Deportes en vivo!

Yes, I do love sports and although I made a comment about how, "I was glad to be in a place where I didn't care what my favorite team was doing," but I've been a little caught up in things lately.  Call it too much rain or time around Europeans in the hostel, but with the Rangers in the World Series (Great game tonight by the way), Sooners, and Cowboys all playing right now I find myself still captivated as if I were back home.  Thankfully, I have streaming internet to watch live games ('en vivo'), cable at home to catch football and World Series games, and of course as much soccer as I could ever possibly dream of (sometimes there are literally 10 different games on at the same time being shown!).

What I really need to come clean about though is that I have become addicted to rugby.  Soon the Rugby World Cup Final will feature the All Blacks of New Zealand Vs. France on Sunday.  Now I will always contest that if Americans actually focused on Soccer or Rugby the way we did on Football, Baseball, Basketball, or Hockey, we would wipe the floor with all other countries.  However, I have to admit that Rugby really is an amazing sport and I am quite impressed by it.  I'd say I understand about 80% of the rules now after watching for a few weeks and let me just tell you how passionate Ryan and I are becoming about it.  Putting aside that it is the only sport you can guarantee to be replayed 12 times a day, I've literally watched hours of it in my free time and find myself yelling at the TV (thanks for something I guess rainy season!).  The All Blacks have touched my heart with their grace, power, fluidity, and flare.  Piri Weepu and the boys will surely make their country proud this Sunday!

Here is a profile of my favorite All Blacks player:

Full name	Ma'a Allan Nonu
Date of birth	21 May 1982 (age 29)
Place of birth	Wellington, New Zealand
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	106 kg (16 st 10 lb)
Nickname	Skux
School	Rongotai College
Playing career
Position	Centre, Wing
New Zealand No.	1031
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2002–	Wellington
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2003–2011 2012–	Hurricanes Blues	110 0	(215) (0)
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2003–	New Zealand	63	(105)