FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Redtooth]

On the talk of transfers, Cheese you may need to do a little fact checking on the Deon/Bethel situation.  Mr. Jordan had exhausted his eligibility at Azusa Pacific in 1999, having an NAIA All-American year.......somehow shows up at Bethel (NCAA DIII) with enough eligibility to play the 2000 season.  Upon the completion of the season (first round loss to PLU) Deon promptly left school

[OzJohnnie]

2. "When you see Hiasl (the Chimp), he really comes across as a person,"
       - I am sure he does sir, except for the pesky little detail of it being a   F'ing Chimp!!

And that has been knocked for six (a home run in cricket - if I gotta live here, I gotta assimilate to some degree).  "F'ing Chimp" indeed.

[OzJohnnie]

Hey BDB and flash, I just tried to do my little bit to stir them up again on the WIAC board. Let's sit back and watch.

I've been watching your attempts, retagent.  It's a bit like trying to stir asphalt in January - a bit to thick to move...

[OzJohnnie]

Ok - apologies in advance for multiple posts, but it's Saturday morning here (about 10:30) and I'm killing time until the AFL Grand Final starts in at 2.  If there are any late night dungeon dwellers looking for fresh posts on a Friday evening, I figure I'll give you a bit of a game preview and a couple updates after first bounce.  Keep me occupied until tomorrow @ 5am for the Johnnie game via the Intranets.

Today's highly anticipated contest features the mighty Cats of Geelong against the nancy Power of Port Adelaide.  My out-laws (as you may have guessed) are all mad Cat supporters.  In fact, my father-out-law actually did the original recording of the current team song (must have been kind of a Barny Rubble exercise chipping the recording into a stone slab, I think).  Regardless of the ribbing, singing the song is one more reason he's a one-eyed barracker.

The Cats preview: Strength, speed and divine intervention.  Cats have 9 all-Australians on their side (from 22 nominated to the all-Australian team).  Their scoring percentage this year has been about 155% and they posted an 18-4 regular season record.  The divine intervention is in the form of Gary Ablett Jr, son of Gary Ablett Sr who is a Geelong legend and widely recognized as the greatest player ever to live.  Sr was often referred to as The Pontiff and sometimes God.  Jr has been gifted with a large part of the old man's talent and was earlier in the season (until there was an understandable stink raised) was called the Son of God and Jesus.  During the regular season Geelong put together a 15 game winning streak which was broken by...

The Port Power:  Experience and skill.  Port have a long tradition of winning championships, and were AFL champions three years ago.  Many of their championship players return, older and slower, but crafty and wise.  And that's about all the update I have on them.  They are used to winning and know how.  It won't be an easy contest.

OK - a bit over 2 hours until game time.  Go Cats.

[tmerton]

They used to show Aussie rules fb on the late night telly here in CA, perhaps so all the Aussie expats living here could do something while they drink their shirazz.  I'm particularly fond of the referees in their little hats and their too small blazers with the white piping who do that little six shooter thing with their fingers when someone manages to get the ball through the uprights.

(Referees' meeting)

And I'm sorry but could these guys, like, put some more clothes on?  (Love the sashes, though - reminds me of the Queen or Princess Grace.  Nancy indeed.)

[OzJohnnie]

And I'm sorry but could these guys, like, put some more clothes on? 

A little over half an hour until game time.  Relo's are all gathered here to watch the game and tension is starting to build...

I tried to find a pic of an 80's classic called Warwick Capper to really prove your point, tmerton, but couldn't find a good one.  Capper put the short in shorts.  (As an aside, his post football career included a stint in porn, as I found searching for a good picture, and needless to say I didn't post the ones I found...)

[retagent]

Hey Oz, Are they all atwitter Down Under about the stomping that the Aussie golfers dished out today? Appleby, Ogilvy, O'hearn, and my mind tells me I'm missing someone, really put in on the Yanks.

[OzJohnnie]

Opening bounce in just a couple minutes now....  101k fans packed into the Melbourne Cricket Ground...  Jet was the opening act and they rocked away in the greatest Aussie tradition...  Geelong looks strong and ready to rumble.  Let's hope for a good game.

(and yeah, retagent, the Aussies got pretty used to cleaning up in the President's Cup the last couple tourneys.  The first day was a bit of a shocker.)

[OzJohnnie]

Quarter time at the MCG and it's been a bruising first quarter, but Geelong have dominated.  They lead 37 - 14, with 12 scoring shots to Port's 4.  It could easily be a 43 point lead rather than 23 if the Cats had been a little more accurate with their kicking.  The poor kicking for goal is a bit of a worry since it leaves the door open for a quick Port return with three or four straight goals.

Commercial break is over and the second quarter bounce is about to happen.  Back in 30 minutes with the half-time report.

[OzJohnnie]

And at the half it's been the Kitties all the way.  They lead by 52, 79 - 27, and could easily be in front of the Power by 85.  Ordinary kicking is still plaguing the Cats' shots for goal, but they so dominate the mid-field that Port Adelaide can't get in the game.

The opening of the quarter was pretty intense, though, as the Power came out playing like hardened lifers from C-block.  Bethel would have been inspired as one Cat after the other streamed off the field because of the blood rule.  Geelong knuckled down and kicked 5 straight goals to seal the lead and grab the game by the throat.  Play evened out from there, but the deal looks done.

We've got a 20 minute break for the half and then we'll see if the Cats can withstand the inevitable 3rd quarter storm and coast to the Premiership.  We'll be back for an update at the end of three.

[OzJohnnie]

There was a third quarter storm alright, but the rain pounded the Power, not the Cats.  In a third quarter that would make any Johnnie proud Geelong came out and thrashed Port to lead by 90, 125 - 35.  Still plagued by ordinary kicking for goal, the Cats could be up by 140 at this point (but we wouldn't want to run up the score, would we WW ).

With one quarter to go, only two questions remain:  who will win the Norm Smith Medal (MVP of the Grand Final) since there is a long line of contenders from Geelong (as an aside, Ablett Sr is the only winnner of the NSM in defeat - '89 vs my own might Hawks of Hawthorn)? And will Geelong manage to extend the winning margin and make it the most devastating Grand Final defeat in AFL history?

[Willy Wonka]

Still plagued by ordinary kicking for goal, the Cats could be up by 140 at this point (but we wouldn't want to run up the score, would we WW ).

Definitely not...but I still don't know what the F you're talking about since I refused to read anything too closely that contains multiple Geelong references...

However, I just purchased 3 pounds worth of shrimp for tomorrow's fun. The only cocktail sauce they had there seemed sketchy but I bought it anyway...if anyone is particular with their dipping, feel free to pick some up for my stash.

[OzJohnnie]

Well, that's a wrap and the Cats are AFL champs for the first time in 44 years.  They won the last quarter 38 - 9 for a final score of 163 - 44.  Easily a triple monkey stomp and representing the biggest win in Grand Final history.

Norm Smith Medalist was Stephen Johnson in a four goal performance.

And with that, lets hope for similar execution from SJU tomorrow.  And go Gusties.  Stick it to STO.

[BDB]

Hey BDB and flash, I just tried to do my little bit to stir them up again on the WIAC board. Let's sit back and watch.

Looks like you got the WW play by play guy fired up retagent. 

For such a laid back state the WIAC posters have a hard time taking a hit.

[WAHOO3]

Rain sucks.