FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

And beaches. Ok. Other than hot chicks, cigars and beaches what have the Romans ever done for us?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Some pretty damn fine baseball players, too - if they manage to defect!

[retagent]

Be easy on Ypsi as I'm not sure the Kiwis will be. Comparing New Zealand to Cuba is the true insult.

The tiny little Kiwi Isle is the world's King of Rugby, they have cornered the world's milk distribution market (Really. Fontana moves almost all milk internationally on the planet), and has perfected the art of man-sheep love (incorporated as a tax free organisation called WeBaa or Wicked Evil Bony A$$ Abomination).

And what claim to fame can Cuba make?  None. They can't even beat out the North Koreans in the tyrranical oppression and starvation of a people. Cuba can't even keep the targets of its persecution in country as individuals and families regularly escape to freedom in Amercia (unfortunately New Zealand also fails at keeping their rabble locked up).

So you should all save a tear for poor, disparaged New Zealand. As low, baseless and generally undeserving as that little island is, the poor buggers have been maligned even further and most unfairly.

Ah yes - the All Black ruggers. I hope Ypsi doesn't jump on those implications.

[OzJohnnie]

A unique feature of this part of the world is the Haka and the All Blacks take their Haka very seriously.  The Samoans also take their saʻa (same word, different Polynesian dialect) seriously (and they like their rugby dirty) and the Kiwis lining up against the Samoans makes for a very intense atmosphere.  How good would it be if football teams lined up and tried to intimidate each other with war dances like this?  Let's turn that Johnnie/Tommie rivalry up to 11.

That Haka by the All Blacks above is Ka Mate, but I just found the one I really like: Kapa o Pango.  This dance has since been modified after the French complained that this is rugby, not some back alley brawl.  I guess the throat slitting gesture to end the thing was a bit too much.  Kapa o Pango might turn the Johnnie/Tommie match clear up to 12, I reckon.

[GoldandBlueBU]

I remember the first time I heard the Haka, I thought it must be some warrior chant about crushing opponents skulls and drinking their blood.  When I looked it up the translation, I was a but let down.  It can more accurately be described as "weird".

The All Black Haka

By Te Rauparaha

Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!
Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!
Tenei te tangata puhuru huru
Nana nei i tiki mai
Whakawhiti te ra
A upa ... ne! ka upa ... ne!
A upane kaupane whiti te ra!
Hi!

The English translation:

I die! I die! I live! I live!
I die! I die! I live! I live!
This is the hairy man
Who fetched the Sun
And caused it to shine again
One upward step! Another upward step!
An upward step, another ... the Sun shines!!
Hi!

[faunch]

Sam Sura to SJU...nice get!

http://www.sctimes.com/article/20120502/SPORTS04/305020009/Standouts-headed-St-John-s-football

From MinnesotaPreps.com
(Nov 26) Sam Sura, 5'11 185, RB, South Saint Paul (4A) - Pioneer Press Player of the Year. In 12 games, has 229 carries for 1675 yards for 7.3 ypc and 22 touchdowns. In 11 games as a junior, had 291 carries for 1985 yards for 6.8 ypc and 20 TDs. All-State HM. Star Tribune First Team. Kare 11 All-Metro. Pioneer Press All-State First Team. Classic Suburban Conference Offensive Player of the Year. KARE 11 Assessment - "Sura's opponents rave about his toughness. Sura was a workhorse carrying the football 291-times for 1985 yards and 20 touchdowns. The Packer runningback averaged 7-yards per carry, 181 per game with just one fumble all season. He was impressive, and Sam Sura will be back next year." Coach Sexauer assessment in Pioneer Press "Sam's a strong, tough-nosed running back that sets up his blocks and hits the hole with force. He has games speed and won't be pulled down from behind.

[SagatagSam]

The Pioneer Press is still in business?

Sura sounds like a great pick-up. I hope he does well.

Also, in the interest of integrity, I think I owe someone (Duff) some beer because the SC Times has not eliminated their subscription requirement.

[sjusection105]

Sam Sura to SJU...nice get!

http://www.sctimes.com/article/20120502/SPORTS04/305020009/Standouts-headed-St-John-s-football

The reference to Beau La Bore- it was my understanding that Beau is now coaching at Stillwater,yet was mentioned as still being at Woodbury. ROR,can you confirm or deny if he is still at Woodbury or has in fact moved to Stillwater.

[DuffMan]

Also, in the interest of integrity, I think I owe someone (Duff) some beer because the SC Times has not eliminated their subscription requirement.

YES!!!

[SJUrube]

Have yet to see a final list of incoming Johnnies but some of the early signs are promising. Pioneer Press player of the year & his conference (defense) MVP teammate, SCTimes player of the year & the QB from Wayzata (though he looked awful in state title game & the recent Trojans track record is so-so at best) are a good start.

One thing I did find interesting is UST has listed their 2012 incoming freshman. http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/Recruit-5-1.html By my count they have 69 players coming in. Through the recruiting grapevine I've heard that Coach Glen has said he doesn't want a roster the size of SJU where any and all are welcome. Most years SJU has between 60-75 freshman start the year so UST is right in that range.

I don't blame UST for following suit. They aren't tying up scholarships with any of the players and if they find a diamond in the rough from such a large group the strategy works. The only peculiar part is stating that isn't part of your plan but than going out and doing just that.

[GoldandBlueBU]

I would imagine his chances of being anything beyond the practice squad aren't huge, but congratulations to Mitch Elliott,  very nice accomplishment!

http://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2012/5/3/FB_0503122533.aspx

[sfury]

The Pioneer Press is still in business?

Sura sounds like a great pick-up. I hope he does well.

Also, in the interest of integrity, I think I owe someone (Duff) some beer because the SC Times has not eliminated their subscription requirement.

I know it's just a throwaway joke, but I do have to, as always, chirp in on newspaper-related business. Especially when it's a place where I know some people and employs one of my best friends. Yeah, the Pi Press is in business and still doing some great work. And actually can still make some money.

http://www.minnpost.com/braublog/2012/05/pioneer-press-publisher-explains-print-drop-predicts-new-labor-deal

I know it's fun to mock papers - "stupid newspapers trying to charge people to read their product! The nerve of these people! Information should be free!" - but they do survive and they do still produce outstanding stories. Even the metro's little paper.

[SagatagSam]

I made the joke because I haven't heard much of anything from the Pioneer Press lately.

Didn't the Start Tribune file for bankruptcy a few years back so they could reorganize?

Don't take my joke as some kind of anti-business shot. If the Times, Star Trib, etc. want to charge to view their site, that's fine by me. However, they shouldn't be surprised if I elect to go elsewhere to read the news. Right now, I do not feel like the SC Times puts out a good enough product for me to pay to read it.

[sfury]

Yeah the Strib declared bankruptcy awhile back but has been turning it around lately as well, although it will, of course, never be what it once was.

http://www.niemanlab.org/2012/05/a-twin-cities-turnaround-the-star-tribune-carves-a-path-back-through-growing-audience/

The fact is neither the Pi Press or Strib are as good as they once were, you can't simply keep getting rid of people and think that "do more with less" is actually going to work over the long haul. But both of those papers do still do important stories that can actually change things (in addition to regular outstanding profiles, etc.,). Newspaper executives are not among my most-admired people but if those folks can actually come up with a business model that works, it means the writers, editors and photographers who are the heart of the papers will have a shot at still doing great work.

And you're absolutely right about not paying if you don't think you can get anything out of it. Totally valid. It's the readers who do complain simply because they're used to it being free for so long that get annoying.

[SJUrube]

And you're absolutely right about not paying if you don't think you can get anything out of it. Totally valid. It's the readers who do complain simply because they're used to it being free for so long that get annoying.

I have yet to beome an online subscriber to the Strib. About 2.5-3 years ago I actually had M-SU home delivery. Eventually though the amount of time I wasn't reading it outweighed any value I was actually getting from it. Part of the reason I haven't gone w/ an online subscription is I can find similar coverage on free competitors (MPR.org, TwinCities.com) and still get valuable info from Stib writers through Twitter and online postings.

Fury, do you have on online subscripton to the Srib? Curious if being in NY makes a MN boy more or less likely to have one.