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TOKYO — Tokyo’s first world rugby sevens tournament in a decade was distinctly lacking in fun and pompom girls, but was good preparation for the 2019 World Cup, the international rugby chief said Monday.

The Sevens World Series Tokyo edition at the weekend should have had “more fun in the stands, more fun people”, IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset said after witnessing the two-day showpiece at the weekend.

“We need to introduce more band music in the stadium, more activities around the stadium and more possibilities that pompom girls would be on the pitch and so on,” he told a press briefing, saying Japanese rugby executives agreed with his analysis.

Lapasset added that he was hopeful the next Sevens in the Japanese capital would be better.

Tokyo has rejoined the Sevens World Series after an 11-year absence in a bid to raise its international profile in the sport and promote rugby among Japanese who are usually more drawn to baseball and football.

Despite his criticism, the French rugby supremo said the Tokyo Sevens was still “great and well-organised” and bodes well for 2019, when Japan becomes the first Asian nation to host the 15-a-side Rugby World Cup.

Asked about complaints concerning pitch quality, long lines to food and drink stalls, lack of ticketing information and scant promotion around the country, Lapasset described the problems as not “crucial.”

“We are confident because Japan is ready to learn quickly,” he said.

The Tokyo Sevens, the seventh leg of the nine-stop series, immediately followed the wildly popular Hong Kong edition, arguably the world capital of the short form of rugby, which will make its Olympic debut in 2016.

The southern Chinese city’s version usually features packed stadiums and drunken revellers who turn it into a three-day party.

“The Sevens are now shown to well over 100 countries in the world through television,” said Kit McConnell, a senior official of Rugby World Cup Ltd.

“So the promotion of Japan and Tokyo as a rugby destination will continue to build around the Tokyo Sevens toward 2019.”

Organisers of 2019 will be hoping for a better post-tournament write-up — and better weather.

Rain saw the attendance at the 25,000-seat Prince Chichibu stadium down to just 6,100 on Saturday, but the second day saw the crowd swell to 12,600 in fine weather.

The event also enjoyed scant local press attention.

Japan Rugby Football Union president Yoshiro Mori lamented the “limited news coverage”, with newspaper sports pages dominated instead by baseball games and a 1-1 women’s football friendly between Japan and the United States.

Although Sunday’s action was broadcast live on a private network, public broadcaster NHK did not air “one second” in its news programme, Mori said.

“The Australia-Samoa final was so exciting that it deserved to be shown at least for 30 seconds,” the former prime minister said.

Australia came from behind to seal their first title of the current Sevens World Series by beating Samoa 28-26.

Copyright © 2012 AFP. All rights reserved.
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When I see Lucas Duda hitting another long home run, or Justin Turner playing second base like he was in the seventh game of the World Series, or Dillon Gee on the mound making me think of a young Tom Seaver, I realize that 2011 is not another lost year at all: it is more like 1968 all over again. For those of you too young to remember that, it was a turning point for the Mets organization. I believe this year is pretty much the same thing.

Like the 1968 Mets, the team got a new manager. It is interesting to compare Terry Collins with Gil Hodges, whose managerial styles seem similar. In fact, Hodges took over a dismal team and made the players think they could win; Collins has done pretty much the same thing this year.

The 1968 Mets were 73-89 for the season, but this was an internship for most of the young players and, just like the 2011 Mets, there were quite a fewof themon the team. The elder statesman in68was Ed Charles (35), but the rest of the players like Cleon Jones, Tommie Agee, and Ed Kranepool were in their mid-twenties. Seaver was 23 and clocking in with a 16-12 season. Gee will probably end with a better winning percentage this year, but the similarities are striking.

There was also the most salient aspect of life for the 1968 season: Hodges wanted those kids to go out and have fun. In the process they were learning, sort of on the job training, and the same thing is happening with the 2011 Mets. The current team is 67-69 and may just end with a better record than their 1968 counterparts, but the foundation is being established by Collins for next year, just as Hodges did in 1968.

If you have given your heart and soul to an NFL dream, the worst words you can hear are: Coach wants to see you in his office.

Usually those are followed, in some fashion, by bring your playbook just before youre told what person to go see about your airplane ticket home.

In most NFL summers, the day-in, day-out routine often camouflages the fact that almost half the players who start a teams training camp will not finish it on the 53-man roster. Theres too much going on with meetings, practice and more meetings.

Pretty soon a player looks up and the four preseason games have been played, the practices are over and the die has been cast.

You really are just day to day, said Broncos rookie quarterback Adam Weber, who will not earn a spot on 53-man unless something unexpected happens this weekend but certainly has earned a potential spot on the practice squad.

You have so much to do just to get through the day and to get ready for the next day, you dont really think about all the cuts. But you can look at the calendar and see them coming.

And for a rebuilding team like the Broncos with so many depth issues as it tries to dig out from last seasons 4-12 finish, a rather cruel cut could be coming for some of the players.

Its one thing to get cut, and that never feels good, but its even the next level to make the 53-man roster, feel the joy of that accomplishment and then get cut a day or so later.

Its never fun to fire 27 people, is how Broncos coach JohnFox put it following the preseason finale Thursday night in Arizona.

But, in actuality, before the weekend is out, Fox and the other football decision-makers for the Broncos may fire more than that.

At some point Saturday, there will be 837 players on the open market who were released by the leagues other 31 teams 27 each for the Broncos to sift through.

Many of those players will have less than four years of NFL experience, so the Broncos can claim any of those players on waivers. Because of their 4-12 record in 2010, the Broncos are second in line for waiver claims.

That means if they put in a claim on a player, the only way they dont get that player is if the Carolina Panthers also put in a claim. Otherwise, with any other team, the Broncos will get the players they put in a claim on.

So, they will add a few, especially since some of the leagues deeper, more accomplished teams are expected to put some of their 2010 and 2011 draft classes on the waiver wire simply because they have to.

And all of those factors converge for one tough day for a smattering of Broncos as they hope they dont see their cellphones light up with a certain 303 number.

Because when Saturday afternoons deadline passes 4 pm and they have survived the cut to 53, they might be inclined to call some members of their family to say they made it.

But by the time the weekend is over, they might be told the team has claimed a player on waivers and thats that, get thanked for their efforts and be sent on their way.

Perhaps if they are young enough, there is a practice squad slot or two with their names on them, but in the end it is certainly the unkindest cut of all.

Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Joe Bausermans terrific performance was great news for Ohio State. But the Buckeyes wanted to get Braxton Miller some significant playing time, too.

Odds are, they will need the true freshman at some point this year, whether its as a change of pace or an injury replacement at the very least. And after Bausermans day ended midway through the third quarter with a 28-0 lead, Miller finally got going.

He led a touchdown march on his third drive of the game, finding fellow freshman Devin Smith on a nice 14-yard throw in traffic for a Ohio State 35-0 advantage. Miller flashed the wheels that make him so intriguing earlier in the drive, cutting back nearly all the way across the field for a 12-yard gain.

Though Bauserman clearly looks like the starter going forward, Ohio State has been able to get Miller some confidence late in this game. And that could be important later in the year.

Want something fun to do for the traditional wrap of summer fun this weekend? You won?t have to go far.

Here?s a sampling of Labor Day weekend events around Western North Carolina:

Smoky Mountain Folk Festival, Saturday, ?open tent? begins at 5 pm, show follows at 5:30 pm, Stuart Auditorium, Lake Junaluska. The best in mountain music and dance. Tickets available at Junaluska administrative office, Haywood County Arts Council or at the door. 452-1688.

Boone Bike Rally, Saturday, High Country Fairgrounds, 748 Roby Greene Road, Boone. Annual gathering of bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts. Bike games, traditional rally contests, vendors, live music and bike wash courtesy of Appalachian Roller Girls. $25 Saturday. Visit www.boonebikerally.com or call Kenny Johnson at 733-8060.

NC Apple Festival, 10 am-8 pm Saturday-Sunday, 10 am-5 pm Sept. 5, downtown Hendersonville. Arts crafts, entertainment, parade 2:30 pm Sept. 5, food, children?s activities. www.ncapplefestival.org. or 697-4557.

Shindig on the Green, the final Shindig on the Green of the summer happens at 7 pm Saturday at Pack Square Park. Come sit a spell and enjoy some mighty fine Appalachian song and dance. Its free.

Waynesville event, Block Party 7 pm Saturday, along Main Street, dancing in the street with live bands, children?s area, food vendors, restaurants open.

High Country Beer Fest, 3-7 pm Saturday, Broyhill Inn on Appalachian State University campus, Boone. Family-friendly educational event meant to highlight the wide range of flavors associated with fine craft beer. $30. For tickets, visit www.hcbeerfest.com or visit Peabody?s Wine and Beer Merchants, NC 105, or Bulldog Beer and Wine, King Street.

Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Fest (LAAFF), 11 am-10 pm Saturday and 11 am-9 pm Sunday, downtown Asheville. Free. www.lexfestasheville.com.

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In 1972, NASA supposedly ended manned moon missions with Apollo 17. But one year later, a covert mission was set up by the Department of Defense for one more trip to the moon. Chosen to make this mission were astronauts Nathan Walker, Ben Anderson and John Grey, all very enthusiastic to continue NASAs work, but that enthusiasm fades as the real details of their mission slowly come to light.

Thats the opening premise to Apollo 18, the latest entry in the horror sub-genre of found footage movies, and personally, I thought this was a lot of fun, though from what Im seeing so far, Im a minority with that.

As Ive stated in other reviews about films in this sub-genre (Paranormal Activity 2, TrollHunter), Im a big fan of this type of film. I like their sense of immediacy and urgency and I really like how they make you watch the little things that you might not normally pay much attention to. Right from the start, Apollo 18 gives you a pretty logical explanation about why they have so many cameras at work and thanks to director Gonzalo Loacute;pez-Gallegos attention to set detail, it all looks extremely authentic.

The only real gripe that I have about the film is that I think the effect of the technical deficiencies used in the found stock is a little bit over-used, but its a small gripe. That effect is certainly overcome by the above-mentioned attention to detail, some pretty effective jump scare scenes and a very nice sense of dread thats pretty much there right from the start of the film. In addition, I thought the amplified use of ambient sound was a great touch in punctuating that sense of dread.

Apollo 18 is a short movie, but its effectively paced as a slow-burn tension builder. The real discovery for the astronauts is shown in little glimpses which furthers the tension, and frankly, I wouldnt have it any other way. Showing too much wouldve shown more visible seams, so I think a right balance was found.

Warren Christie, Lloyd Owen and Ryan Robbins play our trio of astronauts and I think theyre all terrific. Christie and Owen get the majority of the screen time as theyre the two astronauts (Walker and Anderson) who actually make the landing on the moon. Robbins (as Grey) remains in the command craft, and at least offers some hope of salvation to his comrades. No they dont go into any real depth of character, they just hit things in the broadest of strokes, but thats not the point of the movie. They look and sound authentic and that certainly adds to the credibility of the situation.

I thought Apollo 18 was a lot of fun. Its very well made, its short enough that it doesnt overstay its welcome and its setting and premise is a nice twist on the found footage sub-genre. Of course, that sub-genre is what will be the bone of contention to many viewers. For the detractors, this wont offer enough; you wont get an explanation of events, you wont get obvious set pieces and you wont get real depth of character simply due to the immediacy of the situation as its presented. If you dont care for this type of film, well, I seriously doubt my review will change anyones mind. I had a great time with it, and if youre a fan of this type of film, Id certainly recommend giving Apollo 18 a chance.