Super Bowl Party Sponsored by ESPN America

At about 9:30 p.m., John and I were picked up by Julien Urgenti for the short drive down to a restaurant called Ninkasi Gerland. 

Our Co-Hosts

Our reason for this adventure was a Super Bowl XLVII party co-hosted by ESPN America and our two local American football clubs, the Lyon Les Gones and your Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons. 

Ninkasi Gerland

The restaurant featured two large and one smaller interconnected rooms and several large TV screens to show the 49ers-Ravens contest. It was a great venue as the crowd swelled to over 350 people. Besides members of the Falcons and the Gones, we were joined by players from the Apaches which is the University team here in Lyon that I did not know existed. There will be more on the Apaches later.

We also had players from the Grenoble Centaurs club and even a few athletes from a club in Marseilles which is over two hours away by the high-speed TGV train.

The kick-off was scheduled for 12:30 a.m. Monday morning Lyon time.

Les Gones President
Stephane Dalbec

A wig to match his 49er jersey was a nice touch. He was working the registration desk with the Falcons' President Christophe Thuau.

At least I think it was a wig.

The Junior team with a champagne
toast to celebrate their victory on Sunday

RB Brice Rontet, with Julien,

was pro-Baltimore

SS Frédéric "Papi" Bastiand
was in 100% for San Francisco

I would guess that the football fans assembled were 2/3's in favor of the Ravens.

Some of our Falcons enjoying the

pre-game fare

Me enjoying Marine

Christophe Sidhoum
The Apaches Head Coach

Christophe is the owner of the Corner Café in the St-Just area of Lyon and works with Les Gones as well as the Apaches.

The Apaches are an American football team made up of Lyon University students who are new to the game. They only play a couple of games a year as it turns out versus other university clubs.

After a nice chat with Christophe, we agreed that it would benefits both of our organizations if our developmental B team were to practice/scrimmage against the Apaches sometime in the near future.

The Apaches players
were excited by the news

"Jeep Man"

I met "Jeep Man" as he called himself last night too. His real name is Thomas Baynaud and he plays for Les Gones, is a big Jeff Saturday fan, owns a World War II vintage Jeep and is a member of a group that reenacts World War II battles.

He apologized for his beard saying it was in tribute to his favorite player, Jeff Saturday, who was the long time Center for the Colts and just retired after playing for the Packers this season. I thought it completed the tribute perfectly.

We are going to get together soon to cruise about in his Jeep and check out his WWII memorabilia. I would love to see one of his battle reenactments this Spring or Summer.

Les Gones President Stephane Dalbec (#94),
Falcons LB Sam Benjavon (#52) and
Falcons President Christophe Thuau

They were announcing the winners of various door prizes and guess who won one?

With my new ESPN America

Nerf football and bag!

It must be mentioned that Brice Rontet's Raven outfit won him a brand new NFL leather football for wearing what was judged to be the night's Best Costume.

I watched most of the game with Mary Robinson Hubert from the AVF Club. While we were both pretty much neutral as to the 49ers-Ravens issue, Mary was very pro-Oregon when it came to the four former Ducks playing in the game.

The Ravens won the game at about 4:45 a.m. and after saying our goodbyes, we were back at The Villa at 6:05 a.m. thanks to making timely metro and bus connections.

As for me, I didn't awake until at 5:00 p.m. (it was accidental even then) which was a good thing as we had a Cadet practice scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

All in all, it was a rousing party with lots of good memories to be had.

The Cadet practice was a good one as we prepare for our first game of the 2013 season this Saturday at home.

Falcons Junior Team Season Opener and Super Bowl Monday Party in Lyon

Sunday was our Falcons Junior team 2013 season opener at home against the St-Cergues Bulldogs. After about five months of practicing, it was finally GAME TIME!!!

#57, OG, Vivien Villard

"The Human Bullet"

His technique has improved so much in the last few months!

We play nine-man football at the Junior level. The Bulldogs are a new club and only had 12 players suited out for the contest. The Falcons had 28 athletes at their disposal.

We like to run the ball

 Missed a block

Bulldog QB drops the snap

This would lead to one of the three First Half safeties that the Falcons would score.

The Falcons led 11-0 after one period in large part to the Bulldogs' problems with long snaps.

Bootleg for SIX!

Bulldogs Swing Pass

Run, Run, Run

At Half Time, the Falcons were in complete command leading 28-0.

 Slant Pass for another Falcon score

 Why is he Break Dancing?

One-on-One

After three periods, the Falcons were up 49-0.

 The Defense was still playing hard

Bulldogs QB on a 30 yard TD run

I believe that shutouts are Fascist. Thus I was glad to see the Bulldogs score to leave with a little dignity.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs it was a case of too little, too late as Bron-Villeurbanne's favorite sons rolled to a 56-6 victory.

The Falcons are now 1-0 while St-Cergues is 0-1.

GREAT JOB FALCONS!!!

We were playing on the side field because . . .

Rugby was playing in the stadium

Cool socks!

Lyon Super Bowl Party

Tonight, ESPN America is hosting our Super Bowl Party. Our cross-town rivals, the Lyon Les Gones, will be there as well.

No shenanigans I pray!

We'll have a dinner served first and then they kick the game off at 12:30 a.m. Monday morning Lyon time!

That means that the game will end at about 5:00 a.m.

I am going to be a real ball of fire at the Cadet practice Monday night.

St-Jean Cathedral

It was kind of a lazy Saturday after a long week of travel and football. In the afternoon I headed downtown to do some window shopping and grab a bite to eat.

Bites.

One Steak Taco, Please

Stain Glass Reflection

I spent some time in Vieux Lyon's St-Jean Cathedral both viewing the intricacies of the ancient church and spending some time in contemplation.

It is good for the soul you know.

Tall Ceilings

Templar Cross

Water Font

Rosette Window

The King Henry IV and Marie de Medici
Wedding took place in the Cathedral

Religious Grandeur

The Astronomical Clock
at 4:00 p.m.

Since I am very tired today, have a Junior game tomorrow at home and will be watching the Super Bowl that kicks off at 12:30 a.m. Monday morning Lyon local time, I have decided to go to bed early tonight in the hope of recharging my batteries.

Sad News from Catania

Friday night, at my talk at the America House about American football in Europe, someone asked a question about how the sport is funded. With today's difficult economic times, this is not an easy question to answer. Unfortunately, news from Italy this morning addressed this question.

My first job in EuroBall was coaching Sicily's Catania Elephants in the top division of the Italian Football League in 2008.

It was simply a MARVELOUS experience!

The team leadership and players were beyond compare. The three import players were good teammates and better people. The family and friends of all of these people made Sicily a place of treasured memories for me and Laurie.

That season was Catania's first in the top level of the IFL and saw us play in the Semi-Finals. After an off year in 2009, the Elephants advanced to the IFL Super Bowl, Semi-Finals and then the Super Bowl once again in 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively.

On Facebook today, team owner Davide Giuliano informed the team that the team's main sponsor has been forced to back out of its promised financial commitment to the team because of the current depressed economic situation.

After exploring several other options to keep the team afloat, the deadline for committing to the IFL for the 2013 season has come and this proud franchise has been forced to shut down for the year.

I pray that this is only a temporary situation as the club has risen to become one of Europe's very best teams.

The absolute JOY that was
Catania football in 2008!!! 

Breaks my heart.

Lunch and the American Club of Lyon

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY LAURIE!!!

Friday John and I were invited to lunch at the home of Christophe Thuau who is the President of the Falcons. We were joined at the table by Offensive Coordinator Julien Urgenti and Running Back Brice Rontet for a fine dining experience made by our host.

Although the words "Lyonnais Speciality" were being bandied about, the food was delicious!

"Lyonnais Speciality" usually means that you are about to eat something that, back in California, you would only consume on a dare. I never did find out what part of the pig we ate but, whatever it was, was very good.

The five of us enjoyed each others company for the usual two hour French lunch. These people really know how to enjoy life.

EXCELLENT post meal cheese

The four or five cheese post meal ritual is so French and so good!

As is the after meal drink

Drinks.

 Speaking at the America House of Lyon

In the evening, I was due to give a speech at Lyon's America House. This establishment tries to improve all aspects of cultural relations between the French and the Americans.

On this Friday night of the Super Bowl XLVII weekend, I had been invited as an "Expert" to address about 30 people regarding the growth of American football in Europe generally and in Lyon specifically.

The staff was wonderful in getting me set up for my Power Point presentation. The presentation lasted about 40 minutes and I believe that it went well.

Several people said they would come to our next home game on February 17th against the St-Cergues Bulldogs.

I am also now charged with finding a host family for a lovely 18 year old woman for the months of June and July so that she can improve her English language skills and learn more about American culture first hand. Any takers out there?

Once back at The Villa, John made us dinner as we watched ESPN America and an old episode of NCIS. It must be said that John is a good cook and I am a good dish washer, a symbiotic relationship if ever there was one!

Thursday with Mary

It was Thursday, which means that I was due to meet Mary Robinson Hubert for the weekly Thursday morning AVF club at the. . .

. . . Louis XIV Statue in Place Bellecour

 This week the AVF Club featured

Pakistani-Indian Cuisine

Rehana Lafont 
explaining about the DELICIOUS

food that we were about to consume

YOU ATE HOW MUCH???

Speaking of Food

This is one of Lyon's upscale food markets, doesn't hurt to look.

The desserts looked rich enough 

Some of France's official 350+ cheeses

 Veggies are probably good for you

Truffles . . . WOW!!!

At about $900 a pound, I guess I won't be trying these any time soon!!!

And I'm sure that they would have been "OH SO GOOD FOR ME!"

Sales All Over Lyon

The word "soldes" is French for sales. There are huge savings to be had all over the city. This store in the Part-Dieu Shopping Center was offering 50% off.

Not enough savings for you?

How about 70% off?

Signs like these are all over the city in nearly every storefront window. I even bought a nice Falcon Cardinal colored wool scarf  for a whopping 80% off!

 What no Soldes here?

Upon closer inspection of this Part-Dieu store, they were in the midst of a truly interesting soldes of their own . . .

. . . No REALLY!!!

Not sure how big of a discount that this really is but I'm guessing that it is a lot.

Thursday night's Senior practice was outstanding! There is nothing like competition to bring out the best in a team.

On Friday night, I have been asked to give a speech at the America House in Lyon about American football's status in Europe. Of course, this was set up with Sunday's 49ers vs. Ravens Super Bowl game in mind.  

I hope I'm up to the task.