Lest we forget
The other day, Yellow Fever noted the crazyness of Cal Day over at ESPN.com. Two Cal-related articles, both on the front page, both at the same time. He commented on one of the articles, relating to football. As currently the closest thing to The California Golden Blogs resident rugby expert (Legal Disclaimer: I’ve been to two games and know next to nothing), I thought I could at least take you on a magical mystery ride around ESPN’s article on Cal rugby. Found here.
The article has a fairly controversial thesis. The rugby team’s success stems party from filling the squad with real, honest to Tedford athletes instead of fat, bearded men more likely to be seen at the Packers FanFest. Yes, I know. Controversial. Put down your Tedford bobblehead. Don’t smash it in rage! Here is the quintessential excerpt:
"In Berkeley, however, rugby is not a sport for beer-bellied boys or seldom-shaven men. Cal’s men’s rugby team, in fact, is defined by its class and dedication."
To be honest, it is just one giant fluff piece for Cal and the rugby team. Which is great. Cal can use all the publicity it gets, especially in a underapperciated sport like rugby.
The article basically reads something like this:
"Jack Clark is the greatest coach in the history of organized movement, up to and including Alvin Ailey. He is so successful he makes Jeff Tedford look like his younger, highly less successful brother, Little Reggie Tedford. Jack Clark invented athletes, gravity, and grass fields. Well, the grass field is still in late testing stages, but at least they don’t use parking lots. Many of his players have avoided drinking alcohol out of a boot. Instead, they try to win. Winning instead of drinking beer out of a boot is just one of the keys to success that Cal rugby uses. Another is being almost as old as trees. But not those trees by the stadium. Other trees. Cal should really cut down those trees by the stadium."
Ok, it doesn’t say the last part, but IT SHOULD! Either way, it’s a delightful piece of PR for Cal. ESPN is looking at other college sports that are not quite as popular this week. They have articles on a ping pong team and a figureskating team. Apparently, tomorrow, they will look at the Stanford ultimate frisebee team. I guess the Stanford ultimate frisbee team has been incredibly successful. Perhaps Cal should try filling their frisbee team with real athletes instead of fat, bearded men.
PostScript: My brother, who is neither fat nor bearded, but was on the Cal frisbee team, once won a Tedford Bobblehead in a poker game. That might just be the manliest, most awesomest story ever. Somebody needs to turn that into a movie immediately. Get me Shia LaBeouf on the phone!
