Jan. 18, 2007
John Mack, a Binghamton (N.Y.) High School club lacrosse player, died on Nov. 30, but thanks to the efforts of family, friends and his local lacrosse community, he will not be forgotten. Mack, who died two days after being injured by a legal stick check during a game, will be commemorated with the John Mack Southern Tier Shoot Out Boys Lacrosse Tournament at the Great Binghamton Sports complex, Feb. 10-11.
"He was just a beautiful kid," said Rob Mack, John's uncle and the organizer of the tournament. "The tournament itself existed last year, and this year I was intending on doing it again. It was an opportunity to name it after my nephew and use a portion of the proceeds to benefit his memory."
The tournament will feature 8-on-8 games for modified, junior varsity, varsity and grand masters divisions. Recommended team size is 15 to 18 players with a cost of $400 per team. Deadline for registration and the $100 hold fee are due Jan. 20. If space is available after Jan. 20, a late registration fee of $450 per team is required. The final deadline for registration is Feb.1.
The weekend will also include a benefit party on Saturday night at the Binghamton Knights of Columbus Hall. The party, which will feature food, drink, live entertainment, auctions and raffles, will raise money for the John Mack Memorial Fund.
John's death was caused by commotio cordis, a sudden disturbance in the heart's electrical rhythm, usually caused by blunt impact to the chest. His death on the field of the sport he loved was particularly tragic. In a eulogy for his son, John's father James noted that no one was to blame for the incident and said, "it was incalculably more likely that he would be killed by lightning than a minor stick check, the same kind of check he made and received every time he took the field. Lacrosse is an acceptable risk that brings a lifetime of rich rewards. Lacrosse is a unique game. Lacrosse is a unique fraternity."
The Mack family is an important part of that fraternity in the Binghamton area. James founded lacrosse clubs at Broome Community College and SUNY-Binghamton, and still runs Binghamton youth lacrosse programs and plays in the grand masters league. John and several of his cousins were collectively known as "the Mack Attack" among teammates and friends, for their devotion to the game. The family has chosen to use John's death as an opportunity to reach out to the lacrosse community and educate people with the need for automatic external defibrillators (AEDs).
"I was very aware of the Cornell case [the 2004 death of Cornell player George Boiardi from commotio cordis]," Rob said. "I listened to people tell me his heart was ruptured, or damaged. So I went out and I bought my kids the best chest protectors you could buy, and my nephew Johnny had them too. We thought the heart was damaged by the ball, not that the heart's rhythm was disturbed. An electrical disturbance killed him. I would have been more conscious of the situation. I didn't have proper information and I didn't respond. A good one [AED] costs about $1,000.There are cheaper ones and there are better ones, but the cost is coming down because of how many they're selling. There's no excuse."
Money raised by the John Mack Memorial Fund will support academic and lacrosse scholarships, as well as the provision of defibrillators and defibrillator training to sports clubs and teams throughout the Binghamton area.
To donate money or merchandise, please contact:
John Burtis
c/o Viera & Associates, PC
5 Leroy St.
Binghamton, NY 13905
(Please make checks payable to John Mack Memorial Fund.)
For tournament questions and general info, please contact::
Rob Mack
607.725.7775 (cell)
robmack@stny.rr.com
John Mack Memorial Fund Flyer (PDF)
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