The story began simply: The @IRQ_Nationals, a Native American #lacrosse team, had risen to No. 3 internationally but couldn't get invited to a major competition. Their plight quickly drew me beyond sport, into the realm of history & fable. latimes.com/sports/story/2…
The Iroquois Nationals represent the Haudenosaunee nations, the people credited with inventing lacrosse. Though many in the sport honor them, players face racist taunts & the team is often blocked by officials who won’t recognize them as a sovereign nation. 
When the 2022 World Games decided to add men’s lacrosse but did not include the No. 3-ranked Iroquois Nationals, @worldlaxsport & @USLacrosse joined a grass-roots effort to get them invited. People were tired of seeing the Native American team left out.
The Iroquois Nationals handle their struggles with calm. This attitude meshes with a story they tell about a “great ballgame.” On one side, the bears & deer won’t let the mouse & squirrel play. The tiny creatures ask to join the other team with the eagle, hawk & owl.
So how did it all turn out? Did the 2022 World Games finally extend an invitation to the small but powerful Iroquois Nationals team? Did the mouse and squirrel get to play in the great ballgame of old? You’ll have to read my story to find out.
