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| Derek D
June 27, 2015
6:00:03 PM
Entry #: 4171501
| Cheers to the Chaldean Football League
By Derek Dickow
June 27, 2015
To the greatest sports league in our community, I say thank you for 17 unforgettable years. It’s tough to type these words, especially since I’m in better shape than I was 10 years ago with plenty left in the tank, but because of scheduling conflicts and commitments, I will miss too many games. Playing in the CFL is a full ten-week commitment, one I can no longer make, and so, it is time to hang up the cleats.
I will never forget the memories shared with my brothers on some spectacular teams. I was never a top pick or a franchise player, but I made my mark in various positions, made the league a little better, and looking back, appreciate all the CFL gave me.
I understand several legacy players, with at least a dozen plus years of experience (50 plus years combined with the retirements of CFL legends JR Kizy and Brian Najor) are also retiring.
The CFL moves forward.
I submit this is for the rookies, those on the outside looking in, and for those too young to appreciate what it means to play in the CFL. A league formed in 1980 by pioneers and cousins Joseph Sarafa, Haitham Sarafa, Frank Jonna, and a group of guys who loved football, bacon, and naturally, chy (and some beer too).
Playing in the CFL meant:
…committing every Sunday morning to my brothers no matter whose wedding, birthday, or bachelor party was the night before. Brian Najor played the day he got married and when he briefly lived in New York would fly back for games. It’s a commitment and it’s the type of character that made him a CFL legend and how you earn respect from your teammates.
…committing to every decision or call my coach made no matter what I was asked to do. I played every position in the CFL (QB too) and sometimes I didn’t want to. At 190 lbs, would you want to block against Dylan Putrus? I don’t think so. Complaining was a non-negotiable thing. You did what you were told, when your coach asked, or you didn’t play.
…respecting my elders. Period.
…learning how to trash talk. I left this one for the likes of White 21 and Eastside Tony who were masters of their craft along with Mike Zeer, Karl Dallou (only during the game), sprinkled in with a few seasons of “Where’s Amer”. The message board had its moments, was popcorn worthy for a few good years, but trash talking is an art. It’s meant to throw people off their game, not to throw rocks or punches on the field, or to take things personally.
…wanting to win and embarrass the other team even if your brother or cousin was on the other squad. When the game was over it was family, but during the game, it was war.
…sometimes playing 6 on 7 or worse 5 on 7. On several occasions, the drunkards came late to the 8:15 game, and you played with what you had, pulled up your socks and ran people over with pride. It’s what we did.
…explaining to girlfriends, cheerleaders, and those additional females on the side that yes we can hang out, but I have a game, and have to be there at 7:30 am on Sunday – this is the CFL. Go to sleep.
…injuries were coming. If you were lucky, you managed the pain, maybe had a white pill to help soften the ringing, several ice packs in rotation, or in a few sad cases, had your career cut short.
…asking yourself and your teammates, are you hurt or are you injured?
Playing in the CFL meant you went to war with your team, there was nothing more important than bragging rights and getting your name engraved on the coveted Chy Cup. There are too many memories to recall, and since this is my farewell, I will highlight my favorite and most memorable moments:
1998 Chy Cup Win #1 (Rookie season):
Mike Esshaki – Coach
Peter Rabban – MVP
Kamal Rabban
Jason Hesano
Paul George
Jeff Bogden
Bruce Toma
Anthony Toma
Tim Abbo
Mike Zeer
Derek Dickow
Coach Mike Esshaki aka Shaq, had Jeff Bogden as the quarterback on a team that featured All League MVP Pete Rabban, the ageless wonder from Pershing HS, Kamal Rabban, and a guy that taught me how to be a lot of things in the league, Anthony Toma.
We were the team to beat heading into the Chy Cup that year. I moved up in the rotation after Jason Hesano’s promising football career ended on an ACL tear (“lek that ACL, do you understand…”). I scored in garbage time from a Mike Zeer lateral and never felt more excited to be apart of a team. This was my first taste of CFL glory, and my first beer (alasas).
1999 Chy Cup Loser:
As defending champs, we were undefeated against Saber Ammori’s Team White, featuring the future All League QB who was an all purpose receiver, Joey Jonna, and a guy from 7 Mile that could smoke a Newport and smoke anyone with his lateral quickness and speed, Tarik Kama aka Trock. Trock didn’t run the field, he would glide. It was not fair for a lot of the older guys on defense. Trock went from a running a dice table, to running over the competition. He was impressive.
We narrowly lost the game, but AT made a play in a 100-year lifetime I cannot forget. We were down a few scores and our QB Roy Sitto, who could flick his wrist and toss a perfect spiral 50 yards, was relying on his arm to bring us back (on that dick lower, muddy, icy, snowy field at Harrison where if you jumped and landed on ice, good luck getting up).
Late in the 4th quarter, Saber picks off Roy in the end zone. Saber, the most humble guy you’ll ever meet, puts the ball in the air to show everyone he picked it off (ok Saber you won). The always calculating AT, says: “hey can I see my ball?” Saber mistakenly hands it over and AT spikes the ball and yells “Touchdown!”
We scored on that unforgettable play, but it was a Chy Cup victory for Trock and MVP Joey Jonna that day. When the loss of a Chy Cup hits you, after months of planning, preparing, scouting, when you are undefeated in the regular season, you feel a loss a non-CFL player cannot ever know. That one got away – it still hurts.
That was the only loss I experienced in a Chy Cup game. Two stars were made that season in Jonna & Trock. The CFL was just getting ready for a bright future.
2002 & 2003 Back-to-Back Chy Champs & Chy Cup Wins #2 & #3:
Core Team for two seasons:
Bobby Semaan - Coach
Russ Smith QB
Ray Dawood – Primary
Chris Zeer – Secondary receiver
Bruce Toma - Blocker
Derek Dickow – Slot receiver
2002 Team
Bobby Semaan - Coach
Russ Smith
Ray Dawood
Timmy Abbo
Vinnie Alexander
Bruce Toma
Chris Zeer
Derek Dickow
Ray Lousia
Chris Denha
2003 Team
Bobby Semaan – Coach
Russ Smith
Ray Dawood
Marvin Petrous
Dave Antiwan
Bruce Toma
Chris Zeer
Derek Dickow
Mikey George
Green Machine and Coach Bobby Semaan take the league by storm, and assemble, arguably, the best team in CFL history.
It’s hard to say how much QB Russ Smith meant to anyone that played with him. He was our Brett Favre and the ultimate winner. Russ did everything on the field and he knew his player’s talents and the other team’s weaknesses better than anyone. You could really have anyone on a Russ Smith team and you had a shot. As Karl Dallou aka the perm has so eloquently stated, “Ok shuck, if you have Russ, 99% you won shuck.” He wasn’t wrong that perm. Playing for Russ was like playing with a professional. He was an artist in the pocket and found openings and spots, no one could. He also knew when he could run and squeeze a first down out of a preventive defensive set, and was a wizard at drawing opponents offside. A true master.
Our receiving core featured a talent who took the CFL by storm. A guy from the east side (albeit Troy), built like a rock with more muscles in his teeth than you have in your legs. The CFL never saw anything like him and that Russ knew how to use primary target, Ray Dawood. He was built like Barry Sanders, with soft hands like Andre Reed, and the speed to boot. Ray Ray also had incredible football IQ. He was a coach on the field, deferring to Russ in the huddle, was a great communicator, shared successes, and picked you up if you ever made a mistake. Ray was a player’s player. I learned a lot from his attitude and demeanor.
Chris Zeer was a natural QB Russ turned into the secondary target, was shifty, and knew how to get open. Yours truly filled out the slot position and ran more back side post and deep fly patterns then I can remember. From Russ (with Absolute or more pungent vodka on his breath, or maybe that was just our huddle: “Twins left, Ray quick slant, Chris banana out, D backside post and Bruce down and out to the right.” Because Ray was mostly double-teamed (but still trashed defenses) and Chris was respected and could break on any play, Bruce aka the Bruiser and I were open 90% of the time, and we made them pay. These were my glory years at receiver. There were multiple games Russ and I connected for 4 TD’s and that 2002 Championship year, we connected for over 20 TD’s.
I will never forget the 2002 Chy Cup game when Roy Sitto broke my nose (he threw a punch) and knocked me out. Mike Zeer gave me a $.99 band-aid and with his and my dad’s blessing, I got back in the game. That victory was a little bit more.
Nothing beats those two years not just because we won, but how we won. We dominated the league and our rivals, Team Red, coached by AT, featured Joey Jonna and another great football talent from Troy, Joey Kejbou, could not get by us. AT’s team was always good in the regular season, and well coached, but Team Red or anyone else for that matter, could not best the Green Machine.
One of my favorite moments during those two years was the night after the Halloween party Mikey George threw (he still throws great parties). In that era, we played well into November and Coach Bobby aka Birmingham Bob was running late to our game, and the playoffs were a week away. We all look at each other like, he will be here, he will be here. A few minutes before the game Bobby pulls up to the field driving the Goldmember limo over the curb and on the sidelines, honking the horn, and in all green body paint (head to toe with no shirt just shorts, socks and cleats) from his Incredible Hulk costume. What a champ. This guy just came from who knows where, visibly rattled from the night before, but nothing mattered more than getting to that field to win another game with his team. Bobby was the greatest coach I ever played for and he made the CFL fun and damn did he know how to mix winning with having a good time. Crown! Crown! Love you Bob!
My memory of the 2003 Chy Cup game is faded, but we won. We pretty much ran the league those two years. I do remember being with Chris Zeer and several females at The Corner (it was the name of a bar) in Birmingham the Friday before the big game. We were compelled to defend the honor of these women and got into a fight with a few punks that had it coming right on Maple Road. I called Bobby the following morning with the bad news my right hand was broken.
Bobby, being a master of medicine, told me to meet him and he had the answer. He bought me an Ace bandage for $4.99 and said, “Wear this dumb thing, shut your mouth, and do what you can.” I always did what I was told.
We had Ray and Russ shuck, what can I say. Those were the days.
Magic again with Team Black in 2006 – Chy Cup Win #4:
Roy Sitto - Coach
Ray Dawood
Natham Karrumi – O MVP
Derek Dickow – D MVP
Fadi Gulli
Lance Sitto
John Kello
Gabe Zaweideh
John Katoula
John Sesi
Black Coach Roy Sitto played QB when he showed up and when he didn’t the CFL got to see Natham Karrumi light it up from any position. Natham ran circles around the defense, barely 160 pounds, and he put people on notice. The receiving core that year was Ray Dawood, Natham, and yours truly. This team also featured a big body that could catch, move and plow thru a damn wall for his team - sure handed Fadi Gulli. Fadi was a moving wall and all we had to do was run behind him.
This was a special Chy Cup for me personally as I received Defensive MVP honors for picking off Joey Jonna twice in the Chy Cup. Anytime I was on the winning side and Joey Jonna and Joey Kejbou were on the losing side, the win was more. Sure they had plenty more talent, but they were two, and last I checked a team has seven.
I remember Jonna text me the next day congrats on the victory and that I had gotten the best of him. What a champ he was. We both knew I wasn’t on his level as a star, but sometimes you can get hot in the CFL, especially when your team puts you in the right position. Karrumi was unstoppable out running and out scoring Team White, winning offensive MVP honors and season MVP, and we don’t win without his play or Ray Dawood’s leadership that season.
The next few years are a blur. I would sometimes show up rattled from adventures the night before, dropped passes I normally caught, played below my standards, got injured here and there, and had a few losing seasons on Team Blue. Never once did I miss a game with a no call, no show – not ever.
We didn’t do that.
2011 Team White – Chy Cup Win #5:
Joey Jonna – Coach
Jordan Rassam – MVP
Timmy Acho
Nick Hermiz
Lance Samona
Mike Sesi
Danny Shaba
Brian Najor
JR Kizy
Derek Dickow
The 2011 Team White coached by Joey Jonna featured an all star line up with the most versatile football player the CFL has ever seen in lineman, turned punt returner, turned featured receiver, and sack machine master, Jordan Rassam. Let me be clear: I have played sports all my life, from basketball, soccer, lacrosse, football, you name it, I probably played it. Never in my life have I met a fully committed winner until I played with Jordan, under the direction of Joey Jonna. Two win-at-all-cost attitudes never complimented each other more than those two. Call it the older brother thing, or the coach thing, but without Joey, Jordan (at this time in his career) probably significantly damages the health of those around him had he not won the Chy Cup and MVP this year. It was good for everyone and he was due.
Rightfully so, Jordan was a beast, and we had a receiving core that featured versatile Timmy Acho, pound for pound athlete Nick Hermiz and a new star in Mike Sesi, known to women of questionable integrity simply as “the kid”. This marked my first time playing on the same team with guys like Joey, one of the great consistent centers in Danny Shaba, and a young talent on both sides of the ball who ran the defense, Lance Samona. It was great to be a part of that team that played the right way – a solid unit where we all bought into our coach’s system and only had one mission all year – hoisting the cup.
2013 Team Blue – Chy Cup Win #6:
Justin Orow – Coach
Jordan Rassam – MVP
Mazen Jaddou
Mike Sesi
Peter Namou
Derek Putrus
Lance Samona
Anthony Toma
Derek Dickow
Steve Sagmani
These guys that come from Troy seem to have a great football pedigree. They are not just ball players picking up a game and let’s see what they can do. They play football the right way. I was happy when rookie coach, rookie QB and blazing speedster Justin Orow added me to his squad. The team was dominant on both sides and almost impossible to score on. This team probably set the all time record for points allowed and shutouts.
Again the All CFL MVP Jordan Rassam led this team featuring a receiving core that was built like an all-star lineup. Not only did Justin have Jordan and Derek Puturs (a very consistent and solid blocker) protecting him, but he could drop darts to Mike Sesi who never saw a pass he couldn’t catch, rookie sensation Mazen Jaddou, and a slot receiver no one had an answer for in Peter Namou.
Justin played more with his heart than with his great ability, and he showed everyone how good he was time and time again when he trust his feet and ran. He would change the game with one play, embarrass the defense, stop on a dime, and had the elusive ability to throw on the run. He was on fire in 2013.
We also witnessed one of the greatest victories in CFL history during this Chy Cup.
First, it’s important to note the game was against Joey Jonna and Joey Kejbou.
Second, by now you are seeing a pattern with Jonna and Kejbou. Candidly, they were a great 1-2 tandem that set the standard for production and were always a play from coming back or counting you out in any game.
Third, Justin severely broke is his ankle late in the game and we needed to score and stop Team White to win. When Justin went down, Lance and I knew right away it wasn’t good. There was hesitation, who would QB, and what the hell were we going do without our best player. Insert Anthony Toma, and with no hesitation on his part, he confidently said, “I got this.” A play later he cocks back his arm and launches a 30-yard bomb to Mazen, who was covered, went up and got the ball like you are supposed to, and he came down with “The Play”.
AT runs it in from the 5, we score, we stop them, we win, we celebrate for 2 minutes and then we all run to the hospital to celebrate with our brother. We did not take any pictures until we got to see Justin. This was our coach, our brother, and he earned that Cup more than anyone that year. That was a great team.
Commissioner Derek D
I enjoyed my time as the commissioner from 2010 – 2013. I think we added value to the league with promotion, upgrading the rookie combines, incorporating social media, marketing materials, program booklets for the Chy Cup, adding a National Anthem singer to the Chy Cup, assisting the start of the WCFL, and a adding a charity component to the big game. It’s a community thing and my hope is this continues to grow under new leadership.
Shoutouts:
There are plenty other memories and guys who’s game I respected and who merit mention as well like: Kevin Boomer Denha, a true winner who retired too early, Johnny Kello for his leadership and guidance as the Commissioner when I came up, the ageless wonder of the world and Crown Royal enthusiast Karl Dallou, Brian Najor was one of the toughest guys on the field, Scotty George played for 25 years and was a beast on the field (he could still add value to any team right now), Dylan Putrus, aka the Animal, another human wall with soft hands that could play and break open just about any game, Tony Attisha for his leadership, playing the game the right way, and not backing down from an opponent no matter their size or the score, Anthony Hesano, who several years back took the league by storm on Team White for one record breaking year, Ernest Yeldo had the ability to jump and stay in the air when he made a play for the ball, Marvin Yeldo was a master at pulling flags, Tyson Yono for working thru injuries and bouncing back, Sinan Abdal for playing with heart and mostly one leg his entire career, Fearless JK John Kattoula, Joey Foumia, and Mark Hajjar for always working that motor on every play, JP Namou for being a tactician on the field and running routes like a pro, Nolan Karrumi, even though he earns the name Dr. Daiwanna, in his prime he was a solid player, John Sesi, for quietly doing his job and never looking for praise, Norman Yono, for the ability to go from zero to 100 with the ball in his hands, Max Sheker for talent combined with height, weight and strength – sets a new standard for an all purpose player, Andrew Shango is pretty much the closest thing the league has to Calvin Johnson (unstoppable), Anthony Yaldo for his toughness, speed, and nose for making the big play & Sean Mattia for being a student of the game, and having an impressive learning curve with no ceiling.
The Future:
I hope the rookies consider how lucky you are to be drafted in the greatest league our community has ever seen. It is undeniably the oldest, most storied, organized, and well respected. Please keep it that way. Remember there are 35 years before you of guys who thought they were the best player on the field. You are likely a kesh until proven otherwise.
The cream always rises in the CFL.
It matters zero when you are drafted, whether you’re drafted in the 4th round and think you should be a protected player, drafted in the 10th round behind guys you think you are more talented than. It matters zero. What matters is what you do for your team in the role your coach has asked you to play. How important can a late rounder be? Just ask any player that’s ever won the cup. It doesn’t matter where you start - it’s where you finish.
Show up when your coach tells you, do what he says to do, and maybe your name will be engraved on the Chy Cup this year. Some played an entire 20-year career and never got a victory when it mattered most. Make the most of your time, be respectful to your elders, and one day you might learn how many beers you can fit in the kettle. Until then, work hard, play right, and when in doubt, listen to your coach!
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