All Blacks at Soldier Field
Kiwi bragging rights...26 total reviews
Comment from IndianaIrish
I enjoyed your essay, Steve, and I appreciate the chance to learn more about the All Blacks. I live an hour east of Chicago and am a fan of most Chicago sports teams. The Chicago area has been advertising the game heavily on TV, radio, and the newspapers. Even my small town newspaper had a large article on your team and the game. I watched the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team the other day and they have an intermission "shoot the puck" game that gives a kid, a woman, and a celebrity a chance to give a shot. They had one of the All Blacks player as the celebrity. I've never seen a professional rugby game, but I did see a Notre Dame college game when I was a student in South Bend, and it was awesome! I planed on watchIng the game before your essay ... now, I'm very much looking forward to it later today. I'm looking forward to the haka as well. The Chicago Tribune newspaper described the haka as "the ballet before the bruising". It's an outstanding custom. And there sure are some handsome men on the team! Thanks for writing this.
The game is sold out in Soldier Field and I hope millions of viewers will watch them play.
Smiles,
Karyn :-)
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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I enjoyed your essay, Steve, and I appreciate the chance to learn more about the All Blacks. I live an hour east of Chicago and am a fan of most Chicago sports teams. The Chicago area has been advertising the game heavily on TV, radio, and the newspapers. Even my small town newspaper had a large article on your team and the game. I watched the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team the other day and they have an intermission "shoot the puck" game that gives a kid, a woman, and a celebrity a chance to give a shot. They had one of the All Blacks player as the celebrity. I've never seen a professional rugby game, but I did see a Notre Dame college game when I was a student in South Bend, and it was awesome! I planed on watchIng the game before your essay ... now, I'm very much looking forward to it later today. I'm looking forward to the haka as well. The Chicago Tribune newspaper described the haka as "the ballet before the bruising". It's an outstanding custom. And there sure are some handsome men on the team! Thanks for writing this.
The game is sold out in Soldier Field and I hope millions of viewers will watch them play.
Smiles,
Karyn :-)
Comment Written 01-Nov-2014
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Thanks, Karyn
Good to know they're getting some decent coverage. We are very aware that Rugby is a very minor sport over there.
I did see footage of Richie McCaw (the captain) shooting the puck and there have obviously been one or two innovative PR stunts...
Hope you got to watch!
Steve
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I did and I enjoyed it. I thought the announcers did a good job of describing the game and the rules since very few of us know any, if at all.
Comment from James Dooney
Oh yes you are so correct here with this. I am an Aussie and we both know the great sports traditions of the southern lands . Well done here !
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Oh yes you are so correct here with this. I am an Aussie and we both know the great sports traditions of the southern lands . Well done here !
Comment Written 01-Nov-2014
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Thanks, James.
No problem handling the Yanks - now on to those UK sides....
Steve
Comment from amahra
Many Americans, including me, learned about Haka from watching it performed by Australian actors from TV series Spartacus. One of the actors, Andy Whitfield died, and this was their way of honoring him. I've also seen it performed a dozen times on youtube. Thank you for posting. Win or lose, "GO USA." Smile
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Many Americans, including me, learned about Haka from watching it performed by Australian actors from TV series Spartacus. One of the actors, Andy Whitfield died, and this was their way of honoring him. I've also seen it performed a dozen times on youtube. Thank you for posting. Win or lose, "GO USA." Smile
Comment Written 01-Nov-2014
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Thank you.
They duly handed out the expected drubbing - final score 74 - 6 I imagine the coach is giving them a good roasting about letting the Eagles get those 6 points!
Despite the one-sided score line it was an entertaining game and hopefully will inspire a few more Americans to take up this version of 'football'
Steve
Comment from Sylvia Page
Hi
What a game and my favourite too! Our sons overlooked school cricket and opted to play rugby and played it well. They never missed watching an All Blacks game on TV. You bring out the spirit of the game in this article, well done.
Cheers,
Sylvia
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Hi
What a game and my favourite too! Our sons overlooked school cricket and opted to play rugby and played it well. They never missed watching an All Blacks game on TV. You bring out the spirit of the game in this article, well done.
Cheers,
Sylvia
Comment Written 01-Nov-2014
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Thanks, Sylvia. Was this in NZ?
They duly handed out the expected drubbing - final score 74 - 6 I imagine the coach is giving them a good roasting about letting the Eagles get those 6 points!
Despite the one-sided score line it was an entertaining game and hopefully will inspire a few more Americans to take up this version of 'football'
Steve
Comment from c_lucas
Victory is never easy, but usually goes to the team whose are really fired up. This is very well written with a smooth flow of words, making for a very interesting read.
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Victory is never easy, but usually goes to the team whose are really fired up. This is very well written with a smooth flow of words, making for a very interesting read.
Comment Written 31-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Thanks, Charlie.
They duly handed out the expected drubbing - final score 74 - 6 I imagine the coach is giving them a good roasting about letting the Eagles get those 6 points!
Despite the one-sided score line it was an entertaining game and hopefully will inspire a few more Americans to take up this version of 'football'
Steve
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You're welcome, Steve. Charlie
Comment from donaldww
This sounds like an exciting match to watch. I've never watched an actual rugby match, although I think there are teams here in Toronto.
Good luck to the All Blacks.
Cheers, DW
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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This sounds like an exciting match to watch. I've never watched an actual rugby match, although I think there are teams here in Toronto.
Good luck to the All Blacks.
Cheers, DW
Comment Written 31-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Thanks, Donald.
They duly handed out the expected drubbing - final score 74 - 6 I imagine the coach is giving them a good roasting about letting the Eagles get those 6 points!
Despite the one-sided score line it was an entertaining game and hopefully will inspire a few more Americans to take up this version of 'football'
Steve
Comment from Acquired Taste
Considering I've never seen a rugby game, nor am I a fan of contact sports here, I did find your write interesting and informative and engaging enough to read in its entirety. Sort of felt you were in my kitchen having a cup of coffee and chatting. Also, thanks for your author notes! Interesting and a fun read. AT=/
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Considering I've never seen a rugby game, nor am I a fan of contact sports here, I did find your write interesting and informative and engaging enough to read in its entirety. Sort of felt you were in my kitchen having a cup of coffee and chatting. Also, thanks for your author notes! Interesting and a fun read. AT=/
Comment Written 31-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Thanks for the kind words.
They duly handed out the expected drubbing - final score 74 - 6 I imagine the coach is giving them a good roasting about letting the Eagles get those 6 points!
Despite the one-sided score line it was an entertaining game and hopefully will inspire a few more Americans to take up this version of 'football'
Steve
Comment from Louise Michelle
Hi Steve,
I must confess I'm not into spectator sports, but you wrote this so well. It is informative and I enjoyed your 'speaking to the reader' style, which made it come alive.
Hugs,
Lou
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Hi Steve,
I must confess I'm not into spectator sports, but you wrote this so well. It is informative and I enjoyed your 'speaking to the reader' style, which made it come alive.
Hugs,
Lou
Comment Written 31-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Thanks, Lou.
The All Blacks duly handed out the expected drubbing 74 - 6 I imagine the coach gave them a roasting for letting the Eagles score those 6 points.
Despite the one-sided score line, it was an entertaining game to a sell-out crowd and I hope introduced the game to a wider American audience.
Steve
Comment from GracieAnn
Steve, this is an informative write that gives the reader a bird's eye view of your beautiful country. I love learning the cultural nuances. Great communicative write. :0 GracieAnn
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Steve, this is an informative write that gives the reader a bird's eye view of your beautiful country. I love learning the cultural nuances. Great communicative write. :0 GracieAnn
Comment Written 31-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Thank you!
Steve
Comment from Adri7enne
That's darn fine writing, Steve. I've never watched a game of rugby in my life and you've got me checking my schedule to see if I'm free on Saturday evening to watch that 'haka'. I'm going to check out the youtube site as well. Good, clean writing, Steve. Long enough to cover the essentials, but short enough to hold my attention to the last word. Intelligent writing. Liked it!
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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That's darn fine writing, Steve. I've never watched a game of rugby in my life and you've got me checking my schedule to see if I'm free on Saturday evening to watch that 'haka'. I'm going to check out the youtube site as well. Good, clean writing, Steve. Long enough to cover the essentials, but short enough to hold my attention to the last word. Intelligent writing. Liked it!
Comment Written 31-Oct-2014
reply by the author on 03-Nov-2014
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Thanks so much for the review and the six stars - as you know I'm not often seen on this side of the page so the kind words are extra appreciated.
The All Blacks duly handed out the expected drubbing 74 - 6 I imagine the coach gave them a roasting for letting the Eagles score those 6 points.
Despite the one-sided score line, it was an entertaining game to a sell-out crowd and I hope introduced the game to a wider American audience.
Steve
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LOL! What a proud Kiwi! I checked out the haka on yutube. So cute! Like little boys, trying to be scary. I loved it.
Nice writing, Steve. Not all poets can write. They try to hide that fact in short non-sensical sentences. LOL! Not you. Well done.
