We will miss you Junior!

Raymond “Junior” Espinoza was a founding member of Crown City Rugby Football Club (aka Pasadena Rugby). On August 31, 2007 he passed away peacefully in his sleep. He was born in Pasadena. He raised his children in Pasadena. He played rugby here. He met Mary here. He drank Tequila here. He played many, many games of darts here. He will be missed here.

By all accounts, Junior was a loving and gracious individual. To those that knew him (whether for a life time or just casually through rugby), he enjoyed life and wanted others to enjoy it with equal enthusiasm. My first encounter was at an after party. I had just joined the team when he sat down next to me to introduce himself. He asked me where I was from and how I got to PRFC. I told him “I was new…”. those were the last words I said in that conversation. Junior made me look like short story specialist. At one point, another old boy leaned over to me and said, “Hope you have the time.”

Juniors’ passing gives us all a moment to think about our friends and family, on the pitch and away from rugby. As his son so eloquently, “tell the people around you how much they mean to you.”

Raymond “Junior” Espinoza…R.I.P.
July 29, 1949 – August 31, 2007.

An Alaskan Legend... and I don't mean Christopher McCandless

Allen Rooney has not always been a typical, easy going, laid back So Cal lad that we have all grown to love. Of course I am kidding, as we all know Allen to be an intense competitor who demands that players play with passion, commitment and a ruthless devotion to “executing perfect rugby.” He also expects the same during the after party. Allen grew up in Wrangell Alaska. It is a small town of just over 2000 people. Like so many other males in this area, Allen spent much of childhood around fish, guns and boats. However, by the time he arrived in high school, his passion became wrestling. Allen honed his skill while at Wrangell High School and then went on to wrestle in college at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington.

Allen began his rugby career with a slow build into the raging inferno we know today. While at CWU, Allen devoted much of his training to wrestling, but from 1987-88 found time each spring to play a little rugby. It wasn’t until the CWU Rugby Team reformed (and apparently this new and improved club got the stamp of approval) that Allen began to think seriously about rugby. In 1989, his wrestling eligibility over, Allen took to the pitch full time and hasn’t really looked back. Little is known about what kind of player Allen was during this time…or how he learned how to play hooker with such skill and excellence. Whoever taught him how to do what “he does” probably takes a solid gold dump every morning with angels singing to him while he wipes. We do know that his College coah, Bryan Eglet was his first mentor and that he respects anyone that maintains posession. Much like Jesus’ adolescence, Allen’s rugby life has little documentation until the late 90’s. In 1997, Allen left the great northwest, and settled into a little town just east of Pasadena called Azusa (everything form A to Z in the USA.) His only plan was to find a rugby club and see what happened. I suppose Allen could have gone to a lot of other rugby clubs…I am sure that with the Internet not being invented yet (as reported by Chris Angelica)…there were several clubs he could have picked. But Allen found his way to Victory Park and made an immediate impact…with a power step I am sure. Allen came to Pasadena Rugby with an impressive physical aptitude. However, he credits Shawn Kingston (Pasadena RFC Coach) with being, "the coach that tought him the most about play on he field."

Allen was an immediate leader on and off the field. His fierce competitive nature and vocal pursuit of “perfect” rugby, while at times intimidating to newcomers, lights an inner fire to achieve a single-minded goal…make Pasadena’s forwards the best pack each and every year. He has often succeeded. His second year, 1999, Allen was awarded MVP, Best Forward and Coaches Award. It was around this time that we became familiar with the, “oh Jesus ruck.” In 2000, 2001 and 2002, Allen was again voted Best Forward by his peers. In 2005, his play over the years was recognized when he was given the Jeff Evans Golden Spike award as the player who upholds the traditions and values of an “Old School” rugby player, thus solidifying his status as a Pasadena Rugby Legend.

Allen leadership can be seen off the filed as well. He has been elected by his peers captain several times (both at CWU and with PRFC) and was overwhelmingly elected President of PRFC in 2003. Allen is fond of saying that he was “the most loved, but least active President in Club history.” While the jury is still out on how “active” of a president president he was, he did bring back a certain sense of legitimacy and accountability to the position that had strayed in years past. Possibly his greatest accomplishment, and in true Allen fashion…a simple but profound gesture…was awarding engraved pint glasses to Men of the Match for both teams. This recognition of MOTM is a long-standing tradition, not only with PRFC, but also with nearly every type of organized team sport known to man. It is also very rewarding to hear other teams praise the recognition of receiving this award from our team.

Allen’s unique sense of “rugby: rights and wrongs” is observed in the retelling of his most memorable game with the PRFC. In 2000, we were still in Division II and struggled at times to play well. We had a great bunch of guys that were good rugby players. We could never quite put a complete game together for a win. On a hot Saturday afternoon, the North County Gurkhas were visiting our field near the Rose Bowl. The Gurkhas always had a strong pack that played well with tactical precision and control. At the end of the first half, Pasadena found itself in a 33-0 hole. Pasadena slowly clawed its way back behind the rucking and running of Allen Rooney. Allen defines personnel success on a rugby pitch, not by the tries he scores or the long runs he had, but by the amount of times he maintained possession of the ball in a tackle and how many times he was able to steal the ball from his opponent. Against the Gurkhas, Allen was perfect in his goal to retain possession every time. He put on a clinic on stealing balls in free play and (as we are accustomed to seeing) stole many scrums. At the end of the day, Pasadena prevailed 35-33. Allen was named Man of the Match… despite another player scoring three tries. I believe that this was the first time Pasadena heard the now infamous phrase, “any monkey can fall over the try line.”

Allen takes great pride and is known for his “claw of death” (applied to many opponents chest and an occasional neck) and for maintaining possession. It should be no surprise then that he shows great disdain and, well… seems pretty pissed off... with his “knock-on” in the game against Mission in South Carolina. In his own words, “It [the knock] was so recent and important. Scoring that try could have changed the tempo of the game, so I have to live with that every day.”

When not on the rugby pitch, Allen is probably doing one of 5 things: teaching, shooting, making bullets, watching the history channel or cackling. I am pretty sure there is a 6th thing, but I don't feel too comfortable speaking about it. Allen is an elementary school science teacher and by all accounts (from non-rugby informants) his is a very good teacher…brilliant even. Many don’t know, but he is also credentialed to teach Special Education. Must be why he is so good at explaining things to the forwards. In addition to his obvious passion for rugby, Allen can often be seen loading up his ’45 and heading into the foothills…to a shooting range practicing for his competitions. Allen is an excellent marksmen and anyone brave enough to journey with him up the mountain, to a very secluded shooting range, will find that he is just as facetious about shooting and shooting etiquette as he is about rugby.

I have played with Allen for close to 10 years. I have had the distinct pleasure of going to Missoula Montana for Maggotfest with him several times. The most enjoyable of those trips was the time Allen, Aston and I drove from Seattle to Montana. It was as if Allen became stronger and more powerful the farther north we went. Anyone who has witnessed Allen in Missoula knows what I am talking about. He was charming to the ladies and they responded with…affection??? Yes. Allen is, without a doubt, the best hooker I have ever played with. I have seen him play flanker a few times…even scrum half…. Did I mention he is a great hooker?

Oops, Tanner

Congratulations Griffin Award Nominees!

During the season no one ever thinks, “how will this team measure up in years to come?” Will it (our team) be considered a good team that is eventually forgotten as memories fade? Will it be a great team that only PRFC players talks about? Or, possibly, could it be a legendary team…a team that other teams recall with respect and recognition as well? Questions like theses are often debated (usually in the bar with Angelica going anabolic at anyone who dare disagree with his position) for years and years. After reading who was nominated for 2007 Griffin awards, it looks like we have an answer.

First and foremost, Congratulations to the entire Pasadena Rugby Football Club Family for being nominated for TEAM OF THE YEAR!!!! Whether you played in ’71 or one game back in 2001, you have made Pasadena what it is today and we should all be proud of this recognition. This award is as much about the Kelly’s, Davis’, Caraher’s, Kuntz’, Small’s, Ciampa's, Loves, Roche’s and many others…as it is about the entire 2007 team and our many supporters.

Some rookies may think, “Hell, we went 11-0, why wouldn’t we be considered?” From my perspective it seems that all of DIII has never really been given a fair shake when it comes to accolades like this. Even looking towards some of our alumni who now play for other teams (not you Garrett). They look at us (DIII) as this little child who need their hands held. Sure, we were fun to party with, but “real rugby” is only played at (fill in team name here)! Over the past 5 years (some may argue more, others less) PRFC has worked hard to change this perception. Initially, success was seen only off the field, but slowly on field success followed, cumulating in our superb 2007 season. Knowing that someone at the Union level thought highly enough to nominate our team speaks volumes about what WE have accomplished. Do I think we have a chance? The way I see it, DI and Super League teams are supposed to be good. The fact that Belmont, Santa Barbra and OMBAC had good years is awesome, but when you are the top dog…it is expected and not surprising. Certainly LA Rugby had a fantastic year and are well deserving of any recognition they get. Same with the Belmont Women who had a perfect 6-0 season, but have always been perennial favorites. Would I be disappointed if Belmont Men, Santa Barbra or OMBAC were selected…yes (actually, YES damit!) However, the sting of “not” being selected would be a little less if LA or Belmont Women get selected. My small brain would just assume we were second!

Individual awards are always nice. To know that others respected you is a feeling like no other. The fact that Pasadena had two players selected only exemplifies the level of respect our team had this year within the DIII community. The real evidence in our respect is, other teams felt strongly that Pasadena had the best players on the field each day and have said so publicly. Obviously I have great admiration and respect for Frazier. We have played together (on and off the field...grrrr, wink wink) for many years. I can’t think of one person that wouldn’t say he absolutely deserved this recognition. I also have great respect for the year that Matt had. His leadership as Pack Captain (Pack Captain???…Ok, seriously… that is the stupidest name, ever…) and his play on the field makes his nomination well deserved. Well-done boys.

For a rookie coach who started the season with a bit of trepidation…wondering, “can I coach these hooligans?” Well, what a better way to answer that question and “top off” a perfect season by being nominated Coach of the Year. There isn’t anyone more respected or admired than Doc and his ability to motivate a group of 40+ players for an entire season was remarkable. While most Saturdays were pretty easy for Doc (in the sense that by half time the results were not in doubt) his real work was seen on Tuesdays and Thursdays…and Monday, Wednesday, Friday and some Sundays. Doc’s ability to motivate rookies and grizzled cranky veterans alike to run, run, run and hit and scrum and ruck is what made us the team we were. Let’s face it… who wasn’t petrified that Doc would yell, “I aint into punitive shit, but that looked like crap…take a lap” because you messed a drill up? I can’t think of a more fitting tribute for a man who has done so much for our team and asked so little in return. Oh wait… I guess I can think of something more fitting…his nomination as Sport Person of the Year. I have no way of knowing why or how this nomination was made, but if the selectors were given the information on Doc’s passion and organization of our teams efforts with the CHLA Elf Program and, with the death of the child that we sponsored, his selfless desire to HELP this family in their time of need, the choice seems easy. I am sure that choice was even easier after they read about his “team challenge” for Bunk and his never ending pursuit of putting PRFC in a positive light in the community…ummm, I guess I can understand why he was selected.

Not many of you have played with Jim Ciampa (Past Club President and PRFC MVP 1998). Most only know him as Team Legal Counsel or as an old boy who likes to bring his son to home games. In my match reports of years past, I have made references to a broken nose, bad kicks and possibly that he had a propensity for running down streets in his boxers during pub crawls. I can only say to those of you who have never played with him, “You missed out big time.” More importantly, Jim has spent the last 500 years as the SCRFU Legal Council as well. In this position, Jim was able to help all of us play the sport we love in countless ways. He has helped resolve disciplinary issues, helped us get approval for tournaments and have been an advocate for Pasadena Rugby at the Union Level. I honestly wish I knew more about what he has done in his EC capacity, my experience is limited to PRFC dealings. To me, when I was President, his council was priceless. He was honest and was never impatient, even with my very stupid questions. Angelica will tell you how Ciampa has always, “done what is best for rugby and for Pasadena.” I agree and I almost never agree with Angelica. I have heard stories of how difficult the Union EC can (or could) be, so the fact that he spent numerous years working in that environment is testament enough for me that this nomination for Distinguished Service Award is more than appropriate.

Lastly, I cannot even begin to tell you how proud I am that Keegan was selected for the Players’ Player Award. Yes, the joke that he is a Playa is very easy to make and I am sure we will all get a laugh out of pretending we are as cool as P-Diddy when we see the “playa” at practice. However, there is no greater compliment than being someone who other players of the game, not a coach or an EC member who has to make PC choices as to who is nominated, but a “skin in the game” player who thought that Keegan is the type of player that “HE” wants to be like… that “HE” wants to have on his team… that Keegan is that player that everyone hates to play against, but would be embraced by any other team if he played for them in a heart beat. To me, that is Keegan. Keegan shows up to our opponents’ preseason games, and the two teams argue to see who gets Keegan on their side. During the recent All-Star tryouts, it was awesome to see 30 of the best players in our league collectively turn to Keegan when he spoke and listened intently. Not one person looked away or even tried to show him up… he was the alpha dog. They all respected him. Not because he used to play Super League or because “I have played on this club for 70 years… I know best.” They listened because he puts his heart and soul (and the hearts and souls of babies he steals to sacrifice to the rugby gods) into playing rugby better than any other individual. I can think of no better player to receive this recognition.

So there you have it. You can agree or disagree. We can debate all we want about the merits of awards, All Star selection procedures, and Asian porn. However, we cannot argue that Pasadena Rugby, as a whole, is one of they most respected teams in the Union. Period.

Oops,
Tanner
p.s., I nearly forgot to send a shout out and congratulations to a former player, and past President, Garrett Futrell who was also nominated as DI MVP. Any of you who remember him as a player just a few years ago and have watched him progress into the player that he is now, we can only say…. It must have been his time at Pasadena that made him what he is today!! Keep up the hard work G!