Sheamus Liam McLellin's Career in Jeopardy

U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Michel Sauret on behalf of

416th Theater Engineer Command Army Reserve

derivative: Diddykong1130

Shea McClellin has been at New England for two years and was released a couple days after Saint Patrick’s Day this year. McClellin, 28, signed with New England as an unrestricted free agent from Chicago on March 18, 2016. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder was a first-round draft pick (19th overall) out of Boise State in the 2012 NFL Draft, but failed to perform at a first-round level.

Various injuries and uncertainty just how to use McClellin contributed to a mixed NFL experience. A first round draft pick for Chicago, can be a tough route with a history of linebackers such as Urlacher, Singletary, Butkus, George, etc. The Bears moved McClellin around, knowing they had a talent, but wondering if they had him in the wrong position. McClellin would play for 3 Defensive Coordinators for the Bears.

McClellin was a great story. A country boy who was raised essentially by his grandparents who had overcome great challenges. An excellent college player from Boise State where he played defensive end.

Injured all of 2017 (he suffered from concussions), he played for 5 seasons (2012-2016) and started in 35 games: 31 for Chicago and 4 for New England. He had 200 tackles. In 2015 he had 81 tackles in 12 games for the Bears. Big salary, great expectations, McClellin was released by Chicago and the media called him a flop, but ,many of us wished him well and wanted him to succeed wherever he went.

In New England, McClellin was another role player in Belichick’s arsenal. In 2016 with New England, McClellin appeared in 14 contests and started in 4. In a game against Miami, with the Dolphins inside the 10-yard line, he recovered a fumble and ran it back 69 yards—a franchise record.  In another spectacular play, McClellin leaped over Ravens long snapper Morgan Cox and blocked a Justin Tucker field goal attempt. In Super Bowl LI, the Patriots beat the Falcons in overtime and McClellin started at linebacker.  

The Boston Herald reported McClellin was cut due to failed physical designation The Patriots used their first two picks on day three for linebackers: their fifth-round selection was Purdue’s 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, Ja’Whaun Bentley. They selected Arizona State’s 6-foot-2, 244 pounds, Christian Sam with No. 178 in the sixth round.

It’s tough to say whether McClellin will land with another team in the pros or whether he wants to play again based on recent injuries.

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Ten NFL coaching heavyweights are expertly covered in author Patrick McCaskey's Pillars of the NFL: Coaches Who Have Won Three or More Championships (Pub 2014)  This is an important project because it entertains and informs--plus it helps keep the memory of many great coaches alive.

The Big Irish Guy's New Book on Chicago 16 Inch Softball

Irish American Tim Maher's new long-anticipated book on Chicago Softball is now out! Check out his new website dedicated to the book called We Are Chicago's Game: 16 Inch No Glove Softball. Check out his appearance on The Skinny and Houli Show. 

At this site you can also see information on Tim's football book on Saint Rita's season 3 Yards and a Cloud of Dust that describes St. Rita's run at the 1970-1971 Catholic League and Prep Bowl Championship. 

If you grew up playing 16 inch softball games or just watched the fun at your local park, you will enjoy this book by one of the biggest sports celebrities in Chicago. 

For South Siders, both books are now available at Bookies at 10324 South Western Avenue in Chicago. 

When Irish Eyes are Not Smiling

A few months back I joined an international group of Irish people on a social media site. This is international now, so you didn't have be an Irish citizen to belong. And I posted a sentiment of mine that I really hope the Irish people were not going to abandon Catholicism in Ireland because for me it was a huge part of the way I looked at Ireland. I also wrote briefly about things we have in the states that came from Europe that you can no longer find in Europe, etc. The idea was not to suggest that my opinion should somehow force the Irish to cower and mend their ways with the Church, it was just a personal expression of hope that the Irish would keep the faith--after all I had always looked to Ireland for faithful people--including many of the priest we had who were from Ireland. And I have seen a lot in the press including things directly from Ireland that suggest a loss of faith. 

Many of us here still love their priests. 

Well, what I got in return was a lot of vinegar--commenting on how incredibly rude I was and that I would have the gall to suggest anything to the Irish, etc. So I thanked the folks, closed the social media door and never went back. I'll keep my thoughts to my own blogs and if people don't like them, don't come knocking. 

Unlike many of my relatives, I have never been to Ireland, although I would have enjoyed it. I was raising 6 children and money was always tight. I didn't hang out in bars or taverns either, although a cold Harp every now and then was appreciated. I didn't play golf or bowl or go on long holidays. I've rarely seen professional sports live, gone to plays, eaten at fancy restaurants. But for me doing my best for the kids was always the priority and frankly it was what I enjoyed most in life. But certainly I failed plenty of times. Do I have regrets? Yes, plenty of them. Would I do things different? Yes, plenty of things. 

I grew up in an Irish neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.  My relatives were terrible singers,  good drinkers, and most were church-goers. We were no meat on Friday and respect-the-priests and-nuns Irish Catholics. And being Irish for us was all wrapped up in our Catholic parish--although in those days we had a lot of people who looked down their noses at others. It wasn't always bright and sunny in the parish, although that had little to with God and more to do with his human creation.  

But, the parish and the Church was a potent force for us. In fact the South Side Irish Parade practically steps off from from my old Parish stoop. 

My childhood neighborhood has more Irish bars than ever, and has many Irish cultural organizations. I heard today that a local Irish Restaurant/Bar had a Irish Soda Bread baking contest and they had 151 entries. Down south of the city, they have a park that features Irish sports and they are regaling everything Irish.  

And likewise when the Irish are here from the island, they have their opinions and express them--much like any tourist. 

Here in the United States people often have their ancestry confirmed by taking one of those genetic tests. That gets a laugh from people from Ireland because they say they are so authentically Irish. No test needed. But the US is loaded with people who have bits and pieces of this and that, so the test tells you some things that you may have no way of knowing. In fact, a lot of people here have been lied to by relatives all their lives, they take one of these test and find that are something completely different. 

But for many people of faith in the United States who have come from other parts of the world, your home ground where the origins of your faith were born is important. German Catholics were concerned about their people who came over here and started up farms in places like Kansas and Missouri. They sent sisters and priests along with money to build schools and help manage monasteries and convents. It's painful for a faithful German American to go back and see beautiful churches empty that are more museums than places of worship. It must be especially painful when the German ancestors sent money over to help American Germans keep the faith and it turns out that the Germans are not keeping it themselves. Hitler could not totally kill off the faith, but modernism is doing it without the guns and terror.

The Irish came over and then many priests followed. After a while, they would be likely to look at a trip back to Ireland as a kind of a pilgrimage and a comfort. When you go back to your home country and find that the churches are empty, it's disconcerting especially for the Irish when they were fighting tooth and nail to retain their faith--some even when starving--remember "taking the soup." 

I wrote about a beautiful photograph of one of my sisters walking along the coast in Ireland: 

I can't speak for all Irish Americans, but it's views like this that bring me closer to God than a grand view of Rome or even a religious site in Bethlehem.  Jesus is everywhere, but for some strange reason I can feel him in Ireland best of all, where my ancestors first got down on their knees. 

For many modern Irish, faith seems to have replaced the English as the necessary vilain in Ireland. Here in the states we have so many victims of one thing or another, many of us have grown immune to complaints. And maybe that's the rub. But a country that rids itself of faith is not a place of pilgrimage, it's a place of regret. So I'll say it once more, I hope the Irish don't give up their faith. 

Brendan of Birr One of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland

Attribution: Andreas F. Borchert, Stained Glass Window at St. Brendan Church, Birr

In my book called The Brown and White the lead character Collin Callaghan is a high school boy from an Irish Catholic family. As an Irish Catholic American, you may not have all your i's dotted and your t's crossed on authentic Irish culture. It's funny  though because I have to wonder how many of us have it all together on our own culture.  In some ways we think we live in the culture and if that is not authentic enough, than what is? 

I am not so sure.  

I remember many years ago working in downtown Chicago.  I came from a family that included policemen, nurses, and teachers.  I thought my touch points with the culture were pretty strong. But a funny thing happened when I worked on Sundays at Kroch's and Brentano's bookstore. A very different group of Chicagoans would come out of their Lake Shore Drive apartments/condos, take a short cab ride  and shop. The young people would come with their parents and grandparents and come into the store.  The pace was very slow, none of them seemed to be in a hurry. I think many times there were making a day of it--and after shopping going for dinner and maybe a show or a play. Probably spending more on entertaining in one day than my family did in a month. 

While my family and many others in Chicago at the time had toiled with junky cars, old houses, and cheap meals--the Lake Shore Drive folks were remarkably different. Many of them never owned a car or had them stored away somewhere for the rare occasions when they needed them. A house with a yard wasn't part of their American dream. The kids went to private schools that I never heard about and when they shopped and ended with a hoard of parcels, they paid for some kind of delivery service. 

The North Shore residents would look out each morning on the lake.  Most city experiences that I might remember were not shared with these people--but certainly they were part of Chicago--contributing to the culture too--in fact today, many would suggest that they had a better grip on the city than me. They lived close to museums, the music halls, the theaters, downtown and the lake.

I remember later on in life reading O. Henry's stories of New Yorkers. They say O. Henry  loved all 4 Million New Yorkers and he wrote stories about many. At one time, he write a story a week. And his characters experiences were human and surprising. 

I guess the lesson for me was that it was not so easy to understand the culture of a city, because it has many elements and people come from many backgrounds. It also reminds me to keep my eyes open to learn about culture and different things it offers. 

And while I see our culture, I will also continue to look at Irish culture and enjoy doing it. 

St. Brendan of Birr 

Brendan of Birr is one of the twelve apostles of Ireland, twelve Irish monastic saints of the sixth century who studied under St Finnian at Clonard Abbey.  St. Brendan was born about 500 and the year of his death is not agreed upon by scholars, but most think he died about 572. Sometimes confused with the more well know, St Brendan of Clonfert (the Navigator), St. Brendan became a friend of St Columba (also known as Columkill) and St Brendan the Navigator. It was at this time the monks of Ireland began a period of 300 years of illuminated manuscript creation. The Book of Kells being the most famous is said to come from one of the monasteries of St. Columba—the Kells Monastery or perhaps created at Iona in whole or in part and then shipped to Kells for safety.

St. Brendan of Birr founded a monastery at Birr in central Ireland although everything we know about Brendan comes from the writings on other Irish Saints. After St. Columba was excommunicated, St. Brendan defended him and told others that Columba was held in high esteem by God and his excommunication was rescinded.  St. Columba would go on to found his celebrated monastery at Iona, an island in the Inner Hebrides off the coast of Scotland.

St. Brendan of Birr’s feast day is November 29^th. Brendan's monastery at Birr is said by some to have created the MacRegol Gospels (after Brendan’s death), which are now housed at the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

Larry Norris is the publisher of Sports and Faith Book 2 and Pilgrimage by Patrick McCaskey. 

Father Burke Masters

Sports and Faith

 In our second Sports and Faith Series book, Sports and Faith: More Stories of the Devoted and the Devout, our author Patrick McCaskey discusses Father Burke Masters, who received Sports Faith International’s Father Smyth Award that recognizes an athlete who has left the sports world for a religious vocation.  Father Masters is the Vocation Director for the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois.

Father Masters has also been involved in “Spirit and Truth,” a young adult Eucharistic Adoration community program that has gatherings that include a talk, adoration, and then fellowship time.  The program has brought young adults of like minds together, fostered vocations, and also brought together people who have gotten married.  There are three groups now in the Diocese of Joliet. 

Father Masters is also the Chaplain for the Chicago Cubs.  He has a popular blog on which he posts his reflections on the daily readings that is followed by people from dozens of countries. There are a lot of negative things that we all get from the Internet whether we want them or not.  But Father Masters is someone you may want to subscribe to and get his message daily.

To subscribe, go to http://frburke23.wordpress.com and go to the right hand column.  Click on “Sign me up!” and start receiving these emails directly to your inbox.

Kerry Group; A Growing Force that Began in Ireland by Lawrence Norris

On  this blog, I have been writing about all-things Irish from an Irish American persepective.  This post is about a block-buster Irish Multi-National called Kerry Group. Kerry Group is one of the biggest companies originating out of Ireland

In 1972,  a state owned company, a group of small farmer co-operatives and a US company formed what is now known as Kerry to manufacture milk protein (casein) to the United States. Almost immediately, the company acquired other companies and organizations. 

From primarily a dairy company, Kerry expanded into meat products, specialty food products, food ingredients, and made a strong push into its future with a research and development focus. It was becoming a leading Irish Multinational. Through more acquisitions, Kerry’s growth and development created a leading global food ingredients corporation. Building its Global Technology and Innovation Centre in Beloit, Wisconsin, Kerry allows customer collaboration to develop innovative products that can be delivered quickly and differentiate offerings in the marketplace. The Center has been a model for new facilities that Kerry has built across the globe. Kerry has been shifting naturally to a more holistic provider of Taste and Nutrition to the global food, beverage and pharmaceutical markets to help serve consumers who want to live better, feel better and eat better.

In recent months, Kerry Group has purchased Geneden a small company whose technology focuses on probiotics and who holds many patents. It is thought that technology and know-how from companies such as Geneden can be used across many components of the Kerry Group operations. 

“Kerry Group sponsors the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award in its 22nd year. The €15,000 Award recognizes Ireland’s leading literary talent. Kerry Group’s involvement with Concern’s RAIN project supports farmers and helps preserve vibrant and economically viable rural communities. Kerry Group sponsors Kerry Group’s Rás Mumhan, the first major Stage Race of the Irish Cycle Racing season. The race covers over 500 km . 

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The Brown and White

Lawrence Norris is the author of the The Brown and White, a fictionalized memoir that tells the story of Collin Callaghan's freshman year at a Chicago Catholic High School. Collin is a white boy who is living in turbulent times in a changing city. He clings to his neighborhood and his family as he heads out each day with his classmates on the Brown and White, the ancient school bus driven by free-spirited Willie. Memorable characters abound as this story unfolds. Collin's loveable family, especially his Irish Catholic policeman father and his Irish immigrant mother face life together. 

Another South Side Irish Adventure

Someone who knows about job searches had just told me that I needed to sharpen up my resume and get some kind of narrative going on my own personal talents.  I thought I might just take it to the next level and meet with my informal adviser, Willie the Bus Driver from my high school alma mater, Mount Carmel High School. I wanted Willie's thoughts. Willie's been dead for many years, but being Irish and supersitious, I never let death put a halt to good conversation. So I was game if Willie was.

Willie was a tough guy although tiny--his features were elfish like  Santa Claus. Instead of red, he dressed in grey like the Maytag repairman.  Unlike Santa, who has a magic dentist, Willie had few teeth. And he talked kind of funny, but he was our man. We loved Willie and knew there was wisdom in most everything he said.

So I walked over to 114th and Western in Chicago this morning and waited for the Brown and White bus. The bus was a long time coming.  It has been in some kind of other dimension. But it did come at last and Willie pulled the bus over and the huge old fashioned mechanical doors swung open. I hopped up the stairs just like the old days and showed Willie my old Carmel ID-shown above. He looked it over and looked at me and said: "how does I know it's you?" Before I could think of anything to say, Willie said, "Oh, forget it."

As I sat accross from Willie, it dawned on me that I was approaching Willie's age now, the age that the "old boy" had died. Once I got past that scary thought, he looked over at me and said, "so why does you want to see me, Norris."

"Well, Willie, you see I am having difficulty finding a new job and people tell me I have to really sell myself.  And it's just hard and I thought I would ask someone who could help me--maybe make up some bull. And I thought of you."

Willie looked at me and said, "I think yoos got yousself the wrong man, Norris.  I am no good at bull, but maybe I can help."

I wasn't sure I agreed with what Willie said, but I waited for the wisdom. Willie stopped talking for a few minutes and he lit up a smoke--a Marlboro long.

"Well, I'd drop the bull and tell them yoos went to Mount Carmel.  That has to help, duzntit?"

"I guess I could do that, I usually just put my colleges, Benedictine College and National Louis University on my resume, but who knows, maybe that might work," I said.

I started to wonder if I had overestimated Willie's wisdom. 

As the bus pulled up toward 107th Street, Willie said, "We're going to pick up your old pal Hannie. Maybe he has some ideas."

Jeez, I thought, this is getting kinda of complicated.  First I pull Willie out of retirement (and the grave) and now he has a guest for me. 

There with a couple of sweet rolls about the size of frisbies and a stryrofoam cups of hot coffee stood one of the south side's greatest politicians who never ran for public office, my old pal Hannie.  Hannie was a couple inches taller than Willie. Today,  he dressed a little like Buster Brown. I closed my eyes and shook my head and then looked again, but he was still dressed the same way--like a very old fashioned school boy.  Then I remembered, Hannie wore Buster Brown shoes.  Then it dawned on me that as usual whoever had control of things today was not me.  

The big mechanical door swung open and Hannie climbed up the stairs. In a second or two he was sitting across from me.  He handed one coffee and sweet roll to Willie and took the other for himself.  He had done the same every morning he took the brown and white in high school and it seemed natural today.

I looked at Hannie a little puzzled because I knew most of the neighborhood had changed. "Where'd you get the sweet rolls?"

"Wendt's diner, open today for this special occassion," exclaimed Hannie.

I looked across the steet and sure enough the restaurant and sign had reappeared after many years. And when I looked closely, I could see old man Wendt in his white shirt and apron. "He must be 110 at least," I said.

"No, he was younger when he died and thats where he stays," said Hannie.

Not sure how the age of the dead works out, I just kept quiet.

Willie looked at Hannie and thanked him for the treats. Then he said, "Hannie, your old Pal, Norris, here isn't having much luck finding a job and he wants to know if yoos have any ideas for him."

Hannie looked at me and said, "so that's the deal--wondered what this was all about.  You're looking for some connections."

"No, Hannie, I am just wondering what in the hell I am doing wrong, it's just not working."

"Well, my uncle was the president of the outside electricians, but he's dead. And you know my mom worked at city hall and she knew the first Daley, but she is long dead, too."

And then as Willie and I stared at each other, Hainnie went through a litany of dead people, a hundred names or more who could have helped me, but they were all gone. It was a good refresher course for our time back in the day on the South Side. 

"Well, Hannie, maybe you can ask all the dead for their prayers, that might be about best."

"OK, Norris, they can sure do that."

My mind wonered back to my dad who had some connections, but he told my brother and I that there would be no new policemen in the family. By the time I was in high school, not only were the cops poorly paid, but they were harassed by war demonstraters and villainized like never before. They got no respect and my dad wanted us to have some of that. 

Willie interupted, "well boys we are approaching 103rd Street and that means Dan Dollar will be there. Maybe Dollar will have some ideas."

Sure enough, the brown and white pulled up and there was Dollar, a little grey around the edges, but sporting his old buckskin coat with leather fringe. Dollar was our entertainment in high school, he did  immitations of teachers, movies stars, comedians and other notables. He was one of the coolist guys in high school--at least we thought so, but we weren't exactly in the "cool club."  Suddenly, I felt excited.  I knew Dad was a late-bloomer and had manuevered his way around the Chicago Public School system. If anyone would know the ropes to job hunting, it would be him.

The bus stopped and Willie opened the huge door. The stooped figure of Dan Dollar bound up the stairs and deposit himself on a seat.  About a second after we go the "how the hell are you, Dollar," out of our mouths, Dollar was doing his immitations of the top entertainers like he had done back in the day. I thought  he would be doing new stars of the day; Dan was always very contemporary. But instead he entertained with routines from the old Ed Sullivan Show including two of the wierdest acts by today's standards, Poppo Gigio and  Senor Wences. Not very cool, but for us very entertaining. As in school, Dan added a boy's high school twist to the humor and I am not sure if it would have passed decency standards. 

After some "oh Eddie's" and funky Spanish, we give Dollar some warm applause.  Dollar looked over at me and said, "so what do you need?"

I explained for him all the problems I had with job hunting. The dead ends, the frustations over all kinds of things involved in it and the idea that people were looking for long lists of talents that certainly no human being had. Dollar leaned back and looked at me and then over at Hainne and Willie.  "You know what he needs to win at the job game today, don't you?"

Hainnie shook his head.

Willie light up another cigarette and said nothing.

I looked at Dollar and exasperated, I said, "OK, what!"

Dollar looked at me and said, "Sharp elbows. You need to move in and clear everyone else out of the way."

"Sharp elbows," I said.  You mean we wake Willie from the dead, he brings this bus from another dimention, and we all come back to the school bus for a dose of wisdom and we get "sharp elbows?"

Dillon looks at me and says, "What do you expect from a guy who looks like the Maytag Repairman, another dressed as Buster Brown and an amateur comedian who looks like an aging rock star? If you wanted some genius ideas on a job, you should have had Bill Gates and Warren Buffet!" 

I looked at myself in my high school Brown and White coat and started to feel kind of foolish. For the rest of the trip to nowhere we sat by the windows and looked girl's legs in the cars below. Just like the old days, I thought.  

The Brown and White

Forty plus years in the making, The Brown and White is a fictionalized memoir that tells the story of Collin Callaghan's freshman year at a Chicago Catholic High School. Collin is a white boy who is living in turbulent times in a changing city. He clings to his neighborhood and his family as he heads out each day with his classmates on the Brown and White, the ancient school bus driven by free-spirited Willie. Memorable characters abound as this story unfolds. Collin's loveable family, especially his Irish Catholic policeman father and his Irish immigrant mother face life together. Collin and classmates blaze their own humorous and passionate trail through the late 1960s. A unique cast of terrific teachers are there to see the boys through. Laughs and life meet readers head on as they travel on the Brown and White.

Virtue for Exemplary Lives

Patrick McCaskey

"Hope sustains and ecourages us. In many ways it is the virtue of those who lead exemplary lives--those who are active not passive."

From: Patrick McCaskey's Sports and Faith: Stories of the Devoted and the Devout.

Sports and Faith: Stories of the Devoted and the Devout is a personal chronicle of Chicago Bears Senior Director Patrick McCaskey that looks back at decades of spiritual enrichment and life lessons from athletes, coaches, religious and everyday people. McCaskey recalls the stories of those who worked hard to make the cut on and off the field plus people who left comfortable lives to serve the under-served in extraordinary ways.

Look of the Irish, Why not?

I think when you get older you tend to look at things through a kind of lense that opens up to what you value and love.  Maybe you've learned a few things as well and you appreciate what they call diversity today. But diversity is a much overused word. I think I tend to see people as not so much "diverse" or different from me, but really more similar although they are different. Some will think I am just fooling myself and don't get it, and maybe they are right. But in the past week when puzzling on things, I have said "I am not that bright" so I am going to keep to the simple notion that I am delivering here. 

The photo above is my grandson Ciaran. 

I have one of those blended families, so I have three grandchildren and I love them all. Of course, when you are a step-grandfather, like I am for two of my grandchildren, you want to make sure you don't step on anyone's toes and take credit for things maybe you shouldn't.  One of my step grandchildren, Jacob Liam,  lived with us for a year and he visits for a few days at a time now.  His long stay left an emotional impression on me that I can't really explain (remember I said that I am not that bright so I don't have to). But let me get back to Ciaran. 

As you can see by the photo, there is something soulful and poetic about Ciaran. And like his name, he speaks Irish to me. And by that I mean that he exudes grace and a sacred message for me that I interpret with an Irish heart. And for me, a sacred message is an Irish message because that's how I was raised.  As a young boy, I looked over at my Irish dad in church and saw him praying his rosary and Ciaran reminds me of my dad and his faith. The image of my father praying says everything to me. 

Cairan  is beautiful and I would not want to change a thing on him. He is my daughter's son and she is a beautiful woman with a lot of Irish.  But I have to be honest, Ciaran takes after his dad. And I don't think his dad is Irish at all--though he is an artistic and soulful man. But I have come to appreciate diversity as I have said. And yet, Ciaran looks Irish, because I am Irish and I love him and I see everything with Irish eyes, because I have two of those. 

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My Irish Catholic book is called The Brown and White. 

Saint Augustine and His Mother Saint Monica

Sports and Faith II 

The following passage is from Sports and Faith: More Stories of the Devoted and the Devout by Patrick McCaskey, Copyright 2015, Sporting Chance Press.

Saint Monica is remembered as the mother of Saint Augustine.  Monica was an innocent and pious Catholic who was married to a Pagan named Patritius, who was likely a drinker as well as a carouser.  Monica had three children: sons Augustine and Navigius, and a daughter, Perpetua.  She wanted her children to be Baptized and brought up in the faith, but she was hindered by Patritius until he himself was converted.  Patritius died after his Baptism and left Monica a widow.

Monica spent many hours praying for her son Augustine’s conversion and salvation.   Saint Augustine would look back on his youth as a time of reckless immoral behavior. 

Augustine was promiscuous, lazy, and a reveler.  Augustine took up with a mistress with whom he had a son and lived for many years.   Saint Monica was a devout Christian and impressed those around her by her faith and prayer life.  Augustine’s mistress was not an acceptable wife and he hated to leave her, but he did.  He took his son Adeodatus (gift from God). Further consternation resulted from Augustine’s adoption of Manichaeism.  Manichaeism was a popular religion at the time that divided the world between good and evil principles with things material considered evil and things immaterial intrinsically good.  This dualistic theology was at best a heresy.  Monica was so disturbed by this turn in her son, that she originally barred the door to him. 

As Monica did all her life, she prayed and prayed and prayed.  She was assisted by  Saint Ambrose in converting Augustine.  Biographical information on Monica is sketchy at best, but it was suggested that she was at least temped by drink and managed to fight it off.  Her ability to avoid the destructive nature of vice as well as her incredible faith and untiring prayer life has made her a Patron Saint of Alcoholics.   Saint Monica example of the power of prayer has stood out for Christians over the centuries.

 Saint Augustine went on to give his wealth to the poor, his life to the priesthood, and his labors to the Catholic community of his time.  Bishop Augustine is considered one of the greatest Christian writers and a Doctor of the Church.

Alcoholism is a disease that is passed down over the generations.  Three generations of my family were alcoholics until my father put it on hold.  When he was fifteen, he had five beers while singing in a saloon one night.  His head was spinning.  He came home and said to his mother, “I’ll never drink again.”  I followed his example and have stayed away from it altogether.  I believe I am a better man for it. 

Saint Augustine’s Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.

—Saint Augustine

Jordan Lynch Back at Northern Illinois University

Jordan Lynch

If you are checking the stats and game notes for the Edmonton Eskimos in Canada this year to see how former quarterback of Northern Illinois University Jordan Lynch is faring, well, he is back at NIU this season coaching running backs. Lynch is a fellow alum of Mount Carmel High School. 

Canadian teams have a swarm of quarterbacks because they play on a much bigger field in a more wide open game. Often, the QBs in Canada have kind of an old school toughness and a personality to go along with it. The Canadians do not pay anything like the NFL here, so it's not like you can go up to Canada, play a few years and sit back and live comfortably. Most players also have their eye on the next step in their career and just how they are going to look after their families full time. 

So for reasons known to Lynch, he decided to hang it up in Canada and head back to the sideline in DeKalb where he works for his old coach, Rob Carey. I had an opportunity to meet Coach Carey a few years ago and I was impressed. Carey is a supurb coach and a very smart guy. His program is excellent and I'd have to believe his staff is a great place to start a coaching career. 

In coaching, at the professional and college level, there is often  a lot of movement that goes on.  There is also a progression of steps that are often involved, but things happen in unusual ways as well. It's not always clear, but you move up in responsibility as you go along. Sometimes you stay with a head coach as they move from school to school. People have different goals and not everyone wants to be a head coach. Some in fact go back to high school, and some even go on to the pros.  

I remember researching the life of Bill Belichick and his dad Steve was a good coach. But Steve wanted more stability than what would be offered  by just coaching, so he focused on scouting and teaching at the Naval Academy. Bill Belichick himself took another path and started working in the pros where he did things like drive the other coaches around and pick up lunches--he moved up from there. So there are traditional roles and some other roads you can take, but it depends on your goals and circumstances--and then like any job there is a matter of  things like luck, fate, destiny. 

I wish Jordan Lynch great success in his next step. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pray for Us. 

Lawrence Norris is the author The Brown and White, a fictionalized memoir about his time in High School. 

Two New Books by Chicago Irish: Houlihan on Politics and Maher on Catholic League Football

A couple Irish Chicago men have new books out.  They are like night and day, but both authors are known widely here and media men.

For fans of Chicago politics, Mount Carmel Alum Mike "Houli" Houlihan has a new book out called Nothing's on the Square about his experiences on the 2015 mayoral campaign trail with Jesus “Chuy” Garcia who was running against Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Rick Kogan, of Chicago Tribune/WGN Radio, calls the book:

“a deep dive into the wicked and wacky world of Chicago politics with a man who knows the score. An incisive, rollicking, intimate trip.”

Houlihan is chairman of Hibernian Transmedia, a public charity dedicated to Irish and Irish American culture. Known to many Chicagoans, Houlihan wears many hats. In addition to his involvement in politics and public relations, he is an actor, playwright, radio show host, producer and author to name a few. His books beside Nothing on the Square include Hooliganism Stories and More Hooliganism Stories. His one man biographical play called “Goin’ East on Ashland” was performed in Chicago for six years. 

Nothing on the Square is available on Amazon and his publisher at https://abbeyfealepress.com . Checkout Houli's Facebook page for news of upcoming book signings as they are schedule and where you can meet the author.

For fans of Chicago high school football and the Catholic league, Tim Maher has a new book. I have spoken to Tim Maher the past 6 months or so as he was preparing his 3 Yards and a Cloud of Dust for publication.  The book is out now and available at Chicago Catholic League Football. Tim was certainly a big part of the St. Rita Championship Season that his book covers. But he is one of those guys who has been a big part of sports in Chicago at its most visceral level.  He sweats, bleeds, and breathes Chicago sports. 

Tim's reach goes way beyond St. Rita and even football. One of his other life-time avocations has been Chicago softball and he is a member of the Softball (16") Hall of Fame. He has been involved with media coverage of Chicago sports for many decades. 

But there are many things about 3 Yards and a Cloud of Dust that are attractive to many people--I hesitate to even suggest the people who will read it because it's a little like one of those items on the Antique Road Show that appeals to collectors from different genres. Tim's book is definitely a football story, a Catholic League story, a Chicago story and more. And the book is very visual--tons of photos, lists, and even a poem here or there.  

One of the elements to the book that I know Tim felt very strongly about was the reproduction of coaching notes for each of the games described in the book for St. Rita's run at the 1970-1971 Catholic League and Prep Bowl Championship. The notes are included as they were written so readers are taken back to the time in every way possible. 

After writing my own book about high school called The Brown and White, I was reminded of the allegiance that athletes certainly have to their schools. I think this is likely the case of the players just having so much deeper roots with their schools than most kids based on the sacrifices and frankly the punishment that they put in while there.  The after hours, endless practices, and training create a bond that might be described as Marine-like. And in most cases, there was a payoff in that the athletes were often the kids most respected and appreciated at the schools.  At least in my era, no one was paying much attention to the Science or French Club (I was in Fr. Pryor's Science Club).  At Mount Carmel (my school), most everyone wanted to be on one of the teams.  I think we had at least half the school try out for the football team and I suspect the same might be true for Tim's St. Rita, and other schools such at Mendel, Brother Rice, etc. 

Of course, the teachers and administrators at the schools take academics very seriously and want their students to succeed in life and become good men. Tim alludes to that in the book as well, but he comes at it from an athletes perspective. This is a football book, after all.

And that allegiance, that love of school and the significant impact that it has, well, it is a big part of Tim's story.  It is not so much a point made in the lines of text, it is often between the lines. 

Tim is a product of Visitation parish in Chicago. I don't think there was ever a parish that produced football players like Visitation--a school that produced athletes who would star in the preps and then go on to many of the best colleges. 

I've learned at times not to project how people will read and how much they will appreciate what someone writes. I have been involved in publishing my entire adult life and there are always surprises.  At the same time, a story like Tim's could only be created by Tim--it is not an exact narrative or something that was written to intellectually reach interested parties.  It is more like a battle plan and diary that gives athletes, their families, and others a return ticket to the time, the place, and the deeds. I suspect, some people may spend a half an hour with the book and others will pick it up again and again. 

If you have your own Chicago "crew" from a Chicago Catholic school, Tim has prices that will allow you to buy a number of books to check off en masse for your Christmas list. For everyone else it's certainly affordable for a single copy purchase. 

Athletes often suggest that they stand "shoulder to shoulder" with each other at difficult times.  Tim's book reminds us that commitment of that kind can come early in life and live on.