Today, though, the story has become muddied. Tony Church is no longer the beacon of light in pursuit of a remarkable dream. Rather, he's being pursued by the judicial system, accused of crimes equally disturbing and disconcerting. He's facing a May 12 court date on charges of battery, being party to aggravated battery, disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer stemming from a Nov. 19 fight outside of Molly McGuire's Tavern in Oshkosh. Another man has told police he was grabbed from behind, thrown to the ground and was kicked and punched to the point that his spleen ruptured, and had to be removed because of life-threatening circumstances.
Church faces the possibility of six years in prison.
He faces the reality of a public that no longer believes in him, just believes he has gone the way of guys like Strawberry, Taylor and Howe, just another guy ultimately not strong enough to escape the dark side. But I can't control that. If I cared about what everyone else thinks, it would drive me nuts. Because the case is pending, details and specifics are in short supply. What he will say is he attended a Goo Goo Dolls concert at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, then headed over to McGuires.