In his first Bingham Cup, held 10 years ago in London, Chicago's Paul D. Cannella walked onto the pitch as the names of teams from around the world were being announced. There were 20 teams from four countries, all battling it out in honor of Mark Bingham.
Bingham was a former college rugby star who died in the 9/11 attacks on board United Airlines Flight 93.
Bingham was gay.
"Having played rugby for a number of years [before 2004], and always wondering if I was the only gay person playing, it was an incredible experience to see the answer to my question be answered in front of my eyes," Cannella said. "Not only was I not alone, there were players from all over the world. It was one of the most powerful personal experiences of my life."
Cannella, 44, is a successful local entrepreneur, the owner of PoopBags.com, Scarlet Bar and Taverna 750, both in Lakeview. He also is a founding member of the predominantly gay Chicago Dragons rugby club—and he has been playing on the pitch for 25 years.
Cannella and some of his Chicago teammates, plus a small group of fans/partners/friends, have gone Down Under for the latest round of the Bingham Cup, a biennial, international, gay rugby tournament, first held in 2002. Held this time in Sydney, Australia, the tournament is Aug. 29-31, though festivities surrounding the Bingham start Aug. 24.
Teams from 15 countries will participate.
"Every Bingham there seem to be more and more teams forming, which is awesome," said Cannella, playing in his sixth Bingham Cup. "The major cities from around the globe are pretty much all covered, but now teams are popping up in smaller cities, which is really cool. The event, facilities, organization, and everything about it gets better as well. We're all there to have a great time, play our asses off, and support the home club in the success of their event.
"Personally, I'm a huge supporter of the international events since I'm always in awe of their venues. The major cities in the U.S. can offer some pretty dynamic venues as well.
"I really cherish the international travel, [and] the camaraderie with your teammates. I'm very grateful for the memories that rugby and the Dragons have given me."
There are 17 Chicago players participating, along with five others from Chicago attending.
"While we're not traveling with a full squad, I like our chances," Cannella said. "We're a pretty scrappy bunch, so as long as we can stay healthy, I think we'll fare pretty well.
"We're not big, overly intimidating, but we never quit."
So do the Dragons have a realistic chance to win?
"Winning comes in many forms," Cannella said. "[Winning] the whole Bingham Cup would be a stretch with our limited numbers and the caliber of some of the clubs. Winning one of the metal brackets is possible if we can stay healthy and stick to our game plan.
"In Little League [Baseball], everyone is a winner just by playing. While I'm never a fan of that perspective at this level, I truly believe you are [a] winner just by participating in Bingham."
Cannella said the Dragons' goal is simple: "Bring home a piece of metal."
Personally, he said he wants to "play hard, score, have fun, and not get hurt."
And all of the Dragons will return to Chicago filled with emotional overload, no doubt.
"There is a combination of fear, joy, satisfaction, and more, but the end result is walking into that celebration party knowing that you gave it your all," Cannella said. "The worst emotion you can leave the tournament with is, regret."
Cannella said the Bingham Cup is his all-time favorite rugby event, hands down.
"I am so thankful for the experiences that rugby has given me, and for the person it has made me," he said. "I'm honored to be able to play this sport at a competitive level for as long as I've been blessed with being able to.
"The Bingham Cup is the pinnacle of how I measure my rugby career."
Some of the top members of the Dragons are Bob Schumacher and James Loehr.
"I would give the advice to anyone who was thinking about going to find a way to go," Cannella said. "Trips like this are expensive, but I can also say they're just as expensive not to go. The motivation, discipline, bonding, and more that comes from going pays dividends for the rest of your [life]."
