Wednesday, July 28, 2010

I'M NOT DEAD YET

HAIL, PELICUS!

WRITING: HIATUS

Isaac Asimov, who had more than 500 books published, worried that if even on one morning he failed to amble over to the typewriter after breakfast all would be lost.

We now know the feeling. Absent a stream of referee match reports to prompt our editorial function, sloth abides.

REFEREEING: NO HIATUS

We’re in the midst of a good, productive Sevens season here at the Pelican’s Nest: seven tournaments so far this year with five to go.

Two of those were in Las Vegas, but that leaves ten Sevens tournaments that your editor will have attended here in NorCal. That count doesn’t include the summer series that’s going on for high school teams in Sacramento.

The Palo Alto series, which ran over four weekends and used three pitches for decades, began to shrink a few years ago. Recognizing this, the organizers changed it to three weekends and moved to a facility with only two pitches.

But then this year thirty-plus teams showed up. You need ten minutes of field-time per team per game to run a tournament. Thirty-two teams require sixteen hours to play three games. That necessitates three pitches or the time gaps – three games over eight hours – are simply too long.

The fast game is growing apace.

Upcoming Sevens:

July 31 Corte Madera U19
August 14-15 USA club finals at Rocca Field
August 28 Arroyo Grande
September 11 Tri-tip at San Luis Obispo
October 8-9 Fiji Day celebration, probably in Palo Alto

PACIFIC COAST SEVENS CHAMPIONSHIPS

The last two slots for the USA Sevens finals will be filled this Saturday via the qualifier tournament in Tacoma. The Olympic Club, San Mateo, East Palo Alto and the Bay Area Barbarians will be competing.

Paul Bretz, Joe Androvich and George O’Neil will be refereeing. Maybe one more – we’re not sure.

Good luck to the refs and the teams.

USA RUGBY SEVENS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

Please let us know if you would be available for the club sevens on August 14-15 to serve as AR/In-goal judge and/or a Fourth Official or timekeeper/scoreboard operator.

Selections may need to be made. If so, demonstrated willingness to run AR in the five tournaments we’ve had so far will be taken into account.

INVITATION FROM THE SANTIAGOS

“I know most of said our tearful goodbyes at the banquet but if you didn't get enough or didn't get a chance Tenysa and I would like to invite you for another round. We'll be having our final BBQ in the Bay Area this Saturday, noon to whenever. Bring a ‘lil something to grill and enjoy the day.

“2210 Bonar St., Berkeley

“If we don't see you there then we hope to see you if you're ever in DC.

“Roberto”

TOO BUSY TO REF

Tom Zanarini didn’t make it to Palo Alto on Saturday but here he is on Sunday morning:
http://www.runnersworld.com/challenge/photo/sfrace/slide23.html

THIS WEEK’S PHOTO
Pelican of the Year
Cary Bertolone accepts the Pelican of the Year award from Bruce Carter at the Palo Alto Sevens.

HAIL, PELICUS!

For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris