UVA SPORTS: Tiffany & His Men's Lax Wins The 2nd Straight National Championship

When Dom Starsia was pushed out of Virginia's Men Lacrosse's program following the sharp decline in the aftermath of a murder scandal involving one former player with George Huguely who was found guilty of second degree murder with the death of Virginia women's lacrosse player, Yeardley Love, I was not sure if the program will be able to recover in the face of ACC teams whom also excelled with the sport. 

Right after the murder scandal, Virginia went 4-18 in the ACC in 5 years, it ultimately costs Dom the job as Virginia pushed him out.

When Lars Tiffany was hired as the Head Coach of the program 5 years ago, I was not even sure if he's for real. But he is. Under his guide, the program has recovered quickly enough to win 2nd straight national championship, beating the undefeated Maryland Terrapins 17-16 in a thrilling game in East Hartford, Connecticut.  

It is safe enough for me to say that the program is here to stay and it will remain as one of the nation's perennial heavyweights. Lars Tiffany mentioned that the program exists only to win the champions.

Of course, Lars is right on the target.  

VIRGINIA BASEBALL:  After winning the national championship in 2015, Virginia Baseball seems to hit some type of lull for the next 5 years, going 152-91. Then this year, Virginia opened the season 11-14, 4-12 (ACC) which baffled me and many fans. Thankfully, the team recovered to finish the season at 27-22, 18-18 (ACC). With a strong finish in the ACC Tournament (2-1), Virginia returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017. They were assigned to the Columbia Regional where the team opened with a 4-3 loss to South Carolina to fall into the loser's bracket and beat Jacksonville 13-8 and South Carolina 3-2 to face Old Dominion in the finals of Columbia Regionals. If Virginia wins, there will be another game between Virginia (31-24) and Old Dominion (44-14) tomorrow night - whoever wins this game gets to advance to the Super Regionals.

UPDATE:  Virginia Baseball has beaten Old Dominion 8-3 and because of that, it triggered one more match between Virginia and Old Dominion tomorrow night.  Virginia is now 32-24 while ODU fell to 44-15.

Cheers,

R-

Millicent Simmonds Triumphs In A Quiet Place Part II

Just finished watching A Quiet Place Part II.  Here's my verdict:  I like it very much.  

The first film has the ... horror-like, suspense and apocalypse feelings to it. Part II has none of that "horror-like" feeling but retain the suspense and apocalypse approaches to the film, it is not gruesome but it is very violent ... action film since we knew who the blind creatures are as well as knowing their weaknesses.  

In the first part, Lee Abbott (played by John Krasinski) along with his wife Evelyn (played by John's wife, Emily Blount) played a pivotal role in being hero, trying to protect their children - Marcus (by Noah Jupe) and Regan (by Millicent Simmonds whom herself is Deaf) from these blind creatures who were bent on slaughtering anyone that makes a noise.  What sustained the family for a while is their ability to use American Sign Language with their voices muted, while millions were slaughtered.  Lee eventually sacrificed himself to save his family.  

In second part, as much as Evelyn continues to protect her teens, Marcus and Regan - they must conquer their fears and embrace their roles in fighting against the blind invaders. Needless to say, Marcus and Regan triumphed at the end which will tie in the third film of the trilogy. And by the ending of the film, it is obvious that Marcus and Regan are going to lead the humans against the blind invaders.

One interesting thing about the blind invaders, they are very sensitive to two things - the very two things that easily got them killed in the process - made me think about their "homeworld" - I got the feeling that their faraway planet does not have a body of water and it may indicate that their planet is a scorched and barren planet that does not rely on their eyes or ability to use their bodies to swim.

For a long time, the film industry has portrayed Deaf characters as helpless, hapless and pitiful who must rely on hearing people for any help. But this film, it focused on the determination of Regan who insisted that she needs to do what is must be done and she ... succeeded. When she did do that, she slaughtered her first blind invader.

You know what I think ... ?  If a deaf teenager survived and gets to slaughter the formidable blind invader like Regan who is able to survive this destruction, it means Regan is not the only Deaf individual on the planet who did do this. Therefore, the folks involved with the production needs to hunt down and include the new ... few Deaf characters to sign up as warriors in the third film. They'd make a formidable foe for the blind invaders.

After all, I was at a deaf school at VSDB that has a blind department, too - you folks do *not* know how many times we had these .... conflicts ... with blind students.

Either way, I must praise Millicent Simmonds for her role in the film.  I look forward to see what she has to offer in the next film. I still think Millicent is going to be the next Marlee Matlin, like it or not.  Hell, at this pace, she can be better than Marlee and if she does, I'm dead sure that Marlee would be so thrilled to see her like that.

For what is worth, I had seen her in Wonderstruck, A Quiet Place and now A Quiet Place Part II - Millicent *can* act.  She's amazing actress.  Please note that I said she's amazing actress without "deaf" in it.

Cheers,

R-

Thyst Virtual Bar: Announcement

A Little Journey About My Niece

 Not many people knew that my family is now connected with someone from Kyrgyzstan. 

When I told my mother that my sibling (one of her child) was impregnated not by a sperm donor but by someone from a long line of deaf family generations from Asia by way of Kyrgyzstan.  She literally froze and was surprised by that but she responded that her granddaughter is hers. That's all it matters. Of course it should be like that.

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia.  Landlocked country means what?  It means that the country has no access to the ocean or a massive body of water. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China and Kazakhstan. Long story short, that tiny country was once conquered by Genghis Khan. And that country is perhaps the only country in the world that is "far" from any ocean.

Roughly about 6.5 million inhabitants lives in that tiny country.  Bishkek is its national capitol as well as the largest city in that country.

When my sibling told me who was the father of my niece, I was surprised it was him. She warned me that he's little worried that I would be so upset about it.  Why?  I have no idea. I think it is because of my reputation - people has been telling each other on how monstrous I can be. Well, I can be a monster if I want to - only if you wronged me. But otherwise, I care less if someone impregnated my siblings, really. Frankly, it is not my problem but theirs! And of course, my siblings knew that as well. 

Years later, he and I had a chat - he told me he was afraid of me because people were telling him the stories about me ... but guess what?  I had to chuckle and told him he has nothing to be worried since my niece -- his daughter is turning out to be great ... !

Now these days, my niece is being weird with these hair dyes.  Not that it fazed me but if it makes her happy, then great for her.  If she wants one side to be pink and one side to be black, more power to her. I just hope that her other family members from Kyrgyzstan is OK with it as well.

And they should be.

Cheers,

R-

Ragnarok

The second season of Ragnarok made me so angry.  The whole six episodes forced me to wait and look for the dumb blond boy to accept his role as Thor, the Norse God of Lightning or whatever ... this 6 episodes made me masturbate ... very ... slow ... until 6th one and nothing climaxed.

Do better, you fake Norwegians.

Cheers,

R-

May 29, 2021 Tidbits

I Also Blog At OutSports

 Once in a while I do blog at OutSports.com focusing on gay-related issues with sports whom I enjoy the most.  

Last night, I wrote an article focusing on the fiasco with Curt Miller and Liz Cambage.

Check it out if you want to!

Cheers,

R-