Jacksonville 1/26/2008 – Rabbitohs vs Leeds Rhinos

When it was announced that TOFOG concerts were not feasible I thought of not going to Jacksonville for just the game.  To my amazement, my husband said we should go and make it a vacation it would be something different and fun.  We’ve not had a real vacation in much to long.  So, we made our way to National Airport, survived the security checks and made it to Jacksonville Friday evening.  We checked in then met up with Darrin and her husband and went in search of a restaurant for dinner.  Northern Virginia is dense with fast food restaurants, shopping malls, convenience stores and nicer restaurants on every street and corner.  Jacksonville is spread out which is nice to see trees, ponds and grass but not as convenient.  We had fun cruising the streets and getting lost until we found a place to eat.

We got to the game before the gates opened and decided to stay and stand in the rain with everybody else.  The game was wet and cold but a lot of fun.  We were sitting in a very good spot to see all the Rabbitohs players come out on the field.  My husband picked up the game and enjoyed the fast action of Rugby.  I will watch football with him but football is in slow motion compared to Rugby.  I hope they start to televise more Rugby especially Rabbitoh games since it is more fun to be vested in a team.

I had several really good shots of Russell as he stood on the sidelines with the team but every time I tired to take a picture someone moved then the guy in front of me stood up.  I even tried to get a picture of Peter but he was moving to fast getting things set up.  When I finally stood up to combat all the standing up all I could get is a shot of Russell’s back.  Now I wish I’d brought my SLR with the nice zoom lens.  Hind sight is 20/20.

I firmly believe that based on my experience and wisdom I came to the conclusion that Mavericks was too crowed and too loud!  Hurt my eardrums loud couldn’t get to the bar crowded.  I guess I should have worn jeans so tight they looked like my skin and wore a too tight top in order to get a drink.  I’ve learned you get to know more about people talking to them then by shouting over the music.  I digress, we toughed it out and I did come eye to chest with several Rabbitohs and Leeds players.  I did manage to pull my head up to make eye contact and smiled at them.  Beautiful jackets very well made and nice chests too.

I know it has been said before but I want to say it too Dean Widders is the most generous, personable and friendly man.  He is a charming representative for the Rabbitohs.  Patty asked him to please wait for our friend who would want to meet him.  He smiled and said sure.  My hubby talked to him about Rugby and American football and Dean just lit up and asked if he enjoyed the game.  They swapped comparisons and Dean said Rugby was more endurance and we kept him entertained long enough for Darrin to get back.  Then he stayed a little longer after autographs and photos and told us he had been to the US before.  He liked it but the pace is faster then OZ.  We finally let him go on his way then we decided to go back into Mavericks and the guys went back down stairs. 

Not to long after the guys had left Darrin noticed the security guard and the MC from Mavericks talking near the escalator.  We decided to stay put and we didn’t have to wait long before hisself came riding up the escalator.  Darrin grabbed my arm and pulled me with her as she approached him and shook his hand.  I pray to the “powers that be” I was not staring at him with my mouth gaping open.  We stood and watched him being escorted, more like rushed, off to a side door to Mavericks. 

Meanwhile, down stairs on the first floor Hubby sees the start of some kind of commotion.  He thought, “I wonder?”  He stays and watches and surnuf he sees Russell walking into the building then up the escalator.  He smiles and confesses to me later he was gonna say something then he decided not to because he saw Tree (Kevin Durand) with him.  Hubby does like Russell’s movies especially Mystery Alaska but he is also a terrible tease and does enjoy teasing me. 

After Russell disappeared into Mavericks the guys said they would scope out restaurants so we could go back into Mavericks to see if they do something with the Rabbitohs and Russell.  The place had really cleared out but that just made the music louder and I could get to the bar.  So I got us drinks and we sat and waited until we decided it was late and nothing else was going to happen there.  Besides, we did get to see Russell and we were quite happy about that what more could we possibly ask for?  I had no delusions that I would ever get closer then five rows from the stage as I did in New York at the TOFOG concert so I was happy that I got face to face with him. 

We go back to the escalators and Darrin calls her hubby to locate our guys and I walk over to the railing.  I look out the window then to the left and see a crowd of people at the side door.  I’ve been having problems with my left eye shortly before this trip, which I will be having surgery for next month.  Needless to say, all I could see was a mess of shapes and white hats at the side door from where I was standing.  Patty comes over and she looks in the direction that I’m looking and says, “There’s Russell!”  Thank the “PTB” she came over because Darrin was on the phone locating our guys and I couldn’t make out who was who without Patty’s eyes.

With a gentle shove from Darrin I stepped up right into the MC from Mavericks who told me to back up.  I looked straight at Russell and smiled, I’m pretty sure.  He had an intent look on his face as they were moving him out to the next stop.  I had my ticket and a sharpie in my hand then held it out as I said, “Please Mr. Crowe” He said, “It’s alright mate.”  He took my ticket and pen and then I watched as he signed it then turned and handed me my ticket and pen.  I smiled and said, “Thank you and you have a nice evenin’.”  Then we watched him walk toward the escalator then disappear down to the first floor.  I’m proud to say I practiced what my Mama taught me growing up “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” 

As Russell descended, my hubby ascended the escalator from the first floor smiling at me.  I’m guessing I looked kind of goofy because I’m standing there with my ticket in one hand and my sharpie in the other.  Now we were all very happy and the guys are chuckling at us. 

We finally head down the escalator to find dinner!  As we walk off the escalator he was surrounded by people smiling, signing autographs and having pictures taken.  I tried to get a picture, yet again, but people kept moving into my line of sight.  I back out of the way, as he is on the move again toward me along with several other people.  He looked at me as he passed and grinned and I grinned back at him.  How can you not smile back? 

The group stops and I bump into a large arm with one of those nice South’s jackets on it.  I look up and smile then say “Hi Tree nice to see ya.”  He looks down with a big smile on his face and says “Hi nice to see you too.”  I smiled at Jason Gray-Stanford and couldn’t remember his name and wasn’t sure whether to call him Deputy from Mystery or Lieutenant from the TV series Monk.  I got a nice smile from him then they were on the move again. 

Three close encounters of the RC kind and a bonus of Tree and Deputy Bobby!  It was all very unexpected and a lot of fun.