UNITED STATES QUAD RUGBY ASSOCIATION

April, 2005

Bobby Lujano – MVP
By John Ershek

Bob Lujano was voted the MVP of the 2005 USQRA Heartland Sectional in Chicago, Illinois, held the weekend of April 1-3, 2005, at the McCormick Place Convention Center. The Hyatt Regency hotel and the convention center were connected providing easy access for all and eliminating the need for outside transportation. Special thanks to the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Coloplast, United Spinal, PVA, Vesco Metal Craft, Eagle, AstraTech, Wheelchair Getaways, Spinergy, quadrugby.com, Classic Sport and the USQRA.

Yes, Bob was the MVP at the tournament. During a weekend set up over 25 years ago when a young boy was befriended by a local Chicago cop during Pope John Paul II’s visit to the windy city, the drama came full circle during an emotional reunion that was both joyous and bittersweet at the same time. The cop and the young boy, now a grown man, were excited about seeing one another after all these years. Pope John Paul II was dead at the age of 84.

Beginning with his rehabilitation stint at RIC in August 1979, Bob Lujano’s grandmother, Hope, a devout Catholic, stood in line with her young grandson. It was October 4, 1979. Bob had just had his four extremities amputated and she wanted the Pope to bless him. The lines ran for blocks and for miles. There was no way she was going to get him there. So a local Chicago policeman, Jim Zwit, watching their plight stepped in. For the next 7 hours they waited together. He got him hot chocolate, covered young Bob in a blanket and moved him close to the podium where the Pope was going to pass by.  Prayers were said, songs were sung and the 200 thousand people shouted “long live the Pope”. 

Officer Jim placed Bob in the walkway of the platform where the Pope was to travel. Bob remembers, “When he first appeared out of the Holy Name Cathedral, I will never forget the chills that I felt when I saw him and how radiant that he looked. I had never seen another person glow or illuminate like he did. He was surrounded by a very powerful aura, yet he stood subtle and peaceful”.

He moved towards Bob. When he saw him, he placed his hands on his face and gave him a blessing in Latin. Bob kissed his ring and looked into Pope John Paul II’s eyes. “I was left feeling inspired, joyous, exhilarated and overwhelmed with the feeling that I have been in the presence of a very special man”. A blessing was made as a picture was taken. A prayer answered. As the years went by distance took them apart from each other.

Friday started out with the first game being played on the Big Ten Court from the United Center. What a beautiful floor to play on. It had been put together by Chicago union employees the day before. It was observed that six workers were present to connect it. Two did the work as four others just watched. Unions. What a country. What a city. What shape was that gorgeous shine going to be in by Sunday? Wonder if we’ll ever use it again? 

Chicago beat Minnesota easily 42-29. Brian Muniz and Nick Fonner, best of tournament class 2.5 and 1.0 respectively, may have been the tournament directors, but it was evident they had been putting time into more than organizing the weekend’s play. The Bears are a solid team and looked like they had practiced for a shot at DI. Minnesota was there with 5 experienced players and was going to be one of the two iron men teams this weekend. Lakeshore had no problem with St. Louis winning 55-24. This game had the biggest spill of the weekend as Vito Lucido of the Rams sent Bryan Kirland, best of tournament class 2.0, tumbling end over end on the court with a wicked spin.. Coach Kevin Orr, of Lakeshore, has a new potential star in Joel Wilmoth, a 15 year old class 3.5, who saw lots of playing time all weekend.

Pittsburgh beat Great Lakes by 1 in the tournaments closest and one of its two most important games. In an exciting contest that saw many lead changes, the last two furious minutes showed that both teams knew the outcome meant the difference between getting to Nationals and staying home for the rest of the season. They were the 4^th and 5^th seeds. Pittsburgh won with more depth 43-42. Their balanced lineup was too much for the high low combination employed by Great Lakes. Great Lakes would be the other iron men of the tournament with only 6 players. They too have 2 potential future stars in Brian Sheridan, class 2.5, and Jaffer Odeu, best of tournament class 3.5.

TNT was without the services of Cliff Chunn for this sectional due to an injury. TNT still had no problem dispatching of both Jackson, 40-22, and later Great Lakes, 55-38. The old is new as it looked like the Quadcrushers at times instead of the TNT. Lakeshore beat Minnesota 45-21, Chicago beat St Louis 49-23, and then Pittsburgh cleared the bench as they beat Jackson 41-35 to end play for the day.

That night Bob Lujano took a taxi to the same cathedral he had been blessed in over 25 years ago. There he was confronted by a CBS news crew to ask him why he was there. The story of the blessing from Pope John Paul II was told then prayers were said in one man’s vigil for the other man’s plight. One of them had the opportunity to return the favor. I ran into Bob as he returned that night and came into the lobby.

“When I arrived in Chicago on Thursday, March 31, 2005, I knew it was going to be an emotional weekend”, he told me. There were plans to see family, of reuniting with a friend, the Pope’s plight heavy on his mind and of course a rugby tournament to win. I too said a prayer.

Saturday pitted Lakeshore against Chicago. This was the Bears first test of DI waters. They were no match for the Demolition, losing 49-24. TNT handled Pittsburgh 43-21 using a variety of lineups. Minnesota won over an improving St. Louis team 48-36. St. Louis players Kerri Morgan, class 3.0, and Kevin Brown, class 2.0, continue to play better each tournament. Great Lakes scored the most points of the tournament against Jackson outracing them 62-47.

I was introduced to an older man and his young son. It was the Jim Zwit and his aptly named son, Christian. He proudly showed me the black and white picture of a young cop with a little boy with Pope John Paul II’s hand on his head. He had just arrived and couldn’t wait to see Bob. As soon as he could he went over, as they embraced, I thought how ironic it was that these two men had actually planned this reunion for months and now the very same weekend the pope was dying. Joyous and bittersweet for them both at the same time. This time they planned to stay in touch. I said another prayer.  

Crossover play showcased the game of the weekend. TNT would play Chicago for the last spot left for DI. Lakeshore was expected to win easily against Pittsburgh in the next game. Without Cliff Chunn, but with more variety of lineups and depth, the TNT started slow, but outlasted Chicago 42-35. Led by Brad Schramel, best of tournament class 1.5, the Bears took an early 2 point lead on TNT, but trailed at half time by that same margin of two. Slowly but surely, TNT crept away in the second half, eventually winning by seven. James Ezell, class 2.0, of TNT played the game of his career against the Bears. Travis Smith’s hard hit on the end line was the tournaments other big spill as he came crashing down on the back of his head almost getting knocked unconscious. Eddie Crouch, best of tournament class 0.5, was the lone iron man of the TNT once again for the entire tournament. Wayne Romero, best of tournament class 3.0, was another iron man for TNT for this game, though.  

Upon being invited to the tournament. CBS showed up to talk to Bob again during the game. They got some footage of TNT and Chicago. They would return in the morning.  

Minnesota beat Jackson 50-36, Lakeshore won over Pittsburgh as predicted 45-29 and Great Lakes ran up the points once again, this time against Jackson 54-43. This ended play for the day and meant everyone could go watch some Fighting Illini basketball before attending the pizza and nacho social. In a classy move by the organizers, everyone was treated to one free drink at the cash bar. What a country. What a city, indeed.  

Sunday’s play looked as though it would present few surprises. St. Louis put up a good fight against Jackson, still losing 37-32. The surprise did come when Great Lakes, winning easily against Minnesota, had their 2 high pointers go into the penalty box at the same time. When one of their low pointers was knocked out of bounds for an illegal player violation, the team was left with an illegal substitution scenario that caused the referees to call the game in favor of Minnesota 1-0. Forfeit. Chicago beat Pittsburgh 45-29 and Lakeshore beat TNT 49-35 to no ones surprise. Lakeshore and TNT are going to DI. Chicago and Pittsburgh are going to DII. 

The Chicago Tribune headline that morning read “John Paul II dies”. CBS came in again for a more in depth interview of Bob’s experience with Pope John Paul II. This time they stuck around to film his play against TNT. Bob showcased his talent as he provided the film crew with a highlight reel of his vast skills.  

“Upon reflection, I feel that meeting him was obviously the will of God and a miracle in a sense. How being one of 200,000 people, I got to meet him and receive a blessing and a rosary from him” says Bob. “It was the beginning of a new life, a different life, of a long rehabilitation process. It was about finding my purpose in life as a quadruple amputee. It was also the realization that everything was going to be alright. It was about God telling me through the Pope that he was with me. He was not going to let me fail. I thank God for his love, the Pope for his leadership and inspiration, Jim for his compassion and my family for their love and support”. 

As they called the all tournament team, it was evident he wouldn’t be the best 2.0, as it was given to another. So, instead Bobby was voted the MVP of the tournament. He was the MVP alright, the Most Valuable Person. We have lost one great man, but we still have another. May God bless you, Bob. Amen.

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