Varsity Match

I left my house for work on Saturday morning, dressed in jeans, boots and a sweater, loaded up with my wellies, a sweatshirt and long-sleeved shirt, coat, hat, scarf, and a strapon hot water bottle (OK, that last one was a lie- I don't think they made those and if they do, I'd feel weird sloshing around town). I was heading for Roni's Varsity Match, with an expected forecast of sleet and light snows, and was really prepared for the worst. However, if you look at the picture below, the blue boys (no, this was not hypothermia, this was body paint), the weather clearly was nice and sunny (except for one big cloud that lasted about 45 minutes).

The lovely gentlemen pictured are Ian aka Ionidas (or Leonidas William Gibson) and Neal "Is this appropriate" Wendt. They had promised Roni a show in the stands for the game and they certainly exceeded all expectations. Not only were they decked out in blue and white body paint, sprayed hair and wigs, they stood the entire game without shirts and rarely stopped cheering. Roni did a great job out on the field and playing for all the of second half down one goal certainly was difficult but naturally, the cheers helped ease the pain of a 1-nil loss for the Blues.


Here are some of the best of the best cheers:

"Lets go, Ox-FORD" yelled in a very fake British accent

"Safety school!" and its partner cheer "Back-up School!" and of course the loving "You still go to Cambridge!"

"You're just a poorly marketed soft drink from the 80's that not even Reagenomics could save!" (The Cambridge team's nickname is the Tabs)

"The M-11 is a poorly constructed street!" (M-11 is the major highway to Cambridge)

"Is there a way for us to immediately suck less?" This was not a cheer but a question from Ian during the second half.

"Stretch that groin!" This was Neal's first comment to Roni.

"Rice-a!" "Roni!" "Rice-a!" "Roni!" (call and response)



Despite losing, it was great to be there supporting Roni and watching the girls play. Unfortunately, the team didn't play too well- hence the "can we suck less" comment from Ian, but those of us in the stands had a great time cheering, listening to Neal and Ian's running commentary, watching this poor little girl freak out at the giant blue men in the stands, jeering the other team, etc. And it was nice for Roni to have her own personal little cheering section that was clearly the hit of the entire Iffly Stadium.


This last shot is just a moment of the weirdest part of the afternoon- this event was going on inside the Iffley Complex. I think it's Kendo. It just looks like a combination between wooden fencing and the Salem Witch Trials (because of their headdresses). There was just a lot of shouting and whacking each other with sticks and referees on skirts with flags. It was bizarre. Enjoy the confusion.

Let's go, Ox-FORD!