March 6, 2002

Dearest fellow ruggers,

Growing up in the northeast, I always prayed for the first signs of spring. Just hearing the old saying "March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb," used to warm the cockles of my heart. (Heh heh - he said "cockles.") As a kid there was no greater feeling than that first day spring that let you shed that heavy winter coat. When that temperature finally went above freezing we would hit the door running and we would play until the sun went down. Then, of course, in Buffalo it would then again start to snow.

As a young adult my brother and I would dust off our boots, air up a rugby ball, and we would have a run on the patchy snow/mud-encased pitch. Don’t worry, I am not writing an article for Delta’s Sky Magazine. This little Norman Rockwell moment does have a purpose, but as most of you know I do like to take me time getting there.

Whether you live in a part of the country that has four distinct seasons or you live in a climate that might change from cool to, warm to, to hot, to "Oh, my God it’s hot!" you still have a rebirth of life. You still have a change in your surroundings and your life. Well this spring’s early forecast calls for big change in the Hooker household.

It is with a, somewhat, heavy but, mostly, excited heart that I inform you, my friends and customers, that this will be the last email rant for Hooker Rugby Supply. Starting later this spring Hooker Rugby will no longer exist. I am formally announcing the merger between Knockout Sportswear and Hooker Rugby Supply. We will use the Knockout name, but Hooker Rugby will be part of the infrastructure. Within this partnership we will relocate our main office to Buffalo, New York (I know I am crazy!) We will still focus on rugby, but we will now be concentrating on team sales instead of individual sales. Our product line for rugby will still have the world’s greatest jersey, but we will also have indestructible shorts, custom warm-ups, team kit bags, protective gear at prices that are affordable for all players, and many other products as well. I still plan to write my rants that so many of you pretend to enjoy. (Anything to distract you from work is ok with you, right?)

As the owner of Hooker Rugby Supply, I thank all of you, from the bottom of my boots, for your support over the past 6 years. I look forward to serving you and your team in my new capacity with Knockout Sportswear. Now, for a change, read the specials below - you won’t believe your eyes!

Cheers,
Pat Laczkowski
Hooker Rugby Supply