Recollections
Erin Quinn
Flashback:
Time: Summer 2004 Place: The Hatch Shell in Boston Event: The
farewell concert of Dispatch, an independent band made up of 3 Middlebury
graduates, including Brad Corrigan ’96, also a midfielder on the lacrosse team.
Dispatch had been playing
together since their college days at Midd and had
amassed quite the cult following-including the entire Quinn family. In
attendance at the concert, the Quinn family, Pete Kohn, several Middlebury
lacrosse alums from the ‘90’s (including Jon Borgen
who is also embarking on a music career,) venerable lacrosse manager Pete Kohn,
and 110,000 rabid Dispatch fans.
Why do I share this
flashback with you? In part, because I was terribly
remiss in not sharing this experience with you earlier in the summer when we
attended the concert. Brad and the boys have put together an amazing
band and we have enjoyed watching them become one of the hottest independent
bands in the country. Here is the other reason I share it with you…flash
forward from the crazy scene in
Time: Sunday, November 21
(the day after the HOF induction) Place: The
restaurant in the Hunt Valley Marriott where the HOF ceremony was held
Event: breakfast at two tables with Andy Nestler,
Eric Kemp, Paul Scheufele,
“Well, you know, (clear the
throat, cough into the sleeve) they’re both very good!” Same old
Pete, not even his
It was a great night for
Pete. Thanks to everyone who attended, great effort. A classy job as usual by Coach Grube in introducing Peter.
Coach Grube did a masterful job capturing the Pete nuances, balancing the
legendary Kohn character in so many Middlebury lacrosse anecdotes and the
courageous Peter Kohn who had earned his way onto the Hall of Fame stage.
Peter gave a moving speech as well. He almost got caught on rewind a
little at the beginning, but he rallied to offer a classic Peter tribute to his
Mom as well as thanking everyone in the room, for “letting me be me”. This was
the line of the night by any speaker in my estimation. Peter seemed to
enjoy himself, he was relaxed and composed. I hope I speak for the rest
of the Middlebury attendees when I say it was a great night for Middlebury lacrosse
and for Peter.
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Craig Westling
It was a great night for Midd Lax and M. Guttman Kohn.
Jim's introduction
was perfect, and Pete's speech was poignant and touching. Good call on the
re-wind bit, EQ...that had me worried for a minute.
I thought the most telling aspect of Pete's induction was that two other
inductees started their speeches by saying how honored they were to be there
with Pete. He has touched so many in the game, and you
feel the love every
time he got a standing ovation.
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For me the most remarkable
thing about the evening was that Pete had the guts, and the ability, to stand
there in front of over 500 people and give his
acceptance speech without notes. Every other inductee recited a carefully
crafted speech and they stuck to the text with just a few exceptions.
Pete took the stage and, though he might have planned what he was going to say,
it was obvious from the get go that it was a "work in
progress". I have had the pleasure during the last couple of years
of hearing Pete give several speeches and Pete does an excellent job of reusing
a set of well rehearsed phrases. However, his
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Jim Grube
It was a great night for
lacrosse, Middlebury and Pete. Those in attendance shared the feeling
that Pete earned this honor as much as any of his predecessors or fellow
inductees.
I've talked with David Gaynes since the event. Dave was the Keeper from 11:00
PM until breakfast (after closing the bar and enduring a hotel fire alarm [did
not appear on Kohn radar]); at 3:00 AM Pete decides to turn on the TV to catch
ESPN - had to get the scores). Some things never change.
Fortunately, Dave has
captured the emotion of the evening on film and the finished documentary
is about ready to be shared. For all of us who have gotten to know Pete,
we realize that his story is very simple and, yet, very complex.
Capturing this on film is a remarkable achievement.
Personal thanks to everyone
who was able to come to
Cheer Boys Cheer