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When
any question arises about the way something should be done, the boy is
asked: "What is the Green Gael way of doing that?" Question answered!
Joining Bishop's team involves a new way of life, a complete
commitment to the drive for excellence, not only in winning lacrosse
games but in every part of the boy's existence. The demands are
great, but there is only one way of doing things - the Green Gael way.
The rules are the same for the 100-goal scorer and the bench-warmer;
the justice for transgressors is swift and binding.
"Our
kids give up Sundays at the beach to practise," Bishop said. "They
sacrifice a lot of things to be Green Gaels, but they don't complain
about it. They know the things they want to accomplish and what it
takes to do it. We play other teams with just as much, and sometimes
more ability, than our club. But they don't have the discipline - the
self-imposed discipline - that we have. Mental toughness, that's what
it is."
Of
course, some great players have helped. Goalie Merv Marshall has
played on all six championship teams. He's one of the two or three
top goalies, at any level in the country. Conlin, Davis and Powless
were big shooters for the Gaels. Last year's team had Ross Jones, a
superb scorer, John and Phil Clayton, Charlie Marlow and Jim Higgs as
its stars.
Most
of the Gael juniors played a few games in the pro league, where they
excelled with Bishop's
Detroit
team.
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