Pitch Perfect

Unfortunately, our lobbyist could not include Ireland in her vacation plans as we had hoped, but Jenny is determined to get there later this year. In the mean time, we've been getting updates on the Nashville Grizzlies Rugby Football Club and their adventures in Dublin at the Bingham Cup.

The Grizzlies have combined with the World Barbarians and have won their first two matches. They defeated the Amsterdam NOP 55-0 and Kings Cross Steelers of London 6-0.

The best story of political intrigue I've heard about the tournament so far is that Jon Glassmeyer and Scott Ridgway were a little early to a party hosted by the Australian ambassador to Ireland so they got a personal tour of the residence by the ambassador and his wife. The Sydney Convicts, who were supposed to be the guests of honor, arrived some time later, none the wiser. International incident avoided!

Tuke in the scrum

Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Bob Tuke was spotted at a yard sale held by the Nashville Grizzlies Rugby Football Club today. One of TEP's board members, who also happens to be a Grizzly, reports that he even bought something.

The Grizzlies are raising funds for their June trip to Dublin, Ireland where they will participate in their first Bingham Cup, a tournament that takes place every two years for rugby teams made up primarily of gay men. It is named for Mark Bingham, who died defending the crew of United Airlines flight 93 on September 11, 2001. Bingham was a member of the San Francisco Fog Rugby Football Club, another predominantly gay team.

TEP's lobbyist, Jenny Ford, who has become quite a rugby groupie, says she may be blogging from Dublin next month. Stay tuned.