In 1996, sidelined by injuries that cut short his Duke playing career, writer and lacrosse enthusiast Robert Carpenter found another way to stay involved in the sport—by creating a small, black-and-white lacrosse newspaper that was little more than a score pamphlet. The Vestal NY native launched Inside Lacrosse just in time for the 1997 season. Since then, Carpenter turned IL into an award-winning feature magazine and has collaborated with the biggest names in lacrosse. 

He co-authored Lacrosse For Dummies, wrote the book LACROSSE: North America’s Game, launched cutting-edge websites, produced lacrosse specials for ESPN, and created NCAA double headers in NFL stadiums. The Big City Classic in the Meadowlands brought in over 20,000 people, breaking the attendance record for a regular-season lacrosse event. Carpenter has earned numerous entrepreneurial and journalism awards, including journalist/media service awards from both the USILA and IWLCA. 

Carpenter is on the advisory board of the Thompson Brother’s charity 4 The Future, which promotes lacrosse and life lessons for Indigenous youth, and is a producer for the Binghamton University Haudenosaunee festival. He is a member of the Vestal High School Hall of Fame. 

He is currently producing a feature-length documentary about the game’s heritage.