Monday, May 15, 2023

Spring Road Trip to Visit the Las Vegas Clan


Sunday, May 14, 2023
First and foremost, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all of you wonderful ladies who make such a difference in the world.

Laurie and I were up at the crack of dawn for the five hour drive to Las Vegas, Nevada to spend a few delightful days with Andrew, Jenn and Kevin.

Wouldn't you know it . . .

. . . a Dominoes game broke out

As usual, I faced defeat gracefully as now young Kevin was beating me easily proving that it is not just my Mom, anybody at any age can beat me at this ancient game.

Other than these Dominoes games, we spent a pleasant, quiet first day in the desert with our family.

On to EuroBall this weekend's action in Italy . . .

Only one game was played in the
Italian Football League

A second game on Sunday between the Legnano Frogs (3-3) and the Emilia Stainless Steel Warriors (0-5) was postponed due to the weather.

The 3-3 Varese Skorpions were hosting
the dangerous 4-2 Ancona Dolphins

Our Skorpions were still clinging to their playoff hopes after last week's stunning loss to the Legnano Frogs. Given the Dolphins excellent level of play this season, a win on Sunday would be a tall order.

DAMN!

The two back-to-back Second Quarter possession Pick-Sixes by the Varese Offense certainly did not help the cause.

The loss dropped the Skorpions into sixth place in the IFL standings and only six teams make it into the 2023 IFL playoff field. After next week's bye, the Varese eleven end the regular season at home against the Milano Rhinos (4-2).

Time to regroup after two losses in a row.

Italian Football League
Week #10 Results
Dolphins (5-2) 35Skorpions (3-4) 13
Frogs (3-3) at Stainless Steel Warriors (0-5)
Postponed due to Weather 
Byes: Guelfi (6-1), Panthers (5-1), Rhinos (4-2),
Ducks (2-4) and Mastini (0-6)

Italian Football League
Standings
1. Firenze Guelfi 6-1
2. Parma Panthers 5-1
3. Ancona Dolphins 5-2
4. Milano Rhinos 4-2
5. Legnano Frogs 3-3
6. Varese Skorpions 3-4
7. Lazio Ducks 2-4
8. Emilia Stainless Steel Warriors 0-5
9. Verona Mastini 0-6

Italian Football League
Week #11 Schedule
Sat. & Sun., May 20-21, 2023
Mastini (0-6) at Panthers (5-1)
Guelfi (6-1) at Rhinos (4-2)
Stainless Steel Warriors (0-5) at Dolphins (5-2)
Frogs (3-3) at Ducks (2-4) 
Bye: Skorpions (3-4)

On a happier Italian American football note . . .

The Catania Elephants had a big
win over the Roma Pretoriani today

My first experience coaching in EuroBall came with the Elephants based in Sicily in 2008 as their Defensive Coordinator and again in 2009 as their Head Coach.

We were in the IFL those two seasons playing against Italy's best teams. Today, the Elephants are competing in Italy's third division known as CIF 9 as they only play with nine players not the customary 11 at this level.

The 2023 CIF 9 division is made up of 28 teams divided into five leagues or girones as they are called in Italian. Three girones have six teams while the other two only have five clubs.

The Elephants compete in the tough, top heavy six team Girone A that features the high flying 4-0 United Palermo Eagles as well as the 4-1 Elephants and 4-1 Pretoriani.

It is good to see them having a good season. We have a ton of incredible memories from those two wonderful season in sunny Sicily.

No comments: