Rugby World Cup 2011 Its Coming

 RUGBY-Aucklanders are being urged to get involved in the great Opening Ceremony for Rugby World Cup 2011 as ceremony organisers extend for call the volunteers.

“This is really amazing opportunity to be part of world Rugby history,” said Auckland-based choreographer Shona McCullagh who is a personal member of the creative team for the Opening Ceremony 2011.

Rugby World Cup 2011 Pools and Match Schedule

Coaches traveling to Person Gulf with NFL-USO

Four current and former NFL head coaches will travel this year to the Persian Gulf as part of the NFL-USO Coaches Tour. The quartet is scheduled to leave in late June and return July 4.In the group are current coaches Ken Whisenhunt of Arizona and Gary Kubiak of Houston. The father-son coaching team of Jim Mora will also be on the trip.

Mora Sr. coached with the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, while his son coached the Atlanta Falcons and is currently an NFL Network analyst.
Mora Sr. was on active duty in the Marines from 1957-60.

He said, "As a former Marine officer, I have the utmost appreciation and respect for what our military personnel go through to preserve our country's freedom. I know this trip will be one of the highlights of my life and I hope I can in some small way bring a sense of home and joy to our troops overseas who serve our country so valiantly."
Whisenhunt's father, brother and father-in-law served in the Air Force.

He said, "I was very honored to be considered for it. I've talked to other coaches who have been and they've said it's a great experience."The former girlfriend of Atlanta Falcons cornerback Christopher Owens(notes) filed for a temporary protective order against him this week after she came home to find her apartment vandalized.
While no charges have been filed, Latia Terry reportedly alleged that Owens, the father of her nine-month-old child is responsible for the damage.

The police incident report said Terry claimed she left her apartment at 11 p.m. last Sunday and when she returned late Monday morning, the apartment had been broken into and burglarized.Officers wrote that there were holes in wall in the living room, pictures were on the floor with holes in them and a flat-screen television was on the floor, also with holes.

In addition, the closet in the master bedroom was "piled full of clothes, purses and jewelry. The suspect poured bleach all over the items, leaving discoloration on them and the carpet."Police spokesperson Edwin Ritter said "charges will be made once a suspect is developed and probable cause exists for arrest."

Gwinnett County court records show that a family volence hearing had been scheduled for June 22.Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs(notes) says he won't believe there is progress being made in talks between players and owners until there is a deal.

Said Briggs, "To me, it is what it is. The thing that's bothersome is not knowing what our schedule is going to be. Whether this thing is done in two weeks or done in a month, then where do we go from there? We obviously must start the next day.

"I don't like the gray area. Not a fan of the gray area. I guess we just have to stay strong.Briggs also wonders about a $250,000 workout bonus he was scheduled to receive had this been a normal offseason.

"I don't know what is going to happen with that bonus," he said. "I could use that money just as much as anybody else. That was definitely factored into my budget this year. But if I don't get it, I don't get it.
More than 40 New York Jets players finished workouts this week at nearby Fairleigh Dickinson University, a site that was unknown until after it was over.

Explained quarterback Mark Sanchez, "We've seen (the) extreme in 'Hard Knocks' and every day in the media. Every little thing—heck, if you sneeze—it's out there in print or on a blog or on TV. This was our chance to relax, do it our way, keep it quiet and make it just a team thing. We wanted it to be about us."
San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh says he isn't concerned about some disagreements recently between quarterback Alex Smith and wide receiver Michael Crabtree(notes).

Said Harbaugh, "Just some of the things lately kind of goes back to the analogy I gave a little bit ago, when you're kids and working it out and sometimes you get into some tussles and shirts get ripped and noses get bloodied, but that's part of figuring it out. I know he's a good guy."
A judge in New Jersey downgraded three charges against Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt(notes) from an incident last week.

Britt was charged with resisting arrest and other offenses when he was confronted by detectives that believed he was carrying as marijuana cigar.
The charges were reduced to disorderly persons offenses and sent to Hoboken Municipal Court, where a hearing has been scheduled for June 23.