It had to happen but recognition of this fate in no way assuaged, for me, the inevitable loss of the men’s Montana Cup last November. Since the beginning of the [Montana Cup] the men’s Cup had resided in Missoula until it was snatched away by the infidels last November. So long had the Cup been Missoula’s that it was nearly a birthright.

In the early days Missoula had a decided advantage by being the host city. However, even as the host, Missoula was never the sole claimant to the rights of the Cup as witnesses by the much traveled women’s Cup. Nor was it an easy, assured victory that awaited Missoula’s men every fall with the ever threatening teams from Bozeman, and Kalispell making a go of the race. The worst of it came when in its last year as host Missoula won by a mere two points over the brazenly clamorous team from Great Falls.

Even after the race moved to Butte the Missoula men managed to come away triumphant. Year after year the team would cruise into Butte for the annual display of the Cup, allow the other teams to view what was not theirs, run the race, and depart with the hard earned ware for another year. In spite of the worthy representatives ---Bill Brist, Ray Hunt, Pat Judge, Tony Banovich, Bob Boland, and many others--- sent forth by the other cities, the team winner remained the same – Missoula.

But then in 1999 tragedy struck. Like the seizing of Jerusalem by the Muslims, the infidels took the Montana Cup from Missoula. After years of trying, the heathens finally took something that is not rightfully theirs. I now call out to the men of Missoula --- go forth in the fall and reclaim this Cup. As Hegel Wrote so long ago "Do with abhorrence what duty enjoins". Take back what is yours to have through hard work and sacrifice. Do not be lead from your mark or in any way weakened in this quest by what may appear impossible odds. The Cup has been lost but as Kipling tells us "We can make good all loss except… the loss of turning back".

I ask, is there not one among you who can, like Pope Urban II, rally the forces to go forth to reclaim the treasure from the infidels? Is there not one who can stiffen the resolve when all seems lost, who can strengthen the spirit as it is about to break, who can calm the fears in the thick of battle, who can take you to the brink of the pit and then lead you to leap across? Is there not one among you who can lead against the forces of evil, past the hellish demons of pain and suffering and then into the lair of the interlopers, to seize once again your treasured birthright, the Montana Cup, and return it to Missoula?

-Robert Sowers, 1999