Rush Selects National Anthem Winner
June 21, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
June 21, 2007 - Chicago construction worker Al Mack, who only began singing five years ago, will perform the National Anthem prior to the Chicago Rush-Kansas City Brigade game Saturday night at Allstate Arena.
Mack, the winner of the team's fifth National Anthem contest, defeated more than 30 other contestants to earn the right to sing before a near-sellout crowd at the team's final regular season game.
"When they narrowed it down to the final four and my name was called I was so excited," said Mack. "But I didn't want to show it by jumping up because I didn't want to show anybody up. Then I just relaxed and tried to give a great performance when I sang the song in the final round."
"He blew me away from the first note," said Rush star DeJuan Alfonzo, one of the judges for the contest. "He has a great, deep voice and I think the Rush crowd is going to be amazed when they hear him."
Mack, 39, who currently works for a company that is building a housing complex in Calumet Park, was encouraged by his mother to begin singing at church five years ago. Since his mother's death in 2005, Mack has become more serious about his singing.
"A lot of my friends and family are excited that I won and are planning to come and see me," Mack said. "Now I just need to make sure I am focused for Saturday."
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