltimore Sun) and “Lacrosse Breeds Awful White Kids” (from the sports blog Dueling Couches).