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Lacrosse Resources
Keeper of the Kohn
"Every now and again, a film comes along that challenges convention and defies such obvious classification. Enter Keeper of the Kohn, a feature-length documentary that Director/Producer David Gaynes calls, "One part Rainman, one part Rudy."
The film stars Myron G. "Peter" Kohn, a living legend in the sport of lacrosse. Peter holds the remarkable, if unusual, distinction of being elected to the Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2004) without ever having scored a goal or coached a game. Peter, you see, suffers from a mild, but undiagnosed, form of autism. But, that has never stopped - or even slowed - him from being himself and seeking his calling in life.
Encouraged by lacrosse luminary Jerry Schmidt, Peter first picked up a stick - literally picked up a stick - in the 1970s. As the field manager for Schmidt's Baltimore club lacrosse team, one of Peter's primary duties was to line up players' extra sticks on the sideline. He also handed out towels, scraped mud out of spikes and filled water bottles. Not exactly glamorous work, but it afforded Peter an unprecedented opportunity to be a vital part of a team. When fate brought him in contact with Jim Grube, he was first introduced to Middlebury College (Middlebury, VT). And in 1981 he signed on as the lacrosse team's full-time manager.
The film's title comes from a team tradition, started in 1987, in which a freshman assumes responsibility for ensuring that all matters Kohn - from the man himself to his supersized meals, from his infamous Poco Loco bag to his omnipresent bounty of disposable cameras - are present and accounted for at practices, games and other team events. The Keeper watches after Peter, and a peculiar relationship unfolds as Peter, in return, opens his heart to the youngster. An old man and a young man begin to look after one another, talking, sharing and learning about life."
--NATHANIEL BADDER: Inside Lacrosse
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