The champ and former Stinger Lori Cararra.
In the spring of 1997, several Maryland team members took in a screening of the Academy Award winning documentary about the Ali-Forman "Rumble in the Jungle", When We Were Kings . They emerged from the theater with a new pre-game cheer (for some reason, the team had been quite deficient in this area prior to this event.) Recent Stinger retiree Lori Carrara, whose law firm represents Muhammed Ali, brought this to his attention and he responded thusly:
September 17, 1997
c/o Carmita Signes, President
& Jos Bergmann, Captain
Maryland Stingers, W.R.F.C.
College Park, MD
Ladies:
Congratulations on your impressive 2nd place finish at this year's National Women's Rugby Championship, in Minnesota. I understand that this was only your second trip to the Championship, and that on your first trip in '96 you came in 4th. You should be very proud of yourselves and your achievements.
However, don't be satisfied with these results. No champion has ever settled for second place. I have been told a lot about your team. I know you have fine individual athletes. But to be champions in a team sport like rugby, takes more than individuals, it takes a determined team. If you focus, train, and work together, you will achieve your goals and be the best!
