Legends never go away...

Michael Aston has long been a fixture with Pasadena Rugby (no not this Michael Aston). Recruited to the team in 1994, Mike quickly established himself as a dominating presence on the pitch. A graduate of Alhambra High School, Aston was THE defensive football player in Southern California. Teams developed offenses schemes to avoid running the ball on his side of the field. Had it not been for Aaron Tanner’s alma matter, Hart High School, Mike would no doubt be showing off his CIF Championship rings to the teams young guns. (Sorry Mike, I had to do it.)

In 1996, Mike was elected treasure of the club. He held this office until the end of the 2006 season when he stepped down. After the 2007 season ended and Mike realized how much he missed participating in the club at the EC level, he again was elected treasurer. Mike has been given the Coach’s award twice, once in 1994 and again in the 1995 season. In 2006, I had the distinct pleasure of notifying the team that our annual 15’s Tournament would now be named Mike Aston’s Rugby Tournament. Mike has always enjoyed (even if he tells you he doesn’t…cause it is my busiest time of the year) setting up brackets, communicating with team captains and referees, as well as making sure our tournament goes off without a hitch.

Big Mike, as the team calls him, has primarily played lock. However at 6’-4” he has also played prop, and yes… wing. Looking at Mike, one might not guess that he is incredibly fast and agile. In high school, not only was he the team captain, playing tight end and defensive end. He was also the track and field captain where he threw the shot, long jumped and ran the 440. After leaving high school, Mike “cut his teeth” in the business world, as well as bartending and bouncing at the legendary Pasadena bar, the John Bull. Here, Mike recruited countless Pasadena Rugby players to the team. He now owns his own sports memorabilia company, the Hall-of-Fame Group.

Anyway, Mike says his best years were his early years with Pasadena and I do not doubt him. I have heard veterans tell stories…nay…tales of his play in his early years. However, I contest that his best year was in 1999. Pasadena was still in DII at the time and not the “strongest” team, nor did we have much depth. Mike routinely played 2nd row in the first side game and then played prop in the second side game. Mentored by Joe Lunnon and Gary Patterson, his playing style is typical forward crash and support rugby. While he may not brag about it, his play is what legends are made of. The original “Cheeseburger” play was named Hall of Fame and the plan was, give it to Mike and let him drag the opposition into the try zone for a score. During practices, he is adept at teaching rookies the finer points of mauling and defending a maul. His teaching style is easy and direct, honed from years of coaching football and track at his alma matter, Alhambra High School. Mike has even played 7’s. The most memorable game I had seen him play was against, and I am not making this up, an all-Asian team named Godzilla. He literally carried 4 defenders on various body parts to help our team score a try. Mothra was in the sin-bin. There are countless stories of Mike at Maggot Fest that can only be told over a pint of beer, but be prepared to be awed.

Mikes greatest rugby accomplishment is not anything he has done on the pitch, nor is it his work in the EC. He has a unique ability to make every person feel welcome around the team. In fact, he has an almost father like persona. He has been known to drive players home from bars, loan gas money (and a few bucks for a beer, mate?) and subdue angry bouncers during a pub-crawl. He even makes it a practice to employee teammates at his business. When not at the pitch, or at work, Mike can be found at an Angel game or with his beautiful wife, Giselle… oh…and he is expecting his first child in October. Mike continues to be a driving force behind Pasadena RFC’s success. We hope to see him at practices and games more. When asked if he would like to accomplish anything else on the rugby field, Mike answered… “a comeback!!!”

Oops,Tanner