Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

Just a few tidbits this morning.

From Goffon Rugby (subscription required):

• Women's College Player of the Year: Olivia Anglade
• Women's Forward of the Year: Tina Nesburg
• Women's U19 Player of the Year: Tess Kohanski
• West Point Rugby Receives $10M Donation from Jon and Patti Prusmack (also recently purchased Goffon Rugby)

2007 Fort Lauderdale Ruggerfest (from my inbox this morning)

• 31st Annual Tournament
• February 24-25, 2007
• Contact them at Ruggerfest@ftlrugby.com or call Tournament Director Alex Sharland at (954) 401-0717.

2007 Mardi Gras Tournament

• I can't shamelessly promote this tournament enough. The men's and women's team were devastated along with the whole state when Hurricane Katrina hit. They are literally building a new foundation and can use all the help we can give.
• Let me know if your team is planning on attending, the Valkyries have it on our schedule.
• February 17-18, 2007 in Gretna, LA
  
• Entry fee is $400 per team
  
• Email for more details- Jennifer Doucette at jellifreak@prodigy.net

Oklahoma Rugby Camp

• January 12-14, 2007 in Norman, OK
  
• Youth, High School and College teams are encouraged to attend.
• Coach Development Program and Referee Clinics
  

I was watching a match on the Internet this morning and they used instant replay. I had heard this was in use...but was just interested enough to do a little research:

• From Wikipedia: Instant replay has been widespread in rugby for many years, especially rugby league. Replay calls can vary from the correct grounding of a ball at a try or to decide whether or not a player is onside before they catch the ball, when they score. The decision is made by video replay referee, who takes his place in the stand of the host team. He either tells the pitch referee by radio link-up or by the use of a big screen during televised matches. Unlike in the NFL, a coach cannot challenge a call made by the pitch referee.
• There's a lot of discussion over whether its a good thing or a bad thing. What's your opinion?

Coming to you LIVE...from my gym...and TYPING WITH TWO HANDS! Hell yes baby!

Sadly, yes I am at work. We are a little short-staffed this week and I figured I would help out and bite the bullet and work a Saturday. GASP...all you M-Fers...I know. Some people do work on the weekends. And hell, rugby is out for another two weeks or so, why not make some extra money?

Nothing really rugby related to blog about this morning...I could blog about one subject, but that would involve way to many curse words, mainly about the damn schedule. Love the WEST! Thanks guys!

So back to the hand...I know you're dying to hear about it. I will have pics up soon. So my hand didn't atrophy that much, but is of course very stiff. I am going to physical therapy next week for my first visit. They will be making me a stiff plastic splint, my doctor was funny..."So you can play rugby!" I neglected to tell him that I play scrumhalf and that having a hard plastic cast over my index and middle finger will basically negate me from playing. Not to mention the hard part of the cast...pretty sure that's illegal.

And they gave me a temporary splint to wear until my PT appointment, pretty sure I haven't worn it once. How am I supposed to be getting stronger if I'm stuck in a splint? So yeah, supposed to be wearing that thing for like half the day. Oops!

So in the land of Austin, TX, more specifically South Austin Gym...drinking some Starbucks and eating a banana loaf. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Peace.

I get my cast off today!!

I am so so so ready for this, the cast has been cumbersome, annoying and painstaking when it came to daily tasks. But who am I kidding, it was all for the healing process correct?

For those that are just tuning in..I broke my hand on November 18, playing rugby in a motley match. I had gone in a ruck to pick the ball and emerged on the weak side. When I first chose sides, I chose the weak side because I saw only a wing...alas a hooker (only relevant because of her small, but strong stature) was there. I stiff-armed her in the face (unintentional...small stature remember?) and ripped out half of her eyelashes. I felt a popping sensation but just thought I had broke my pointer finger or dislocated my knuckle.

Of course it was worse as I soon discovered when I tried to continue the game. I could feel the bones moving when I ran! So I had surgery on November 28...and will get my cast off today!!!

So a few weeks of physical therapy and I should be good. Now the fear: I'm a scrumhalf. I'm a rugby player. I need my hands. Bottom-line. I worked all season on my left-handed pass, throwing the ball against that chain-link fence for hours. Visualizing my fly-half's hands...only to have to start over again.

I have been anticipating this moment for weeks and as my prop warned me yesterday...I had better take it easy at first. My hand won't be ready to do everything I want to do.

So wish me luck ruggers.

My counter rolled over 2,000 a couple of days ago...Thanks for all the visits!

So I visited the fam in Corpus Christi and I brought Jake along with me. He's my 16 month old Weimeraner/Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy. He is very very active and loves to be chased. Greg and I caught this video of Dad chasing Jake. Greg is taping..and we both provide the background noise/distractions.

It's cute!

So the trip to Corpus Christi to see the parentals has been relaxing, interesting and slightly like stepping into fantasy land.

It all began Saturday when my little brother asked me to go to an Airsoft game with him. I had heard him talk about this before, but here is a rough definition from Wikipedia: Airsoft refers to a sport or recreational pastime in which players participate in the simulation of military- or law enforcement-style combat using smoothbore airsoft guns designed as replicas of real firearms.

So my little brother basically plays with replica guns for fun on the weekend. I wasn't sure I agreed with the whole idea, but I will try anything once. We arrived at the abandoned warehouse they have gotten permission to use from the local police. I was expecting a rag-tag group of teenagers...but was surprised when middle-aged men and small children were the norm. We are talking 6 year olds that can handle a gun better than me!! However the weather was horrible so the gamers just shot glass out of the windows of the warehouse and my little bro and I left. An experience to say the least.

Fantasy Land

Enter the 12 Hallmark/Lifetime movies that were shown over the course of three days. My parents recently purchased a DVR and then consequently have been recording every crappy made-for-tv movie ever made. No wonder I grew up believing that all love needed was a little magic. That if you apologized after ruining some one's life, they instantly forgave you and you fell in love. I'm kind of afraid that when I enter the real world tomorrow, I will take a bit of Hallmark and Lifetime with me. I guess that's not such a bad thing...it could be worse!

Other than that seeing the family was nice...a good few days of relaxation. Much deserved!

The Adventures of Jake

I brought Jake along with me on this trip...and it was a learning experience. Jake is a 16 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback/Weimaraner mix.

This first picture is a drawing of a Weimaraner...notice the large ears and chest, Jake definitely has those.

Weimaraner Breed Standard
(From AKC.ORG)
Sporting Group

General Appearance
A medium-sized gray dog, with fine aristocratic features. He should present a picture of grace, speed, stamina, alertness and balance. Above all, the dog's conformation must indicate the ability to work with great speed and endurance in the field.

The second picture is of a Rhodesian Ridgeback...notice the powerful stance and large paws, more of Jake's attributes.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed Standard
(From AKC.ORG)
Hound Group

General Appearance
The Ridgeback represents a strong, muscular and active dog, symmetrical and balanced in outline. A mature Ridgeback is a handsome, upstanding and athletic dog, capable of great endurance with a fair (good) amount of speed. Of even, dignified temperament, the Ridgeback is devoted and affectionate to his master, reserved with strangers. The peculiarity of this breed is the ridge on the back. The ridge must be regarded as the characteristic feature of the breed.

I learned a few things about Jake this weekend. I have grown so used to him being glued to my side...he is very loyal and obedient...that I forgot that he can be in the way. My mom kept complaining about he likes to lay in the kitchen when she is cooking. Yes, as my roommates can attest, you become quite good at balancing hot pans while stepping over Jake.

He is also afraid of most men and that includes my little brother and my dad. Dad tried very hard to warm Jake up including taking him in walks, playing ball and even chasing him, but Jake was still weary.

Overall he is a great dog that I hand-trained and love with all my heart. He is my confidant, training partner, cuddler, and so much more. Plus I never have to drink alone! Here are some puppy pics and recent pics...Happy Holidays!

Guest Blogger #4 (I've lost count!) - Heidi Whitman.

If you have ever chased, supported or watched this woman maneuver a rugby pitch you know its amazing. You can listen to her support players yelling "I'm on your right, I'm on your left" as she changes directions at the drop of a dime. She is simply deadly at the fullback position. Her strength on & off the field is monumental and I am proud to call her my teammate.

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As any aging rugger knows, rugby is a rough sport, and the older you get the creakier you get. Each new whack on the shoulder or the knee gives you pause - especially if you're already pausing to heal up - and you ponder, 'is this the injury that ends my rugby career?'

But I'm not making this a dour post, I mean it to reflect my mood in this season of giving and reflection. Have you thought about what you'll do when your rugby days on the field are pooped out? This sport has given so much to so many of us. To myself and most women I think, rugby has given us self-esteem and coincidence in our bodies, confidence in our strength to stand up to the world. This is such an obscure, most special gift.

I was 17 when I started playing rugby, and you can be sure this sport made its impression on me. To pass on this strength to women I think would be the most special gift of all. Ladies, you can do this by coaching. Now before we have mutinies around the west as players rise up to demand coaching spots, let me clarify and say that I mean Coach the Youngin's. So many women's college teams around the country could use a little help with practices, don't be shy about your help. But really, I'm talking about high school age teams. I've seen the traditions in Seattle and Vermont of girls teams that do amazing things for their players! And to teach the basics of rugby doesn't really take that much extensive knowledge on the coaches part, just the right attitude. You could give those girls a kind of confidence that most women never get exposed to! This is the best kind of giving back to rugby that there is.

I know most people aren't blessed with a girls team in the area that they can pop in and help out at. So this means we'll have to get a bit more ambitious with our giving and helping. I'll tell you, it's easier than it might seem to start a girls team, if a bit intimidating. But there are people to ask - an excellent resource are the Kent Crusaders, the first HS girls team in the US - I watched them win the Nat'ls in 2002. www.kentcrusaders.com Or you can check out USA Rugby's development page at www.usarugby.org/youth

Merry Christmas, ruggers!

I emailed all the D1 women's teams I could find this morning...(couldn't find a good contact for Seattle or Alamo City). Here is the email:

--------------------------------
Ladies-

My name is Wendy Young and I play for the Austin Valkyries. A few of the teams in the West were talking last week and we decided to create an ONLINE CALENDAR for the women's club teams in the US. The calendar is located on my blog: http://westrugby.blogspot.com

It is still in the beginning stages, but the vision is to keep it updated with ALL of our schedules. If we want women's rugby to keep growing, cooperation with all the D1 teams is essential. This way we can all see when everyone is playing and where...maybe we can play each other more conveniently. I have volunteered to keep the calendar up and running and as accurate as possible.

What I need from all of you is:

Match Secretary Information
Spring/Fall 2007 Schedule (even if its pending)
Tournaments you are attending.

Let me know if you have any suggestions as well.

In rugby,
Wendy
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This calendar updates whenever an entry is submitted by me. It is very simple to navigate...just click the arrows below the date and you can change months. Click the event for more information...you can also make comments on the events. Please email me at scooterwe@gmail.com or leave the changes in the comments.

The West recently created a D1 division and the teams included are:

Austin Valkyries (TX) Wendy Young - scooterwe@gmail.com
Boulder Babes (CO) Mandy Rasmussen - mrmandy5@hotmail.com
Black Ice (CO) Tara Moxon - lbptm@yahoo.com
Glendale (CO) Katie Wurst - kwurst@usarugby.org
Kansas City Jazz (KS) Erica Kloehn - eakloehn@hotmail.com
St. Lois Sabres (MO) Sarah Webel - boulderbabe13@yahoo.com

Each team is required to play the other...and this has made the scheduling a nightmare. Emails are flying back and forth with each of us trying to be as organized as possible.

So one of the match secretaries suggested using my blog as a central point to host the West D1 Calendar. That way ALL Women's Club teams (or any interested teams) could schedule matches with ease.

I will be working on a Round of 16 calendar in the future because we all want and need to play each other...so feel free to send me your info, schedule and team contact. Leave it in the comments or I can be reached at scooterwe@gmail.com I'm online almost all the time...

So the schedule is posted to the right...

I was playing around on Google Earth when I couldn't sleep last night and was able to locate a few fun places! Of course I found my home address, work and favorite bar...

I also found Burr Field, the rugby pitches in Austin! This image is from about a year ago as we now have three fields and another storage shed, but this program is pretty cool! (click on the image for a larger version.)


If you don't know what Google Earth is...you have to check it out. Its a program that gives you access to satellite images all over the world. You can even see places like Guam, Antarctica and more!! Have fun!

Guest Blogger #3 is Holly Iker representing the University of Oklahoma Roses and the Western rugby Union . This guest blogger is a very special one. She has served many functions in my life...teammate, coach, roommate, friend, legal advisor, and so much more.

One of my favorite memories of Holly is at the New Mexico High Desert Tournament about five years ago. Our team was backed up on the try-line and the ball carrier advanced toward me, even before I could start the tackle Holly picked me and the other girl up! The try was held up...she's awesome and has always had my back.

(The first picture is the Roses last year when we blew the hatch off the West, getting 2nd at Western Collegiates. The second pic is Holly and I watching a rugby match.)

THE IMPORTANCE OF REGISTERING WITH USA RUGBY (CIPP):

When you CIPP register with USA Rugby, you are automatically covered with third party liability insurance. This coverage provide two types of protection.

First, you are covered if you injure a third party during the course of a rugby match. For example, if you kick the ball into touch and it injures a spectator, you are covered.

Second, you are covered if you cause any third party property damage during the course of a rugby match. For example, if you kick the ball into touch and it damages the property of a spectator, you are covered.

It does not cover ANY intentional injury to persons or property.

It does not cover player versus player injuries.

This coverage is automatic for all clubs and individual members who are CIPP registered with USA Rugby and in compliance with the rules and regulations of USA Rugby. There is NO additional cost for this coverage.

It is important to remember that this coverage from USA Rugby does not provide any medical coverage. If you are injured, you must file a claim on your own medical insurance. You are required to have at least $100,000 of individual medical coverage when you register with USA Rugby.

Why should you care about this coverage? What are its benefits? If you are playing matches or practicing at a public facility, most places will require a certificate of insurance coverage BEFORE you can have any event. If you were required to obtain this type of insurance through a private insurance company, it would be at a substantial expense.

USA Rugby will provide up to 5 such certificates to each club. Additional certificates can be obtained from USA Rugby for a nominal fee.

Coaches, referees and administrators are also covered if an injured player tries to sue them for injuries sustained during a match.

If a player is not CIPP registered, they are not covered. If a non-CIPP player is allowed to play or if you play a team that is not CIPP compliant, you will most likely forfeit your coverage. Without this coverage, you could be held personally liable for any third party damages to persons and/or property.

When you are renewing your CIPP registration for the upcoming year, remember the insurance coverage you are being provided. When it seems like the cost of CIPP registering is always increasing, remember the insurance coverage you are being provided. It is worth it. How can you afford not to be CIPP registered?

For more information regarding the details of this coverage (policy limits, certificates, etc.), please contact USA Rugby directly or look at their website (www.usarugby.org).

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This guest blogger, Holly R. Iker, is a licensed attorney in the State of Oklahoma. This blog submission is intended for informational purposes only and should NOT be considered as legal advice. If you have any legal questions arising out of any rugby-related damages to persons or property, please consult an attorney.

2007 New Orleans Women's Rugby Club
The Halfmoons

invite you BACK!!!!!

The "Throw Me Somethin' Rugger!"
Mardi Gras Women's Rugby Tournament

February 17th and 18th, 2007
Gretna, LA

College and Club Brackets
Saturday Mardi Gras Parade Party

Host Hotels
Days Inn and LaQuinta
Westbank

$400/team

Email for more details-
Jennifer Doucette
jellifreak@prodigy.net

Help us rebuild New Orleans Women's Rugby...
one ruck at a time!!!!

My poor hand the night of surgery. I woke up to this horrid hard splint. I didn't even get to see my hand until yesterday.













The xray showing my screws!!















My hand right after the nurse took the hard splint off. The YES is from the day of surgery...yea they didn't even wash my hand! Gross!!













The scar...
Its hard to tell but it starts right below the knuckle and runs the length of the tape. DAMN GINA!!












And my tattoo...no one will see it for awhile now!















PINK is my new favorite color! And yes there are already dirty words, & dirty phrases on it. You could be the first to put a clean entry or draw the first dirty picture!

This came across the Oklahoma Rugby Alumni Listserv this morning. A newspaper in her hometown wrote this charming article. I know I have a pic of Jolene and I somewhere, if I find it I will put it up later. Enjoy!!

Rugby: Why our Jolene is set to star in Oklahoma..
Belfast Telegraph (Online newsletter from Jolene's hometown)

HAVING come up through mini rugby at Chambers Park, Portadown, Jolene Cloughley has now taken her skills and experience to the US where she is working as a Rugby Development Officer in Oklahoma.

Jolene, who is a third year student at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown, has been in the states since the summer after she applied to various rugby clubs offering to play for their teams and develop rugby at their youngest levels.

After seeing her impressive CV the University of Oklahoma contacted Jolene offering her to become a member of Oklahoma Rugby Inc by volunteering as a Development officer and coach for 12-18 year old girls in the town of Norman, Oklahoma.

She has also since being playing for the Oklahoma Roses Women's Squad as outside centre.

Jolene has an impressive rugby career having Captained Ulster U17 2000-2002, played for Ulster U19 in 2003 and played in the Ulster Senior Squad from 2004-2005.

Over the past few months Jolene has had a very busy schedule, travelling the States to tournaments in Texas, Arkansas and New Mexico State to name but a few, and her team has had great success.

When she is not travelling, her time is taken up with a tough gym regime, as well as coaching and training.

Jolene is thoroughly enjoying her time in the US and the challenge of playing rugby with a few variations: "The game of rugby in the US mirrors rugby in Northern Ireland except for a few things. I have only seen one team play by mauling! Our coach concentrates only on rucking."

She has also been working hard to recruit players for a new Oklahoma Girls Team in the town of Norman in Oklahoma. She has even been allocated her own bank account for the girl's team for which she is head coach. The New Year looks set to remain as busy as ever, as Jolene will be coaching rugby at Youth Camps for children from ages 5 to adolescents up to 18 years old.

Meanwhile, Ballyclare RFC Primary 6 mini-rugby side are really looking forward to this Saturday when they will run out at Ravenhill at half time during Ulster's Magners League clash at Ravenhill.

The Ballyclare mini rugby team will play Greystones from Co Wicklow.

Ballyclare has had close links with Greystones for the past 20 years and the two clubs usually play each other annually at the same level of senior rugby.

Greystones are bringing a 30-man squad this weekend and will stay at Dunadry. On Sunday they will provide three teams for a P6 tournament at Ballyclare's Cloughan Grounds against both Academy and the local club.

Kick-off is 10.30am.

The squad which will play at Ravenhill is: David Gilmour, James Reid, Richard Love, Johnny McAteer, Michael Stevenson, Andrew Rankin, Conor Cambridge, Matthew Robson, James Douglas and Andrew Blair.

Equal amount for all has generated a lot of complaints, discussion
By Jordan Burke

OREM — In an effort to be fair, Utah Valley State College student leaders and administrators decided earlier this year to give all extracurricular clubs the same amount of funding. UVSC women's rugby team, in green and yellow, now receives as much money as the men's team.

So has the outcome been fair? The answer depends on whom you ask, but the move has generated quite a bit of discussion at UVSC.

Until this school year, UVSC used two funding tiers for its club sport teams — they had extramural clubs, which received funding from the school to pay for uniforms and coaches, and the intramural clubs, which didn't receive funds from the school and scraped by to pay for costs.

The rest of the article is here.

Coming from a college club that doesn't get equal funding...this is exciting! I hated that the men get more money than we did every year also. Great job ladies!!

I subscribe to the NASA Image of the Day on my Google Home...and this image came up the other day. Pretty sweet!

Members of the First Lady Astronaut Trainees (FLATs, also known as the "Mercury 13"), these seven women who once aspired to fly into space stand outside Launch Pad 39B near the Space Shuttle Discovery in this photograph from 1995. The so-called Mercury 13 was a group of women who trained to become astronauts for America's first human spaceflight program in the early 1960s. Although FLATs was never an official NASA program, the commitment of these women paved the way for others who followed. Visiting the space center as invited guests of STS-63 Pilot Eileen Collins, the first female shuttle pilot and later the first female shuttle commander, are (from left): Gene Nora Jessen, Wally Funk, Jerrie Cobb, Jerri Truhill, Sarah Rutley, Myrtle Cagle and Bernice Steadman.

Image credit: NASA

I know a few people have already blogged about this video, but I thought it was awesome!!! The lineout in the middle of the interview was cute as well!! (Blondie and The Bubble)

Check it out here.

Wendy-

Thanks for posting the story about FSU. I wrote to one of my coaches, Colleen Fahey, to send her the link and she forwarded it on to some old girls and do you have any idea of who just wrote to me about it???!!!??!!! Kathy Flores just shot me an e-mail saying that what I wrote was awesome!!!!!!! I have met Candi once or twice also, but never Kathy. Ok, so thanks.

Rosalind

**The original post can be found here.

November 28, 2006 – USA womens 7s coach Julie McCoy is holding an open Footwork Camp in Philadelphia January 12-14.

The camp will be open to plays and coaches, and those attending can register at http://www.footworkcamp.com.

The MARFU U-23 program is providing a scholarship to one outstanding player from last weekend's U23 LAU tournament, and the Philadelphia Women's Rugby Club is accepting applications from EPRU collegiate player for a scholarship.

McCoy will be joined by Ellie Karvoski, and Sean Ross in presenting her drills for speed, acceleration, change of direction at pace, and integrating rugby skills therein.

The camp is designed for players, male or female, of all experience levels to enhance athleticism, introduce advanced training techniques, and improve confidence and skills needed to win one-on-one situations. The camp will be held in the city of Philadelphia and will begin promptly at 6pm on Friday, January 12, ending at around 2pm on Sunday, January 14th. All participants are required to be present for the entire camp.

For more information or to register, go to http://www.footworkcamp.com

Guest blogger #2 is....drum roll please!! Rosalind Chou. She plays inside center for the Austin Valkyries and is one of our spiritual leaders on the team. She is our rock. Thanks, Ros!

(The picture is the Satiated Beavers in Corpus Christi...Ros is pointing and yeling.)

The Forgotten Rugby Dynasty-

With the vastness of the world wide web, today's modern rugger can have access to club websites, player blogs, national and international rugby news, you name it at the click of a mouse. The danger of such a pervasive medium is that this Internet thing can become the sole source of information for those who use it. Wikipedia is replacing the good old encyclopedia, and the scary thing is that anyone can submit information into that site. Our own history (although often written with bias and/or inaccurate information) can be lost or rewritten with ease..

With this lack of historical information on the web, the younger generation of ruggers may have no idea about an incredible women's rugby dynasty, and I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT BERKELEY! The usarugby.org site only goes back 10 years with its archives of the women's club national championship. If we go back in time, just before that you will find that the Florida State Women's rugby club, from 1979 to 1994, never finished below fourth place in the US Women's Rugby National Club Competition. The team won the national championship four times ('79, '80, '84, '85), and placed 2nd six times! We are talking about 15 years of sheer dominance! Many of the alumni have been selected as US Eagles and its earlier version - the US Representative Side, including: Kathy Flores, Candi Orsini, Patty Jervey, Claire Godwin, Robin Pace, Clare Sup, BB Alley, Jackie Watts, and Vicki Bowlin, Val Sullivan and Colleen Fahey. You may recognize a few of those names, notably the first two listed...that's right, the USA National Squad coaches hail from Florida State! That's where it all began! If you really think about it, would USA women's rugby even be what it is today if it weren't for Florida State Women's rugby? All the alum that have gone on to play and/or coach elsewhere have had there part in further enriching the sport in this country. It's like a phone tree, right? Would Berkeley have won 9 straight national titles if it weren't for Kathy and Candi?

Ok, so I am oozing with school/club pride, but I had to let the rugby world know about a forgotten generation of amazing rugby players. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be playing this awesome sport. If you are interested in finding out more about this club, rich in tradition go to their website at http://www.fsuwomensrugby.com/ I think a really unique and cool feature about the website is the alumni archives that Colleen Fahey keeps up-to-date regularly. She has listed alumni from the original 1975 squad to present day. There are old photos and former players send in present day updates with pictures and blurbs. Collen also makes sure that there is a list of e-mail addresses so all the old players can keep in touch or get reacquainted with
folks from back in the day.

The address for the alumni site is http://www.fsuwomensrugby.com/alumni.html it's got some really great old photos from the 1970s and early 80s, check out the some of those mullets and feathered bangs! They kicked ass on the pitch and looked great while doing it.

Last night, I was walking through our toy-infested living room. Between the baby on my hip and my extra poundage, I could not see the floor. I ended up tripping over a tummy-time gym while carrying Nicole. I did try to regain footing, but ended up flying through the air. We were headed directly for the Fisher-Price picnic table, Nicole first. Fortunately, I had been trained on how to fall while holding onto a ball. My kitten-like reflexes took over. I rotated my body while grabbing Nicole tight to my chest (a shout-out to Phil Corbett: "In the pocku!"). I fell on my left side instead of on the baby. She was in no danger of being knocked-on nor squished beneath a tighthead prop. So, thank you to the OU Roses. If I had landed on Nicole, she would have been seriously hurt. Instead, I was able to retain possession of the baby. Unfortunately, there was no one there to ruck over us so we could get the baby to the backs so they could score a try. It would have been a beauty.

This was posted by Melinda “Kitten” Long Foreman, long-time OU Rose and the most amazing scrumhalf in the history of woman-kind. We miss you, Melinda!

So I have asked a few of my current mates, old mates and friends to do guest spots on my blog and here is the first. She's #10 on the Valkyries and passed the mohawk onto me in great fashion. Thanks Bags!

(I'm on the left in the photo and Bags is on the right...taken right after we became the #1 seed in the West.)

Football vs. Rugby

OK, so we all know Thanksgiving weekend is really about watching obscene amounts of football -- not about visiting Gramma Grace or hearing Uncle Carlos talk about his bunions. And since rugby season has been over for 6 weeks for me -- also an obscene fact -- I have been watching football all weekend thinking about why, exactly, specifically, rugby is a better sport.

My evidence comes from an unlikely source: football games themselves.

First: I would argue that Texas A&M beat Texas on Friday because they play rugby-football more than football. Namely, they run the option. Stephen McGee would make an awesome flyhalf: quick, shifty, undersized but scrappy, and absolutely awesome at reading defenses. Despite UT's superior athletes on the defensive side, this skinny little white kid shredded them for far more yardage than UT normally allows and led A&M to the upset victory. In rugby-speak, he was running perfect 2 v 1's all afternoon: draw the D then dish; draw the D, show the dish then keep it; head fake; ball fake; eye fake -- by the end of the 3rd quarter the UT linebackers and cornerbacks were dizzy from trying to watch McGee and his teammate juke and jive up the field.

Second: football plays, especially running plays, are too scripted and this can lead to disaster. Yes, I realize that blockers still have to work their assignments, can draw & fake out defenders, and runners have some degree of improvisation in hitting holes, but: i just watched the Patriots set up a beautiful reverse off a pitch then blow it by giving the ball to the double-reverse guy who promptly got smothered by like 37 Bear defenders in a 6 square yards. The pitch drew everyone left, so the reverse was golden up the right sideline: the reverse guy should have dummied the second receiver, held the defense and run onto glory. It's basic dummy switches, and any umbrella player knows this: hold the forwards in the middle of the field with a switch
or dummy, then run wide with your speed in open space.

Duh.

Clearly i need to quit grad school and pursue a coaching career in the NFL. Don't even get me started on their tackling form....perhaps for next time.

Yours in rugby,
Bags

My hand on Saturday while I was waiting for x-rays to develop. Swollen and no knuckle!!











My hand on Tuesday after taking off the splint...sadly bruised.














The front of my hand...i swear my hand isn't usually this fat!!














The actual xray...notice the gap, thats where it is broken!

Surgery is happening Tuesday at 7am. Getting at least three screws put in and worst-case scenario is a plate with lots and lots of screws. Wish me luck!!

so sad, i fractured my left hand this weekend playing rugby. blogging will be delayed for awhile...

photos coming soon...maybe my x-rays too!

leigh made me that awesome tongue depressor splint...

And yet another rugby video...Hardest Tackles in Rugby League.



I just thought this was hilarious!!

FROM ESPN.com
NEW YORK -- Emmitt Smith danced off with the mirror ball.

The three-time Super Bowl champion, who proved to be as nimble on his feet in the ballroom as on the football field, was named the winner of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Wednesday night. With the victory came the glittering trophy.

Emmitt Smith
Greg LeBoeuf/WireImage.com
After dancing his way to 166 rushing touchdowns in the NFL, Emmitt Smith was well prepared for "Dancing with the Stars."

The NFL's all-time leading rusher beat out actor Mario Lopez.

The hunky, dimpled Lopez was generally regarded as the series most dynamic celebrity dancer, but the public's vote, the deciding factor after the contestants had tied in the judges' tally at Tuesday's final dance-off, brought Smith the victory.

"It is awesome! It is awesome!" declared Smith, after hugging his professional dance partner Cheryl Burke. "We came a long way, we really have."

Burke won last season, too, on the arm of singer Drew Lachey.

Smith had kind words for Lopez, who was gracious in his defeat. He called the former "Saved by the Bell" star a "true gentleman" and said he and partner Karina Smirnoff "raised the bar" during the competition.

The rest of the article can be found here.

And another funny article and video:

A fight broke out at the Super Wal-Mart broke out in Palmdale in California when store employees decide to move the line from inside to outside.

According to a television station, a group of PS3 line-waiters got angry when they were told they could no longer wait inside a Wal-Mart for the PS3 and would have to go outside instead. The group ran through the store knocking everyone and everything in their path over.

Sheriff's deputies were called and the store temporarily shut down to restore order.

PS3 Shuts Down Wal-Mart [Yahoo Video]

Cyclist Landis's Drug Test Was Mislabeled by Lab, Le Monde Says
By Nancy Kercheval

Nov. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Part of the urine sample that disqualified Tour de France cycling champion Floyd Landis for drug use was mislabeled by the lab, Le Monde reported.

Landis's laboratory identification number was different than the one cited on the French lab report of the second half, or B part, of the urine, the French newspaper said, without citing a source. The administrative error doesn't mean the B sample used to verify the existence of the banned drug testosterone didn't belong to Landis, Le Monde said.

Attorneys representing Landis are trying to discredit the laboratory in order to clear the U.S. cyclist's name, Le Monde said. The latest information will be presented at a slide show about Landis in Tucson, Arizona, on Nov. 17, the night before the 16th annual Tour de Tucson. Landis repeatedly has denied using drugs.

The lab's computers were broken into by hackers who addressed similar incidents of mislabeling at the facility, Le Monde said.

Article found here.

So the USA 7's guy on Facebook and I have become little buddies and he sent me this awesome link this morning.

Can't beat girls in dresses!! And the music is quite hilarious....



And here is the USA 7's Facebook profile again...he is working really hard to make rugby a force in the world. Help him out!

It's amazing how a quick 15 minute walk can change the atmosphere. Jake had been restless all night and after getting some relaxation time of my own I decided he needed a walk. So we started out and its pretty chilly out tonight, but it was absolutely beautiful! The sky was nice and clear and the cold was just right. It's funny to think that it is snowing most places and I wore short sleeves to work today!

Anyways, the walk was very good, helped to clear the mind. School is really weighing on me lately. I am failing one of my classes (oops) and barely clinging on with the others. I am doing my assignments, but when rugby was in full swing I fell behind a little bit...hence the dilligence of late.

I have a huge huge huge paper due in two weeks and I am trying to be a good student and work on it now...but I also have bills to pay and working sometimes becomes more important! So its kind of nice that rugby is done for awhile. A few of the Valks and I are playing for the University of Texas this weekend (OH CRAP I just remembered I'm going to have to wear BURNT ORANGE...damnit) and YES we will be taking DA BUS on its first rugby road trip. That should be fun.

Just a random peek into my life. Have a great night!