Being an account of some things I'm interested in, what I'm doing, and reflections on my past, especially music.
Listen to this man. Seven years of college, you know. Trying to reason with 2020 and, now, 2022.
Showing posts with label rugby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rugby. Show all posts
Monday, March 12, 2018
Fish Fry, Business Expo, Bars and a Chili Cookoff Last Weekend
FRIDAY, MARCH 9
Went to the Grant Township annual Fish Fry at the Fox Lake American Legion.
SATURDAY, MARCH 10
Went to the McHenry Business Expo and ran into friend Pam who used to own the Puppet Var where I deejayed for so many years. Then went to the Polish Legion in McHenry (Illinois) and watched the Blackhawks game, Half-Times in Johnsburg where we watched the Scotland-Ireland and part of the England-France rugby games.
We went to Sunnyside, but it was so crowded we left. Ended up at Tommy's in Spring Grove and saw some more of the England-France rugby game.
SUNDAY, MARCH 11
I went to the art show at Turtle Creek in Spring Grove. Then we went to the Moose Lodge in McHenry for their chili cookoff where I judged. Then to Sunnyside.
--RoadDog
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Chicago Area Rugby Football Union
From Wikipedia.
Not long ago, I wrote about the rugby game played in the United States between our team and the best rugby team in the world, New Zealand's All Blacks which resulted in the U.S. being routed. I mentioned that there were several rugby clubs in the Chicagoland area.
Among the men's Divisions:
DIVISION I:Chicago Griffins, Chicago Lions
DIVISION II: Chicago Blaze (Lemont), Lincoln Park (Chicago), Southside Irish (Chicago) and Chicago Riot (Chicago.
DIVISION III: Fox Valley Moors (St. Charles), Chicago Westside Condors, IAS CW Shamrocks (Manhattan, Il.), Illiana Misfits (Hammond, Ind.) NW Indiana Exiles (Hobart, Ind.), NW Woodsmen (Schaumburg) and Rockford Ravens.
DIVISION IV: Chicago Blue (law enforcement), Chicago Dragons, Chicago Roosters (Wheaton), Kellogg School of Management and Lake County Gladiators.
There are also two women's divisions.
COLLEGIATE: Eight teams
Chicago, DePaul, UIC, Lake Forest, Loyola, NIU, Northwestern, Lewis and Elmhurst.
NIU, my school, has won the last four collegiate championships.
Go Huskies!!! --RoadDog
Not long ago, I wrote about the rugby game played in the United States between our team and the best rugby team in the world, New Zealand's All Blacks which resulted in the U.S. being routed. I mentioned that there were several rugby clubs in the Chicagoland area.
Among the men's Divisions:
DIVISION I:Chicago Griffins, Chicago Lions
DIVISION II: Chicago Blaze (Lemont), Lincoln Park (Chicago), Southside Irish (Chicago) and Chicago Riot (Chicago.
DIVISION III: Fox Valley Moors (St. Charles), Chicago Westside Condors, IAS CW Shamrocks (Manhattan, Il.), Illiana Misfits (Hammond, Ind.) NW Indiana Exiles (Hobart, Ind.), NW Woodsmen (Schaumburg) and Rockford Ravens.
DIVISION IV: Chicago Blue (law enforcement), Chicago Dragons, Chicago Roosters (Wheaton), Kellogg School of Management and Lake County Gladiators.
There are also two women's divisions.
COLLEGIATE: Eight teams
Chicago, DePaul, UIC, Lake Forest, Loyola, NIU, Northwestern, Lewis and Elmhurst.
NIU, my school, has won the last four collegiate championships.
Go Huskies!!! --RoadDog
Monday, November 3, 2014
The Day of the Rugby-- Part 3
The real growth in rugby is taking place in the high schools. In 2002, the number of rugby programs in Chicago-area high schools was 8, now it is 50 Programs such as Rookie Rugby and its reappearance on the Olympic stage have helped grow it.
About 25% of American rugby players are women. That is even higher than the world average which is about 20%.
Plus, the quality of U.S. players has improved tremendously to where some are regarded as being on the fringe of world-class players. (Although the "whupping" the All Blacks put on our team shows that we still have a long way to go to compete at their level.)
Another area where rugby is strong is in the college clubs.
And, "there are certain understood codes of honor among rugby players. One is that what happens on the field, stays on the field."
According to Vaughan Palelei, "There's not a sport on this planet where you can go, beat the living crap out of each other and then both sides will go out, have a beer and sing songs afterward." You also won't see excessive celebration after a good play.
I, for one, am hoping I'll get more of a chance to see rugby on TV.
--RoadDog
About 25% of American rugby players are women. That is even higher than the world average which is about 20%.
Plus, the quality of U.S. players has improved tremendously to where some are regarded as being on the fringe of world-class players. (Although the "whupping" the All Blacks put on our team shows that we still have a long way to go to compete at their level.)
Another area where rugby is strong is in the college clubs.
And, "there are certain understood codes of honor among rugby players. One is that what happens on the field, stays on the field."
According to Vaughan Palelei, "There's not a sport on this planet where you can go, beat the living crap out of each other and then both sides will go out, have a beer and sing songs afterward." You also won't see excessive celebration after a good play.
I, for one, am hoping I'll get more of a chance to see rugby on TV.
--RoadDog
The Day of the Rugby-- Part 2
From the October 31, 2014, Chicago Tribune "Emerging sport gets day on the big stage" by Chris Hine.
"Rugby is an intensely physical game, played without pads, in which broken bones and battered bodies are common. The sport is also remarkable for the toughness of its participants and the intense camaraderie formed between teammates and foes alike. It is a culture unfamiliar to most Americans--but that is changing."
Saturday rugby will have one of its biggest moments in Chicago when the best team in rugby, New Zealand's All Blacks will take on the USA Eagles at Soldier Field in Chicago before a 61,000 sell-out crowd, the biggest-ever for a rugby match in this country. (The All Blacks take their name from the color of their uniforms in case you're wondering.)
And, rugby makes its Olympic debut in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Chicago has two rugby clubs that play at the top level of U.S. competition, the Griffins and Lions.
Over the last two decades, rugby has become one of the fastest growing team sports in our country. According to the Rugby World Cup, currently 1,130,000 Americans are involved in it, yet most people don't know much about it.
The Chicago Area Rugby Union says that the Chicago-area has 41 rugby clubs, including some women's clubs, up from 26 twenty years ago.
And, I Am Sure a Big Fan. --RoadDog
"Rugby is an intensely physical game, played without pads, in which broken bones and battered bodies are common. The sport is also remarkable for the toughness of its participants and the intense camaraderie formed between teammates and foes alike. It is a culture unfamiliar to most Americans--but that is changing."
Saturday rugby will have one of its biggest moments in Chicago when the best team in rugby, New Zealand's All Blacks will take on the USA Eagles at Soldier Field in Chicago before a 61,000 sell-out crowd, the biggest-ever for a rugby match in this country. (The All Blacks take their name from the color of their uniforms in case you're wondering.)
And, rugby makes its Olympic debut in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Chicago has two rugby clubs that play at the top level of U.S. competition, the Griffins and Lions.
Over the last two decades, rugby has become one of the fastest growing team sports in our country. According to the Rugby World Cup, currently 1,130,000 Americans are involved in it, yet most people don't know much about it.
The Chicago Area Rugby Union says that the Chicago-area has 41 rugby clubs, including some women's clubs, up from 26 twenty years ago.
And, I Am Sure a Big Fan. --RoadDog
Saturday, November 1, 2014
The Day of the Rugby-- Part 1
I watched the All Black blowout of the team USA today on NBC. The Americans never had a chance. There is a reason the New Zealand All Blacks are the #1 rugby team in the world and they clearly showed it. It was textbook how to play the game. I think the final score was something like 72-6. (They are called All Blacks because of the black uniforms they wear.)
But, at least I got to watch a rugby game, something you rarely get here in the United States. And, even better, I saw the All Black Haka, which is something to behold. Just check it out on You Tube.
But, at least Soldier Field in Chicago was sold out at 60,000, and even though the crowd was mostly American, they were pulling a whole lot for the All Blacks. I pulled out my All Black Haka coolie and All Black flag, even though I was pulling for the USA.
I got hooked on rugby on a trip I went with my mom and sister to Australia and New Zealand. We arrived right when both levels of rugby from Australia and New Zealand were playing. If Americans think they have rivalries in football, that is nothing compared to the one between these two countries.
I sure had a great time watching the games and learning about the sport.
--RoadDog
SAY WHAT? "That's the $64,000 question."-- The radio show became the $64,000 TV show.
But, at least I got to watch a rugby game, something you rarely get here in the United States. And, even better, I saw the All Black Haka, which is something to behold. Just check it out on You Tube.
But, at least Soldier Field in Chicago was sold out at 60,000, and even though the crowd was mostly American, they were pulling a whole lot for the All Blacks. I pulled out my All Black Haka coolie and All Black flag, even though I was pulling for the USA.
I got hooked on rugby on a trip I went with my mom and sister to Australia and New Zealand. We arrived right when both levels of rugby from Australia and New Zealand were playing. If Americans think they have rivalries in football, that is nothing compared to the one between these two countries.
I sure had a great time watching the games and learning about the sport.
--RoadDog
SAY WHAT? "That's the $64,000 question."-- The radio show became the $64,000 TV show.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Rugby World Cup Getting Underway
From the September 7th USA Today "USA aims high at Rugby World Cup.
I became a bit of a fan of rugby when I was touring Australia and New Zealand back several years ago. These two countries happened to be playing each other on both of the major rugby levels.
If you think Americans get into their football, you should see the rivalry when the New Zealand All Blacks (the color of their uniforms) play the Australian team (I can't remember their name). I became a fan of the All Blacks.
The Rugby World Cup kicks off in Auckland today when the All Blacks take on Tonga. Both New Zealand and South Africa (remember the recent movie about their Springbok team and Nelson Mandela) are favorites. There are four pools of five teams and the US is one of them.
Schools having rugby teams have increased greatly in the United States and the US and our team is called the Eagles.
Here's Pulling for an Eagles-All Blacks in the Championship Game and an American Victory. --RoadDog
I became a bit of a fan of rugby when I was touring Australia and New Zealand back several years ago. These two countries happened to be playing each other on both of the major rugby levels.
If you think Americans get into their football, you should see the rivalry when the New Zealand All Blacks (the color of their uniforms) play the Australian team (I can't remember their name). I became a fan of the All Blacks.
The Rugby World Cup kicks off in Auckland today when the All Blacks take on Tonga. Both New Zealand and South Africa (remember the recent movie about their Springbok team and Nelson Mandela) are favorites. There are four pools of five teams and the US is one of them.
Schools having rugby teams have increased greatly in the United States and the US and our team is called the Eagles.
Here's Pulling for an Eagles-All Blacks in the Championship Game and an American Victory. --RoadDog
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