Player of the Month: November

Suan Tan was born in Singapore and grew up in Southern California where he went to high school at Webb School in Claremont. Suan excelled in school as well as athletics where he played basketball, volleyball, water polo, football, and wrestling. Of course Keegan would tell you that volleyball is not a sport, but if Suan played it…well you know VB must kick ass. In the 9th grade, Suan decide that he wanted to play a new sport and thought rugby would be an interesting choice. He researched the game, but unfortunately didn’t find time to play then. However, the “itch” to play remained buried in the recess of his mind until he graduated.

Suan started playing rugby when he attended Union College in Schenectady (upstate) New York. Here, he finally found rugby and played in the forwards. Arriving home after graduation, he wanted to again play rugby and did what every other Pasadena Rugby player has done…Googled: SoCal Rugby. Suan, in his typical quite, yet direct response as to why he chose Pasadena, answered, “we had better jersey colors than Eagle Rock.” Apparently green flushes him out.

Over the past month, Suan has become more than just a defensive power. Despite his small size, he packs a wallop and has always been one of the best tacklers on our team. However, during the Huntington Beach Tourney, Suan demonstrated what an offensive force he could be. I know we have heard this before, but never about a back…. "it takes two to three players to stop him!” Many players can drag a defender two or three yards, but most end up losing the ball. Suan is become more and more adept at dragging two player 5 yards and then allowing the ball to be recycled, allowing for quick ball and so his other center and wingers the ability to get the ball with less defenders perusing him. Sure, maybe he didn’t score the try…but his tenacity and drive played a huge part in setting up that try for his teammate. His work ethic on the pitch and during practice is exemplar. While he may not deliver hate speeches or scream out insults, he leads by example. I for one am hoping more players pay attention to this silent giant.

When Suan is not on the rugby pitch, he enjoys…oh never mind. Just know that Suan Tan is my Player of the Month for November. Good job and keep on hitting.

Oops,
Tanner

Pasadena's 15's Tournament

First, I think it is appropriate that I thank Tim for all his hard work with the tournament. He kept blaming me for "strong arming him" or "convincing him" that running the Tourney was a good idea, but looking at the final product, I guess I made the right choice.

Second, just a brief note as to why we call it Mike Aston's Tournament. You no doubt saw Big Mike runs the tourney like a Czar with a sharpie pen. When a team dropped out and another left early after a disappointing day (who does that...teams that don't respect rugby...) Mike rearranged a scheduled and made lemon aide out of lemons (gawd that was not even close to being funny). Anyway, Mike sells sports memorabilia and December is the busiest time of the year for him, but he makes time to be at the tournament. He will tell you how hard it is...how busy he is...but truth be told, I think he loves the helping!

I know one of the first thing I think the day after a Tournament is, "What just happened?" I am sure all of you guys just feel like a truck ran over you. Tournaments, while a great way to get a lot of rugby against different opponents in one day, are a test in endurance and mental toughness. There were times where we put 6,7,8 good phases together (both sides!) only to lose possession. There were times, specifically when we were in the red zone, where we lost possession or lost tactical advantage. Whether it was the Pasadena or Warlord side, I believe the lesson we learned on Saturday was that every player…from first team to the last sub ...needs to work on maintaining possession, tackling/rucking/driving low and not making silly mistakes.

This means knowing the rules (especially offsides), how to ruck (forwards and backs), how (and when) to maul. As Keegan pointed out, we have very few practices to “work out the kinks” and in the middle of the holiday season, every practice counts. Just to reiterate…make time to get to practice, work out on your own and make it to fitness practice.

On a different note, Doc successfully delivered an 8lb 7oz baby in between games.

There are many players who could be singled out for their play. Several of them were recognized during the after party and all were well deserved. I am sure the match report will detail the excellent play by them and others. I, personally, was very impressed with the play of three individuals. Dave Pett, Matt Encinas and Joaquin Neira.

Dave did not have the “best game ever” Saturday. I am sure he recognized what he needs to do to improve his play. I was more impressed that he was able to play several positions (with a variety of players next to him), never once complained and always gave it 100% (note: it is physically impossible to give more than 100%). Additionally, he eagerly played in both Pasadena and Warlord games. It can be easy, once on the first side team, to feel “slighted” if asked to play on a second side team. Not for Dave...and that not seen by ANY player Saturday. Dave played every minute on the field in his typical "balls to the wall" fashion. Good Job
(note* there were several players that played on both sides and in different positions.)

Joaquin is another player that played for both the Pasadena and Warlord side, sometimes subbing in at a moments notice. He played well and has shown much improvements in his first year as a back (he played forward all last year.) Joaquin was pulled from the sideline, after just playing in a very tuff game, when the Warlords needed someone who could play flanker. His tenacity on defense and excellent support was just what the young Warlords needed against a tuff, veteran laden OMBAC side. His leadership helped a very young Warlord side progress.

Matt, asked to do the same as Joaquin and Dave, only in reverse. Matt played all day with the Warlords as a starter in the centers. When asked to be a sub for the first side or play in the last game as a winger, he did so with confidence and aggression, despite not having a lot of playing time at some of the positions in “game situations.” He listened to his teammates and improved every minute he was on the field.

These players are definitely not the exceptions. It seems our whole team is singled minded in their desire to help the team win. Remember, it is difficult to know what to do…and then do what you know. Practice will make all this easier.

Lastly, I was asked by a, ref as well as an LA and an OMBAC player at the after, "what PRFC thought of going to DII?" I answered very politically, "we were excited, wanting to see what the new season would bring, and other cliches" I think I used three less clechhes than were heard in our post tourney round "table." The general consensus amongst them was

1. If we kept numbers at practice
2. If we maintain our "hard nose, disciplined play" (there words, not mine)

then we will do very well. The LA player said that was one of the key reasons they did so well last year. OH, the OMBAC player initially said he was "happy" that we came up as it would give them "someone to be more competitive with" as they did not "do very well last year." I asked if he "assumed that we would be in the lower half of the standings?" He answered that, "If you play the way you played against us, then we would have trouble competing against Riverside and the Aztecs." I didn't tell him that he played our SECOND SIDE. He can learn that in a few weeks.

Well, that's it for now

Oops,
Tanner

Why it Doesn't Matter

I certainly didn’t start writing a blog about this year to become some sort of point counter point with Angelica(www.the2ndrow.blogspot.com). He always has a very vocal view on what he thinks is right and wrong and no one will ever be able to stop him from making his thoughts heard loud and clear. Part of the beauty of this club is, we have the most awesomely ridiculous, cool, funny, somber, odd, freaky, sincere, etc personalities. I will leave the bitter vitriol to others.

I did, however, decide to write a blog about this year and the experience (good and bad) of playing in DII. Yes, there is some plagiarism here. I’m not that smart..

The idea of tradition is a funny thing. The word tradition comes from the Latin word traditio which means "to hand down" or "to hand over." It is used in a number of ways in the English language:

1. Beliefs or customs taught by one generation to the next, often orally. For example, we can speak of the tradition of sending birth announcements.
2. A set of customs or practices. For example, we can speak of Christmas traditions.
3. A broad religious movement made up of religious denominations or church bodies that have a common history, customs, culture, and, to some extent, body of teachings. For example, one can speak of Islam’s Sufi tradition or Christianity's Lutheran tradition.

However, on a more basic theoretical level, tradition(s) can be seen as information or composed of information. Traditions are often presumed to be ancient, unalterable, and deeply important, though they may sometimes be much less "natural" than is presumed. Some traditions were deliberately invented for one reason or another, often to highlight or enhance the importance of a certain institution.

Traditions may also be changed to suit the needs of the day, and the changes can become accepted as a part of the ancient tradition. A famous book on the subject is The Invention of Tradition, edited by Eric Hobsbawm and Terence Ranger.

The rejection of tradition is part of nature according to the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche claims that people (or in our case the Team) that reinterpret the world (Traditions) again and again are strong. That way, sorrow and loss which is linked to trying to keep tradition can be avoided. Nietzsche wants his readers to open up and accept nature as it is in all its manyfold appearances. In order to be able to interpret nature it is mandatory to imagine. It is weak to claim that your imagination is the only truth. That could get you destroyed. A strong person is someone who is ready to change in order to avoid self-destruction.

So, with that rambling said, which of our PRFC traditions are improtant? Obviously the Jersy color seems to have struck a cord.What about the others. Is only drinking with our left hand a tradition that should be strictly observed? If you chose to NOT follow that tradition, what are you then? Should players be forced to Zulu (run naked) after their first try no matter the legal consiquence? It is a tradition!

By now I am sure you can figure out I am in the “get over it camp.” I also know that I will never change the minds of people that feel strongly. That was not my intent. I will ask, both sides, “what is this about?”

Oops,
Tanner

Player of the Month: October

You would never have known it, but prior to last year, Greg Smith had never played rugby. From the first moment he stepped onto the pitch, he had this “look” that was confident and reassuring, as if he had been playing for years. Greg has been an athlete most of his life. His first love is, of course, running. He began running with his mother while in elementary school to keep her company. Greg comes from an active family that enjoys anything outdoorsy. This includes surfing, camping, sailing and apparently their love of snake wrangling. More on that later.

Greg attended Claremont High School. He graduated and went to Cal Berkley and then to Whittier Law School. He now practices at the Public Counsel Law Center with a focus on representing homeless youth, so Colby has a lawyer once Rooney throws him out. He started playing Rugby when his roommate, or own Dean Damuth, dragged…drug…draggled… took him to a fitness practice. Greg had no intention of playing rugby, but enjoyed the fitness aspect. Eventually, he came to a practice, then another, then another. Next thing you know, he is our starting wing of the 2007 DIII So Cal Championship Team playing in South Carolina. His play earned him a spot on the DIII Blue Griffins where he took his game to a new level and added scrum half to his resume.

Over the past month, Greg has gone from a relatively new player to a leader on and off the pitch. When he decided to approach the coaches about wanting to be a scrum half, I am sure it was not a “off the cuff” decision. Greg is the type that makes thoughtful decisions, no doubt after drawing schematics, listing pros and cons and seeking advice from mentors. He has dedicated himself to learning the ways of the Jedi…and the life of a scrumhalf. He is becoming a real student of the game, no doubt he will soon drop all his clients calls to focus on surfing the web searching for “drop kick techniques, feeding the scrum and hair care products” and with life imitating art, become homeless himself.

Greg counts Frazier, Andy and Dean as his biggest mentors of the game. To his credit, he has been able to tune out all the forwards that have offered their constant advice (mine included) and listened, watched and learned form his mentors; taken their insight into the game and hopefully make himself into a force to be reckoned with. Hell, he was even praised by Angelica. That is like the Pope telling someone they say the Lord's Prayer real well.

Greg has had a rash of injuries that make him look like a real warrior if he were to list them at an after party. He has broken his arm, ankle, nose, 3 fingers, 2 toes and his hand. He dislocated his knee and a finger and separated his shoulder. He also had three concussions and found himself with a 2-½ inch framing nail in his hand…oh and almost had to have his arm amputated. I am pretty sure 98% of those have a funny “Dean story” involved and only his finger may have been a rugby injury?

While praise has been frequent and his play stellar, he still has a lot to learn. Scrumhalf is a position that requires knowledge, guts and leadership. Veterans around the pitch feel that if he continues to work on his passing and “field vision” he will truly become a special player. IF he rests on his Laurels…he is at risk for becoming just another PRFC experiment gone awry. For now, he is May Player of the Month.

Oops,Tanner

did you think I would just let the snake story go? So here is Greg, our ever confident and uber smart prepubescent, not yet a Lawyer, out for a walk hike with his family. Nature was a way of life for the Smith family, so when they ran across a baby rattlesnake, they stopped to observe it. Like all completely normal families, they all walked away, laving young Greg to study the venomous snake. Did he try to grab it? No. Well then...from out of nowhere... a guy on a bike shows up? "hey kid...wanna touch my snake?" Greg argues with this odd ball about the dangers of such behavior, no doubt listing consequences for actions taken and not taken and wondering when the NBC cameras would get there.

Yes, his family is still walking away.

Now, this douche on a bike grabs a stick, picks up the snake and lunges it at our young Greg! Yep. Bit him. Greg was rushed to the hospital where he was given anti-venom. As the venom and anti-venom battle inside his body, his arm swells up to the size of, well a rugby ball. They had to cut incisions in his arm to relieve pressure and he nearly lost his arm. The police canvased the area looking for a snake wielding pedo, but he was never found.

that's an awesome story!

Souther California Griffin Awards

The night started off simply enough, at Coach’s house. Being a forward, I was not smart enough to read the entire invitation (at least it wasn’t an e-vite) and did not bring a sports coat. Shoes…check. Pants…. check. Tie…check. Coat… negative. Doc escorted me to his Sport coat closet (think Imelda Marcos) where I selected his finest dinner jacket.

Knowing that the open bar was from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, Pasadena’s troublemakers checked in at 6:01. The excitement was palpable. Jerry Collins, the All Black Flanker would be on hand, we were all excited to hear what he had to Say. Keegan was the most excited and he almost missed it. eating hurriedly so he wouldn't miss anything, he started choking on a piece of Brie and I had to do a Kiwi maneuver on him. Jerry finally arrived just in time for dinner, but he didn’t seem to be that hungry as he by passed most of the buffet line, skipping the French fries, French toast and asked if he could get a Kaiser role to replace the Baguette? Odd. Just before the festivities began, Alexis showed up. He was all decked out and even sported an All Blacks tie. Unfortunately, he had to remove it after about 75 minutes as it started choking him.

As you have undoubtedly read by now, Pasadena RFC pretty much “ran the table” Saturday night, taking home 5 of the 6 awards they were nominated for. We were, I am told, 2 votes away from also receiving the Team of the Year Award as well. That award went to Belmont Shore who had an “OK” year. Keegan and I will be digging shallow graves for those CIPP’ed players that didn’t vote. Below you will find our winners.

Division III Most Valuable Player: Matt Hettermann
Coach of the Year: Michael Bryant
Distinguished Service Award: Jim Ciampa
Player's Player Award: Keegan Hornbeck
Sportsperson of the Year: Michael Bryant

I enjoyed seeing Eagle Rock’s table look utterly defeated each time a Pasadena player was announced. I am sure they are still trying to figure out why they weren’t somehow winning awards. I think there were more than a few people VERY surprised by the Pasadena onslaught of victories. But what did our table think?

Recognition is a weird thing. Not one person from PRFC expected to win. They all had an, “I am sure _____ will win cause he deserves it more” attitude. Can you blame Coach for thinking that the Southern California Men’s Griffin Coach would win? Who can blame Keegan for thinking that Henry Bloomfield (an Eagle that just retuned from playing in the World Cup) might be chosen? Can you blame Matt for thinking Frazier would win? Or Ciampa for thinking the ex-President of the Union would get the nod? Surely they all deserved their award, but I am always impressed with the “I am no better than anyone else” mentality that our team has. There is no place for ego…I do love a good Eggo though.

The Mad Cow!

Alistair Blevins (aka Mad Cow) was born on February 2, 1976 in Crawley, England. He first came to America in 1999 to work for an asset management group as a marketing executive. Here, Alistair did two very important things. First, he took a job that was within walking distance of nearly everything he wanted to do… eat, drink, play, and sleep. Second, he went to Pep Boys, but that is a different story.

Alistair began playing rugby at the tender age of eight and played competitively with the University of Plymouth, the Royal Air Force Cadets, and the Crawley Town RFC. Finally, playing for Pasadena RFC, which he serendipitously found on the Internet. Recently, Alistair has taken up training for Marathons, but he true love has been “to go fast.” Ricky Bob…er Alistair loves watching Formula UUUN, tinkering with his vintage Mustang and talking about his time in a Jet as a Cadet.

Alistair now resides Cape Town, South Africa where, as an Englishmen, he is constantly defending the play of England’s Rugby team. Yet he finds solace in being genetically superior in nearly every way to his new countrymen.

Alistair played inside and outside center as well as a brief, and ill-advised, stint at flanker and one horrific trip to flyhalf. On a more positive note, Alistair is most remembered for a “blinder” of a game he played against the North County Gurkhas where he scored three tries to help the maroon and black overcome a 33-point deficit in the second half. That year, 2000, Alistair was named the teams MVP. The Second most memorable…errr…memory (as well as his third, fourth, fifth ad nauseam) was any time he dropped the ball, which was a lot by most accounts. It was Allen the surmised that there is a very sad clown missing his pie plates, because it was apparent that Alistair had stolen them and taped them to his hands when playing.

All kidding aside, Alistair was a perfect example of what Pasadena Rugby is about. He embodied what rugby is supposed to be both on and off the field. He was one of the most solid players to have graced our field. He was the type of teammate that would help change a tire at 11:00 pm or share his last hotdog and Budweiser (usually in a can) when you arrived unannounced.

The following is a recap penned by an old boy, Martin Jimenez (with some redactions), from Alistair’s 25th birthday party….

…[Alistair began and ended the night] consuming liquor like a Biafra child devouring rice. His ensuing alcohol-induced antics are legendary. After annoying the North Woods Inn dinner guests with his incessant offerings of friendship and birthday cake that he continuously dropped en route to their tables, he and Mark Frazier stormed the stage and forced the hired piano player into submission. The two then proceeded with their renditions of classic rock favorites, the most memorable being Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Their cacophony was complimented by the sound of shattering glass from the bottle of tequila that Club president “Hands” Angelica had smuggled in, and in an uncanny moment of life imitating rugby, juggled and dropped. If that wasn’t enough, after relocating to the Crown City for a night cap(s), Alistair initiated a break-dancing war and later felt compelled to chase the female patrons around the pub with his twig and berries exposed as he exclaimed, “I’ve got a small willy! I’ve got a small willy!” When the dust cleared and he finally tired, he walked up the stairs to the second level of the Brewery with a full pint, looked down upon the crowd and proceeded to empty its contents in one swift chug. In a sudden flash of Greek-ness, he heaved the empty glass down to the floor as the already stunned crowd watched in horror! In typical limy fashion, he could not finish the job and the glass lay unbroken. He spent the rest of the morning on his knees regurgitating about $150.00 worth of steak, potato and liquor…

Alistair has a brother, who lives in the States and a Mum and Dad that live in England. Alistair shares his love of Port Wine with his father, but not his mother’s extreme love of washing clothes. He constantly promises to return to the States some day, but until that happens we all wish him well in whatever adventure he has taken to…this year.

Oops, Tanner

Week Four

So week four and practice was not, shall we say…the “best?” Ehhh, bound to happen right? Despite most of California being on fire, 40 plus players were present on Tuesday. We “walked” through some of the set pieces of rugby (the scrum, lineouts, etc) and I hope it was helpful to the rookies. Rugby is a complicated game with weird sounding names (God damn it…who the hell is the standoff and is he near the flyhalf?) Thursday saw even worse air quality and practice was cancelled. Several players made their way to Dominico’s for some pizza, beer and listening to Angelicas Tales of Lore.

Chris’ theme was “Bus Trip.” Those newer to the team will quickly learn that Chris’ thoughts are often as erratic as a Colorado Rockies pitcher, but “Bus Trip” remained a topic for at least an hour (interspersed with random jabs at new and old players alike). Pasadena has a love hate relationship with bus trips. Everyone loves the actual trip, the camaraderie, the Road House viewing…unfulfilled promises of Asian porn! Everyone hates the clean up and apologies to the driver.

I think it was Mark Frazier who originally brought the Patrick Swazy tour de force Road House on our trip to San Louis Obispo. Generally, the team would only take a bus once a year. We did not usually take a buss (that is for you Alistair) to Kern, San Diego or even to Vegas. The last few years, we have had the good fortune to be able to take a bus to SLO once during the preseason and two trips to San Diego during the season. Bus trips make for memorable stories.

My first bus trip I was “S” faced on the way home, thanks to a heavy handed bar tender and sang my own version of every rugby song known to man. They all ended with “SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS” screamed at the top of my lungs. Everyone hated me. Especially Jim Ciampa. He had broken his nose that game and, unfortunately, was sober.

Vomit seems to always play a role on bus trips. There has been stealth chucking (sneaking to the back of the bus when no one is looking.) There has been the coordinated parking lot boot, several players waiting to get off the bus then simultaneously Ralphing once on terra firma. There was even synchronized (left seat, right seat) tossing lunch into the isle last year. But my favorite bus story ahs to be the guy that brought his girlfriend. Wow. To be the only girl on a bus trip is a mistake that is only made once. The look of abject horror and utter disgust was priceless.

There have been other very memorable trips. The team once went to Europe (way back in the day), we have taken vans to Kern County and that trip taught us what a Bowl of Fruit was (I see two peaches and a banana!) Of all my time at Pasadena RFC, I will remember any time I spent time with my teammates laughing about old times, yesterday’s antics and giving the rookies a hard time…because that is what “old boys” did to me when I was a rookie. Next week, a story about a toilet.

Oops, Tanner