Event with New Zealand rugby team Oct. 31
In advance of its match against a U.S. team, the public is invited to a free event featuring the rugby team the New Zealand All Blacks. The event will be Friday, Oct. 31, at Howells & Hood, 435 N. Michigan Ave., 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Attendees will enjoy New Zealand-inspired food and drink, learn the "haka" ( ancestral war cry/dance ) and cheer on the players in a friendly competition.
Air New Zealand, the official airline of the All Blacks, is flying one of its planes to Chicago one time only to deliver the rugby team for a historic match against the USA Men's Eagles at Soldier Field.
The team will play at Chicago's Soldier Field on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 3 p.m. See www.ticketmaster.com .
Michael Sam waived from Cowboys squad
The NFL team the Dallas Cowboys announced that rookie defensive end Michael Sam has been waived from the practice squad, NFL.com reported. He joined the team Sept. 3 after the St. Louis Rams cut him.
Sam was drafted by the Rams in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft, making the former University of Missouri athlete the first openly gay player to reach the league.
The Cowboys seemed like a good landing spot for him because of defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli's history of coaching up pass rushers and Dallas' need for defensive talent.
As of Oct. 27, the Cowboys were 6-1, their best start since being 12-1 in 2007. While releasing Sam, the Cowboys added linebacker Troy Davis of Central Florida and defensive tackle Ken Bishop of Northern Illinois to their practice squad, ABC News noted.
Grisafe inducted into school's hall of fame
Chicagoan Sami Grisafe was inducted into the Redlands High School Athletic Hall of Fame in Redlands, California, on Oct. 2.
Grisafe will go down in history as the first female in the state of California to play the quarterback position in a varsity Division I football game and the first female to throw a touchdown pass in a world championship tournament. She also is a world champion player for the Chicago Force women's pro tackle football team.
Grisafe, who is also a professional singer, was one of the guests at the Monday, Oct. 27, edition of The Dinner Party, hosted by Elysabeth Alfano at City Winery Chicago.
OUT! Bowling in Naperville runs through Dec. 18
Organizer Nathaniel Miracle has put together an LGBTQ bowling league at Naperville Brunswick Zone XL, 1515 Aurora Ave., every Thursday night from 8 p.m. to midnight.
League bowlers began Sept. 25, and will bowl every Thursday through Dec. 18 ( except on Thanksgiving ).
Also on Dec. 18, a charity fundraiser will be held for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.
Anyone can bowl for an $8 entrance fee. For more information, email outbowlingleague2014@outlook.com .
School sued in bullying case
After a high school ignored a student's complaints of bullying and its football coach told him to "toughen up," the school showed a movie featuring pictures of teenagers who had committed suicide—and the boy killed himself the next day, his father claims in court, according to Courthouse News Service.
East St. Louis, Illinois, father Bradley Lewis claims his son, Jordan, was called "gay, homo, queer, and faggot" on a regular basis, and had his head slammed into lockers by members of the Carterville football team. Bradley is suing the Carterville Community Unit School District No. 5, 3Screens.com and Erik Rebstock, whose gun Jordan used to shoot himself.
