In just a few short days an event will take place at the Players Indoor Sports Center in Naperville, Illinois. The 13th annual Fann Cup Lacrosse Tournament. You may read about it in your local paper, if someone involved with it gets in touch with the press.
Some may be asking “What is Fann Cup?” Fann Cup is an event played by the fans of the game of lacrosse. Many of the teams take their names and/or colors from the teams that represent their hometown. Whether it be a team from the National Lacrosse League, or the Major Indoor Lacrosse League. the colors and teams are represented with pride. Buffalo Brigade (Bandits), Minnesota Stingers (Swarm), Philadelphia Wingnuts (Wings), Philadelphia Rage (Barrage), Toronto Roadies (Rock), Rochester Krewhawks (Knighthawks), and this years host the Chicago Cloverz (Shamrox). We also have a team of women, called the Lacrosstitutes (Tutes) and a team called the Spirit. This is a team made up of extra players from the other teams.
(from www.fanncup.com) It all started after a pickup lacrosse game in Toronto over a few pints. A group of Rock fans decided it be a good idea to challenge fans from the Knighthawks to a friendly game of lacrosse. In a few short weeks the inaugural Fann Cup was played, Toronto hosted the event and defeated a team made up of fans from Buffalo and Rochester. On that day Anthony Cosmo was the guest referee. They even had players and coaches in attendance, Pat O’Toole, Casey Zaph, Steve Penny, Corey Quinn just to name a few.
From their it started to build and build. In the second year Buffalo and Rochester had their own teams to go with Toronto, but Philadelphia was added and in their first year they brought the cup to Philadelphia.
In 2005 Toronto added two more teams to go with the four in the mix. 2006 saw the birth of the Philadelphia Rage, giving the city of Brotherly Love two teams. In 2007 Chicago joined the party. In 2010 an expansion boom happened. The Minnesota Stingers, Boston Brawlers and Team Spirt joined this party. Now as we hit year 13, some teams may not be able to make it this year, whether some just can’t afford the trvavel, time off from work, etc.. but in true Fann Cup spirit, those who are able to go without their team, have been signed off the waiver wire by other teams, and hopefully next year all will be able to attend.
In the past 12 years the Fann Cup has raised over $50,000 for numerous charities. Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Laurel House, Carlys Club, American Diabetes, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation to name a few.
This year money raised will go to two charities, Demand a Cure Today, finding a cure for cancer. The other is NW Recreation Assoc. This is for NW Chicago and a rec program to help children with disabilities to learn sports. For more information and to make a donation you can go to www.demandcurestoday.org and www.nwsra.org
You may wonder how is this money raised. Each player pays a fee of $60 (sometimes more depends on facility). Some of the money will go towards the charity, and sometimes the hotel that the players stay at will donate some of the proceeds, and sometimes a local sandwich shop may even pitch in. There is also an auction for items up for bids. The participants try to get items from their local teams for bidding. You could see an authentic Buffalo Bandit jersey from the MILL days, hockey jerseys, tickets, autographed jerseys, anything you could imagine. These items will be bid on by the fans playing the games.
The festivities for some have already started as some have began their journey driving from the Philadelphia area and making it a weeks vacation. Visiting some of the sites in Chi-Town from Soldier Field to the Willis Tower (Sears) to even taking in a couple Cubs games and seeing the historical Wrigley Field. Others will start their journey either by plane or automobie. A number of people will arrive throughout th day Thursday with the remainder of the gang coming in on Friday.
This is where it kicks off with the registration party. Waiver forms filled out, welcome bags, rules discussed and team schedules will be picked via a lottery draw, some food, and I believe there may be some adult beverages. Friends will reunite and catch up on the past years activities, new friendships will be made. Some will stay awake most of the night, some will turn in to get rest for the next full day.
When the sun rises on Saturday morning the anticipation is at its highest peak. Teams will line up for the Canadian and American National Anthems and the games will begin. There will be no crushing hits, no Air Gaits. Very light contact is allowed and stick to stick contact. Wrap around stick checks are not allowed, and neither is fighting. You fight in Fann Cup, you are thrown out permanently. Will tempers flare? Probably, but for a brief moment, after all it is a competition, and everyone wants to be the champion of the tournament. All that is required to play is a helmet, gloves and stick, if under 18 you must wear full gear.
Buffalo Bandits Goalie Anthony Cosmo with the Fann Cup
Once all this is completed you have the banquet on Saturday night where all will gather for a well deserving meal. Awards will be given out by each teams’ captains. Another team award will be presented. The Spirit Award. This was introduced in 2010 by the Philadelphia Rage. The award is presented to the team that has the most fun throughout the days events, demonstrates sportsmanship to fellow competitors. The only teams not eligible to win would be the two teams who play in the Fann Cup Final.
Team Spirit Award
There will be a toonie toss. A Toonie is a Canadian $2 coin. These coins will be slid across the floor and the closest to the prize, (usually a case of beer) will be the winner. We also have the Wheel of Crap. For $1 you get to spin the wheel and win some crap. Items can range from things you see in your local dollar store, to something people have around the house. All the proceeds from these two games will go to the charities as well.
No one will want the weekend to end, as again many will stay awake ’til it is time to get on the flight home, or drive their car home.
One thing is for certain, there will be pulled muscles, a couple bruises by an errant stick or getting hit by a ball. The chant of OW…OW…OW…OW will be heard all over Chicago and maybe back to everyone’s home town.
Everyone will return home a champion for their efforts this coming weekend as they know what they did to help out the charities. Then stories will be told to friends and family, and the anticipation starts to build as to where the next Fann Cup will be. And the Fann Cup motto will be repeated over and over.. “WIN OR LOSE…WE DRINK THE BOOZE”.
People have asked me why do I do this, I’m not a spring chicken. Here is what I tell them:
I do this for the love of the sport. I always wanted to play the game. Now, not only am I playing, I am raising money for charity, making a lot of fantastic friends. I also have the honor of playing along side of my daughter. Here are some more reasons as to why we do this:
Past Winners of The Spirit Award.
2010—Lacrossetitutes
2011—Minnesota Stingers
2012—Buffalo/Philadelphia (teams merged–Buffadelphia)
2013—Spirit
FANN CUP CHAMPIONS
Toronto Roadies-—2002, 2013
Phila. Wingnuts-—2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 (co-champions)
Buffalo Brigade—2004
Rochester Krewhawks—2005
Chicago Cloverz—2009, 2010 (co champions), 2011, 2012.
Check back on Friday morning for what happened on Day 1 of Fann Cup Weekend from Chicago!!!
