[ the clean slate ]

F-P-F

2012-02-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

Oh Wanda...

2012-02-16T15:55:00.001-07:00

Hey– I normally don't “main-page” Wanda's quotes but this wasfunny to me...today, on a day that on the surface it seemed like everyother day of mine. Writing emails and stealing a couple quick glanceson Pinterest and trying to make my office make sense before I exit itfor almost three weeks...but if you scratch beneath the surface ofthose things that make up a normal winter day in my office...there'sa reeling and borderline overwhelmed brain trying to cope with howmuch has to get done between work and Jamaica and the simple factthat WORK won't be even a shadow of itself when I return...I couldhave a new boss by the timeI get back! That's madness folks, madness. And that's the momentum-sinking feeling that resonates with me about Wanda's quote of the day.Regardless of it getting an award for bad fiction, I getit...today, of all days, I get it.

"Deloresbreezed along the surface of her life like a flat stone forever

skippingalong smooth water, rippling reality sporadically but oblivious

toit consistently, until she finally lost momentum, sank, and due toan

overdoseof flouride as a child which caused her to suffer from chronic

apathy,doomed herself to lie forever on the floor of her life as useless

asan appendix and as lonely as a five-hundred pound barbell in a

steroid-freefitness center."

--Winning sentence, 1990 Bulwer-Lytton bad fiction contest.

The influence of music

2012-02-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

I lovemusic.

Shocker,right? I thought I'd say it just in case you have missed thatsomewhere along the line. I don't think I could imagine my lifewithout it. Music has its roots in every culture and it's as uniqueas the person listening to it. I don't know how you can be wrong withmusic. It's is perfect within it's own context. As with everything –not all music is right for the moment. You wouldn't slow dance toPantera (or maybe you would) and you wouldn't walk out of yourwedding to Puddle of Mud's “I hate everything about you”...atleastI hope not.

I mostlylove how it's so emotional. It can influence how you feel aboutsomething. It can lighten a mood or make it darker, intensify asituation or change how you feel about something. Movies use it allthe time. Epic scores and soundtracks are used to create intensity ina battle scene or make love seem eternal in a romance.

It caneven make us feel like doing something we normally would not want todo. Like skydiving. Which brings me to the point of today's M2. It'sbeen a really busy couple of weeks and I have fallen behind in myposts – hopefully that will get better once we hit the warmth ofJamaica. But I watched a video today that made me want to gobase-jumping. Yeah, base-jumping. Me – the, “not on God's greenearth” person. But this video is surreal and the music isinspiring. It makes me feel like I'm missing out by staying on theground without a parachute strapped to my back. It makes me want tofind out how you get to be one of those floating, happy, serenepeople tearing through the sky and through mountains looking likeflying squirrels. And I credit all of this to the music.

Experience Freedom from Betty Wants In on Vimeo.

See whatI mean? Now – play the video again with Disturbed's Stupify on andyou get ripped back to reality...the reality where you say – Yup,I'm definitely much happier letting all the stupid people jump out ofplanes with nylon capes hoping that they checked everythingperfectly...because plenty of bad things happen to well-prepared,smart, well-meaning people in the world. And those guys are justtempting Murphy's Law.

My thanksgo out to Disturbed. It's bands like you that keep this girl groundedand not splattered across the face of a mountain.

The End has Come

2012-02-08T14:35:00.000-07:00

Over the last few days I'vesank into a pretty “terrible” hole. The hole has a name and asI'm discovering – many of you have sank into the same hole...exceptyou've been there, up to your necks in pins and boards and haven'tshared about it. Maybe because you didn't want to admit that you werepart of this horrible thing or maybe you spend a shameful amount oftime looking through all of the wonderful things you can find onit...maybe you were just being selfish.

I'm talking about the worstthing since Facebook. I'm talking about Pinterest. One of my staffmembers said it is like Facebook on steroids. Maybe. There's less ofthe interaction stuff. I don't even know if it would fall into theSocial Media category. But it's fantastic. It all starts with thisboard that you have. Think of it kind of like a giant bulletin board.On this giant board you can create a bunch of smaller boards that arelike topics (I have Ink, Words, My Style, For My Wall, FavouritePlaces and Spaces, Places I want to go, Wedding...Maybe) that you canpin pictures or videos to. It's like a giant collection of yourfavourites. Whatever you find in your world or internet can be pinnedon Pinterest. You can follow people and they can follow you so yousee what they pin to their boards and they can see yours. The mainpage that you work off of is a feed of everything your followers andyou are pinning to their boards.

For instance, I just createda board called “Toms” which is dedicated to the shoes, Toms, thatI love so very, very much. I'm pretty much obsessed. I don't plan onever wearing anything else in the summer and sometimes when it'swinter and grossly irresponsible to wear anything but -40 degreecelcius boots...I still wear my Toms. Someday I'll live in a placewhere I can wear my Toms all year round and have it be appropriate. Ithink I'm bringing four pairs with me to Jamaica...and then I'm goingto buy myself a new pair for my birthday...and then maybe mybarmitzpah (I'm just kidding about the last bit, well, mostlykidding).

It's a little weird becauseyou need an invitation to be part of it. But basically you just needto ask an currently obsessed peep to refer you and bam – you'readdicted. It's super. I've already found my dream house, dreamhusband (and dressed him), and found my next 5 pairs of Toms...oh,and a few other things. It's completely solved the problem of havingtoo much free time on my hands. It's definitely all Pinterest timenow.

Oi!

That evil called...

2012-02-08T00:02:00.000-07:00

Swimsuits. One of the single expensive (considering the total real estatethat you're purchasing), controversial, revealing, truthful, elitest,and entitled pieces of clothing you can own. I hate them. Withevery fibre of my being, I hate them. I am not made for that world(even though I'm a closet surfer, as you know). I'm a prop – afront row. I'm designed like a semi-truck not a Ferrari. Have youever seen a two piece look good on a semi-truck? Didn't think so. Soyou can understand why my reaction might be one of...

Sick,gross, blah, ugh, barf, nasty, putressance (however you spell that).

ButI'm backed into a corner, seemingly – fighting for my life. Insixteen days I will be flying to sunny Jamaica (just 28 degrees todayand rainy) for two weeks. I'll get into why in another post. For now– It's all about standing up and voicing how much of a swim suithater I am. But soon I will have little choice but tank top andshorts or brave the suit on the beach. You stand out pretty fast ifyou're the only one wearing the tank and short. I don't really haveto deal with this kind of stuff. I hate swimming...which mightactually have to do with the hatred I have for the apparel of saidactivity but you don't have to swim at waterparks or in hot tubs.Granted, I don't often find myself at the former and with the latter– well, one can pretty easily get around it. I either wear tanktops and suck it up or wear my nasty old swim suit.

BeyondSportchek – I have never darkened the door of a Swimco. ...ever.I've never even thought of it – there's been no reason – I can'twear bikinis and look horrible in every other thing that resembles aswim suit. Why would there be any reason? Except for Jamaica. I thinkit's crazy to go to Jamaica without a swim suit – even if allyou're doing is sitting on a beach or climbing Dunn's River Falls –you need a swim suit. And so yesterday, I found myself standinginfront of Swimco. I'm sure the Sales' Associate read it all over myface. This was a store of doom. It was a harbinger of unadulteratedtruths. And I was standing on it's threshold. I walked in, playing itcool but the truth is – I had no idea even where to start. Thehappy, sweet sale associate approached. I thought to myself –great, just another size 2 who has no idea what it's like to be abrick house.

Andthen the strangest thing happened. I told her the truth. I told herabout my insecurities and how uncomfortable I was with the wholedeal. I did the thing that I rarely ever do...I was vulnerable...to acomplete stranger – in a swim suit shop. Madness.I think this is less about me actually finding a swim suit and moreabout how amazing the Sales Associate was. I've never been helpedlike that before by someone in retail. This is a fairly big statementbut I think the world would actually be a better place if there weremore people like Terri from Swimco.

And yes, I did let thePowers That Be about her.

Friends OFF!

2012-02-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

Google Friends Connect, that is.

Hey- I feel as though this is a giant scandal of sorts...but it reallyisn't. If you're an avid blog follower (admittedly I definitely am)then you probably are "following" a number of blogs throughGoogle Friends. I've had my head under the sand apparently because itwas all news to me this last week when several of the blogs that Ifollow started talking about Google changing everything including the“Followers” widget that appears in the sidebar. This isn't alife-ending thing for me because most of you who read/follow my bloghaven't used it (shame on you)...even though I can see where you'recoming from (check the clustrmap!).

Allthis to say that some time around the beginning of March – Googlewill shut down Google Followers. So...I'm jumping on the “LinkyFollowers” band wagon. It's super easy and like most things –it's FREE! The nice part of it is that I actually found when I signed up there was a directory for blogs with the ability to search onthemes. Because...that's exactly what I need...more blogs to follow.

Sothis is the plan (I like plans...they always help me be moreefficient and productive...that's the happy, task-oriented sidecoming out)...

Step1: Sign up for Linky Followers and follow [ the clean slate ] andmaybe if you're really excited about following me...you can follow [ instigate change ] which is my other blog about team building activities, facilitation, and growing in life.

Step2: Comment! I used to get so many comments (they are a form of affirmation)...and then I made the "mistake" of posting a lot on rugby...which gain me lots of visits from Europe and the Southern Hemi (and I love you so much!) - but I still really like when people talk to me here. Anyone out there? Hello? Houston?

Until next time...and hopefully soon...

M2 - Josh Garrels

2012-02-03T11:49:00.000-07:00

Ifyou know me well at all and my musical influences – you would knowthat Christian music is not something I listen much to. I don't countgroups like Hillsong, Chris Tomlin, and the like don't really countin that. I'm talking about bands that you would listen to leisurelyor groove to as you're driving. I went through a phase where ThirdDay, Kutless, Skillet, and even Shawn McDonald held my attention fora while but as a band matures – I guess I have the expectation thattheir musical talent should too. Albums should be fresh and sometimessurprise you. If the Foo Fighters sounded the same now as they didback in 1990 – I'd be a little bored. Some bands can get away withit or I should say – I'm bothered less by it. Like U2. Their stuffsounds sort of similar...not to me, of course, but I've heard peoplesay it but there's something untouchable about their music. Somethinga little more ground floor classic than the stuff that is rock now adays. There are bands that have somehow found their way into atime-warp where I think they could produce anything and still besuccessful...Rolling stones, U2, Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, BonJovi.

Butthis rant isn't about them. It's about the lack of great Christianbands. Those guys that are Christians who produce music. They allsound the same. You could put on nearly any Christian band, not evenplay the lyrics and I would be able to identify them as Christian.There's some unwritten sort of code that all Christian music needs tobe lame-ish and sounds all the same...NEVER FRESH or new. Sorry ifyou're reading this and are a die-hard Needtobreathe, Kutless,Leeland, Third Day, Relient K, blah-blah-so-on-and-so-forth fan.Yes, Needtobreathe is not technically on a Christian label butthey're overtly Christian and I could even agree with you that theyhave some very good songs...about 2 or 3 per album...TWO or THREE???Come on people. That's not even enough to justify buying an album. Iguess I'm just tired of not being surprised by a band that is“Christian”. I've been searching without success for years.

Andthen...it happened.

Iwas caught ... ranting (about the above) ... and surprised.

Notonly was this dude overtly Christian on a non-Christian label(coodos!) but he didn't suck. Not only did he not suck...but he wasquite good. And not only was he quite good...his latest album is afree download here.

Sopeople...drop what you're doing and download his free album. Thenatleast we'll be able to talk about this from the same page.

Here'smy first favourite...Farther Along (Which will be part of a whole thing called the Soundtrack of my Life - but that's for another time)...

Ididn't expect this...him. His tunes are original and genius. Eachsong surprises you from the easy rapping on The Resistance to theinstrumental Sailor's Waltz.

Here'sThe Resistance (sorry about the lack of videos...I couldn't seem to find anything except low quality personal live videos)...

Hisvoice reminds me a little of Alexi Murdoch which is a checkmark inthe “yes” column but then there's the musicality of Mat Kearneyin there too with the slight RnB, Hip Hop (sort of...I use thatdesignation loosely), folk variations. Maybe even a little CitizenCope feel...Perhaps? Everything feels original – I can't say thathe's like one particular artist – I love it. He's been the only onerecently that has been able to pull me away from Joe Purdy.

Not much is known about Josh Garrels. He's not a headliner which makes me like him already. Not that I'm anti-headliners - that would be a big fat lie. I love U2 and Foo Fighters, I'm going to see Coldplay in April. I don't have anything against headliners. But the quiet musician brewing a poetic storm in the underground has a strangely attractive nature to it. It's like Pedro the Lion or Stabilo Boss (now just Stabilo...I went to TWU with those guys when they were just starting to brew their storm...when they were recording their albums in the residences at the Uni). I'm a firm believer that if you self-produce and self-record your first works then there will almost always be something grounded in what you do. The process began rooted. Though it makes the journey hard - I think that it breeds a quality that you won't see many other places. Hey, it's where U2 began. Josh Garrels is from Portland, Oregan. I like Oregan...it's got pretty trees. The last fact that I want to share about Josh that doesn't carry much for me but I thought it was interesting...the album that these songs came from (Love & War & the Sea in Between) was rated the top album of 2011 by Christianity Today.

The Last one I'll leave you with is Beyond the Blue. I think this is the one where I made the Alexi Murdoch connection.

Well, there's your excessively late M2...on Friday. I hope you have a stellar weekend...I should have some rugby news to update pretty quick!

F-P-F

2012-01-27T01:19:00.000-07:00

It might not be poetry but it's all truth. Deception was, after all, the second sin.

M2 - Becca Mabbett

2012-01-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

Hey Peeps!

I'm bringing you something out of left field today. Maybe you sawit floating around Facebook last week because you know me there andmaybe you know Becca because well, she's kind of a big deal...ormaybe you've completely stalked my site and clicked on her myspacelink to the left...in any case - she's my M2 post for the day.

Becca Mabbett is auditioning for Canada's Got Talent and all of uswho know her know that she belongs not only on the show but towin it too. Becca's got a heart of gold and a voice like none other.I've worked with her for the past two summers and have heard herstuff firsthand.

See? Amazing - isn't she?!?! Voting hasn't commencedyet but she's hoping that if she gets enough hits on her auditionvideo - that will boost her chances. So if you're a music lover,someone who appreciates not only the talent of a musician but theartist behind the chords, or just someone who will just do whatthey're told...go to you tube and watch her video. And if you likethat - you need to #1 - go check her myspace site out and #2 - votefor her to get on Canada's Got Talent. But not yet - because thevoting hasn't started.

Enjoy! And I'll be in touch when it's time to vote.

F-P-F

2012-01-21T15:36:00.000-07:00

Okay - So I'm in Saskatchewan, okay? It's a little difficult to take a picture of my fridge poetry when I'm in Saskatchewan. I was hoping that I could find somebody else's poetry to post. Alas...such was not the case today. So again - no poetry...just a really funny cartoon that was originally passed on to me by L. In light of my renovations to my not-so-grumpy-bear-state-of-mind...I thought it might have a place here.

Happy Friday everyone and make sure that you and all those that surround you are Optimus Primes.

Super S - Chiefs and Blues

2012-01-18T21:10:00.000-07:00

Hey Peeps,

I can't avoid this for long. And I don't like to group the Crusaders with the other three teams. I'll give you my full evaluations of how the 15 will all shake down once we take a good hard look at the arsenal that these two teams are packing. I'm not a band wagon jumper. Maybe I'm Ma'a Nonu groupie - so I will be backing the Blues against all those teams who aren't the Crusaders but I just can't leave Dan Carter, and the Franks', and Captain All Black. That is no wagon that I will be jumping from. However - I'll support the Blues in their enterprises this season. They have some talent that has stuck around and some new guys to bolster their ranks. I think we're looking at a fine team - one that could be competitive against a not entirely full strength Crusaders.

< it's also really important to note that I'm writing this late at night on some pretty intense sleep stuff. So if stuff doesn't make sense...you should point, laugh, and then translate for yourself. >

Auckland Blues
On the forward side of things - there's a lot of encouragement. Anthony Boric has proved himself to be a trustworthy fellow and both the Braid brothers were hard working chaps. Jerome Kaino is brilliant. Absolutely Brilliant - and if you happened to have your head in the sand over the fall...Kaino was brilliant. Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock are about as technical as they come as front rows but I don't hope that the All Black coaching staff are off in the back woods designing and raising up both of their replacements because other than Meathead (my nickname Corey Flynn) - we don't got much to replace Keven. We have promise in the back row but Kaino's going to need to sharpen up his boys I think.

Backs are a little more dodgy in that I think Alby Mathewson was hoping to get his big start but now he's right back under the shadow of Piri Weepu who, beyond any of us, can make or single-handedly BREAK a game. He's a while card but when he's on...he's really on. I just hope that Mathewson takes severe advantage of Weepu not being able to make full games and stops living out from under Weepu

There's strength in Lachie Munro, Ma'a Nonu, Rene Ranger (hopefully he can get it together this year). I have great hopes for Benson Stanley, Isaia Toeava, and Stowers to shine. Toeava has gotten a bit of a mouth on him and I think he has made some pretty foolish decisions on and off the field. All in all I think that the Blues have some great potential to be the best team coming from NZ this year but in my heart - I have to believe the the Crusaders will once again overcome the curse of the injury.

Waikato Chiefs

I have to say - I am fundamentally opposed to the Chiefs. Maybe it's Duck or now the essence of Duck that lingers in the air or it could be that a few years ago I needed somebody to beat the Bulls and the Chiefs were the ones lined up to do and...splat. No deal. I couldn't depend on them then and so I don't like them now.

Even with a few of their new additions - I don't think they have the stuff deep down to push through to the end. They're stock full of solid players. Sona Taumalolo, Ben Afeaki, Fritz Lee - all solid players who have the ability to have spectacular games but who also don't have great games often enough to wow the Powers That Be.

The backs look a little better. Brendon Leonard is...solid. Gosh, there's that word again. Aaron Cruden - I'm excited for him to get some good action this year. Let's hope that the South Hemi Hip Curse doesn't keep plaguing him. With the addition of SBW - I think the Chief's offensive attack will look a lot happier. Last year it was just depressing to watch them last year. Sluggish and uninventive. Milsy looked like he was done before the season even started and then he was hit with injury early on. I think that Kahui will make some magic outside of SBW.
Nanai-Williams and Masaga also offer some options - why those options weren't there last year...I don't know. But something needs to get this line firing and maybe SBW will be the catalyst they've been looking for - in the end though...defense or lack thereof that will be their undoing...that and the fact that their coach has the creativity

In the end - I think the ranking for the NZ teams will be like this:

1. Crusaders
2. Blues
3. Chiefs
4. Highlanders
5. Hurricanes

I'm a stick in the mud and a believer. I have to believe that the Crusaders have the guts and stubbornness to overcome injuries and the fact that they will still be on the road for their home games. I have to believe that all the talent in the world won't win you a championship. So...go Crusaders, go.

M2 - City and Colour (Little Hell)

2012-01-16T15:39:00.000-07:00

City and Colour...If I could explain how I feel about them in colours it actually would be similar to the colour scheme of their Little Hell album cover. Neutral, hot love, cool and apathetic, turn your nose up teal green.

I fall in and out of love with City and Colour which is tough, I know. They have produced some of the best acoustic rock music Canada has ever seen. Which is why I find it hard to be hard on them - you know, cut them some slack already! They're very much like The Fray for me. They're bands that when I buy their album I'm completely obsessed with them and listen to them 24/7 without a break and then 4 months later I could care less if I ever listened to them again.

...until, that is, they come out with another album. And then the cycle starts all over again.

History wise - I don't really want to recap their two other albums - mostly because I think this one is Dallas Green's best collection. I think the most important fact I can leave here is the naming of City and Colour is actually a reference to Dallas' name. Dallas (City) and Green (Colour). So simple and yet - could any of us think of a better name? Dallas Green simple couldn't fathom naming a band after his own name. When something works like City and Colour - it works.

So - since that cycle seems to be back at the top where all is well with City and Colour - I'll let you know about their new album...Little Hell. It's a super-d-duper album. Almost all the way through I just love, LOVE it. Truth be told, I wasn't searching or anticipating it. I happened across somebody's status on twitter about it being the best ever and I was having an idle day while I was house-sitting which is never a good thing when you actually have the ability to download music from itunes and bam...I previewed and loved it. . Whoever invented itunes was a genius and one that probably never realized how much they would be exploiting people with no self-control when it comes to music...Or they were completely aware of the thousands of people who would be impulse buyers and capitalize on their lack of self-restraint.

Where was I? Right...downloading.

While the album was downloading I did some reading on City and Colour's website and watched a couple of their videos. If you like the song Fragile Bird - I don't really recommend watching the "not rated" video. It completely changes the song - atleast it did for me. I can't listen to the song without thinking of that video.

It's one of those albums that you put on while you're reading a book or staying in from the cold. It's an album that seems to be (atleast to me) written from a place where someone has journeyed from a low or a dark place to somewhere that hope was found again. Some of the songs like O'Sister speaks of encouragement that hope is found through the storm and that storms don't last forever. I love it.

On the deluxe album (has anybody noticed that this is a 'thing' these days? - Kind of like the Bonus Songs were a year or so ago) there's some live versions of some of the songs plus my favourite song of the album. Which is At the Bird's Foot. It's home album is actually called "Gasoline Rainbows" and is a compliations album to raise financial support for the oil spills in the Gulf. It's a spectacular song...right here:

So I'll leave you there on that song. I contemplated throwing up one more song (Silver and Gold) from Little Hell but I figured that those two songs would provide enough motivation to seek out one of Canada's best folk musicians (can we ever even imagine Dallas Green going back to Alexisonfire? Who even remembers him as Alexisonfire...and to think that City and Colour is his "side project").

Have a folking great day!

- I know, I'm so funny.

F-P-F

2012-01-14T15:33:00.000-07:00

Okay...so not really poetry. But I thought it was nice. I also like how it looks. I draw like this in my journal a lot.

M2 - Coldplay

2012-01-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

Boy oh boy - I'm falling behind on these. Thank goodness for being able to backdate things! So it's been a little while since I've posted anything substantial for M2 and I promise - it's coming but the last half of January is pretty hectic with me on the road for two weeks straight. But I've recently found myself in the possession of the new City and Colour album which is awesome possum - so I'll share the love soon.

But for right now - I just had to share this. I love the new Coldplay album - probably more than I've ever loved any of their other stuff. Is it me or are they like a good wine? Better with age.

A posted this on Facebook and I just couldn't keep it to myself. It's very noteworthy and the piano is great but I'm head over heels for the cello...in any song. So without dragging this on further...Here's a different spin on their Myloto Xyloto flag song Paradise.

Super Weekends are Coming!

2012-01-07T23:16:00.002-07:00

Well - it is that time of year again and next month the SuperXV league starts up and my weekend enjoyment goes way up. The format of the tournament is different...again. It's extended over a few more months because...well, there's no extra tournaments adding stuff to the pot. I found the players did a lot of shuffling since the last tournament - mostly because there's the opportunity to play in Europe without sacrificing their place on their national squad. It wasn't just our boys that were found shipping out. James Haskell has found his way onto New Zealand soil - we'll see how his European playing style pans out here. I'm predicting a lot of sin bins and black eyes.

Let's see what the teams are offering...

Highlanders
Ugh...These guys had a whale of a start last year but they couldn't sustain it. Riding the Nonu red card and a whooper of a steal against the Bulls does pretty good for a team's morale but a guy's gotta know the facts. A lack of depth does not bode well for finishing well. I think the Highlanders have a little of their own luck like my precious Edmonton Oilers. Heavy on the heart side...lacking on the luck side. No breaks. And to start off - Jarred Hoeata is the first unluck. He's going to miss the first weeks of the competition.

Acquiring the likes of hooker Andrew Hore, Hosea Gear, and James Haskell should certainly add some spice and bite to their offensive arsenal. Add them to the likes of Jimmy Cowan, Colin Slade (assuming that the curse of the groin muscle continues to bother him), Ben Smith, and Nasi Manu - just to name a few, and there's some strength there. But I come back to what I said first - depth people! It all comes down to depth. Sure - it's awesome to have the big names in the line up but we all know, especially from the more recently close calls that you can have the best players in the slot but you can't protect them from injuries. I don't see a lot of back up for the Highlanders' 15. I expect a marginally better finish than last year. Maybe even into first round? Maybe...? Naw - I wouldn't bet on it.

Hurricanes
Oh my my. How the mighty have fallen...well - maybe 'mighty' might be a bit of a stretch. But at the very least there was Nonu, Hore, Cruden and Dagg. I have serious concerns for Corey Jane and Conrad Smith. A heavy, heavy weight falls on their shoulders and there are few soldiers left to protect them. Victor Vito there and I think he will continue to rise as one of the dependables...I don't even know what means - he doesn't suck but there's something that is lacking there as a back row player. I need spice and I feel like Vito is a bit too much sugar.

I don't have much else to say about this. I fully expect Jane and Smith to find new homes by the end of the season...or die because Conrad Smith has to make 90% of the tackles and Jane suffers serious injury because the majority of their offensive runs are going to be up and unders with Jane taking flight. I really like CJ - I don't want him to die. I expect them to be in the bottom 5...or maybe the bottom 1. Sad face.

Crusaders
Is it a surprise that Dan Carter and Richie McCaw are not going to be suiting up for a couple months? It shouldn't. Richie played way too long on a serious injury and deserves the rest. Carter, well - I want to see him on top again so I'll wait for him to be better and not complain about his absence. And come on, it's not like the Crusaders didn't have to cut it without him, McCaw, and Maitland last year. They struggled but obviously beat the odds...but those odds will have to be beat without Sonny Bill Williams...which, well - it is and isn't a loss. Offensively - sure. He's brilliant and his off-loads are mind-numbing but his defense is just shy of terrible. It will be nice to see Robbie Fruean get some chances to hammer up the middle without standing in the shadow of SBW. And though Zac Guilford is fast - I can't lie when I say there's a bit of love lots with his acts of immaturity. I'm glad that he has to sit in the corner and think about his actions though I can't see him learning from them. Maybe he should just move to England where apparently - he'd fit right in!

Once the Crusaders are back to full strength - I predict that they will make it to the semis. I'm not holding out hope or predictions beyond that.

That's all for now folks. I'll finish up with the Blues and the Chiefs tomorrow...or...whenever I get to it. We have some time to cover all of our bases before things kick off in February. Happy Sunday everyone.

F-T-F

2012-01-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

Goodbye old friend

2012-01-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

I don't post very often about my work at camp or horses. Though both are a large part of my life - horses less now than they used to be. My work at camp began as a cabin leader and a wrangler. I spent 4 years working with the horses and taking kids on outtrips into the mountains. Horses hold a special place in my life and though I don't take many opportunities to ride anymore - it does not mean that they hold less of a place in my heart. This Christmas season we said goodbye to one of our hard working horses at the camp. I've worked here long enough to know that we've been very blessed with a healthy herd where we've experienced very little loss. There are a few horses that have passed on that I have shed a tear for.

I think of Clyde, Ruby, Pete, Danny, and Harvey. Horses that have carried thousands of children who were scared to even touch them and were filled with wonder when these huge animals would take care of them during their trail ride. These horses, so simple and yet not. Each morning for months and months would take kids on rides with few complaints. Loyal and hard working, dependable and consistent. You could often trust them to do a better job than you.

Silly things like Clyde stopping midstride as a kid was about to get swiped off by a branch to back up and go around the tree. Ruby - as she taught people how to herd and use a bosal. Danny - he was here for 29 years until we finally gave him to a family who kept him as a pet for his final years. He would have worked to his final day here basically taking and returning trail rides on his own. Amazing creation. Harvey - I don't know how many kids I put on that horse knowing that they would not steer or stop him, they would never ask him to walk. He would be the one in control from the beginning to the end and I would trust him to carry those kids with care and he did, without fail. I feel like we are the lucky ones to have been given this time with these animals.

And so this Christmas we said goodbye to Duke (Clydesdale in the foreground) - one of our team horses. He was one of our gentle giants. And he will be missed, probably mostly by his partner, Diamond (in the background).

Well done Duke - rest in peace.

M2 - U2 360/2011

2012-01-02T23:35:00.000-07:00

So I'm a little behind on the music posts. Sorry - it's been a little hectic...kind of like trying to get a you tube video loaded when no place has enough connectivity that is within 100km of you. Anyways...here is the video I took of U2's City of Blinding Light in Edmonton back in June of 2011. Best concert of the year...Foo Fighters came in second but only by a smidgen.

Sir Graham Henry

2012-01-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

First of all...Happy 2012 to everyone out there.

This last week Graham Henry who has been at the helm of the New Zealand All Blacks got knighted. Yes - he shall now be known as SIR Graham Henry. It has got a lovely ring to it...so much that I think that mini New Zealanders will be confusing him with the guy that created the light bulb...who was that again? Sir William Tell? Isaac Newton? Alexander Graham Bell? *

I do think it's a little funny that New Zealand knights all of it's favourite or important people. Why just a few weeks ago Richie McCaw (Mr. Captain All Black himself) humbly declined being knighted as he still has some playing days left in him and wants the knighting to be a final hurrah. That might be a bit of a paraphrase. See the actual article here. So many times I find myself telling people that rugby to New Zealanders is like hockey to Canadians...but in some ways I don't think it is. Yes, hockey is our thing and it would be just as easy to remove that as part of our image or heritage as it would be to say that Brits don't do tea and Russians have nothing to do with vodka.

I do have to wonder what it would look like to honor our people like that. We don't knight people, do we? I know that we have the Governer General's award for volunteerism, and the Order of Canada...and there's literature awards...but nothing like "knighting" someone. And I would say that we can't because we're under England's rule and the monarchy would have to do it but then...isn't New Zealand also? I mean if it's about semantics...New Zealand knights their peeps as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit...but it's just so much easier to say...Sir.

What did we do for our players and coaches who have won the gold medals in the Olympics?...which for all intents and purposes would be similar to the All Blacks winning the Rugby World Cup. Graham Henry had one of the top winning percentages in the world as a coach (something like 86% over his time as a coach). But I think most of our Canadian hockey coaches would best that average - I don't know the number but I'm sure one of my readers would. Care to share?

I guess I'm just saying that it would be great to start knighting our peeps for what they do for our country. Now - this post has only been about rugby and hockey but I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of 'knights' in our great country. So I say that we start Sir-ing our peeps. Just saying.

Oh - and congrats to Sir Graham Henry.

*I realize that Thomas Edison is the correct man for the reference.

New Years... Rs

2011-12-31T13:01:00.000-07:00

2011...to 2012
Resolutions. no. But I'll get back to that in a moment.
Responses. I have a few from 2011.
Renovations! Ya!
Revolutions. ... .... Maybe?
Rebellions. again...maybe...but I might keep that to myself.
Redo. Yes.
Revelations...that's deep - and yes, I have a few of those too.
Reactions. No. I choose to respond.
Revival - there's a bit of that too.
Rumors...haHA!

I always hate the whole...resolutions thing because they typically become reso-no-lution. I know a few people that were able to realistically give themselves goals to achieve the following year. But they were the 'goals-on-the-fridge-so-we-can-cross-them-off" kind of people. Good for them. Pat on the back. Even the word RE-SOLUTION gets me a little firey. Doesn't that kind of say that you had the solution once before and it didn't work and so you have to "re"-it? Doesn't really pave the road to long term success, does it.

Responses on Resolutions from 2011
Me? What did I say last yea?. Read more. That's a solid resolution. The goal was just...more. I did that. I finished the Cellist of Sarejevo AND the Bible once more through AND Forgotten God or wait...I did read the Clockwork Angel and the Clockwork Prince which are teen novels...does that count? That's a solid two more than I had read the previous year. I'm pathetic, I know. I think I actually read Forgotten God twice. Crazy Love and two other books lay started on my kitchen table. I really need to take a friend's advice and try audiobooks. Is it shameful that I don't even know where to find audiobooks? itunes maybe. Geh.

Part way through the year I also resolved to blog more...and blog consistently. True - I become less consistent when things are busy at the camp and all of my blogging turns into rugby...but I blogged consistently and if you compare my numbers of posts in 2011 to all previous years (added together). Whammy! I knocked that one out of the park. I don't plan on trying to beat my 2011 number. So there's no RE-solution needed. Just the resolve to keep doing what I'm doing...and maybe getting people commenting again - let's just say that there's a direct correlation to my rugby posts and commenting. One goes up and the other absolutely goes down. oh bother.

So instead of Resolutions this year - I'm writing or doing renovations. Some stuff is great and will still be there and maybe some stuff will get repurposed and some stuff just has to go. I'm not going to get into all of the reno details. But it was nice to start with new couches this last week to start the physcial stuff off swell. I also reno'd the blog...I figured it was time to clean the slate and give myself a background that reflects where I'm at now. Energy, a little chaos, and very busy in the next year.

~~Resolution~~ Renovations 2012 #1: Read more books than last year. To achieve this I technically only have to read four legit books. Five if you include the face that I read Forgotten God twice. And just to let you all know that I'm being honest...I do not include graphic novels or comic books in this. And seriously, I'd like to tip the scale on having read fewer than half the books on my shelves.

~~Resolution~~ Renovations 2012 #2: Figure out the 60 slump: I have 66 days in a year that consistently suck for me. March 15-April 15 and November 20 to December 26. They're bad and I'm on the down-swing of a gross yuk yuk. What does that mean? I don't think I can translate it. I don't know what it is...things slowing down, me being tired, Christmas, things getting busy, not enough time...something like that. There is something in me that gets discouraged and maybe a little disgruntled. In 2012 - I want the resolution.

~~Resolution~~ Renovations 2012 #3: Kick ass on my Black Belt test: Yup - I'll likely be testing on my black best test in December 2012. I don't want to just ace it...I want to be in shape for it. That means actually showing up regardless of how I feel about it, to my insanity work outs at 6:30am. Or doing them at 6pm if I've slept through them regardless of how much I hate working out after work. Time to deal Armstrong, because you've got 11 months until your moment. And a sub renovation that needs a number because "getting in shape" - doesn't really work as a general reno. I want to lose 20-30lbs by December. Absolutely possible...we just got to start renovating.

Rebellion - well I have to...because I wouldn't be a black sheep without a little rebellion in my blood. I'm rebelling against Blackberrys. If I'm given a good opportunity to get out - I'm jumping ship to the iphone. I don't care about hype anymore. iphones are better...Blackberrys have issues - and they're not a family member so you do have to keep them around. Lose 'em while you can before they convince you that the next one will actually be better. Trust me - it won't. If anybody would like a torch and a 2 year contract...just let me know.

Revolutions:
#1 : This is a tough one and it's close to my heart. I want to be positive. ~~No more grumpy C-Bear.~~ No more grumpy-all-the-time C-Bear. I think I can do that. Start small right. I don't think it's all me but I can only affect me. I can be excessively serious all the time and I think I can find it in myself to play more and make time to do the things that I love, especially in my job. Where I can start with this is working more with people and not as much as with my computer. This is my change that I want to start with me. And this change will start a revolution around me.
#2 : The next one starts with me too. Spiritual kick-start. I think I'm good. I'm in a "good" place. But I don't want to be in a good place. I want to be in a place where God is blowing my mind. Where I can honestly say that every encounter with him changes me - because every encounter with him SHOULD change me. And this change will impact through around me. I want to start a revolution.

Redo: I want to redo how I organized and worked with one of my teams this year. I didn't give them my best. And that's on me. People - my co-workers - my staff- my campers- my guests - should always get my best. Specifically this team - didn't. And I'm sorry for that and I wish I could get a redo - which I won't. But I want to have learned from it enough to not do it again.

Do AGAIN: I would also love to do William Fitzsimmons, U2 (except this time I would seat hop because concert-sitters are lame), and Foo Fighters again because they were ALL amazing concerts. And I would love to go back and do AEE in Florida again. Super fantastic. Did I mention that it was great?

Revelations:
I don't think this is the right place to share some of it but I think it will be sooner or later - some of it is still a little fresh and so I haven't completely dealt with all of the emotions. A couple of them came from the AEE conference which was so much more than I expected and from unexpected places in the conference. I was affirmed over and over and over again for who I was and was doing and how I was gifted. I felt beautiful for the first time in a long time. I felt valued. Not that I don't know these things in my home life but I think that as a whole, as Christians and maybe even Canadians (that's an enormous generalization but seriously I got tons of compliments down there), don't speak our compliments, our affirmations, and our praise to each other enough. We don't look each other in the eyes and tell them that they're doing good, that they're cherished, and that they have value. I have been practicing this in one area of my life but have not done that to the other people in my life enough. I'm going to change that.

Hand in hand with that though - my other revelation is that I cannot seek my worth and value and depend on affirmation from other people. That lays an expectation on them that they may not be able to meet. I must seek God for that.

Revival: Even as I type this...I've got a fire lit inside of me. If anything I have said sparks something in you or you have started to think what your Rs are...write them down. Make yourself accountable to them and make change.

The other revival that has happened is [ instigate change ]. It was actually the first blog I started and I don't know why I didn't just reno that one but I started [ the clean slate ] instead. Maybe because I felt I needed something unattached to the old one. The old one hung around and when Blogger made upgrades to their interface - there it was...the Bear's Den staring me in the face every time I logged in. After AEE I started journalling about my facilitator experiences and thought that it would be great to create a space where I could share the activities I do and what happens in the debrief - because they're all different. And then maybe someday - there will be conversations about other people's experience and maybe EVEN - other bloggers posting on it. So [instigate change ] started. Maybe that was the first reno of 2011. It doesn't really count towards 2012.

And finally, Rumors:
#1 : Yes - I'm going to Jamaica. The letters have been sent out for fundraising and I'm starting to work on my own parts (which are still a little unclear). I'm in the process of getting some children's programs done and then will be working on some general team building and devotional material. How that piece fits into a day is a little fuzzy but keeping things running smoothly will likely be what I will be doing...afterall - I am a Program Manager...it's kind of my job. In the end - I will serve God and do what He puts before me.

#2 : No more rumors. Maybe I'll be going back to AEE...maybe there might be something about me being on the Intercessory Prayer Team for Urbana 2012...but those are seriously rumors - I'll let you know when they turn into fact.

So that's that peeps. That's how I have felt about 2011 and what's to come in 2012. I hope it's been a cheery one for you and stay safe tonight. I need you all resoluting/renovating/reviving your comments on [ the clean slate ] and [ instigate change ] in 2012.

F-P-F

2011-12-30T17:28:00.000-07:00

f-p-f

2011-12-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

to be in the centre of God's will
to take the path
less travelled
where it is not safe

M2 - Kina Grannis

2011-12-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

So to be honest - I've only listened to one song of hers and it's only because the video is mighty awesome. I saw this while reading through Allison's blog.

I'm telling you.

Mighty Awesome.

And then if you have time. Here's the making of the above video. Good things take time. Rare, great things take time and commitment. I think this is an example of the latter...

Survivor...Season 48?

2011-12-19T00:27:00.000-07:00

Part of me is ashamed of the fact that I watch Survivor. It somehow seems like one of those things that you should hide from people. Like smelly feet. Have you ever been over to someone's house and suddenly you get a whiff of smelly feet...and worse yet - you realize that they're YOUR smelly feet. You just want to put your shoes back on so that nobody notices. It's embarrassing - worse that walking out a bathroom with toilet paper stuck to your feet. That's just a whoops. No - smelly feet is a condition that has a number of variables. Hygiene, foot care, fungus, uncared for shoes...it's horrible.

That's what Survivor is like. It's a nasty habit. One that you probably picked up long ago. You don't meet very many "new" Survivor fans. Most of us have been around for a while...and you probably know one that you didn't know was one. Most people who aren't fans will physically turn their nose up at those who are...I'm telling you - it's like there is a stench.

Well - here it is folks. I'm taking those shoes off to air the stench. I "watch" Survivor. I have watched it since...I think season 2 or 3. I don't even know what number we are on. And don't test me...I can't name everywhere it's been filmed and I don't know how many beaches they've destroyed. I can't name all of the winners - just really big moments and my favourite haters and players. I put watch in quotations because these days I skip through almost half of the show. The majority of the chit chat and nattering between players is annoying to me. Most of it is edited in such a way that takes things out of context. I'm mostly interested in the challenges (some of it is valuable for camp) and tribal council. And by Tribal council - I really mean Jeff Probst.

Tribal Council? Yes - the tribe has spoken. Jeff Probst is one of the best hosts EVER! I mean - I like Ally from Biggest Loser and David Salmoni from Expedition Impossible. Apparently the TC's last for hours until the casting crew and Probst have enough to material to work with when creating the show. There is a bit of an assumption on my part that Probst is not on script with all of his questions. It's kind of like Bob Harper from BL...I'm sure they coached him in the beginning with what to say to make the cameras happy but there comes a point where you see true colours come through. Bob is a phenomenal trainer and counsellor. Jeff Probst is a master facilitator. I noticed it more this last season than others on Survivor. His ability to key in on contestants and peel the layers of the game to take what is going on with them and translate it to their lives in the actual world.

And...It would be a lie to say that I have a minor crush on Ozzy.
I have a major crush on Ozzy.

So when he lost that last challenge and predictably Coach was not "honorable" - well...I knew that Ozzy wouldn't become the comeback kid. I didn't care who won the million. It was very similar to BL this last season. Once it was Antone, John, and Ramon in the final - I didn't really care who won the final prize. I guess that's where this whole thing still kind of stinks. Game players win and alliances will always trump worth. I don't like that message. I don't think you would find many people that would but...as I'm sitting here thinking about it...all of our "fun" games - board games, card games, etc...teach the same thing.

What are we teaching tomorrow's leaders? Do we live the same as we play? Do we live the way that we practice? If the game of survivor really just mirrors how all of those players live in real life (and I believe that it does)...what does that mean for us? Think of your favourite game that you play ... how do you play? How does the game end? How does my faith walk get reflected in this?

So many questions...and I don't know if I like all of my own answers to them.

F-P-F

2011-12-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

i feel...

2011-12-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

i think most times i'm captain optimism.

today...today i feel like pessimistic man.

and the sun will come out tomorrow.

Jax - Day 3

2011-12-07T19:32:00.001-07:00

Okay - so I'm really bad at timelines. I have a legit excuse for it though - we have been lacking in the internet department. Between a foot and a half of snow on the weekend and a satellite dish that doesn't like afternoons or evenings - it leaves me with very limited time to update. As a consequence...M2 might have to happen on Friday...or maybe even later. Or maybe I'll be uber sneaky and just back-post (write and date it for Monday) and then y'all will just think that you missed one of my posts. I'm sneaky that way.

Karl Rohnke with an elastic on his face

Well I promised that I would talk more about Jacksonville so here we go. Day 3 in Jacksonville was pretty good. After the cancelling of the pre-conference that I had been registered in - I decided to switch into Karl Rohnke's one day pre-conference on "Play". I wasn't super pumped about it because I was looking for something a little more than surface level but I definitely wasn't going to spend a day doing Meyers-Briggs. Karl Rohnke is about 63 years old and the founder of Project Adventure not to mention the author or co-author of about a dozen books like Quicksilver and The Bottomless Bag. He's probably one of the funniest elderly men I've ever seen. The workshop was a lot of fun (go figure - a workshop labelled "Play" would be fun...) but probably the best thing that happened was that I connected with a group of people that would end up being my social circle for the rest of the conference. The workshop didn't have the content that I was looking for but the connections, I believe will end up being lasting ones. And I may sound like a bit of a Debbie-Downer in regards to the workshop - I have already used a couple of the activities from the workshop when I've been working with groups so obviously not a complete bust.

Probably one of the more funny happenings during the day was after walking to the local restaurant hub (The Landing...which was also the home of the bull) with a few of my new found peeps we headed back to our workshop room. I was the first person up the stairs when I was met face to face...actually it was more like face to belly-button with one of the larger people I've ever met. He was about 6'8" by about 6'0". He was the closest thing to a giant that I've ever seen...and he even described himself as a giant. So here I was looking straight up at this guy and he was looking mighty intense. Nicole and Nay were also staring at me because everything was so abrupt. The guy was insistent that I knew him. I tried to shrug him off but seriously the dude would not leave me alone. Nicole and Nay both sat on either side of me but it did not deter him from leaning over everyone as he searched for the connection. But it was painfully clear to

Luke, Nicole, me, Valerie and Claudia (the head)

everyone except Tiny (that's what I came to refer to him as...I don't remember his name...and yet whenever I referred to "Tiny" - everybody knew who I was talking about) that we had never met before. But for the rest of the afternoon - people were playing interference for me as Tiny manipulated his way into activity groups with me. Geh! Leave it to me to attract the creepers.

By the time the day ended - I wanted to kick Tiny in the shins. And somehow he got himself invited out to dinner with our group and even invited himself (twice) to my room the next night. Bahahahaa. Good friggin' luck. Anyways - I'll leave it there because there's lots more to pile on top of those beginnings. All I can say is thank you Karl Rohnke for facilitating the beginnings of Luke, Nicole, Valerie, Nay Nay, David and myself. It set up one of the best weeks I've had away from my 'normal' life in a long time.

Stay tuned for more adventures with me an' my peeps (oh yes, and there's more of Tiny too) and maybe a head named Claudia...and a mechanical bull...hmmm - perhaps I've said too much...

F-P-F

2011-12-02T16:46:00.001-07:00

M2 - Coldplay

2011-11-29T16:38:00.001-07:00

This will likely be my next big concert that I go to. Coldplay has been a growing love for me. Kind of like how wine is an acquired taste - one that has to include the culture and a certain amount of snobbery to really get into. Now, don't hear me saying that wine drinkers are snobs. That's not what I'm saying. All I'm saying is that to appreciate wine - you have to embrace the culture, gain the skills and the "look" to truly appreciate it (and be appreciated by those who are wine drinkers). I feel the same way about Coldplay. There first few albums were out of my league. Parachutes, A Rush of Blood to the Head, and X&Y did not receive my appreciation. Everybody was raving about them and owned their albums and I was just avoiding the hype. It could be that my "league" at that time included bands more along the lines of The Headstones, Bon Jovi, ACDC and of course U2. You'd think that with my roots so deeply embedded in U2 I'd have some kind of affinity to Coldplay. Nope - not one bit. I worked at camp and people were all Coldplay this and Coldplay that...I was just apathetic towards the whole thing. I did buy X&Y but if I remember correctly it was so that I could be part of a conversations where the people I considered cool hung out. The cool people all owned Coldplay albums...so I ashamedly owned a Coldplay album.

Sadly - it didn't make me more cool.
It only made me like everybody else.

But then Viva la Vida and Death and all His Friends came out and something started growing on me. I liked about half the songs...really liked half the songs. And so the acquiring of the taste began. And then a year or two after Viva la Vida came out - they put out a remix album which I really liked and songs that I didn't like so much, I liked more.

And then I started to realize that Coldplay had drops of U2 in them. And I liked them even more. I talk about the culture revolving around wine. I think the same goes for bands like U2 and Coldplay...the few pop/rock bands left out there that can float in this alternative/acoustic/synthesized world of sound. Strong beats that sound like the future and history of music all at the same time. So when Mylo Xyloto came out...I was chopping on the bit to get it. And I was not disappointed.

The rock is sweet and I love the little snippets of music between the songs. There's a story on this album. So - unlike what I normally do with my music and listen to it on shuffle all the time...This album gets played from beginning to end - without the shuffle on.

Let's just say - the taste has been acquired...and the coffee shop is about to close so that means I have to go and return to internet-less land. I'll talk to you soon.

F-P-F

2011-11-25T22:07:00.001-07:00

M2 - Foo Fighters

2011-11-21T20:40:00.001-07:00

I don't think it would be fair to me or you if I kept going along without talking about my two other concert experiences this year. I realize that the year isn't done yet but I have no plans to go to anymore concerts unless someone were to drop more Foo Fighters tickets (and airline tickets) in my lap.

On a brief aside. I went to Pearl Jam in September. In retrospect, I was definitely looking more forward to PJ than Foo Fighters...Sitting here now - I was just being dumb. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that I really didn't get into their newest album, Wasting Light. My sister-in-law asked me if I would go with her and I agreed - mostly because I just wanted to go to a concert with her (U2 was supposed to be with her). She sent me the album and I listened to it. I mean - they're a great band. David Grohl is well...#1 - He's hot (and yes, that's very important) and #2 - He's hot. Really - does the fact that he's a stellar musician have anything to do with this...maybe just a little.

Pearl Jam was solid not stellar, just solid. I'm pretty sure that Eddie Vedder went back stage about 50 times to drink and smoke. So let's just say there were a lot of solos. He also sang like 3 REM songs because REM had just announced that they were breaking up. I was a little "whatever" about the whole experience.

My sis-in-law went to the E-town show and was on the floor. David Grohl basically spat on her.

The Foo Fighters was a completely different experience. AMAZING!! They played a solid three or so of their best songs from each album. And David Grohl is HOT! And Taylor Hawkins on drums was just unbelievable to watch. The concert was entertaining - the stage set up was sweet. Basically - U2's concert was mind-blowing and I didn't have much of one left after this one either. I would absolutely, hands down go see these guys again. It was a phenomenal show and they played for three hours. So basically that's a show-breaker for me. Great bands play for 3 hours. Deal done. U2 was a 12 out of 10 for awesome/amazing...Foo was like 11.95 out of 10.

I think what made the concert so great was David Grohl's pillow talk. He's so funny as a human being - his joking around and talking in between songs was hilarious and engaging. The language was - well, he's a rockstar. But enough talk...here's the setlist:

Bridge Burning
Rope
The Pretender
My Hero
Learn to Fly
White Limo
Arlandria
Breakout
Cold Day in the Sun
Stacked Actors
Walk
Monkey Wrench
Let It Die
These Days
This is a Call
In the Flesh?
(Pink Floyd cover)
All My Life
Encore:
Wheels
(Dave Grohl solo acoustic)
Best of You
(Dave Grohl solo acoustic)
Times Like These
(Dave Grohl solo acoustic into full band)
Dear Rosemary
Breakdown
(Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers cover)
Everlong

So - basically...Between William Fitzsimmons, U2, and Foo Fighters...my Year of the Concert has been an overwhelming success.

Awesome.

Jax - Day 1, Part II

2011-11-19T20:12:00.001-07:00

Flagler College as seen from Castillo de San Marcos

Here we go with Part II of my first full day in Florida. I left off having successfully made it out of Jacksonville and an hour south to St. Augustine. My last pictures were from the bastions on top of Castillo de San Marcos. Above is also taken from the top of the bastions. To the southwest of the fort a red clay topped building could be seen. I hadn't really made plans for the day - more or less just meandering through St. Augustine. I had purchased a "train" ticket that allowed me to jump on these little red trains that would drive you throughout the town. There were moments where you could almost imagine that you weren't in North America anymore.

Those Americans are amazing!

I left the fort and walked through the 16th century city gates which led you straight down St. George Street. It was so cute. I could have spent days in that town wandering through the shops. And then there's things like the picture just above. Amazing! FROZEN...HOT chocolate! Talk about an oxymoron. I thought it was hilarious until I posted the pictures on Facebook and was informed that Second Cup has it too. We're officially just as dumb...or are we...it might just be the consumers who buy frozen hot chocolate...why don't they just call it a chocolate slurpee? Moving on...

Walking up to Flagler College

I found my way to the heart of the city which is Flagler College. That amazing building that I could see from the Castillo. Can you ever imagine going to a college like that? I mean - I get that people who go to college in Europe probably don't think it's a big deal but seriously...how old is the University of Lethbridge? I can't imagine someone wandering around it's grounds in 400 years, marveling at it's architecture. And there...there are your palm trees. I did see them and it was sunny - though very, very windy. OH! And I saw two dolphins in the bay. Super!

At the Mission of Nombres de Dios

After Flagler college I hopped onto the little train again and rode it around the south end of the city. There were really interesting sounding museums that I would have loved to see but time was not on my side. I had spotted a massive cross when I was at the Castillo and needed to see it before I had to get out of dodge in order to miss rush hour in Jax. I hopped (there was a lot of hopping this day) into my Nissan Cube (it was gross but fun to drive for a day) and drove a few blocks from the Castillo...basically following the giant cross the whole way. The park was quiet and perfectly kept. I walked about a kilometer to the shore where the giant cross stood. In front of it (as you can see in the picture) was a statue of Nombre de Dios - the spanish dude (priest?) that founded the mission - the first mission in America. So this mission was set up BEFORE the landing of the pilgrams. The cross was erected in the 1900s in memory of all those who have continued in Nombre de Dios' footsteps.

Lady le Leche's shrine and mission

The picture above is not the original mission. But it stands on it. This mission has been rebuilt 3 times due to storm, fire, and earthquake. It also serves as a shrine and dedication to Lady le Leche who was the "mother" to the mission. The park all around this building had paths on it that you could take that walks you through Mary's Seven Woes. It was incredibly peaceful and at one point standing inside of this mission I had to take my shoes off - it was definitely a moment. I've never lit a candle for anyone but in that moment - a clear picture of a friend was in my mind. I lit the candle and stayed for a while in the quiet.

Spanish dude at the Fountain of Youth (where I fired the canon)

After leaving the Mission - I had one more stop to make before driving my way to the St. Augustine Outlet Mall (bad news bears). That one stop was...THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH!!! Yes folks, I found it. Well, apparently the First Nations (I know that they're not called that down there) had successfully convinced the Spaniards that their dashing good looks were due to a fresh water spring near the bay. I got as far as the bay where they had a live canon (this was the free part) that fires every hour. The guy doing the firing was about to light the fuse and I was the only one there so he suddenly looks up and was like..."Hey - I'm not really supposed to do this but...do you want to light the fuse?"

...um...Yes?

That's right - I've fired a REAL canon. Not one of those fake Pirate museum canons. Like a real one. Aw yea. But as it turns out - my Fountain of Youth experience would end there. I was too cheap to pay to see the Fountain or drink its water. I guess I'm just going to have to grow old.

So that basically was the end to Day 1 in Florida. Yes I went to the Outlet Mall - No I did not spend tons of money and I got back to my hotel just fine. I would say that it was a very successful first day in Florida...and it was only going to get better...

New Blog

2011-11-18T23:05:00.001-07:00

So this is just a side note for my regulars. I have started (more like restarted) a new blog for my team building, leadership, and community development musings. I have been journalling a lot lately and since AEE have developed a bit of a network of similar minded people...I'm just going to call them My Peeps. So my peeps have been asking a lot about what activities I do and when. I also get asked a lot about the debrief/processing stage and the psychology of looking at group members and their behaviour. So this blog is more like my online journal about my previous experiences in experiential education and the journey I'm on right now.

I realize that most will not join me there but hopefully some will. I dream of it someday becoming a platform where there are multiple authors contributing. But for right now - it's me and my so-called facilitating life.

Join me there!

Jax - Day 1...Part 1

2011-11-15T20:10:00.003-07:00

Well - I just wanted to start this now...I would like to post on each day or something like that over the next week or so just because it was such an amazing conference....

Wait - let's back up...Jax? What? I guess I haven't totally been "all about Bear" in these last few months. [ the clean slate ] has been more or less all about rugby. September and October were a bit of a blur for me. Between work, the World Cup, and one or two other things - I really didn't spend much time reflecting on me. A couple weeks ago I was given the opportunity to attend the Association for Experiential Education international conference in Jacksonville, Florida. I have been wanting to attend this conference for years...some of the best educators, practitioners, and facilitators in the world teach workshops at this conference and Evergreen gave me the go this year. Everyone that I talked to seemed to think that being in Florida was the best part of that deal but I knew going into this that my brain would be engaged from 8am until about 8pm for four days straight. What can I say, when I'm right - I'm right. This was one of the best experiences that I've had from a learner's perspective in years...probably since Urbana in 2009 or when I graduated in 2005. I came out of it with dozens of new activities and ways to present our education activities and a new energy to grow humans. But like I said - I don't want to just dump all of it in one post...I'll spread it out and work through it a bit.

Old City Gates

I was in Jacksonville for seven days. Originally I had planned on being in a two day pre-conference course. One full day with Sam Sykes focusing on trust and diversity activities, a half day with Michelle Cummings (who is my favourite-favourite) and a husband and wife duo who were going to present on polarity management (managing personalities on a team that contain polar opposite personalities). Ten days before I departed for Jax I received an email saying that my two day pre-conference had been cancelled and that the Polarity Management course was running for the full day. I can only assume something happened to Sam Sykes and because Michelle was supposed to build on Sam's material - she backed out too. Since I was footing the bill for the pre-conference I decided to opt for the lesser intense workshop with Karl Rohnke ( ). I wasn't as pumped for it but I figured I'd be bored with sight-seeing after a couple days. So I accepted the fact (as hard as it was) that I was actually going to see a bit of Florida while on my trip. I arrived with no hiccup during the flights (I know, miracle - right?) and asked around the hotel about the best places to check out. I got an overwhelming response...don't stay in Jacksonville. Well - apparently I'm renting a car. 7am the next morning I was in renting a car and getting some pretty sketchy directions out of the city. Bottom line - I didn't get into an accident. How close was I? Ummm...let's not talk about it.

On top of the bastion of Castillo de San Marcos

After a couple wrong turns I made it to St. Augustine which was about an hour south of Jax. It was founded by the Spanish in the 1600s. It was old and beautiful. The fort was magnificent. Maybe that it's something to do with how we don't really have old architecture here - I don't know but it was amazing! The picture above was built in 1605! The street that you travel down once you go through the gates is called St. George and it was shop after shop after shop of cuteness and history - and cheesy tourist things. You could walk all around the Castillo de San Marcos...it's was awesome. I guess I am just always struck by how small I am in the span of God's world. Of time, really. That my world exists between 1981 and 2011 - from Lethbridge to Edmonton and maybe includes moments in Vancouver. I'm a speck of dust in the history of the world complaining about intermittent internet and having to spend over a hundred dollars on cross trainers. Touching 350 year old cannons and walking on walls that were built nearly 400 years ago makes a person feel small or young or in some ways very insignificant.

But let's talk about the REAL reason why I went to St. Augustine...THE PIRATE MUSEUM!! And I promise to post pictures but again - blasted internet! I just can't seem to load them right now. Besides - I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside the pirate museum..."Captain's orders". But I sought this museum out because St. Augustin is apparently where Captain Blackbeard himself was reputed to have been killed (5 musket shots and 20+ stab wounds ended him). So really, I am a pirate - and in being a pirate - I couldn't pass up the chance to hold a real musket, pick up a spanish gold bar, fire a fake cannon, and see Captain Jack Sparrow's sword from the movies.

The Pirate Museum!!

Well - I think I should stop there. I'll do Day 1 - Part II tomorrow...and maybe it won't take me a million years to upload pictures. It's currently 9:40pm...I think I've been at this for 3 hours. Peace out Crew!

M2 - The Return

2011-11-14T18:55:00.001-07:00

It has been a long time coming hasn't it? Practically six months of straight rugby and I don't even know if people checking my blog these days will give a rip about music. Have no fear ruggers - I'll still make obnoxious and probably unfounded remarks about the Heineken Cup, European Championship, Guiness Premiership, and SuperXV on Saturdays. But I'm returning to my committed blogging patterns...Music, whatever, poetry, and well, of course rugby.

And so today...as you probably have noticed - is Monday. And in light of my recent trip to Jacksonville where I met an amazing line-dancing, evening dining, and most hilarious group of people - I must post on The Head and the Heart. Luke (President and founder of the AEP) and I sat up late one night when it was actually warm in Jax (contrary to popular belief) and discussed music and concerts and all things that falls in between.

Can we please make note of the one dude's beard? Do we remember my theory on folk music and beards? Check here and here if you don't.

Here's my favourite song (as of right now...but it's been changing daily for the last week)...Down in the Valley:

I don't know much about them...They're relatively new (2009)...The band's primaries are Josiah Johnson and Jonathan Russell but also includes Charity Rose (violin and vocals), Chris Zasche, Kenny Hensley (piano) and Tyler Williams (drums). They self-released their first and only album and have gained momentum since. Last year they toured extensively opening for based like Vampire Weekend, Dave Matthews, Deathcab For Cutie, Iron and Wine, The Decemberists, and The Low Anthem.

Those are some pretty significant bands. I just can't believe that they've flown under my radar for so long. I love their sound. There's something very...mature about their music, even familiar. The piano, the violin - they all play into the oldness of their music. At some points - and maybe I'm completely wrong - but something tastes of the Beatles (but less happy) or something like that...I don't even know. If someone figures out who they sound like - please enlighten me because it's driving me nuts.

Beyond my higher than normal levels of craziness - I love the heaviness of the percussion line and the harmonies. I love Charity's voice and the addition of the violin. Everything about them is beautiful and smooth. So officially - I'm on the trail of The Head and the Heart - and you should be too. Here's another one of their gooders from their album...

To the next four years...

2011-11-08T20:53:00.000-07:00

Threeweeks later and I found myself wanting to wake up at some ungodlyhour to watch the games again from last weekend. It's barelybelievable that 4 years of waiting and anticipating as we watched theteam develop and players struggle through an overall disappointingSuper season (well...if you're a Hurricanes fan, that is) and then aTri-Nations season which made me shudder to think of what the RWCfinal could look like. New Zealand possibly losing to Australia inthe final? Could a Quade Cooper overcome being the Public Enemy #1and turn France from being our very own pet monkey into himself. Anew monkey – named Quade.

Andthen me...do I cheer for Canada? I am Canadian – we are supposed tocheer for them...right? I still have a bitter taste in my mouth frommy days and brief encounters with the beast called Rugby Canada. Irealize that all sports have their politics...the two are as marriedas sport-enhancing drugs and baseball. I suppose the disease ofpolitics runs deeper than just Rugby Canada – it's sport funding inCanada altogether. But I don't want to jump on that soap box. Wedon't have the time...well, you don't. I'm sitting in an airport witha three hour lay-over. If I get bored enough – we'll see where thatleads. Back to Rugby Canada and it's nastybirthmark...money/funds/men ruling the roost. Man this drives menuts. After about 3 years of playing twister with Rugby Canada in mymid-twenties I found myself with a very bitter taste in my mouth. AsI said – this isn't just a rugby problem but it was my experienceand by golly – this is my soapbox. As women, we were required topay to play. That wasactually the policy's name. Do you know where the money went when wepaid to be a part of our national training camps and residenttraining camps (and provincial teams, and tours, and...)? It went tothe men. Who were paid to play. They were paid to play on theSuperteams (not really relevant now as they've made those intodevelopment teams. But the Wolfpack and the Bears get money). So Igot this bitter taste in my mouth that I could never shake. Thingsare better now – women who are carded (short-listed athletes) getmoney but they still have to pay to go on tours and trainingcamps...that's what the carded money is for (oh and to paid for gymmemberships). Forget equality for a second...doesn't it make ourCanadian rugby teams look even better when the woman haven't beenranked LESS than 5^thin the world and our men came dangerously close (and if weren't foran inconsistent and lucky France – they would have succeeded) toautomatically qualifying for the next world cup with a 12^thplace ranking.

Badtaste. How do I support Rugby Canada when I know first-hand how ittreats it's athletes and then so freely serves up criticism when theydon't achieve what we think they should. What do our hockey playersget? What do our Olympic athletes get? Probably not earth-shakinglymore. And coudos to TSN for televising nearly all of the games. Butplease, please, PLEASE toss the dude with the accent and the analyst.Gareth Rees was the only one with any sense of good commentary. Sowhat, the analyst predicted the final two teams...week by week hecertainly wasn't saying that. He's as bad as the Aussies. Was he evenwatching the games?

Idefinitely felt more Kiwi than Canadian when the World Cup started.And that's ridiculous because I maybe only have a shred of Kiwi in meand that's atleast one times removed. But boy oh boy, those Canucksmade me a believer. From the first game – I couldn't take my eyesoff the boys in black and red. Paddy – who I have met and haveplayed rugby with his fiance at Burnaby Lake, was stellar (well,maybe not his throwing but we're going to stay away from that soapboxtoo). Adam Kleeberger is now a name and a beard that will beremembered for years to come, and they will be a squad to watch.Especially that 16 year old. It would be super next time around if wecould crack that number 12 position but that's just assuming RugbyCanada doesn't treat their coach this year like Sluggo was treated.

Ithink I can speak about the final now. I could barely watch it...areyou kidding me? I set my PVR and watched it two hours later (some ofus have to work on Sundays) and cheated at 60 minutes when I couldnot bare to watch 8-7 and the time clock tick down. I checked myphone. The first message was from a friend...”I'm going to besick”. My heart stopped beating. She had sent it around the timethat the game would have ended. Then I checked twitter. The secondtime my heart stopped was RuggerBlogger saying that Stephen Donaldhad kicked to win the world cup. Phew. But that didn't changeanything. I still couldn't watch the last 20 sitting down. Somehowknowing the outcome was not a big enough comfort. I could haveimagined being there at Eden Park – not for the 80 and certainlynot for the after-party.

Therewas some criticism for New Zealand and our mighty Richie McCaw (andTed) for not acknowledging France and the fight they put up.Bollocks. Here : Good job France. Thanks for playing bigwhen it counted and playing like crap when it didn't. We reallyappreciate the rollercoaster ride. It makes for epic finals andbetter payouts.

Well,that's it for the RWC 2011. I shall promise that I won't utteranother word on the matter. Okay – so that's a big fat lie. But Ipromise not to write an ENTIRE post on the matter. Does that count?Maybe. I feel as though this post is a little too late but these lastfew weeks have been quite blurry and I have a ton of upcoming postsabout Florida coming up. It's been fun and for the last time, thankyou All Blacks for giving us good dreams for the next 4 years.

RWC The Final Match-Ups

2011-10-22T21:33:00.000-06:00

Okay - I totally wasn't going to do this but I couldn't resist. I always like seeing the line ups against one another. Something I need to point out though - I have switched Woodcock (plays Loose head) and Franks (plays tight head) because their match up would actually be against the opposite prop position.

1. Jean-Baptiste Poux / Owen Franks
2. William Servat / Keven Mealamu
3. Nicolas Mas / Tony Woodcock
4. Pascal Papé / Brad Thorn
5. Lionel Nallet / Sam Whitelock
6. Thierry Dusautoir (c) / Jerome Kaino
7. Julien Bonnaire / Richie McCaw
8. Imanol Harinordoquy / Keiren Read
9. Dimitri Yachvili / Piri Weepu
10. Morgan Parra / Aaron Cruden
11. Alexis Palisson / Richard Kahui
12. Maxime Mermoz / Ma'a Nonu
13. Aurélien Rougerie / Conrad Smith
14. Vincent Clerc / Cory Jane
15. Maxime Médard/ Isreal Dagg

Replacements

16. Dimitri Szarzewski / Andrew Hore
17. Fabien Barcella / Ben Franks
18. Julien Pierre / Ali Williams
19. Fulgence Ouedraogo / Adam Thomson
20. Jean-Marc Doussain / Andy Ellis
21. François Trinh-Duc / Stephen Donald
22. Damien Traille / Sonny Bill Williams

I pretty much believe that France doesn't have a hope or a prayer. I suppose teams have won with less under greater circumstances...wait - no they haven't. It's not like New Zealand has been this powerhouse that has marched through this World Cup without a mark. I think Sir Richie and his broken foot was a pretty significant mark. I think losing Dan Carter, the undisputed best 10 in the world, is a pretty big dent - not to mention his back up Colin Slade. I think they've gone through enough adversity to deserve some credit for an uphill battle. France will fight - if they don't, they will truly be the most unfortunate thing in this entire tournament - more than England's antics, more than Australia and Ireland's respective upsets. More than Wales' cinderella story being cut short.

The tipped match ups are what I think you need to watch. The battle in the scrums and line outs will be fierce but New Zealand has been too strong to wilt to a solid pack. If they're going to get beat - they will be beat by a great pack and France doesn't have a great pack. They have a solid pack. Dusautoir is good but Jerome Kaino has been gaining speed and clout this world cup to take his place amongst the greatest flankers this world has to offer. Ultimately - Kaino and his physicality will rule that roost. Yachvili is good/great. It will be amazing to see these two 9s go at it. I tipped the 10 match up because I think Cruden will become a permanent fixture in this All Blacks' team. I believe that Slade will have an impossible battle on his hands to get back into this squad after this. Clerc and Medard have been great. Medard and those chops - seriously. The ABs will play the high ball again and Cory Jane will have his eye on the prize. AB defense will hold strong and France will not be able to find the holes they've been spouting about this week. Every team has to have some kind of answer and drama for the media to eat up. That's fine - the ABs have been saving their appetite for today.

My prediction? All Blacks by 23 or some big ridiculous number.

Don't count your roosters before they've hatched?

2011-10-22T20:40:00.000-06:00

Okay so - forgive me for not reviewing the Australia/New Zealand game. The game was unbelievable and if you didn't see it - well, you missed out. I seriously would have cried - in front of all of my staff in the wee hours of the night. I probably would have even called in sick. But in my heart I knew that the All Blacks would not crack under pressure. This is their year. There shall be no choking, no losing. This shall be their perfect, albeit, without the deserving 10, but perfect World Cup. It's at home, and it's in front of an anticipating world. 60,000 fans at the game and 5 million watching.

Here's as much of a review as you need. A couple of aussie commentators (who I think are pretty funny but pretty blind when it comes to actually talking about who is the best of what. They've got Cooper Blinders on like the rest of their country...much like SA commentators) vs. a couple of kiwi commentators. It's edited magnificently and I think it makes my point. The All Blacks owned them. Coopy started the game off by kicking the ball out on the full and the crowd finished the game out by chanting "four more years" to the Wobblies who had to walk out with their heads hung in shame. Horwill said it well when he stated, "we got beat by the better team". Yes - you most definitely did. And didn't Cruden do well? Thanks Aaron for keeping Duck on the bench - where he belongs. Here's the clip I was talking about. I first saw it on ruggerblogger. It's super great.

What's to say about tomorrow though? It is so difficult to sit here and assume the worst for France. If you even look at the pool game between these two teams - what is there to say? But we have to look at what history has taught us from this epic match up.

1. Don't count your roosters before they're hatched.
2. Never wear grey on game day.

France was nice enough last weekend to promise that regardless of the outcomes of the semi-finals last weekend - they would honour the All Blacks by letting them wear their home colours on their home soil regardless of the right they would have to wear their blues. So there's no fretting about the colour of our jersey - besides...I'm pretty sure that the All Blacks would never wear grey again. Their "away" strip is white this year (which they haven't had to use yet).

From the sounds of it - the coaching staff and the players are keeping their heads screwed on right leading up to the clash (kick off is in a mere 5 hours). I expect that New Zealand will come out firing on all cylinders and will leave nothing to chance. There will be blood and the All Blacks will be ruthless. I highly expect that the All Blacks will take the last two World Cup losses out on France and will leave nothing less than bodies and a disenchanted team of French. Don't get me wrong - I highly expect France to come together and fight harder than they did in pool play but it won't be enough. They will have 20 minutes (my opinion, of course) of fight and then the inevitable will happen.

Sir Richie McCaw will eat their rucks alive.
Our tight five will man-handle their scrums and have their line-outs for desert.
Aaron Cruden will, once again, make all the second-guessers guess no more.
Ma'a Nonu will slice, dice, and mangle their back line.
Isreal Dagg and Richard Kahui will score multiple times.
Cory Jane will fly and sore and own the sky.
Piri Weepu will show everyone that he not only leads the haka but he will lead his team to World Cup History.
Sonny Bill Williams - well he might be good for another yellow card...who knows.
Graham Henry - well Ted will finally be honoured as one of the best coaches in the history of sport.

In short - I can't say that the French have a chance. I really, really don't think that they do. This isn't 2004 and it isn't 2007. This is 2011, the year that the All Blacks win the World Cup.

Look at Ted and Piri and all the smiles. Just the way it is going to be in 7 hours...plus 1 really shiny cup named Bill.

Wales vs. France - A Review

2011-10-15T17:36:00.000-06:00

France (9) - Wales (8)

I think the entire world could hear the bottom drop out on Wales when Alain Rolland, official for the first semi-final of RWC 2011, dug deep into his pocket to pull out that dreaded red card. Sam Warburton - what a warrior, what a captain, what a devastating blow. France could breathe easier? Right? You would think so. I mean, that luck would shine her smiling face on you at 16 minutes into the semi-final...you don't just get 10 minutes with a man overlap - you get to play for an hour with an overlap.

Certainly worse teams in the world would have done a better job at capitalizing on an overlap than France did last night. They should have moved the ball, they should have utilized territory more, they should have run Wales into the ground. But they didn't. They decided to play the most boring, uninventive, uninspiring, entry level rugby that we've seen yet at this world cup...bested only by England but it would only be by a small margin. But I guess when it works for you, and it has - France in the final now, aren't they.

Wales wasn't without their mistakes. 50 yard penalty conversions that miss by inches and a conversion kick that hits the sticks just to start and this is all in the shadow of that blasted red card. May it be said, Warburton deserved a sin bin for the tip tackle. It has been called clearly throughout the tournament but the tackle was not malicious in intent, Warburton obviously stopping his drive once he had realized what what happening. But a red card - to a player who does not even have a shred of reputation of the sort. Alain Rolland - I hope you get a red card for your officiating - you single-handedly sent the wrong team to the RWC 2011 final. And history will tell of the card that came from your pocket that decided this cup.

Wales was not perfect. Their heart and desire to overcome the first 20 minutes was courageous and should always be remembered. But Wales did not consolidate their rucks, consistently letting the French step over to hassle the half-back. And their set piece...it was the one thing that I said would win Wales the game. With Adam Jones out almost within minutes of the game starting with a calf injury - the set piece was thrown into disarray. And then the red card further dismantled it. Line out after line out, Wales' fight became harder and yet - despite the odds, they fought to the last, dying seconds.

France will not win the world cup. France cannot win the world cup. It would be a farcical win having been one of the truest disappointments of the tournament. But hey - Tonga can sleep well tonight knowing that they walked away from the RWC 2011 having beaten one of the finalists.

Semi-Final #2

2011-10-13T21:13:00.000-06:00

Now this is something I can talk about. I'm exceptionally nervous about this game. These two teams are very evenly matched and both have some spectacular talent. I maintain that there's just no option other than the All Blacks for the finals.

Here are your line ups - All Blacks on the left, Wallabies on the right.

1. Tony Woodcock / Sekope Kepu
2. Keven Mealamu / Steven Moore
3. Owen Franks / Ben Alexander
4. Sam Whitelock / Dan Vickerman
5. Brad Thorn / James Horwill (c)
6. Jerome Kaino / Rocky Elsom
7. Richie McCaw (c) / David Pocock
8. Kieran Read / Radike Samo
9. Piri Weepu / Wil Genia
10. Aaron Cruden / Quade Cooper
11. Richard Kahui / Digby Ioane
12. Ma'a Nonu / Pat McCabe
13. Conrad Smith / Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Cory Jane / James O'Conner
15. Israel Dagg / Kurtley Beale

Replacements:

16. Andrew Hore / Tatafu-Polota-Nau
17. Ben Franks / James Slipper
18. Ali Williams / Rob Simmons
19. Victor Vito / Ben McCalman
20. Andy Ellis / Luke Burgess
21. Stephen Donald / Berrick Barnes
22. Sonny Bill Williams / Anthony Fainga'a

Number one thing to notice when you look at the line ups are the front row. Australia has NOTHING on NZ's front row. I think set piece is going to be a big deal. I think our (NZ) jumpers will have to work hard but with Australia's inconsistent throwers (Moore or Polota-Nau) there's a good chance that we can capitalize on them like Matfield did last week. The McCaw/Pocock showdown will be epic. Both of those flankers have a similar playing style when it comes to rucks and they both cheat so atleast the world won't have to complain about who didn't get called where. We all know that there will be cheating from both sides at the breakdown. But if you don't get caught...is it cheating or are you just playing to the official? If a tree falls in the forest and nobody hears it...?

The 9-10 connection is going to be vital to this game. Yes, Aaron Cruden stepped in last week and did fabulous. Timing was a little off but hey, give the guy a break - he was booking his ticket to Fiji when he got the call up. Now he's has a full two weeks to get it right so he's going to be our man...mostly so that Duck never has to be. I couldn't pick between Wil Genia and Piri Weepu. Weepu, who I have lovingly referred to as Chubb Chubb - really has pulled his form together and is so flash right now. Has he lost weight in the last month? His kicking is spot on and if he can maintain that - it will be a weapon that Australia can risk. The world has been talking about which Quade Cooper will show up. A few hard hits should solidify everybody's questions. Quade temper and skills are directly correlated to his performance.

Centre combination: Nonu and Smith have this nailed. No, I don't think that Nonu will be able to slice and dice McCabe and AAC as easily but he attracts attention and that's all he needs to do to allow for the likes of Jane, Dagg, and Kahui to take flight. Really, I don't think there's a better centre combination in the world.

Back three...this is a close one. Both teams have stellar back three. But the life and energy of Jane, Dagg, and Kahui is flash. I just don't know if Australia can contain them. It would be like if Australia had three James O'Conners instead of just one. Kurtley Beale does count for something but the guy has a seriously tweaked hammy - I'm not counting him out but those kind of niggles don't just go away in a week even if it's manageable. Digby Ioane has serious speed so if he can get into the open but that would require some kicking and Australia just has not shown that they have that precision. I don't want ever be caught saying that James O'Conner isn't one of the best 15s in the world. Truly he is. He will be one of the Dan Carters for Australia. He's young and not even close to his prime.

The bench...well - aside from Duck. NZ has the depth to finish this game with a win. Does Australia? No. So I stand with my original prediction. New Zealand All Blacks by 5.

Semi-Final #1

2011-10-13T20:28:00.002-06:00

In all honesty - if there are a couple of teams in the world that I know the least about...it's going to be France and Wales. France has only every drawn my attention because they tend to be the most consistent in getting the All Blacks where it hurts the most. But based on the last couple of games - I can do a bit of the position to position match ups...but let's not count my opinion as informed in this case.

My original prediction stands - Wales wins by 5. In the side by side line up below, Wales is on the left and France is on the right with the better of the match up bolded.

1. Gethin Jenkins / Jean-Baptiste Poux
2. Huw Bennett / William Servat
3. Adam Jones / Nicolas Mas
4. Luke Charteris / Pascal Papé
5. Alun Wyn Jones / Lionel Nallet
6. Danny Lydiate / Thierry Dusautoir (c)
7. Sam Warburton (c) / Julien Bonnaire
8. Toby Faletau / Imanol Harinordoquy
9. Mike Phillips / Dimitri Yachvili
10. James Hook / Morgan Parra
11. Shane Williams / Alexis Palisson
12. Jamie Roberts / Maxime Mermoz
13. Jonathan Davies / Aurélien Rougerie
14. George North / Vincent Clerc
15. Leigh Halfpenny / Maxime Médard

Replacements:

16. Lloyd Burns / Dimitri Szarzewski
17. Paul James / Fabien Barcella
18. Bradley Davies / Julien Pierre
19. Ryan Jones / Louis Picamoles
20. Lloyd Williams / Francois Trinh-Duc
21. Stephen Jones / David Marty
22. Scott Williams / Cédric Heymans

You can see with the side by side why I have the feeling like Wales will slip away with this one. I think that Wales has a stronger side individually and because of stellar coaching - and their philosophy to go alcohol-free during the tournament, I think they have their priorities right. France is...well, France. I don't think they have the depth to go the distance. I think that Yachvili is not the right choice.

Players to watch for...Warburton has been playing like a superhero. Adam Jones, aside from Castrogiovanni from Italy, might be-arguably-could be-possibly is the best tight-head in the world. I highly expect to see France's scrum dismantled from minute one. Leigh Halfpenny has also been playing with a fire under his whites.

For France - well - if Maxime Médard's chops were worth a try each, I would say that France would have a chance. However, as it stands, they've only been cashing in as one. I actually doubt Dusautoir's leadership more than anything. I don't think they will have it in them to compete against a team who can stand them up in set piece. England wasn't a challenge - are you kidding me?

And then there were Four

2011-10-12T20:33:00.002-06:00

All things considered - three out of four for guessing the semi-finalists isn't that bad. I was betting on Ireland...I'm guessing so was the rest of the world. But really, what's the World Cup if there aren't some upsets and surprises. I'm not going to lie - I'm nervous about this weekend. Australia and New Zealand has so much riding on it - it's not even funny. I doubt my ability to stay sane when watching it and if the All Blacks lose? I won't even go there.

Before I get into my predictions - I just want to say that I don't think it takes a genius to look at which teams suffered the most injuries and have called in the most players as the tournament has progressed as the southern hemisphere teams (Australia, South Africa, New Zealand). I have to wonder if running an extra long SuperXV season, backed onto a Tri-Nations tournament, which only concluded 5 weeks before the Rugby World Cup started might have been too much rugby for our south hemi teams. I think in my early years of playing I never could have imagined thinking such a thing but there was a year when I played for the Pronghorns, Alberta, club, U23 National team, and back to the Pronghorns in a year and I could have not tackled someone for 5 years and it would have been too soon - and I'm an amateur athlete. These guys are paid to play so the mental burn-out is not so much a factor but that much rugby takes a toll. Sure Dan Carter's injury was a "freak" accident but if you start looking at all of the niggles (I hate that word...hate it - but it does seem to be fitting as to what is going around some of our teams) - it is pretty easy math to figure out...

Drew Mitchell - dislocated ankle (SuperXV), pulled/torn hammy (RWC)

Digby Ioane - concussion (SuperXV), broken thumb (RWC)
Richie McCaw - broken foot (Fall Tri-Nations, SuperXV, Summer Tri-Nations, RWC)
Colin Slade - Broken Jaw (Fall Tri-Nation, SuperXV), torn groin (RWC)

Dan Carter - Torn groin (RWC)
Sitiveni Sivivatu - Broken eye socket (summer Tri-Nations)
Frans Steyn - Shoulder (RWC)
3/4 of the SA team during the summer Tri-Nations
Kieren Ried - everything...at all times.
Andy Ellis - Broken thumb (SuperXV)
Isreal Dagg - pulled hammy (SuperXV, RWC)
Cory Jane - Compound dislocated finger (summer Tri-Nations), concussion (RWC)
Rob Brown - Knee (Summer Tri-Nations)

Now I realize that some of those players have come back to play during the world cup and some of those injuries can't be prevented regardless of how much you play or not but there is not an area of the world in which injuries are plaguing teams like they are in the south - where the team that will show up this weekend looks like a picked through fragment of team that should be showing up. I think the IRB should look at which tournaments can take place before the World Cup so that we can all be sure that we're going to see healthy athletes partake.

PREDICTIONS!!

Wales vs. France

What am I going say? France? Not likely. I wouldn't pick France if I wanted to. After a victory to Ireland, Wales won't stop for France. There is too much fire in that camp to slow down for a little Bleu. Look to see Wales dominate in set piece and with that solid platform - I think Wales will play a territory game (lots of kicking) so they can...wait for it...do more set piece. I think if France can get Wales in their own half and committing penalties - they have a chance. France will need to rack up the penalty points to compete.

I still think Wales will come out on top. Wales by 10.

Australia vs. All Blacks

I don't think I could even say that Australia is going to come out on top EVEN if it were to be true. I just can't think like that. It's like admitting that Canada could ever actually lose the gold medal in hockey at the Olympics. That isn't to say that the All Blacks are going to have one heck of an uphill battle - especially when you consider all of the injuries. First Dan, then Colin Slade, and then they call up my most hated player in New Zealand (more over than Meathead)...Duck (Stephen Donald). Like I have mentioned before here...I was one of the naysayers and I can't take it back. Aaron Cruden is the man and I just pray that he doesn't get injured. But now - the rumormill has Richie McCaw possibly out for the weekend and Matt Todd has been training with the All Blacks. It's all unconfirmed but it has most of us chopping at the bit...is Captain Kiwi really injured? Is the niggle in his foot more than a niggle?

Injuries aside - we're going to assume that Cruden is at 10 and McCaw is at 7. I think a lot of things will hinge on Quade Cooper - public enemy #1 in New Zealand. You can expect more boos than ever...I think every Springbok fan will be taking part in that this weekend too. If Cooper decides to kick...we'll hammer the Wobblies - mostly because that's what he sucks at. If he decides to play for himself and run it ... well, two things could happen. The Wobblies will find some openings and Cooper will get completely smashed. I think teams around have learned from his playing style - Kiwis more than most. Why do you think Cooper kicked so much last weekend? He knew that Morne Steyn was going to have him for lunch. I think Cruden is fast enough to eat for breakfast and if not - certainly Richie and Kaino will have a few memos for Cooper to read while laying on the grass.

I think the trouble points might be James O'Conner and Wil Genia. We have the back row and a scrum-half on fire that will answer to that.

In the end? All Blacks by 5.

Quarter-Finals Deliver

2011-10-10T21:25:00.000-06:00

To say that it was a lively weekend in rugby would be to air on the side of being Canadian (unsensational). The Rugby World Cup delivered four unbelievable and for some, upsetting games. The weekend also contained some unfortunate news for more All Blacks and set our coming weekend up with some semi-final rivalries that will not be taken lightly.

England...you were a disappointment from the first whistle of the tournament. For that matter, so was France up until this last weekend, that is. It came down to whether England was going to be able to pull out another last minute win or if France was going to decide to show up to play. As it turns out - England had messed around too long this time and found themselves in a losing way which still didn't stop Tuilagi from jumping off a Ferry two days later. I guess that about sums up England's World Cup campaign in 2011. I guess the question that we're left with is whether France is capable of showing up to play two weeks in a row.

Wales. Well - I didn't see that one coming. I figured it would be Ireland through to the end. I didn't think that Ireland would tolerate to lose out in the Quarter-Finals. Not this year, not this World Cup. They were primed for glory. But Wales...I guess they would be the Dark Horse in this competition. Always there but not really drawing much attention. I fully expect that they will be finalists. To come this far and lose to les Bleus? I don't think so.

But let's look at the Wallabies vs. the Springboks. Truly an epic battle. I didn't think that South Africa was going to come out on top. But I had doubts that the Wobblies could do it. I thought that the SA defense would frustrate the Wallabies to the end and that Morne Steyn's kicking would top off their victory. All the stats from the game supported that reasoning. In every number of the game - from the tackling, territory, possession, to penalty concessions...to overturning set piece...the Springboks should have won that game. But the Wallabies snuck through with an impassioned Captain Horwill and the spot-on kicking by James O'Conner. No real help from Quade Cooper - I've seen him play poorly but this last weekend seem exceptional even for him. How many kicks did he put out on the full? How many tackles did he miss or worse yet, not commit to. I just don't know how his couple flashy moments can make him more valuable than Mat Giteau. But I won't climb back on that soap box right now. Cooper wasn't the only one that I felt had a sub-par performance. I think it was at 60 minutes when I first noticed that Adam Ashley-Cooper was on the field and Steven Moore still can't put a line out throw in straight.

The hits were amazing. Habana got his socks knocked off...literally. I bet you he was seeing 30 Wobblies by the end of his game. Though Robbie Deans may talk about his team being at full strength I have to wonder if Beale will be set to go for this next weekend. The Black heart of mine hopes no - but at the same time...I want the Wobblies to have zero excuses for when the All Blacks beat them.

In the end - the Springboks just didn't do enough and the 2007 RWC Champions will go home to rebuild again. However the likes of Victor Matfield and John Smit will hang their jerseys up for good now. Victor Matfield is possibly one of the greatest lock forwards in the world and in my humble opinion, the greatest Bok. The green pitches of the world will miss you.

All Blacks vs. Argentina (Pumas)...

My question is this:
Is it that the All Blacks didn't play as well as they could/should have or could it be that Argentina just played that well?

The Pumas hit hard, slowed rucks down (legal or illegal...they didn't get caught or called so...good on them), and never gave in. They played extraordinarily well and I think we will see more from them in the future. I stayed up until 3:30am to watch the game and honestly - there were moments of panic and disbelief but I found myself calm as the All Blacks worked consistently and showed little frustration. Their resolve was calming.

Tough luck for Colin Slade. Two broken jaws and a torn adductor muscle in one year? That's tough for anyone. And then Mils. Congrats on 100 - I wished it could have ended differently. Big Brad Thorn was a trooper though in the game and Cory Jane - what a superstar.

My biggest concern over all of this is who they have called up in place of Slade. Duck. Yes - Stephen Donald. I nearly lost my mind when I heard that yesterday. He's the last, LAST person you ever want in a clutch game. He can't kick and he's a terrible tackler - worse than Cooper, I think. So - Aaron Cruden...you have a moment coming up. You can put your mark on the All Blacks and on this World Cup forever. You can be that ace that nobody knew was there...that ace who was supposed to be on a Fijian holiday right now.

Regardless of who is playing in what position this coming weekend - history will be made. I would be lying if I were to say that the All Blacks will be finalists hands down. I have some hesitation saved up for this weekend. Afterall, it is the Rugby World Cup and we have certainly see thus far that the unexpected can happen. But we still have some aces up our sleeve and in the end - I don't think that the All Blacks will deny themselves victory on their own soil.

Excuses, reality, and the Quarter-Finals

2011-10-03T17:14:00.000-06:00

Well - in light of Dan Carter's injury I found myself completely speechless this weekend. Part of me just can't wrap my mind around a World Cup right without him...I can't make myself actually believe that the All Blacks will stand up to do the Haka these next three weeks without him. But reality says that the World Cup will hum on with Dan Carter observing from the spectator seats and that the All Blacks fight to the bitter end regardless of who is wearing the number 10 jersey.

For those of you who don't really get this because you only vaguely know who Dan Carter is...it would be like Canada losing Sydney Crosby in the knock-out rounds of the last Olympics...home soil, huge possibilities, commemorative jerseys, and an entire nation's dream of winning everything...So this is devastating. And it's not like magically if Dan Carter is feeling better in two weeks they can give him a try. Once a player is ruled out due to injury and another player is called up in their place. The injured one is out-out.

But as some of the other rugby blogs I've followed have pointed out...we grieve Dan's loss and send him happy thoughts...but there's still a job to do and Dan's just not an option anymore. So there's no more "what ifs" ... Colin Slade will just have to step up and there should be no Debbie Downers about him like there was about Stephen Donald...and I say that because I was one of the vocal ones about Duck. I still think that there were better choices than him but this isn't then...Slade will step up. He's got the entire team standing up around him and given a real chance - he may just shine more brightly than everybody has been willing to give him credit for.

So the show must go on.

This last weekend did not only have a tragic end to Dan Carter's World Cup. It also marked Drew Mitchell's (AUS) and Frans Steyn's (SA) end to the tournament. Drew Mitchell strained his hamstring during the last pool game - Frans Steyn suffering a shoulder injury. My heart breaks a little for Drew Mitchell who has worked incredibly hard since his catastrophic ankle injury early on in the SuperXV season.

Injuries are terrible all around. They're never wanted and I hope that teams would never hope that they would befall opposing players. With that said - Peter de Villiers, South Africa's coach was quoted in saying that Steyn's absence will hit his team harder than New Zealand will miss Dan Carter. Barf. Who does that - comparing tournament ending injuries like that? Can't we just feel bad for the players and understand that all three of the southern hemisphere teams have suffered starting 15 injuries and not start giving reason as to why we might do so well.

Sounds like a self-fulfilling prophesy to me.

Quarter-Finals are as follows:

Ireland vs. Wales
England vs. France
New Zealand vs. Argentina
Australia vs. South Africa

I've bolded my predicted winners. I really, really think that England and France are a toss up. France could be angry enough and have shown themselves to be stubborn enough when the pressure is on. Yes, they lost to New Zealand and Tonga already but the Tonga loss might have been a big enough kick in the pants for them to put England to bed. England really hasn't played up to their attitude or potential.

I don't think Ireland could stand to lose to Wales. I just can't see it happening. Just as I just can't see New Zealand losing to Argentina...even if they put Duck at 10 - I just can't see the All Blacks losing.

And I think that Australia will come out on top against South Africa. The early comments this week from de Villiers are strange and unprofessional. And the lead up to the World Cup certainly has indicators that a new champion would be crowned this year. If that's true - let's just get the inevitable out of the way in the Quarter-Finals.

Until then - have a great week...I'll be back in a couple of days to rant about...oh, let's see. Tip tackles.

[ worst...ever ]

2011-10-01T09:55:00.000-06:00

This is not what you want to see.

The one thing that worried all All Blacks fans has atleast come true for this weekend's game. Dan Carter pulling out because of injury. He pulled a groin during kicking practice and has obviously been removed from the game sheet against Canada.

Although Canada might not be of greatest concern - it's that these types of injuries tend to linger and threaten for weeks after and that dear fans - is the gravest of all concerns.

We're praying for a speedy and complete recover Dan.

Utility...Everything

2011-09-29T13:59:00.004-06:00

Radike Samo...

Playing number 14 this weekend.

Enough Said.

Opposing wingers...beware.

Canada vs. Japan

2011-09-28T18:20:00.005-06:00

Well - If the peeps at camp weren't watching the Canada vs. Japan game on Tuesday night at my house - they certainly heard me screaming at my tele until midnight as Canada trailed and then tied Japan in Canada's second to last game at the Rugby World Cup. The win would have meant Canada would secure third place in their pool - the best place finish in history for our Canucks. The 23-23 draw meant that third still happened but they would drop to 12th in the World Ranking. An "insignificant" drop? Maybe. But 11th would be one away from attaining Tier 1 nation status. Who would have even thought that was possible...or imaginable for the land of snow and ice and...hockey.

The game was a frustrating to watch...no less to play, I'm sure. I didn't feel that Canada came out with the organization and fire that they certainly showed when they faced Tonga and definitely not when they faced France. Had the team who played France last week shown up...I think the result would have been completely different. That team would not have turned over as much ruck ball, wouldn't have missed key place kicks, and would have played a little more gutsy, a little more "nothing to lose" in Napier.

Their first half was...well, horrible. Handling errors were high and tackling was nearly non-existent. The Brave Blossoms powered through rucks and overturned ball. It was nothing short of courageous. Isn't that how our boys in red and black have been playing that has drawn such attention this last month?

The draw was the third in RWC history...two of those draws belonging to the Japan and Canada match up. The two bleached blonds - Van der Merwe and Mackenzie saved the game for Canada. I do have a bit of confusion as to why Riordan was pulled off so soon - I would love to hear Crowley's explanation for it. Hamilton, 16 yrs old, did well as far as running onto the ball with pace and getting around the field but my pet peev about hookers getting their job right (throwing straight in line outs and hitting your jumper) stands. Otherwise you can get any Joe off the street that can run the ball and hit hard. There's plenty of them around. But throwing the ball straight and to your mark is what separates you from the other guys...so do it right! And Canada can't risk sucking at their set piece. The only thing I can think of with Crowley pulling Riorden off is that he wants his experience on the pitch when Canada faces the giant (All Blacks) on Sunday in NZ.

So I'll leave it at that. Canada - we're proud of you and go make us proud this weekend. You face an impossible foe. For all of us (and if it weren't NZ...I would say) do the impossible.

ABs on top....Officials on the Bottom

2011-09-25T23:31:00.007-06:00

Well - in the wee hours of the morning - I logged into the big pool game that we've all been looking forward to. New Zealand vs. France. It was as good as I could have imagined it. Dagg with a couple, SBW scored up, Cory Jane (one of my favourites), and Nonu even got one through. It was fabulous and had me squealing like a 5 year old girl who got a pony for her birthday.

A few concerns coming from the substitutions. Isreal Dagg tried to play out the match but ended up getting pulled off. Thomson, injured again - we're running short on our back row. Boric was put in...I don't know how I feel about this. And then Cory Jane came out with a suspected blow to the end when he heroically took one of the high balls and got a France player right on top of him.

There's hope that these players will be fit for the Quarter Finals. Keiren Reid is due back for Canada's match against the ABs which may cause an audible breaking of my heart if they are annihilated.

One of the greatest moments, other than beating France, was Richie McCaw getting honoured for his 100th test cap for the All Blacks. He joins a sel

ective few in history. I hope that you get many more in that jersey Richie! And maybe you can make a sweet collection of those hats!

I would like to mention the chaotic official moment where the Ref called time off to talk to Richie McCaw on their 5m and the French went for a quick tape...with TIME OFF...meaning the game is not on. But instead of calling the play back on so that EVERYBODY can be ready. Ridiculous. The other ridiculous Official moment was when one of the Argentina players went down and stayed down for a significant amount of time with an apparent knee injury. Official didn't call time off - EVEN WHEN play overtook their position with the ref saying..."Play on, Play on". That's unacceptable to me. First off - for the medical staff. They shouldn't have to be risking their only lives to care for the players. If that happens, the Official is ignoring his Duty of Care in his position. Blow your freaking whistle and let the players get cared for. And to whomever is making up these stupid calls...STOP IT - you will get someone seriously hurt OR end an athlete's career.

And the upset of the weekend...Argentina beats Scotland (13 -12).

What this means for them now? A must win situation against England...and that's bad.
It's not a great place to be in but it's one they are in.

Scotland, it's time to Rise and be that Nation again.

Engaging at the Scrum

2011-09-20T14:13:00.005-06:00

Hey Peeps!

Well I'm a little overdue for a post on the goings on in the World Cup. There has been a lot of games this last week to comment on I will try and keep that portion of this post brief. I actually want to dig into a contentious issue that has been floating around for quite some time...years actually. But before I get into that...let's just talk for one moment about some of the poignant games this last week...

Australia vs. Ireland (9-15 for IRE) - wow...right? Wow. Australia played like poo. I think both teams walked away with some points that needed to get worked on. AUS was missing Pocock, Moore and Ioane which are big ones for them considering that Paloto-Nau can't throw a ball straight and is a magnetic for injuries. IRE was also missing some key players too. AUS did not play with intensity and Cooper, again, made some terrible tactical decisions. Granted, he made some key kicks and plays that kept the score from being worse than what you see above but I don't know if 3 or 4 great plays can make up for an overall poor performance. A couple of my favourite moments were 1. When Genia got picked up and driven back from a scrum like 15 yards...he looked like a little ragdoll and 2. When Quade Cooper got dump tackled. IRE's scrum was amazing (Healey!!) and just put AUS' to shame. I wouldn't be surprised if we some position shifts on the Wallabies for their next big game.

Canada vs France (19-46) - well that score, if you didn't watch the game sounds a lot more devastating than it was. If you watched the game - you'd be one hell of a proud Canadian. Rugby is far, FAR from being one of our proudly represented and supported games and our boys put up a serious fight in what should have been a bloodbath. France only led by seven at the half and were only a few points ahead at the 70 minute mark due to a couple of drop kicks by Canada's Monro. I'm not going to lie, I am an All Blacks supporter. I'm not Kiwi by any stretch of the truth - Canada's rugby politics have left a bitter taste in my mouth but I can't deny the courage and determination they showed this last weekend. At 70 minutes I was on the edge of my seat believing that we had a chance to do the impossible. It was truly the last 5 minutes of the first half and the last 8 minutes of the second half that did us in. You could see our boys tire visibly and France converted 2 tries within 8 minutes of the end of the game. That sealed it but Canada walked away with a few more eyes watching and believing that our country can produce more than just a second rate performance.

Samoa vs. Wales (17-10) - This was my disappointment of the weekend. I wanted/needed Samoa to beat Wales to ensure a place in the knock out rounds. There's still a chance but it's going to be a lot harder to achieve because now it's not just based on winning each game. It will depend on the bonus points. Samoa was lacking the ferocity in the contact area. I didn't see the massive hits and defense that punched up hard. Wales, a slighter team seemed to get through the Samoan defensive line with little punishment. I guess we will see what they are worth in the back half of the pool games.

Teams to watch: USA & Italy. Hands down they are the surprise team for me. I didn't expect them to put as much down on the field as they have. I suppose if I weren't Canada - I would say Canada. But for pride alone, I don't think that they have the heart to lose to Japan now. But if the US could put it to AUS and deny them a bonus point so that Italy can beat AUS...Oh my gosh - that would be the upset of the tournament. Also - if Samoa could somehow come back from their defeat from Wales and beat South Africa...massive, massive upset but not impossible.

Games to watch this weekend: France and New Zealand. Is there any other game to watch? Oh - Argentina and Scotland (if they Scots aren't careful...they could end up in a pile of trouble!). And USA and AUS ... if AUS needed to rest players USA could surprise them and steal a needed bonus point.

On to other news...

The scrum.

It all started about 4 or 5 years ago when the IRB (International Rugby Board) decided that it wanted to address spinal and concussion injuries in rugby. A noble and right task for a governing body that controls all Rugby Union laws and teams in the world. There was a drive for coaches to start hammering "better body position" into all athlete's heads. "BBP" could be heard on sidelines around the world. I'm not saying that it is bad or shouldn't happen - I'm just saying that it caught on quickly. It slowed down (or for most teams) how we taught tackling, how we taught the contact point, rucks, mauls, scrums - everything. Not only did BBP change how we ran practices but it also shone a light on scrums. The IRB attacked the scrum point and all the things that were seemingly flawed there.

It's one of the areas that the World Cup Officials were specifically asked to target during the tournament. No dropping binds, no touching of the heads in the front row, and no driving the other team up or down (purposely collapsing the scrum). None of which, save for one (no touching heads...that's ridiculous - but we'll get to that in a minute), are bad things to enforce. The dropping of the binds gets a little tedious to enforce because sometimes that's all you need to do as a prop is to steady yourself - and hanging on for dear life so that you don't get a penalty does end you up in a head-below-hips position...which is illegal...do you see where this is going?

Scrums collapsing was probably the easiest place to attack. There are a number of different reasons for it...

1. Props being too far away or too close to the mark/opposing prop.
2. Dropping of the binds or illegal placement of the binds.
3. Early engagement.
4. Not driving straight or driving front rows up.

I do think that something needed to be done. More at the top international levels than found at university or premier level rugby in our Canadian leagues - scrumming was getting dangerous. Granted - those guys train significantly more than the rest of us lowly players. They KNOW what they're doing, which is perhaps why the IRB went at them...if they know what they're doing when they collapse then the spinal injuries are going to be more catastrophic.

What was their solution?
Back it up. Slow it down. Become anal.
Front rows' response worldwide? You've got to be ... joking me.

So...step by step...
1. Back it Up - The IRB had us (I'm speaking as a tighthead prop) back our scrums up so that we could only reach across with a straight arm to touch the prop across from us. If we could touch heads (which was my favourite thing to do to the other prop was to rub her forehead before we engaged...not illegal but it certainly drove the other prop nuts. In the pros, props were actually cracking their heads on the other prop...sometimes - which leads to concussion/spinal injuries). This wasn't the worst law that was brought in. I missed being able to annoy the other prop and depending on the ref, you could often set up a little closer without too much trouble from the ref. HOWEVER - One of the problems this created was this...if you even slightly lost your footing - collapse is unavoidable. I don't actually think that this law really decreased the rate of scrum collapse...I just think it CHANGED how we collapse. A little six/half dozen if you ask me.

2. Slow it Down - If you ever want to hear me rant on something...ask me about the Official's Scrum Cadence ("Crouch-Touch-Pause-Engage"). First of all - those IRB RWC Officials might have perfect cadence but club rugby and high school officials DO NOT!! There's nothing worse that trying to get the rhythm of the cadence so that you can compete and win your scrums than to have a pissy official who can't do their cadence evenly...to too slowly. Here me on this...Slowing down the cadence does not make a safer scrum. You are asking two people to hold back 80% of their pack's weight while the Ref has a leisurely count-off and then you're expecting the props to have perfect binding position and keep it while they're being compressed by both larger ends of it.

So let's speak in terms of the pros. On average, the total pack weight of 890kg. Some are as low as 880 and I've seen a couple packs that have nearly hit 900kilos. That's a lot of weight. So we're saying that two props (the hooker kind of counts) need to hold back about 650kilos for about 10seconds while the Ref goes through his cadence...that's IF he makes it through his cadence and doesn't make them reset. That's like going down into a deep squat for 10seconds and then powering out of it. And these guys do it about 70 times in a game!

I think if the "Pause" was removed it would make a bit of difference. I think there's validity in the touching motion of the cadence. It allows the referee to see distance but the speed at which they run it is just ridiculous.

3. Get Anal. Well - they have. You've got all these referees running around making calls about an area they have no idea about. There's play in it - front row players are some of your grittiest players on the field. As much as your rucks are the trenches on a rugby field - your props and hookers are not only the ones fighting in them, they're the ones that dug those trenches. So the officials have resorted to picking on binds, touching heads, and dropping shoulders below hips (the latter being the most serious).

So what's to do with it then? Being a front row player - the scrum is a very important aspect of the game. One that should never be done away with...if you hate it - go play League. Decreasing the number of restarts by being more strict with penalties (should be broken arm penalties too...keep the number of penalty kicks down), handing out penalty tries for repeated infractions at the 5m, and officiate from a place of understanding with the front rows! The IRB and officials should have to go through what it is to scrum from a front row's perspective. Understand what it is to have someone drive in on the angle, the difference between binds on the back and on the arm and dropping binds, what it feels like to restart, restart, restart and what it feels like to hold back 600kilos of humans! I think that there needs to be consistency in officiating and that officials should have to face judicial hearings for poor performances in all aspects of the game.

Those are my thoughts...atleast on something I know lots about...
Bear

Blogging Crisis

2011-09-17T10:59:00.004-06:00

I am going to break away from the RWC for a moment. Yes - it's true...I am able to converse on other subjects. And if you don't believe me...just look back through the archives to before June. There's plenty of evidence there.

I found myself this morning reading through some friends' blog - catching up. Side-note...isn't it terrible that we (mostly I) have found ourselves in a world that leaves us checking up on where people are at based on their blogs or Facebook statuses? I'm not a fan of cellphones and social networking...I really don't like to be found at all hours of the day but I would be an absolute liar if I said that I wasn't part of it all. I have a twitter account, I use Facebook on a near daily basis, my cellphone is my landline. So when I check someone's blog to see how their trip went or I get all snippy-commenty when someone doesn't update their blog enough...I have to think that maybe I need a little face time with those people...not blog time. Does that make sense?

Back to the reading of friends' blogs...there were atleast 4 that were apologizing/justifying/priding for not blogging over the summer or for six months. I've definitely been there - several times actually (see Hiatus). It's amazing to me how obligated we all get to posting. It becomes like an unhealthy habit...staying up late to post or stressing over posting opinions or topics on comment-worthy issues. I love reading my friends' blogs. I have some pretty spectacular blogger friends (who I'm not going to list here because inevitably someone will get left out who deserves to be on the list). Mostly because I believe that everyone that blogs is in actuality, a closet journalist/writer...we're all people who have this desire to share our ideas, opinions, ideologies, or feelings with the/our world. It's nice to read people's unedited versions of things...or maybe they are edited or maybe we're just looking to keep our own soapbox in a semi-safe forum.

As most of you who are still reading my blog (or stop in to see if it's about rugby and then move on if it is) know...I've posted a ton about rugby these last three or so months. There's reason for it. The Rugby World Cup is the reason. It happens every four years and I've been paying close attention to it. So I blog about it...and I blog about it too late at night. But I've heard this last summer several times by Followers that they have stopped reading my blog because all I do is post about rugby or the other comment I got was..."You should really post about you again not rugby". Hmmm.

This left me a little disenchanted with blogging. I continued to blog but there was definitely a little bit of...I don't know - discontentment wrapped up in the whole thing. I wasn't offended...really, there wasn't anything to be offended at. But it was this thing of tension.

Who am I blogging for?
Am I blogging for me? For them? For the dude in California that checks my blog every week?

I like rugby. I feel like I have opinions - valid ones - about the goings on of international rugby and no place to share it. But then what for the Followers that meet me here not because I'm a rugby player but because I'm not just a rugby player. Those Followers have come to expect more than just rugby from me. And THEN at what point does obligation to either just post for the sake of coming up on someone's posting reel or not have the stats/clustrmap suffer suck the life or joy out of blogging?

And then after all that...what do you say about blogging? Thanks for reading even though you have no idea what I'm talking about? Thanks for stopping by? Or just...be yourself and then blog about it without strings attached.
Like I commented on JB's post...I don't have answers. I realize that I have alienated some of my Followers who know nothing about rugby...and hang in there with me - the World Cup won't last forever. I did end the comment that I should just blog about it well - because all of us are just closet writers with something to say.

Much love,
[ bear ]

Remember then - Remember always

2011-09-12T00:13:00.006-06:00

I remember September 11, 2001. I remember where I was vividly. Bottom floor of the Students Union building at the University of Lethbridge setting up for the IVCF Booksale. We heard it on the radio first and then jimmy-rigged an old television to watch the news.

The booksale didn't really run that day. There was mostly just a gathering of students around the TV. I skipped my first class and in my second the professor just continued to show the footage.

In my third class of the day - my professor asked if anybody would pray for the people in New York City.

The day was a blur. It was surreal. I watch the footage of it today and the memorial services and it still felt surreal. I don't know anybody that died there. I don't know anybody even connected with it. I don't think you need to know any to feel your heart hurt for the madness that can be our world.

So today I pray for those who survived. That they would have peace on this anniversary. That they would be able to see their lives now and praise God for his protection. I pray for the families of those who lost loved ones that horrible day and the days following. I pray that God's peace that is beyond our understanding would overwhelm them and they would know His love.

I don't think I'll forget that day. I will always remember.

All black for England

2011-09-10T15:17:00.003-06:00

It's shoddy I think that England has all black strip. When have they ever been in black strip?!? I think it's crap - about as much crap as the All Blacks playing in silver in 2007 against France. You can bet that New Zealand will be looking for retribution in a couple of weeks.

The tournament opened as expected with a strong first game from New Zealand against Tonga. I think the result was predicted by all but that didn't make it any less exciting. Isreal Dagg in his first World Cup scores two tries and his counterpart, Richard Kahui also scored twice with Ma'a Nonu bringing another try into the count. I have to say that I was a bit skeptical about Kahui on the wing but hello - he did fabulous. And Dagg certainly didn't take his start over Muliaina for granted. He played brilliantly. I also don't know how I would have felt about SBW and Nonu in the centres. Conrad Smith really deserves to have started the World Cup in his own position but I think Graham Henry is looking for every opportunity to find his winning 15. I was quite happy with the back row's performance and hopefully Keiren Reid will be back from injury soon. I have to give a shout out to Tony Woodcock. Sometimes you don't know what you have until it's gone but Ben Franks - though he's a bruiser - is no match for the scrumming king, Woodcock.

My last comment about the game is the huge cheer when Sonny Bill Williams got his jersey changed. Hillarious - and it also shows how tight and really - there's no hiding in those jerseys as he had to have the water boy have him help him pull it down. Fantastic.

I think that Argentina was shorted a bit in their game. Either the ball just didn't bounce their direction or their injuries were too much. One thing is for sure - Jonny Wilkinson almost single handedly lost this game for England missing what, FIVE shots for goal? Nasty. That's a huge swing from 8 years ago being a man who single-handedly beat France and then won the entire tourney from his boot. Not now and in an indoor arena - there's just no blaming anyone except the kicker himself.

Hopefully the Puma (Arg.) can recover from some of it's injuries so they have a chance at the quarter finals. I'll check back in tomorrow after South Africa and Wales square off.

Big Q-Marks for ABs

2011-08-31T14:46:00.002-06:00

There are big question marks on the All Blacks' horizons as the Rugby World Cup kicks off next week. In the final of the Tri-Nations against Australia (25-20 loss to the ABs) both Kieran Ried and McIntosh left the game with injuries and a pile of questions about their RWC 2011 future.

Let's talk about the game last weekend before we get into what the injuries mean for our (the All Blacks) back row. The first forty minutes of last week's game was horrendous. I don't know if there was dew on the field or if it was wet but the backs were having a terrible time keeping the ball in hand and there just wasn't the continuity that there normally is. I gotta hand it to Australia - they came to play. Maybe that loss to Samoa was the best thing for them. A little loss early on to remind them that players can be replaced (Gits) and that they aren't invincible.

Australia was hard hitting and tenacious at the breakdowns. AAC was phenomenal, as was Digby Ioane (though I don't fancy the blond hair - too matchy matchy). Genia, again is just amazing. I really think that Australia has a chance at getting far in the RWC if they play consistently like they did on Saturday. Their weak point is, in my humble opinion, is their defense within their 22. When the ABs came back in for the second 40 and played a tighter, more organized game - the Wallabies struggled. I think it's because a tight game does not allow players like Cooper, Genia, Ioane, and AAC to use their flighty running styles to break lines. All those Wallabie backs are amazing runners but they play very much as individual players whereas the ABs work hard to work off each other which makes their counterattack and tight, organized play much more effective. They're able to off-load and create more space.

Though I don't think they lost because Ried and McIntosh weren't on the field - they definitely felt it. I don't expect that the AB coaching staff will be calling up Liam Messam right away. If they do, it will be because one of the two injured boys are out for the entire tournement. Once a player is removed from the rosters due to injury - they cannot be called back in. McIntosh is being held out of the Tonga game but is expected to be able to return after that...Ried has a high ankle sprain and could be out as long as the first knock out games. Either way, there's major pressure on McCaw, Vito, and Kaino to stay healthy and play hard. Messam might also not be the immediate choice - it could be a lock forward that is pulled up...I guess time will tell. Here's to a speedy recover boys!

All Blacks for the RWC

2011-08-22T23:23:00.003-06:00

The moment has arrived! And boy oh boy have I been waiting for it. And really - I am not really too surprised by it. A little in that Sivivatu was left off the short list but that could be due to the fact that he broke his eye socket two weeks ago. Other notables that missed out are Wyatt Crockett, Hosea Gear, and Liam Messam. Crockett's story could have been a cinderella story but in the end I think they took a more mobile and versatile Ben Franks...atleast that's what I think they were thinking. Crockett's a big guy and his work rate is probably higher than Ben's but the Franks brothers can play either side and they're known to be a little more ruthless. Meathead made the cut. Geh - someone was going to have to make it and it's better than De Melmanche.

I think it's pretty clear that Hosea Gear was the bottom of my winger list. I'm glad that I was in agreement with the coaching staff. Liam Messam...well - I think it all makes sense. Adam Thomson was the man that was going to get selected...I think we all saw that one coming. Messam had his chance last weekend and slid out of the game pretty unnoticed. And as far as who is backing up Carter for second five-eights...Some are saying Aaron Cruden should have made the cut but he's too young. Yes, he has a great future - but I think in the long run, Colin Slade will be the better choice. And was Duck ever up for the choosing? EMPHATICALLY NO! He's crap.

I'm pretty happy that Kahui made the cut and gets some game time - even if that means it's against Japan and Canada. I think this next weekend against Australia will shake down a lot of who's playing where and with whom. But I'll talk about that later. I was a bit too optimistic about last weekend. I'm pretty sure that the ABs will seal the deal this weekend. I'll take a lot of joy in watching Cooper get sacked on home turf on the eve of the RWC.

Here's the squad:

The All Blacks squad in position (with province and Test caps in brackets) is:

Forwards:

Hookers
Corey Flynn Canterbury (14)
Andrew Hore Taranaki (54)
Keven Mealamu Auckland (85)

Props
John Afoa Auckland (33)
Ben Franks Tasman (11)
Owen Franks Canterbury (23)
Tony Woodcock North Harbour (75)

Locks
Anthony Boric North Harbour (20)
Brad Thorn Canterbury (51)
Samuel Whitelock Canterbury (17)
Ali Williams Auckland (65)

Loose forwards
Jerome Kaino Auckland (41)
Richie McCaw (capt) Canterbury (97)
Kieran Read Canterbury (31)
Adam Thomson Otago (21)
Victor Vito Wellington (7)

Backs:

Halfbacks
Jimmy Cowan Southland (47)
Andy Ellis Canterbury (20)
Piri Weepu Wellington (48)

First five–eighths
Daniel Carter Canterbury (82)
Colin Slade Canterbury (5)

Midfielders
Richard Kahui Waikato (12)
Ma’a Nonu Wellington (58)
Conrad Smith Wellington (48)
Sonny Bill Williams Canterbury (7)

Outside backs
Israel Dagg Hawke’s Bay (7)
Zac Guildford Hawke’s Bay (6)
Cory Jane Wellington (24)
Mils Muliaina Waikato (97)
Isaia Toeava Auckland (31)

Boks vs. Blacks

2011-08-18T22:04:00.005-06:00

Well - this weekend marks the second last game for the Tri-Nations...which compared to previous tournaments is really not about winning the cup - it's more about finding the perfect 15 and deep enough bench to get you through the RWC which starts in...21 days. I'm so excited...I'm so ready for it...

I'm not even joking...I may have started working on a poster board tournament set up. I'm a little obsessed, okay?

But we have to focus on the moment and we're not at the World Cup yet - we're still in the shake down phase and the All Blacks have a massive game coming up this weekend. Not massive as in - world ending. Massive as in...Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and folk have all been left at home for the weekend and players from the injury list are coming back for the first time in...well for some like Isreal Dagg and Sean Maitland, almost two months. And all this would normally be a big deal but they're facing an almost full strength Springbok team. It's pride for the defending world champions who have been dragged through the dust without even a word of fight.

Here's the line ups...Boks are on the right:

1. Gurthro Steenkamp / Tony Woodcock
2. Bismarck du Plessis / Keven Mealamu (captain)
3. Jannie du Plessis / John Afoa
4. Bakkies Botha / Samuel Whitelock
5. Victor Matfield (captain) / Ali Williams
6. Heinrich Brussow / Jerome Kaino
7. Willem Alberts / Adam Thomson
8. Pierre Spies / Liam Messam
9. Fourie du Preez / Jimmy Cowan
10. Morne Steyn / Colin Slade
11. Bryan Habana / Hosea Gear
12. Jean de Villiers / Sonny Bill Williams
13. Jaque Fourie / Richard Kahui
14. JP Pietersen / Isaia Toeava
15. Patrick Lambie / Isreal Dagg

16. John Smit / Andrew Hore
17. Tendai Mtawarira (the Beast) / Ben Franks
18. CJ van der Linde / Jarrad Hoeta
19. Danie Rossouw / Victor Vito
20. Ashley Johnson / Andy Ellis
21. Francois Hougaard / Piri Weepu
22. Butch James / Cory James

It's tough to go through this list and bold the better of the pair especially when there are so many players that haven't stepped on the field in months. Even on the Boks side...Spies, Steenkamp, de Villiers, du Preez... I believe that the Blacks can win and if they truly pull this one out of the hat...it only goes to prove that the All Blacks not only have the starting 15 that can take it - they've got the bench to do it too. I still maintain that Hosea Gear should not be taking the starting bout on this. WHY IS CORY JANE ON THE BENCH!!! I hope...(not that this is a great thing to say)...Hosea sucks it but then Cory Jane comes in and cleans the field with Habana's shorts.

I guess we'll see. I say...All Blacks by 9.

Goodbye Gits

2011-08-17T21:31:00.003-06:00

This post comes in two pieces. Neither of them really having to do with the other beyond the fact that they're both about rugby and working up to the RWC. The first part I just have to get out of the way. It's in the wake of Australia announcing who is on their World Cup squad for 2011 and the omission of Mat Giteau in that list. There were rumblings in the twitter world from Giteau himself before the squad was announced that all but came out and said that he was not part of the short list. Be it deserved or not - Giteau should know better. That's like the Saffie players yapping about the officials and thinking they weren't going to be cited for it during the SuperXV league. He made two tweets referring to his omission. Ridiculous. He's 29 and he's having a 5 year old squabble with Robbie Deans. Like I said, deserved or not - there really shouldn't be all this bunk. Professionals should act like professionals. And if Deans wants to leave Giteau out of the squad because he can - he's putting the Cup on the line all in order to show Gits what for.

Here's my opinion about whether Giteau deserves to wear the green and gold or not...

1. You can't base his right to be a Wallabie on his Brumbie season. All of the players sucked it on the Brumbies. They had one good game from what I saw all season long. ONE. Can anyone really say that Alexander, Steven Moore, or Adam Ashley-Cooper really had a better season? There were so many teams and so many players that had poo seasons...I think it's unreasonable to judge him on that.

2. Australia vs. Manu Samoa - I wrote about it before...there was one team that night that showed up to play and it wasn't Australia. Giteau wasn't the only one who played like crap. The only difference is that he was the only one who owned up to it. Cooper sucks it whenever there's pressure applied to him and it takes more than just a kicker to lose a game. There's missed tackles and gaps in defense and an offense that doesn't fire. Yes, Giteau still has a part in all of that but he's not the only one that didn't show up to the game. There's the kicking thing...but O'Conner and Cooper have been known to have fickle boots too.

3. Wash Up or Predictable? Maybe. But I go back to not basing this decision on the last 6 months. Barnes didn't play! So how can one really say that Barnes is all that much more reliable than Giteau? And Phipps? It's hit and miss to say if he really deserves a chance right now. He doesn't have enough experience in international play to even start comparing someone like Giteau who has what? 92 or 93 caps? Predictable? Who doesn't get predictable when there isn't much to work with in the backs? There has been consistency in 3 years! The reason why the All Blacks and the Boks have such strength and reliability in their backs is that there is consistency and experience. With Giteau gone...there's that many years and games of experience...even on the bench...gone.

4. Barnes is unreliable. Maybe not in a on-the-field sense but in a...will he survive a game? Giteau plays through pain and he will finish games if he's needed. Barnes...well - there's this whole curling up into the fetal position thing that is a little concerning. Barnes is a safe bet. Safe doesn't win you games in the WRC.

Summary: Giteau should have been named on the squad.

Here's the Wallabie squad for the 2011 RWC:

Backs:
Kurtley Beale, James O'Conner, Drew Mitchell, Digby Ioane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Pat McCabe, Anthony Faingaa, Berrick Barnes, Quade Cooper, Nick Phipps, Luke Burgess, Will Genia

Forwards:
Ben McCalman, Radike Samo, Wycliff Palu, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom, Scott Higginbotham, James Horwill (C), Rob Simmons, Nathan Sharpe, Dan Vickerman, Ben Alexander, Sekope Kepu, James Slipper, Salesi Ma'afu, Stephen Moore, Saia Faingaa, Tatafu Polota-Nau

My thoughts on the 30...

Backs...Berrick Barnes and Rob Horne are sketchy choices. They've both been injured for so long...I can't even remember if they've played an entire SuperXV game this last season. I repeat...Matt Giteau should have been selected. That's a choice that will be paid for in full. I also don't like Quade Cooper...at all. I have no love for him. However - it is impossible not to select him for the Wallabies - I get that. But he's all flash and players can't work off of him. He shouldn't be a #10 at the very least. His defense is shockingly terrible and when there's pressure applied to him - he cracks. Every team in the world knows that and he will never see relief. Cooper will be Australia's undoing...unless Genia and O'Conner can dig him out but that will be double the work and I don't know if those two can do that much digging in 6 weeks - their jobs will be oh-so much easier if Drew Mitchell is healthy but only time will tell with that one.

Forwards: Pretty predictable selection and passing of the captaincy to Horwill. He led the Reds to a SuperXV title and Elsom didn't play all season. It makes sense. I will always question why Saia Faingaa (aka Stupid) makes the Wallabies. He's a terrible player who makes terrible and emotional decisions on the field. He'll get yellow cards - mark my words and the Wallabies will pay for it. Ben Alexander - I love him and I'm so happy that he's getting a chance! I just really want him to score...multiple times and on multiple teams. Radike Samo - Cinderella story!! The only iffy choice in the forwards (Stupid isn't an iffy choice...it's a "what were you thinking in selecting him" choice) is Tatafu Polota-Nau. He's a tank when he's healthy...but my question is...when is he healthy?

I guess we'll see how Dean's choice plays out in...yup less than a month. I hope that Australia atleast represents well...it's all one can hope for without Giteau.

Wanted: #10 for Australia

2011-08-13T21:01:00.005-06:00

First up - sorry about the delay in response. It's been a nutty week. I meant to update last Sunday but Sunday turned into Monday turned into two bear sightings (one of them possibly being a grizzly) that turned into Tuesday which was heavy...starting with me going to get antibiotics for Strep throat and ended with me doing a Jericho Walk (ref: a little less like Joshua 6 and more like A Watchman on the Wall...I was just being a watchman walking the wall) for an hour and half in one of the biggest thunderstorms of the summer...and then that day became Wednesday where somebody ditching a vehicle at camp and we called the police and they brought a k9 unit and we were all locked down for about 4 hours. Very exciting.

No needless to say - busy.

But there are still somethings that need to be said about the NZ vs. AUS last weekend. Setanta is being dumb lately about showing the games...maybe it could be that TSN has got the sole broadcasting rights during the WRC. Pretty sure that's all things lamo.

Back to business though. I think that Australia needs to get a wanted add out for their first five-eighth position. I think that the coaches of the Aussie team will need to look into digging into their reserves for Quade Cooper because for all his fancy stepping and dance moves on the pitch when he's able to dictate the play to his specific needs. Now, why would you - when you have the likes of AAC and Digby Ioane, Pat McCabe, etc...WHY WOULD YOU EVER NEED TO KEEP THE BALL? Quade Cooper is not a play maker. Yes, he creates space when zigs and zags but he's beginning to be predictable and therefore shut down by team defences. Between poor decision making with kicking, lousy defense, and basically not creating anything for his backs to play off of....well - I can't even say that there was a battle of the 10s out there this last weekend. Dan Carter was the only one that really showed up to play. And boy - did he EVER. Did I mention that he's the perfect rugby player? He fought the field at the rucks, covering the back three, near perfect conversions, a drop goal, his cover defense was jaw-dropping. Daniel Carter is at his prime and New Zealand will be hard-pressed to ever find another Carter. Thankfully, they will not need to look for the moment.

As far as thoughts from the game last weekend...From the Australian side. Digby Ioane needs to be given the ball more often, Kurtley Beale needs to learn how to run into contact properly. He gets hammered all the time. AAC in the Centres? No no no, AAC at full back - McCabe...I'm not giving up on him...But for pete's sake people...GET GITEAU BACK IN THE LINE UP! Higginbotham needs to find a permanent place in the back row and please please please...where's Drew Mitchell? Anthony Faingaa? And Stupid (Saia Faingaa) got in...that's devastating - well, not as devastating as Steve Moore's nose but close.

The All Blacks are getting close though. Their counterattack ball is splendid. But things did seem a little less organized when some substitutions were made in the second half. Here are the great points on the game:

- Dan Carter - perfect.
- Nonu-Smith connections. It's unbelievable how good those two play together.
- Piri Weepu has a pretty nice first half. I still feel like if he lost a bit of his chub he'd secure a starting spot. But his vision of the field is almost unmatched.
- Kaino. He's back and I like him. But I also like MacIntosh...I'm at an impass.
- Mils is super at 15...but he's going to need a back up but atleast there's lots and lots of options for back three. Fewer now that Sitiveni Sivivatu had to leave the game with a broken eye socket. Hosea Gear was...okay. Nothing serious - but nothing spectacular.
- I would have like to have seen Cory Jane back on the field.
- I was a little confused about why Colin Slade was put out on wing.
- Realizing that SBW didn't get a ton of time...he still wasn't spectacular. He's going to need to get spectacular in about a month. I don't doubt that he'll be carried on the squad for the WC but there's a lot of work to do there in my opinion.

But ultimately the result was a good one. But certainly still some work to do on defense in places and how to create a bench that has the depth and experience to continue momentum in a game even when you're taking the "core 15" off the field. I guess we'll see how everything goes this weekend.

Again...sorry about the delay.
[ bear ]

Blacks over Boks

2011-07-30T19:52:00.003-06:00

I predicted the All Blacks over the Springboks by 35...apparently I was 2 points too optimistic. Maybe if the wind wasn't swirling so much or if Dan Carter's kicking was even one more conversion on - I would have been bang on...or four points short. But I'm okay with being wrong about this result.

The biggest result I wanted to see aside from the All Blacks winning was Cory Jane (14) having a good game. He was left out of the Fiji roster - partly due to a compound dislocation of his forth finger and partly due to the fact that the coaching staff are trying out all the combinations. Jane didn't have stellar SuperXV season...but really, who on the Hurricanes team did? Nonu, Weepu (has he ever had a good SuperXV season?), Tialata, Smith (okay - he was the only one with an excuse...broken jaw and all)...all of the them had crap 15 seasons. But that entire 'Canes side sucked butt...And with the coaching staff doing a clean sweep of the players and not resigning players like Nonu and yesterday, losing players like Weepu to the Blues - I don't see much light at the end of the tunnel for them...atleast not next year.

...Back to Jane. I really like him. #1 - he's hot. That counts for a lot in my books. Ultimately - I'm still a girl and I'm always in the search for the perfect rugby player and that has to include looks. For instance...Dan Carter is right now, the perfect rugby player. At one time - when Dan was still 21 - Jonny Wilkinson might have been the perfect rugby player but he obviously practiced kicking more than tackling because his tackling got him sidelined with injuries and then he just lost his edge...you don't get to be a perfect rugby player without an edge. Before Jonny Wilkinson there was Jonah Lomu...we all remember Jonah Lomu...the winger who subbed in for a prop. Can any player be more perfect than that? Not to mention that he ran over every single player on the English side in one run.

...Again, back to Jane. #2 - He's cheeky, he's got speed, he can read the field, and there may not be another player in the world that can work the high ball like him. Okay so that's like #3, #4, #5, and #6. In any case - he was back in black yesterday and he had a spectacular game. So did Mr. Perfect himself, Dan Carter (minus the kicking...but based on some of the high balls that doubled back on themselves, I've got to assume there was a swirling wind).

The backs were on - running and creating space. Though I don't know if you can praise them too much...the Springboks defense was terrible. I don't know how the Boks can go into these games with so many of their headliners on the sideline. I understand that you want to be able to see young talent and try new combinations...both Australia and New Zealand are doing that but they leave experience on the field - so that your new or unsure talent can play with combinations that are likely going to be running in September. I really question the Boks coaching staff...all they're doing is smashing what little confidence they have already. I would not be surprised if the team that Australia faces in two weeks is not a COMPLETELY different side as the one from yesterday. Players like Bismark duPlessis, Fourie, Habana, Aplon, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies, Janny duPlessis, and the Beast will all likely be back in the line up...and if they're not...well - I don't what I would say to that.

Well I'm going head off for now. I don't think I'll actually get into all the different players pushing for positions right now. I'll be mighty interested as these next few weeks go by which players start settling into positions. For instance...I'm actually a little surprised at how SBW is doing...or should I say...isn't doing. He had a mediocre (at best) showing in yesterday's game. If you don't show up these days - I don't know if you're going to be able to secure a jersey. Nonu had a great game. Strong in contact and ran really well in the line. He did his job - consistently and with strength. SBW has some work to do.

That's all for now...I'll talk to everybody soon!
[ bear -

Go AB Go

2011-07-27T23:24:00.003-06:00

SA TEAM TO PLAY NEW ZEALAND (AB are on the left):

15. Patrick Lambie / 15. Mils Muliaina - I do have some interest in Lambie...he's an up and comer.
14. Bjorn Basson / 14. Cory Jane
13. Adi Jacobs / 13. Conrad Smith
12. Juan de Jongh / 12. Ma'a Nonu

11. Lwazi Mvovo / 13. Conrad Smith
10. Morne Steyn / 10. Dan Carter

9. Ruan Pienaar / 9. Jimmy Cowan
8. Danie Rossouw / 8. Adam Thomson
7. Jean Deysel / 7. Richie McCaw
6. Deon Stegmann / 6. Jerome Kaino
5. Alistair Hargreaves / 5. Ali Williams
4. Gerhard Mostert / 4. Sam Whitelock
3. Werner Kruger / 3. Ben Franks
2. John Smit (C) / 2. Andrew Hore * I'm a little iffy about this one. John Smit is on his way out. And Hore needs to start hitting his line out throughs.

1. Dean Greyling / 1. Wyatt Crockett

REPLACEMENTS

16. Chiliboy Ralepelle / 16. Corey Flynn
17. CJ van der Linde / 17. John Afoa
18. Ryan Kankowski / 18. Jarra Hoeata
19. Ashley Johnson / 19. Liam Messam
20. Charl McLeod / 20. Piri Weepu
21. Wynand Olivier / 21. Colin Slade

22. Odwa Ndungane / 22. Sonny Bill Williams

Sorry about the spaces the the lists. I don't really know what going on tonight. Basically I'm give the NZABs a 35 point lead on this game. Boks are trying some new players rather than working on systems like the All Blacks are (who are probably going to try a few new positions).

And with all the said and done. Mat Giteau might actually and in all seriousness have lost his starting position. Boo urhns to that. Word is on twitter is that he's actually playing club this weekend...that isn't a good thing.

Samoa's Challenge was greater than Aussie's

2011-07-24T00:25:00.003-06:00

Sorry about the wait. And sorry to my non-ruggers out there. Really - this is just a super exciting year for rugby. Everybody is ramping up to the World Cup and every team that is part of that Tournament is playing whatever games come their way. Luckily for us that means another Tri-Nations cup. It's super.

But before the tri-nations start there have been some other matches. Manu Samoa vs. Australia. Well - I think that everybody wrote off Samoa before they even stepped foot on the pitch. Weren't we all wrong? Manu Samoa showed up to play and I'm sure the Wallabies expected as much as the rest of us...a solid, but reasonably easy game. But no way. Samoa was not about to be a speed bump. Here's my point form opinions:

- The Wallabies didn't take points...that's about as good as looking a gift horse in the mouth. Pass up the points when you have the points on the boards. It's a test match - Make wise decisions! They kicked for touch twice without answering them with points.There's no excuse for that.
- AAC and Mat Giteau's positions are being questioned. After this game? I'd question EVERYBODY's positions.
- Good to see Mark Gerrard start at 15. He's a hard worker - it's nice to see. He had a great SuperXV season evern though he was playing for the worst team.
- Nice to see Rocky Elsom back after a bit of a time-out.
- Tualagi (Leister) is a massive winger...maybe the biggest winger I've EVER seen. Giteau never had a chance with Tualagi trucking down the sideline. Who was actually going to catch him? And if you catch him - how do you take him down? It's called pain-management. If you don't tackle him, you don't have to manage it.

- Considering that Australia is ranked #2 in the world with Manu Samoa coming ranked #10...You'd think it would be a gimme but Samoa hit hard,hard, HARD. The stats were all weighted in Australia's favour - Possession, penalties, missed tackles, line breaks - pretty much everything and they still came up short. It defied everything that we as coaches actual tell our kids. If you don't have the ball - you can't win the game. Um...big lie? Apparently Samoa likes to make all of us liars.
- There just never seemed to be intensity on Aussie's side. What's up with that? They're professionals - lack of energy at this stage in the game could stick you on the bench in best case scenario - and not in a jersey in worst.

- Mark Gerrard is my player of the first half.
- Mapasua is a wonderful player.
- Stowers is a surprise...a good surprise.
- Beau Robinson...needs a haircut.
- Kurtley Beale subbed in at second, Genia is subbed in...I would imagine - to...save the game? It didn't help.
- Scott Higginbotham...great skills to pull the Wallabies within 10

Final score - 32 to 23 for the Samoans - and GOOD FOR THEM!! I'm sure it turned a lot of heads in the world and made a lot of coaches and players take a good hard look at their bottom line. Some of these teams that have nothing to lose will have a lot to fight for come September.

I'll touch base later in this week - it's not all doom and gloom for Australia. And if you're into twitter...I just joined the 21st Century... [ bear_3_ ].

Peace out peeps
[ bear ]

Juicy and Dirty

2011-07-16T22:36:00.006-06:00

What's up?!?

Well - we made it through our first week here at the camp. The days were nice and the evenings were full of pouring rain and thunder. I really don't mind it that way. We got a full camp this next week so I'm hoping that we get some good weather.

The other reason that I would like some nice weather is so that I can get out on my new ride. I'm pretty stoked about it. It's been a long time since I've spent any amount of time on a bike but I've been feeling like it's about time that I got me some wheels that were more recreation based than motor based.

I had to get some help though - bikes are different than they used to be. It's not all gears and such anymore. It's brakes and suspension. I don't think that I could ever just walk into bike shop and figure out what to buy. The last bike I owned was a Specialized Hard Rock with no suspension that had seen one too many trips down the big hill at Evergreen in hopes of impressing a boy (and it worked...but it wasn't me impressing the boy - it was my sister).

So - on a day out with E, we stopped by Cal's Cycle. A shop basically in the middle of nowhere (in between Linden and Three Hills) where the majority of my staff get their bikes and spend their days. I was not really knowing what to expect other than I kept mixing up the name with Kaltire and having a hard time figuring out what a premium bike short would be doing east of Linden. Well - whatever my expectations were - they were completely blown out of the water. It was pretty amazing but not something I can easily explain. You'll just have to go there yourself.

I also confirmed that I'm pretty much a girl when it comes to buying things like bikes. I asked a lot of questions to E and looked around at bikes that were in my price range...which - when it comes to buying a bike - is pretty hard to keep reasonable. I decided while I was there that I didn't just want a bike to putz around on - that I wanted a bike that I could learn on and hopefully, someday - actually be able to do stuff on at the camp. I have been inspired by E's passion for biking and really believe that we can go places as a camp. But - I don't want to be clueless either. Back to the girly part of me...I asked a few questions and wandered a bit - and then saw this guy. It had trees on it. I'm really realizing that I'm a tree person. I love trees. And it's got a squirrel on it. Pretty much perfect for Koda.

E started talking about Juicy something or other...apparently those are really good breaks. And the forks were sweet...Forks are the non-nubee name for suspension. The bike is used but in really good condition and I got it for a steal of a deal. So I'm pretty much a happy kid. And then I got a sweet helmet to match (bern watts).

And...I'm still pretty much convinced I'm going to do a header off the bike like I used to when I was a kid. Atleast it will be a good story when I do. That's all for now...

Peace out kids
[ bear ]

100,000 miles to nowhere

2011-07-09T21:43:00.004-06:00

Well - the SuperXV champions - sadly are the Reds (Reds 18 - Crusaders 13). Who, in their defense, played a mistake-dominating game. Or atleast that's all I can sum the game up to. The Crusaders, regardless of actually being offside in the breakdowns - were not called on it and really took over that part of the game. All of us who have played rugby know that it's a game of inches and you play to the ref. So if the ref is not calling you on encroaching on the offside line or coming through the rucks then what do you do? You encroach on the offside line and come through the ruck to disrupt the other team's scrum-half.

I said in my prediction post earlier this week that I thought Will Genia was going to be a deciding factor in the game. Was I right or was I right? He had a pretty frustrating half - getting mauled by the questionably offside Crusaders. Their scrums were weak (not surprising though...I think we pretty much decided that the Crusaders had the best pack in the world) and Genia just transferred pressure from his position to Quade Cooper. I thought it was brilliant. In the first 10 minutes of the second half - Genia was caught making some bad decisions as far as kicking went - the Crusaders just pushed and pushed. There seemed to be some nerves as the Reds started the second half. I thought that this was the point that the Crusaders would start pulling away...or this is where they would normally start pulling away.

But there were some key knock ons by the Crusaders...normally happening right after a building of the forwards. I think there was a point in the first half where the Crusaders did 12 forward pick and drives. Systematically drawing in Red players. What would then happen? Knock on...garbage. Their hands just weren't there. Even under the high ball - there just wasn't the hands.

Brad Thorn made a crucial mistake in his held up try - what we normally like to call Try-Line Fever. He had numbers and he kept it when he should have given it. That could have been the game right there especially considering that Digby Ioane scored only moments later. Or it could have been somewhere in between Meathead's THREE missed line out throws (not straight). I can't say it enough. There is no reason whatsoever for a hooker to submit their line out throws as "not straight". That's an individual skill...just as kicking is for any kicker. You miss it - you start scratching black marks on your resume.

Match ups? Well - Quade Cooper gets a big two thumbs down from me. I'm not a huge fan of his style - whatever that means...kicking, running, effort, existing. He talented - I get it. But he shifts blame and I don't believe him to be a team-player. When Carter did his magic and broke the line at the end of the first half - it was inevitable that he was going to score but in a game where every point counts - Cooper was obligated to make that tackle and literally he pulled up and watched Carter cross the line. He kicked points. He was there but not the better of the 10s. For all the who-ha before the match up about the battle of the 10s...it was pretty clear. Even the praises from the commentators - it was clear who the better man was.

I can't choose between Meathead and Stupid (Saia Faingaa) - they're both lost causes. How on earth does Meathead think he's going to make All Blacks? Genia vs. Andy Ellis/Fotoali'i? Genia - considering the man got harassed all game long and still went the 65 yard distance to win the game (huge reffing mistake - there was an obstruction that created the hole...50/50 call in my opinion). Beyond that? I'm not too inclined to name any other people. Man of the match - Will Genia.

There's your SuperXV season - fitting that the team with the best record through the season finished first. I'm disinclined to agree with the Reds being underdogs - they weren't. If they were - they would have not come in first in regular season play. Underdogs would have been the Sharks winning the whole competition. My position about the whole game today was that the Reds were able to take advantage of more mistakes than the Crusaders. Tomorrow, if they played, might have been a different result. The Crusaders never played at home this season because of the earthquake in Christchurch in April. Their home field still remains unplayable. They logged 100,000miles on the road this season - almost double than that of other teams. They fought for their city and I think finished well - not as well as hoped but certainly not in a passive position.

Now we look to the Tri-Nations. I look forward to seeing all the combinations of players on all three sides (SA, NZ, AUS) in hopes of creating the championship team. Until then - I guess we'll just have to deal with seeing Red.

Side-note

2011-07-08T21:23:00.003-06:00

So - one of my followers made a comment this last week about the fact that I only update about rugby. It's true. I have been very one-sided as of late. It's difficult especially when the playoffs are on. So I promise that I will become more balanced once Saturday is over and a winner is decided. I can't promise that rugby won't come up again because the Tri-Nations start up right away and then the World Cup. So...pretty much this will be the year for International Rugby and [ The Clean Slate ].

Here's one of my other loves...So You Think You Can Dance (America). And these two videos aren't actually of the contestants. They were special guests on one of the elimination shows. Um...amazing and a little mind blowing. If you don't like dance and think it's pansy...consider them athletes. I'd like to see an NFL player try this one:

There were a lot of amazing parts in the Calypso dance. Most favourite is the one part where he's got her by the knees and she's leaning forward or right at the end when she slithers down him. I just don't even know how half what they did is human. They're mutants...that must be it.

Or maybe this one...Yeah - some of the dance moves are the same...but then there's the whole - she's kneeling on his head while he walks across the stage or she stands on his chest...or he just stands up with her from a prone position. No big deal right? Dancers are wimps...right?

And one last one just because I can and because really, these two are kind of amazing. I'll check back in when we know the results of the SuperXV final. Have a great Friday night.

It's On

2011-07-06T21:50:00.003-06:00

Oh man, I don't even know what to say about the battle that is about to take place on Friday (wee wee hours of the morning of Saturday). I know what I WANT. I have hardly been veiled about that. I want the Crusaders to win but the Reds have had a spectacular season. I really don't like Quade Cooper...at all. But one cannot dismiss what he does on the pitch.

When I look at the run down of the line ups I don't even know what to say. I really think that it may come down to which team is having a better day. The Crusaders are on the left with the Reds on the right side.

1. Wyatt Crockett / Ben Foley
2. Corey Flynn / Saia Faingaa
3. Owen Franks / ?? (Normally would be James Slipper but he's out...)
4. Brad Thorn / James Horwill
5. Sam Whitelock / ??
6. George Whitelocks / Scott Higginbotham
7. Richie McCaw / Beau Robinson
8. Kieran Read / Radike Samo
9. Andy Ellis / Will Genia
10. Dan Carter / Quade Cooper
11. Zac Guildford / Digby Ioane
12. Sonny Bill Williams / Ben Tapuai
13. Robbie Fruean / Anthony Faingaa
14. Sean Maitland / Rod Davies
15. Tom Marshall / Jono Lance

I think that the Crusaders' front row will have the Reds front row crying. I wouldn't be surprised if Saia Faingaa lost his temper and started throwing punches. He's not very good when being schooled. I have a big concerned about Will Genia. He's going to really test the Crusaders around the breakdown.

And about the matter of who the best number 10 in the world? Obviously I'm going to say Dan Carter. My rationale for that is that I don't think that Quade Cooper is a number 10. I think he's too much of an individual player. Whatever he makes happen is because he's just dancing around doing his goose step. A 10 is a play-maker...they organize the backs and set everything up. Whatever happens off of Quade Cooper is because he's got great backs that have learned to play second fiddle and run off a 10 who likes to have the spotlight. I'm not saying at all that Quade Cooper isn't good...he's very good. I just don't think you can slot him into the great 10s of the world. He's not stable enough. I think he will get there - he's young and has a brilliant career ahead of him.

I think that this will be one of the closest SuperXV finals in years. I'm frustrated at the New Zealand ref-bashing that is going on from Australia. I think it is unclassy and completely uncalled for. But what would a final be without politics and drama? Really though? Calling Richie McCaw, Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks, and Conrad Smith (again, really? Smith is a centre!) serial infringers is a little below the belt. I think if you're doing it and not getting caught - then you're doing your job. What forward does try and push the limit a little? And to label all New Zealand referees as being blind to it? Hmmm - I think someone needs to talk to their therapist about letting go.

I guess I have to make a decision here...I'm going to say Crusaders by 13. I say that nervously but I truly believe that the Crusaders' experience will win out. I think it will be a high scoring game and there will be piles of opportunities. I think that one can expect the Reds to score a couple - get cocky and that the Crusaders will press consistently and persistently - exploiting the gaps that Cooper creates because he's barely ever playing his position. The Reds will not get the chances from missed touches and penalties like they got last week. The Blues found gaps in the back line. Yes, Rod Davies is fast - but so is Zac Guildford - I really, REALLY want to see a run off between those two. But Maitland? Even Marshall...Cooper can't cover all the holes and the Crusaders will make the Reds pay for whatever they do not cover. I think everyone is expecting the Reds to continue their conquest but they did not meet the Crusaders at full strength either time before.

Reds? I'd like you to meet the actual Crusaders. I hope you like what you see.

The Dust Has settled

2011-07-03T21:28:00.004-06:00

Well the experts placed the two semi-final games as being closer as they ended up being. On Thursday it was announced on the league's website that it was predicted that the Crusaders were to take their match by 5 and the Reds were to take theirs by 4. So we all predicted the same winners but I have to pat myself a little on the back for being a little closer to the money than the "experts". Here are the scores:

Crusaders (29) - Stormers (10)
My predictions were that the Crusaders would take their game by 13 and the Reds by 18. I dare say that I felt a little stronger about the winning sides. I think all of us thought the Stormers would put up a better fight. They didn't hit the Crusader's backline hard enough - atleast I don't think they did. Andres Bekker is definitely the forward and possibly player that stood out to me. They just never fired completely as a team so the Crusaders just played a clinical game. I can just imagine how frustrating it would have been to be the Stormer's coach. What do you say to a team full of internationally capped players - who didn't turn up to sing? Schalk Burger who is always a freight train looked more like a caboose and then ended up not finishing the game because of a broken thumb (part way through the second half). And what was more confusing about that is that he didn't stay on the field for the finish! He's the CAPTAIN! I don't care if your career is over - it's a freaking broken thumb...you stay on the bench and support your team. Even the commentator made a comment as they showed Burger walking down the hall to the dressing room with his boots and socks already off that "Burger had turned his back on his team". Ouch.

And who gets subbed on for him? Schalk Brits. Mr. Controversy himself. SANZAR granted the Stormers permission to bring Brits on as a back row sub (he's normally a hooker). He hasn't played the normally required 4 games for the Stormers to qualify to play for the Stormers because he was off in Europe playing for the Saracens. Well - I'm not a huge fan of money-players though I understand the opportunities and positives that have come from players playing in Europe but I think SANZAR made a crap decision granting the Stormers permission. The rules are set up to protect the playoffs from teams bringing in Ringers. He didn't do the time in the regular season - he shouldn't be allowed to step foot on a SuperXV field. He chose the money - he can buy tickets to the game. But his presence didn't change the outcome of the game.

Wyatt Crockett got man of the match. Good for him - good ol' prop. He and the rest of the pack just folded the Stormers over and over again. They won ball and set the Stormers back on their own. There's just so much (I'm a little biased though) that winning ball in the scrum can set your backs on fire. Set piece is such an integral part in the success of teams. Never underestimate it - never just go for winning your own ball.

There's not much more that one can say about the Crusaders' game. It was pretty much a smashfest. Again - subs subs subs. I think the fate of the Stormers was sealed at about 15minutes. It was great to see Richie McCaw play the full 80 minutes - that's a massive plus going into next weekend. It will be interesting to see if Andy Ellis is okay for next week however - Fotoali'i did a super job of filling in...I guess that's one advantage of testing the depth of your bench for the majority of the season as the Crusaders have had to do.

Reds (30) - Blues (13)
I said Reds by 18...I'd say 17 is pretty close. I wanted so much to have an all New Zealand final but obviously (by my predictions last week) I didn't think it was realistic. The Reds didn't have to be clinical against the Blues. Their backs are just like fire crackers. Quade Cooper has gotten showered with praise but seriously...Rod Davies is really the one that has owned this last weekend's win. Massive runs and so fast...like - as fast as Zac Guildford. If you look at setting the Reds' backs against the Blues backs and just talk about defense...Brett and McAlister just didn't have it in them to stop Quade. And if they stopped Quade (usually both of them together) they left massive gaping holes either between 12/13 or 13/14 because the back would have to shift. Luke Braid was working overtime to cross-cover. WHY DIDN'T THEY START RENE RANGER? I wonder if the coaching staff won't be asking themselves that question for the next 9 months before the 2012 season starts.

With all that said (very doom and gloom) - the score wasn't as devastating as it felt. The loss wasn't because of lack of opportunity. It was more about looking a gift horse in the mouth. There were opportunities. The Blues had territory multiple times. At 55minutes the Blues were only trailing by one converted try. I think it was just tactical error after tactical error...usually involving kicking - kicking high balls in the Reds' 22 or kicking it out on the full or chip kicking it when you're in YOUR 22!! I'm not back...I might talk like I know what's going on back there (which I really don't) but I usually can pick out when and where you're supposed to kick...Blues - bad bad bad. Also bad? Saia Faingaa's throwing. He's a hot head who can't throw very well. They can't find someone better? But you know what? As much as I like to critisize Meathead...I'm cheering for Meathead (Corey Flynn) next weekend. I hope he grinds all that facial hair of his into Faingaa face.

Hi Rod Davies...Mr. 3 Tries in the Semi-Final...would you like to play for the Wallabies? Why yes, they would be crazy not to take you.

I think I'll leave my opinions about the final until mid-week. I'm hoping that I will have time to post them. And for all my non-rugby readers...I know you're still checking in hopes that ones of these days I won't be posting about rugby...after next weekend - a more regular schedule should be established...

I would like to give a shout out to my visitors from SA, NZ, and AUS! I hope you stick around for a while! And I'll check in on Wednesday - even if it's just for my predictions for next weekend. The Crusaders vs. the Reds. Should be worth watching.

peace out [ bear ]

Semi-final Run Down

2011-06-29T21:59:00.004-06:00

Well - here it is...the final two weeks of SuperXV! It comes down to the Blues vs. the Reds and the Crusaders vs. the Stormers. Two very epic battles - one I think will be more than the other. But let's look at the shake down...

Crusaders (listed first) vs. the Stormers. Stronger player of the match up is bolded.

1. Wyatt Crockett / Rynhardt Elstadt
2. Corey Flynn / Brok Harris
3. Owen Franks / Wicus Blaaw
4. Brad Thorn / Peter Grant
5. Sam Whitelock / Andres Bekker
6. George Whitelocks / Francois Louw
7. Richie McCaw / Schalk Berger
8. Kieran Read / Nick Foster
9. Andy Ellis / Dewaldt Duvenage
10. Dan Carter / Tiaan Liebenberg
11. Zac Guildford / Gio Aplon
12. Sonny Bill Williams / Jacque Fourie
13. Robbie Fruean / Jean de Villiers
14. Sean Maitland / Bryan Habana
15. Tom Marshall / Conrad Jantjies
16. Quentin MacDonald / Johann Sadie
17. Ben Franks / Juan de Jongh
18. Luke Romano / Steven Kitshoff
19. Matt Todd / Anton van Zyl
20. Kahn Fotuali'i / Schalk Brits
21. Matt Berquist / Deon Fourie
22. Ryan Crotty / Louis Schreuder

I had a hard time not picking who I liked more simply because I really don't like the Stormers. They might be a good team but it's like Kerry Precht trying to find players on the Vancouver Canucks that she actually likes. It's hard to do. Though de Villiers and Fourie are great players - I just have a hard time bolding their names. It's like I'm fundamentally opposed to admitting that they're better...and that's not saying that I do think that they're better. Fourie is good. He's a great runner and almost always receives the ball at pace. Same with Schalk Berger - seriously - the guy is a freight train. But I can't stand either of them. SBW has a big game ahead of him this week, that's for sure, and even more so - Fruean. I think the game might be decided in the mid-field. Schalk Berger is constantly hammering up through the backs and running off of 10 or 12. Defense for the Crusaders is going to be key. I wonder after the game last week if the Stormers aren't going to try and overturn some rucks just to get some counterattack ball. Habana is good but Sean Maitland was brilliant last week and let's be serious - I think Habana has had his day and he's getting close to making the permanent move to retirement or coaching.

Read is not playing on a completely great ankle but have no fear - Richie McCaw is back! His presence on the field alone will boost confidence and solidarity across the pitch. And as always I don't know if you can best Dan Carter and really - Zac Guildford has been near flawless lately. If he can pin his ears back and run - I don't know if even Habana could even catch him.

End result? Crusaders by 13.
Blues (listed first) vs. the Reds

1. Charlie Faumuina / Ben Daley
2. Keven Mealamu / Saia Faingaa
3. John Afoa / ??
4. Chris Lowrey / James Horwill
5. Ali Williams / Rob Simmons
6. Jerome Kaino / Liam Gill
7. Luke Braid / Scott Higginbotham
8. Peter Saili / Radike Samo
9. Alby Mathewson / Will Genia
10. Stephen Brett / Quade Cooper
11. Lachie Munro (or Rene Ranger) / Digby Ioane
12. Luke McAlister / Ben Tapuai
13. Bensen Stanley / Anthony Faingaa
14. Joe Rokocoko / Rod Davies
15. Jared Payne / Jono Lance
16. Tom McCartney / James Hansen
17. Tevita Mailau / Grey Holmes
18. James King (or Mat Luamanu) / Dom Shipperley
19. Daniel Braid / Will Chambers
20. Smylie / Adam Wallace
21. Lacie Munro (or Rene Ranger) / Dallan Murphy
22. Winston Stanley (or Sherwin Stowers) / Jake Shatz

Initially when I was typing in all the names I was thinking to myself that the Blues don't have a chance. But then as I went through the match ups (which might not be accurate because the Reds haven't officially released their line up yet) - there weren't as many holes as I originally thought. Having Rene Ranger back in the line will definitely help even though he hasn't been confirmed on the starting line up. Luke McAlister has to have the game of his SuperXV career because he's playing against the likes of Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, and Anthony Faingaa. Those three are MASSIVE threats. I'm not a Cooper fan but the guy can dance like no other and Anthony Faingaa doesn't stop (not to mention that his legs are like ... oh, I don't know, as big as tree trunks?!?). Digby Ioane is back from getting knocked cold a couple of weeks ago so hopefully he hasn't come back too soon but if he's fit - he'll be taking everything that the Blues don't keep to themselves.

The pack is pretty even throughout. Mealamu is going to eat Faingaa for lunch - I will thoroughly enjoy watching that. S. Faingaa needs to sit down and take a good hard look at the work ethic and brilliance of his twin and start playing up to his level...then again - maybe he should just stop playing. Radike Samo is a beast - and I hope that they play him (I made an assumption based on how well he played in their last two games) but Jerome Kaino and Braid aren't to be counted out either.

I think this game will come down to kicking...which means the Blues will likely lose...which means my hopes of having an all New Zealand final will be smashed. Here it is: Reds by 18...and that hurts.

There should be some predictions surfacing tomorrow...I may update if they have a vastly different opinion than me. The Blues are seen as massive underdogs and we all know that I love me the underdogs - so just because on paper I think the Reds will win by 18 doesn't mean that I can't hope for the tides to be turned...right on Quade Cooper's butt.

peace out: [ bear ]

Crusaders Clear the Qualifier

2011-06-26T19:22:00.003-06:00

I don't know if I ever really doubted it...the Crusaders have too much depth and too much...well - too much everything. The Sharks didn't roll over even though the 36-8 outcome on first look would seem that way. Though the Crusaders drew first blood with a penalty kick, the Sharks' answer to that was a try. It was clear that the Sharks were not going to just platter up the Qualifier and act like a formality for the stronger side.

I don't actually know how many rucks the Sharks turned over - but it was a lot. More than any coach would ever want to see in an entire game and they did it all in 40 minutes. White jerseys just keep piling into rucks that the majority of teams would have just left alone - and I think that's what the Crusaders thought too as ruck after ruck, they were caught with too few men in their rucks protecting Andy Ellis. Not to mention the numerous handling errors by the Cru. I was a little concerned at first that maybe the Crusaders had come into the game too confident and that the Sharks would just take advantage of everything that was given to them and be the miracle team.

At the half - the Crusaders sat at 13-8...not a lead that I would have really predicted (obviously) but I felt that there was still time for plenty of tries and plenty of changes made by both teams. Coming out from half there was a noticeable difference in the Crusader's care around the rucks. Every five minutes that passed the Sharks looked more and more passive. They weren't giving up tons of ground but they weren't piling into rucks like they had nothing to lose and they were pressing up on defense to shut SBW down and they just weren't playing with everything on the line. Now, information I've learned since the game is that in addition to an apparently grueling flight and time change for the Saffies there was an additional delay during the flight due to a lack in visibility caused by the volcano in Chili. Fatigue was definitely a factor but the turning point in the game - the moment when all the momentum shifted and the Sharks seemed to just coast was where Kieren Reid intercepted a long ball on the wing after a series of mid field kick exchanges by Marshall and Lambie. Reid simple rode out the series of kicks reading the counteract perfectly. As the commentators stated - it was almost as it was played out in slow motion. The Sharks back line just shifting the ball like they were running patterns in practice without even looking up as to where the defense was. Reid rushed the line and perfection. At that point - there was no stopping the Crusaders.

With 15 minutes to go the Crusaders had used almost all of the subsitutions. As I've always said - at 65 minutes - there are only two things that many substitutions mean...1. You've either lost the game or 2. You've already won the game. I think we know the answer to that one. Here's the point scorers for the game:

Crusaders:
Tries: SBW, K. Reid, B. Franks (substitution)
Penalties: Carter (5)
Conversions: Carter (2), Berquist (1)

Sharks:
Tries: Alberts
Penalties: P. Lambie

We'll worry about the semi-finals later this week. For now, we're going to rest easy as New Zealand represents the better half of the tournament.

peace out - [ bear ]

One Step Closer

2011-06-24T21:13:00.003-06:00

That's right - we're one move closer to SuperXV domination with the Blues' defeat of the Waratahs today on the Blues' home field in Auckland [ 26-13 ]. I have to say - the first 20 minutes had me a little worried as the Blues struggled to find a rhythm and slipped a lot of tackles. Tom Carter - who I thought would be the stronger of the 12s scored the first try after Luke McAlister and Saili both slipped tackles. McAlister and Saili weren't the only ones who had a sketchy start - Stephen Brett was went practically unnoticed aside from missed tackles and crap kicks. The Blues picked up the pace with a brilliant chip kick and then chase by Rokocoko. They should have scored off the chip but the overwhelming support and lousy throwing by Ulugia (replacement hooker for the 'Tahs) lined up the first try for the Blues. Kurtley Beale, who was stated after the game saying that he let the pressure get to him, had a task, possibly too big of a task, laid out for him. He played stand off during the offensive plays and full back for defense - not because his defense wasn't good enough but because the counter-attack was too important. I can't imagine trying to hold down two positions like that plus kicking and expect to be able to carry a team through to the semi-final. The task was folly from beginning.

Unsurprisingly, Stephen Brett did not attempt any place kicks. Lachie Munro and McAlister shared the kicking duties. I feel as though McAlister should have kicked some of the longer range kicks where Lachie Munro fell short but sometimes when it comes to games like this one - it's better to stick to the plan rather than risk unpredictability. Missed kicks could have made a difference in this game.

In the end - I think what hamstrung the Waratahs were injuries. Luke Burgess, the regular starting half back, broken his hand at training this week, leaving the Waratahs another starting man down. And the injuries weren't going to stop there. Before the 60 minute mark Kane Douglas, Phil Waugh, and Sitaleki Timani were all lost to leg injuries.

It was a hard fought game. In the first 20 minutes I actually felt a little concern for the outcome. But an injury battered Waratah side just could not hold up against the consistency of players like Keven Mealamu, Ali Williams, Jared Payne, and Luke Braid. I dare say that their true test will be next week when a 20 minute start like the Blues had today will cost them the game. The Reds nor the Stormers will have mercy on any kind of lapse in commitment or urgency.

So - I was way off...Not so much with the Blues' score. But the Waratahs and their injuries is where I failed to take in account.

I guess we'll see tomorrow if the Crusaders have it in them to continue on without their captain like they have so many games this season or if the Sharks can defy almost impossible odds and defeat the Crusaders on their soil - which has never, ever happened. Even the experts (and as I have made my own prediction) have the Crusaders winning by 16 which is only one off what I predicted on Wednesday...just saying.

Here we go Crusaders, here we go.

Lining Up

2011-06-22T19:24:00.004-06:00

Well - it's that time...if I wait much longer to make a prediction I could face accusations that I just based what I thought on the experts and there's certainly a lot of them. I can tell you without hesitation who I want to win. I WANT an all New Zealand final and THAT means - Crusaders and Blues win this weekend and then both win next weekend. But I'm not going to go there yet.

Let's look at how the match ups this weekend break down - player for player. First - The Blues verses The Waratahs. The Blues are listed first and the Waratahs are listed second and italisized. I have bolded the player who I think is the stronger player between the two. Now...understand that the Waratahs have been one of the least watched teams for me and they did this stupid thing with their line up where they alphabetized their 24 players for the weekend rather than by position. If there's a star beside their name...it's a guess.

1. Charlie Faumailina / Benn Robinson
2. Keven Mealamu / Bernard Foley
3. John Afoa / Kane Douglas *
4. Anthony Boric /Pat O'Conner
5. Ali Williams / Sitaleki Timani
6. Jerome Kaino / Dean Mumm
7. Luke Braid / Phil Waugh
8. Peter Saili / Dave Dennis
9. Alby Mathewson / Luke Burgess
10. Stephen Brett / Sosene Anesi *
11. Lachie Munro / Atieli Pakalani
12. Luke McAlister / Tom Carter
13. Bensen Stanley / Ryan Cross
14. Joe Rokocoko / Lachie Turner
15. Jared Payne / Kurtley Beale
16. McCartney / Chris Alcock
17. Mailau / Josh Holmes
18. Lowrey / Ben Batger
19. Daniel Braid / Paddy Ryan
20. Smylie / Elvis Taione
21. Stanley / Hugh Perrett
22. Stowers / Brendan McKibban

So as you can see...it's pretty even. I think that overall the Tahs have a better back three whereas there isn't a comparison for the Blues' front row...even tight five. I've marked Dean Mumm has being better than Jerome Kaino...that's only marginally. When Kaino has good days - he has great days. Mumm is just an incredibly consistent rugby player. I also think that a couple of other key players that could decide a game would be the match ups between Luke McAlister and Tom Carter. Luke has had an incredibly volatile season between his kicking and overall playing. I actually think that he's put himself in a position with the All Blacks where he's replaceable on the bench. The other match up is on the wing between Rokocoko and Turner. Big Joe is a heavy hitter with a quick step against a quick, elusive runner in Turner.

The result (I'm terrible at predicting scores)...Blues (29) vs. Waratahs (27) - but that's assuming that Luke McAlister's kicking is ON. I believe that kicking will determine the result of this game.

Game 2...Crusaders vs. the Sharks

Again - here's the break down by position. The Crusaders are listed first, the Sharks second and slanted.

1. Wyatt Crockett / Tendai Mtwawarira (The Beast)
2. Corey Flynn / Bismarck DuPlessis
3. Owen Franks / Jannie DuPlessis
4. Brad Thorn / Gerhard Mostert
5. Sam Whitelock / Alistair Hargreaves
6. George Whitelock / Keegan Daniel
7. Matt Todd / Jean Deysel
8. Kieren Ried / Ryan Kankowski
9. Andy Ellis / Charl Mcleod
10. Dan Carter / Fredrick Michalak
11. Zac Guildford / Lwazi Mvovo
12. Sonny Bill Williams / Meyer Bosman
13. Robbie Fruean / Stefan Terblanche
14. Sean Maitland / JP Pieterson
15. Tom Marshall / Patrick Lambie
16. Quentin MacDonald / John Smit
17. Ben Franks / Wiehaln Herbst
18. Luke Romano / Ross Skeate
19. Jonathan Poff / Willem Alberts
20. Kahn Fotauli'i /Mercel Coetzee
21. Matt Berquist / Adrian Jacobs
22. Ryan Crotty or Ward / Louis Ludik

I tried really hard to be fair in the breakdown. I have mentioned that Bismarck DuPlessis is (aside from Keven Mealamu) one of my more favourite hookers. So that wasn't a stretch - besides - I'm not a huge fan of Corey "Meathead" Flynn, even though he has been playing a little better. I still don't like thinking of him being Keven's back up come the World Cup. But I don't see a better option out there. John Smit is getting old...real old. He went from the Shark's captain to the bench in one fail swoop. I don't know if he said something wrong in practice but he pretty much stayed on the bench for the rest of the season. Luckily for us - the Crusaders know that they can trust their bench. There have been enough injuries to the headliners this season that the bench has been tested and their depth and character has come through. Look to see them used in the game and to see the team finish well.

Our (the Crusaders) 9-10-12-13 connection is so strong and Zac Guilford...though I can't get over his crowfoot run - runs like the fricking wind. So as long as SBW hits hard and doesn't land on that hip of his - our backline should crush theirs. Terblanche is surprisingly threatening. He's a smart player but I just don't know if he can compete with SBW or Fruean's physicality. We'll see, I guess.

The only reason why I didn't mark Sean Maitland vs. his match because I just don't know how he'll be back from so many weeks off. I do fancy him over Pieterson...Peiterson has speed on him but he has a tendency to run straight lines so he's easy to beat. My only concern is with Patrick Lambie. He's good.

But the final result? The Crusaders. They have too much depth and their frontliners are utter class. I just don't think that the Sharks have it in them across the field to win. Here it is: Crusaders over the Sharks: 33-18.

Mulligan

2011-06-21T11:52:00.001-06:00

Step One: Have 20 minute arguement about when to actually start the day.
Step Two: Allow confusion and workload to overwhelm.
Step Three: Spill entire cup of coffee on desk, keyboard, self, floor, chair (even underneath of where you're sitting???).
Step Four: Walk home.

Mulligan.

[ rugby ] Playoff Time!

2011-06-19T22:28:00.005-06:00

Well - for most people in Canada - April means the beginning of hockey playoffs. In previous years - it would be the beginning for SuperXV playoffs too. But the introduction of the 15th team in the SuperXV league this year pushed the season a little back and I think that there didn't seem to be an urgency to push players hard every week. Each team had two byes and ample opportunity to take it easy(er) in some games...well - if you were in the top 6 positions. There seemed to be a large chunk of teams that had to fight for the 5th and 6th position.

What wrap-up weekend wouldn't be complete without an upset, a near miss, and the no-hope game? After the dust settled the top six were decided but not before the 2010 defending SuperXIV champions, the Bulls were knocked out in a nail biter by the inconsistent Sharks.

Bulls (23) vs. Sharks (26)
The Sharks have always been threatening this season but never quite found their rhythm. I have to admit - I had written them off half way through the season. Bismark DuPlessi is one of my favourite hookers and they have some pretty solid skill in their backs in players like Terblanche, the youngster Lambie, and Mvovo. But when you line them up against the star studed line up of the Bulls, one can't really blame me for thinking that it would be a decided outcome before the first whistle.

Apparently I'm having a lot of moments where I'm wrong.

The Sharks showed up to play. There wasn't any moment where the game was "won" but the Sharks were always present. The Bulls were playing hard - Bakkies Botha's 100th Super cap gave him a little extra spark in his normal antics. He's normally a bother at breakdowns and marginally late hits - but he does well to throw teams off. I would say that the biggest gap was the wing where the Sharks obviously targeted. In the end, the Sharks who gained momentum in the latter parts of the season measured up to the test against a waning Bulls side.

I was happy to see Pierre Spiess play up to his normal posture. He got around the field well. It will be interesting to see how the Bulls will shake down next year with Botha and Matfield both leaving...again, I'm stocking up for my post about the mass exodus of players from the southern hemisphere to Europe soon. Every time I think I'm caught up on who exactly is leaving there's a few more names that pop up. It's very disconcerting. I might actually have to start watching the Top 14 next year...boo - I hate European rugby.

Blues (33) vs. Highlanders (16)
This was a game that could have gone the same way as the Bulls and the Chiefs. The Blues have been playing like poo these last few weeks, dropping games like Luongo was dropping pucks. It was very worrisome as the Blues should have the depth and strength in their team to stand up against the better teams in the league. I don't know if they have the gumption to get into the semi-finals but next weekend will tell. They will face the Waratahs in the semi-final qualifier. I'm not a Tah fan - at all but next week's qualifier is between two teams who finished with the same points and both finished their season out week. Both the Blues and the Waratahs were quick out of the gates and faced injuries mid-season and some 'mis-communications' (?) on the field...I don't know how else to explain it. What do you call it when you have all the skill on the field and no way to finish? Oh, that's right - Canuck-syndrome.

[ Author's note: I don't actually dislike the Canucks...I'm actually quite neutral to the whole NHL thing. They just seem really, really easy to pick on...and hey - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. ]

Chiefs (11) vs. Reds (19)
Not a surprise. Not one bit. The Reds are number one in the league for a reason. They've been consistent and they've fought hard. I do have the opinion that they will NEED Digby Ioane and Anthony Faingaa to win the tournament. But this game was just a formality if that. Sure, the Chiefs weren't blown out of the stadium but the Reds controlled the game and Duck and DeMelmanche were lame as normal. But I need to be fair to Duck - he made his first kick. He still tackles like a high school girl.

It is quite sad to see the poor turn out at the Chief's stadium for Mils Muliaina's last SuperXV game. Honestly people - he's given so much of himself to the Chief's club - he deserved better than what they gave him. And lastly - speedy recovery to Sventi Sivivatu who dislocated his shoulder so that he can represent his home country of Fiji in the RWC in September.

Stormers (44) vs. Cheetahs (34)
Okay - so not the game that you would think that I would talk about...You'd think that I would talk about AAC and Mat Giteau's last game with the Brumbies or the fact that the Force squeaked by without O'Conner in his last game with the Force. But I just want to bring light to the fact that the Cheetahs who basically have NO NAMES for players, ended up tied with the Chiefs and two points below the Hurricanes. My vote for biggest surprise of the season goes to the Cheetahs who gave the second seeded team a run for their money. This team has got the heart - now all they have to do is build the skill and the systems. Have a great summer Cheetahs and we'll see you next year when all the other teams' stars go trotting off to Europe and you stay 15 strong in your plain-jane players.

Rebels (24) vs. Force (27)

Waratahs (41) vs. Brumbies (7)

Crusaders (16) vs. Hurricanes (9)
I don't know what it means when the Hurricanes' season actually picked up when they came to a point where there was no mathematical way to make the playoffs. Tialata and Nonu are both done now and the Hurricanes - with the names are dead centre of the pack...have a chance without them? I think they will miss more than just the few token yellow cards that Ma'a Nonu gets. I am very interested in seeing how Aaron Cruden does in the All Black selections. I would love, love, LOVE to see him selected over Duck.

Well - that's all for the regular season. Next week it's the Crusaders vs. the Sharks (I'm more anxious about this than if they were playing the Bulls) and the Waratahs vs. the Blues. I'll post my predictions mid-week. My heart wants an all Kiwi final which will mean that the Crusaders and the Blues win their next two games. Wouldn't that be flash?

peace out for now. [ bear ]

Sunday morning short

2011-06-19T10:09:00.003-06:00

I don't really have much time this morning. These days there's no shortage of work around camp. All of our staff arrive in about 13 days. And camp starts in 20. Some days I just don't know how we will ever arrive at camp and then there's days where I'm praying that God will just create an 8th day or ignore the whole "day of rest thing" just so I can get all of my work done before we double or seemingly triple in staff.

I do want to say that I'm sitting here at 10am drinking...tea. De-caf tea. Coffee probably come later but I started the day with a watermellon tea that smells like candy. Becca M introduced me to a new tea place in Calgary which is her favourite place and pretty much ONLY place she gets tea from. This whole time I've been calling her a tea snob because I've just gotten my tea from Glenn's in Red Deer thinking that loose leaf tea is all created equal.

Wait for it folks.

This doesn't happen very often.
Well, more often than I'd like to admit.

I was wrong.

David's Tea is actually the best tea place I've ever been to...with tea selections that I've never heard of and...it's just mind-blowing. I could have actually stayed there for hours just smelling the tea. At this rate - David's Tea is going to do two things to me:

1. Turn me into a "Tea Granny"
2. Make me broke.

And then on a complete separate note...here's for your Sunday morning tear-up. I love hymns and this is just amazing. Carrie Underwood performed it at the CMA awards. Have a great Sunday.

peace out : [ bear ]

one of the best...ever

2011-06-08T16:06:00.005-06:00

And just when I thought he couldn't get better or more fantastic...he actually posted on my wall.

It didn't surprise me that I had been added as a friend on facebook but he didn't have to respond to my comment on his fanpage (I had written him that his Kelowna concert was super special and fantastic...and that he should really come back soon...and maybe to Alberta next time).

So thank you William. Thank you for blowing my mind. Again.

Devastating...injuries and kicking

2011-06-06T22:23:00.008-06:00

I haven’t been posting about rugby much lately. Let’s be honest – there’s a lot that has been going on. The standings on the left margin are up-to-date even if my posts are not. Between U2 and camp getting busy – I have found myself in a place where I’m watching rugby but not necessarily keeping the world abreast of my opinions

As for previous weeks…I have to say that the Hurricanes looked more like themselves last week with the likes of Cory Jane, Ma’a Nonu, and Conrad Smith back in the starting line up. They’re all wonderful players of brilliant talent. But my pick of the week (and this includes all games) was Aaron Cruden. He came out of nowhere!! Two passes around the backs of defenders and a couple of tries to boot. Cheers mate, you deserve to be noticed. I hope that he is atleast carried with the All Blacks for some of the World Cup.

Probably my biggest upset was over the Crusaders losing to the Reds…and in the final moments nonetheless. I really thing that it will be the Cru and the Reds in the finals. The Stormers are too predictable of a team – too old fashioned in their playing style to really get their way to the finals…or at the very least – deserve to be in the finals. Both the Crusaders and the Reds are dynamic and have depth in their bench. They’ve had to dig for it especially with all of the injuries they’ve suffered so far. The Crusaders have learned to adapt in the last few weeks with the likes of Sean Maitland and Isreal Dagg having been injured a couple weeks ago and now Richie McCaw is out for another two weeks with the screw in his ankle causing him discomfort. Nicely enough the Cru got a bye this week but I don’t believe that we will be seeing McCaw in next week’s game either.

Brumbies (22) vs. Reds (14)

The Reds – what a similarly devastating game for injuries this week against the Brumbies with Digby Ioane getting completely knocked out by Vaea (cited and suspended), Lucas getting his bell seriously rung and then something happening to his knee, Anthony Faingaa (hamstring) and potentially even Wil Genia who came off towards the end of the game. With almost half of their backline gone Quaid Cooper better shine up his boots and research some new moves because his normal tricks might not get him too far at this rate.

But wow – I don’t know where the Brumbies got it from…but they dug for it and found something that has been missing all season long. Heart. Adam Ashley-Cooper (AAC) actually showed up with fire in his belly and Matt Giteau looked like he wanted the ball. Even at the end when he kicked the penalty for points to deny the Reds the bonus point rather than just out to end the game. The commentators kept making the point that the "right" thing to do would have been to just kick it out...but when you have spent the entire season looking for a chance to say 'it's about time' then you know what? Take the freaking points. The Brumbies didn't get out of the game scott free as far as injuries goes. Mark Chisholm (the tall one) tore his ACL and kissed his World Cup hopes goodbye - which is a massive shame. I really liked him - he's a strong lock and his place on the Wallabies was all but good. Here's to fast healing Mark...They'll love you in France in 2012, that's for sure.

Blues (11) vs. Chiefs (16)

Talk about devastating. That's about how much I can sum up the Blues' playing tonight - and mostly Luke McAllister's kicking. What did he miss? Like 6 penalty kicks and a conversion? I think he only made two penalty kicks. Completely atrocious. At the level that they're playing, he cannot be missing kicks like that. If his counterpart was not Duck then I would say that there must have been swirling wind but Duck missed his fair share of kicks too. The commentators were very gracious with Duck (Stephen Donald) but you know me, I'm never gracious with him. He's trash - so I really need players like Luke McAllister to get it right when they are matched against him. I might throw up in my mouth in Duck makes it onto the All Blacks squad for the world cup. Please Graham Henry - take Aaron Cruden instead? Or Brett...or Berquist - he'd be better too.

Confusion is how I started the game. Mealamu started on the bench...???? Really? You're going to put your captain, your most consistent rucker, your most reliable dude on the bench? Maybe it was a rest thing - maybe they just needed to try something different. Maybe the coaches just underestimated the Chiefs...which isn't hard when they're ranked almost at the bottom (right alongside of the Brumbies who are ranked 13th). But I don't feel like the Blues had it in them this game. There was no flash and no pep. They should have dismantled the Chiefs - she should have hit it hard up the field, aiming at Duck almost the entire time and then getting it out to the wing so Ranger could seal the deal. But nope - there was no sealing and a whole lot of deal breakers for me. It's too late in the season to be flatlining.

Tana Umaga was back and was okay. He's showing his age and Mil Muliaina announced this last week that he will be moving to Japan so the World Cup will be a giant goodbye to a lot of our giants. But I'll talk about that at a later time.

Hurricanes (38) vs. Lions (27)

Not much to say about this other than Piri Weepu...um, where is the Piri Weepu with the fire in his belly? You're a bit flat man. Time to lose about 20 pounds (what were you doing in your months and months off?)

Sharks (23) vs. Cheetahs (18)

So much of me would love the Cheetahs to just start winning games. They're like the Oilers of the SuperXV. They are always so close with no reward in the end, always falling short of the mark. The Sharks - struggle...struggle...struggle. But holy moly - Patrick Lambie. What is he, like 15? He's phenomenal! I hope that the 'Boks bring him on and start grooming him to someday replace Morne Steyn. Morne is not done yet by any means but they will need someone to someday step up. The skill that is coming up through the juniors is unbelievable. But in the end, the Cheetahs just couldn't pull it out.

We're getting close to the home stretch now. Mistakes like the ones the Reds and Blues made this week are exceptionally costly. Luckily - those mistakes benefit the Crusaders. Look for the Crusaders to be in position where they'll need to secure the win this next week and hopefully a bonus point. All seven games are televised so I will be glued to my television as long as the NHL doesn't get in my way (come on Canucks - finish it off already!).

Peace out kidlets- I'll talk to you soon.

U2 - Concert

2011-06-04T21:53:00.005-06:00

You know when you want to live in a moment forever? Or wish you could go back and live a moment over and over again. That was this past Wednesday night. I had waited 16 months for U2 after they had to postpone their concert last year due to Bono injuring his back at a rehearsal in Munich.

The day was great. It was a bit windy but really, it rained for about 15 seconds during the concert and that was about all that was not super about it and to be honest...I barely even noticed.

Let's get something straight because I've heard a few people in the week building up to the concert either not think it's a big deal at all or not even know who they were. So all of this feedback comes from a very, very biased stand point.I can't tell you why I love them so much. Perhaps the love was born because I wanted to be like my sister who went to the Pop Tour concert back in the '90s. Whether my motives were because I wanted to be like or completely annoy my sister - I fell in love with them. Their melodies and unique style set them apart from other rock and pop groups and genres altogether. They weren't about fluff. Though I can't say that I really started paying attention to what their songs were about until my stepmom questioned why I would listen to a music group who had songs named like Sunday Bloody Sunday. I couldn't explain the history behind all of their songs but I was able to tell her that they didn't sing about nothing. They wrote songs beyond lovey dovey stuff and that Sunday Bloody Sunday was actually written about an incident in Derry where British troops shot and killed a number of unarmed civil rights protestors (a day called Bloody Sunday).

There are few U2 songs that I don't like and I have a very hard time pinning my favourite song. I have a bunch. And all but one song (Desire) were played during the concert. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

The Fray started the evening off...half an hour late. I was really, really excited about seeing The Fray - more than if the Black Eyed Peas were to open. But I have to say I was pretty disappointed in their performance. I got the feeling like maybe their niche wasn't an outdoor concert...maybe it wasn't delivering a concert to 68,000 people...30,000 of which weren't even in the stands when they were on. They made a "How 'bout them NHL playoffs?" ... like that somehow had to do with the fact that people were more interested in getting merchandise and not being in their seats more than the fact that the majority of the people really just wanted U2 to get on stage.

AND they messed up their headline song, Over My Head.

They came, they played for 40 minutes, and then we waited for another hour for U2.

Que Countdown to Major Tom. And my tears. I was actually seeing U2. So, I guess I somehow, somewhere, in some little part of my mind, understand how all those little girls can bawl and cry when they get a glimpse Justin Bieber. U2 is my Bieber Fever.

It was AMAZING.

I mean, first of all...look at the stage...I mean, spaceship. I mean, MASSIVE. It was obviously there to benefit all of us folk who couldn't actually make out Bono onstage because we were half a kilometer away from the stage. But the light show was awesome. As it got darker, it got more and more amazing.

There were a couple of things about the concert experience that hindered that experience. Like the four 50 year olds that were completely smashed and hopped up on acid or LSD or maybe they just too many drugs back in the '70s. They were obnoxious all concert long but luckily we were one too many rows away from them to get any of their beer on us. Along with that...I'm a concert stander. I stand at concerts. So here's me, standing and singing and dancing for the first third of the concert and a get a tap on the shoulder. It's a dad from behind me saying that his 12 year old daughter is bawling because she can't see the concert.

I might not have been so choked if the section on either side of us were all standing and our section was the only one not standing. And maybe a large part of me was like...how could his 12 year old daughter even know half of the songs that they were singing. I sat down and sulked for a solid 30 seconds...aaaannnnnnnnnddddddd then I figured that I didn't want to remember U2 as a sulky concert. So I bobbed and sang and sat. I turned around for 5 or so songs that were my special favourites and asked if I could stand and they were okay with that. I think next time (and I'm hoping so much that there is) I will get floor tickets for the simple fact that everybody on the floor was dancing and having a blast...more my style.

Here's the set list from Wednesday night:

Even Better Than The Real Thing

(Remix Version)
I Will Follow
Get On Your Boots
Magnificent

(Remix Version)
Mysterious Ways
Elevation
Until The End Of The World
All I Want Is You

(with "The Needle and the Damage Done" snippet)
Stay (Faraway, So Close!)

(Acoustic Version)
Beautiful Day

(with "Heart Of Gold" snippet)
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Miss Sarajevo
Zooropa
City Of Blinding Lights

(with "Singing In The Rain" snippet)
Vertigo
I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight

(Remix Version)
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Scarlet
Walk On

(with "You'll Never Walk Alone" snippet)
Encore:
One
Where The Streets Have No Name
(with "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" snippet)
Encore 2:
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
With Or Without You
Moment of Surrender

If there were any songs I wished were different...I would have to say that I didn't like the remixes of I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight and Magnificent. They didn't have the epic build ups like their studio versions. I also have never been a fan of Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me - and I don't know if they just do it because it was a big hit because of one of the Batman movies or what but I would have voted for Desire ahead of that. I think my highlights were Sunday Bloody Sunday (which was what I was hoping for) and Where The Streets Have No Name.

Can I also say...24 songs? Seriously - they played for 2.5 hours. Unbelievable. I will live that concert over and over in my head. Absolutely unbelievable and I will absolutely go again if given the chance.

Thank you U2. Thank you.

Seeing red

2011-05-30T23:18:00.003-06:00

Hey - I just have to say...

YES!!!!

I've been through 4 other belt tests and each of the other tests were a little more nerve-racking and a little more...I don't know - pressure-ish. And nobody really applies the pressure on me except me. I have a bad habit of expecting the world from myself and then being disappointed when I can't deliver.

But tonight...I had another promotion and again, I found myself nervous around 3pm. My back has been bugging me and two weeks ago I must have hit the floor 15 times in class because I was messing up on my back spin kicks - which can get traced back to my back injury in December. It was like I had never done a back spin kick before. My tornado kicks were a little less than to be desired but I wasn't hitting the floor every time I threw one. My Master told me not to worry about them but I'm at the level where I need to be able to do them. Not doing them is not really an option.

Sitting around during the test, waiting for other kids to go my back was getting stiff. I figured that this was going to be okay but not stellar. Ma'am was making each one of us do three or so patterns of her choosing just to keep us on our toes. She asked for my patterns 4, 5, and 6 (6 is the pattern for my red stripe which is one belt higher than my blue belt) so I figured right away that I would be testing for my red stripe. Well - I knocked my patterns out of the park. Don't get me wrong, my patterns are top notch - some of the best work that I do but these were sweet. I landed on my mark almost each time and then when I was done my three, Ma'am asked for my 7. Good sign. Again - perfect...minus the hammer instead of the knifehand block but I don't know if anybody noticed.

Kicks, sparring, board breaks (jumping snap kick) were all awesome. Step sparring was the part which I thought could have been better but all in all - it was fun and great and I felt super. Happy happy!

I've got my black stripe to go and then I'll be testing for my black belt. Somehow my red belt feels like a milestone...I don't think it's supposed to be but suddenly my black belt seems realistic. And that's cool and scary all at the same time.

I've got a lot of work to do.

brrrr...it's cold out here...

2011-05-29T20:33:00.002-06:00

...there must be some Horns in the atmosphere...

And that's what I was singing to myself as I immersed myself in a bath full of water and ice. Yes, I know what I'm doing. No, I'm not crazy. There is a point to it. But man alive - it's hard to convince yourself that something is good for you when it's that painful and uncomfortable.

Ice baths. It was a concept that was introduced to me when I was a Pronghorn. You sit in a bath of ice water for 10 (or more) minutes with as much of your body immersed in the water as you can. Excrutiating. Pain - all out shooting pain for the first two minutes not to mention being short of breath (that's when you know you have it cold enough), pins and needles for the next six along with the shivering (part in parcel for probably shock from playing 80 minutes of rugby), and if you're lucky to get to minute eight - things just kind of numb out. The worst part for myself were my feet...I hate my feet and ankles being cold and so i would wear my rugby socks into the bath just to take the bite off of the water.

The point of them? It shunts the blood away from your extremities and away from the surface area of your body and to your vital organs, slows down swelling in all injured areas, and increases the rate of healing so that the next day you can walk around feeling less like roadkill and a little more like the truck. Ice baths were a vital part to surviving tournament play in university. Even when we hosted tournaments at home - there were assigned houses where we would have to take the baths. Really, there should have been posters made: "Pronghorns win games - Ice Baths win championships".

Ten minutes...doesn't seem long, right? Some of the longest minutes of my life. There were more baths than not where I didn't think I could make the 10 minutes. But as a Horn - they were mandatory after every game. And bless those hearts of the girls who never even played - most of them would take an ice bath just to support the rest of us. I can't even imagine what the hotel staff and our unfortunate neighbors thought of us after games because of all of the noise and racket we would make. Shrieking and yelling because it was borderline unbarable but there was another piece that generated noise...the moral support. Literally - we'd gather about 5 players to a room and be with each other, cheering each other on through the 10 minutes (we'd obviously be in our sports bras and spandies). I don't think I could have done it without two or three girls telling me that it would be okay and holding each other's hands through it.

So here I was...Saturday night...staring at my tub filling with ice water...ice cubes still floating in it. The water had a bluish tint to it - never a good sign unless you are wanting to freeze your heinie off. The plan was to not play too hard (ya right, we're talking about me here) during our rugby game that day so that I wouldn't be a complete right off for my belt promotion in taekwondo tomorrow. Well - I still played as hard as I could but (un)fortunately Lethbridge has a team of pretty high class talent and we didn't touch the ball much...so I didn't actually feel like I got hit by a bus but I knew I still had to take care of my back as there were a large sum of scrums. So there was a large part of me that didn't want to screw up my chances of having a good belt promotion. I needed to do what was required of me. I needed to have an ice bath.

Which put me back to standing over the tub of ice water telling myself, "This is what real athletes do Armstrong. Real athletes take ice baths."

The rational side of my brain piped in..."But...you're not a 'real' athlete anymore...you're on the verge of retiring in rugby and you have chronic back issues. You're not a real athlete anymore."

La La Land self: "But I COULD be a real athlete again. I just need to get in shape and work my back out and everything will be fine."

Rational Self: "And then next year you're be one year older and another year further away from being a 'Real Athlete'. Sometimes you just have to know when to quit."

La La Land Self: "What happened to 'Never, never, never, never give up'?"
La La Land Self steps into the ice water shrieks and steps back out of the tub.

Rational Self: "Winston Churchill never experienced an Ice Bath."
La La Land Self stares at the ice bath - willing it to be warmer...then wondering if everything would just be okay if the ice bath was left alone. But the ice bath seems to mock La La Land.

Ice Bath: "You can't handle me. You could barely handle me when you had a bunch of cheerleaders. What makes you think that you'd ever be able to even sit through five minutes of me?"
La La Land grits her teeth: "I will do this. I am an athlete and this will make me a better athlete tomorrow."
La La Land steps into the tub, swears, and sits down.

Rational Self: "You're dumb."

La La Land: "Possibly. But I'll be a mobile dumb person tomorrow."

And I am.

tuned out

2011-05-25T22:27:00.005-06:00

People who know me can probably say a lot of things about me and the technology that surrounds my life. I blog, I'm constantly on Facebook (two thirds I would say would revolve around work), I have satellite and I watch more than my fair share of it, I have a blackberry which connects me to work 24/7 and I have 41 blackberry contacts which keeps me busy some days. But with all of that in my life - I can honestly say that I don't have a problem ditching it when it comes to important stuff...like church or relationships or meals.

Yes. Welcome to my rant. Facebook doesn't actually phase me. I could care less if people really feel led to tell me when they're going to the washroom. Do I think it's necessary or important? No and no. But if you want to broadcast to the world that you're leaving home to go on vacation - so that all the thieves in the world know when to hit your house...fine. Do what you want. Vaguebook? Sure - be a public emotional vacuum. It doesn't affect me...and if starts - I'll defriend you.

But cell phones...and iPads and whatever else resembles those booking-reading-thingies. COME ON PEOPLE! When it comes to restaurants, church, and basic human interaction - like when you're supposed to be interacting with a clerk at a cash register and you can even be bothered to put down your phone so that the clerk doesn't just feel like an ATM.

I guess what brings this on is that I was in church last Sunday and one of the pastors was sitting in front of me and it was obvious by the blue glow on his face that he was playing around on his iPad. I have staff that correct me all the time when I tell them to get off their phones that they are reading scripture...I get it - I suppose I'm still a little old fashion with the whole paper copy-binded leatherness of it all. But this was for over half of the sermon and then he just got up and left. Now - are you going to tell me that he was reading scripture? I didn't think so.

And then last week - I was at Olive Garden with some staff and there was a table right next to us with a girl and a guy who maybe were on a date or maybe were just out together as friends - doesn't really matter - she spent over half of their meal talking on the phone...LOUD talking on her phone. I hate loud talkers. I hate loud talkers at restaurants. I'm paying for an experience...it's like getting your seat kicked at a movie...I didn't pay for THAT experience. Poor guy who she was at the restaurant with. Who wants to spend that much money on food and being ignored.

So basically...I'm wondering if it's possible for people to put down their phones...
...leave them on silent?
...don't bring them to work with you (and I get the...it's part of my work...I get emails on it stuff...I'm in that boat too).
...leave them in the car?
...don't answer them when you're supposed to be interacting with other people (clerks, etc...)

Is it possible? Or are we a lost generation?