Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Willa Ford: Difference between pages

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{{Template:Infobox_nrl_club | clubname = The Bulldogs

{{unreferenced}}

| image = [[Image:Canterburybulldogs.jpg|center|200px]]

| fullname = Bulldogs Rugby League Club

| emblem = Bulldog

| colours = Royal Blue and White

| founded = [[1935]]

| sport = [[Rugby League]]

| league = [[National Rugby League]]

| ground = [[Telstra Stadium]], Sydney Showground

| capacity = 83,500, 20,000

| ceo= Malcolm Noad

| captain = Andrew Ryan

| coach = Steve Folkes

| season = 2005

| position = 12th of 15

| premierships = 8 - [[1938]], [[1942]], [[1980]], [[1984]], [[1985]], [[1988]] ([[New_South_Wales_Rugby_League|NSWRL]]), [[1995]] ([[Australian_Rugby_League|ARL]]), [[2004]] ([[National_Rugby_League|NRL]])

| runners = 8 - [[1940]], [[1947]], [[1967]], [[1974]], [[1979]], [[1986]], [[1994]], [[1998]]

| minors = 6 - [[1938]], [[1942]], [[1947]], [[1984]], [[1993]], [[1994]]

| spoons = 4 - [[1943]], [[1944]], [[1964]], [[2002]]^[[#Notes|1]]

| win = 66 - 4 vs. [[North_Queensland_Cowboys|North Queensland]], [[August 27]], [[1995]]

| loss = 6 - 91 vs. [[St._George_Dragons|St. George]], [[May 11]], [[1935]] ^[[#Notes|2]]

}}The '''Bulldogs''' (also known as '''Canterbury Bulldogs'''), are a team in the [[National Rugby League]] (NRL), the premier [[rugby league]] football competition in [[Australia]].

'''Willa Ford''' (born '''Amanda Lee Williford''' on [[January 22]], [[1981]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[pop singer]].

Based in [[Belmore, New South Wales|Belmore]] a suburb of [[Sydney]], the Bulldogs in 1935 were admitted to the [[New South Wales Rugby League]] (NSWRL) competition, predecessor of the [[Australian Rugby League]] (ARL) and the current NRL competition.

[[Image:Willaford.jpeg|right|thumbnail|Willa Ford]]

Aside from the founding clubs in 1908, Canterbury were the quickest club to ever win a premiership after admission to the competition, a record which was only recently beaten in 1999 by a new club called the [[Melbourne Storm]]. After entering the premiership in 1935, Canterbury won the 1938 Final over Eastern Suburbs. This premiership success was not repeated until 1942 and then again not for another 38 years until 1980, when during the 80s the Bulldogs dominated the competition along with the [[Parramatta Eels]], this was especially apparent during [[Warren Ryan]]'s tenure as coach. The 80s saw the Bulldogs appear in five Grand Finals, winning four of them. In the 90's the Bulldogs played in three Grand Finals, only winning in 1995. Their last success was in 2004 when they beat the [[Sydney Roosters]] 16 - 13. The tryscorers were [[Hazem El Masri]] and Matt Utai, and the Clive Churchill medal winner was Willie Mason.

==Biography==

== Club information ==

Willa was born and raised in [[Ruskin, Florida]]. She began pursuing her dream of becoming a singer at the age of 8, when she started singing with the ''Tampa Bay Children's Choir''. By the time she reached age 11, she had moved on from the children’s choir to the Tampa-based children’s performing arts troupe, ''Entertainment Revue''. This group consisted of 20 girls ages 5-16. The tour the area and sang at such places as, [[Walt Disney World]] and Busch Gardens. Willa worked hard in the group and moved her way up from a chorus member to the role of featured soloist. When Willa was 15, she left the troupe and landed spot with a local foursome ''FLA''. She didn’t stay long with the group before deciding to head out to Los Angeles.

In 1999 Willa while performing under the stage name '''Mandah''', she was signed to [[MCA]]. While with MCA she released a song on the double-platinum soundtrack ‘''Pokémon The First Movie’'' called ‘''Lullaby''’. She also landed a spot as an opening act for the [[Backstreet Boys]]. Which managed to attract a lot of attention, for her performances as well as her relationship with one of its members. Soon Willa’s label changed her stage name from Mandah, to avoid confusion with another female singer, to Willa Ford and tried to promote a beautiful singer with a good-girl image. After some negative publicity that tainted their clean-cut image for Willa, MCA decided to drop her, letting her move on to a label that would embrace her bad-girl image.

:'''Club Name:''' Bulldogs (2000- ), Sydney Bulldogs (1995), Canterbury-Bankstown (1935-1994, 1996-1999)

:'''Founded:''' 1935

:'''Home stadium:''' Sydney Showground, Homebush (2001- ); Telstra Stadium (1999-2000, 2003) Note: Telstra Stadium was known as Stadium Australia until 2002; Parramatta Stadium (1995); Belmore Sports Ground (1936-1994, 1996-1998)

:'''Head coach:''' Steve Folkes (1998- )

:'''NRL Team Captain:''' (2005- ) Andrew Ryan

:'''Uniform colors:''' Royal Blue and White

:'''Premiership Titles:''' 8 - 1938, 1942, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1995, 2004

:'''Premiership Runners-up:''' 8 - 1940, 1947, 1967, 1974, 1979, 1986, 1994, 1998

:'''Minor Premiership Titles:''' 6 - 1938, 1942, 1947, 1984, 1993, 1994

It wasn’t long before [[Lava/Atlantic]] would give Willa a deal and put her in to studio with a diverse variety of writers and producers. Although she had many talented writers working with her, Willa was determined to write most of the lyrics herself, which was unlike other teen singers at the time. She would use her life for material or make up a character that she would want to be.

== Club history ==

===Origin===

The Bulldogs started life as Canterbury-Bankstown joining the NSWRL competition in 1935. The club had the semi-official nickname of the Berries up until 1978 when the name was changed to the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs. In the 1990's the official name was changed around a few times. It went to the slightly grander title of the Sydney Bulldogs before becoming the geographically indistinct "Bulldogs".

===Early success===

Canterbury's initial season was a remarkable one - for the wrong reasons: arguably the worst season on record. Playing without a home ground, the team suffered a number of massive losses, at one point losing in successive weeks, 6-91 and 7-87 - the two heaviest defeats in the history of the competition.

On July 17, 2001 Willa released her debut album ‘''Willa Was Here''’. The album contained the single (with a hyper link to the sexy video), ‘''I Wanna Be Bad''’. The album used smooth pop/R&B grooves, hot dance beats and vocoders. Although Willa has the beauty and talent mixed in with a hit single, her album only reached #56 on the [[Billboard Charts]].

Amazingly, though, 1935's two wins were improved to nine in 1936 and netted a place in the finals. By 1938, the season featured only one loss, and a first title, defeating former nemesis [[Sydney_Roosters|Easts]] in the final. A second title followed in 1942.

While promoting her album, Willa did a Mall tour for ''Nautica Kids'', served as the spokesperson for ''Pantene Pro-V’s ‘Pro-Voice’'' campaign, and appeared on the in-concert cable special, ''Teensation''. Also [[MTV]] got Willa to host their reality series ‘''I Bet You Will''’. MTV was impressed by Willa’s hosting they got her to also host their Spring Break series, which included ‘''The Morning After''’. Willa’s song ‘''I Wanna Be Bad''’ became the theme song for ''Six-Flags'' theme parks and was also use by ''7-UP'' for one of their campaigns. Willa also became a model for ''Bongo'' Ads. In 2002 Willa co-wrote and sang a duet with [[Koreans|Korean]] Pop star [[Park Ji Yoon]] intitled ‘''Nastified''’, which was on Park's 5th album ''Man''.

===20 years in the wilderness===

A minor premiership (and Grand Final loss) came in 1947, but marked the beginning of an era of little success: from 1948 to 1969, only 1960 and 1967 (another Grand Final loss) saw semifinal action.

In 2003 Willa came back with a hot dance song that forever immortalized a sorority chant, ‘''A Toast To Men''’, which featured a special guest rapper [[Lady May]]. The single was from her unreleased sophomore album ‘''Sexysexobsessive''’. The single did well, but cause of some legalities at her label her album wasn’t released. This also caused Willa to leave the label and go in search for a new one.

By the mid-70's, though, regular finals appearances had returned, and set the stage for their most successful period - the 80's.

While fans wait for a her sophomore release, Willa has made some appearances. In 2005 Willa was chosen from many candidates to host the fighting competition reality show ‘''The Ultimate Fighter''’. After the show’s finale Willa got a shot at being the summers guest doll, for the Vegas ''Pussy Cat Dolls'' show. As well as being one of the celebrity quarterbacks in the upcoming ''2006 Lingerie Bowl III''. Which will air during the ''Super Bowl'' halftime.

===Climbing back===

===The Bullfrog era===

[[Peter Moore|Peter 'Bullfrog' Moore]] was the top administrator at Canterbury from 1970 to 1995. During this time the Bulldogs climbed to the very top of the game.

====The Entertainers====

In the late [[1970s|70s]] and early [[1980s|80s]] the Bulldogs under coach [[Ted Glossop]] played an exciting and skillful brand of football that got them named '''The Entertainers''.

====Wozzaball==Discography==

At the end of [[1983]] the board decided to go on a major rebuilding exercise. New coach [[Warren 'Wok' Ryan|Warren Ryan]] was brought on board, together with a collection of new players. Some of the major signings by Ryan and Moore included [[1983]] Dally M Player of the Year [[Terry Lamb]], [[Queensland]] forward [[Darryl Brohman]], Mark Bugden, Peter Tunks and Peter Kelly. The Bulldogs went from the "Entertainers" to the "Enforcers".

===Albums===

They marked their 50th season by winning the 1984 Premiership but it didn't come without controversy. Ryan would drop long serving veterans Garry Hughes and club captain [[Chris Anderson]] to Reserve Grade and the style of football didn't win Canterbury many admirers outside their own circle. The Bulldogs set the football world on its head with a new aggressive, defensively oriented way of playing, that was later named by some as '''Wozzaball'''. The brand of football worked with Canterbury nullifying the brilliant attacking football of [[Parramatta]] to win the decider 6-4 at the [[Sydney Cricket Ground]].

*2001: Willa Was Here

Canterbury made it back-to-back titles in [[1985]] when they defeated [[St George Dragons]] 7-6 in the Grand Final. Brilliantly led by captain [[Steve Mortimer]], the Bulldogs bombed St George out of submission, which forced a rule change in the catching of the ball in the ingoal area.

===Singles===

The Bulldogs couldn't follow up with a hat-trick of titles losing the [[1986]] Grand Final 4-2 to [[Parramatta Eels]] in a classic game of football. No tries were scored as both sides tackled as their lives depended on it.

*2001: I Wanna Be Bad (feat. Royce Da 5'9)

Ryan's era at Canterbury ended after the [[1987]] season when he left the club on bad terms despite the success that came the Bulldogs way. He is the only Canterbury coach to win two Premierships and when the Bulldogs named their greatest side in [[2004]], no coach was named, which many believe should have been Ryan.

*2001: Did Ya Understand That

*2001: Santa Baby (Gimme, Gimme, Gimme)

*2003: A Toast To Men (feat. Lady May)

===Soundtracks/Others===

[[Phil Gould]] succeeded Ryan as coach and in his first year was in charge as the Bulldogs won the [[1988]] Grand Final against [[Balmain Tigers]] 24-12, the first at the new [[Sydney Football Stadium]]. It was a great and consistent season following the disappointment in [[1987]]. The [[1988]] marked the final season for Canterbury legend [[Steve Mortimer]], who stood down as captain after Round 4. Mortimer suffered a broken wrist in the second last round but was fit enough to play off the bench in the Grand Final victory. Mortimer retired with a club record 267 first grade games next to his name and at the time the most first grade games for one individual club. Mortimer captained the club the Premiership success in 1984 and 1985 and was a member of the 1980 and 1988 triumphs. He captained [[New South Wales]] in three [[State of Origin]] matches, winning all of them and captain the Blues to their first triumph in [[1985]].

*1999: Pokémon: The First Movie [Soundtrack]

The "Wozzaball" era came to an end in 1989 when the Bulldogs struggled and Gould leaving the club to join [[Penrith Panthers]]. [[Chris Anderson]] returned as coach for the [[1990]] season and cleaned out the Ryan era building the club around another club great in [[Terry Lamb]].

*2001: Pantene Pro Voice Vol 1

*2001: Spyder Games [Soundtrack]

*2001: Totally Hits 2001

*2001: MTV: TRL Christams

*2002: Park Ji Yoon - Man

*2002: MTV-The Best Of Trl Pop

*2002: Undercover Brother [Soundtrack]

*2003: What A Girl Wants [Soundtrack]

*2003: Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star [Soundtrack]

*2004: Gay.com: Winter 2004 Hits

====Baa's Boys==Filmography==

===Super League War===

===Music Videos===

In 1995, Canterbury were in good shape. They had made the Grand Final the year before, and everything looked set for another good year. Then everything started to change. Canterbury were one of the first clubs to go over to [[Super League war|Super League]] along with the [[Brisbane Broncos]] and the [[Canberra Raiders]].

*2001 I Wanna Be Bad

When the news first broke the Bulldogs were asked by the [[Australian Rugby League|ARL]] to show why they should not be expelled form the competition. A threat that was soon revoked. Club boss Peter Moore explained that the club had to go across as all the players had already signed without his knowledge, (the only exception was [[Brett Dallas]]) and what was a club without players. This is a claim that was doubted by many as not much went on at the club without Bullfrog's knowledge.

*2001 Did Ya Understand That

*2001 Santa Baby (Gimme, Gimme, Gimme)

*2002 Uncle Kracker's: In A Little While -"Girlfriend"

*2003 A Toast To Men

===TV===

As the [[Super League war]] went on, it became apparent that the Bulldogs players had came over fairly cheaply, (relative to the heady war days of 1995). The ARL used this knowledge to poach back four of the bulldogs stars, [[Dean Pay]], [[Jason Smith (rugby player)|Jason Smith]], [[Jarrod McCracken]] and [[Jim Dymock]]. This news devastated the club, and things seemed to sink to an all-time low when the Bulldogs lost to the low placed [[Parramatta Eels]] the next week. Slowly from this point the famous Bulldogs spirit kicked in and the team gradually started to perform. Then, after making the finals in sixth place, things came together. The Bulldogs inspired by the coming retirement of stalwart [[Terry Lamb]] swept through [[St. George Dragons]], Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders and in a Grand Final upset the [[Manly Sea Eagles]] to take the title. After the win, Peter Moore told the story of how a very young [[Steve Price]] told him that everything would be alright after the terrible night against Parramatta. Bullfrog wondered what an unknown bench player could do to turn things around. After the Grand Final he knew as Price was one of the stars on the day.

*2001 Pantene Pro-Voice Featuring Jewel - Herself

The next two years were disappointing with the dogs rebuilding after losing five stars to ARL aligned clubs, but in 1998 things were interesting again. Form was mixed for most of the year with the team needing to win its last four games to make the playoffs. They did this with style and all of a sudden there started to be a feeling in the air out Belmore way that something special might be happening. After beating the [[North Sydney Bears]] in the second round, the Bulldogs had to come back in extra time to beat the 1997 ARL premiers Newcastle. In an interview after the game the coach described the performance as the best he had ever seen.

*2001 The Mind of the Married Man - Herself

*2002 Six Flags Commercial - Herself

*2002 Rasing Dad - Edie "Bully"

*2002 I Bet You Will - Herself

*2002 The Miss Teen USA Pageant - Co-host

*2003 Morning After - Herself

*2004 VH1's 100 Most Outrageous Celebrity Moments - Herself "commentator"

*2004 VH1's My Coolest Years: Bad Girls - Herself "featured"

*2005 VH1's 100 Greatest Kids Stars - Herself "commentator"

*2005 WB Morning Show - Herself "featured"

*2005 The Ultimate Fighter - Host

*2005 My Fair Brady: Episode 3 - Herself "model"

*2005 The Fabulous Life Of: Las Vegas - Herself "featured"

*2005 ESPN Hollywood: Lingerie Bowl - Herself "featured"

*2005 Last Call With Carson Daly: Lingerie Bowl Event - Herself "featured"

==References==

===The Salary Cap===

Trouble, however, returned in a big way in 2002, with the Club being found guilty of [[salary cap]] breaches described by NRL Chief Executive David Gallop as "exceptional in both its size and its deliberate and ongoing nature". The resulting fallout included a $500,000 fine, and a deduction of 37 competition points. The latter action was particularly harmful, as the club were poised to take the Minor Premiership, and during the season had won 17 consecutive matches.

===Biography===

==The Bulldogs and the Australian Society==

The Bulldogs are known to have some of the most devoted fans in Australian Rugby League. There are a small group of supporters which are known as the 'Bulldogs Army', which relates to the groups of supporters from other clubs like the Dragons and the Raiders. (Dragons Army and Raiders Army)

*http://www.mtv.com/bands/az/ford_willa/bio.jhtml

The Bulldogs players' off-field behaviour have also come under the spotlight, for both good and bad reasons. In early [[2004]], six Bulldogs players were accused of [[Bulldogs gang rape allegation|gang rape]]; although all the players were subsequently cleared of the charges, this incident had placed considerable strain on the club and its supporters alike.

*http://www.spiketv.com/shows/series/ultimatefighter/

*http://www.lingeriebowl.com/

*http://www.scopemag.com/2005/06/30/pussycats.html

===Albums===

On a more positive note, [[Hazem El Masri]], a current Bulldogs player of [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] descent, has become a role model for Sydney's [[Muslim]] community.

*http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/103-3054812-9291015

== Players of note ==

===Singles===

*Les Johns

*Chris Anderson

*Ron Bailey

*John Greaves

*Edgar Newham

*Terry Lamb

*Steve Mortimer

*Frank Sponberg

*Steve Folkes

*David Gillespie

*Kevin Ryan

*George Peponis

*Eddie Burns

*Peter Kelly

*Chris Mortimer

*Greg Brentnall

*Henry Porter

*Roy Kirkaldy

*[[Steve Price]]

*[[Hazem El Masri]]

*Sonny Bill Williams

*Willie Mason

*http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/103-3054812-9291015

==Notes==

# Midway through 2002, the Bulldogs were stripped of all their competition points due to a salary cap breach. If this had not happened, the team would have finished on top of the ladder, 7 competition points clear of the nearest competitor.

# This game was played using an [[Rugby_league#Point_Scoring|obsoleted scoring system]]. Under current scoring guidelines, the score in this game would have been 6 - 110

===Soundtracks/Others===

==External links==

*http://us.yesasia.com/gb/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1001822521/aid-561/section-music/code-k/version-all

*[http://www.bulldogs.com.au Official Canterbury Bulldogs Website]

*[http://bulldogs.rleague.com Unofficial Canterbury Supporters Site]

*[http://www.bulldogforlife.com Unofficial Canterbury Bulldogs News Blog]

*[http://www.thekennel.com.au Unofficial Canterbury Bulldogs Online Forum]

===Music Videos===

{{NRL}}

[[Category:National Rugby League]]

*http://www.mtv.com/bands/az/ford_willa/audvid.jhtml

[[Category: Australian rugby league clubs]]

*http://www.mtv.com/bands/az/uncle_kracker/audvid.jhtml

===TV===

*http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/ford_willa/artist.jhtml

*http://www.spiketv.com/shows/series/ultimatefighter/

*http://www.lingeriebowl.com/

[[Category:1981 births|Ford, Willa]]

[[Category:Solo artist|Ford, Willa]]

[[Category:Pop music|Ford, Willa]]

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[[Category:Female singers|Ford, Willa]]

[[Category:American pop singers|Ford, Willa]]

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