Another Tales From The Inbox - October 2, 2009

Today's Tales From The Inbox come from our friend Katharine in the U.K. She sent me a story some time ago about the Baseball World Cup and noticed that it wasn't a big deal here in the States. I agreed and noted that it was because we are so preoccupied with who will make it in the post-season for the MLB. She sent over these two pieces from the NY Times:

US Beats Cuba 10-5 to Win Baseball World Cup: The United States defended its baseball World Cup title on Sunday with a 10-5 victory over Cuba that was powered by four RBIs from Lucas May, including a three-run home run.

After Olympic Shutout, Baseball World Cup Is a Success: International baseball officials are starting to get over the shock of being shut out of the Olympics, and the recently concluded World Cup was hailed as a success in spreading the sport's reach in Europe. The United States beat Cuba 10-5 in Sunday's final to cap a 22-team tournament spread over seven countries, several of which were almost completely new to baseball.

You can read more about the Baseball World Cup from the official website here

In addition to baseball, she sent over this story from the world of Rugby:

Jonny Wilkinson: 'I still feel internally obliged to hit everything spot on': It's definitely coming back," Jonny Wilkinson says quietly of the form and assurance that once helped him win a World Cup at the death. That same deadly conviction was evident earlier this month when Wilkinson scored all of his new team's 18 points and steered Toulon to a memorable victory over their illustrious opponents, Toulouse, before a crowd of 60,000.

Breaking News - Golf & Rugby Closer To Becoming Olympic Sports

As I sit here trying to figure out what to write and watch Caddyshack on the Golf Channel I was interrupted by this bit of breaking news.

For the 2016 Olympic Games - golf and rugby will be recommended as sports to include. The AP has this fresh press release about the two sports. In October, we will learn whether these will actually make it in.

Will we actually see golf and rugby become Olympic sports? Stay tuned!

Sporting Life As A Muslim

Katharine sent me an interesting Rugby story about the first Muslim rugby international player for England.

It's not something he set out to do, but Ikram Butt has become a trailblazer for young British Asians in sport.

Born and bred in Yorkshire, he became a professional rugby league player with his hometown, Leeds, while he was still a teenager, before becoming England's first Muslim rugby international in 1995 when he played against Wales in Cardiff.

He's published a book called Tries and Prejudice about his experiences.

His book is as much a social commentary on a Muslim family growing up in the north of England during the 1970s and '80s, as it is a sporting biography

Raised in Headingley, a stone's thrown from the famous rugby ground, Ikram is about as Yorkshire as you can get. The second youngest of six children, he was brought up on a street amid the kind of multi-cultural nirvana that we rarely see today, never mind 30 years ago.

"We had an Afro-Caribbean family living opposite and they're still good friends of ours. There was an Irish family at the top of the street and an Italian family across the road. Then there were four Indian brothers who ran a mini- market which was the focal point for the street. Growing up in that environment was a wonderful experience, everyone was very friendly and there always seemed to be a street party going on."

But when Ikram and his brothers stepped outside this comfort zone, it was a different story. "When we went to some places in the city we were subjected to prejudice and racism, which was a shock to begin with. When you live in such a close-knit community like we did, you aren't used to this kind of thing."

See the original article here and another about Ikram here. It looks like the book can be found in the UK but I have not found a source for the US.

Thanks Katharine!

YouTube Sports Channels

More and more sports organizations have a dedicated YouTube channel that fans can subscribe to. Much of this content can only be found on the internet even if the outlet has a dedicated television or cable broadcast network. I've updated my subscriptions to include more channels and thought I'd share some of my favorites with you.

Interestingly enough, I found today's video of Candace Parker on the NBA Channel. You can find WNBA videos on their site as well as their own dedicated YouTube channel.

The LPGA and PGA each have their own channel as does the WPS. For the cyclists - REI has an informative channel that gives biking "how to" videos. For you rugby fans - Your Scrumhalf Connection has a channel dedicated to the sport. Some really good action sports channels are Roxy, Patagonia, and The North Face. I've also found interesting surf channels like Surf Goggles, Surf Osiris, ASP World Tour, and Billabong USA. Of course ESPN has a channel too.

Yes, I have a channel as well that I will be uploading Southern California Breakers video to as the season progresses.

What are your favorite YouTube channels?

Another Edition of Blogspotting

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Football: I found the scary video above on Chicks In The Huddle. Nola has a way of finding the football-related content that you just don't see everywhere.

Speaking of women who know their football, I stumbled across the blog Gridiron Goddess. She's got the world's best stadium pictured in her title bar too.

Learn Rugby: I've finally found the information I've been looking for. Your Scrumhalf Connection posted where to find A Beginner's Guide To Rugby from the International Rugby Board. The guide is in six different languages.

Game Chair: And One has found the ultimate game watching chair. It doubles as a gamer chair for the nerd in your life as well. Either way, it's pretty fun.

Don't Let The Door Hit You: Everyone's favorite narcissist has finally retired. One friend of mine put it best when he said that this guy should probably stick to pitching and keep his opinions to himself.

Want to be spotted? Send me your story!

5 Questions With A Rugby Player

I've been following today's guest on her blog for several months now. Rugby is one of those sports that I was determined to learn more about and Your Scrumhalf Connection has helped me do that. The woman behind it, Wendy Young, is so passionate about the sport that it is hard not to get excited about rugby. She took time out of her busy schedule to be my guest for five questions.

1. How did you get involved in the sport of rugby? How long have you been playing and what got you started? What other sports have you played throughout your life?

I had just started college in Oklahoma and was not playing a competitive sport (I played soccer since I was a kid) for the first time in my life. One night while I was out with my friends we got two flyers, one for Oklahoma football and one for Oklahoma rugby. My best friend went to a rugby practice first and she came home SO pumped and excited that we never went to the Football practice. The next time there was rugby practice my friends and I all attended and we were instantly hooked. I played for the University of Oklahoma from 2001-2005 and then I moved to Austin to play with the Austin Valkyries and I have been playing with them ever since!

2. What inspired you to start Your Scrumhalf Connection? How long have you been writing the blog and where does your material come from? What inspires your enthusiasm to continue?

As soon as I found rugby I was instantly addicted to it and I wanted to learn as much as I could about it. For that I turned to the Internet and through my searches saw that 99% of the sites were dedicated to Men's rugby and didn't even acknowledge that Women's rugby existed. This really frustrated me, so on Mar 31, 2006 I started my blog. Back then I was just a lowly college player that had dreams as big as the moon and had no idea that this blog would spiral into such an amazing site on the web.

I am inspired daily by the many emails, comments and visitors to my site. Everything can be turned into a segment on the site and I appreciate all feedback and suggestions. I have many things in the works for the blog and I really excited about what 2009 and the future holds because it just continues to get bigger and better each day!

3. How would you succinctly describe the rules and aims of the game of rugby? Are the rules similar in the states as they are in the UK and Australia?

The game of rugby is different than any other game I have played before, now that I have played so long the *laws* (there are no rules in rugby) appear to be second nature to me and are not unnatural at all. I would say that rugby is a mixture of lacrosse, hockey, soccer and football...it takes the exciting aspects of each sport and combines them together. The other exciting fact is that the laws are the same in the US as they are across the world. The kicker and the best part is that the men's laws are exactly the same for the women. There is no smaller 3 point circle or ball in rugby and that is another reason why it is so great!

4. Who have been your role models through your life? Do you consider yourself a role model? Why or why not?

My role model from a very young age was Mia Hamm, she was a ground breaking athlete in general and I followed her career from start to finish. Quickly after I began rugby I found a fondness for Jonny Wilkinson. My fondness for him is of course his golden locks and for his kicking abilities, I have always loved kicking in rugby and I love that we can both kick with either foot.

With my blog there also comes a large amount of responsibility and when I began the blog I didn't realize that. Now I have truly realized that with great power comes great responsibility. By no means am I claiming to have all power over everything, but I realize that my blog has become more than a small blog that 10 people read. I have worked hard to represent myself accurately and respectfully of other teams, my blog is not a place to hurt feelings or bad mouth anyone. The facts can be hard to read sometimes, but I work very hard to stay in the middle and show both sides of the story. But I am human and mistakes can happen, but again I appreciate any feedback or suggestions that anyone has.

5. What are your intentions for YSC in the future? What goals and/or milestones are you working toward.

Wow, I am constantly thinking up new ideas for YSC and I am trying to implement them each day. Right on the horizon is a new way to submit scores with more ease, and I will be releasing my new logo very shortly. Long term I want to mold the site into more content driven from my fan base, in the beginning I had to really work hard to find information but as each day goes by more and more individuals are pitching in and I really appreciate that. The blog is ever changing and will continue to change and adapt with the rugby world!

It Happens Everywhere

Thanks to Katharine in the U.K. for sending info for today's post.

England prop Matt Stevens believes he can return to rugby a better player once he has completed a two-year ban for testing positive for cocaine.

The United States isn't the only place where athletes are caught misbehaving in one way or another. Unfortunately, it happens everywhere. Matt Stevens plays rugby for the club in Bath, England. He claims, however, that he is happy that he was caught:

"I hope with every grain of my soul, that I'll be able to come back and be a better rugby player than I was, and I think I will be," he told BBC 5 Live.

"There's a sense of relief that I can get fixed and stop abusing myself."

Stevens is banned from the sport for two years and will be able to re-sign with the club in 2011. The club's website has a brief statement that claims they have come to an internal agreement and will not convene a disciplinary hearing.

Word is that he will be opening a cafe while he is banned from rugby.

Bath Rugby has a women's club as well. They play a match against the St. Mary's Old Boys Ladies squad this Sunday. The women's team at St. Mary's could probably use a better name, eh?

Wild World of Wednesday - March 4, 2009

The Manny Yo-Yo: I get on the computer last night to find breaking news that Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers have come to an agreement. Next, someone claims it was just a rumor. A little later it is confirmed. Afterward, Scott Boras says there is no deal. I wake up this morning and the news says he is almost signed. What the heck? The Manny Ramirez yo-yo, roller coaster, merry-go-round, or whatever you want to call it is becoming more than annoying. I almost started feeling like I should be on the McCourt's side for this...until the terms of the contract they offered came out. Yeah, Franky thought that he had the public's backing until his true, cheap colors came out. Are you out of money? Is this why you keep jacking up prices? I have an idea - don't build that freaking mall at Chavez Ravine.

Poll: Click here and answer a poll on what you would spend on golf clothing and accessories.

Raffle: Click here to find out how to win a free t-shirt from Your Scrumhalf Connection. This site is dedicated to women's rugby.


Today in Sports History

1968 - Joe Frazier TKOs Buster Mathis in 11 for heavyweight boxing title

1995 - George Foreman loses WBA boxing title, refusing to fight Tony Tucker

2009 - Frank McCourt, Scott Boras, and Manny Ramirez invite me to be their 4th at Riviera and help them work out their issues, ending in a happy day for everyone. The guys all have an agreement they can live with and I shoot a 72. (I can dream, right? This is my blog)

Wild World of Wednesday - December 10, 2008

NBA: The Los Angeles Lakers are on FIRE again, oh yeah! 17-3 so far! Nice! I do feel sorry for the Los Angeles Clippers with the nearly opposite record of 4-17. Their new practice facility is very nice looking but cursed. I'm sure it is. Just look at their record. Well, that and some jerk decided to do a hit and run on my car when I was parked at the store across the street from it. Yes, I am still reeling over that one. I'm especially grateful *sarcasm* for all of the help I've received.

MLB: The Los Angeles Dodgers have re-signed Casey Blake. This only leaves 13 of their free agents unsigned. How much longer do I need to complain? Do I need to become an *shudder* Angels fan *shudder*?

Premier League: I've had zero time to follow this wonderful sport so far this season. The standings aren't so surprising at all - Liverpool, Chelsea, and Man U at the top.

Rugby: Wembley Stadium recently hosted a very historic rugby match in which our cricket contributor Katharine wrote to me about. I'm envious that she was able to attend but thankful she sent this account:

"I thought you might be interested that I have finally made a visit to the new refurbished Wembley Stadium. This was to see the Australian Rugby Union team, who are currently touring the UK, against the Barbarians. I don't know if you know about the Barbarians, but they were always considered an important part of Rugby Union history and culture as they are an invitational team that it is considered an honour to play for, a little like an all-star team to put it in US terms. The match was actually a slightly contrived commemoration of the rugby final in the 1908 Olympic Games, which the Australians, as they did again on Wednesday night, won. The stadium where that was played, White City in west London, was knocked down some years ago, so this was played in the rebuilt stadium that hosted the 1948 Games. Traditionally, the Barbarians, or 'Ba Bas' wear the socks of the teams they normally play for with their Barbarians kit, but on this occasion because the Australians' opposition in 1908 were all Cornishmen, who were representing Great Britain, they wore the socks of the Cornish county team. (Well, in their colours, I don't think they were their socks!)"


Today in Sports History

1992 - The NHL awards franchises to Miami and Anaheim for the 1994-95 season. Southern Californians scratch their heads at the power of Disney.

1995 - The first meeting of the latest NBA expansion teams happens with the Raptors beating Grizzlies 93-81

Blogspotting - December 4, 2008

Remember Cory Everson? I found this gem of a video above of her in her prime.

Kerri Walsh is taking on a new role

What does DNA have to do with your athletic ability?

I found a rock climbing blog!

The NCAA has established policies on athlete pregnancies

How about a rugby calendar for next year?

Check out this amazing athlete

Sunday Sports Wrap - October 26, 2008

NFL: The San Diego Chargers are in London, England today to play the New Orleans Saints. It looks like everyone's favorite Saints blogger is there and will be posting the details of the game. How fun that must be! The stadium is ginormous compared to those we have for football in the States. I'm jealous.

MLB: The World Series continues tonight with Game 4 in Philly. The Rays are down 2-1 for now. I watched a silly segment on SportsCenter the other morning where they discussed the Philly curse. Just because a team hasn't won in 25 years, there is a curse? The Dodgers haven't won in close to 20 so are they cursed as well? I'm guessing its actually because owners of other teams spend a whole bunch of money to assure they win the titles. I can think of two in particular...

MLS: DC United are off to play the Columbus Crew and FC Dallas come to play the Los Angeles Galaxy. I can only shake my head at the latest David Beckham shenanigans. I guess I can't blame him for wanting to go sign a contract in Milan. I would probably get every ounce of money out of my career as well. My question is this - when are people going to tire of signing him for all of this money? Don't get me wrong, he's a great player but he certainly didn't do anything near what they hoped for the sport in America. He gets more attention for walking the red carpet here in Los Angeles than he does for his athletic prowess.

Today in Sports History

1863 - Soccer rules are standardized and therefore rugby starts as a separate game.

1981 - The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees 4 games to 2 in the 78th World Series

5 Questions With That Mutt

Well, That Mutt is really a dog named Ace so he doesn't really talk. His person is actually today's guest. Lindsay Stordahl maintains the blog That Mutt, which covers all topics related to dogs from training, behavior, and adoption to personal stories about her mutt Ace. She owns the business Run That Mutt, a dog running service that promotes healthy dogs through exercise.

1. What sports have you played competitively through your life? What do you continue to be active in today? What are your sports-related and/or fitness goals in the future?

I played softball in middle school and was the kid always stuck in the outfield. I also played basketball for a few years and scored maybe four points total. In high school I finally found the sports I am good at, swimming and rugby. I swam on the varsity swim team in eighth grade and started playing rugby a year later. I picked up running to get in better shape for rugby, but now that I don't have a rugby team to play on, running has become my sport (at least for now). I have fitness goals all the time, like running a marathon, breaking a PR and completing an adventure race.

2. How important do you believe fitness and exercise to be for dogs? How do you incorporate quality time with your mutt that is active for both of you?

Exercise is just as important for dogs as it is for us. Unfortunately most people think their dog gets enough exercise by walking around the yard. A yard is just a big kennel to a dog. They need a workout to stay healthy and fit just like we do. I have a gym membership, but I spend more time running or biking outside so my dog can tag along. I mix up our routine and route because I get bored easily if we do the same thing all the time. Running with my dog is supposed to be fun, not something I dread.

3. How do you think people with dogs can keep life active and fresh for their mutts? What are the challenges to keeping your dog fit? How can people combat laziness to keep their dogs active? How important is activity?

I'd start by making a goal to walk your dog for 20 minutes five days a week. Then increase it to 30 minutes, and so on. I always recommend people buy a backpack for their dog so the dog is getting more of a workout even on a short walk. I know it's not easy to make exercise a habit, so starting small and committing to 30 days of exercise is a good way to start. I will never have an overweight pet because my dog's weight is one thing I'm able to control about his health.

4. You've posted about agility training a few times on your blog. How easy is it to get into agility training for dogs? What must someone know in order to be able to enjoy agility? What special considerations do you think there are?

Agility is a great physical and mental workout for a dog. We have agility practice once a week for an hour, and my mutt crashes for the night as soon as we get home. The best thing about agility is almost any healthy dog can participate. If you're considering becoming involved in agility, find a club near you and watch one of their practices. That'll give you a good idea of what it's like. The beginning levels will teach how to run the obstacles safely. Usually the only requirements are the dogs must be a year old so their joints are developed and they should come when called because agility is done off leash. It works well to bribe with treats! But really, dogs of all sizes enjoy agility, and you don't have to compete if you don't want to. My mutt Ace and I just do it for fun.

5. Of course, I have to ask about all of your favorite sports teams - who do you follow, for how long, and what are your favorites?

Since I'm from Minnesota, I follow all the Minnesota teams, even though they are usually not very good (smile). I hope for a day when the Timberwolves get their act together because I love watching basketball. Since moving to North Dakota, I catch a lot of college hockey, mostly the University of North Dakota. Other than that, I am obsessed with the Olympics and can't wait until the 2010 winter games. Plus, I'm always up for watching a soccer or rugby game no matter what teams or what level.

Football Blogspotting

With the NFL and Premier League starting up I thought we’d do some football blogspotting. I mean all football, futebol, and futbol in every form that you can think of. I've pointed out before that if you're only interested in the American variety you are missing out. Think about it...the entire planet is completely taken by the soccer variety. There certainly has to be something to that.

Dave’s Football Blog inspired me to create this edition of blogspotting. This site covers NFL, soccer, rugby, and forms of “football” you probably didn’t realize existed. Go through the pages and there is a description of what he calls the six most popular forms of football on the planet (Association, American, Australian, Rugby, Canadian, and Gaelic). Give it a look!

While you’re at it, hop over and see what Georgina is up to at For Girls Who Can’t Do Football and then go to FOOTBALL: Just Love The Game. These both cover the Euro action far better than I do! FC Football Blog also covers the European teams and has really cool highlight videos and I should give a shout to Football Videos and Pictures on that same note.

In The Bleachers has your NCAA College Football blog coverage. You can also check out their podcasts.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – if you want a ton of news about futebol all over the planet then you must check out A Futebol Fan. I’ve not seen a blog that covers nearly every bit of the happenings like this one does.

I can’t mention football blogs without pointing you to some of my favorite NFL teams. Here’s and Raiders blog, a 49ers blog, a Chargers blog, and of course…a Bucs blog! Draft Day Suit covers much of the NFL world as well. Speaking of NFL team blogs, check out Lombardi Ave…for guess what team…

Speaking of favorites…I came across this interesting blog for Manchester United and this one.

(What’s that? How could I be a Man U fan? Simple…if you’ve been paying attention you know that I did my undergrad in Tampa and followed the Bucs while there. Anyhoo, the Glazers own the Bucs…and they bought Man U a few years ago. Poof! That is how I chose which team to follow since I have no other justification to jump on any other bandwagons. But…I must admit…I watch Chelsea and Arsenal and then hop over to Real Madrid and AC Milan...oh yeah, and I get South American games with my satellite… If you didn’t believe that I had sports ADD before then you must now…)

You can follow ex-Man U star David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy here at The Offside. I also found MLS Fan Blog that covers the rest of the league.

Of course, I have to remind everyone that I give you Southern California Minor League football right here. Although the Southern California Breakers season is over for now, use the search bar to find coverage of this awesome women's professional team. Women's Football Talk also has coverage of the IWFL and NWFA leagues and does a weekly radio show with people in the sport. I also bring you the TC Titans who are in the midst of their season now.

At any rate…tell me what your favorite football blog is. I mean any form of football. Tell me about some that are not in this post or on my blogroll.

Rugby Anyone?

As someone always looking to learn more about sports, I was delighted to find today’s guest blogger. Lindsay Stordahl writes the blog That Mutt. She enjoys a variety of sports such as rugby, running, swimming, and backpacking. She was so gracious as to provide us with some insight on the sport of rugby. When you’re done reading this, shoot over to her site to find a wealth of dog (and some cat) information and links.

No one ever asks me if I still play rugby, because once you start, you're kind of in it for life. Yesterday was the warmest day yet this year in Fargo. The ground was saturated from melting snow, everything coated in mud. I could smell rugby.

This is the time of year when spring practices are finally outside, dozens of cleats hoofing the sometimes soft, sometimes still frozen fields.

Most people seem to know what rugby is, more so than when I first started playing. When someone hears I play rugby, I usually get a response like, "Oh, yeah, wasn't there a Friends episode about that?" Or, "So that's, like, football with no pads, right?" Or even, "Is that the game with those sticks?" Well, no, that would be lacrosse.

Rugby is rugby. But even experienced players admit they don't know all the rules. And let me clarify something: I don't know all the rules. I get penalties. I drop the ball, often. I get tired during the first half. I have just stood there while a younger, faster player went for a tackle I could've made. I am often slow to get up. I will call my opponent names when really she just stiff-armed me legally.

But explaining the rules of rugby isn't all that hard. This is what I say to new players: The ball cannot be passed forward. Play is continuous. You will get tackled, and you must release the ball when you do.

But try to remember that with six 200-pound women running at you during your first match. And you have the ball. Every rookie seems to forget the most basic rules. It never fails. I watch as she catches a pass and realizes the size of her opponents charging her at full speed. The rookie will either:

1. Freeze, get tackled and cling to the ball as people are kicking, raking with their cleats and screaming at her to let go.

2. Throw the ball straight up in the air, because she remembers no one can tackle her if she doesn't have the ball.

Both are bad choices. The first choice results in a penalty. The second is even worse, because the other team usually intercepts the ball. Getting tackled is not such a bad thing in rugby. Unlike football, play doesn't stop. Instead, you can place the ball so your teammates can run by and pick it up. No big deal.

I joined rugby because of its idea of toughness. But really, the best thing about it is how it's truly a team sport. The number I wear doesn't represent me. It represents my position, and that changes from match to match. It's a great feeling to be a part of rugby, so I will be out there each year, looking for a good match. I guess you could say I'm hooked.

Wild World of Wednesday - March 12, 2008

Another Wednesday and there are plenty of interesting things to talk about.

Mark Cuban, blogger, denounced bloggers this week and will be denying them access to the Dallas Mavericks locker room from now on. Interestingly, he posted this on his blog. If you read his post, there are mixed reactions in the comments but seems to be a consensus that he is targeting one person in particular. Yeah, anyone can start a blog that has an internet connection, but there are viable sports bloggers that actually care about content and accuracy. I don’t think his opinion will change anyone’s blogging habits…

Aaron Rodgers says that he’s “not Brett Favre”…you think? His scraggly appearance made Brett’s usual unshaven look seem clean cut. Fans in Green Bay are holding their collective breath on this one…I wish them luck…

With Selection Sunday coming up, the field is narrowing and predictions are flying. UCLA, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Florida are all #1 seeds with the writers for now. There will likely be shockers and Cinderellas come Sunday as there are every year…

Fox Soccer Channel rates the world’s soccer clubs every week and Manchester United is ranked first this week followed by Arsenal, FC Barcelona, AS Roma, and Inter Milan. What would be nice is if DirecTV stopped blocking me from watching the UEFA games this week! The number of games that I get live coverage on seems to dwindle every day! It is becoming quite difficult to stay informed…Jim Rome certainly won’t be of any help…

Other interesting sports going on around the world this coming week include:

RBS 6 Nations Rugby Tournament around the UK, Spain, and Italy

Jeep King of the Mountain in Sun Valley, ID with skiing, snowboarding, and a bunch of entertainment

Major League Baseball is still in the thick of pre-season games in the warmer states

There are numerous (way too many to mention) Paralympic events going on around the world including swimming, table tennis, and alpine skiing in places such as Germany, Great Britain, and South Africa to name a few.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational is underway this week in Orlando. Hopefully there isn’t a strange cold front for this one that makes Florida feel like Pennsylvania (okay, exaggeration).

Oh yeah, the Los Angeles Lakers are shaping up to championship form again! Hooray! Catch them in New Orleans on Friday and Houston on Sunday.

And finally, Australia is filled with plenty of National Water Polo League contests all week.