You likely recall the ad campaign from a decade or so ago; beer commercials feature an aging but debonair character known as “The Most Interesting Man in the World.”
A memorable concept, but, like most Madison Avenue creations, an invention.
Last week, I had the great pleasure of spending a couple of hours with Columbus resident George Richards. Richards, an immigrant, disability advocate and retired judge, might actually be the most interesting man in the world.
I learned about Richards from a neighbor who called with a tip about a sports story. Richards had been inducted into a rugby hall of fame in Florida, and the neighbor thought The Dispatch might be interested in the story.
I made contact with Richards and headed to Columbus to talk about rugby.
And we did talk about rugby, among many other things. The judge taught me more about the sport in two hours than I had previously learned in my whole life.
We discussed the differences between rugby league and rugby union (league has 13 players per side; union, 15), the role of the hooker (Richards’ primary position; tasked with winning possession during a scrum) and all the places rugby brought him (England, Florida and the United Arab Emirates, among others).
After relocating to Miami in 1980, Richards began playing with the Miami Tridents, a successful club team that played all over the state. Richards spent four seasons with the club, earning a reputation as a hard-nosed player and team leader.
We also talked about that fateful day in 1984 that changed Richards’ life forever. During a match in Fort Myers, Florida, a scrum collapsed, breaking his neck. Richards knew immediately that the situation was dire.
“It felt like I was on fire,” Richards said. “I’d been injured before. Injuries are just acceptable in rugby, but I knew it was bad.”
Richards spent 10 days in a Fort Myers hospital, strapped to a bed, suffering. His Trident teammates arranged for him to be flown to a Miami hospital specializing in spinal cord injuries. He spent four months in the ICU and another six in rehab before being discharged. He would never walk again.
The rest is history. Richards went on to graduate from college and law school, pass the bar exam, become a statewide prosecutor and, eventually, a circuit court judge. He spent 12 years on the bench before retiring in 2020 due to a cancer diagnosis (he’s in remission). But he never forgot about rugby and about those teammates who helped save his life.
In a house full of memorabilia – commendations for his legal work, congratulations for his role as a disability advocate – Richards seemed most proud of an oddly shaped ball and glass plaque displayed prominently in his room. The rugby ball, which resembles an over-inflated football, was a gift from the team. The plaque was presented to him during his induction to the Trident Hall of Fame during a ceremony earlier this month.
The inscription reads: “In recognition of your contributions to the Miami Tridents and the entire Florida Rugby Community.”
Sports aren’t that important in the grand scheme of things. Games, weeks, seasons fade into the past, replaced by the present in the constant churn of time. But the memories we make – the significance we attach to sports – endure. Even for someone like Richards, who’s overcome so much and accomplished so much, those sporting memories are among the fondest ones.
Philip Poe is sports editor.
Philip Poe is sports editor.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
