that's lyle thompson, playing the sport of his ancestors. >> he is the wayne gretzky, the michael jordan on. >> there's no question. >> reporter: and that's his brother miles and their cousin ty, together the most formidable threesome in college lacrosse. but for them it's more than a game, it's almost a religion. >> it's part of us. it's in our blood. >> reporter: on the onondaga nation territory where they're from, they call it "the medicine game," a game native americans invented nearly 800 years ago to honor their creator, who is everywhere. boys receive a lacrosse stick at birth, start playing the moment they can walk. many are buried with it when they die. the thompsons' father jerome, an iron worker by trade, taught them the game. no wide open nets. instead, the goal he insisted they hit, the size of a doorknob. they practice in any weather, day and night. like their ancestors, their signature single braid flowing behind them. >> i know what they've been through. their long hair, they used to get picked on a lot for that. i don't even want to mention some of the names that they've