Saturday, August 14
at the Convention Center

Rhode Island Riveters
vs DC Rollergirls

Providence Roller Derby’s Rhode Island Riveters clash with the DC Rollergirls All-Stars at this season’s next home bout.

On August 14, the DC Rollergirls travel team, the DC All-stars, depart from the nations capital and arrive on the Rhode Island Riveters home turf. There will not be time to exchange pleasantries. As soon as the All-Stars roll into Providence, they roll onto the track. The Riveters will be there to greet them with some fierce competition. Be there at 6pm to get the best seats. The bout starts at 7pm.

Marriage Equality R.I. will be the featured charity of this bout.

The half-time performance will feature the Unique Skate Crew. They will transfix with a demonstration of jam skating, a combination of dance, gymnastics, and skating.

After the bout, come down to the after party at Rick’s Road House, 370 Richmond Street, 21 and over.

Hope to see you there!

Saturday, doors 6pm, bout starts at 7pm, RI Convention Center, 1 Sabin Street

The Providence Kickball League season has hit the halfway mark. Head over to the Stan Lutchka Field behind the Cranston Street Armory and watch flamboyant but deadly serious kickballers square off. There are rules and everything. This is one of the few sports in which men and women compete as equals, like dressage.

10am — Untouchabeasts vs. Yearbook Staff

11am — St. Sebastian’s vs. CBP

12noon — Scout’s Honor vs. Burnsiders

Saturday, field between Dexter and Parade Streets, more info at FB

Paul the octopus has picked Spain to win today’s final game against the Netherlands. He is 7/0 so far. I just like that his name is Paul. Game live today at 2:30pm, Channel 6. [Nailed it! 8/0]

Okay, this looks like a promo for The Bachelor — age 30, enjoys deer hunting, meeting lingerie models, and being Texan — are you his San Antonio Rose? But let’s face it, he is kind of adowable. According to the ProJo Beckett, who had reaggravated a previous injury in May “on a wet mound”, is now ready for a rehab stint in Pawtucket.

The plan will be for Beckett to throw five innings for the PawSox on Sunday with a target of 65-70 pitches. The pitcher and the team will reassess Beckett after he makes one more start, though the venue for that start has yet to be determined.

In this injury-plagued season it will be nice if we can get somebody back in the action. Sunday’s game at McCoy is against the Syracuse Chiefs. General admission is still $7. . . best deal in town. (This picture is starting to weird me out. I may have to go find an action shot.)

1:05pm, Sunday, McCoy Stadium, Pawtucket

All those fancy dudes in blue blazers are clamoring for a whiff of Nicolas Mahut:

NEWPORT, R.I. — The shirt Nicolas Mahut wore during the longest match in tennis history will be given this weekend to the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum in Newport, R.I.

Mahut and American John Isner played a record 11 hours five minutes in their first-round Wimbledon match last month. Isner won 70-68 in the fifth set.

Mahut, who has also agreed to give the museum the racquet he used during the match, will play next week in the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. That tournament runs from July 5 through July 11 at the tennis hall of fame.

The memorabilia will be on display at the museum right away.

Not the fashion show type? Prefer strong women with a little meat on their bones and fire in their eyes?  Then head downtown and cheer on the Rhode Island Riveters when they face off against New York’s Suburban Brawl (with the Killah Bees and a special guest). This is the real deal — they skate like crazy.

$13, kids $5, bout 7pm, Saturday, Providence Roller Derby, RI Convention Center, 1 Sabin Street

The Providence Roller Derby invites the public to an exciting bout tonight at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

Come out and watch the Old Money Honeys take on the Sakonnet River Roller Rats in a rematch of the 2009 PRD Championship game! Each team features a new team captain for 2010, with Sally Riot leading the Honeys and Kid Ace the Rats.

And don’t forget the Super Hero after party at Tazza (250 Westminster Street). Dress up like a Super Hero and get in free ($5 without costume). This party will begin immediately following the bout.

$13 (kids 12 and under $6), doors 6pm, bout starts 7pm, Saturday, RI Convention Center, 1 Sabin Street

Remember the Norwegian curling team with their vivid go-to-hell pants? A recent article in The New York Times discusses the subversive spin younger Olympians are putting on their look, and how this will trickle down to the American consumer (Burton will start marketing those ‘denim’ snowboarder pants later this year).

Basically the curlers decided that they didn’t want to wear boring pants, poked around on the Internet and found some extremely obnoxious golf pants in a screaming red, white and blue argyle pattern made by a brand called Loudmouth Golf. (The founder of Loudmouth took courses at the Rhode Island School of Design while getting a degree in semiotics at nearby Brown University.)

But you can look like a crazy Norwegian curler today. Check out the photo gallery at Loudmouth Golf. There is an awesome striped suit which looks a bit like an awning — and I mean that in a good way. In fact that may be founder Scott ‘Woody’ Woodworth (Class of ‘82) wearing same in the company photo. . . not clear who is who. So there you go art school graduates — you can make a living doing what you love. (Golfer Alice Cooper is not afraid of color. John Daly after the jump.)

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The Providence Roller Derby kicks off the 2010 season with an international bout. The Rhode Island Riveters will face off against London Brawling (great name). PRD has this to say.

This is the first time the Riveters will host a team from abroad. The Riveters will be playing on their home turf, the Rhode Island Convention Center. . . London Brawling will be captained by seasoned vet Blocker/Jammer Kamikaze Kitten. For the Riveters, filling the void left by 2009 retirees, Providence has new blood. Fans will see skaters like Hot Apple Cry, former Killah Bee, (transfer from Texas Roller Derby,) and Sweet Tease, (formerly of the Atlanta Roller Girls.) These new Riveters will battle on the front lines with the the rest of the All-Stars, lead by Captain Sass E. McNasty and Coach Buzzy. Half time performance by The Extrordinary Rendition Band. We will be conducting a raffle for our featured charity Day One R.I After party at the 201 club, 201 Westminster Street, from 5pm onward!

Okay girls, kick these limey bastards in the tooth! Throw ‘em the old Double-Gaspee for patriots everywhere!

Sunday, bout 3pm (afternoon tea 4pm), RI Convention Center, 1 Sabin Street

Tonight is crunch-time for the Rams as they face North Carolina in the NIT semifinals. You may want to go to a bar with many television screens and cheering people. For those who stay home, GoRhody says the game will be broadcast on ESPN2, as well as radio stations WHJJ (AM920) and B101. (Advantage Rams — we have one forward with the Hogwartsian name Orion Outerbridge which is just the best thing ever.) The Ram Band will be holding a pep rally outside Madison Square Garden before the game.

[Additional Note: It's over. URI lost in overtime under very unsatisfying circumstances. I have no stomach for this sport at all. But congrats to the Rams for a great season.]

9pm, Tuesday, URI vs. North Carolina, Madison Square Garden

(It reads a little differently in the online version. I apologize ahead of time for the stupidity of this post.)

I can’t believe I am left to cover the basketball beat, but even I know that this is a huge deal. And I am after all the resident Ramette and I know how to look things up, so here goes. According to GoRhody.com,

The Rhode Island men’s basketball team overcame a 12-point second half deficit to defeat Virginia Tech, 79-72, Wednesday night. The win advances Rhody to the NIT semifinals for the first time since 1946.

In researching this comprehensive report I bumped into the Rhody the Ram photo album which documents his various incarnations over the years. Check out the diabolical incubus prancing about the floor in the 70’s! Yikes. More about last night’s victory over Virginia Tech at ProJo. I’ll bet certain sports bars will be hopping next Tuesday night when the Tar Heel Wuss Brigade opens up a can of Blue on Blue whoop-ass!!!

NIT Semifinals, Tuesday, March 23, 9pm, Madison Square freaking Garden

Word about this doesn’t seem to have spread too far, as there were only about 5 people there last night–

You don’t need a ticket. Starting this Thursday, Tazza Caffe will be broadcasting the games on our outdoor screen at Grant’s Block. Larger than life and in the crisp night air. Take advantage of the Tazza bar by enjoying coffee, hot chocolate, or enjoy something off of their cocktail menu.

Grant’s Block
Corner of Westminster St. & Union St.

Nice work by Leland Creative, the Massachusetts firm that came up with this design.(And thanks to Jef at GCP who first brought this to our attention.) Friday night’s special WaterFire is being sponsored by area Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owners as part of the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at The Dunk, which has apparently jazzed things up downtown. Lord knows we need a boost. The first round starts today — four matchups start with Villanova vs. Robert Morris at 12:30pm, ending with the last start at 9:55pm for the Tennessee vs. San Diego game. (Tickets are scarce.) So downtown will be hopping all day and into the evening with increasingly enthusiastic and completely lost out-of-towners. Be nice and helpful.

Men’s NCAA Basketball — The Dunk, 1 LaSalle Square, Thursday, Saturday’s schedule tba

Partial WaterFire, Friday, 7:30pm to 11pm, Waterplace Basin

Okay, that wasn’t too bad. The Who are a good fit for this sort of thing — loud and big and everyone can sing along. That was Ringo’s kid, Zak Starkey, on drums (not a day goes by I don’t think about Keith Moon). Then the Saints opened the second half with a totally mental onside kick and scored, and then the Colts answered right back. Good game so far.

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Area fans watching the Super Bowl are apt to cheer for the Saints, if only to root against Indianapolis and that sissy hand-flapper Peyton Manning (whose own mom calls him Peytie-Pie, by the way). Plus everyone wants something nice to happen for New Orleans to make up for the FEMA trailers. However, we have a local boy in this one, and he plays for the Colts — defensive back, special teamer, and former East Providence Townie, Jamie Silva. Here’s his bio from the Colts website.

…attended East Providence High School…was four-year, two-way starter as RB and DB…ended career with more than 4,500 rushing yards and 49 TDs on offense and 300 tackles and 16 interceptions on defense…had 2,100 yards and 29 TDs as senior…was Rhode Island Player-of-the-Year by Providence Gridiron Club as senior…was all-state choice as junior and senior… team won state title as freshman and senior…team captain was named Super Bowl MVP in senior season…also lettered in basketball, baseball and track…

So he’s a chronic under-achiever. Lately he’s been giving interviews all over the place and he always seems quite charming and grateful to be getting to the Super Bowl in his second season. Plus he has long hair. Jim Donaldson had a nice profile in the ProJo. (So how ’bout that — you’re reading about sports on the Dose!)

In conclusion — Go Jamie!