Pillars Author Patrick McCaskey Publishes Second Book of Poems

Poems About the Gospel II, now available from Amazon, features another 150 short works written by Patrick McCaskey. Like our Poems About the Gospel (published in 2020), each poem provides the author's own take on an individual passage of one of the Evangelists that are often read at Mass and other Christian services. The poems reveal the thoughts and feelings of a modern man responding to the Gospel with faith, humility, and humor. The author’s poems remind us that the Christian faith is just as alive today as ever, and the inspired writings live alongside all our foibles and culture. The author’s sense of reality rushes in at unexpected times with a “time out” for humor. Readers are struck with all the author’s variety of thoughts that fall as they might, but never take away from the faith distilled. A 45+ year veteran and Vice President of the Chicago Bears, Patrick McCaskey is the grandson of founder George Halas. McCaskey has written many books on sports and faith. He serves as Chairman of Sports Faith International an initiative which recognizes people who are successful in sports while leading exemplary lives. The author also chairs WSFI Catholic Radio that broadcasts to northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin.

Dropkick Driscoll (my nickname): A George Halas Contemporary

 A contemporary of George Halas, Paddy Driscoll had a knack for playing his best when the two faced off against each other on the field.  Hall of Famer Driscoll was an excellent team leader and played in the backfield at quarterback and halfback.  He was also one of the best dropkickers and punters in the league when he played in the 1920s.  He played the last four seasons of his 10-season career with his friend and former adversary, George Halas and the Chicago Bears.

Driscoll was 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds, yet he was able to deploy his skills in a game in which most opponents were much heavier than him. Born in Evanston, he attended Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University. During World War I, he was a teammate of George Halas on the Great Lakes Navy Team. He played on a couple semi-pro teams before the NFL was established. From 1920-1925, he played extensively for the Hammond Pros and then from 1926-1929 he played for the Chicago Bears.  He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965 and is named on the list of 100 Top Bears of All Time.

Driscoll served as head coach of the Chicago Cardinals  (1920-1922) and the Chicago Bears (1956-1957).  He also served as assistant coach and held administrative positions in the Bears organization for many years and he was head coach at Marquette University from 1937-1940. Driscoll spent his life in football where he could vie his athletic and coaching talents. 

Copyright 2021, Sporting Chance Press

 

Photo by 

Daniel Norris, Tokyo

Akiem Hicks

Akiem Hicks was born in Elk Grove, California, just south of Sacramento. He attended Del Campo High School in Fair Oaks, and began his college career at Sacramento City College. He then played two season (2010 and 2011) for the University of Regina Rams in Canada. Drafted by the New Orleans Saints, where he played a little over 3 seasons, he came over to  the New England Patriots early in the 2015 season. Hicks signed on with the Chicago Bears in 2016 and quickly became one of team's top defensive stars. He was injured in the 2019 season, but came back strong in 2020. He was a Pro-Bowler in 2018. Although listed as a defensive end, Hicks plays more in the middle, as a dominant interior defensive lineman who clogs up the middle on runs and rushes up the middle to get to the quarterback. Hicks is a Monster of the Midway, a fan favorite.

Hicks has a big personality on the field and players from around the league often refer to his passion and love of the game.

Copyright 2021, Sporting Chance Press 

Image: Photo by Daniel Norris

Guy Chamberlin, Pillar of the NFL

 

Guy Chamberlin Illustration by Bill Potter,
Copyright 2014, Sporting Chance Press

Guy Chamberlin

Hall of Famer Guy Chamberlin was a peerless defensive end, excellent rusher, and receiver from the University of Nebraska.  He played for the Staleys/Bears in 1920 and 1921.  His contributions to the 1921 championship were essential to the Bears’ success. Chamberlin, like George Halas was a player-coach for much of his playing career. He coached four NFL Championship Teams. Chamberlin was one of the very best athletes in the first decade of professional football.  Halas regretted not keeping Chamberlin in Chicago in 1922.  Chamberlin was an All-Pro. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965.

 New Sporting Chance Press Football Book:

PAPA BEAR AND THE CHICAGO BEARS’ WINNING WAYS reviews the exciting story of George Halas and his dynamic role in professional football for Middle Grade and older students. Just $7.76 on Amazon today!

Papa Bear and the Chicago Bears' Winning Ways: Wisdom of George Halas, a Pillar of the NFL

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Readers of the Pillars of the NFL by Patrick McCaskey know that George Halas is one of the 10 most successful coaches in NFL history. In fact, the first chapter of Pillars of the NFL was focused on Halas and what a great contribution he made not only to the sport of football, but to our country. 

Patrick McCaskey and Friends

Certainly in these times of uncertainty, it also made perfect sense to produce a book on Halas for younger readers and discuss Bears history and distill the wisdom of the great coach. Halas was a motivator, but he was necessarily focused on the Bears and professional football. But with Patrick McCaskey, grandson of George Halas, we had an opportunity to examine the "winning ways" of Halas from someone who knew him very well. Our book, PAPA BEAR AND THE CHICAGO BEARS' WINNING WAYS does just that and more. 

PAPA BEAR AND THE CHICAGO BEARS' WINNING WAYS reviews the exciting story of George Halas and his dynamic role in professional football. Halas who was present in the first days of the National Football League (NFL) all the way into the modern age of football. Author Patrick McCaskey, is a Chicago Bears Vice President and Director. McCaskey highlights his grandfather's life with key events from the 20th century. McCaskey follows Halas as a student, athlete, soldier, coach, team owner—a man of commerce and community. 

Halas’s 20th century path is laid out before readers. PAPA BEAR AND THE CHICAGO BEARS' WINNING WAYS includes some of the coach’s important words of wisdom that young people need today to achieve success. These “winning ways” are used in exercises that were originally devised by Ben Franklin that readers will find helpful and interesting. A glossary, special exercises, a quiz and discussion questions help readers expand their interest and learning experiences. Readers are taken on a short journey through history that helps them expand their understanding of our world. The book introduces Halas quotes and the methods of one of America’s founding fathers and original self-help gurus, Ben Franklin.

PAPA BEAR AND THE CHICAGO BEARS' WINNING WAYS is a middle grade book that readers age 12 and over will enjoy. With many photos and illustrations, it should appeal to reluctant readers as well.  

AMAZON NOW OFFERS PAPA BEAR AND THE CHICAGO BEARS' WINNING WAYS AT A REDUCED PRICE. 

The Great Don Hutson: Pillars of the NFL by Patrick McCaskey

 

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This post was published in Pillars of the NFL by Patrick McCaskey and is Copyright Sporting Chance Press:

Don Hutson 

Joining the Packers in 1935 was Don Hutson, a receiver who would go on to break many NFL records in his 11-year Packers’ career.  He ran excellent routes—some that he had devised himself.  He had subtle moves that fooled defensive players.  After playing against Hutson, run-oriented coaches would experience firsthand what the passing game might provide given the right personnel.  

Hutson was in a league by himself—he led the NFL nine times in touchdown receptions.  In 1942, his 17 touchdown receptions eclipsed the old record by 8 scores.  Hutson was also the first receiver to break 1,000 yards when he gained 1,211 that same year. 

[Curly] Lambeau scouted Hutson at the Rose Bowl played on January 1, 1935.  Hutson’s Alabama team defeated Stanford 29–13.  Hutson scored two touchdowns that game and afterwards many teams were in hot pursuit of the young receiver.  

Shipwreck Kelly, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, had the inside track after assuring Hutson he would match any offer.  However, Lambeau convinced the Hall of Famer Hutson to sign a contract with the Packers when Kelly was nowhere to be found.  Immediately after signing the Packer contract, Kelly showed up at Hutson’s doorstep. Kelly convinced Hutson to sign a Dodgers’ contract and allow NFL President, Joe Carr, to settle the issue.  Carr ruled in favor of Green Bay, which was a good move for football given Lambeau’s desire to develop a strong passing game that would use Hutson’s talent.

According to Hutson, Lambeau paid him $300 a game, but the coach was concerned about the rest of the players learning the salary so he paid Hutson in two checks and asked him to cash each one at different banks in Green Bay.33  Hutson and Lambeau got along well throughout their entire lives.  Lambeau’s preseason preparations and his more disciplined, back to basics approach would pay dividends.  The Packers improved to second place in 1935 with an 8–4 record.  

33 Richard Whittingham, What a Game They Played: An Inside Look at the Golden Era of Pro Football, 122. 

The Packers outscored their opponents by 85 points for the season. In the early days of professional football, players often played a full 60 minutes a game and the same position on offense and defense.  Thus an end would play offensive end and then turn around as defensive end as well.  Lambeau is credited with modifying this strategy and thereby extending Hutson’s career and effectiveness.  Lambeau used Hutson as a defensive back later in his career and used a more durable blocking back to play the physically demanding defensive end position.  
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McCaskey's Poems About the Gospel

Patrick McCaskey's Poems About the Gospel has "hit the streets." If you have seen Pat's live presentations, you know he is a gifted creative writer and he often recites his work. Pat's Poems About the Gospel includes 150 works that focus on specific writings of the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each poem zeroes in one or more critical truths. I like to think the poems are faith distilled in only Pat's way of doing it. McCaskey is a humble and humorous man and that certainly comes out in his poems.  

The works in Poems About the Gospel are often surprising and humorous. They are the works of a modern man whose faith in one that is as alive today as ever regardless of the directions taken in today's often faithless culture. Truth comes out in the end and McCaskey demonstrates a faith  that is strong and secure. And Pat does very little without a sense of humor, so here or there in the poems readers will find a laugh, often the self deprecating variety.