Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Shoot the Boot Saturday

Monday night we got to watch a fantastic and fairly stunning upset, that of our beloved Washington American Football Club over the universally loathed Dallas Cowboys.  That was nothing.

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

39 comments:

rob said...

over to you, mr kq.

zman said...

The Father Abraham scene choked me up.

mayhugh said...

What's the line?

mr kq said...

55.5. Although you might get it at 52.5 on Ladbrokes or Williamhill.

TR said...

Halloween idea for Mark, Zman and/or Danimal (but mostly for Mark):

http://www.brandsonsale.com/marijuana-costumes.html

Clarence said...

The Budos Band has a new song called "Aphasia," which I am very much hoping is a cover of the Greasetruck song. (See here.)

TR said...

This Game 7 is great. The energy from the fans adds so much.

And Ned Yost was great as the star of Sin City.

TR said...

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.

TR said...

19 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.

TR said...

There we go. 27 pitches through two. Bochy says he can go 40.

mr kq said...

Clarence - 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.

zman said...

The budos band made a metal album?

That was a bizarre arrangement of God bless America.

TR said...

I'll say it. That was a weak God Bless America.

TR said...

Bumgarner wastes no pitches. 2 1/3 innings and 30 pitches.

TR said...

2 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.

TR said...

36 through 3. His performance is absolutely epic.

zman said...

How many relef innings did Pedro pitch in 1999 vs Cleveland?

TR said...

I 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.

mr kq said...

TJ Quinn must be reading the blog. He just tweeted about Pedro's 6 innings in 99.

TR said...

I love Harold Reynolds shooting down Verducci every chance he gets with his smarmy "I played and you didn't" attitude.

zman said...

I really wish I cared who wins this game.

TR said...

You have to root KC, Zman! F those gentrifying SFers.

TR said...

TJ Quinn has 31K followers. Well deserved.

zman said...

If 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.

zman said...

I can't find KC on a map.

zman said...

Paleontology increases risk of stroke?

TR said...

I'm with Bochy.

zman said...

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Mark said...

That was an epic performance by Bumgarner.

Mark said...

The 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.

rob said...

we watch sports to be amazed, especially when our teams aren't involved. that was amazing.

Clarence said...

Rob, I actually watch sports in hopes of seeing a streaker.

Unfortunately, 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.

rob said...

there's no 50 yard-line in baseball. lay off the pipe, mersh.

mr kq said...

We don't watch sports to get drunk?

rob said...

natch. but we use other rationales so we don't seem like raging alcoholics.

Clarence said...

Ever seen a streaker who wasn't drunk?

TR said...

I watch sports to get drunk AND get drunk to watch sports.

Mark said...

Interesting 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.

mr kq said...

AB'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!