Punk and Sports once again intersect here at Dying Scene, as Dropkick Murphys capped off the Major League Rugby National Championship at Bridgeview, Illinois’ Seatgeek Stadium. Known formerly as the home stadium of Major League Soccer club the Chicago Fire FC, it now serves as the home pitch for Chicago Hounds Rugby Club. Dawgtown, as the stadium has since been dubbed, hosted an absolute kicker of a day, with the New England Free Jacks taking the title with their win over the San Diego Legion 25-24. Even Shaquille “DJ Diesel” O’Neal showed up to add a bit of literal fire to the festivities.
In my decades-long photojournalism career, I have shot a lot of sports. NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB, the Indy 500 and Nascar, Division I and below college sports of all kinds. Same goes for high school athletics and various other sports on differing levels as well. Most was done in the past during my days as a graduate student at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, at several daily newspaper photojournalism internships and various daily newspaper and other companies’ staff photographer positions.
So, whenever I have a chance to shoot sports I grab it. Most often these days from seat high up in the Chicago Major League Baseball parks, Wrigley Field, home field of the Northsiders Chicago Cubs, and Guaranteed Rate Field, home field to the Southsiders Chicago White Sox.
And when I can combine punk rock and sports I get excited. Whether it was surveying Punk Rock Soccer/Futbol fans for our World Cup exclusive, or actually taking photos of a rugby match with a punk band playing the after-match concert. The latter was the case here. It was absolutely an utter blast. I’m not sure there is quite the connection between punk and rugby yet as there is with punk and soccer/futbol, but there should be and hopefully, more will discover it.
It must have kismet. Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys informed the crowd that they signed up for this gig before knowing the rugby club from Quincy, MA, near Boston, the New England Free Jacks would make it to the Major League Rugby Championship. But he could barely contain his excitement for what the team achieved. As Free Jacks players celebrated at the back and side of the stage behind the DKM banner, it was evident that while winning the Championship was the highlight of their day, they were excited to be on stage with favorites from their home area in Massachusetts. Several players were spotted singing DKM songs perfectly, nailing every lyric. Punk and Sports came together when the players, standing behind Casey on stage sang along with the band on “Shipping Up To Boston.” Arguably their most famous Dropkick Murphys’ song (although it’s really a Woody Guthrie song), it has often been used in commercials, tv and movies. But what happened here, with the crowd also joining in, added up to the most joyous rendition of the song that I have ever witnessed.
By the time a crowd member threw a rugby ball up to the stage for the players to sign, Casey was sporting a Free Jacks national championship hat. The match was an exciting one. I still do not understand all the rules of professional rugby in the United States, with players from all over the world, but it was evident this match could be described as thrilling. A record crowd for an MLR Championship, the stands were filled with diehard fans who traveled far to support their Rugby Club.
More kismet is that there is a 5-part docuseries following the New England Free Jacks. You can watch it on Youtube.
Shaquille “DJ Diesel” O’Neal presented a very enjoyable set with a lot of familiar rock and pop songs from the 1980’s on. The highlight was one song with samples from Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teenage Spirit.” Another highlight was when the retired NBA legend jokingly called out a crowd member for claiming he did not know a song. O’Neal reminded said crowd member they are the same age. It was fun and yeah more than a dash of punk attitude, along with pyrotechnics.
And finally on to the Dropkick Murphys set. On a stage set up at one end of the rugby pitch, there was no lack of enthusiasm from the band or from the crowd. The band ran through the major hits, including, “The Boys are Back,” “The State Of Massachusets,” “Rose Tattoo, ” and the aforementioned “Shipping Up To Boston.”
They also played a version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” That song serves as the anthem for the Liverpool Football Club in the English Premier League, but even I, as a longtime Arsenal FC supporter, can admit it was a lovely moment.
In addition, there was a message sent from the band as the pipes and tin whistle player sported a t-shirt with Rugby Union Now. It was the same statement printed on the bright pink uniforms of the match referees.
A final note, another Celtic-tinged punk band, Flatfoot 56, has performed at some of the Chicago Hounds matches. I hope the band does this next season. I’d love to document FF6 guys and other bands at rugby matches. Get in the scrum!
Please check out more photos from the day. Thanks and Cheers!
Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys New England Free Jacks members sing “Shipping Up To Boston New England Free Jacks members sing “Shipping Up To Boston New England Free Jacks members sign a fan’s rugby ball as Ken Casey stands nearby New England Free Jacks vs San Diego Legion New England Free Jacks vs San Diego Legion New England Free Jacks vs San Diego Legion The New England Free Jacks celebrating with the Major League Rugby National Championship. San Diego Legion players and crew console each other after the loss. Shaquille “DJ Diesel” O’Neal Shaquille “DJ Diesel” O’Neal
