June 15, 2005

As his brothers become embroiled in a contract dispute between two lacrosse merchandisers, Mike Powell - or "Mikey," as he has become known professionally - has taken to Major League Lacrosse the way Reuben Studdard takes to a veil of broccoli.

With an ultimate unwillingness.

Just recently, Casey and Ryan Powell learned they might be sued by Warrior for breach of contract in their new endorsement deal with Brine. Casey Powell commented on the potential lawsuit Monday during the 2006 U.S. Men's Team tryouts at University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

"We signed a bad deal," he said. "I never thought it would turn out like this."

For Mike Powell, who put off professional lacrosse for a year as he pursued music and marketing careers in Denver, Colo., this was precisely the scene he wanted to avoid. The idolatry, the endorsements, the stewardship, the contractual obligations - he wants none of it.

He'd just as soon prefer to be left alone.

Fat chance, though. Powell last August signed a long-term deal with Brine. He has risen expeditiously in the MLL ranks with the Baltimore Bayhawks, who drafted the four-time All-American out of Syracuse with the first overall pick in 2004, under the assumption he would take a year off.

So far, Powell has been worth the wait. Through three games this season, Powell already has nine goals and six assists, benefits of playing on an attack line alongside Tom Marechek and Gary Gait. He has essentially stepped in as a younger, more agile Mark Millon. The attack mates have combined for 45 points.

Powell, however, maintains his reluctance when it comes to lacrosse matters. Often for him, it is a chore. If you ask him which brother he would most like to emulate, he does not call on Casey or Ryan. Rather, he lives vicariously through the fourth Powell brother, 11-year-old Mason, an energetic young boy whose peers venerate his older brothers, but who can ignore it all the same.

"He does not play lacrosse, which is cool. I'm proud of him," said Mike Powell, 22, who has often cited the strain he felt growing up to play lacrosse behind two All-American brothers. "What I dealt with was tough. It really was. There's a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of pressure, especially when you step on the field. For Mason to step up and say `I'm going to be different,' is something I always wanted to do. So I'm going to be living through him. He's a great artist. He's kind of into the whole creative side of things, so I'm jealous."

If making a career out of lacrosse was solely relegated to performance, Powell might not be so disinclined to it. "I come out here on the lacrosse field," he said, "and this is my canvas, to paint my picture."

Unfortunately, the lacrosse industry and organizations do not always work on Powell's terms.

He said the only reason he was trying out for the U.S. Men's Team was to have the opportunity to play with both Casey and Ryan on what could pan out as the first-ever All-Powell attack.

Otherwise, Powell said, he would have no part of international lacrosse.

"I wasn't going to try out. I like when I had my summers freed up a little bit," he said. "Casey and Ryan called me and said, `Let's give it a shot.' Hopefully, all of us can make it. If three brothers from Carthage, N.Y. - a little hick town - can represent our country together, it would be special for all of us."

The Powells have already arranged an open invite for all Carthage residents to come watch them play next year at the ILF World Championship in Ontario, Canada, should they make the team. Mike would rather have the campground to himself, to strum on his guitar beside the fire.

"I think he really enjoys doing things away from the big pressure pot," Casey Powell said of his estranged brother. "He's such a creative, fascinating player that people are continuing to expect more, they want to see more. They want him out there so bad. They want him out there, really, more than Mike wants to be out there."

Said Ryan Powell: "Now that he's showcasing his talents in Baltimore, it's only going to get worse."

The last lingerer for autograph sessions after Sunday's 31-9 win over the Philadelphia Barrage at Johnny Unitas Stadium, Mike Powell faced an awkward teen with long hair who wore a black t-shirt. The young man took Powell's autograph, told him how much he admired him and vowed to be at the next Bayhawks home game.

Powell looked uncomfortable. "Why don't you just come up to Rochester, then?" he asked the teen, with an abashed sense of sarcasm. Taken aback, the young fan replied, "Umm. OK, yeah, maybe I'll do that. See you there, man."

Those kinds of interactions have become customary since the private Mike Powell reemerged as a much more public Mikey Powell.