NEW PLYMOUTH, New Zealand -- Former President Bill Clinton played. Jamari Lattimore Womens Jersey . So did George W. Bush. And the United States is reigning Olympic champion. Yet rugby for decades has remained in the margins of U.S. sporting life, squeezed out by basketball, American football, baseball and ice hockey. This year, however, more Americans are likely to watch rugby than ever before, thanks to coverage of the Rugby World Cup on NBC and Universal Sports. The U.S. Eagles are playing some of their best rugby ever, beating Russia 13-6 in a hard-fought match, five days after putting in an enormous defensive effort in a loss to Ireland. The Eagles are narrowing the gap between themselves and the top teams from Europe, South Africa and the Pacific. But the real growth in the sport is happening in Americas high schools and colleges. "Its absolutely growing, its the fastest growing team sport in the country," said Todd Clever, the charismatic long-haired leader of the U.S. World Cup squad in New Zealand. Clever, who has earned the nickname "Captain America" in these parts, was citing a recent study by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association that found growth in rugby outpaced soccer, lacrosse, ice hockey and all other team sports in the U.S. between 2007 and 2009. In the associations 2011 update, rugby was pipped by lacrosse, but participation in rugby among all people aged six years and older continued to grow at just over 20 per cent annually. Clever said good press and increasing coverage of rugby sevens competitions -- a sport that will be included in the 2016 Olympics -- have helped. The 26-year-old Phil Thiel, another player on the Eagles team, said that in his home state of Michigan, there were six club teams for high school players when he began playing the sport -- and now there are 64. "A lot more people are getting exposed to the game," he said. America has a surprising legacy of back-to-back gold medals in Olympics rugby before the 15-a-side version ceased to be an Olympic event after the 1924 games. Thats due more to the sport being barely contested in the Olympics at that time than anything else. As for the former presidents, both played social rugby while students at college. Indeed, rugby perhaps has its strongest tradition in American colleges as a game thats not taken too seriously by the participants and is followed quickly by plenty of beer. For some athletes who cant make it to the top in American football, it provides an alternative sport with vigorous contact. The image of U.S. rugby as a purely social pastime is changing, however. "One hundred per cent it has changed since I started," said Chan Borland, 58, from San Diego, who made the trip to New Zealand to follow the Eagles. "Its much more serious and less social. Theres championships organized, and divisions." Borland started playing as a college student at San Diego State University. Like many who play, he found a community for life. After college, he played for the alumni team, the Old Aztecs. Then came the Ancient Aztecs. Hes still playing for a "Golden Oldies" team -- with some of the same players hes known all these decades. Rugbys history in Russia is much more recent. The team is playing in its first World Cup -- something that was considered such a big deal that a billionaire, a beauty queen and even the deputy prime minister, Alexander Zhukov, came to New Plymouth on the west coast of New Zealands north island to watch. Zhukov was quick to dismiss the Cold War storyline that the local media was promoting for the clash. "Now, the American sportsmen are friends of the Russian sportsmen," Zhukov said. "There is no more time of Cold War." But perhaps Thursdays win for the Eagles -- just the third in six World Cup tournaments, and the first since 2003 -- will signal its time for U.S. rugby to come in from the cold. "We are building a fan base, and thats really great," Clever said after the game. "And hopefully we can continue that, and keep our good performances coming, and hopefully the sport will grow." Morgan Burnett Jersey . The Clippers announced the deal Friday for Wayns, an undrafted rookie from Villanova. Wayns has appeared in three games for Los Angeles, averaging 3. Casey Hayward Womens Jersey . Orlov, who scored two goals in the game, was assessed a major penalty for boarding on the play. The Flyers scored once on the power play and again with the extra attacker with 65 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Patent Office ruled Wednesday that the Washington Redskins nickname is "disparaging of Native Americans" and that the teams federal trademarks for the name must be cancelled. The 2-1 ruling comes after a campaign to change the name has gained momentum over the past year. The team doesnt immediately lose trademark protection and is allowed to retain it during an appeal. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has refused to change the teams name, citing tradition, but there has been growing pressure including statements in recent months from President Barack Obama, lawmakers of both parties and civil rights groups. The decision means that the team can continue to use the Redskins name, but it would lose a significant portion of its ability to protect the financial interests connected to its use. If others printed the name on sweatshirts, apparel, or other team material, it becomes more difficult to go after groups who use it without permissioon. Mason Crosby Jersey. The decision by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board is similar to one it issued in 1999. That ruling was overturned in 2003 in large part on a technicality after the courts decided that the plaintiffs were too old and should have filed their complaint soon after the Redskins registered their nickname in 1967. The new case was launched in 2006 by a younger group of Native Americans, and was heard by the board in March of last year. The group argued that the Redskins should lose their federal trademark protection based on a law that prohibits registered names that are disparaging, scandalous, contemptuous or disreputable. The case involves six registered trademarks that involve the use of the word Redskins, but it does not apply to the teams logo. Suzan Shown Harjo, one of the plaintiffs who testified at last years hearing, said she was "thrilled and delighted" with the decision. The Redskins did not immediately comment. ' ' '
