CANUSA 2022

Shows

CANUSA Games
Tony Sitko, Sean Croudy, Rooster Daly, Chris Collins
Special Guest: Jay Clothier

August 3, 2022

They’re baaaaack!

If Tony Sitko, Sean Croudy, Rooster Daly and Chris Collins are in the house, it MUST be CANUSA week!

The fellas are back to talk about the renewal of the longest running international amateur athletic city vs. city competition in North America. Flint (and Genesee County) vs. Hamilton started in 1958. The plans of making that competition a reality with our international sister city of Hamilton, Ontario Canada came from Community Education Godfathers Frank Manley and Charles Stewart Mott.

Tony, Sean and Rooster along with Chris and the rest of their team at the Crim Foundation, who now supports the CANUSA Games, are shining examples of the kind of commitment and talent that has kept these games going strong for 64 years.

Since that time some of the best athletes in the world have competed in the games. On the Flint side of the ledger competitors have included:

Herb Washington and Mike Miller - “World's Fastest Men" at various points in their careers
Paul Krause - holder of the all time NFL Interceptions record
Trent Tucker, Glen Rice, Eric Turner, Mark Harris, Mateen Cleaves, Kyle Kuzma, Monte Morris, Darryl DJ Johnson, Roy Marble, Terrence ’T’ Greene, Jeff Grayer, Terry Furlow, Charlie Bell, Morris Peterson and too many college and NBA stars to name!
Sue Novara Reber, world champion cyclist
Jimmy Abbott, Ricky Leach, Ron Pruitt, Merv Rettenmund, Scott Aldred, Steve Boros, Jeff Hamilton, Whitey Rettenmund, Carl Cmjerek, and a host of College and Major League Baseball players
Mali Walton, Kris Sirchio, Tom Doherty and countless D1 and professional soccer players
Pam Stockton Brady, one of the greatest female badminton players ever
Pam and Paula Mcgee, two ladies hoop legends
Linnell Jones Mckenney, the first professional ladies basketball player in Flint history and to this day an iconic legend in Europe
World Heavyweight champion Chris Byrd, Olympic medalist and world champion Andre Dirrell, world champion Anthony Dirrell
John Mathews, Olympic wrestling captain
NFL stars like Andre Rison, Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram Jr., Booker Moore, Jim Morrisey, and Jon Runyan
Pete Hanson and Bob Habidall in volleyball, two All Americans who would have played in the '80 Olympics if it hadn't been cancelled
There have also been some incredible coaches along the way, too, like Stan Gooch, Jo Lake, Tom Saxton, and scores of other legends

Just to name a few!!

Other key people include the entire Rettenmund family, Dan Cady, Jim Whitinger, Dick Daly, Clif Turner, Dan Brezny, Retired Judge Tom Yeotis, Norm Bryant, Howard Stasil, Joe Wargo, and John Clothier (aka J.C.). In fact, this year John is being honored in memoriam with his initials on the official CANUSA polo shirts. The entire Clothier family was honored at this years CANUSA dinner, and will be lighting the torch at the opening ceremonies.

Jay Clothier joins the crew in the Aquarium to talk about all of this, his experiences with CANUSA, and especially to talk about his dad John. Sean Croudy also tells the story about a special interaction with the elder J.C. when Clothier saved him from drowning at a pool party as a kid!

That’s just a small flavor of the heroics that surround the CANUSA Games and imbues them with the kind of special mystique that continues to make them the greatest amateur athletic competition anywhere.

The games open up at the Dort Federal Event Center on Friday August 5th at 12:30, and the closing ceremonies will be on Sunday August 7th at 9:30 am at the Flint City Hall.

Fish is thrilled to be emceeing the games again this year! Come on out and say hello and support this historic competition!

Back standing left to right: Chris Collins and Fish; Seated left to right: Tony Sitko, Rooster Daly, Sean Croudy

Standing in rear left to right: Tony Sitko and Fish; seated left to right: Jay Clothier, Rooster Daly, Sean Croudy