Sports

Sporty Wares

Two lacrosse players hock their pirate-esque gear on land and at sea

East Side Monthly Magazine ·

Oregon may have Nike, and Germany can lay claim to Adidas, but now Rhode Island could be seeing its own burgeoning sportswear empire – Gray Gear. Founded by two Rhode Islanders, Peter Moubayed by birth and East Sider Steve Danyla by choice, the new clothing line provides lacrosse players with a distinct and old-school alternative to the more mainstream choices that everyone is wearing. Anyone who ever drank a ‘Gansett or some Del’s lemonade will agree that these t-shirts, hoodies and caps, borne out of the founders’ own sweat and blood in our backyards, are way cooler than anything an international corporate behemoth could imagine.

Though a motto like “Play Forever” might appear a ploy to keep us playing lacrosse and buying gear into our old age (50 is the new 20 right?), these two can put their money where their mouths are. Moubayed started his career at Providence Country Day School when he switched from football to lacrosse, because presumably football was notintense enough for him. He proceeded to experiment with out-of-state life, venturing down to Pennsylvania where he played at Gettysburg University. Danyla can boast some lacrosse longevity as well – he had his first experience with the game the summer before beginning his freshman year at Ithaca College.

The two first partnered up as coaches for their sons in the Providence Youth Lacrosse League. From these beginnings, the partnership quickly expanded as the duo soon founded the ‘Gansett Grays – Rhode Island’s only lacrosse team for men over the age of 40. With intense practices, consistent dedication and undoubtedly some help from the team’s eponymous beer, the team won a spot in the Olde New England Lacrosse League finals, losing in heartbreaking fashion 8-9.

Moubayed and Danyla will be sailing their 40-foot yacht, Play Forever, all around the East Coast this summer to spread the word about their new line of apparel. The logo for Gray Gear is a skull and bones with lacrosse sticks instead of human bones. So when you’re sitting on the beach enjoying the sun and you see a pirate ship on the horizon, take a second look, because the ship might not be what you think. It could be the Gray Gear guys coming in from the seas to show off their sweet new gear. But, if it is a pirate ship – run.

lacrosse, sports, gray gear, apparel, east side monthly