July 24, 2010 – Anticipating today’s big showdown between the American and Canadian national teams for the World Lacrosse title has been going on for four years. This is the least competitive international battle for supremacy since the end of WWII, the Lakota and Cheyenne at Little Big Horn, or Mexico at The Alamo.

Nice bit of writing there weaving the Native American Indians into the story after Britain wouldn’t allow the Iroquois Nation into the country last week to compete in the FIL World Lacrosse Championships in Manchester, England. The Iroquois had probably the only very remote chance of breaking up the big two, 2006 defending champion Canada and runnerup United States.

But before we address the U.S.-Canada showdown, let’s talk about what has been good and bad about these championships. The Iroquois aside, the international rules once again threw a monkey-wrench into the pure enjoyment of the game.

In the most glaring instance of a bunch of dopes gathering around a table somewhere and reading a rule book to decide the fate of the medals instead of letting the boys on the “pitch” (as the fields were called all week in Manchester) determine the outcome. Overtime rules and goal differential became the non-competitive way to determine the standings in the elite Blue division which included the destined-to- be-gold-or-silver winners Canada and the United States, as well as England, Japan, Australia and late Iroquois substitute, Germany.

In their infinate wisdom, the powers-that-be, and their silly after-regulation rules, denied England from the medal round after Australia, England and Japan all ended with identical 2-3 records following the Blue division round robin. England beat Japan by a goal in overtime and lost to Australia by two goals in overtime. Japan upset Australia by two goals in overtime, providing the only mathematical situation to deny the host nation from a possible medal.

How can you win by two goals in overtime, you North American lax geeks ask? Well, in the deep wisdom of the international rules TWO five minute periods are played after regulation and if they are still tied after that it goes to sudden death. Before this, Sportscream was all for new proposed NFL overtime rules. Now, after this, we are not so certain. Although the MIL rules could never be similar with the NFL proposals because the NFL only proposes guaranteeing each team a possession, not two timed periods.

Goal differential, in the spirit of the wimpy ways soccer works, became the next factor. Lame coaches (like England’s) in the spirit of getting players into games, and allowing players to go renegade in desperate attempts to score, pretty much conceded losses with time remaining, proving to be the difference that denied England of a great chance to play a medal game and be the feel-good story of the nation.

On the good side, Manchester, England can hold it’s head up proud by providing a first-class venue, terrific support for a growing sport, and vast improvements on communications and webcast offerings of all games. Sure, all webcasts are still very unreliable, buffering and inability to communicate with help to correct billing and technical flaws wasn’t that strong. Either were the broadcasters, whose lack of knowledge bogged down the description of play. But overall it was a great effort by England.

And now for a few words on the Canada-U.S. matchup. With both teams made up entirely of professionals, it’s no surprise why they rule the roost. Nationalism kind of takes a backseat because most of the players are well known and revered across borders by the “the lacrosse nation,” the unique ever-growing fraternity of fans, players and ex-players, parents and kids who helped establish the fashion of baggy shorts and head-snugging baseball caps worldwide.

For years the Canadians have played in the U.S. and gained as much popularity as the native Americans (there we go again weaving in a reference that this time means ALL people native of America). So who to root for? Says here Canada because they are better people. John Grant Jr. remains, in his 30′s and on bad knees, the most exciting and best offensive player ever. As they went through the round robin undefeated, they had smiles on their faces, respect for their opponents no matter how far ahead they were and they appeared to enjoy the away-from-the-field action with the best. On the other hand the U.S. team, led by the ugly Americans including Whinin’ Ryan Boyle, Brendan “the mouth” Mundorf, and Paul “I’m the God of Lacrosse” Rabil, were the joke of the feel good tournament which has put an accent on sportsmanship. After losing to Canada for the title in 2006 and again last Saturday 10-9, the United States is desperate for a win today in order to back their cocky status as they strut around Manchester. Another loss might require a U.S. basketball-like shake-up. And they might benefit from the Jerry Colangelo/Mike Krzyzewski Dream Team’s opening motto “check your egos at the door.”