There were more serious and much more tragic reasons for the Homestead boys golf team to be depressed (see North Shore NOW for details) as it drove home from the soggy Brown Deer golf course on April 25, with the Lake Country/MACC Fund Invitational canceled for a second straight year due to foul weather.
Yes, money had been raised and inspiring speeches were heard, but the kids really wanted to go out and golf. And with that firmly in mind and the air thick with both emotion and humidity, junior Dylan Drozdowicz sliced off a big chunk of tension by just blurting out "It's a good day to be a duck!"
"He just shouted it out," laughed Highlander coach Steve O'Brien. "Everybody just cracked up."
That summed a lot of the surface feelings for the players in attendance. They had been able to tee off and get a few holes in before torrential rains terminated any golf activity for the day. They were ones who listened to MACC Fund Executive Director John Cary talk about the deeper meaning of the event and how much good the $29,000-plus that was raised this year will do for childhood cancer research and treatment.
Five-year old Emilie Janzen, who was diagnosed with cancer last year, was on hand to put a face on the golfer's fundraising efforts. She tipped her hat and waved to the gathered players and coaches.
"I've got a five-year old," Menomonee Falls coach Tony Pritchard said quietly. "and her Dad was barely able to tell her story (he was so choked up). I think that really hit home with my guys. It was a very positive experience and I was glad that I had a senior-oriented group with me today. I think they really got it."
And as far as the golf was concerned, Pritchard just laughed and said: "I had two guys who were sad that the siren blew (signaling players to come off the course) and two others who were happy to hear it." Falls was able to raise over $1,000 and so was put into a drawing to play a round of golf with Falls native and PGA tour participant Mark Wilson.
The winners of the drawing were Mukwonago and Whitnall.
Each of the 35 schools involved handled their own fundraising for MACC a little differently. The Germantown team sold discount cards as a general fundraiser and then set aside a portion of the proceeds for MACC while Whitefish Bay coach Dave Johnson and the team put together some cash for the cause.
"The kids who go, really see it for what it is," Germantown coach Gary Anderson said. "A good cause. You get so caught up in the day-to-day of your season, it's really touching to have it broken up like this."
"And for John (Cary) to stand up there and give a speech like he did without a teleprompter is just great, He is a gem. He can really put everything in perspective. The kids got really quiet while he spoke."
Meanwhile, O'Brien and the Highlanders added a personal and more lighthearted touch to their efforts.
It's a poorly-kept secret that O'Brien has a side business to go along with his teaching. He's a skilled roofer and he knows every shingle that he lays down is going to go a long ways towards helping put his kids through college. Being the gregarious, loud and popular Irishman that he is, he is known to watch every penny.
But that still didn't prevent him from reaching into his own pocket and forking over $100 to put up an advertising sign for his business at the tournament. So anybody who dodged the raindrops and walked by the hole that had the "SOB Roofing" sign by it, well now you know who bought it.
One coaching compatriot wagged his tongue and laughed: "The name (of the business) fits him perfectly".
And also captures the "can do" spirit of the event.
"Knock on wood, we'll get it done next year," said O'Brien with all seriousnous.
Others echoed his thoughts.
"I hope they (Arrowhead coach Tom Tallmadge and the other organizers) keep it going. I don't know how they do it, but I'm glad they do," said Anderson.
Little Emilie would no doubt agree wholeheartedly.
