Return of THE FORCE to Akron

Northeast Ohio has a long history of Star Wars-themed sporting events. Long before the Rebel Legion or 501st were in existence, my parents used to take me out to the old Richfield Coliseum to watch The Cleveland FORCE indoor soccer team play.  The Cleveland FORCE promotional staff really played on the popularity of the “Star Wars” films; even had the players enter through a giant inflatable Darth Vader with his foot on a soccer ball.  You know that line in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back when Chris Rock says, "I think George Lucas is gonna sue somebody!" ... well, rumor is, he almost did!

Eventually, The Cleveland FORCE and indoor soccer league folded and the team’s history faded into legend.  That is… until The Akron Rubber Ducks decided to invite Great Lakes Base, Ohio Garrison, Rancor Clan and The Dark Empire to take part in their “The Richfield Coliseum Strikes Back” promotion. 

The Rubber Ducks put a new twist on the traditional “Star Wars Night” promotion that many minor league baseball teams are doing, and incorporating local fans love for the old Cleveland FORCE indoor soccer team.  The Rubber Ducks wore jerseys that resembled the old Cleveland FORCE uniforms, as well as welcomed former FORCE players: Hector Marinaro, Bruce Miller, Otto Orf, Walter Schlothauer and Mike Sweeney.

Seeing these guys brought back a lot of childhood memories for me: the “Star Wars” theme blasting as the players entered the arena, Kai Haaskivi kicking in a goal and the place would go INSANE! Marinaro (pictured above with me) played for the FORCE briefly in Richfield, then later rejoined the second incarnation of The Cleveland Force in the early 2000s.  In fact, my first (unofficial) Jedi costume was at a Cleveland FORCE game.

Unfortunately, the Force wasn’t with the Rubber Ducks this evening as they lost 7-5 to Erie Sea Wolves; despite a grand slam by Jordan Smith.

Julie Billiart SPACE DAY

Anyone with kids or knows a teacher understands the end of the school year is a chance to relax and have a little fun before summer recess.  Julie Billiart School decided to have a “space” theme for this year’s play day, and invited Great Lakes Base and Ohio Garrison to help participate in some of the activities.

Julie Billiart School, in Lyndhurst, Ohio, is an alternative K-8 catholic school, which works with children who have special learning needs. In a way, this school is kind of like the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters from the “X-Men” comics.  As I learned from one of the instructors, the school itself was is housed in a converted mansion. Which today makes these kids X-Wing-Men? (sorry, Rebel Pilot humor)

As it turned out, this was a homecoming of sorts for Fuzzball; who used to attend this school.  Our Jedi alumni supervised the “Yoda Yoga” lesson and other Jedi-themed games the kids were playing.  Meanwhile, I was trained future starfighter pilots before they navigated wheelchairs, dressed up like X-Wings.  The kids would pair up (one steers while the other toss bean bags at targets) while a few teachers and I would shower “asteroids” (balls of paper) as their X-Wings passed by. Meanwhile, our Stormtrooper escorted the groups of students to their respective stages.  At his station, the children would work on their accuracy (ironic, don’t ya think?) by throwing either a 'grenade', a rocket, or using a miniature golf club to swing a ball at a target.  Upon completing all three stations, each 'Jedi Academy student' was given a certificate of achievement.

Many of the kids were even dressed in their Star Wars halloween costumes, and even the ones who didn’t know much about Star Wars were having FUN with all the space-themed games.

It’s tough finding members from volunteer fan groups, who are available for an event request in the middle of a weekday. Yet even a small crew of dedicated individuals can bring smiles to kids faces… and at the heart of it all “it’s what we do!”