Fann Cup weekend has officially ended. People started coming into Chicago last weekend, seeing the sites, ball games and just driving around seeing what the city has to offer.
Friday night was the registration party, waivers signed, a bag that had a commemorative glass and a t-shirt for the event. Once the participants finished all of that, the fun started. Friends who haven’t seen each other since last years event started to catch up, some met new friends and went to one of the many restaurants to enjoy the Chicago cuisine. Others stayed back, ordered out and in typical Fann Cup fashion began to enjoy some adult beverages.
This is Fann Cup, friends gather to play a game we love, get together with friends and just have fun. Thats what it is all about. It doesn’t matter if you win the tournament, if you can play all six games (or however many the body will allow) and leave saying “I had a great time”, then you have captured the Fann Cup spirit.
Saturday began with the opening ceremonies followed by both the Canadian and American national anthems. Once that ended the games began, some teams getting an early break, some playing 4 in a row until lunch. In typical Fann Cup fashion, there was the dispute of rules. We had two officials and a few players from the CILL Chicago Outlaws officiating. We played on three floors, and after speaking to a number of the participants, they said the officials were not all on the same page as far as the rules went. There was even an incident where a player disputed a non-call, and after the player asking why the call wasn’t made, the official basically flipped the player off.
As the games were played we had some unbelievable action. Some highlight goals being scored as well as some highlight saves. We had a few first time Fann Cup participants who loved it and can’t wait til next year. By the time all the games were played and we all returned to the hotel to soak in the hot tub, the Larosstitutes won their first Fann Cup title.
As the banquet started you could see the smiles on everyones faces, telling you the fun that was had at the event. As dinner ended the auction items started getting bids placed on them. Some of the items included a guitar, various professional lacrosse jerseys (some signed), even an authentic MILL Bandit jersey which was donated by the the commissioner of the NLL George Daniel. Along with those items we had a number of lacrosse shafts and heads.
After the dinner and auction was over, the party continued outside the banquet room with a game of flip cup. While this was going on we also had a wedding reception going on as well. This meant only one thing to us. Can we crash the reception, or how long before some of the guests or bridal party join in our fun. It didn’t take long at all as a few of the bridal party joined in on the game of flip cup. Mission accomplished!
But the highlight of the tournament and the true meaning of Fann Cup came from the Minnesota Stingers and the Buffalo Brigade. The Stingers now in there 6th year of Fann Cup had a 0-22 record, they even made shirts for it as well. This year started no different as the lost the first 4 games. That is until the Buffalo Brigade came to play.
The teams took the floor and tossed their sticks into the middle and chose sides, playing the two 15 minute halves, with no score being kept. Less skilled players were given the chance to get the ball and take a shot with no pressure, some even scored. Then with about 3 minutes left we had a “jail break”. Both benches emptied to play the rest of the game, and we even had the referee exchange his whistle for a stick with a player. As the game ended the teams received a huge ovation from the other teams.
As the awards were announced for the offensive/defensive player and M.V.P. of each team their was no question who this years Spirit Award would go to.
Congratulations to the Buffalo Brigade and Minnesota Stingers, otherwise known as Buffasota for showing us the true meaning of Fann Cup.
Now that most have returned home and prepare to return to work, some are still driving home as they take in some of the sites of the country. We all are starting to countdown the time until Fann Cup 2015, place and dates will be announced at a later time.
Be safe my Fann Cup family,until we all meet again next year. Thank You for a great weekend. “WIN OR LOOSE….WE DRINK THE BOOZE!!!
