On Saturday at 3:30 EST, a contest will kick off that has far less of a real chance for underdog victory. No matter, It will be fun to watch, anyway.
Okay, sports fans, here's a chance to show some nationalistic pride, wow your significant other with your international cultural literacy, and watch top athletes smashing into each other while throwing and kicking a ball. Your USA Eagles take on the single most recognizable international rugby side in the world, New Zealand's All Blacks.
The match is at Soldier Field in Chicago in front of a sold out crowd of 61,500.
I used to work in Chicago at the old department store.
I used to work in Chicago, I don't work there any more.
And our old roommate Brian Hightower will be calling the game. Not bad, Highcheese. Father Abraham had seven sons, and one of them was Hightower. And he never passed the ball. All he did was go like this.
This article quotes US coach Mike Tolkin saying this is just the start for rugby in the US. Rob may tell him it started with his blogpost, but they may agree on where it's headed. In an Australian publication, the author writes:
Yes, the All Blacks will win handily, but the match is seen as a stepping stone in the USA’s progression from second tier rugby playing nation to first tier.The haka in Chi-town with our buddy on TV? We'll take that. Tune in.
3:30 PM, Saturday, November 1. NBC.
U-S-A
over to you, mr kq.
ReplyDeleteThe Father Abraham scene choked me up.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the line?
ReplyDelete55.5. Although you might get it at 52.5 on Ladbrokes or Williamhill.
ReplyDeleteHalloween idea for Mark, Zman and/or Danimal (but mostly for Mark):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.brandsonsale.com/marijuana-costumes.html
The Budos Band has a new song called "Aphasia," which I am very much hoping is a cover of the Greasetruck song. (See here.)
ReplyDeleteThis Game 7 is great. The energy from the fans adds so much.
ReplyDeleteAnd Ned Yost was great as the star of Sin City.
Madison Bumgarner was born in 1989. Dude is a stud. He had a 0.29 ERA in his three World Series going into that scoreless inning.
ReplyDelete19 pitches through one inning for Bumgarner. Would be interesting to see what Bochy does if he gets through two in 30-35 pitches. Would love to see him go three.
ReplyDeleteThere we go. 27 pitches through two. Bochy says he can go 40.
ReplyDeleteClarence - heading to Chi tmro eve. Lost Luncheon on Fri with 60 ex Internationals (4 or 5 of which I played with at WRFC), All Black legend Eric Rush keynote speaker. Followed by pub crawl. Then on to tailgating and match on Sat. You'd hate it.
ReplyDeleteThe budos band made a metal album?
ReplyDeleteThat was a bizarre arrangement of God bless America.
I'll say it. That was a weak God Bless America.
ReplyDeleteBumgarner wastes no pitches. 2 1/3 innings and 30 pitches.
ReplyDelete2 2/3 w/ 33 pitches. If he gets out w/ <40 pitches, you start the eighth w/ him. Not sure the lefty/righty setup, but he's in a groove.
ReplyDelete36 through 3. His performance is absolutely epic.
ReplyDeleteHow many relef innings did Pedro pitch in 1999 vs Cleveland?
ReplyDeleteI understand why Bumgarner is stating the 8th, but Romo should be warming up and ready. I don't see how the pen is not active now.
ReplyDeleteTJ Quinn must be reading the blog. He just tweeted about Pedro's 6 innings in 99.
ReplyDeleteI love Harold Reynolds shooting down Verducci every chance he gets with his smarmy "I played and you didn't" attitude.
ReplyDeleteI really wish I cared who wins this game.
ReplyDeleteYou have to root KC, Zman! F those gentrifying SFers.
ReplyDeleteTJ Quinn has 31K followers. Well deserved.
ReplyDeleteIf the Giants lose Bochy is a goat no matter his choice. If he leaves Bumgarner in, he was stupid. If he takes Bumgarner our, he was stupid. Tough spot.
ReplyDeleteI can't find KC on a map.
ReplyDeletePaleontology increases risk of stroke?
ReplyDeleteI'm with Bochy.
ReplyDeleteNot that there's anything wrong with that.
ReplyDeleteThat was an epic performance by Bumgarner.
ReplyDeleteThe ghost of Don Denkinger was snuffed out by MLB replay last night. The play even happened in the exact same spot. 8 year old me wishes replay existed in 1985.
ReplyDeletewe watch sports to be amazed, especially when our teams aren't involved. that was amazing.
ReplyDeleteRob, I actually watch sports in hopes of seeing a streaker.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, there is rampant chauvinism within sports event streaking, and most all such artists are men. I am hoping to change this into the future. But I'm no hero, friends. I'm just a guy who likes seeing bouncing, heaving, uncovered bosoms dashing across the 50 yard line.
there's no 50 yard-line in baseball. lay off the pipe, mersh.
ReplyDeleteWe don't watch sports to get drunk?
ReplyDeletenatch. but we use other rationales so we don't seem like raging alcoholics.
ReplyDeleteEver seen a streaker who wasn't drunk?
ReplyDeleteI watch sports to get drunk AND get drunk to watch sports.
ReplyDeleteInteresting CFB game on tonight. I was really looking forward to betting on Louisville until the line dropped 6 points in a day earlier this week. Now as low as +3 Cardinals in some places. Boooo.
ReplyDeleteAB's have been in Chicago all week. It's probably the first time in history they can walk around a city pretty much unrecognized. Imagine the comments / questions they're getting. Murrica!
ReplyDelete