This weekend, you have the opportunity to see a compelling new documentary from a New York filmmaker for free on ESPN. The film is called City LAX: An Urban Lacrosse Story and it's the tale of an inner-city lacrosse team in Denver and the passion project of a New York City ad executive (the man behind the E*Trade talking baby and the Oprah car giveaway, in fact).
I had the opportunity to see the New York premiere of City LAX this week and it was a thrilling, moving experience that I won't soon forget. I'm not really a sports fan, I knew nothing about lacrosse before the movie, and I see a lot of films, so I was a tough audience and I was completely won over. City LAX is still making the rounds of the film festival circuit and not yet in theaters, but ESPN will be showing the film several times over this weekend during the NCAA Lacrosse Championships.
City LAX follows a group of inner city students as they discover and embrace the traditionally preppy sport of lacrosse. The original City LAX program was founded here in New York City by Mat Levine (City LAX New York is always looking for coaches and volunteers). In Denver, public school teacher Eric Myhren was inspired to start his own program and recruited a team of athletes and coaches with the goal of making it to the state lacrosse championships.
Eric's brother Tor Myhren thought the team's journey would make an excellent documentary film. He recruited his best college pal Gabriela Cowperthwaite to direct and financed the production himself.
The kids on the team are the stars of the film. No screenwriter could have created more entertaining and interesting characters. We have Jaden, the star of the team with the huge smile, and his best pal Trevon, an academic standout vying for a spot at one of Denver's top prep schools. It's wonderful to see this close, supportive friendship on screen.
Jada and Joanne are the team's top female players (the City LAX team had the only female players in the league), who are known for hitting hard and knocking down bigger boys for fun. Gaghe is a sweet kid with a lot of athletic talent and a mother in jail, but he struggles to control his temper and stay focused. Kei'zuan is an athlete and a poet who has already had to deal with the deaths of his father and his baby brother by junior high. Can lacrosse help these kids rise above the circumstances of the inner city and reach their full potential?
Director Cowperthwaite does amazing work. She brings out the human stories behind the lacrosse and she gets these kids to open up and be themselves on camera. Who says a woman can't make a brilliant sports movie? The film also looks and sounds fantastic -- the music is artfully selected to heighten the emotion of key scenes.
If you've ever doubted the ability of great teachers and coaches to make a difference in kids' lives, this film will change your mind. If you've ever discounted the drive and talent of a kid based on where he grew up or her skin color, City LAX will open your eyes.
Don't miss your chance to see City LAX on ESPN this weekend.
Comments
Hi this is Coach George from City Lax. Thank you for suggesting to readers to volunteer to help introduce lacrosse to the inner city. I promise the experience will be very rewarding for all involved. George Moore
Hi Coach George,
Thanks for your comment. I hope the movie will inspire more lacrosse players and fans to get involved with City LAX — in New York and in other cities.
I have has the privilege to know Coach George for many years both as a friend, as an athlete, and as a fellow Naval Officer. He has always been a passionate leader, a man of action, and a visionary.
Along with all the people involved in this wonderful program, the mentorship of these kids and this story will have lasting powerful affects. Thank you for featuring this story.
Stu Hinrichs