Chipp Collins, Age: 36
Hometown: Hammond, Ind.
High School: Rensellaer; class of 1987. Was a wrestler and swimmer.
College: University of Alabama; class of 1993, degree in information systems.
Status: Partner of five years: Dan Shaver, 28.
Sports Fan: A diehard Cubs fan whose all-time favorite player is Mark Grace.
It's a Fact: An animal lover who has rescued pit bulls, and has three. His oldest pit bull is 10 and weighs 75 pounds.
It's Also a Fact: Chipp and Dan help raise Chip's three nieces and one nephew.
Chipp Collins gave serious thought to not playing flag football in the 2006 Gay Games.
Well, for at least for a few moments, as he contemplated just being a referee—not a player.
But, 'I love playing,' he said.
So, he'll be there, front and center, literally.
Collins is a center and blocker for Quad's Bears in CMSA's Intermediate Division.
Collins also is a referee, plus the secretary of the league and field director. He often is cleaning the fields before games and painting accordingly at Warren Park on Saturday mornings.
'The reason I ref and the reason I do so much for the league is, I want to make sure it exists,' said Collins, who has a 45-minute drive to the fields from his home in Hammond, Ind. 'I enjoy refereeing; I don't necessarily enjoy all of the other stuff I do, such as getting up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday, but I do it because I want the league to grow, prosper.'
The easy-going Collins is a regular at Warren Park in the fall from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
He is an aggressive player, yet fair referee who admits he is a 'stickler for the rules.'
'I try to teach everyone the rules as the game goes along; that way, they know them. And the best way to advance the sport is, to get more people involved,' he said.
Collins said being an official doesn't necessarily help his play, but it certainly aides his team. They get the benefit of his knowledge.
Collins, a network engineer who grew up in Northwest Indiana and Alabama, also for the past four years has played CMSA softball for Quad's Bears, C.
Which is his favorite sport?
'Football, of course ... I love playing,' he said.
Collins also is an amateur official in Indiana, working high school and junior high football games.
Collins and his partner of five years, Dan Shaver, 28, were Couple No. 42, married Feb. 13, 2003, in San Francisco, though the marriage was voided later that year.
They didn't have an 'official' honeymoon, but Collins joked that, 'We utilized the ( San Francisco ) hotel room quite extensively.'
Ross Forman is a sportswriter based in Buffalo Grove. He will be profiling athletes and other personalities associated with the 2006 Gay Games from around the world in his continuing series, 'On The Road To The Gay Games.' Anyone with story ideas, suggestions or comments can email Ross at: Rossco814@aol.com .