Relish Today! H&F passes the 200k hit mark!!!
That’s right! Thanks to all our readers for helping us achieve this milestone!
As we approach our two-year blog-iversary, here are some numbers to date about this little site we’ve been running:
Total views: 200,761
Busiest day: 2,364 — Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Total Posts: 813
Comments: 2,837
Sometimes, there actually are points for 2nd place
Fig Jam
One of my favorite movie quotes comes from “Top Gun” when Viper (Tom Skerritt), the hardnosed flight instructor charged with running the Navy’s Top Gum program, stares out into a briefing room full of hotshot young pilots and cooly declares, “Remember Gentlemen, There are no points for second place.”
Generally, when it comes to sports I tend to believe that’s true (or, if you prefer a less dated movie reference I could refer you the newly minted, “if you’re not first, you’re last”). From a competition perspective (ie removing all the financial implications from a second place finish), second place is meaningless. The idea behind competing is to win and so if you do not win, then it is fairly irrelevant where you wound up in the overall scheme of things. As Nelly says, “Two is not a winner and three nobody remembers.”
Therefore, I feel a little bit odd as I take the position that the USA Soccer team actually came out ahead this past weekend when it lost to Brazil, 3-2, in the Confederations cup final in South Africa. Seriously, I think that’s true. I’m not going to say that they came out farther ahead than had they won the tournament, but I’m not convinced that isn’t true either. Ultimately, I think that the USA’s second place finish holds great value to the team and stands to benefit the squad by paying major dividends down the road. Here’s why:
Fideo Friday: RIP Michael Jackson
Nobody will ever reach the insane levels of superstardom that Michael Jackson achieved. I remember when his videos would premier on prime time network television. He was also one of the greatest butts of jokes of all time. Here is one of my favorite bits about him from Katt Williams:
Random Post:
New Link on the Blogroll – Seattle Soccer Show
I’d like to extend a warm Internet welcome to the Seattle Soccer Show. Hosted by Mati Bishop (Sounders color guy) and Matt Gaschk (P-I Sounders beat writer/KJR AM producer), it offers a unique and entertaining look into the local soccer community. If you’re looking for another way to enhance your Sounders cred, this is it.
Check it out: http://seattlesoccershow.blogspot.com/
Image from Offide Seattle
Then you go and do something like this, and TOTALLY redeem yourself
Fig Jam
So, for a brief period I am going to take a break from criticizing the US Mens Soccer team. Yesterday’s win over Spain was epic and bought the squad sufficient capital to carry them through next summer’s World Cup.
I have to admit that the victory was an absolute shock to me (and I’m assuming I’m not alone on that). I figured that the Egypt win was nice, but that when it came to a country with the credentials that Spain had, there was no chance. Top to bottom, the Spanish lineup is just absurd. I still can’t quite figure out how the US went into that game and came away with the victory, but as Rece Davis mentioned during the postgame coverage, one of Lou Holtz’s favorite sayings is, “you don’t have to be the best team in the world, just the best team in the stadium.” Yesterday the USA was, well probably still not the best team in stadium, but it was the only team that scored and in a sport that is determined by a points system, that is very important.
All I can say is, I’m glad that US Soccer is now sufficiently popular in this country that when they are struggling, people notice. For probably the first time ever, a US Soccer coach was under fire and the team faced negative media coverage for their perceived lack of effort and cohesiveness in the past few months. Let’s hope the US builds on this win and doesn’t suffer any more embarassing setbacks when it returns to World Cup qualifying. While I don’t think this win makes the US one of the world powerhouses in the sport, it does show that they can and should compete with any team that they go up against.
Oh, and for the record – I don’t think they are going to beat Brazil on Sunday – but I’m ok with that.
Oregon believes it can fly, touch sky.
Fig Jam
Well it’s late June again and everyone knows what that means: The Oregon Institute of Fashion has unveiled its new uniforms and color patterns. Gone are the heady days of faux steel plating and highlighter style coloration. No longer will these next top models be caught wandering the playing fields in the all white storm trooper ensembles. Those uniforms are so last year.
Instead, the Ducks have taken the bold move of adopting uni’s that (i) appear to be designed in collaboration with Affliction Clothing brand, featuring a variety of feathered wings on each shoulderpad and (ii) don’t actually include any of Oregon’s colors. That’s right, the Green and Yellow and Black and White are moving on, to “Steel” colored outfits. I guess that makes sense. Why bother with your school colors when you design uniforms? Sticking with your colors just inhibits these football playing fashionistas (not a word, but I like it) from their ultimate goal of looking fabulous.
Wait, was the US Open played in New York this weekend?
Fig Jam
Raise your hand if you hate New Yorkers more this week than you did last week. Keep em’ up. Ok, that’s what I thought, it’s everyone. I guess the 40 hour infomercial that ESPN and NBC ran last weekend on what New Yorkers are like and how they talk (also referred to in passing as “The US Open”) did not have the desired effect.
The Golf Tournament, which in years when it’s not held in New York is sometimes called one of golf’s “major” championships, was played for the second time in the last ten years at Bethpage State Park on the famed Black course. The story, as I’m sure everyone is now aware, is that this is really awesome because Bethpage is a public golf course and anyone can play it. This makes Bethpage different from most US Open courses which are either (i) private or (ii) “public” in the sense of the word that anyone who has $200-300 for a round of golf is welcome to come play. Bethpage is different, because when the USGA first decided to stage the Open there in 2002, it entered into a contract with the State of New York to lock the rates that Bethpage can charge, making a round of golf on one of the 5 courses at Bethpage State Park very affordable.
So that’s the deal. That’s why it’s a cool story. That’s why it’s worth mentioning during the broadcast and highlighting a little bit as a cool feature. The State of New York operates a golf course that is affordable and pretty sweet. It’s neat that arguably the biggest tournament in the United States is played on a truly public course once in a while.
Monday’s Ginger Post
In order for the US team to advance to the semifinals of the Confederation Cup, they needed to beat Egypt by three goals. The US also needed Italy to lose by three goals to Brazil. Both those things somehow happened and the US advanced. But then also in the midst of those improbable games, this happened:
Fideo Friday: Why Hello
Simple concept, brilliant result.
Is Bob Bradley the answer for US Soccer?
The United States performance thus far in the Confederations Cup has been disturbing. Obviously Italy and Brazil are no one’s idea of a favorable draw, but Bob Bradley’s team often appears listless and without ideas.
Since the 1994 World Cup, the United States Men’s National Team has attempted to build itself with a succession of US born coaches. Why?
In 1990 Hungarian born coach Bob Gansler led the United States to its first World Cup since 1950. Sure the team was demolished in Italia ‘90, but just qualifying earned the ‘90 team a special place in US Soccer history.
The pressure was on in 1994 as the United States hosted the World Cup amid international concerns over the historical weakness of the US National Team and the lack of a domestic outdoor league. US Soccer turned to Serbian Bora Milutinovic to mold the US team into a competitive unit. The US won an improbable victory over a heavily favored Colombian team in the Rose Bowl and advanced to the second round, losing to Brazil despite playing much of the game with a man advantage.
The reputation of the United States as a soccer power had grown so much by this time that Colombian Andres Escobar was murdered for his own goal that cost Colombia their tournament run. The message was clear: Lose to the terrible US and it will cost you your life.
Having qualified for consecutive World Cups and advancing past the first round in 1994 apparently completely satisfied the powers that be at the US Soccer Federation. The USSF effectively stated, “Thanks internationally experienced coaches, but we’ll take it from here.”
Austin Daye Makes Horrible Decision, Enters NBA Draft
Austin Daye (Cleveland Plains Dealer)
According to ESPN’s Andy Katz, sophomore Austin Daye has decided forgo his final two years at Gonzaga and enter the NBA draft.
As H&F’s resident Gonzaga fan, I must say that this seems like a horrible, ill-conceived idea on Daye’s part. Mock draft projections have the 21 year old Daye going to the Pistons with the 15th pick. And while that would be ahead of well-known players like Ty Lawson, Tyler Hansbrough, B.J. Mullens, and Terrence Williams, Daye would be lucky to go this high.
In his two years of Spokane, Daye never added the inside game that he will need to be a true offensive threat in the NBA. Primarily a perimeter player, a majority of Daye’s points came from outside jumpers. If he does indeed have the range to shoot the corner three the NBA loves so much, then yes, he could play in the League for 10-12 years. However, I’m not convinced he has this range yet.
He also could have used another 12 months to get some more meat on his frame. As other H&F’ers pointed out previously, he faded against superior competition and also did not do much down the stretch.
