In a March Madness of their own, Local 600 and Local 476 members who work on “Empire,” “Chicago PD” and “Chicago Fire” camera and grip crews at Cinespace, will put on their game faces for a friendly (?) game of basketball Saturday, March 21, to determine which Local can really light up the scoreboard.
The “grudge match” is the first such inter-union athletic activity and will generously benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, which gives youth from some the city’s most ravaged neighborhoods a safe haven after school where they can grow and learn.
The intrepid Local 600 hoopsters, coached by Steve Wojcik and assistant coach Chris Dame, are Jason H. Bonner, Jody Williams, Mitch Koepp, Brian Raman, Gary Malouf, Lawrence Daufenbach, Josh Ramos, Jamie Dawkins, Scott Theil, Joe Fitzgerald and Charlie Anderson.
Playing for the honor of Local 476 are teammates Mike Pennick, Chad Burns, Jerome Green, Blake Armstrong, Carlos Velasquez, Chris Lostumo, Ray Cruz, Kyle Kirby and Marcus Davis.
“We going to win with less,” assures Local 476 president Brad Matthys, unruffled by the fact his team is coachless and has fewer players
The gloating winning team will take home a 3-foot-high basketball trophy. The expectation is that inter-union sports competition will continue in future years and the winning Local team can display it at their headquarters and point to it with pride and amazement at their athletic prowess.
The game will be played at the James R. Jordan Boys and Girls Club (named in honor of Michael Jordan’s father) and Chicago Bulls Family Life Center, 2101 W. Monroe. Doors open at 1 p.m., tip off at 1:30 p.m.
Both unions say the game is a great place to bring the family.
Tickets start at $10 and step up to various higher levels, such $50 for a supporter of two players and $100 for four, and may be purchased here.
