Gary Gait returning to professional lacrosse

Earlier this month, the Rochester Knighthawks and Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League finalized a deal sending 41-year old Gary Gait to Rochester. Gait has not played professional lacrosse since 2005, and is currently the head coach of the womens lacrosse team at his alma-mater, Syracuse University.

When I first heard this story, two things went through my head. First, why would Gary want to play professional lacrosse again? He's won nearly every lacrosse award possible, including an NLL championship as a coach with the Colorado Mammoth in 2006. Heck, a full Wikipedia page is devoted to his accomplishments in the lacrosse world.

Before I continue on to my second thought, let me answer the first. Gary Gait is a legend. Gary Gait IS lacrosse. And, in this case, the perfect opportunity presented itself. Rochester's leading scorer and reigning league MVP John Grant is out for the season with a complicated ACL injury that may ultimately end his career.

So Rochester was looking for another offensive weapon, and who better to turn to than the legend himself. This leads into the second thought that entered my head - what impact will a 41-year old have after not playing for 2 years?

Gait says he's in incredible shape. Does that mean he's in incredible shape for a 41-year old, or incredible shape by NLL standards? Can he still absorb a hard check into the boards? Can he make a cross-crease pass with defenders draped all over him? Will his body hold up week after week?

Gary Gait is the Brett Favre of lacrosse. He's a legend that loves the game, and has devoted his life to the game. He's the lacrosse version of Wayne Gretzky. So how can we not pay attention to his comeback? The drama surrounding whether or not a legend can return to the game he loves is too much to ignore, even if he's 41-years old and multiple years removed from his last stint on the carpet (carpet meaning turf, for all of those non-lacrosse junkies out there).

Mikey Powell is the pop-culture version of Gary Gait. He has revolutionized the game in his own right, but even he credits Gait with providing the lacrosse foundation on which his own career has grown...



So we wait for December 27th (the Knighthawks season opener against the Chicago Shamrox) to see the legend return to action. Will the greatest lacrosse player to ever live fizzle out and tarnish his legacy by playing like an average 41-year old? Or will the awe and admiration of peers and fans alike heighten with another superhuman stint in the NLL?

We'll find out in two months.