Through the first five seasons of Major League Lacrosse the All-Star Game format began as the standard inter-division showdown. From 2001 through 2003, the MLL pitted the National Division All-Stars against the American Division All-Stars, and while the game was successful each of those three years, the MLL changed its tune the next two, not having a game in 2004 and then changing the format in 2005 (Young Guns vs. Old School). Everything has changed for 2006, and the anticipation could not be greater.

Partly due to timing, but also due to the fact that officials from Major League Lacrosse and US Lacrosse have formed a good relationship over the past few years, the MLL All-Star Game now boasts arguably the best talent ever seen on a lacrosse field at one time. For the first time in the history of the league, the MLL All-Star Game pits the select best from the MLL against Team USA.

Enough said.

“This is going to be a historically significant game,” said Jody Martin, the Men’s Division Director for US Lacrosse. “The typical MLL game has unbelievable talent on the field, but no one has seen this much talent on one field. The MLL All-Star Game will have 46 of the world’s best players on the field at one time.”

With talent such as goalie Greg Cattrano, attackmen Jesse Hubbard and Conor Gill, midfielders Josh Sims and Adam Doneger, and defensemen Brodie Merrill and Brian Spallina, the MLL All-Stars will be a force to be reckoned with. But if anyone can put up a fight, it’s Team USA.

The red, white, and blue boasts the likes of all three Powell brothers, Casey, Ryan and Mikey, goalies Trevor Tierney and Chris Garrity, midfielders Roy Colsey and Matt Striebel, and defensemen Nicky Polanco and Ryan Curtis, to name a few. With that group taking the field, it’s easy to see how Martin’s words ring true.

The idea of this all-worldly match up is so good it begs the question, why wasn’t this done in 2002?

“Four years ago the MLL was just getting started, and they didn’t want their players to try out for the US team,” Martin said, referring to the MLL’s need to have players compete throughout the summer schedule. “We took a younger team to the World Games and won, but we really wanted the MLL guys.”

Thanks to the efforts of Martin and US Lacrosse, and MLL commissioner David Gross and Director of League Operations John Algie, a partnership was formed. The MLL was instrumental in allowing players to tryout, and compete, for Team USA, and Team USA understood the major benefits this All-Star format has for both parties.

“This is the perfect way to kick off the World Games, and it also gives Team USA great visibility,” Martin admitted. “It’s going to be a great event, and we’re happy to be a part of it.”

A great event it will be. On Thursday night, July 6th, Boston University’s Nickerson Field will no doubt be packed and the field will be electric. Players are not only competing for bragging rights (which team is better), but many players will be looking to prove their worth.

“A lot of guys tried out for Team USA and didn’t make it, myself included,” Denver Outlaws midfielder and four-time MLL All-Star Josh Sims said. “A lot has happened between then [tryouts] and now, but I think the game will be a little bit personal.”

The potential grudge held by many MLL All-Stars is sure to fuel a competitive game, but Sims indicated that wouldn’t have been a problem anyway.

“We definitely want to win. These guys [MLL All-Stars] want to win by nature, regardless of the circumstances. We want to put on a show for the fans.”

Despite the talent and the desire to win, the fact remains that Team USA has the advantage in preparation. The MLL All-Stars will have had little preparation as a unit when the game begins, but that is not the case with Team USA. With practice beginning this past Saturday (June 24th), and scrimmages against Team Ireland on Sunday (June 25th) and a select group of Syracuse-area College aged all-stars on July 3rd, the US team will have had plenty of time to get to know each others tendencies.

“The first two scrimmages are more of a tune up,” Martin said. “Those games will be more about creating team chemistry. The All-Star Game is just going to be phenomenal. It’s the perfect game for us prep-wise.”

And while Sims understands the advantage Team USA has in practice time, he also knows his team will be ready. “It’s a definite advantage for them, they’ll be more organized. MLL guys are used to playing with little preparation, though, so it shouldn’t matter too much.”

While it seems Team USA may have a slight advantage in terms of practice, its coaching staff will be somewhat blind. Led by Syracuse University head coach John Desko, and assisted by Michael Caravana (Woodberry Forest), Matt Kerwick (Hobart) and Scott Marr (Albany), the US coaches have little, if any, MLL experience to draw from.

“It’s going to be a tremendous challenge, the biggest challenge we could face,” Desko said of the match up. “As coaches, it will be a big adjustment. We haven’t seen a lot of professional play, so we’re not very familiar with the rules.”

Desko and his staff have been spending their time preparing for upcoming opponents and the rules of international play, which are markedly different from either college or the MLL. International rules have subtle differences that make key changes in terms of game planning, and none more important than the substitution rules. In essence, every whistle is a quick whistle. If the ball goes out of bounds play resumes when the ball is picked up. The same is true for penalties. If a player gets penalized, the man-up opportunity begins when the offensive player picks up the ball, and the penalty time does not start until the penalized player gets to the penalty box. If he’s taking his time, or complaining, the extra man opportunity will be that much longer for the opposing team.

This is what Desko and the rest of the staff have been preparing for, not MLL rules, so while Team USA may have greater familiarity in terms of playing with each other, the MLL All-Stars, and their coaches, know the nuances of the game inside out.

All advantages aside, one thing is for certain about the upcoming All-Star Game: the talent on the field and the intensity of the competition will be something that few, if any, lacrosse fans have ever seen before. But while the competition on the field will no doubt be fierce, the opportunity this game presents the sport of lacrosse, and its fans, is obvious.

“I think it will be a great experience for the fans,” Desko concluded. “There are a lot of the MLL All-Stars that could be on Team USA. It could be a very intense game.” And Martin agreed. “It’s so good to have this happen, we’re so excited about it. We’re asking a lot of these players, commitment-wise, but this is a great opportunity for lacrosse.”