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November 13, 2005
Where my bitches at?
This weekend ended a good season for my rugby team where we experienced our first fall league win of our team's history, a tie, and many nail biting and competitive matches (9 in all) against local teams in our union. We had the best team recruitment and retention ever, with the ability to play and practice two full sides most of the season. While my bones ache and I'm bruised all over today, I've come out without anything broken or cut (as far as I can tell). I'm not going to bother working out for a while, as my body needs a break for sure. I'm prepared to play next season too, should my grad school courses not become too overwhelming.
Our A-side earned the tournament cup from this weekend's matches in NYC. It was great weather for a day of rugby. Both our A- and B-sides played three matches each, at 20 minutes a half against a pool of 5 teams:
A side: Renegades 17-0 over Boston, 33-0 over Suffolk, and 48-0 over Gotham (NYC) for the Championship.
The Bs fought hard all afternoon: Philly Gryphons A 12-0, Toronto 18-5, but fell in the finals 3-35 to Drew University. Those boys were tough but we came back in the second half more competitive. The Philly team beat us earlier this season but we came back in a brutal match. At one point I was so deep in a dogpile I could not see light from the bottom of it all, and I saw my leg bent at an unnatural angle and was thankful I'm dedicated to good stretching technique. I played OK scrumhalf moves but did manage to get in a lot of rucking and mauling. I rucked over and cleared the ball a couple times too.
Despite such a successful season where we played far better and more competitively as a team than ever, one disappointing question remains in my mind:
My friends, both straight female and gay male continually ask me, "Oooh, introduce me to some rugby players!" Since our team is now 50/50 gay/straight, there's something for everyone these days. Even the promise of free beer and food was appealing to some, where others simply requested to see a how the game is played.
So this season I was diligent to send out nothing less than full-on press releases for each of our home matches complete with a background story of our history with each team and the possible outcomes. Links to pitch locations and start times for both the socials and matches were provided. I even documented the matches on my blog, or provided the same match information of the wheres and whens on entries the week before. With the exception of Joe Tresh and his mighty camera, not one of my friends showed up this season. I understand that the game may be more fun to play than to watch, and that the weather for many of our home matches was far from pleasant, there were many opportunities to come watch. So where were my bitches at? In the future, refer to our match schedule if you're interested in coming in the future.
Anyway, many of the Saturday matches were played on a cool astroturf pitch near the brand new Icahn Stadium with very inspiring and dramatic architechture. Here's to hoping the Big Gay International Rugby Tournament finals are held there too - with visible, accessible and present on-site medical/first aid support from the host team. It was my first time on astrotuf and it was fun, but you can get tackle burns from it. Philly had a hot scrumhalf named Mark whom I gave a comforting pat on the head during one tackle, and an adorable winger named Chris who was from Wisconsin, so that made him double hot. Hi Chris! See you this spring? I couldn't stalk well enough to find Chris' picture, but he was cute and had a trim beard. During the social I saw my favorite dreamy Gotham player and geek icon Jeff, who administers a part of the OFFICIAL Dungeons and Dragons website, so I was totally in awe of him and hope I didn't sound like a complete stalker and D&D groupie when I chatted with him and when I had to give him a big smooch. It was all I could do to not giggle uncontrollably like a 12 year old girl in heat while I was talking to him, despite being a little drunk. Unfortunately he was resistant to my macking and had to move on.
:' (
Posted by jimbo at November 13, 2005 7:00 PM
Comments
You're still the dreamiest rugby player I know.
Posted by: homer at November 14, 2005 8:24 AM
I honestly TRIED to look at your bruises. Honest. I just kept getting sidetracked...
Posted by: albert at November 14, 2005 10:31 AM
I doubt he was resistant, he just didn't have the confidence to let you know just how much he wanted to take you back to the field and roll around in the mud without his jersey. :)
Posted by: copperred at November 14, 2005 11:14 AM
Damn sorry I missed it this year, Jimbo.
You'll have to recreate the dogpile thing in person.
Posted by: Joe.My.God. at November 14, 2005 1:46 PM
I totally talked you up but being 1200 miles away made it difficult to attend meetings. Do you video cast? cause I could totally make that...
Thanks for posting about it, I have enjoyed your bruising pictures.
Posted by: Tim at November 14, 2005 3:26 PM
What do you mean by the "visible, accessible and present on-site medical/first aid support from the host team" comment. There were medics on both pitches.
Posted by: Alex at November 15, 2005 5:12 PM