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Owner Joe Reese was so proud of his team, he refused to single any of them out to play in the all stars, saying, “every man on my team deserves to be an all star”

In  a graceful victory last Sunday, the Renegades lost the championship game to the elder team, the Cobras.  Great game, guys, and we’re still celebrating!

The dictionary defines Renegade as “an outlaw; a rebel; one who rejects a allegiance for another; a deserter”

The other definitions focus on the traiterous nature of a renegade, using words like deserter and disloyal.

What’s interesting about those definitions is that they focus on the group or organization that’s being left behind.

We see Renegades as visionaries, pioneers. Even the U.S. founding fathers were Renegades by definition— and sometimes Renegades are leaving the “wrong” side and preparing to do something great.  Our definition of Renegades focuses on the group the individuals are moving towards, not away from.

Renegade– (noun) One who recognizes that there’s a better way, a clearer path towards righteousness, and ventures forward to seek out others who share their view.  A pioneer and survivor.

Of the other definition we have only this to say.  Let them think we are traitors.  Let them think we are disloyal.  Let them think we are deserters. Let hem mistake our youth and inexperience for weakness.

For it’s only them we’ve deserted. We’re strong, fast, and dedicated to the group we’ve found– the Vegas Renegades.  While we are a young team, we’re a collection of experienced, strong players.  We may be new, but we come ready to prove ourselves.

And we’re Renegades for life.

In closing, here’s the chorus from the Renegades theme song, “Renegade” by Eminem and Jay-Z

[Chorus: Eminem + Jay-Z]
[Em] RENEGADE! Never been afraid to say
what's on my mind at, any given time of day
Cause I'm a RENEGADE! Never been afraid to talk
about anything (ANYTHING) anything (ANYTHING), RENEGADE!
[Jay] Never been afraid to say
what's on my mind at, any given time of day
Cause I'm a {RENEGADE} Never been afraid to holler 

about anything {anything?} Anything {ANYTHING!}

Practices and preseason games behind them, this time, it’s for real.

Team owner and wide receiver Joe Reese spent last night preoccupied, running scenario after scenario in his head. Like all the Renegades team members around the city, he can feel the weight of the campionship ring already on his finger.  The players have worked hard in practice, for nothing other than the sheer pleasure of the game.  If there’s one thing this team has is heart.

For this morning, there is nothing but hope for the future– for a perfect game, a perfect season, the playoffs and the championship.  Who knows whether today will bring a W to the Renegades football team?  What we do know is that the future is uncertain, but the Renegades are ready, have worked hard, and will bring their best to every game.

And in the end, well, I’m reminded of the final words in the move “The Replacements”

–When the team left the field that day, there was no tickertape parade, no endorsement deals for sneakers or soda pop, or breakfast cereal.  Just some gear to be gathered and a ride home to catch.  But what they didn’t know, was that their lives had been changed forever because they had been part of something great.  And greatness, no matter how brief, stays with a man.  Every athlete dreams of a second chance, these men lived it.–