Special Guest Star Celebrity Look-alike

One of our staffers here at T2R reported in that some members of Eagle Rock came accross this blog are upset at some of the inflamatory and seditious comments made here in previous posts regarding ERAC and a few of their members. For those new to the sport and unaware of who I am talking about, Eagle Rock was a former apponent when we were in the dregs of rugby known as SCRFU Division 3. Even before our two clubs were thrust into the rabble of rugby competition, we have had a long history of... spirited competition (Chris Angelica Pasadena Unknown 01/28/2006 Yellow Card). Like our club, ERAC has enjoyed a lot of success over the long history of their club and like ours in years past, they are currently fighting to re-build to their former success. Like our club, EARC has no shortages of personalities. They have some great players who I wouldn't think twice about playing with and in turn, like our club, they have their fair share of doushe bags. It should be noted that 2 of our coaches are former ERAC players (we also have an old OXY player but I'll save that nugget for another post) Why then the history of loathing and detest? Because although many of their players are both skilled on the pitch and gregarious off the pitch, for some awkward reason their sum hole and style of play is that of thuggary dirt bag rugby. They play the game more like a street fight or gangster smack down. I don't know why this is but it is maddening to play against. One common theory is that much of their recruitment comes from troubled youth. I have slandered Caulfield considerably for his performance on the pitch (dude, you are small and old, hang em up) but off the pitch he has dedicated himself to the sport as a ref, coach and administrator. Say what you will about his inability to draft a legible and coherent e-mail that adheres to the very basic rules of grammar and diction, the pony tail and playing rugby in a leotard, but the dude gives a lot back to the sport. Many of their new players spawn from his efforts in the youth development which draws players from some troubled spots of the San Fernando Valley. So is their on-the-pitch prison yard style of play nature or nurture? My father played rugby for L. A. Rugby Club in the 50’s and even he has stories of gangster brutality on the pitch so I submit that it is indeed simply their nature. That is who they are and it’s unfortunate. They have many gifted athletes who, if placed on a team that plays a more disciplined and civilized style of play, would flourish as players and become valuable assets to that club. Maybe they will figure it out or maybe what they’ve got going will work for them. A large part of me wants to see them kick the shit out of the other clubs in Blue so they earn the seed to nationals so that they may see how they need to adapt and change if they want to succeed on a higher level… or maybe they don’t care. Playing ERAC has always been fun, even if entirely maddening. I’d like to see them move up- Riverside, Kern AND Eagle Rock? Magic.

Look, this is all really just filling to get to the point of this post. The following player has put me on my ass more times than I can count and in a different universe he would have made a great member to our club. Unfortunately for his club his blood lust often comes at the sake of his team because he’d rather make the big hit rather than follow the play or run through someone rather than into the gap or make a pass to a supporting player. Sure as the sun will rise or Wally will go back for 3rds at the all you can keep down buffet line at Sizzler, JP will opt to inflect pain rather than propperly progress the ball up field. Like many, myself included, he should have hung the boots up long ago. I’m glad he hasn’t because he is so much fun to get a rise out of. Keep it going JP… just one more year old man… one more year.

Enjoy!

JP

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