The National Public Safety League and The CPD Enforcers

    

NPSFL

     The National Public Safety League (NPSFL) is a football league for first responders across the United States. Each team is made up of Firemen, Policemen, Emergency Medical Technicians, Military, and Correction Officers. 

     Each team does differ between all or mixed of the above. Players donate their time, effort and service to the various communities. All teams in the league make money that is given to their charity of choice. The NPSFL's goal and mission is to donate as much money as possible to various charities across the US via spirited play.

     The NPSFL is not made up of millionaires and team owners. Each team is funded by the players and coaches. Also, no money is given to any team for travel expenses or to play. Every player fund-raises and needs to meet a certain dollar amount for each season. Teams sell merchandise, hold fundraisers, and sell tickets to each game to raise money for less fortunate.

     The NPSFL is a part of Ronald McDonald House Charities. NPSFL's mission is to create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. In which they focus on the critical needs of children. They celebrate the diversity of the programs they offer and the staff, volunteers, and donors who make it all possible. Finally, operating with accountability and transparency.  

     They strive to be part of that change and part of the solution in improving the lives of children and their families by providing programs that strengthen families during their most difficult or challenging times. They extend our reach and impact by leveraging our 38 years of experience and strong relationships with local communities and people in the field to continually establish Chapters across the globe. They continually work to improve and expand our core programs, while also developing new services to address the unique needs of the communities they serve.

     There are five regions of teams. The Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest and Western region. The northeast has the following teams FDNY Bravest, NYPD Finest, DSNY Strongest (Dept of Sanitation), NYDOC Boldest  (Dept of Corrections), Philadelphia Blue Flame and the Washing DC Generals.

     Next is the Northwest region. The Northwest consists of CFD Blaze, CPD Enforcers, Cleveland Warriors, Columbus Marauders, Cincinnatti Ambassadors and the Detroit Motor City Mustangs. In the Southeast region are; Atlanta Defenders, Charlotte Cobras, Orlando Guardians, Roanoke Rampage and the Tampa Bay Sentinels. 

     In the Southwest you have the Houston Gunners, Dallas Defenders, San Antonio Raiders, and Central Texas Wolf Pack. In the Western region there are the San Diego Enforcers, Southern California Strikeforce, LAPD Centurions, LAFD Heat, Orange County Lawmen and Bakersfield Falcons. Click on any of the team names to be directed to their website.

CPD ENFORCERS

     The Chicago Police Department Enforcers are consisted of only swore officers of the law. Unlike many teams in the NPSFL which are consisted of Firemen, Policemen, Emergency Medical Technicians, Military, and Correction Officers. Each player on CPD raises their own money for the team and the various charities they contribute to.

     CPD is a 501c3 charity and donate to the following charities: Chicago Police Memorial, Chicago Police Gold Star Families, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls; and many others. To donate click on any of the names of the charities and you will be sent directly to the website.

     CPD held a toy drive on December 9th, 2012 at Lion's Head Pub. The Enforcers teamed up with the Chicago Police Chaplains unit. Guests were asked to bring in a brand new unwrapped toy at value of at least $15. It was a huge hit; and gifts were brought to the Mercy Home for boys and girls that following week. 

     The CPD Enforcers excel on and off the field. They were the 2011 Division II Champions. They went 5-1 on the entire season including 3-1 in the regular season. CPD defeated the Philadelphia Blue Flame 24-13 on the south side at Brother Rice HS. CPD went 3-1 last season; their only loss was to the CFD Blaze; their rivals.

First Responders Bowl

     Every season CPD squares off against the rival Fire Dept in the First Responders Bowl. Each year the teams alternate being the home team. The Enforcers won the first two in 2010 and 2011. 

     The CFD Blaze have taken the last two games; which leaves the series 2-2. The game is more than a trophy; it is bragging rights for a full year; and a fantastic contest each year.

2013 Season

     This season the Enforcers opened up on the road for their first two games of the season. First the traveled to Cleveland to take on the Warriors. The didn't have much trouble at all in their first game of the season. They only touchdown let up by CPD was on a fumble recovery returned for a TD. CPD eased through the game with a 26-7 win. 

     Chicago's second game was as easy as they set out to be the first team to travel to New York and defeat the NYPD's Finest. NYPD's defense was all over QB Vince Macias and flustered him enough to throw three interceptions; two returned for touchdowns. CPD was defeated by the Finest 31-7.

     They then came home to take on Division II runner ups the Washington DC Generals in the Gold Star Memorial Bowl. CPD came out hungry following the loss in New York. CPD's offense and defense clicked for the entire game by combing for a total of 25 points! Mike Gaines had two interceptions including a pick six. The final score was Enforcers 25 Generals 6.

     As I mentioned earlier CPD fell two weeks ago to rivaled CFD Blaze. This upcoming Sunday June 2nd, 2013 Inland Empire travels into Chicago. The game is set to kickoff at 2 PM at Lane Tech High School. Tickets are available for $10 from any Enforcer or game day at the gates. See everybody out there!

Five Beers for You

ALE 

   

There are several sub categories of ales but two main ones; Brown Ale and Pale Ale: Brown ales tend to contain less hops than others, mild in flavor and often a nutty taste. This style of brewing became popular with home-brewers in the early 1860s. They range from deep amber to brown in color; with caramel and chocolate in color on the spectrum. The most common in America is Sam Adams Brown Ale.

     Pale ale has about 12 different kinds. Pale ale is made by a warm fermentation using predominantly pale malt. It is one of the world's most popular beer styles. Pale ales tend to be more bitter than other ales. The five most common pale ales are as follows: Amber Ale, American Pale Ale, Blonde, English Bitter, India Pale Ale (IPA). Amber ales have a copper color. American Pale Ale or APA is brewed with a significant quantity of American hops.

     Blonde ales get their name from the color of the beer which is a light brown and almost a yellow; it also has a lighter body from higher carbonation. English Bitter has a (you guessed it) more bitter taste than the rest of the pale ales. India Pale Ale (IPA) is brewed in England and exported to India. IPA's tend to also have a very bitter taste due to the hops used to brew the ale.

DRAUGHT 

   

 Draught beers also spelled as draft; are most commonly served from a keg or a cask rather than in a can or bottle. Smooth flow or just flow was used to illustrate the beers. Keg beer is a term used for beer that comes from a pressurized keg. Cask beer and Keg beer is different from each other. Canned or bottled draught (draft) is a very common beer in the U.S. Most commonly known as Miller Genuine Draft which is actually a pale lager using a filtration system.

     The other well known canned draught is Guinness with their stout in patented "Draught-flow." Both beers are not technically draughts but have the taste that they were brewed in a keg or a cask.

 LAGER 

      A lager beer is a beer that is brewed and stored cold and was a common process in the medieval times. Lager comes from German word which means 'to store'. Most lagers' flavors are more mild and lighter than ales and draughts.

     Lagers represent some of the most alcoholic beers in the world. There are two types of lager; pale lager and dark lager. Pale lager is a very pale all the way up to a golden colored beer and has a noble hop bitterness.

     The main process includes a slow acting yeast that ferments at a low temperature while being stored. Pale lagers were not coming until the late 19th century. The next type of lager is dark lager. Dark lagers typically range from amber to dark reddish brown in color.

MALT LIQUOR 

     Malt beer is sweet and very low in alcohol content. It usually contains anywhere from zero-one percent. It is brewed like regular beer, but not fermented. Malt beer is sometimes called "malta" or "wheat-beer". It is most popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Brazil. Nesher Malt is a non-alcoholic beer made in Israel. Some Malt beers are often used as energy drinks.

     Malt liquor on the other hand has a high alcohol by volume (usually 6%-7%). Malt liquor is usually a straw to pale looking color. It is a strong lager or ale in which sugar, corn or other expensive ingredients are added to malted barley.

It is not a bitter "beer" by any one's measure. Malt liquor is fairly common in the U.S.; mostly bottled in 40's. Some to mention are Mickey's, Olde English 800, Magnum 40, Steel Reserve 211, King Cobra and of course Colt 45.

STOUT 

      Stout beer is a dark beer made using roasted malt or roasted barley, hops, water and yeast. Stouts were generally termed as the strongest or stoutest porters (usually 7%-8%). There are nine different types of Stout beer; but mainly four in the U.S.: Dry (Irish) Stout, Imperial, Porter and Oatmeal Stout.

     Dry Stout or an Irish Stout is also referred to as black beer, because of its extremely dark color. It also has a coffee-like and dry taste; the most common is Guinness. Although, the color of the beer is almost black. It is considered a light beer.

    The next one on the stout list is the Imperial Stout. The Imperial Stout is a Russian stout. It's alcohol by volume is rarely under 9% (it'll get ya drunk!) This is a strong and dark beer; but not as dark as a dry or Irish Stout. A well known Imperial Stout is Barclay Perkins Imperial Brown Stout (long name for a good beer). 

     The third main Stout in the U.S. is a Porter or an English Porter. Although, there is a lot of talk about it; an English Porter was once considered an alternative to the name stout. The English Porter descended from a brown beer and is made from brown malt. The main porter known in the United States is Fuller's London Porter.

     Finally we have the Oatmeal Stout. An Oatmeal Stout is made with proportional amount of oats; made with a maximum of 30%, which is added during the brewing process. A larger amount of oats will contribute to a more bitter taste. The name is more of a marketing scheme; seeing that most Oatmeal breweries use less than 5% of oats in their process.

Sveum Fired Up With 1-7 Jackson

Before the Chicago cubs loss to the Pittsburgh pirates Thursday Sveum seemed frustrated with some of his line up issues. After the game it seemed he took his frustration out on the $52 million acquisition  Edwin Jackson. A poor start in his first year of four thus far for Jackson.
"Obviously not real sharp," Sveum said. "No fastball command. Didn't come out with any velocity at the beginning." 
"It's a game of adjustments," Jackson said. "It's a matter of making better adjustments before you get hurt." 
Sveum 
So for now, the Cubs will keep sending him out there trying to find some answers as any step forward by Jackson has been followed by at least one step back. Why he can't find that consistency is frustrating his manager. 

Blackhawks Relaxed

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews walked up to teammate Patrick Kane and NBC color commentator Eddie Olczyk while they were talking in the locker room following Thursday's morning skate. 

Toews stepped in between the two of them and said, “No more interviews," and all three broke out into laughter.  

The interaction was reflective of the mood of the Blackhawks entering Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. While the Blackhawks understand what's at stake being down 2-1 in the series, they've stayed away from putting too much pressure on themselves. 


“I think it's pretty light in here," Kane said after the skate at Joe Louis Arena. “Everyone is excited about the 
game obviously, but still no difference than any other day in here, which I think is good. I think we're ready to play. Just watching us in pregame skate, seeing everyone out here just thinking and worrying about hockey. It's a good sign. Not too much has changed, but definitely a sense of urgency." 

Kane admitted he considered the Blackhawks' current situation their first real adversity of the season, but he also didn't think that was a bad thing
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Different Without Urlacher

Lance Briggs admits that it is very different on defense without Brian Urlacher.

“I didn’t call plays before, and now I’m calling the plays” Briggs said. “I’ve been spoiled for ten years.”

                Briggs expressed optimism about the team’s porspects and gratitude for the new defensive coordinator. Mel Tucker is keeping the team’s core concepts in place on defense, along with the terminology. The Bears added two new starters to play alongside Briggs at linebacker in James Anderson and D.J. Williams who will replace Urlacher.

                With Urlacher out of the picture many think Briggs will step in as the new leader. Briggs does not see himself in that role. He plans to “continue to be me….just more vocal”. Briggs also went on to say “You’ll get to know more, once we put pads on.”

Briggs ended the interview session when asked if he was surprised that Urlacher remains unsigned.

Quenneville and Hawks Disagree With Call

Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville and the players in the Blackhawks organization feel cheated by the call made in last night’s playoff game against the Detroit Red Wings. Quenneville stated.

“I disagree with the call, He didn’t touch the goalie.. It certainly changes the momentum of the game.”

                The play happened when Viktor Stalberg’s shot was deflected just before it reached the goaltender Jimmy Howard and travelled into the net. The official to the left of the net immediately waived the goal off. The replay showed Shaw was standing in the crease but did not make any contact with Howard. It also shows that Shaw was pushed further into the crease by two Red Wing players just before the “goal”

                The Red Wings still had a 2-1 lead rather than it being a tied game at 2. This was also a momentum changer. The Red Wings tallied one more before the end of the game. The final score was   3-1 and the Red Wings lead the Blackhawks 2-1 in the series.