OT--Congratulations England!

Re: OT--Congratulations England!

Andrew F in Australia

>I wanted France to win, Wiley.

Cheers,

Andrew

Still hurting from last weekends' loss.

Australians back two teams - Australia and whoever's playing England.

Re: OT--Congratulations England!

Wiley Horne -- So. Calif.

>Andrew,

I always pull for either England, Australia, or New Zealand--whichever one survives. The US generally loses to Pago Pago in the early going; don't know if we have ever won a World Cup match.

Wiley

I think they've won a few *LINK*

Andrew F in Australia

>Japan, and some of the island nations come to mind. They got close again this time

I seem to remember the Japan win from the last world cup because of the celebrations it produced.

Google found it.

CHeers,

Andrew


USA victory

Re: OT--Congratulations England!

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Wiley, I'm impressed! I was under the impression that rugby was unknown in the outer colonies, such as the US of A. I was clearly wrong and apologise. :)

Actually, I have always felt some security in this since I am continually amazed that countries such as New Zealand and Australia, with such a small population (not to mention 4 non-overlapping football codes) continue to produce teams that play at such a high standard. If the USA ever put their mind to it .....

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: OT--Congratulations England!

Wiley Horne -- So. Calif.

>Derek,

Well, you'd think it's unknown here, but in fact a lot of rugby gets played in the US. It's a college sport, and the east coast is full of college rugby teams, as is the west coast (there's a Pac 10 league), and there's a Big-10 league in the midwest. etc etc.

The thing is, it's a 'club sport', meaning there are few or no scholarships, no professional track, no money in it--as far as I know everybody who plays is a student walk-on. When you graduate, it's over. The big name athletes play baseball, American football, basketball, where there is a pro track.

Wiley

But to your main point,

Wiley Horne -- So. Calif.

>I agree that it's a marvellous thing that small countries can put their mind to it and beat anybody in a sport like rugby. It's like money doesn't control absolutely everything. Sometimes you see this in basketball too, where for some reason Lithuania always has a great team. Their players playin the US pro leagues for a living, but play for their national team in the Olympics.

Wiley

Have you ever noticed . . .

Andrew F in Australia

>That the round-ball football, a.k.a. soccer, is the world's most popular football code in all countries except former British colonies.

Might be something in this.

Cheers,

Andrew

Re: Have you ever noticed . . .

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Well Andrew, William Webb Ellis did pick up that round ball and run with it in a rebellious mood, thereby declaring independence and originating the sport of rugby. Something of the bigger picture in that? :)

Regards from Perth

Derek

insert smiley face thingo here. 

Andrew F in Australia

>

You mean, like...

Denis Ch�nard, Orl�ans, Ont.

>...Canadians owning hockey? :-)

DC

That may also be because you have

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>more than sufficient ice.

What...is...hockey? ;)

Darrin

>

Re: OT--Congratulations England!

Angus Barclay, in New Zealand

>Hello Wiley,

looks like you'll be supporting England for the final then. I generally try to avoid speaking on behalf of others, but I suspect that the Australian and New Zealand people on WoodCentral will be cheering the South African Team instead.

cheers

Angus Barclay

Is it political to ask why?

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>Are y'all ticked off at the Queen, supporting another ex-colony, or just being the indepedent?

Re: What...is...hockey? ;)

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Uh oh...I'm gonna go get the popcorn. This could get interesting when Rob Lee and others check in:-) JR

Re: Is it political to ask why?

Angus Barclay, in New Zealand

>No, Bill, that's not at all political. It is historical though.

The English ancestors of people in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa either chose to leave England or were forcibly kicked out. Either way, the offspring still enjoy asserting their independence from one of their parents a couple of hundred years later.

I believe the American colonists do something similar on 4 July each year.

regards

Angus Barclay

But the strange thing is,

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>every time the royals come here for a visit, people go all gaga, forgetting that we rose up against their ancestor.

I thought that might be the reason. Y'all down there on the lower side of the globe are a cussed independent lot. Good on ya!

Americans can't make fun of Canadians anymore-----

wilbur

>Ever since the Loonie achieved equality against the U.S. dollar, I feel like I can't make fun of my Canadian friends anymore.

Does anybody else remember the days when it seemed like the sole purpose of the Canadian economy was to jam up American vending machines?

Sprinkle :@) liberally throughout this post. :@)

Re: OT--Congratulations England!

Hank Knight

>Derek,

The US of A's performance on the international soccer front should ease any concerns you may have about our assuming dominance of the rugby field.

Back when I lived in Michigan

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>most store owners accepted Canadian dimes equally with American. But when I returned to my birth state of California, the storekeeps all looked at me like I was trying to pass off counterfeit money.

Funny how believing something is worth X makes it so.

Re: Is it political to ask why?

Andrew F in Australia

>What did you think of the game, Angus?

Cheers,

Andrew

(who was supporting SA in this one.)

Re: Is it political to ask why?

Angus Barclay, in New Zealand

>Hello Andrew,

I was delighted with the result. My son, on the other hand, was a lot less impressed. He and his friends were cheering for the English. The South Africans played better and their winning score reflected that. Just a shame that nobody actually crossed the try line.

regards

Angus Barclay

I'm not sure you guys are reallllly rugby players

Michael Stadulis, in Gloucester County, NJ

>From what I can recall of pictures that I've seen, you still have your teeth. ;o) Isn't that the real confirming sign?? Mike

I meant to add this under Derek's rugby post

Michael Stadulis, in Gloucester County, NJ

>