The Chicago Force got together Tuesday night, Sept. 3, for the first time since winning the Women's Football Alliance (WFA) National Championship back on Aug. 3 in San Diegoand they reunited in grand fashion.
The team was honored with a pre-game, on-field salute from the Chicago Cubsand even Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts sported a Force jersey, with RICKETTS on the back.
Force kicker Tricia Charbonneau threw out the ceremonial first-pitch, and quarterback Sami Grisafe sang the National Anthem.
"This was amazing, a phenomenal experience," said Force owner Linda Bache. "It was incredibly generous of Laura Ricketts and the Cubs to invite us out here to acknowledge our National Championship. The team is thrilled.
"Laura Ricketts is a huge supporter of women's sports."
Ricketts did the pregame coin-toss before a Force game in 2012, and actually offered the Wrigley Field honor to the Force last season, Bache confirmed.
Almost all of the players attended Tuesday, along with some coaches and front-office staff. David Gassman, the owner of Spin Nightclub in Lakeview and a longtime supporter of the Force, also attended.
Force head coach John Konecki was not able to attend due to his commitments as the head coach of the Crete-Monee High School football team.
"Tricia's pitch was perfect. She said she practiced a little, and it was obvious," Bache said. "To have Sami sing [the National Anthem] at Wrigley Field was phenomenal; the crowd went crazy," as she was singing.
Cubs owner Tom Ricketts met the Force in their seats down the first-base line. He congratulated Grisafe on her singing and posed for photos with several of the players.
The Force will hold its 2013 team banquet on Saturday, Oct. 5.
"As we were gathering outside Wrigley Field, it took us right back to San Diego; it felt like we had just won," the national championship, Bache said. "It was a great feeling, then and still now.
"And I have only one more word, repeat."
Additional photo spread by Ross Forman at www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/photospreadthumbs.php .
Here are links to Grisafe's rendition of the National Anthem:
Tackle GIrls: Cubs Honor Force - Sami Sings on Vimeo: vimeo.com/73832397 .
The Tackle Girls Sami Grisafe Sings National Anthem at Wrigley - YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch .