Id like to start off by saying hello and thank you to Dueling Couches for the opportunity to bring my beloved sport of Rugby to this already stellar blog. A bit about myself; I went to high school with BMack, DP, Rob, and who ever else on here I don't recognize. I played multiple sports in HS as most guys did either out of requirement (my dad beat me) or out of shear boredom. Going to a small state school called Mass. Maritime Academy I played football for a team that wouldn't beat my HS JV team on a good day. So I left in search of other worlds. One night while wrestling some schmuck over the last PBR (in the dorms of a dry campus) my deck officer busted in swearing he would hang us all up and we would be F'd in the a. He said he would forget it though if we came out for Rugby, and the rest is history.
The definition of Rugby, as stated by Wikipedia, is god awful, so here is my own; Rugby is an English style game where two teams toss a misshaped football laterally or backwards in order to move forward and eventually touch the ball down inside their opponents goal (try zone). Rugby started in 1823 during a football (soccer) game in England at the Rugby Academy. Well legend has it that William Webb Ellis (true) was pissed that all the Latinos were running circles around the English (not true) so he picked up the ball, stiff-armed some guy in the face then ran into the goalie and put the ball on the ground. He proclaimed anyone who wanted to play this new game, could come with him and leave the Latinos to fumble over their easily broken noses. Perhaps a bit racist towards Latinos but who's not a bit racist.
The next few posts I make will be explaining the different types of Rugby and what it means to Americans. I will then proceed to cover the big Rugby competitions around the world. The fact is Rugby is getting more and more air time (from nothing to one play in the Top 10 plays on ESPN) on various local channels. SPIKE TV is looking to get a large contract to air American Rugby, while COMCAST shows English Rugby League on channel 21 every Thursday at 7pm. Its an exciting time for the athletic drunks of the world, and I'm going to share it all with you, whether you like it or not!
Cheers,
AC
Monday, March 1, 2010
WTF is Rugby?!
Dice-K Injury Update
Dice-K had a good day, and Terry Francona seemed very happy about it...
"Dice had a great day," Terry Francona said. "That was as good a day as you could possibly have. I don't think you can throw a ball like that and not be totally healthy."
With that being said there is basically no chance that Dice-K will be ready for Opening Day. I know that sounds like a big deal, but it really isn't. There are a lot of days off early in the season, so the Sox will be able to get by with a 4 man rotation if they want to, and even if Dice-K is out the first week or two you have 6 people who can be quality starters (Beckett, Dice-K, Lester, Lackey, Buchholz, Wake).
This shouldn't be a big deal, but we will have to watch Dice-K closely as he is coming off an injury plagued season.
In other Sox news...
- Mike Cameron (left groin) did not run today but took batting practice in the cages and on the field and felt fine. They are taking it slow with him, but he seems like he is going to be fine.
- Mike Lowell took some batting practice today, but Francona is still not sure when he will play his first game.
The Sox also announced their lineups against Northeastern and BC...
Northeastern game
Jacoby Ellsbury LF
Bill Hall 3B
Victor Martinez C
David Ortiz DH
Jed Lowrie SS
Lars Anderson 1B
Darnell McDonald RF
Che-Hsuan Lin CF
Gil Velazquez 2B
Pitching: RHP Casey Kelly
BC game
Marco Scutaro SS
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Kevin Youkilis 1B
Adrian Beltre 3B
Jason Varitek C
Jeremy Hermida LF
Tud Hulett DH
Josh Reddick RF
Ryan Kalish CF
Pitching: RHP Boof Bonser
Jake Peavy Is Lobbying For Adrian Gonzalez
Jake Peavy is trying to get the White Sox to acquire his former teammate Adrian Gonzalez. Adrian would be a perfect fit as the White Sox have been looking for a left handed power hitter. The only problem could be the cost.
The White Sox have said time and again that they are unwilling to trade Gordon Beckham, and it could cost even more then that. In my opinion the White Sox do have the pieces to acquire Gonzalez if they wanted to (Flowers, Floyd, Hudson, ect), but the question is how much are they willing to give up?
I would have no problem giving up a lot of these hitter, it is really just a pitching that would hold me back from making such a deal. Anyways, just something to keep an eye on as the Sox will obviously be in this race also.
Another Bruins Trade Rumor
There have been tons of Bruins trade rumors. Many insiders are saying that the Bruins have a deal or two in place, and they could happen as soon as today. Today's rumor has the Bruins matched up with Phoenix.
This rumor has the Bruins eyeing 21-year-old Peter Mueller, who has struggled under coach Dave Tippett. Mueller has a lot of talent even though he has only scored 4 goals this year. During the 2007-2008 season Mueller put up 22 goals and 32 assists, but has fallen off since. Some people believe he just doesn't fit Tippet's game plan, and a change of scenery could be what is necessary to get this kid back on track.
If the Bruins can get him cheap, it might be something they look at as Chiarelli would like to make a move that doesn't cost the Bruins in the long run.
Boston is also rumored to be looking for another defenseman.
Patriots Close To Resigning Bodden
In an offseason where there are very few top cornerbacks on the open market the Patriots really need to bring Bodden back. He is not a #1 corner, but compared to what else is out there he is solid and knows the Patriots system.
Leigh Bodden has re-hired former agent Alvin Keels, which is good news for the Patriots as he is the agent that brought Bodden to the Patriots last offseason. I hope they can work out a long term deal, as he is only 28 years old, so I would be very happy with a 3-4 year deal.
Mass. To Ban The Word "Retard"
Well here is something that will have DP and I in jail in no time...
"Soldiers of the anti-R-word movement will be collecting signatures from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Great Hall from those who “pledge and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the R-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities (FoxNews).”
Are you fucking serious? Listen, I get it. It's not a nice word. You could even argue that it is just as bad as saying "fag" or something, but you can't go around banning words, it just isn't American.
There are a lot of words I don't like, but you just can't ban them, plus I think this word can be useful. Call me ignorant or whatever you want, but if DP goes on an hour and a half rant about how JaMarcus Russell is going to the Pro Bowl there is no other way to voice what's going on in my head other then to call him a "fucking retard".
Once again, I am not saying that it is OK to just go around saying this word, but at the same time you can't just ban a word, because you don't like it. The N-Word is still around, I don't think girls like the word "cunt" very much, and I'm sure homosexuals are not thrilled when they hear fag every 5 seconds, but hey, they are just words, and you can't go around and have the FCC controlling how people talk.
So for all asshole who are trying to do this fuck you, I like freedom, so suck it up...
Big Al Gets A Big DWI
"I want to apologize to the entire Timberwolves organization, owner Glen Taylor, my teammates, coaches and Wolves fans everywhere for my actions last night," Jefferson said in a statement released Sunday by the Timberwolves. "I made a very poor decision and I am truly sorry for that. As a leader on this team, I know that more is expected of me, and I am disappointed in myself."
That apology got him suspended for 2 games without pay.
When I brought this up last night BMack said, "Why wouldn't he, he's in Minnesota." And I can't argue with that, Minnesota must suck and the fact your team is one of the worst in the NBA can't help anything. I probably would only drive drunk if I lived there. There will always be a place in my heart for Big Al because he really liked the Celtics when he was here, hopefully this is just a one time thing.
Shaq's Hand Is Going To Require Surgery
Shaq's regular season is probably done with a hand injury that will require the big man to miss 6-8 weeks. I guess the only good things the Celtics have done is hurt Shaq for the rest of the regular season. This injury could be significant because Shaq will obviously not show up to the playoffs in game shape after missing that time. I know Shaq isn't the player he once was, however he is still a defensive presence that takes up a lot of room in the middle of the lane and can gobble up rebounds. There was little doubt Zydrunas Ilgauskas was going to return to the Cavs but this pretty much solidifies him coming back (which I'm fine with everyone needs to chill). This will kill the Cavs if they play the Magic in the playoffs and maybe Shaq VS.
Opinion On The Celtics
I was in New York last week and didn't see the Celtics lose to the lowly Nets but I read that the Celtics played flat again (even the the free throw discrepancy was stupidly in favor of the Nets). Me always being optimistic about the Celtics thinks that you can't go up until you hit rock bottom and let's face it losing to the Nets is rock bottom. This team is far too talented to keep losing even without Pierce. I really believe this will be a whole new team in the playoffs, and we will see the fire we saw when the big three came to Boston. The trend of blowing games will not happen in the playoffs and even though everyone says Sheed sucks and is a bust signing, he was really brought to the Celtics for the playoffs. I'm hoping he will be a completely different player in the second season much like he was in Detroit.
Canada 3, USA 2 (OT)
I had a feeling during the 3rd period. A good, warm, comforting feeling. As Canada hit the post twice in the opening minute, as Sidney Crosby bungled a free and clear breakaway, I felt like the US was being helped, Angels in the Outfield style. Then Zach Parise seemed to confirm this feeling, tapping in a rebound to tie the game with 24 seconds left.
But reality set in. The US had expended all their fuel in a desperate 3rd period, and had nothing left in the tank for overtime. Sidney Crosby got the goal, and will get the glory, but it was only a matter of time before some Canadian beat Ryan Miller, who was as exhausted and spent as Brian Rafalski, and Ryan Suter. I'm having trouble finding a box score with Time On Ice listed, but Raflaski and Suter easily contributed 30 minutes in this game.
As I said, Crosby will get the glory. He has such a boring, vacant personality. He makes Bill Belichick look like Chad Ochocinco. He should really do volunteer work at insomnia clinics and help those people get to sleep.
He's so individually overrated in what is a consummate team sport. And how much do our Northerly neighbors wash his balls? If he were caught raping ducks, the Canadian branches of PETA would laud him as an animal lover. Canadian history books would record him as a civil rights leader who pioneered inter-species unions.
Not to take away from Canada, who won this Gold Medal fair and square, but they nearly lost to Switzerland. They were 1-1 against the US. If not for their 7-3 toppling of Russia, the luster from their Gold Medal would really diminish. And they executed all of this mediocrity on their home soil, on a North American sized rink.
So I guess what I'm saying is that Canada barely limped away with what they were supposed to leisurely stroll away with. They needed overtime to beat a country that features hockey as its 4th sport at best. But if I were Canadian, I'd probably be celebrating it too. What else is there to celebrate up there? 3 more months of winter?
Now to the game. The US shot itself in the foot a few times. That's to be expected from such a young team, in such a big game. The first Canadian goal came from a silly Erik Johnson giveaway in front of Ryan Miller's net. And then there were the countless Offsides calls that stopped US rushes in their tracks.
But there's a great deal to look forward to in 2014. Patrick Kane is 22. Ryan Kesler is 25. Ryan Suter is 25. Zach Parise is 25. Bobby Ryan is 22. Phil Kessel is a douche. The US finished 8th in the 2006 Olympics. They've won Silver in 2010. And they'll once again contend for Gold in '14.
-The Commodore
Olympic Medal Count
America: Gold- 9, Silver- 15, Bronze- 13, 37 Total
Germany: Gold- 10, Silver- 13, Bronze- 7, 30 Total
Canada: Gold- 14, Silver- 7, Bronze- 5, 26 Total
Pretty good Olympics, enjoyed it a lot. Good to see America showed the world we still have the big dick. I guess the one thing I'm going to be pissed about now is that there will be no Conan for a while.
Chick Of The Day
Today's chick is Nikki Simms and I wish I could be her towel.
For more Nikki Click Here