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News
The Chicago Lions have been named
CLUB OF THE YEAR
by eRugbyNews.com!
In the 2007 eRugbyNews (formerly GoffOnRugby) Awards, the Lions were the selected as Club of the Year by the writing staff! Here is an excerpt:
"Chicago Lions They made the leap past the semis to the Super League final, and almost won that. Then without much of a rest they turned around and won the national club 7s title..."
Please check out the full article at eRugbyNews.com! (subscription required)
It was twenty years ago today at a Tuesday practice that
yours truly suffered a career ending injury. We were on the
verge of a championship season and all my thoughts and dedication
to the game were concentrated on making it happen. I was
truly caught up in what Pat Bolger so aptly deemed as the "anything
can happen" philosophy of the day in his speech at the
40th reunion. The cohesion we had as a team far surpassed
that of any team I'd ever played on. When we dressed for
battle in the field house adjacent to the Foster Ave. pitch,
we knew that when we stepped out onto the field we would
emerge victorious. Roger always wore his barking spiders
t-shirt and Nick would look me in the face and just say "Let's
do it Mitchy". And that's all I needed to get fired
up! We had a solid core and the backing of many retired players
who had come out of the woodwork to aid in the cause. It
was our destiny and it was ours to make it happen. But as
we all know, we fell just a bit short in our bid. I'd have
given anything to be on that field that day, win or lose.
Suffice it to say, a lot of dreams died 20 years ago today
and instead a new life had to be forged.One that despite
what internal fortitude I may have mustered could not have
been done alone. The Pride was one short, one down for the
count, one maimed and trying to get to his feet again, one
looking to survive in a world he knew nothing about. And
it was the Pride who lent that support and gave that one
the courage to live on so he could once again raise his mane
and be proud to be a member of the Pride.
Through the years, I have never forgotten the things you
guys have done for me. Raising all that money so I could
stay in Chicago and finish school, pulling me out of the
woodwork and financing my trip to Aspen as honorary captain,
giving me the Lowry Lion Award for my contributions as match
secretary and above all naming an award after me back in
2001. I can honestly say, without reservation, that I couldn't
have made it so far without all the emotional support. Whenever
I've faltered over the years, all I have to do is think back
on those days and the weight of the world seems to melt away.
With that said, let it be known that I will always consider
the lot of you to be my best friends until the end.
I'm compelled to relate a short story that I've often told
others but never shared among you. It was something that
happened while I was at the rehab recuperating. Once I was
stable and up for visitors a bunch of you came to pay me
a visit. It was so good to see some of the guys again. I
was in my wheelchair outside my room and most everybody had
gathered round. Everyone was joking probably to ease the
innate tension and awkwardness of the moment. But then there
was Bro..talking to one of the nurses about 30 feet away.
Just close enough for me to hear what he was saying...and
while the rest of us were cajoling..there was Bro..in tears..trying
to understand why I couldn't move my fingers. The nurse was
trying to explain it to him but he was just lost in the moment..trying
to get a handle on the why of it all. It was, in that moment
of repose from a distance that I knew all you guys were feeling
my hurt. And I suppose that's why I've been so endeared to
you all even though my life has led me away from you geographically
speaking.
While the club as a whole has been there for me over the
years, I wanted to convey my deepest thanks to you guys,
the one's that were there when it happened, the one's who
lifted me up and made me know that the Pride is for life.
There are a number of email addresses I didn't have such
as Graeme Law, David Hall, Con Erskine, Steve Taft , Vinnie
LaPiana, Chuck Pfau, Rich Joseph, Des Jones, Jim Donlin ,
Tim Ryan , A.J. Rengers, Shaun Quinn, Larry Zeno , the Moylans,
the Quigleys, Mike Maddock, Andy Rubin, Trey Frank and John
Steckert among others. If you see any names missing from
back then and know their email address, I'd be grateful if
you'd pass this along. I hate to think of missing anyone
of you on this email since everyone was instrumental in my
recovery.
I'm healthy and doing well and am living in Mechanicsburg
, PA just south of the capital ( Harrisburg ). I bought a
beautiful new house this summer which I'm quite proud of.
You should have seen me this summer out in my front yard
shagging 60lb. bags of mulch around like I was policing my
area and pulling someone of the ruck who was offsides. Once
a rugger, always a rugger! Thanks guys, thanks for always
being there!
See you some time next summer on my 50th birthday tour! One
last note of thanks to my Mom & Dad who have also always
been there for me and instilled in me perseverance and hard
work at all costs. Lest they forget!
Cheers....Mitch
P.S. You're all always welcome if you ever journey my way....plenty
of room in my new digs!! Also, a mention in memoriam to Geoff
Ferguson and Mike Cavanagh whom I'll never forget. They were
great guys and we had some great laughs together.
Brian
Mullery, a Chicago Lion since 1981 was on the fatal flight
that crashed in Phuketlast Saturday.
He leaves us and his wife Emma, children Matthew, Melissa,
Will and Michael.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Emma, their
children, their immediate families, the other victims and
their families from our extended rugby brotherhood.
8/18-8/19 CARFU brings home the LAU Championship
again
The
Lions led the CARFU select side to its third consecutive
Midwest LAU championship this past weekend in Traverse
City, MI.
CARFU defeated the Michigan Selects 24-17 in the tense
final. In pool play on Saturday, CARFU defeated Michigan
Developmental 45-5 (behind
John Coughlin's 4 tries) and Wisconsin 24-17 (the winning
margin a 50 meter sprint by Matt Potchad). The Lions were
represented by Alex Holguin, Chad Slaby, Matt Ross, Potchad,
BJ Brick, Matt Degutes, Scott Hogg, Brian Ferrell, Joe Stuckey,
Coughlin, and Adam Jones, and Chris McClellan (coach).
Two future Lions, Joe Malik and Brian Schmid, also played.
Slaby was chosen as the outstanding
forward for the side. http://www.record-eagle.com/2007/aug/19rugby.htm
The Lions defeated Washington
this past Saturday 90-0 and earned a spot in the playoffs.
The Lions start their playoff
race against Boston RFC in Boston this week.
