Young Slug

    When I played rugby during my brief time at San Jose State University there was always one game we looked forward to. No matter how the season went, it was the rivalry match with University California Santa Cruz. But with that I never really had a opportunity to speak with a player from the opposition let alone learn a bit about the rugby program at UC Santa Cruz.  I am very lucky to able to get in contact with this year's captain of the Santa Cruz rugby club. Jackson who is a a junior at the college was able to give some info on the club, his own career thus far and his thoughts on who will win this year's MLR shield. Hope you all enjoy. 

LLR- Can you please share with us your rugby playing career up to now?

J- I first started playing rugby my freshman year of high school for the Marin Highlanders. I played for the JV my first year and we barely had enough kids to field a team. Now I play for the UCSC men's team with enough guys to put out two sides, so it's a blessing to have that kind of depth to practice and play with.

LLR- How did you get into rugby?

J- I got into rugby after my football teammates begged me to come out and try it. I got one practice in to figure out the rules and then played my first game against Lamorinda two days later.

LLR- Many people may not know about the UCSC rugby club, can you share with us a brief history on the club?

J- The rugby club is the oldest club and sport at UC Santa Cruz. We have alumni still helping the club that were part of the first team in 1967. We play in the PACWEST conference.

 

LLR- There is a pretty heated rivalry with San José state rugby, do you have any memories that stick out from any of those game ?

J- There's always been a rivalry between us and SJSU, we play for the Macbeath-Porter cup, named after the founder of UCSC and SJSU's first coach, but I've never played in the game. My freshman year our B side played them and lost in a close match and my sophomore year it didn't take place because of COVID, so this year I'm extremely excited to get after it.

LLR- How is recruitment done on campus and for incoming players?

J- At UCSC, our coaches and some players handle outreach to clubs that we have connections with or have played for. We can sometimes help players get into the school and if not we can certainly help them find a place that's right for them. Other than that, we have a big club day on campus where we recruit the bulk of our new players, with experience levels ranging from veteran to complete newbie. 

LLR- If you had a chance to speak with high school and youth students, what would you say to them to get them to not only come to UC Santa Cruz but join the rugby team?

J- UCSC is certainly a special place. I understand it's not for everyone, but I will say that you are guaranteed a team who is going to welcome any guy who is willing to commit and work hard. If you can do that, you'll have a strong community of people who look after you. We're not a team with clicks and separate groups. We work towards a common goal together. The rugby community in particular is one that celebrates the game and having fun, rather than wins and losses, even if we do want to win. 

LLR- Lastly, who do you fallow in the MLR and who are your two teams playing for the shield this season?

J- I got the Gillitini's taking it home again over the Warriors. Gotta root for the West Coast!

*This Q&A is out after the Macbeth-Porter Cup played on 1/29/22. Score was 

UCSC 57 - 17 SJSU 

If you would like to fallow and learn more about the rugby club at UC Santa Cruz please fallow them on Twitter @MensSlugRugby and also on Instagram @ucscmensrugby

*if you know of a club or player you'd like to be featured on here please email @ llrugby@yahoo.com or reach out via any social media platforms,  Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. 

Veggie delight.

   

 Growing up as a kid in San Jose the crazy old man seen at many sporting events was just a normal sighting. you where excited to see him because he just carried this aura of excitement with him and it was infectious. from San Jose sharks games to San Jose earthquakes, San Jose State University to Oakland Athletics and many more Krazy George was a staple at sporting events. your team could be getting blown out and season could already be lost but George had a way of whipping the crowd into a frenzy regardless if it was a few hundred or tens of thousands he knew how to command everyone's attention. Jim Stewart Allen also known now infamously as Broccoli Man has now slowly become what KG is to the San Francisco Bay Area. that is not a bad thing by any stretch, going back to when I was a kid I looked forward to when Krazy George came to my section of the stands and now as a parent before we moved to Oregon I was excited for my kids to experience Krazy George energy as I did, and they loved it. Jim is a kind loving man full of passion and I my self look forward to meeting him and when I am able to bring my kids to a Seawolves match and experience Broccoli man in the flesh.

LLR -Right off the bat question on everyone's mind, why broccoli?!

BM- Hahaha well what a valid question to ask! I made my first national TV appearance (ESPN Sportscenter) with potatoes at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in early 2020, and I decided I wanted to keep doing stuff like that! Because dancing with and eating vegetables on TV seemed like such a wholesome endeavor! I still dance with Potatoes, but only at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, that’s a special event, I needed another vegetable for the larger Pacific Northwest sporting community! After reflecting on it with some friends I decided on broccoli! Broccoli is my favorite vegetable, I love the texture, especially raw! They are very vibrant, when you see them you know, “oh, that guy brought giant crowns of broccoli with him to the game! That’s interesting!” One time I was doing my thing at a Seawolves game, and a lil 3-4 year old saw me, and started uncontrollably giggling, and he tapped on his Dad and said, “Daddy! That guy is dancing with broccoli!” in a very kind way, and then kept giggling, so cute! People compare them to pom poms, which I love! They are nature’s pom poms, and I use them to cheer on my favorite teams! In this case, the Seawolves!

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LLR- You've become a bit of an icon now in the Washington sports scene, do you see yourself as the Krazy George of the PNW?

BM- Hahahaha I don’t quite know how I see myself yet, this thing I do is so young still, ol George has been at it for years! I am tickled you’d compare me to such a legendary figure though, the inventor of the wave, wow! I think I’m definitely cut from the same cloth as he is, so to speak! That’d be fun to meet him, I think we’d both feel very validated knowing each other!

*(there is some controversy about the creation of The Wave. let it be known Krazy George is the inventor of the wave dont care what anyone says)

LLR- Can you share a little about yourself, day time profession and what led you to want to be an entertainer at events?

BM- My day job is being a teacher! A professional full time substitute teacher, I work in one school with that community of teachers and students and admin! But I try to be a good role model for healthy masculinity and for healthy eating. And that desire to try comes from working with kids!

I also have been doing stand up comedy since 2006! Since I was a junior in High School! So entertaining and working the crowd and figuring out how to get the crowd on my side! That is what stand up comedy is all about, and I definitely use those skills while veggie dancing, hah! Stand up taught me how to come up with a message, and then figure out how to get that message across in a way that many people will tap into and appreciate. My message is broccoli and kindness. And PNW love! And rugby love! And I guess just love in general <3 div="">

LLR- Last season for the Seawolves is when broccoli man was born, had you attended any games prior to that national television game?

BM- So this is actually an interesting question! Broccoli GUY has been a thing before rugby! The XFL Dragons in February and March, right before everything shut down, this is where I cut my teeth in the broccoli dancing biz! They liked me, the league liked me, I liked them, the XFL will be back in 2023 and I’ll be with them as Broccoli Guy

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    Broccoli MAN though, was never bestowed upon me though until the 2021 MLR season, so you are indeed correct, the 2021 Seawolves MLR season is when I became Broccoli Man!

I go by either and maybe I need to figure out my branding, but I think Broccoli Man fits the rugby aesthetic and I think Broccoli Guy fits the Mariners or the Dragons or the Seahawks aesthetic! Who knows hahaha, it’s just an honor to be known as these things, I do it for you broccoli! <3 div="">

As for the Nationally televised Broccoli eating session and dance, I had been to 2 games doing my thing before the Broccoli Man viral hit! The first game everyone was confused, but kind! They warmed up to me! The highlight of that game was someone successfully starting the chant, “Brocc-o-lee!! Brocc-o-lee!!” Very fun!

    The second game was during a PNW heat wave! And I actually was featured on the broadcast! But not much was said about my broccoli! I was wearing a pride romper and full on dancing during a heat wave, and they had never seen me before, so there was a lot to process, hahahahaha. But they did compliment my rhythm and I felt very validated.

The third game I went to though, that was where the magic happened! The Rugby Network was ready for me and I was ready for them, hahaha. The stars aligned!

LLR- What are your thoughts of Rugby in America, where the MLR and the Seawolves are at now and where you'd like to see it go?

BM- Ya know, here is the deal with rugby in America, ***in my humble opinion*** I always knew it existed, I went to Western Washington University, pretty big rugby school. I had friends in rugby, I went to some of the parties, they were wild, hahaha. But I never went to an actual game! After having gone to a few now, I can say I love it! It’s engaging, it’s fun, it’s accessible, I think it’s great! Americans have heard of rugby, but it’s one of those things you hear and go, “rugby. Yeah, that’s that sport all those other countries play right?” And it’s like, yeah, they do, but we play it too! On a club level, on a collegiate level and on a national level. We actually have our own full on major league, that’s broadcast on local networks and streaming services (shout out to The Rugby Network) and every once and again we are on FS2, or even CBS! So people know it exists, and I think if they came out and saw a game, they’d love it! The game speaks for itself! But Rugby in America has to find a way to get people into seats for the first time! Because as of right now it’s kind of still this thing people hear and go, “yeah but that’s not really a main sport here,”

    But there is no reason it shouldn’t be! Again, the game speaks for itself! And the atmosphere that rugby communities around the US are able to create together is I think magical, and something very beautifully American! The games I have been to, the tournaments, that’s just something I think Americans would have an easy time getting into! One of the reasons I bring my broccoli to the Seawolves, and to rugby in general, is to spotlight how much fun American rugby can be!

     As far as the Seawolves and the MLR? I would love to see them continue to build their brand based off of the excitable, kind and inclusive US rugby community. I think Rugby doing well here would add a lot to our American culture! And I think our American culture has a lot to offer Rugby! Rugby players and fans are so kind and respectful, yet competitive and fun. It’s good stuff, more of that in the US please! I’m here to help!

LLR- For those of us who have not attended a seawolves match yet, me and my wife will be attending the Austin match at the end of February. Can you share with us a few positive things about game day experience and one thing you'd like to see the club start to do?

BM- I mention this a lot, but before the second rugby game I ever attended started Seawolves player Ben Cima came over to me with a Seawolves ball, and thanked me for my energy and for what I gave of myself in my first game there!

    I just got so much of a jolt of passion from that. Rugby is still so small here, and every bit helps! Your presence is appreciated by the community! When you are at a game, you see people you know. People who are fans, people who are family members to the players, people deeply embedded in the sport and in the community. It’s humbling, it’s a cool atmosphere. I am privileged to get to be a part of it!

    Where would I like to see everything go for me personally? I’d love to see the Seawolves move to a bigger stadium, with a jumbotron! Either Cheney Stadium or Lumen Field? I have nothing but love for Starefire, and it gives so much to the Rugby community! But I think it’d speak to the growth of rugby as a whole to see the Seawolves in Lumen Field! Oh that’d be sweet!

LLR- What do you look forward to most in the coming season?

BM- Seeing people again! Yeah! There are a lot of folks within the community that I am really excited to see <3 div="">

LLR- -Any final message you'd like to get out to everyone before the first game?

BM- Go Seawolves, practice kindness, and eat some plants! <3 div="">

*if you'd like to fallow Jim the Broccoli man be sure to fallow him on any one of his social media accounts and be sure to say hi and snag a picture at Seawolves matches or many of the events around Seattle.

Twitter: @PNWBroccoliGuy

Instagram: @PNWBroccoliGuy

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