The theme of the 2008 Dieux du Stade calendar is in French "Enchaîné au ballon", which litterally translates into "Chained to the ball".

The cover of the calendar lets you easily understand what this year's theme is about: a very hot Geoffroy Messina is tied with a metal chain to a rugby ball. The ball bears the 3 stripes of the Stade Français rugby club. I find that it is clever to use a common them throughout the various pictures of the calendar, as it makes more coherent. And such a theme can only lead to sexy pics.

In 2007, the pictures were superb, but some called them too suggestive.

My opinion was that the calendar has set in a regular pace, with high quality, black and white each year. But they were no that orginal and the photographer had to make the guys take indecent positions to get something new.

A coherent, symbolic, and slightly erotic theme

So, I find the "Chained to the ball" theme rather good, as it meets the following goals:

- It is a common thread all through the calendar, which gives unity

- It recalls the passion fofrrugby fans for or this beautiful game and for the rugby players themselves. (I grew up in a rugby famili, and I can vouch that such a passion never dies out).

- It brushes the love lexicon, where the theme of chains has been used by poets over and over.
For those into literature, check out on Googe latin poet Tibullus' verses such as:

-  The theme treads lightly into S&M, which obviously makes sell and can make people talk - but if you like playing rugby, don't you have to like physical pain a little a bit ? (kidding

 To conclude, I like the choice of the "Enchaîné au ballon" / "Chained to the ball" theme for this 2008 Dieux du Stade calendar. What do you think? Feel free to add your comments!