Mother's Day was just another day for Veronica Soper, a mother of two who moved to the North Side of Chicago in February.
Soper, known as Ro to her family and friends, was instead helping the Chicago Force remain undefeated in 2010 as the team won that May weekend in Minnesota.
Her son Jason, 15, and her daughter Courtney, 9, were thrilled to hear the news about their favorite left guard, aka, Mom, a rookie for the women's tackle football team that is eyeing a run at the Independent Women's Football League ( IWFL ) Championship, a title that has eluded Chicago despite multiple playoff games over the years.
"Being a tackle football Mom is rewarding, yet very stressful," she said. "Rewarding as my kids are the first to boost my ego to their peers by telling them there Mom is a Tackle Football Player for the Chicago Force. Stressful as playing for the team is very demanding of your time. We practice late hours and have away games.
"They were upset [ I was not around for Mother's Day, ] but were happy that we won."
Soper, 35, is a project estimator/manager for LaSalle Glass & Mirror. She was raised on Chicago's south side and lived there, well, until her move north earlier this year. She played basketball, softball and volleyball throughout high school—and she still plays all three sports in local recreation leagues.
Football entered her world this spring, when she joined her cousin, Jamie Menzyk, a four-year Force veteran who pushed her to put on the pads.
"There were mixed reactions from my family and friends when I decided to join the Force. The main reaction was 'Wow, but aren't you too old to play?'" Soper said. "Some friends think I'm crazy, but I just tell them, 'You never have played a team sport and have such a bond with a group of women like I do with the Force.'"
As Soper said, FFW is "Force Family Win."
"Jamie had bugged me for two years [ to join the Force ] before I finally said I would give it a shot. I'm glad she was persistent," Soper said. "I am a strong and aggressive player who accepts all the challenges that Coach [ John ] Konecki presents to me.
"I bring intensity, strength and passion to the team. I am a team player, so giving that extra block off the line to open up a hole or running down the field to block for a receiver is what makes my position so intense."
Soper is the ultimate team player. Just as she was as a U.S. Army military police officer—until she was given a Chapter 15 discharge for being gay.
"Another female in my platoon found out I was gay and told our commanding officer," Soper said. "When I was approached by my commanding officer on the allegations, I did not deny them. I am gay and I'm not ashamed of it. I was a stellar soldier and an expert on weapons. I also was top in all my classes, physical training and overall combat military skills. I figured being gay was not going to affect my ability to serve and protect my country. I was wrong.
"After three months of being treated like scum and being interrogated on who else was gay in our unit, they finally discharged me, [ but ] without me giving up any of my fellow brothers or sisters.
"I feel that [ "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ] is just some high-ranking homophobes way of keeping gays out of the military. Most of my battle buddies were gay and I would trust them to take my back any day. Fighting for your country should be an honor that each and every American who chooses to lay there life on the line should be able to do, without prejudice."
Soper, who was married for 10 years to a man, said she is now dating a woman.
"Ro has a great work ethic and loves to hit. In fact, she leads the team in 'pancakes'—blocks that put the opponent flat on their back," said Chicago Force general manager Linda Bache. "She's having a fantastic rookie year while playing through pain and injury. Ro is one of my favorite players because she is very coachable, has great intensity and always puts the team first."
Added Konecki, "If I'm ever in a bar fight, I want Soper on my side."
More about Veronica Soper:
—High school: George Washington High School in Chicago, Class of 1993
—College: "I never attended a formal college, [ but ] I completed Local 63 Ironworkers four-year apprenticeship in Broadview, Ill.
—Hobbies: "I don't have any particular hobbies besides sports. I do like to take the kids camping and fishing, and of course family game night with popcorn and silly board games is the best."
—Favorite pro sports: Football and baseball.
—Favorite pro team: Chicago White Sox
—Favorite pro athlete: Danica Patrick. "She is a commanding competitor in a 'man's sport.'"
—Little-known fact: "Not many people know that my tear ducks were removed and replaced with eye black."
—More Soper: "I am one of the comedians of the team. I can keep the whole team laughing with my one-liners and jokes all night long. Also I am the one person the a majority of the team comes to when they need help with something or just need some advice as I am there for my Force Family."
