NLL Insider

The news out of the lacrosse world on Monday was as stunning as it was sad. The lacrosse career of John Grant Jr. is on hold through at least late 2009, maybe even for good.

Huh? Didn’t we just see Junior wrap up his second straight MVP Major League Lacrosse season with the Rochester Rattlers? Didn’t we just see Junior help his Peterborough Lakers take the Brampton Excelsiors to a Game 7 in the Major Series Lacrosse finals? And didn’t we just see Grant Jr. put up another monster National Lacrosse season, scoring 92 points?

Yeah, we did. But we’ve also just seen that John Grant Jr. is human.

Last I spoke with Junior was last Monday, Sept. 1. He had just helped the Rattlers win their first MLL championship and he was getting ready to play that Game 7 that could have put the Lakers in a position to defend their Mann Cup title. But Junior never made it to that game.

Instead, he had to make it to a hospital to check out what was causing him so much pain. His elbow, his back, his knees. He couldn’t sleep at all the night before the game against Brampton and it had nothing to do with nerves. It was all about an infection that was rapidly spreading through his body. A serious infection, too. When you get to the hospital at 8 a.m. to “have it checked out,” and you’re in surgery by 4 p.m. of that same day, something’s up.

“I’ve had better days,” he said during our Monday telephone conversation. And after our conversation, as I was rushing around my house, sweating the fact that I was already late to a holiday cookout, I kinda got some perspective.

Here I am thinking about getting to a cookout on time and I just got off the phone with perhaps the best lacrosse player in the world who has had the game he loves yanked right out from under him. No doubt, his heart was broken by Peterborough’s loss to Brampton, but dude still took the time to talk with me. He explained what went down and how he was feeling. He didn’t rush the talk, never once asked to be left alone.

That’s what makes this news about Grant so tough to take. He doesn’t deserve this. No one does, really. But Grant, especially. Yeah, we’ve got a lacrosse player who leaves our jaws on the floor with his flashy passes and superb goals. But we’ve also got a guy who gives back when he’s not on the floor or field.

Think back for a second to when you were a kid. Remember that kick-ass Christmas present you’d get and the way you got all giddy and could barely contain yourself? I’ve seen Grant have that effect on grown men when he’d show up to get in an occasional run with us at our Wednesday night indoor league here in Rochester. You think you’ll ever see LeBron James or Kobe Bryant show up at a local YMCA to ball with a bunch of hackers? Didn’t think so.

I’ve had interviews after games with Grant interrupted by adoring kids looking for an autograph, and I’ve seen the faces of fans light up when Grant says hello to them by name. “He actually remembered my name!”

So what’s my point? Life’s a bit unfair when it deals this sort of blow to a fella like Grant. He’s a down-to-earth superstar who’d rather talk about Pearl Jam than his fancy goals. He’d rather play lacrosse with a bunch of 40-year-old men than sit at home and count his trophies in the weeks before his NLL season started.

Here’s to a speedy and complete recovery for John Grant Jr. because dude’s much more than a lacrosse player. He’s a consumate pro, on and off the floor.

Can’t get that sick goal from March out of your head? Still thinking about that thrilling overtime game you watched? Now’s the time to make your voice heard because not only is it an election year here in the United States, it’s time to vote for all the best of lacrosse in 2008 with the inaugural Laxie Awards from Inside Lacrosse. Click here to cast your votes today.

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