#FFXIV
I Hope to Never See a Figure Skating Event Like That Again
I Hope to Never See a Figure Skating Event Like That Again
The beauty from some Olympic skaters was not worth seeing a child emotionally broken on live television.
BY CHRIS SCHLEICHER
FEB 17, 2022 9:49 PM
As a figure skater, you dream of what your Olympic moment will be like. The scores are read, your eyes go wide in disbelief, the announcer proclaims you’re in first place. Can this be real? You hug your coach as the crowd goes wild. One of the joys of watching the Olympics is seeing moments like this, dreams realized. I have indelible memories of such celebrations. In 1998, Tara Lipinski leapt into the air and released a series of ear-splitting shrieks when she found out she won, embracing her coaches in pure joy. In 2002, Sarah Hughes fell to the ground in shock backstage, laughing and smiling in disbelief, her coach grabbing her face and exclaiming, “You won the gold medal at the Olympics!”
At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, there was no such moment of joy. The scene that I witnessed instead made me feel hollow and heartbroken, like I was somehow complicit in the mental anguish of these young women by even watching. When it was announced that 17-year-old Anna Shcherbakova was the gold medalist, the camera didn’t even cut to her for several minutes. Instead, we watched 15-year-old Kamila Valieva, the girl at the center of the Olympic doping scandal, the skater seen as near-certain to capture the gold medal, crumble into a ball of tears upon learning she had ended up in fourth place after a disastrous free skate. Valieva received only perfunctory support from her coach, Eteri Tutberidze, who had berated her as soon she stepped off the ice: “Why did you let it go? Why did you stop fighting? Explain it to me, why? You let it go after that axel. Why?”
As Valieva exited the kiss-and-cry, she passed silver medalist Alexandra Trusova, also crying, throwing what can only be described as a temper tantrum. When someone offered Trusova an arm of support, she jumped away and shouted in Russian: “I can’t see this! I won’t see this!” One might have imagined these remarks were in sympathy for her training mate Valieva, but later comments made it clear it was bitterness over receiving silver. Trusova is quoted as exclaiming, “I hate it! … I don’t want to do anything in figure skating ever in my life! … Everyone has a gold medal, and I don’t!” One can forgive a teenage girl for having an emotional response to disappointment in a high-stakes situation, but Trusova’s reaction was an ugly display of poor sportsmanship, happening mere feet from a devastated Valieva. Trusova would later have to be coaxed into even coming back onto the ice to accept her second place finish.
As Valieva retreated into the bowels of the stadium, the broadcast finally cut back to Shcherbakova, the Olympic gold medalist. She stood alone, joyless, clutching a teddy bear in silence. She shifted uneasily, eyes cast down to the floor, unsure where to look. She sat back down again on a couch, no one on her team anywhere in sight. It was perhaps the loneliest image I have ever seen at the Olympics.
Why was Shcherbakova all alone? For context, one must know that all three of these Russian teenagers are coached by Eteri Tutberidze. Ostensibly, the members of her team were off attending to the meltdowns of Valieva and Trusova. It called to mind the conclusion of the 2018 Olympics, in which Tutberidze’s students Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva finished first and second, respectively. That result was also seen as a big upset, as Medvedeva had been favored for gold. When the scores were announced, Medvedeva cried in disappointment as Zagitova sat backstage, nervously smiling through tears and staring down at a stuffed doll in her hands. Tutberidze has now left in her trail a plethora of teenagers who burned bright and then retired from the sport with injuries and eating disorders. Named the International Skating Union coach of the year 2020, Tutberidze is now at the center of a discussion about the treatment of minors in figure skating. Based on her treatment of her students in the past and her possible involvement in Valieva taking banned heart medication, I desperately hope Tutberidze is investigated and suspended from coaching. We cannot continue like this.
Los Angeles Rams: Super Bowl LVI Champions - The Gallery.
Ain't nothin' but a #RamsHouse, baby.
Your Super Bowl Champs going crazy.
Stan Kroenke's the fella that pays them.
Unbeatable, so we gon get dem #HornsUp.
Hell yes.
Los Angeles Rams: Super Bowl LVI Champions
Amid the blaring of blue and gold horns, on a super-sized Sunday fit for an ascension, the Los Angeles sports heavens just got a little more crowded.
Make room for the Rams.
Move over Lakers, back up Dodgers, everybody clear space for the oldest of friends, the newest of heroes, the prodigal sons turned Super Bowl champions.
Six years after returning to Los Angeles with helmet in hand, the Rams raised those helmets to the sky Sunday with a 23-20 victory over Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium.
They won it after blowing an early 10-point lead and stumbling into a 10-point deficit. They won by coming back in the fourth quarter on a 79-yard, game-winning touchdown drive featuring the two stars who have carried them all season — quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp.
The winning blow, after the desperate Bengals were assessed two penalties for holding Kupp, came on a one-yard toss from Stafford to Kupp with 1:25 remaining.
The Rams defense then held the Bengals in the final minute to win it when mighty Aaron Donald threw Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to the ground with 39 seconds remaining, forcing a game-ending incompletion on fourth down.
Boom. Done. Won. The exhausted Rams stalked triumphantly off their sidelines as the air filled with confetti and strains of, “I Love L.A.”
They won it not only with the final comeback, but with two other comebacks. They won despite a missed face mask call that led to the Bengals’ go-ahead touchdown on the first play of the second half, and they won despite losing receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a knee injury in the second quarter.
They won it with trademark resilience and toughness, just as they vowed they would win it, an overdue repayment of an ancient debt owed.
They were this city’s first NFL team in 1946. They left for St. Louis after the 1994 season. They returned in 2016 with a promise to make up for lost time and a mission to win back a city’s heart.
Promise kept. Mission complete.
All this, after a sequence of plays just after halftime that made it seemed these Rams were doomed.
On the first play of second half, with the Rams leading 13-10 Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow lofted the ball down the left sideline to Tee Higgins just as Higgins pulled defender Jalen Ramsey’s face mask and twisted him toward the ground. Ramsey fell and Higgins caught the pass on the 36-yard line, then carried it in untouched for a 75-yard touchdown pass that eventually gave the Bengals a 17-13 lead.
No, the face mask grab was not penalized and, no, the play was not reviewable for instant replay.
On the first play of the Rams’ ensuing drive, a Stafford pass bounced off the hands of Ben Skowronek and into the hands of Chidobe Awuzie for Stafford’s second interception. Moments later, that led to a 38-yard field goal to give the Bengals a 20-13 lead.
When they finally found their footing, the Rams didn’t get mad, they got even, roaring back not only with a potent offense, but a defense that eventually stopped Burrow, who was compromised with a fourth-quarter knee injury.
In winning their first Super Bowl championship and second NFL title during their 54 years of inhabiting Los Angeles, the Rams also secured their spot among the local sports landscape’s elite.
In a city of champions, they needed a title to be considered legitimate citizens. Today, they belong.
In a city where sports fans demand excellence for their dollars, they needed a title to attract a larger share of the attention. Today, everybody is watching.
It is the first Los Angeles championship in the four major sports since both the Lakers and Dodgers won titles in the fall of 2020. And, like the Lakers and Dodgers, the Rams spared no expense in making that it happen.
When they returned here after an absence of more than two decades, owner Stan Kroenke committed everything to a ring.
He spent $5 billion to construct the palace that is SoFi Stadium with the hopes that his team would one day win a championship there. He then dispatched team president Kevin Demoff and general manager Les Snead to leave no expensive stone unturned in realizing those hopes.
They had the foresight to hire McVay when he was the youngest coach in NFL history — he was 30 then, he’s 36 now — and then in recent years surrounded him with the game’s best talent.
They made Donald the league’s highest paid defensive player at the time. They traded for the game’s best cornerback in Jalen Ramsey. Then 13 months ago they really got serious when they traded for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Since then, they have also traded for Super Bowl 50 MVP linebacker hero Von Miller and signed receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
After coming close with a Super Bowl loss three years ago, they finally peaked at the right time this year, riding playoff wins against the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers into Sunday’s Super Bowl finale.
Which they finished with a flourish, in the style of all serious Los Angeles champions, winning as they expected to win, dominating as they promised to dominate.
The heavens no longer have to wait. Make room for the Rams.
Chelsea: 2021 FIFA Club World Cup Champions
With victory over Palmeiras tonight, Chelsea have etched yet another memorable chapter in the club’s long and illustrious history. We have our hands on the solitary major trophy that has eluded us, the FIFA Club World Cup, a prize only on offer to those who have climbed Europe’s highest peak.
In 2012, after the miracle of Munich, there was disappointment at the hands of Corinthians. Not so tonight, where an extra-time penalty from Kai Havertz – yes, him again! – secured a 2-1 success over their Sao Paolo rivals Palmeiras.
Havertz was the hero in Porto and he was the hero again tonight, crowning an enterprising performance in our attack with an ice-cold penalty five minutes from the end of extra-time.
We have now joined Bayern Munich and Manchester United as the only clubs to complete a clean sweep of major UEFA trophies and the Club World Cup, and as the 11th different winner of this competition the Blues are only the third to achieve that feat from England. We just keep rewriting the history books!
At full-time, one Chelsea legend sunk to his knees. Cesar Azpilicueta is the first Blue to do the lot, further cementing his status as one of the greatest of all time. And of course it was his shot that was blocked by a handball allowing Havertz to coolly convert from 12 yards. What a way for the skipper to mark a decade of service.
Next to him, Thiago Silva also collapsed in ecstasy, a victor in a competition that means so much in South America. First the Champions League, and now the Club World Cup in barely eight months for our Brazilian hero. He was deservedly named the tournament’s best player at full-time.
And how wonderful to see Thomas Tuchel able to celebrate masterminding his third trophy in person, having only arrived in Abu Dhabi yesterday. His tactical shuffling kept Palmeiras on the back foot throughout, and the victory, if hard fought, was thoroughly deserved.
As the players celebrated with the trophy in front of the loyal travelling support, one of our club anthems Blue Tomorrow rang around the stadium.
‘We’re gonna rule the universe because we’re Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea!’
We have done just that. It’s a Blue universe today. What a club.
Elaina, 2022 ISML Saimoe Prime Minister
Good morning, afternoon, evening, wherever you are in the world. My name is Elaina, the Wandering Witch. I will be your Saimoe Prime Minister for the 2022 session, succeeding Yukino Yukinoshita. Prior to, I began my work as Speaker of the Saimoe Diet and it is apparent that my work has been rewarded with your trust. I would like to first take this time to congratulate Mikoto Misaka on a well-fought race and for a strong campaign. Her work as a longtime Saimoe champion must be honored and respected, as she is a role model for many heroes of our time. Thank you, Mikoto, for lighting the way.
I want to start with a little story about myself. I grew up well off, well versed in magic, naive and not knowing what it felt to fall short. In the past, I tried to cheat to get to where I needed to be, but then I realized that this is not how I want to be remembered as. I believe that fairness is key, and knowing that learning from failure will lead to improving one-self, and become successful. I believe that we can do better as men and women of principles and ideals, and that allowed me to craft my platform and my mission, ideals and principles that I hope all will use in the coming months ahead.
As I had championed when beginning my term, good government and resolute diversity was my platform then, and will be my platform now. Balance and moderate resolution are principles that I will champion as your Saimoe Prime Minister. I plan to hear all sides and all arguments and encourage my cabinet, my team of lawmakers, to provide effective solutions to alleviate the world's problems.
You know full well that I can't solve every problem or dilemma, and it takes a full team to save our movement from elimination. So I plan to bring in the best people from our Diet to steer forward a game plan that we can all agree on. You know that when it comes to my leadership, women's rights matter. Feminism, tolerance, and the celebration of who you are and to never be judged on who you are and who you will be is what gets me motivated for what we are about to encounter. Never stop being you. Whether you are a man, a woman, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, no matter your orientation, no matter who you choose to love, your ideals, your principles, your happiness in inviolate. Invincible. And you know this. You know this.
So, my dear brothers and sisters in the cause, let us rise up to a new tomorrow. A tomorrow where the coronavirus pandemic becomes harnessed, and controlled. Where the world can become able to heal, to renew, to re-energize. Where the wars of petty factions can cease, and the magic of love and hope can spread the wings of the downtrodden, allowing them to take flight into the future.
I want to take this time to thank people who pushed me forward. My teacher, Fran, the rock of my studies and who I still remember fondly. My mother Victorica, for raising me, and my father. I want to thank Saya, who will be working with me in the cabinet this coming session, for arranging my campaign and working hard to get me over the line. And to Sheila and Mina, you have also been wonderful in your work and have done well, and your efforts have been rewarded.
One more person I would like to congratulate before I close off this short speech is Sakuta Azusagawa, husband of Ms. Mai Sakurajima. Sakuta, you were unlucky to fall short last year against Miyuki Shirogane. But your wife believed in you. We all did. We always did. And so you never gave up and used your defeat to come back stronger. And here you are, a Deputy Saimoe Prime Minister who will working with me to celebrate and foster the great things people can do to spread love, hope, happiness and healing. You and Mai will be great additions to my team. Let's all work together to get things done.
In closing, I will close this statement with a maxim. The great Ellen Pompeo, or Dr. Meredith Grey, once said, “And sometimes, against all odds, against all logic, we still hope.” Believe in the power of love so you can keep hope alive, and be the gift that keeps on giving. The Saimoe movement has been good to all of us. And so, as you continue your own battles, your own adventures, know full well that we are here for you, to be an inspiration, to motivate you to be at your best. You give us our support and will pay it back and forward. That is my promise, that is our promise. We will do our best to make this year one you will remember, no matter the cost.
So will that, I hope you have a great week, month, year and life. May God bless you, and may God bless Japan and the world. Good night.
-Elaina
2022 Saimoe Prime Minister
International Saimoe League
ISML 2021: Elaina Elected Saimoe Prime Minister!
ISML 2021: Elaina Elected Saimoe Prime Minister!
Sakuta Azusagawa Elected Deputy Saimoe PM
Keke Tang, Tanjiro Kamado Also Win Big
By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam On Baltic Avenue
February 12, 2022
Mikoto Misaka's second attempt at winning relection to the Saimoe Prime Minister's Office has been thwarted yet again. This time, it's Elaina's turn to deliver the final Upset of the Round. On Election Day 2022, Match Day 5 of the 2021 International Saimoe League Eliminations Period, the outgoing Speaker Of The Saimoe Diet defeated Misaka 12590-11986 to succeed Yukino Yukinoshita. Sakuta Azusagawa, meanwhile, redeemed his setback last year and now has the interim Deputy Saimoe PM tag dropped after defeating Yuuta Togashi 10811-9736.
Elaina's successor is Keke Tang, who rolled past Ai Haibara 12163-10931 to claim the role of Speaker of the Saimoe Diet. Tang, who hails from Shanghai, was also named Saimoe Ambassador to China and has been called on to encourage strong dialogue and solidarity between both East Asian neighbors moving forward toward what has been a difficult year for the world. Tanjiro Kamado defeated Izumi Miyamura 10297-9867 to be elected Saimoe President of Councillors and will be working alongside Tang in fostering open dialogue and understanding.
Kaguya Shinomiya finished third in the Female Division race, defeating Mashiro Shiina 11299-9722. In the first of multiple pack races, Mai Sakurajima (86318.2) and Asuna Yuuki (83679.2) shined brightly, while in the second, Shiro (76311.7) and Nao Tomori (75311.6) finished strong.
Kazuto Kirigaya was third in the Male Division with a 10145-9073 win over Riku Dola. In the third multiple pack race, Touma Kamijou (66600.9) and Taki Tachibana (66070.4) were in the green, as were Shirou Emiya (55347) and Kazuma Satou (52560.5) in the fourth.
In a special election for Love Live Ambassador, Nico Yazawa won the set with a 4005-3616 win over Kanon Shibuya. Rounding out the order were Kotori Minami (2633), Maki Nishikino (1705), Honoka Kousaka (1434), Setsuna Yuuki (1096), You Watanabe (940), Eli Ayase (869), Ayumu Uehara (703), Kasumi Nakasu (569), Yoshiko Tsushima (456) and Hanamaru Kunikida (294).
In another special pack race between Female and Male Division participants past and present, Kamui Kanna defeated Hachiman Hikigaya in a 5408-4281 win, a rare defeat for Hikigaya. Ruri Gokou was third with 2695 votes and rounding out the order were Illyasviel von Einzbern (2251), Chtholly Nota Seniorious (1843), Shana (1587), Archer (1456), Yuki Nagato (1143), Kosaki Onodera (729), Ayase Aragaki (684), Eucliwood Hellscythe (562) and Koyomi Araragi (474).
Three more pack races also took place. In the first, Sagiri Izumi (5664), Zero Two (4408) and Iroha Isshiki (4529) were in the green. Chizuru Ichinose (5241), Kotoko Iwanaga (5119) and Platelet (7910) got through in the second while in the third for male division pariticpants, Willem Kmetsch (3080), a new face in Anos Voldigoad (2894) and Yuuji Sakai (2742) got through.
And that does it for the 2021 International Saimoe League. It's been a great season full of exciting races and results, but the 2022 edition will be right around the corner later this year. As always, when we get going again, go to InternationalSaimoe.com to cast your ballot and join the ongoing debate. And be sure to keep it right here on The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue for continuing coverage of the world's premier anime character competition, the International Saimoe League. Thanks for tuning in, and we'll see you next season!
BoBA ISML 2021 Predictions: Eliminations Match Day 5 (Election Day 2022)
These are the final predictions for the 2021 International Saimoe League campaign.
ARENA 1 Elaina [[Misaka Mikoto]]
by <=1000
Over/Under: 20000
Over
ARENA 2 Togashi Yūta [[Azusagawa Sakuta]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 25000
Under
ARENA 3 Haibara Ai [[Tang Keke]]
by <=400
Over/Under: 20000
Under
ARENA 4 Kamado Tanjirō [[Miyamura Izumi]]
by >=300
Over/Under: 18000
Over
ARENA 5 Shiina Mashiro [[Shinomiya Kaguya]]
by <=400
Over/Under: 20000
Over
ARENA 6 [[Tachibana Kanade]] [[Tokisaki Kurumi]] [[Takanashi Rikka]] [[Sakurajima Mai]] [[Yūki Asuna]] [[Emilia]] [[Yuigahama Yui]] [[Fujiwara Chika]]
Over/Under: 200000
Over
ARENA 7 [[Tomori Nao]] [[Hayasaka Ai]] [[Yuzaki Tsukasa]] [[Index L. Prohibitorum]] [[Aisaka Taiga]] [[Tōsaka Rin]] [[Shiro]] [[Shokuhō Misaki]]
Over/Under: 200000
Over
ARENA 8 [[Kirigaya Kazuto]] Riku Dola
by >=300
Over/Under: 21000
Under
ARENA 9 [[Natsuki Subaru]] [[Kamijō Tōma]] [[Tachibana Taki]] [[Ishigami Yū]] [[Kanda Sorata]] [[Ayanokōji Kiyotaka]] [[Levi]] [[Otonashi Yuzuru]]
Over/Under: 200000
Under
ARENA 10 [[Emiya Shirō]] [[Satō Kazuma]] [[Okabe Rintarō]] [[Okazaki Tomoya]] [[Akasaka Ryūnosuke]] [[Totsuka Saika]] [[Itsuka Shidō]] [[Lelouch Lamperouge]]
Over/Under: 200000
Under
ARENA 11 [[Nishikino Maki - 3]] [[Minami Kotori - 1]] [[Yazawa Nico - 10]] [[Watanabe Yō - 2]] [[Tsushima Yoshiko - 4]] [[Yūki Setsuna - 11]] [[Nakasu Kasumi - 9]] [[Shibuya Kanon - 5]] [[Uehara Ayumu - 7]] [[Kunikida Hanamaru - 8]] [[Ayase Eli - 6]] [[Kōsaka Honoka - 12]]
by >=200
Over/Under: 50000
Under
ARENA 12 [[Kanna Kamui - 3]] [[Illyasviel von Einzbern - 6]] [[Eucliwood Hellscythe - 10]] [[Shana - 5]] [[Nagato Yuki - 12]] [[Gokō Ruri (Kuroneko) - 4]] [[Chtholly Nota Seniorious - 2]] [[Onodera Kosaki - 11]] [[Aragaki Ayase - 9]] [[Archer - 7]] [[Hikigaya Hachiman - 1]] [[Araragi Koyomi - 8]]
by <=300
Over/Under: 60000
Under
ARENA 13 [[Izumi Sagiri]] Zero Two Saber Azusagawa Kaede Nibutani Shinka [[Shirogane Kei]] [[Isshiki Iroha]] Isla Aqua Makinohara Shōko Kitashirakawa Tamako Tobiichi Origami
Over/Under: 50000
Over
ARENA 14 [[Ichinose Chizuru (Mizuhara Chizuru)]] [[Hikigaya Komachi]] [[Iwanaga Kotoko]] Honjō Kaede (Maple) Ishtar Enterprise [[Furuhashi Fumino]] Gray Yoshida Yūko Ichigo Amane Suzuha Ohara Rinne [[Takarada Rikka]] Uraraka Ochako Platelet Kani Nayuta
Over/Under: 50000
Over
ARENA 15 Red Ichijō Raku Satomi Rentarō Shinei Nouzen [[Willem Kmetsch]] Andō Jurai Maō Sadao Anos Voldigoad [[Aikawa Ayumu]] Katsuragi Keima Kasuga Arata Hashima Itsuki Sugisaki Ken Kazehaya Kamito Kazami Yūji Mitsuka Sōji [[Ayasaki Hayate]] Sakai Yūji Tōyama Kinji Akatsuki Kojō
Over/Under: 60000
Under
Voter Id: 81e40ae8-e457-5719-88f6-76679d6a3cc0
Whoever wins the Super Bowl, the Los Angeles Chargers have lost
Amid the sound and fury of the Brian Flores lawsuit, you may have forgotten that the Super Bowl kicks off on Sunday at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium. As challenging as it is to pick a winner between the Cincinnati Bengals and the hometown Rams – barely a field-goal favourite, by Vegas’ reckoning – one team has already lost: the Chargers.
You remember the Chargers. They’re the other NFL team that calls Los Angeles home, the one with the cute yellow lightning bolt on the sides of their helmets. Of course for 55 years they were the San Diego Chargers, the pro sports standard bearer for a sleepy SoCal idyll famous for sun and fun (they actually started life in LA before heading south in 1961 after a single season). In San Diego, they were one of the league’s heritage teams, in that group of pioneering AFL franchises with the Raiders and the Chiefs. Among other things, the Chargers were the team where Al Davis got started in pro football and where the vertical passing game was laboratory tested and perfected. They played at Jack Murphy Stadium, an architectural marvel that played host to three Super Bowls and two World Series – handling one of each in 1998.
For a time they seemed an ideally situated franchise – beloved by locals, nationally respected and synonymous with a town any football fan would kill to visit in December or January – and opposing fans from Chicago or Cleveland were famous for taking over the Murph. As someone who mainly attended games there as a member of the working press, the real treat was being able to watch the action from a lower bowl, outdoor press box. I can think of few better ways to spend a 72-degree fall Sunday.
Of course the picture in San Diego was not all sunny. The Chargers fanbase could be fickle (I was too when I lived in San Diego). The city, while nationally renowned, was a small market relative to California’s other NFL towns. And after the turn of the century the Murph was a dilapidated relic that couldn’t compete with JerryWorld, University of Phoenix Stadium and other football Taj Mahals. Seeing the writing crumbling from his stadium walls Dean Spanos, the Chargers’ longtime steward, did that thing all bajillionaires sports owners do when they feel the market has dealt them a bad hand; he threatened to move to Las Vegas or Oakland or Timbuktu unless the city built him a new stadium. And when his corporate welfare stickup was rebuffed, because San Diegans are awesome, Spanos took his ball and went north on I-5 to LA, leaving the town with a giant hole where a civic institution used to be.
Talk about a copycat league. The Chargers didn’t just follow the Rams (formerly of St Louis) to the City of Angels; they’re little better than dollar-per-year subletters at SoFi Stadium, the pet project of Walmart consort and Rams owner Stan Kroenke. Before moving into SoFi in 2020, the Chargers played inside a black box MLS stadium in Carson, which – culturally and sometimes with traffic – is about as far from Hollywood as Dubuque. And while they’re not the only NFL teams to share a stadium – New York’s teams share one in New Jersey – the Giants and Jets at least are an unbroken tradition in the TriState. The Rams and Chargers – who started in LA in 1946 and 1960, respectively – had been gone too long for locals to remember why they should care about them in the first place. In the interregnum the Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and the USC Trojans became LA’s football teams.
If there’s anything LA respects, it’s a winner. So it figures that now that the Rams are playing in their second Super Bowl in three years, and on their home field to boot, the Chargers barely register. In a recent survey designed to weed out the “saddest” NFL fans, or those “most emotionally upset” by wins and losses, the Chargers ranked dead last – which provides some sense of the depth of apathy here. Attendance is another quality indicator, and before the move to SoFi – again, the Rams’ house – the Chargers came in dead last through the turnstiles, too. And while LA Chargers crowds have picked up since they moved into SoFi, the vaccines rolled out and the superb young quarterback Justin Herbert came to town, at the end of the day, most of that lucre flows to Kroenke’s Rams.
It didn’t have to be this way. Besides the best town and loyal fans, the San Diego Chargers had another thing going for them. They were less than 20 miles away from Mexico, the closest NFL team besides the Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills to an international border. Had Spanos been thinking ahead, he could’ve owned the Mexican market decades before the Cowboys, Raiders and 49ers set up shop. While the league was establishing games in London as a thing, it was also drawing similarly sized crowds for kickoffs in Mexico City. Spanos could have expanded his market to include an entire country, encroached deeper into Latin America and used those riches to build the stadium of his dreams. Given the NFL’s world-conquering ambitions and its efforts to ingratiate itself with the Latin community, leave no doubt: this is a massive fail.
The Chargers could have been exemplars – first to take off outside the US, leading the NFL’s foreign expansion, a more valuable franchise than perhaps even the Cowboys. Instead, they’re a second-class team in an A-list town. Only a bajillionaire detached from reality could see this as winning.
ISML 2021: Election Day Races Are Set!
ISML 2021: Election Day Races Are Set!
By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
February 8, 2022
The general election for the Saimoe Prime Minister and Deputy Saimoe Prime Minister's officers are set. Mikoto Misaka, currently the interim Saimoe Prime Minister, will simply drop the tag and officially serve her second term if she is reelected on February 9. Misaka defeated Kaguya Shinomiya 4217-3636 and is an odds-on favorite to make history. Her opponent: Elaina, the outgoing Speaker of the Saimoe Diet, who defeated Mashiro Shiina 3859-3679. Over in the race for Deputy Saimoe Prime Minister, Sakuta Azusagawa will also be dropping his interim tag if he dispatches his challenger, Yuuta Togashi. Azusagawa routed Kazuto Kirigaya 4229-2772, while Togashi prevailed over Riku Dola 3528-3216.
The race for the new Speaker will be between underdog Miko Iino, no stranger to leadership roles in student government, and the energetic Keke Tang, whose platform of East Asian Solidarity and Energy is set to turn skeptics into believers. Iino defeated Ai Habara 3635-3438 while Tang crushed Nezuko Kamado 4514-2586. A new office has been made, that of Saimoe President of Councillors, an office for male candidates. Contesting this officer will be Izumi Miyamura and Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko's brother. Miyamura delivered the upset of the round, a 3297-2879 scalp of longtime Saimoe regular Takashi Natsume and will be favored against the more fancied Kamado, who throttled Sasuke Uchiha 3413-2645.
A couple of pool races took place in the Male and Female Divisions, with four making the cut on each side. In the Female Division, Asuna Yuuki (3455), Emilia (3357), Yui Yuigahama (3046) and Chika Fujiwara (3225). In the Male Division, the day belonged to Levi (2578), Sorata Kanda (2356), Yuzuru Otonashi (2347) and Shidou Itsuka (2339).
Rin Shibuya was named Idolmaster Ambassador to the Saimoe Diet after defeating Chihaya Kisaragi 1309-782. Uzuki Shimamura was third with 591 votes. Rounding out the order were the Producer (349), Anzu Futaba (325), Iori Minase (349), Fumika Sagisawa (250), Miki Hoshii (225), Kaede Takagaki (192), Anastasia (180), Haruka Amami (126) and Shiki Ichinose (58).
Taking the Female Division Consolation Prize was Kuroko Shirai, defeating Schwi Dola 1979-1786, a victory that should bode well for Misaka's bid for reelection. Rounding out the order were Mio Akiyama (1425), Shouko Nishimiya (1114), Megumin (896), Kurisu Makise (782), Nanami Aoyama (623), Mitsuha Miyamizu (546), Utaha Kasumigaoka (502), Yui Hirasawa (396), Tooru (359) and Azusa Nakano (286).
Shouya Ishida was the Male Division Consolation winner, defeating Gilgamesh in the closest race of the roung, a 1448-1400 barnburner. Rounding out the order were Nasa Yuzaki (1017), Joutarou Kuujou (893), Kyoujurou Rengoku (769), Nagisa Shiota (598), Kousei Arima (538), Mochizou Ouji (436), Edward Elric (387), Eugeo (309), Satoshi Fukube (287) and Giyuu Tomioka (265).
In a special group race, Teio Tokai defeated Mei Misaki 1533-1314. Rounding out the order were Aoi Miyamori (799), Kukuru Misakino (683), Miuna Shiodome (577), Fuuka Miyazawa (422), Special Week (391), Ema Yasuhara (314), Manaka Mukaido (203), Sawa Okita (158), Shizuka Sakaki (129) and Wakana Sakai (86). Finally, in a Macross showdown, Freyja Wion defeated Ranka Lee 965-734. Rounding out the order were Lynn Minmay (566), Sheryl Nome (396), Mylene Flare Jenius (266) and Misa Hayase (248).
So here we are, the final match day of the 2021 International Saimoe League season, the general election. Mikoto and Sakuta are tipped to drop their interim tags and execute their roles in leading the Saimoe movement going forward, but don't sell Elaina or Yuuta short. This will be a historic finish to another solid year of Saimoe. Match Day 5 is on February 9, 2022. Vote for your favorite characters at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.
China: 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup Champions
Navi Mumbai: China PR came from two goals down to defeat Korea Republic 3-2 in a pulsating AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022™ final at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
Korea Republic looked to be cruising to their first crown after taking a 2-0 lead at half-time but China PR fought back after the break through goals from Tang Jiali, Zhang Linyan and Xiao Yuyi - who netted the winner deep into added time to seal her side a record-extending ninth title.
China PR head coach Shui Qingxia hailed her players’ performance in capturing their historic ninth title.
“This is the most critical moment for China PR women’s football,” said Shui. “Despite trailing 2-0 my players showed determination to fight back. I like to thank all the players for winning the title but they also won it for themselves.”
Korea Republic head coach Colin Bell was proud of his players despite missing out on their first title.
"I'm proud of the players, I told them that after the match," said Bell. "We need to keep improving and not let this defeat diminish our spirit. We're bitterly disappointed. We need to be stronger mentally. The penalty against us, took our concentration away."
China PR entered the final chasing their first title since 2006 against a Korea Republic side who had never laid their hands on the coveted trophy.
China PR, unbeaten in seven previous meetings with Korea Republic, started the game brightly and had the first look at goal within seconds when Wu Chengshu played the ball to Tang Jiali just above the area, but the midfielder’s effort was easily dealt with by Korea Republic goalkeeper Kim Jung-mi.
China PR continued to press with Zhang Xin trying from 35 yards out while Wang Shuang saw her effort in the 10th minute saved by Kim.
Korea Republic began to see more of the ball as the half progressed and were rewarded with their first look at goal in the 27th minute, with Lee Geum-min breaking into the box before sending a cross to Choe Yu-Ri to score the 100th goal of the tournament.
With Korea Republic in the ascendancy, China PR survived a scare at the half-hour mark, goalkeeper Zhou Yu pulling off a point-blank save to deny Lim Seon-Joo’s header off a free-kick.
China PR, however, suffered more woe in the closing stages of the first half when a VAR review saw Korea Republic awarded a penalty for Yao Lingwei’s handball, with Ji So-yun converting from the spot.
China PR head coach Shui sent on Xiao Yuyi and Zhang Rui at the start of the second half to force their way back into the game but Korea Republic gave them little room to operate in the early stages.
China PR, however, received a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty for Lee Young-ju’s handball, with Tang Jiali netting from the spot in the 68th minute.
Boosted by the goal, China PR began to dictate play and drew level four minutes later thanks to some poor defending by Korea Republic.
Goalscorer Tang did well to beat two Korea Republic defenders before sending a delightful cross into the six-yard-box for an unmarked Zhang Linyan to nod home the equaliser.
Korea Republic could have then won it at the death with Zhou Yu pulling off a one handed save before defender Wang Xiaoxue blocked Son Hwa-Yeon’s effort.
Having escaped, China PR broke Korea Republic's hearts in added time with Xiao Yuyi stunningly finishing off Wang Shanshan’s pass as a record-extending ninth title was sealed.
Melbourne Victory: 2021 FFA Cup Champions
Australia's main men's national knockout football competition will undergo a name change, with Football Australia confirming the FFA Cup will become the Australia Cup.
"Through discussion with Australian football historians, and dialogue with fans and stakeholders of the competition, the consensus was that the name Australia Cup truly speaks to what this competition is and represents," Football Australia CEO James Johnson said in a statement.
"We are pleased that through this process pioneering players, clubs, and officials can feel recognised and connected to the competition.
"The research and consultation we have conducted regarding this name change indicates that people will be overwhelmingly happy with the shift to Australia Cup from 2022 onwards."
The competition will not be the first played with the name Australia Cup. For seven seasons in the 1960s, a competition with the same name was played between leading state league teams. The last side to win that Australia Cup was Sydney Hakoah.
The 2021 competition comes to a conclusion on Saturday night, with the final between Melbourne Victory and Central Coast Mariners.
The new cup competition will begin almost immediately, with the preliminary rounds for 2022 beginning in coming weeks across the states and territories.
The knockout competition regularly attracts 700 teams to compete for the cup.
Johnson said the name change for the FFA Cup was part of "an exciting next step in this evolution [of the competition]".
===
Ten months after he was charged with lifting Melbourne Victory out of the doldrums, Tony Popovic's revolution has delivered its first trophy in a dramatic 2-1 FFA Cup final triumph over Central Coast.
ason Davidson's thunderous free-kick handed Victory the advantage in the 70th minute, with Chris Ikonomidis' 95th-minute volley proving the winner before Central Coast skipper Oliver Bozanic ensured a nervous finish to the match when he scored in the 97th minute.
The triumph, Victory's second FFA Cup title after 2015, came just eight months after their first wooden spoon.
As a result of their poor 2020-21, Victory had to win a play-off to reach the Cup round of 32 before going on a barnstorming run that culminated in Saturday night's triumph in front of 15,343 fans at AAMI Park.
Popovic's first domestic final win also earned Victory a shot at the AFC Champions League, with the competition winner receiving a play-off spot — an away game against Japanese side Vissel Kobe in March.
The game cracked open in the second half when Marco Rojas charged forward and was cut down by Harrison Steele.
Davidson had acted as a decoy on previous set pieces but stepped up and thundered a wonderful left-footed strike into the top corner as AAMI Park erupted.
Victory snared a second goal five minutes into injury time when Josh Brillante quickly took a free-kick and the ball ultimately ended up with Ikonomidis, who chested it to himself then smashed a sweet left-footed volley home.
Emotions spilled over for Victory's active supporters, with a large number going over the barriers and briefly stopping play.
Shortly after, Victory failed to clear a Mariners attacking foray and the ball spilled to Bozanic, who lofted home a left-footed strike.
Bozanic had previously scored in Victory's 2015 triumph but this time, his goal proved only a consolation as the final whistle ensured any chances of a last gasp Mariners draw had run out.
AAP
Senegal: 2022 Africa Cup Of Nations Champions
After having waited a long time in its history, Senegal also spent a lot of time on the lawn of the Olembé stadium in Yaoundé (Cameroon) to win its first continental title (4-2)
Senegal dominated without scoring a goal with a penalty missed by Sadio Mané in the 4th minute of play, Saliou Ciss having been brought down in the penalty area of Egypt.
Sadio Mané shoots in force on the Egyptian goalkeeper Gabaski.
Despite this missed penalty, Senegal continues its pressure and Ismaila Sarr after getting rid of the left back, center for anyone in the axis of the goal. Three times, in the 12th, 18th and 23rd minute.
The only Egyptian opportunity is the work of Mohamed Salah who, after having a cold in the Senegalese defense, takes a shot angle. It's deflected by Edouard Mendy for a corner.
Senegal continued to dominate but remain powerless when it comes to making the final move.
As in the first period, the Pharaohs had their chance with Marwan Mehany alone in the Senegalese penalty area, headed over the crossbar in the 73rd minute.
At 0-0 after the end of regulation time, the South African referee, Victor Gomes sent the players back to overtime.
During the first period of extra time, two Senegalese chances, Bamba Dieng put a header deflected for a corner by the Egyptian goalkeeper in the 110th minute.
On the corner, Abdou Diallo alone sees his ball from the head fly in the sky of Yaoundé.
Bamba Dieng lights up again, the Egyptian goalkeeper for a corner.
On an Egyptian collective movement, Mahmoud Aladin returns the favor, Edouard Mendy works to deflect for a corner.
After 120 minutes of play, it will be the penalty shootout, an exercise which the Pharaohs succeeded twice against Côte d'Ivoire (eighth final) and Cameroon (semi-final) were won by the Pharaohs.
Finally, it is Senegal who wins 4-2, Bouna Sarr being the only one to miss his exercise with the Lions. Sadio Mané, who missed his penalty for a corner, is one of those who scored.
On the side of the Pharaohs Mohamed Abdel Meneam and Mohanad Ahmed Abdelmoneim missed theirs.
BoBA ISML 2021 Predictions: Eliminations Match Day 4
ARENA 1 [[Elaina]] Shiina Mashiro
by <=500
Over/Under: 10000
Over
ARENA 2 [[Misaka Mikoto]] Shinomiya Kaguya
by >=300
Over/Under: 11000
Over
ARENA 3 Riku Dola [[Togashi Yūta]]
by <=900
Over/Under: 10500
Over
ARENA 4 [[Azusagawa Sakuta]] Kirigaya Kazuto
by >=400
Over/Under: 10500
Over
ARENA 5 Iino Miko [[Haibara Ai]]
by <=400
Over/Under: 11000
Under
ARENA 6 [[Kamado Nezuko]] Tang Keke
by >=300
Over/Under: 11000
Under
ARENA 7 [[Natsume Takashi]] Miyamura Izumi
by <=600
Over/Under: 10000
Under
ARENA 8 [[Kamado Tanjirō]] Uchiha Sasuke
by >=200
Over/Under: 10000
Under
ARENA 9 Yūki Asuna [[Emilia]] [[Yuigahama Yui]] [[Fujiwara Chika]] Tomori Nao [[Hayasaka Ai]] [[Yuzaki Tsukasa]] Index L. Prohibitorum [[Aisaka Taiga]] [[Tōsaka Rin]] Shiro Shokuhō Misaki
ARENA 10 [[Satō Kazuma]] [[Ayanokōji Kiyotaka]] [[Levi]] [[Totsuka Saika]] Emiya Shirō [[Kanda Sorata]] Okabe Rintarō Okazaki Tomoya Akasaka Ryūnosuke Otonashi Yuzuru [[Itsuka Shidō]] [[Lelouch Lamperouge]]
ARENA 11 [[Futaba Anzu - 7]] [[Shimamura Uzuki - 5]] [[Takagaki Kaede - 10]] [[Amami Haruka - 4]] [[Hoshii Miki - 6]] [[Kisaragi Chihaya - 3]] [[Minase Iori - 2]] [[Producer (Cinderella Girls) - 12]] [[Shibuya Rin - 1]] [[Anastasia - 9]] [[Ichinose Shiki - 11]] [[Sagisawa Fumika - 8]]
by >=300
Over/Under: 100000
Over
ARENA 12 [[Shirai Kuroko - 1]] [[Nishimiya Shōko - 3]] [[Kasumigaoka Utaha - 11]] [[Akiyama Mio - 5]] [[Makise Kurisu - 2]] [[Megumin - 7]] [[Tōru - 4]] [[Schwi Dola - 8]] [[Aoyama Nanami - 6]] [[Miyamizu Mitsuha - 12]] [[Hirasawa Yui - 9]] [[Nakano Azusa - 10]]
by >=300
Over/Under: 100000
Over
ARENA 13 [[Edward Elric - 2]] [[Yuzaki Nasa - 10]] [[Arima Kōsei - 5]] [[Shiota Nagisa - 12]] [[Fukube Satoshi - 6]] [[Ishida Shōya - 1]] Kūjō Jōtarō [[Rengoku Kyōjurō - 7]] [[Tomioka Giyū - 11]] [[Eugeo - 4]] [[Gilgamesh - 8]] [[Ōji Mochizō - 9]]
by >=300
Over/Under: 100000
Over
ARENA 14 [[Miyamori Aoi - 6]] [[Yasuhara Ema - 5]] [[Sakaki Shizuka - 3]] [[Misaki Mei - 1]] [[Okita Sawa - 7]] [[Sakai Wakana - 11]] [[Mukaido Manaka - 9]] [[Shiodome Miuna - 10]] [[Misakino Kukuru - 4]] [[Miyazawa Fūka - 2]] [[Special Week - 8]] [[Tokai Teio - 12]]
by >=300
Over/Under: 100000
Over
ARENA 15 [[Freyja Wion - 4]] [[Hayase Misa - 6]] [[Mylene Flare Jenius - 5]] [[Sheryl Nome - 1]] [[Ranka Lee - 2]] [[Lynn Minmay - 3]]
by >=200
Over/Under: 60000
Over
Voter Id: eb64a97a-696f-5aeb-9fa7-68e9c50a1ee7
ISML 2021: The Chase Is On In The Race For The Seats
ISML 2021: The Chase Is On In The Race For The Seats
By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
February 4, 2022
Match Day 3 of the 2021 International Saimoe League Elimination Period is done. In the Female Division, Elaina belted Kanade Tachibana 3704-2315, Mashiro Shiina defeated Kurumi Tokisaki 3120-2914, Mikoto Misaka thumped Rikka Takanashi 3894-2605 and Kaguya Shinomiya got past Mai Sakurajima 3229-2973. In the Male Division, Riku Dola prevailed over Subaru Natsuki 2986-2462, Yuuta Togashi earned the Upset of the Round, a 2914-2590 scalp of Touma Kamijou, Sakuta Azusagawa defeated Taki Tachibana 3188-2455 and Kazuto Kirigaya thwarted Yuu Ishigami 2839-2531.
In Seasonal action, Ai Haibara dusted off Miku Nakano 3846-2640, Miko Iino crushed Tomoyo Sakagami 3144-2059, Keke Tang rammed Ram 3252-2569 and Nezuko Kamado overpowered Siesta 2983-2580. In Male Seasonal action, Takashi Natsumi drilled Kyouya Hashiba 3256-1514, Izumi Miyamura routed Kimihiko Kimizuka 3107-1581, Tanjiro Kamado rolled past Takt Asahina 3146-1882 and Sasuke Uchiha won a 2485-2330 snoozer over Lugh Tuatha De.
In Female Division Consolation action, Taiga Aisaka roared past Iroha Isshiki 2919-2377, Rin Tosaka rumbled past Kei Shirogane 2826-2617, Shiro shook Kamui Kanna 2847-2553 and Misaki Shokuhou eased past Ruiko Saten 2670-2281. In Male Division Consolation action, Ryuunosuke Akasaka upended Archer 2555-2395, Yuzuru Otonashi won the closest race of the roung, a 2348-2325 thriller over Ryuuji Takasu, Shidou Itsuka punched Saitama 2655-2433 and Lelouch Lamperouge defeated Yuu Otosaka 2522-2420.
Match Day 4 of the 2021 International Saimoe League Eliminations Period is scheduled for February 5, 2022. Vote for your favorite characters at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.
BoBA ISML 2021 Predictions: Eliminations Match Day 3
ARENA 1 Tachibana Kanade [[Elaina]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 2 Shiina Mashiro [[Tokisaki Kurumi]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 3 Takanashi Rikka [[Misaka Mikoto]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 4 Sakurajima Mai [[Shinomiya Kaguya]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 5 Natsuki Subaru [[Riku Dola]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 6 [[Kamijō Tōma]] Togashi Yūta
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 7 Tachibana Taki [[Azusagawa Sakuta]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 8 [[Ishigami Yū]] Kirigaya Kazuto
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 9 [[Nakano Miku]] Haibara Ai
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 10 [[Sakagami Tomoyo]] Iino Miko
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 11 [[Tang Keke]] Ram
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 12 Siesta [[Kamado Nezuko]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 13 Hashiba Kyōya [[Natsume Takashi]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 14 [[Kimizuka Kimihiko]] Miyamura Izumi
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 15 Asahina Takt [[Kamado Tanjirō]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 16 Uchiha Sasuke [[Lugh Tuatha Dé]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 17 Aisaka Taiga [[Isshiki Iroha]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 18 [[Tōsaka Rin]] Shirogane Kei
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 19 [[Kanna Kamui]] Shiro
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 20 Saten Ruiko [[Shokuhō Misaki]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 21 Akasaka Ryūnosuke [[Archer]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 22 [[Otonashi Yuzuru]] Takasu Ryūji
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 23 Itsuka Shidō [[Saitama]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
ARENA 24 Lelouch Lamperouge [[Otosaka Yū]]
by >=600
Over/Under: 8000
Over
Voter Id: d566b98b-160f-57d0-87ec-c8f0d9a4da4a
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