Saturday, May 2, 2009

Highland 45 United 13

Congratulations. The best team today was Highland. Great game! The local HR boys stepped up and made the difference. No need for the 4th import player.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please post information on each foreigner to take the field for both teams teams today including arrival dates in the US. You seem to have a lot of sources and are keen on transparency so I'm sure you will be pleased to accommodate this request. It's time the "truth" be made clear.

Anonymous said...

Correction: Highland 45 United 13

James F said...

"United verses Highland at The Rio Tinto Stadium. The playing field is level with import players on both sides. Now the local players and coaching will truly determine the outcome of the game. Good luck to all and may the best team be victorious. I will post the score tomorrow."
Sing along folks - "turn out the lights, the parties over........" It's over for you Ra, you just got exposed to all s the mean spirited, hateful, pathetic excuse of a lump that you are. Guess the Highland coaches are better coaches and the local players are better players. Good news tho Ra, they now have help for people that are diagnosed as PATHOLOGICAL LIARS. Everyone should look up the definition as it fits this sicko to a "T". Get a life that has some purpose and meaning if it's not too late. BTW, nice sportsmanship that the United players are taught - comes right from the top.

Ra Puriri said...

James F, anon #3, anon #4, anon #5 ....have added your names to see the wizard for courage to come out from the protection of the cave of anonimity. James F was almost there.

Every team has things to improve on including United. Pointing out team members by number and calling them classes human beings is despicable. A great example of how the tone of a conversation gets ugly when people are hiding in the Anonymous cave. If this is gracious winning then you all do yourselves and HR a big disrespect. This is why the circle of respect for HR is so small.

Ra Puriri said...

James F at least put his first name and last initial. Thanks. I suggest that everyone at least start here and put your first name and last initial. Very difficult to have a meaningful conversation when I can only see the whites of your eyes from outside the cave of anonymity. Losing track of anon 2,3,4,5,6........

Unknown said...

Ra, the nature of the internet is anonymous. If we all want to get together to discuss this in person that we can do that. But when you decide to air your troubles via the internet you invite anonimity. Not everyone puts their email address and phone number on the web.

Nonetheless, you cannot use the anonimity of others as an excuse for not responding to questions or the behavoir of your team. I do not agree with call kids "classless human beings", that's not construtive. However, neither is refusing to answer questions. You've lost on all arguments here. I suggest closing down the blog.

One more time, when did the last two players for United from New Zealand arrive in the US? To be clear, my understanding is that they arrived within the last 2-3 weeks which I find surprising in this instance given the unfounded accusations you have been making against HR for weeks. Whether or not there is anything to this kid from Australia the fact is that he is still in Australia and did not play on Saturday for HR nor has he played or will he play any other day (I am assuming as much since he is not here according to you).



-Ryan Smith

Ra Puriri said...

Kia Kaha to Ryan. Not asking for phone numbers and addresses just a name. Have not lost on all my arguments because most of the issues related to "Forever Strong" remain a mystery. Millions spent to tell and promote this story. This little blog will be here to provide balance. People are interested in both sides of the story. Almost 5,000 by this week.

I will get the exact dates for you. Why don't you and I work on limiting the number of import players to three on the field at anyone time. This is a win win and positive fruit. We can show others that different points of view can collaborate to accomplish good things.

Ra Puriri said...

Ryan, Anonymity is not cool on the internet anymore. The great thing about blogs and such is that positive social conversations can occur in cyberspace and you and I are proving this out. We have to agree to basic ground rules to create an anonymous free environment. If I block your comment because I don't like it or I disagree then I am the jerk. If we all agree that no personal attacks are allowed then we continue to move forward. What do you think. Lets you and I give the 3import player limit rule a go. I can not do it on my own.

Ra Puriri said...

Ryan and all of the Anonymous. I apologize for the comment about the white eyes in the anonymous cave... but you have to admit it was funny.

Unknown said...

To be honest Ra, and you may not like this, I don't care what the rules are as long as everyone plays by them. I don't have enough time to worry about how many import players are allowed in American HS rugby.

I keep asking you about the date of the United NZ players arrival b/c it's a bit hypocritical to accuse HR of bad sportsmanship when in fact United actually did what you said HR was attempting to do. But as long as they played in the minimum two league games, I have no problem with United given those are the rules.

Can I ask you a serious question and I ask this with no agenda other than curiosity. Why do you have such disdain for HR? I am not "in the know" but have heard from enough people that it seems you've gone to incredible extremes to discredit the program and their coach. I doubt an American HS rugby program is as large a conspiracy machine as you suppose. It seems to me you're a good family man. I'll bet your family would like to have back all the time you've spent on HR.

Ra Puriri said...

Ryan, let me email you a more detailed answer to your question or maybe we can talk on the phone. Some issues best not shared in such a public forum. Would be happy to share privately. Your not willing to spend the time to help me because I have not done a very good job of convincing you that a very little bit of collaborative time is worth the effort. Call me or email me. 435-817-6555 / tradewarrior@gmail.com

In 2005 I spent a lot of time on closing the day pass visitor loophole which was used to slip these young men into the public school system. Thanks to changes in technology and blogs now only a few minutes a day. An hour today.

When the rugby world is told that players have paid their full tuition to be in the Utah public schools and they have not and never have, what would you do? When a school in Murray providing a valuable service to children with Aspengers Syndrome is closed after a failed attempt to create an elite sports academy, what would you do. An assistant coach at HR ran the football and rugby programs at the now defunct USC sports academy.The kiwi imports were enrolled at this school as well.

Unknown said...

Ra, before I consider any further private discussion I would ask that you please respond to my questions about the contradictory nature of your recent accusations in public forum. This is most troubling to me and fair is fair. If your team is pursuing (and executing) recruiting strategies you accuse HR of only pursuing (and not executing according to you) than we should discuss that openly.

Further, and I don't know the details of the history, if you have "closed the loopholes" and the rules now state these kids don't even have to go to school, why continue on with this? It seems your work is done.

Ra Puriri said...

Ryan, if you would like me to discuss this openly then I will oblige.

For 20 plus years the misinformation and spin regarding HR recruiting import players from my home country, misuse of the Haka and Kia Kaha has been extremely effective. It has created the HR persona and continues to be promoted, now in a commercial enterprise to make money, Forever Strong. The New Zealand connection both culturally and with the players has been a key building block in the foundation of what HR is today. Remember that the movie is promoted on the tag line, "based on a true story". What would you call the movie if all references to the Maori culture were removed? Forever ..............? The sad fact is that all of the important facts related to New Zealand were left out of the movie. Only the elements that played well on the silver screen remained. Telling the complete story transforms an inspirational movie into a piece on "60 Minutes"

Thus the primary purpose of this blog, is to tell "the rest of the story". If you are going to use my culture, then use it appropriately and with respect. If you are going to use young men from my country then give them the respect and credit that is long overdue.

There have been countless downloads of the documents on the blog, many phone calls and emails of appreciation. And there have been comments in the negative as well. It clearly shows an interest on both sides and the value of these new web based tools of social interaction and sharing information.

The lid was kept very tight on the pot until 2005 when we discovered the pretend students at Olympus High School and then the annual jump from one private school to another to create the illusion of eligibility. Ending in 2008 with the attempt to transform the Asperger's Syndrome School in Murray to a failed elite sports academy. HR players and a coach attended and worked at this school.

Time to put the kids to bed. I will finish responding to your question tomorrow. Ryan Thanks.

Ra Puriri said...

Ryan,

The United import players from NZ arrived about 5-6 weeks ago. Staying with my parents in Alpine. Jenny, an HR supporter, and I have been discussing this situation for several weeks. She asked me to see if United would limit the import players to two on the field at any one time. United agreed to three because both teams have three this year. I asked her to see if HR would agree to three. The fourth HR import player caught both of us off guard. She said that she checked with HR and they told her absolutely not true. Since posting the details of the fourth recruit the USA Rugby registration # etc, I have not heard back from Jenny. Unfortunately it appears that Jenny is another good person that was used to disseminate misinformation.

Would someone in the HR inner circle be willing to engage in an honest conversation as Jenny and I attempted a few weeks ago.

Would HR be willing to donate $2.00 from every DVD sale of Forever Strong to a scholarship fund in New Zealand, that went to help young Maori students? This is a way of making amends for past decisions without having to reveal all of the unpleasant details. A win win for all. What say ye HR??

Anonymous said...

From the mouth of your #9 and #10. When asked if they went to General Conference they replied "We didn't go because we got here weeks after" That mean at least 2 weeks after conference maybe three. I don't know nor do I care but just spreading rumors just like you.