First Down Batavia

50 years is a crazy long time but that’s how long Rudy Dubis has been calling Batavia High school basketball and football games! I’m a west Chicago kid, but I’m Batavia Bulldog by way of my kids. When I moved to here, I was taken aback by how loyal this town is to its school—the kids that graduate come back to teach and coach—they stay here and that’s what makes the town so special. In my years of watching Bulldog football, including my son Conner—who was a beast on the field and “the 2015/16 Bulldog award recipient “, I got to know “Big R”, the voice of the Bulldogs. “Big R” aka Rudy is a good man, and asked me if I could help get the word out on the Batavia “all access toy drive” I of course said yes. That’s what this town does, it makes you help people out, it makes you better. During games, the other dads and I would stand up by Rudy and just take it all in—his classic, “first down Batavia” can be heard from miles away. He’s seen state champs and he’s seen teams that barely won a game but his game has always been in top form. I know each town has its own version of what makes them special, but in Batavia one of those things is Rudy. Even now, when my kid is gone from the school I still show up and sit in that spot and Rudy still hears me yell like a nut! Tonight the team celebrates Rudy for all his years, and he along with his friends the “Miller brothers” will smile and take it in. One of these days he will hand me that Mic!

Congrats pal!

RR