“Culling the thoughts that occur when you’re standing around waiting for something to happen”

Did you see Utah celebrate after winning the inaugural USA Seven Collegiate Rugby Championship? Me neither and I watched the June 6 overtime thriller live on NBC.

Not only did Utah win in overtime, the Utes upset No. 1 seeded California, a traditional rugby powerhouse.

Flimsier excuses have been used to go berserk on a pitch — and presumably later at the pub.

When Don Pati punched in the title-winning try all the freshman scrumhalf and USA U20 National Team member, got from his teammates were some pats on the back and a few fist bumps. And hugs from the Cal players.

Been there, done that I suppose. Classy, nonetheless.

Did you see the Blackhawks chase each other up the ice after Patrick Kane scored the Stanley Cup-winner in overtime of Game 6 in Philadelphia on Wednesday?

Consider it to be one of the more awkward finishes, to one of the best Stanley Cup finals endings, you’ll ever witness.

Half the team raised their arms then dropped them after Kane’s shot zipped pass Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton. They then skated up ice as if they were still chasing a puck. They certainly weren’t acting like men who just eradicated five decades of Blackhawk misery.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcI87wRNqcY

The NBC commentator didn’t even realize it was a goal until Kane was passed the blue line and convulsing in joy.

It was an awkward ending, but it’s still the best trophy presentation and celebration in all of sports.

Did you see Glen “Big Baby” snort and drool worse than Ferdinand the Bull after knocking down a 2-footer to give the Boston Celtics a 70-64 third-quarter lead in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night?

Superfluous fact: Michael Jordan is among the result of Googling the term: “Famous Bulls.”

Warning, pull out your Gallagher tarp for this clip. It’s a juicy one.

Big Baby The Bull 

All Davis did was put a shot back in. It didn’t give the Celtics the lead and there was still a quarter left to play. You’re 6 feet, 9 inches tall; perhaps it’s time to start being the bigger man.

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FROM THE MOUTHS OF ATHLETES

“It’s unbelievable. We just won the Stanley Cup. I can’t believe this just happened. Holy crap.”

- Patrick Kane being interviewed on NBC after his overtime goal in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals delivered the Chicago Blackhawks their first Stanley Cup since 1961.

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The Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup victory means that Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews have won a Stanley Cup ring and an Olympic gold medal (for Canada) in less than four months.

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Everyone knows that the further out you make flight reservations the cheaper the cost for airfare. University of Arizona fans can safely book flights to Oklahoma for the next three NCAA College Softball World Series.

Wildcat pitcher Kenzie Fowler is that good. Don’t let ’Zona’s loss to archrival UCLA in the World Series finals this week fool your senses.

I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t systematically dismantling my elders on a national stage when I was a freshman. Not even close.

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Speaking of Fowler, it’s always strange to see the kids you covered when they were young come of age.

First it was Fowler, whom I first saw pitch as a 7^th grader, leading UA softball to the finals. Then on Friday, Canyon Del Oro High School standout Ka’Deem Carey committed to play football for Arizona. I still remember Ka’Deem as the 10-year old running circles around his peers in pee-wee football.

Before you know it, my kid will step onto campus as a UA freshman.

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Which leads me to…

World Cup soccer has returned from its four-year hiatus and in the spirit of the times — and between our daily 11 a.m. tea times — I’ve taught my 2-year-old daughter to kick a soccer ball in the backyard.

Here’s hoping she can follow in the cleats of Carey, Fowler, and my wife (UA Women’s Soccer) down the path of Wildcat athletic scholarships.

Follow her preposterous exploits on Facebook at “Today, I Stopped My Baby From…”

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 13th, 2010 at 9:39 am and is filed under Stranded At Second Base. Tags for this post: Brent Seabrook, Cal Rugby, Canyon Del Oro High School, Chicago Blackhawks, Don Pati, Duncan Keith, Glen Big Baby Davis, Jonathan Toews, Ka'Deem Carey, Michael Jordan, Michael Leighton, NCAA Softball World Series, Patrick Kane, Stanley Cup, University of Arizona Softball, USA Seven Collegiate Rugby, Utah Utes, Wildcats, World Cup. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.