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TRAVIS LAZARCYZK Monday, July 23, 2007

n Unofficially, the football season begins Friday night with the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl at Waterhouse Field in Biddeford.

Actually, make that the official end of last season. The Lobster Bowl features the top players from around the state who just graduated this past spring. Since the first Lobster Bowl in 1990, it's been a nice way to say goodbye to the past before welcoming the present.

The West has a 14-3 advantage in the series, but the East has won two of the last four games and the games are getting closer. Since 2001, three of the six games have been decided by one or two points, including the East's 22-21 win last year.

In the first nine years of the series, the average margin of victory was 15.7 points, and all were West wins. In the last eight games, the average margin of victory is 11.5 points. Take away the East's 55-8 win in 2003 and that average drops to just over six points.

The Lobster Bowl is not just another all-star game. If it was, it's doubtful it would have survived the West's domination of the first decade. It's one of many games around the country that raises money for the Shriners Hospitals for children. According to the Lobster Bowl Web site, the game has raised more than $313,000 has been raised for Shriners hospitals since its inception.

It's too bad the players and cheerleaders no longer visit the Shriner's Hospital in Springfield, Mass. New privacy laws and the distance from Maine to Springfield make the day-long trip difficult. For many players who have participated not just in the Lobster Bowl, but the Maple Sugar Bowl between Vermont and New Hampshire, the hospital visit has been the highlight of the week.

"Going to the hospital was probably the best experience of the whole camp," said Patrick Dudley, who played for Vermont in the 2000 Maple Sugar Bowl. "Growing up, you think the Shrine game is just an all-star game. But when you visit those kids, it gives a whole new meaning to the game."

n Welcome back to the big leagues, Jon Lester. Just by taking the mound tonight in Cleveland, you should be named the American League Comeback Player of the Year.

Until yesterday, it was assumed Curt Schilling would replace Julian Tavarez when he completes his rehab assignment with Pawtucket. With Lester back in the bigs, who moves out of the rotation now?

n David Beckham will not make the United States a soccer hotbed, no matter what ESPN does to try to shove him down our throats. Beckham is a former superstar whose best playing days are behind him. Imagine if Brett Favre decided to play in the Canadian Football League, or instead of signing with the New York Yankees, Roger Clemens hooked on with a team in the Mexican league.

Contrary to popular opinion, this nation doesn't hate soccer. We're apathetic to the game, and that's worse. If we hated soccer, at least it could be said we cared.

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

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