RugbyPickEmBio - 009 - Max Statler

Max Statler closes out "Raptor Week" with stories and tales from his decade long career with Glendale. He  went from playing soccer at Mesa State, to walking onto the football team and out-kicking the starting kicker (with a sports hernia?), to finding his place with Glendale Rugby after Ted "the spread" Browner told him to show up to training one day. He's played under 3 different Glendale coaches over his impressive career, and almost kicked the can after a 7's tournament ... (don't worry, he survived).

Max recently came back from the Classic Eagles tour in Bermuda, helping the squad hoist their first ever piece of hardware when they defeated France 19-0 in the plate final.

He's been a speed merchant for Glendale through out his career, and plays with a (self-admitted) chip on his shoulder.

Enjoy!

Top 3 Glendale:
(Lost the audio 😑)

Rugby PickEm Haiku:
(Completely Forgot 😑)

Potential RWC 2019 Raptors:
Shawn Davies
Bryce Campbell

RugbyPickEmBio - 008 - Casey Rock

We're ending 2018 with "Raptor Week" and we couldn't have thought of a better person to lead off than the living giant Casey Rock, all 6'9' of him.


With Logan Collins as a guest host, we talked about high school rugby in Colorado, transitioning from soccer to rugby, his playing time abroad in Australia and New Zealand, and lastly the genesis of Glendale Rugby to the professional side they are today. Casey has seen a bunch of rugby over the last 12 years, and is a true ambassador of the game.

Enjoy!

Top 3 Glendale Locks:
Alec Parker
Matt Te Pou Jr
Hayden Mexted

Honorable Mention:
Logan "Corndog" Collins


Top 3 Glendale:
Dustin Croy
Zach Fenoglio
Shae Tamati

Speed Round:
Best Pure Athlete - Christian "Scarly Hustle Chips" Sarmento
Best Club Guy - Mike Tafel
Biggest Attitude - Mike Graham
Funniest Teammate - Dustin Croy
Biggest Class Clown at Practice - Bradley "Butters" Winbush
Craftiest Vet - Pete Dahl
Most Improved - Kody O'Neil

Rugby PickEm Haiku:

East Angels Big Man
Ah shit, that's an old Glenny
War Horse Casey Rock

Favorite Thing on the Internet:
Kids running into each other with swiss balls
Cat and Dog videos

2018 November Test Window ... The Eagles Keep Rolling

In this week’s Rugby PickEm, Bt and Uncle Johnny dig into the thrilling November international test matches. The Eagles keep rolling through their tour, only to come face to face with the king of Europe this weekend, the high and mighty Irish. Ireland coming off a historic win, dethroning of the All Blacks in Aviva. We recap the month that’s been and tease the final week’s betting lines.

Is there TOO much TMO or should we try and get EVERY call right EVERY time? The guys talk officiating, the internet and rugby (we have a small gripe with FLOrugby, but it’s an easy fix) and try to call HARPO to see where in the world he’s spending his winter months. Also …. Stay tuned when the credits roll for our newest bit “MLR Whispers” … PickEm!

Women's Rugby 7's, The Rugby Championship, November Tests - The "Get Out to Vote" Show

The Rugby PickEm Guys are back after a busy fall rugby season. Uncle Johnny recaps the USA Women’s 7s at Infinity Park in Glendale as the Eagles took 2^nd place on home soil. We ate ourselves sick in the VIP section, but not before we witnessed big USA movers and shakers doing just that … moving and shaking.

Bt recaps the state of all 4 southern hemisphere teams after The Rugby Championship including some interviews with our favorite sour-toned coaches.

We end with 1 Thing We Know… (That the USA men’s Eagles have a TOUGH November tour ahead of them as they try and continue their dominant 2018 season) and 1 Thing We DON’T Know …. (Who will be the flyhalf with the MacGinty injury?)

Lot’s of extra RRRRRolled R’s in our special “Get Out To Vote” October show. Enjoy!

Club 7's Nationals, The Rugby Championship, & RugbyTown 7's Preview

Bt and Uncle Johnny recap the Club Rugby 7's Nationals in the big apple where Bulldog and the San Diego Surfers take home hardware.

The best comp in the world is back in session in the form of The Rugby Championship. We ask the question if Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick are the best locking combo of all time, and Uncle Johnny is slobbering over Malcom Marx's form for the Spring Boks.

The All-Americans give it to Glendale at Infinity Park, and we preview the pools for the final 7's event of the year ... RugbyTown 7's.

School is back in session .... PICKEM!

Guzzler & Sammy

Rugby World Cup 7's - The San Francisco Chronicles

The Rugby PickEm gang had a blast in San Francisco. Even though our Eagles didn't win it all, we soaked up 3 days of awesome 7's rugby. Bt, Uncle Johnny, and FloridaMan Dev take us through a roller coaster of a weekend where we talked to Ben Pinkleman (for a couple seconds), Pink's Peeps, tourists at Fisherman's Wharf, two lovely Kiwis (who received an unexpected delivery), and the Pope himself ... Sir Duncan Townsend.

Scenes for the final on Sunday. Massive Rugby Energy throughout the stadium

WPL all-star game recap, a bit of Super Rugby, and a preview of club 7's nationals. An action packed episode that took a while to put together, but the snail's pace that ensures it's done right.

PickEm!

RugbyPickEmBio - 007 - Jeremy "Missile" Misailegalu

Jeremy “The Missile” Misailegalu plays rugby like his nickname. Fast, powerful and blissfully elegant. We sat down before Club 7’s Nationals and talked about his rugby career. Like a lot of American athletes, Missile switched from football, to wrestling, to finally getting the rugby ball in his hands at University of New Mexico Highlands … aka The Vatos. After getting noticed by world renown 7’s rugby scout Howard Kent, he began to refine his craft under Jason Kelly, Steve LaPorta, and Tyson Meek with the Denver Barbarians. Lastly we wrapped with his amazing season in Seattle and talked about the future of player representation during these early years of professionalism for rugby in the states.

Enjoy!

Top 3 - The inaugural MLR Champion Seattle Seawolves

Phil Mack
Mat Turner
Vili Toluta’u

Rugby PickEm Haiku:

Vato on my leg

Denver Barbo Seven’s Uce

Together We Hunt.

Ps. Ray Henley led the bonus segment in the outro and caught me a tad bit surprised as we talked about developing grassroots rugby.

RugbyPickEmBio - 006 - Ke'Von Williams

On the eve of the biggest tournament of his career, Ke’Von Williams sat down with Bt, Uncle Johnny and FloridaMan Dev. It was easily our most fun interview to date. For those that don’t know Ke’Von, you’ll quickly discover how humble, funny and competitive as a person.

We covered everything from his childhood in Houston, to first playing rugby with the
New Mexico Highlands Vatos, to his transition with the Denver Barbarians and lastly getting
a call up to represent the USA Eagles. Enjoy!

Top 3 - New Mexico Highlands Vatos
1) Jeremy "The Missile" Misailegalu
2) DiAmaal Holmes
3) Celester Asuega
(Just Missed - Erik Sykes Jr. 😂😂)

MLR Recap, Super Rugby Playoffs, And RWC 7's in San Francisco

I hope you're as pumped for this weekend's Rugby World Cup 7's as we are! Logan Collins and FloridaMan Dev sat in for Uncle Johnny this week (he's already got boots on the ground in the Bay Area) as the Rugby PickEm guys recapped the Major League Rugby's semi-finals and final match, seeing the Seattle Seawolves crowned as the league's inaugural champs. 

Ata Malifa. Humble in Victory & Defeat

We discussed what teams need to do in the off season before year two, and touched on the expansion teams we will see in 2019 and 2020.

HARPO sent his Super Rugby QF round point spreads via snail mail.

-19 Crusaders vs. Sharks +19
-8 Lions vs. Jaguares +8
+2 Waratahs vs. Highlanders -2
-4 Hurricanes vs. Chiefs +4

Who ya got?!

And lastly, we wrapped with a tease of our big weekend in SF, as the Eagle lineup is named and the lads look to defend home soil in the old PacBell Park. Enjoy!

RugbyPickEmBio - 004 & 005 - Michael Pisney & Danny Bell

It’s our first RugbyPickemBio Threesome!

If you’ve ever played well into your 30’s, then this is an interview for you. Danny Bell’s career took an international route, from Kenya to the U.K. eventually landing himself in Arizona. Michael Pisney grew up corn-fed and started his own high school team in Iowa before moving to Denver to join the Barbos. Stories, jokes, voicemails, banter and more with these two rugby veterans. Enjoy!

Top 3 – Michael Pisney – Iowa Ruggers
1) Mike Kelly
2) Paul “The Cactus” Emerick
3) Steven Murra

 Top 3 – Danny Bell – Arizona Ruggers
1) Ryan Thompson
2) Michal Roble
3) Ally Miller

 Rugby PickEm Haikus:

Danny Bell - 
Kenya/England Youth
Hilton (Ritz) Bellman, Loves his Tips
Arizona Sunburnt Heart

 Michael Pisney -
Iowa Farm Boy
Barbo Nation, Here I Come
Won the Big One. AAAAAYYYYYEEEE!

MLR Playoffs

With Uncle Johnny and HARPO back in town, the Rugby PickEm guys got together before summer break to talk rugby. The eagles sweep their June test matches ... we reflect back on the historic summer and look ahead to the November test match in Ireland. Summer 7's have begun, but before we look too far ahead, .... the MLR playoffs are upon us! Predictions, analysis, hot takes, and our world famous point spreads .... Happy 4th ya filthy animals.

Glendale Raptors -22
Utah Warriors +22
O/U – 65

San Diego Legion - Even
Seattle Seawolves - Even
----> PickEm game

RugbyPickEmBio - 003 - Logan Collins

Sitting down with Logan Collins after his first MLR cap was a treat. We started talking summer 7's, and proceeded to bounce off the walls covering everything from when he started playing rugby his senior year of high school with James Patterson in Colorado Springs, to learning from kiwis in Dunedin, to winning the one and only PRO Rugby Championship with the Denver Stampede, and his Super League days with the Denver Barbarians. Lots of culture in this week's bio with a guy who plays drums, professional rugby, and holds down a full-time job on the side. Enjoy this week's RugbyPickEmBio with Logan Collins and Rugby PickEm producer Florida Dev .... (and don't forget to listen all the way through the outro)!

Top 3 – Early Day Barbos
1) Justin Stencil
2) Maximo DeAchaval
3) Taylor Howden

Top 3 - CSU Social Squad
1) Tommy Staab
2) Danny Bolling
3) Nick the Brick

Top 5 Rappers (Brought to you by Elliot Dillon-Herzog’s favorite Chris Rock movie … “Top 5”)
1) Nas
2) NOTORIUS BIG
3) Lil Wayne (recently freed)
4) J-Cole
5) Jay-Z (Black Album)

Favorite thing on the internet these days - Dog Videos

Rugby PickEm Haiku:
Colorado Springs
Denver Barbarians Rugby
Good Conversation

RugbyPickEmBio - 002 - Charles Ajarrista

We sat down with Charles, a man still riding his championship high, and discussed his rugby journey from England, to France, to Little Rock Arkansas and eventually to Denver, Colorado. He talked about learning to tackle before he ever touched a rugby ball, how the French flair has influenced his game, and the challenges and rewards of coaching and developing grassroots rugby.

 Top 3 - Arkansas Razorbacks
1) Alex Carr
2) TJ Christensen
3) Tim Hanify

Rugby PickEm Haiku:
Jouer au rugby
French prince seduces Little Rock
Social peacock stud

RugbyPickEmBio - 001 - Zach Pangelinan

We sat down with Zach before his game against Glendale. We talked everything rugby, including his childhood in Guam, how he had to sneak onto the rugby pitch for his first practice and touring with the country's Soccer national side at age 16. Zach showed love for his old club Ombac as he recounts moving halfway across the world to pursue his rugby ambitions. We wrapped with some culture, and his current team the Houston SaberCats.

Top 3 - OMBAC
1) Tai Tuisamoa
2) Charlie Purdon
3) Jed Gillespie

Rugby PickEm Haiku:

Guam kid comes to states
Ombac stalwart loves the beach
HE LOVES THE HIGHBALL!

Rugby OVERLOAD ... Banter, Celebrations, Recaps, Picks and .... Breaking News?

The PickEm guys can barely handle all the rugby over the weekend but we do it for our fans .... Uncle Johnny gives his "State Of The Rugby Union", recapping Wales vs. SA in the Nation's Capital, London 7s, and Club National Championships. 

Vili Toluta'u in the open field .... please add 3 inches to his height in the gameday roster.

We talk MLR, featuring our usual weekly awards. Vili Toluta'u wins #FirstTeamAllHair and Marcus Walsh is our #spiciestscrummy. 

In our first ever Breaking News on #RugbyPickEm .... Logan Collins will make his MLR debut this week with Glendale. We change it up and pick against the point spreads for the June International Test Matches. All that and more on this week's Rugby PickEm.

Week 6 - We're Back Folks

After a week off from recording ... (the boys were in TCB mode), we recap you on everything MLR. 

Uncle Johnny has a couple of bones to pick in his "State of the Rugby Union", last week's game recaps features the spiciest scrummy, first-team all-hair, #RigJealousy, Dan Power and Grant Cole's awkward broadcast chemistry, we take different stands on heckling kickers, and our premier of "Eighty Minute Men". 

Americans do their sports heckling a bit different than the rest of the world ... 😬

HARPO sends a goodbye text, we get some strange voicemails, Thanking Doug, Player Try Pool, our hopeful outlook on the Eagle's June Test games and next week's MLR spreads and picks. All that and more on this week's Rugby PickEm.

HARPO in Studio!

HARPO in STUDO! That's right folks, we broke down week 4 with the one and only as he updated us on his upcoming trip to Maggotfest in Missoula, his complicated relationship with technology and his pet peeve ... missed tackles. 

Maggotfest in Missoula Montana attracts the STRANGEST of the STRANGE each year in May

Things got a little off the walls this week and it's the audio editing job of the year. 

Phil Mack is this week's spiciest scrummy, Pete Steinberg snatched the announcing crown this week and sideline reporter Stacey Paetz has stolen our hearts. 

When you have HARPO in studio (and the guys record immediately after rubbing elbows in the Try Club) .... you get top notch rugby banter. Enjoy this week's first taste of HARPO in the flesh!

MLR ... The League of PARITY!

Week 3 in the MLR was the week of upsets that had our heads spinning. 

Catch up with HARPO's hot takes, game recaps, voicemail (from a very powerful, concerned friend), Thanking Doug, player try pool and week 4 picks. 

"Stop flexing bro!"

Top notch MLR banter on this week's RUGBY PICKEM!

There's a New Play by Play Sheriff in Town

We learned A LOT in week 2, and like all you fans ... we're frothing for more. 

In Seattle, HARPO sees a familiar face and we have our first plus sized athlete of the week. 

Down in Houston, Grant Cole snatches the announcing crown, and Bt has a case of #rigjealously.

Does this face look like the future of rugby commentary? Because Mr. Cole is here to stay

In San Diego, Nate Augspurger is our spiciest scrummy of the week, and we deliver our first official MLR first-team all-hair as we break down some Utah Warriors's hair-dos.

Voicemails, Thanking Doug, Player Try Pool, and Week 3 PickEm .... (including HARPO's sure thing Derby winner) ... there's a little bit of everything this week on Rugby PickEm!

Week 1 In the Books

MLR Week 1 is in the books ... Uncle Johnny whiffed on his picks, but he's ready to get back on the horse and bounce back in week 2. We break down the games to find out where we were right, where we were wrong, and how we can right those wrongs. A bit of everything this week including an MLR facial hair breakdown, our first voicemail, a look back at PRO Rugby (to thank our friend Dougy Scho), player try pool, our week 2 spreads and picks ..... and we catch up with our scoops expert HARPO as he treks across the country (with some interesting stops) for the game of the week in Seattle.

If I'm being honest ...., it's just a very punchable face 🤷

Send us your picks (rugbypickem@gmail.com)!

Boots on the Ground: Glendale 41 - Austin 26

The guys had their boots on the ground today for the MLR opener of the Austin Elite Rugby against the Glendale Raptors.

Pregame, halftime and post-game analysis of the exciting week 1 match up.

Don't Fuck with my man Maximo! 

Rugby PickEm - Pilot Episode

Team Previews: 2:10 - 22:00

Prop Bets: 22:00 - 29:00

Player Try Survivor Pool: 29:10 - 31:30

Las Vegas Sportsbooks Hate Rugby: 31:30 - 34:50

Week 1 Lines: 34:50 - 39:30

Harpo (Scoops Expert)Call: 39:50 - 41:50

Outro: 42:45