Bob Chavez thought he recognized the man down the aisle in a Bass Pro Shop in Auburn, N.Y. He had a feeling it was Mike Powell, but it had been a few years since the two last crossed paths.

Chavez decided to go with his gut and said hello to the Syracuse lacrosse legend. Conversation ensued and they spent a few minutes exchanging deer hunting stories.

‘He was amped for the (deer hunting) season,’ said Chavez, who covered Powell during his high school career for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. ‘I ran into him in June and deer season was still four months away, and he was getting some gear. You could tell hunting’s a big part of what he enjoys in life.’

For Powell, hunting and music take up much of his time these days. It’s been eight years since he wrapped up his brilliant Syracuse career. He left as the program’s all-time leading scorer and was honored with the Tewaaraton Trophy twice as the nation’s top player. Powell passed up a professional lacrosse career out of college to pursue other endeavors, though. He still stays involved in the game as a color analyst for CBS Sports Network, but he devotes even more time to his budding music career.

Still, some wonder why the college great never entered the Major League Lacrosse or National Lacrosse League draft.  

Powell followed his star older brothers Casey and Ryan to the Orange, arriving with massive expectations, but he surpassed them easily.

‘He’ll always be remembered as one of the quickest to ever play the game,’ said Chavez, now an editor for Inside Lacrosse. ‘His ankle-breaking dodges are the things of legend. He just made it all look so easy.’

The decision to play professional lacrosse isn’t that simple, though. Unlike the major North American professional sports, lacrosse does not provide lucrative contracts or major endorsement deals. Even the best players are forced to work other jobs.

Kevin Buchanan plays for the Boston Cannons of the Major Lacrosse League, and he tallied 20 goals in just nine games last season. Yet Buchanan knew that professional lacrosse must co-exist with a ‘real job.’ Buchanan works as a sales representative for a diagnostic company, traveling throughout New England selling blood analyzers.

Buchanan said abundant passion is necessary for those who pursue a secondary career in professional lacrosse.

‘In the nature of our league, we’re weekend warriors,’ Buchanan said. ‘After the game, everyone goes back to their respective destinations, and we have to condition and prepare by ourselves. It’s a balancing act, having a career and playing lacrosse.’

After his time with the Orange, Powell rarely played lacrosse at all. He’s gotten back into the game in recent years, notably playing in the prestigious Lake Placid Classic last summer.

Tournament director George Leveille saw a piqued interest from fans when they learned Powell would return to the field. Years after leaving the game, Powell showed that he could still draw a crowd.

‘He has tremendous enthusiasm for the game,’ Leveille said. ‘People were surprised about how sharp his game was. The lacrosse enthusiasts love him.’ Leveille is uncertain of Powell’s status for the event this year. He said he knows Powell has a busy schedule.

Among Powell’s commitments is a gig with CBS Sports Network in the network’s new coverage of the National Lacrosse League. The NLL is a nine-team indoor box lacrosse league with teams from Seattle to Philadelphia, and CBS Sports is providing game-of-the week coverage for the remainder of the season and playoffs.

Powell and his brother Casey will work as co-analysts alongside veteran play-by-play man Brent Stover. The brothers made their broadcasting debut April 7 at the Buffalo Bandits-Philadelphia Wings game.

Bandits radio play-by-play broadcaster John Gurtler said Powell brings credibility with him into the booth. The new pursuit is just another extension of the work the Powells have done to promote and grow the game, Gurtler said.

‘The Powell brothers have great personalities and represent the game of lacrosse on all levels here in the United States,’ Gurtler said. ‘With Mike there is so much personality of the game, with great stories. I am sure Mike will do fine.’

Buchanan said he thinks Powell could’ve done a lot for the game if he played professionally after college. He said Powell could’ve become a true ambassador of the game, considering that almost everyone in lacrosse knows the Powell name.

But Buchanan knows firsthand the challenges of balancing lacrosse and another career, and he doesn’t blame Powell for taking steps away from the game.

‘Unfortunately, we don’t make multimillions,’ Buchanan said. ‘You’ve got to follow your passions and do what makes you happy.’

For Powell, that outlet is music. Powell performed for a while in a band called Villain’s Trust, but he now pursues a solo career.

Syracuse Post-Standard music critic Mark Bialczak has occasionally spoken with Powell over the years and remains impressed with his commitment to his musical craft, which was illustrated by his 48-city solo tour in 2009.

‘I am always struck by how he’s willing to go anywhere and do anything for his music career,’ Bialczak said in an email. ‘He’s gone traveling the country and camping out so he could play as many shows as possible.’

Bialczak describes Powell’s songs as ‘bright, incisive, and a commentary on America as he sees it.’

Powell’s status as a public figure in the Central New York community has helped his musical development as well, Bialczak said. Not just in drawing attention to his work, but by making him more comfortable under the spotlight.

Bialczak said Powell has the ability to eventually become nationally recognized for his music.

‘Does he have star appeal? Indeed,’ Bialczak said. ‘Will he become a star? He could.’

Powell may not play professional lacrosse these days, but that doesn’t mean his passion in life has subsided. He just put his energy into other areas.

But he still finds time for lacrosse. Along with playing in Lake Placid last summer, he recently joined Easton Lacrosse as a sponsored athlete, and he finds time to help his brothers with camps and clinics.

No matter what he pursues, Powell will always strive to maintain a relationship with the game that brought him so much success and adoration in college.

‘He hadn’t played professional lacrosse until recently, but he’s been at the Lake Placid tournament where you don’t get paid to play,’ Chavez said. ‘So that tells me he enjoys the game, enjoys being around the guys and still likes to compete.’

kmprisei@syr.edu

Published on April 17, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Kevin: kmprisei@syr.edu