This past Sunday, the Chicago Bliss defeated the Philadelphia Passion to take the 2013 Legends Cup as the Legends Football League champions! I was not in Las Vegas with the team, but I was following from home and there in spirit.
My journey with the Bliss started in March when I interviewed a few of the players at a sports convention n Rosemont. After a few bumps in the road, I became the official writer on the Bliss beat for LFL360.com. Over the next few months, I had a fantastic time covering, watching and getting to know the Bliss.
It all starts with Coach Keith Hac, who welcomed me into the Bliss community, from my first interaction with him through our post-game end zone interview as the Bliss clinched a spot in the Legends Cup championship game. Hac even gave me the quote of the year, when he guaranteed a victory against Green Bay to propel the Bliss into the playoffs. For other teams, that might have provided bulletin board material for opponents. For the Bliss, it was just a statement of fact. The Bliss would not be stopped.
During the course of the season, I interviewed and talked to most of the Bliss players. Each time was a lot of fun. These women are professional, dedicated, tough and personable. If every interview I do was as easy and enjoyable as the ones with the Bliss, I would be ecstatic.
I was in the end zone when the Bliss beat the reigning champion Los Angeles Temptation to clinch their spot in the championship game. It was one of the most thrilling sporting events of my life.
People can criticize the Bliss for being attractive women who just happen to play football. While the players are certainly attractive, their football skills and toughness should never be denied. They are not just pretty girls running around in skimpy outfits. These women are players...tough and talented players!
They play with very little body pads. The field is not soft and neither are the sideline boards. I saw the swollen and bruised body parts. I saw the limping. I saw the pain. These women are as tough as they come.
I am happy to have been a part of this season. I certainly plan on being back in 2014. I appreciate Coach Hac for all of his cooperation. I thank him and every Bliss player for treating me so well and for giving me so much fun. The Bliss is one of the classiest organizations I have ever covered or seen!
Congratulations to the 2013 LFL Champion Chicago Bliss. You deserved every bit of praise you get!
