Rushing home to tradition

It was a sunny Thanksgiving morning at Kaiser Elementary School, but mere inclement weather wouldn’t have kept Duncan Calegari from his annual Turkey Day tradition.

Calegari and a handful of buddies — many of whom have known each other since their days at Santa Ana’s Mater Dei High School in the early ’90s — made their yearly trek to the Kaiser athletic fields for an annual flag football game among close friends.

The group has played its annual “Turkey Bowl” every year since 1993. Calegari said, however, the game isn’t about scores, rivalry or breaking records.

Rather, it’s a yearly ritual the men celebrate to remember their roots and commemorate what they hold most dear on the holiday.

“We’re just thankful about being together and sharing a part of a great tradition,” he said during a sideline Gatorade break. “That’s what this is about: family and friends. Basically, I’m just happy to see guys I haven’t seen all year.”

Calegari is not alone in his commitment to the male bonding ritual — players come from all over to participate, with some traveling from as far as Temecula, Chicago and even overseas to renew the group’s ties for the holiday season.

“I used to live here and play in the Turkey Bowl [in high school], but I moved back to Europe,” Brian Shortt said, with an Irish accent. “I try to make it back every year, but this is my first time back in three.”

The faces of the fielders and the sweat on their uniforms punctuated the passion they brought to the competition, and the cheers from the audience — largely composed of supportive girlfriends and parents — brought a level of excitement to the otherwise informal game.

“Usually,” Calegari said between pants, “we play until we drop dead.”

Indeed, for an informal gathering of former high school and collegiate athletes, the players took some stellar plays to the field.

Richard Kelly made a spectacular catch when the ball bounced off a fellow receiver’s head; following that, a punt fumble was returned for a 90-yard touchdown.

The final score was 43-21.

But, per Thanksgiving tradition, the men looked forward to feasting with their families, though not before one more tradition — a post-game nap.

“Now we’re all going to be with our families, and, eventually, to our dinner tables,” Calegari said.

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626.