Player of the Month: July

Keegan Hornbeck is a complicated person. His tattoos, prison slippers and bulging dip filled lower lip makes Chuck Norris want to cross the street when they meet at night. However, to know him better is to understand why he is my July Player of the Month for July.

Keegan began playing rugby at his alma matter, Arizona State University. He played flanker for the first side team and then, for reasons taht can only be understoond by the craziez, played lock for the second game. Keegan jsut wnated to play rugby, some things never change, eh? Before playing rugby and before some life decisions took him down a “different” path, Keegan had a very good shot at becoming a professional skate boarder. At ASU, his fellow flanker, Aaron Halfpenny, mentored Keegan in the ways of the lose forward. His previous hatred of all living things was slowly refined to hatred of any player in an opponent’s jersey.

In late 2004, Keegan ended up living in the Pasadena area looking to get back into rugby. He started practicing with the team during our “pre-season” runs around the Rose Bowl. His first season as a player (2005), Keegan was voted Best Forward. He was again voted Best Forward in 2006, along with the team MVP. And, ho hum, voted Best Forward again in 2007. Best Forward three years running...A feat that only Allen Rooney has accomplished in recent memory. Keegan, in some respects, orchestrated the successful 2007 season from his bathroom, well actually my bathroom (but that is another post). How does he do it? Lets jsut say, he has “a way” to get things he wants. He will either threaten to burn you alive in your car or he will tell you, “you are a great influence on the team and people respect you” to get you to practice and games. He could mean both, but you never know…so you show up not wanting to find out. Keegan’s ultimate goal is to win the National Championships in DII…and DI.

At the end of the 2007 season, Keegan dedicated his intense-white-sun-like-hatred towards organizing our summer 7’s team knowing it will only help us for our upcoming 15’s season. My first observations of these practices were exactly what I would have expected. Five forwards playing like it was 15’s and two backs playing like it is 7’s. A month or so later, things didn’t look that much better. I told keegan, “That looked horrific.” He was devastated. He is a competitor at everything he does. He, along with Roche Sanchez, has done an amazing job over the past few months, but mostly since July started. Players actually look like they know what they are doing. What made them turn around? No offense Roche, but the positive change in play seems to revolve around when Keegan began wearing his ultra tight rugby jersey. Honestly, Keegan puts 100% effort into any endeavor he decides to do and I think his desire to make our team a competitor really made the difference. He is a natural leader...he makes people want to be better and to put in the extra effort to be better. The best part is, they often think it was their idea.

Initially, Keegan didn’t really like 7’s. In fact, he wasn’t even sure if 7’s was “actual” rugby. He tolerated 7’s as a way to stay in shape, be competitive in the off season and not be forced to spend Saturday’s at Ikea looking for a JOKK table. So it is amazing that he puts as much effort into 7’s as he does. Not only has he been given a promotion at his job, he is in the middle of Casey’s workouts that in Keegan words are, “the most brutal thing I have ever encountered.” Why does he do it? Keegan is THAT guys that will drive 20 miles to help you change a flat tire…. or beat the hell out of a mob of Emo Kids. He knows that by being a better 7's team, we will be a better 15's team.

Saturday the 21st will be Pasadena’s last 7’s tournament before hibernating till 15’s starts. It will be in Long Beach. I am hoping that by writing this, four things will happen.

1. Keegan will be motivated to be the best damn rugby player on the pitch each and every day.
2. It buys me some time till I hear, “yo, Tanner…you ever gonna get your boots on or what.”
3. Keegan will get his hands on one more promising rookie and use some sort of Jedi mind trick to get him to buy into the "Rugby Life".
4. There is no point four.

I look forward to watching Keegan intimidate others into giving up their lives, girlfriends and jobs to fulfill his dream of playing for a kick ass team. Until then, keep up the good work Keegan.

Oops,Tanner