sports Anthony Toma
sports Anthony Toma (left), Derek Dickow, Peter Namou, Steve Sagmani, Jordan Rassam, Mike Sesi, Mazen Jaddou, Derek Putrus and Lance Samona bring the Chy Cup – and some cheer – to Justin Orow. Tragedy and triumph in the CFL By Steve Stein The Chaldean Football League had it all this season. Tragedy. Compassion. Camaraderie. Drama. The league’s oldest player coming to his team’s rescue in the 33rd annual Chy Cup championship game. When all was said and done, Team Blue was the champion. It defeated Team White 25-14 on October 19 in front of about 150 fans under the lights at West Bloomfield High School and won the coveted Chy Cup. The trophy’s first stop after the game was the emergency room at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. That’s where Justin Orow, Team Blue’s first-year coach and quarterback, spent part of the night after suffering a broken leg early in the fourth quarter with his team leading 19-14. “Justin was running with the ball when it happened. It was a freak accident,” said teammate Anthony Toma, who was asked by Orow to fill in for him even though he’d never been a regular quarterback in his 26 years playing in the flag football league. At age 46, Toma is the league’s oldest player. “(Team White) probably thought they had us when Justin was hurt. We foiled their plans,” Toma said. With Orow watching the game from the parking lot, Toma drove Team White about 65 yards on the 80-yard field for an insurance touchdown. Toma scored on a short run with less than five minutes remaining. The biggest play of the drive was a 30-yard pass from Toma to Mazen Jaddou. Orow was out of the hospital in time to join his teammates for their Chy Cup celebration at the Uptown Grille in Commerce Township. Team Blue jumped a 13-0 lead over Team MVP Mike Sesi celebrates with his teammates after one of his three touchdowns. Color Their World The Women’s Chaldean Football League had a nine-game season followed by playoffs and the championship game, also played on October 19. Green Machine — which wore red jerseys — prevailed over Blue Fever by a score of 7-6. Congrats to the winners: Alexa Bahoura, Sahar Jirjise, Samantha Ammori, Karleen Shammo, Andry Jaddou, Loreen Sarkis, Candace Dickow, Haley Rabban, captain Skye Acho, Beronica Gasso and Sandy Acho. Not pictured is Jenny Farida. Coaches are Tony Attisha and Morgan Mansour. Photo by Loreen Sarkis White, fell behind 14-13 early in the second half and regained the lead for good 19-14 on the third touchdown pass of the game from Orow to Mike Sesi. It’s the fourth championship — and second in two years — that Toma has won since he began playing in the league in 1988. He was Team Red’s player-coach last year and he won twice as a player in the 1990s. “I decided not to coach this year after doing it the last 15 years,” Toma said. “It was nice not having all the responsibilities.” Besides being Team Blue’s coach, Orow also ran the offense. Lance Samona was in charge of the defense. Derek Dickow, Peter Namou, Derek Putrus, Jordan Rassam and Steve Sagmani also were on the roster. Team Blue had the league’s highest-scoring offense and most stingy defense. It split its two regular-season games with Team White. Team White won 20-14 in Week 1. Team Blue won 38-27 in Week 6. Five-time Chy Cup winner Joey Jonna was Team White’s player-coach. Also on the roster were Derek Bahri, Jason Bakou, Andrew Boji, Ray Jonna, Joey Kejbou, Lawrence Namou, Brian Najor, Jordan Rabban, Bobby Seman, Danny Shaba, Andrew Shango and Norman Yono Jr. Tragedy struck the Chaldean community before the league season when children Alexander and Gabrielle Mansour were killed July 15 in a boating accident. Then Mona Binno Sawa, Jonna’s mother-in-law, passed away unexpectedly on August 2. To honor them and in the spirit of celebrating Sunday, league players met in the middle of the field before each game and offered one Our Father and one Hail Mary. It’s a practice that probably will continue. “We battle each other every week on the field, but we’re brothers outside the lines. That was never more apparent than this year,” Jonna and Dickow wrote in a Chy Cup preview. Coaches of the six league teams normally can protect up to three players for the upcoming season but every three years, each player is drafted. That happened this year. It was a competitive season. Four teams make the playoffs and the fourth team wasn’t decided until the final week of the regular season. Here are the final regular-season standings: 1. Team Blue 8-2; 2. Team Yellow (coach Nathan Karrumi) 6-4; 3. Team White 6-4; 4. Team Green (coach Tony Attisha) 5-5; 5. Team Black (coach Tarik Kama) 4-6; 6. Team Red (coach Chris Zeer) 1-9. Most games were played Sundays at West Bloomfield. One round of games was at Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School. Representatives from the Chaldean American Student Association at Oakland University raised more than ,600 at the Chy Cup game for a medical mission trip. STORY continued from page 23 32 CHALDEAN NEWS NOVEMBER 2013
BEING YOU - ONLY BETTER BEING YOU - ONLY BETTER Plastic Surgery 101 Plastic Surgery 101 Presented Presented by: by: by: Dr. Dr. Dr. William William J. J. Vasileff, Vasileff, MD, Birmingham Institute of Plastic MD, MD, Birmingham Institute of Plastic Surgery Birmingham Institute Plastic Surgery Thursday, November 21, 6:30-8:30pm Thursday, November 21, 6:30-8:30pm The Community House 380 The South Community Bates, Birmingham House 380 Light Light South refreshments Bates, will will Birmingham be be served served Plastic surgery is a personal Light decision, refreshments unique for will everyone. be served For some the goal is to turn back the Plastic surgery is a personal decision, unique for everyone. For some the goal is clock, while others hope to correct physical traits that affect their self-esteem. to turn back the clock, while others hope to correct physical traits that affect Plastic surgery is a personal decision, unique for everyone. For some the goal is If you their are self-esteem. considering plastic surgery or non-invasive skin • 30 years to turn back the clock, while others hope to correct physical traits that affect rejuvenation, this class is a must and the fi rst step toward making MAKE A CHANGE, experience in If you are considering plastic surgery or non-invasive skin rejuvenation, this class is their self-esteem. • 30 years the right a must decision. and the Dr. first Vasileff step toward will answer making a the full right spectrum decision. of Dr. Vasileff NATURALLY Birmingham will answer experience in If questions you a are full spectrum considering regarding of cosmetic questions plastic surgery. regarding or non-invasive cosmetic surgery. skin rejuvenation, this class is • Board certified by Birmingham a must and the first step toward making the right decision. Dr. Vasileff will answer both the American a full spectrum of questions regarding cosmetic surgery. • Board certified Board of Plastic by No charge. both the Surgery American and the RSVP requested. BEFORE AFTER Board of American Plastic Board No charge. of Surgery Head and and the Education 248.644.5832 or + Training + Talent = TRUST www.tchserves.org RSVP requested. Neck Surgery American www.drvasileff.com Board 248.644.5832 or www.drvasileff.com of Head and Education + Training + Talent = TRUST www.tchserves.org No charge. RSVP requested. Neck Surgery 248.644.5832 or www.tchserves.org BEFORE AFTER www.drvasileff.com Alessandra BRIDAL & FORMAL WEAR 29214 Hoover Road, Warren Michigan 29214 Hoover phone: Road, 586.574.2233 Warren Michigan e-mail: phone: alessandrabride@aol.com 586.574.2233 e-mail: web: alessandrabride@aol.com www.alessandrabride.com web: www.alessandrabride.com Store Hours: Monday-Thursday-10:00am-8:00pm / Friday-Saturday-10:00am-5:00pm
