Sept. 15, 2006
Senior and Chicago native John Mulchrone was the Lobos’ top receiving tight end last year, catching 12 balls for 132 yards a pair of TDs. His last name is pronounced mul-KRONE. John is an aspiring sportswriter who wrote an online blog for the Albuquerque Journal website in 2005. Mulchrone comes from quite a sports family as his father and an uncle played football for Illinois, while his mom played basketball for the Illini. Three other uncles played football at Notre Dame, Arizona State and Purdue, respectively, and his grandfather was in the Chicago Cubs organization in the 1950s.
Q: What is the origin of your last name, Mulchrone?
John Mulchrone: It’s actually Irish. Most people think it’s Italian and want to pronounce it mul-KRO-nee. My great-grandparents came from Ireland. My mom (Judy) is half Irish and half Polish.
Q: What was it like going to an all-boys high school (Mt. Carmel in Chicago)?
JM: I kind of liked it. You could just roll out of bed and wear the same dirty shirt you wore the day before. The largest all-girls Catholic high school in the city was close by so that worked out pretty well.
Q: What are the great things about Chicago?
JM: My neighborhood. It’s called Beverly on the south side, about 91st street. My dad (also named John) owns a restaurant and a bar. The restaurant is called Mulchrone’s and the bar is called Sean’s Rhino Bar. My dad was in a fake gang called the Rhinos when he was younger, so that’s where the name came from.
Q: Have you found Chicago-style deep-dish pizza here?
JM: Not really. The pizza here doesn’t really compare to back home. I actually like the thin-crust pizza in Chicago better than the deep dish. My favorite place for is Vito and Nick’s on the south side. I also miss the meatball subs from Chicago.
Q: You come from quite an athletic family. What was it like at family gatherings?
JM: It was all about watching football. I looked up to them. I always wanted to play football.
Q: White Sox or Cubs?
JM: The Cubs because my grandfather played for them. When you see a picture on your grandfather’s wall of him in uniform, you’re going to be a Cubs fan.
Q: When do you plan to graduate and where do you want to work?
JM: I should graduate next May. Football is probably not in my future after this season. I want to be a sportswriter. Having my own column in the Chicago Sun-Times or the Chicago Tribune would be perfect.
Q: How do you like Albuquerque?
JM: I like it a lot here. I attended junior college in San Diego and I like it here more. I just like the people more here than I did in San Diego.
Q: How about the food in New Mexico?
JM: I’ve kind of started getting into the red chili recently, but I can’t do the green. I’ll go to a local restaurant for breakfast and throw a little red on my potatoes.
Q: Do you have a favorite tight end or someone you model your game after?
JM: Probably Heath Miller (third year pro from the University of Virginia) with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I think we have the same body type and similar styles.
Q: Any pregame rituals for you?
JM: I just try and relax. I try not to get myself too worked up or I might forget what I’m supposed to do. I like to go over things mentally. No headphones or music, just thinking about what I’m supposed to do.
Q: Who is the funniest Lobo?
JM: Probably (offensive guard) Bo Greer. He’s funny looking, too.
Q: What pops into your mind when someone says Rocky Long?
JM: Toughness. Definitely.