AFC Wimbledon: League One, Here They Come!

Unstoppable Dons march into League 1

 A superb strike from Lyle Taylor and a late penalty from Bayo Akinfenwa earned promotion for AFC Wimbledon on a fantastic day for the club.

Taylor’s brilliant goal after a great ball in from Callum Kennedy put the Dons in charge against Plymouth and Akinfenwa's cool spot-kick capped a magnificent season for Neal Ardley’s men. Over 21,000 Dons fans celebrated the 2-0 win in style at the famous stadium and it was a fully deserved victory on the day.

With an 11-day gap since Wimbledon booked their place at Wembley by beating Accrington Stanley, it had seemed like a long build-up to the big day, but now it was finally here. Both sets of supporters created a brilliant atmosphere at Wembley as we approached kick-off.

There was just one change to Neal Ardley’s starting line-up with Connor Smith thrown straight back in after injury in place of Sean Rigg. Wimbledon settled into the game well and there was a half chance early on when a Callum Kennedy free-kick fell for Lyle Taylor, but he was unable to get a proper connection and Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick gathered comfortably.

In the first half hour, Wimbledon were looking for the height of Tom Elliott at every opportunity and the towering striker was causing problems galore. It was his smart flick-on that sent Taylor racing clear on the right for another sight of goal, but his shot was deflected into the side netting. Another half chance followed when the subsequent corner was only half cleared and Jake Reeves volleyed just wide.

With Wimbledon’s back four producing a solid start, Plymouth barely had a sight of goal in the first half an hour. All of Wimbledon’s best moments came through Elliott and it was another of his headers that so nearly created a chance for Paul Robinson, but Plymouth defender Kelvin Mellor just got there first. With Dannie Bulman and Jake Reeves controlling matters in midfield, Wimbledon had plenty of possession in the first half an hour. Plymouth did threaten in the 32^nd minute though when Jake Jervis found space in the box, but his shot was blocked.

As the first-half wore on, Plymouth gradually started to come into it and Darius Charles showed what he is all about with great defending to stop Jake Jervis getting in at the far post after a lovely ball in from Gregg Wylde. These two teams had been so closely matched in previous meetings during the regular season and the 0-0 score line at half-time suggested it was going to be tough to separate them again.

Plymouth came out the traps fast at the start of the second-half, but Wimbledon remained resolute at the back. At the other end, there was relief for Plymouth when Carl McHugh got a defensive clearance all wrong and his lob flashed just past the post. At this stage, the Dons were really piling forward as they played towards the end containing Wimbledon’s great support.

Though Wimbledon were forced to defend deep as Plymouth started to gain more possession, gaps started to open up for Wimbledon to exploit. A great chance so nearly materialised for Wimbledon when Barry Fuller’s pass picked out Bulman in space down the right, but he was just unable to slide a pass through for Barcham, who was waiting on his own in the middle.

Derek Adams’ side had their best spell of the game midway through the second-half and twice in a matter of minutes Wimbledon needed Kelle Roos to be alert. First, the Dutch goalkeeper got down well to save a long-range free-kick from Graham Carey and then he held on well to a header from Peter Hartley.

With 68 minutes on the clock, Neal Ardley made a change with Jon Meades earning deserved reward for his excellent season and comeback from injury. Meades replaced Smith and there was another change shortly afterwards with Bayo Akinfenwa entering the fray for Tom Elliott.

The changes seemed to reinvigorate Wimbledon and the all-important opener followed 12 minutes from the end of normal time. The ball was only half cleared to Callum Kennedy and his wonderful ball in was met with a superb low finish from Lyle Taylor. It was typical of the form that Taylor had shown all season and the celebrations were not bad too as he wheeled away to give his manager a hug on the touchline.

The goal had sparked ecstatic scenes among the Wimbledon support and they were so nearly celebrating a second when Barry Fuller was sent racing through, but he was just foiled by McCormick. Akinfenwa was also denied by the Plymouth goalkeeper in a frantic finale, but he scored from the spot to seal a fantastic promotion after Ade Azeez had been brought down in the box . What an achievement and what a way to do it for Neal Ardley’s men.    

AFC Wimbledon: Kelle Roos, Barry Fuller, Callum Kennedy, Paul Robinson, Darius Charles, Andy Barcham, Dannie Bulman, Jake Reeves, Tom Elliott (Bayo Akinfenwa), Lyle Taylor (Ade Azeez), Connor Smith (Jon Meades).

Relive the action!

Pre-Match

First Half

Second Half

Trophy Presentation
Radio WDON Broadcast:
First Half
Second Half

New Year's Day 2010 Quick hits

Kobe Bryant knows how to open a new year in dramatic fashion. A buzzer-beater against the Sacramento Kings lifted the Los Angeles Lakers to a 109-108 win. Heh. Old hat for the Black Mamba come playoff time?

---

People on deviantART can't tell me that my gallery is just desktop screenshots now. I took plenty of photos of the Rose Parade for your enjoyment/web design use because those folks special (aside from those ungrateful art-thief-hunting bastards who I choose not to tolerate), nuff said.

---

AFC Wimbledon and Melbourne Victory wasted their games to open the new year with defeats, but Long Beach State's men's basketball team took the cake in terms of futility. This team is on a dangerous path, losing in overtime to UC Riverside 68-66.

Dan Monson, how dare you waste the nonconference gauntlet tonight. Epic fail. Again, I say, EPIC FAIL! When you cannot beat the Sisters of Mercy with your team's shooting (and on top of that, not learning your lesson from the LMU disasterfest), the Changi Prison guards need to give your players a caning or two.

One last time: E.P.I.C. F.A.I.L. Make 'em run suicides for the plan backfiring on you.

---

Ohio State was going to win the Rose Bowl. Oregon fell victim to the SI jinx, 26-17.

Quick hits, September 20, 2009

Today is my father's and sister's birthdays, respectively. As if I fucking care...my dad took away the FiOS modem. He doesn't need any presents from me.

---

Hawaii's defensive secondary is crap, and our receivers have just as crappy hands of butter. Nuff said after choking 34-33 to UNLV.

---

Long Beach State's women's soccer team fails to impress today against San Diego State. Ugh. It seems my favorite teams are choking against the Mountain West. But they weren't the only ones who disappointed.

USC football...lost.
Cal Poly football...lost.
Harvard football...lost.
AFC Wimbledon...drew with a red.
Long Beach City College football...blown apart.

Some good things did happen.

Melbourne Victory...won.
LA Galaxy...won.
Quebec Capitales (one of the few Canadian baseball teams I follow)...won the Can-Am League.
Long Beach State women's volleyball...defeated UCLA. Not very often that happens.
My high school...defeated Mayfair fair and square. See some of my deviations for that action.
The Angels rebounded today after losing yesterday.
And Azusa Nakano and Ui Hirasawa qualified for the ISML after advancing to the quarters of Anizone Saimoe.

Still though...Hawaii's defense is crap. The onus is them to prove me otherwise. The wanks...

---

I never want to talk about yesterday. That day sucked.

---

I am bored. And hungry. Thank god for the Beach.

FINALLY!!!

AFC Wimbledon did it! Courtesy of the official team site...

Saturday 31 January 2009

Dons win top of the table clash


Wimbledon confirmed their position at the top of the table as they beat rivals Chelmsford City 3 – 1, in a match played before a record crowd of 4690 with a couple of hundred more fans unfortunately locked out for safety reasons.

The hero was once again Jon Main, who scored in the 18th and 28th minutes to put the Dons two goals ahead by half time. The visitors raised their game early in the second half and although they enjoyed a lot of possession, they rarely threatened James Pullen’s goal. However, they did pull a goal back after 64 minutes when Kevin James bundled the ball home following a free kick out on the left.

The Dons wrapped up the points a minute from time when Tom Davis passed the ball home following an earlier miss from Sam Hatton from about the same position.

Terry Brown was delighted with the result. “I am of course very pleased that after a number of reverses against Chelmsford in our last few matches we were able to come out on top and secure the three points.

“As I said before the match, there are still 45 points to play for and a lot more work to be done before the end of the season. I thought Chelmsford played well at times and enjoyed a lot of possession. However, when you have a strike force of Jon Main and Danny Kedwell they are always likely to get you goals, and today Jon scored two more to maintain the incredible record he has set since the start of the New Year.

“I thought our defence was again sound with Ben Judge and Jason Goodliffe providing a difficult barrier to breach, and it was a very encouraging debut by full-back Andy Sambrook.

“The boys will have Tuesday night off to give them a rest after a run of three games in eight days, before preparing for the visit to St Albans where I am sure we will again have a difficult match.”

Quick hits, November 22

Why is it that people are infuriated when I am yawning? One of the people in my class told me, as I was yawning to stretch during break said, "You have to shut up already." I said, "I'm just yawning, what's your fucking problem?" I was ready to counter any first punch coming my way. He chickened out, and I told him after class, "You need to calm the fuck down. Seriously. Making a mountain out a molehill will not warrant any sympathy from me."

And then this Hispanic undergrad comed over, as I was looking at the USA Women's U-20 team beat Argentina 3-0, and I got into a little confrontation with him. I waited for the bloody idiot to throw the first punch. I referred the guy to security to have him settle the situation. I am not afraid of my life being taken away-as a student, I want to make my skin as thick as possible, but at the same time, threatening students by force is not going to help you, even if you are taking a test. This guy should have just said, "If you don't quiet down, I'll have to refer you to the Dean." I have a counter-offer: I refer you to security, and have him report this threat of violence to the Dean. That will make it easier for both of us. Take it or leave it.

===

A mixed bag of wins and losses awaited the teams I followed today. Aside from the U-20 women heading to the playoff stages in Chile while the men prepare for a date with their old friends from Mexico, the Lakewood High School Lancer varsity football team broke a four-year hoodoo of not winning a postseason game with a 35-34 win over the Servite Friars last night in double overtime. Whoever snags Dion Bailey has all the makings of a star on their roster. When it comes down to it, batting balls like that will really make you look good. This defensive back has seven picks this year, and should be All-Moore League first team on defense. He earned his stripes last night.

The Harvard Crimson finished 9-1 with a 10-0 win over the Yale Bulldogs at the Harvard Stadium earlier today. They share the trophy with the Brown Bears, who took the hapless Columbia Lions to the woodshed.

At least Tim Murphy knows who he has to outdo on the recruiting trail this offseason. If the Ivies wanted to be in the postseason, Harvard would be invited.

I was happy with Melbourne Victory, Aldershot Town and AFC Wimbledon getting back on the winning track with 2-1 (over Central Coast Mariners), 1-0 (over Chester), and 3-1 (over Worcester City - FA Trophy First Round Proper) victories, respectively. I was especially pleased that the Dons found a way to win on the road again. And Long Beach State's men's water polo team did something right for once: a 7-4 win over UC Irvine to wrap up the regular season. Where have those wins been, Gavin Arroya? Huh?

What I was dissatisfied with were the results from Cal Poly, FC United of Manchester and especially AFC Liverpool. The Mustangs' kicker Andrew Gardner couldn't make conversions out of a wet paper bag. He gave Wisconsin a 36-35 gift of a victory. Choker.  A 1-0 loss to Worksop Town could mean that the promotion run for FC United ends this season, while AFC Liverpool are reeling off three straight defeats (including Vodkat League One losses to Irlam and Padiham). Gracious.

Also, while Long Beach City College's men's water polo team could lift a finger to Grossmont (17-11 win for third place at Merced College), the women were unimpressive against rival Cerritos, 11-6. Average, if not below-average, outing for the Viking water polo sides, with the weight being on the women's letdown against the Falcons. Chelsea (0-0 draw with Newcastle) and Accrington (1-1 draw with Chesterfield) should have fared better, too.

On to seeing how the Rainmakers's crew did against Weber, as well as Hawaii taking on Idaho at the Aloha Stadium, then.

Welcome back, Wombles.

I am reminded of Terry Brown, the manager of AFC Wimbledon talking about the implications of the FA Cup being called a "money spinner." By definition, the FA Cup is "something that generates a continuous income." There is a lot of publicity that goes into this tournament, through sponsorships and a burgeoning prize fund. So now, they are going to be on television in a first round proper tie.

From The Times

October 25, 2008

Cup collision course raises threat of pitched battle for soul of Wimbledon

Walter Gammie

Anger. Screaming, righteous, eye-popping, vein-bulging anger. The fuel for scenes of terrifying hatred that have on unhappy occasions rendered football grounds some of the least hospitable places on the planet. An all-ticket match at an hour before the pubs open. Heavily protected vans on every corner, helicopters clattering in the sky, police horses in the streets, lines of helmeted officers linked down terraces. Raw, ugly, intimidating menace in the air.

All this for an FA Cup tie between a nonLeague club and Football League opponents where sweet-tempered romance is normally the order of the day? Surely not. Well yes, if AFC Wimbledon win their fourth qualifying round tie away to Maidstone United today and the draw that will be made live before the cameras of ITV tomorrow afternoon pairs them for a first clash with Milton Keynes Dons in the first round.

The supporters who believed that they had their birthright ripped away when Wimbledon were moved from South London to Buckinghamshire would have a chance to proclaim their superiority over supporters who protest that they are still entitled to claim their lineage from the club who rose to spend 14 years in the top flight and lift the FA Cup in 1988.

A gesture of conciliation was made last year when MK Dons returned the replicas of the FA Cup, Amateur Cup and other mementoes to South London. By doing so Pete Winkelman, the chairman of MK Dons, indicated that he was prepared to abandon all claims to the honours gained by the club whose move from Selhurst Park he engineered in 2003 and pleaded with the football community to drop its hostility towards “Franchise FC” and focus upon his achievements in establishing the club in Milton Keynes.

First and foremost of those was the success in building a new home – the stadium:mk. Failure to find a new location in their own borough had been a source of frustration to Wimbledon once a combination of the demands of the Taylor report and the steepling success on the pitch forced them to abandon Plough Lane for Selhurst Park in 1991.

Winkelman points proudly to a new generation of supporters that accompanied MK Dons to Wembley Stadium for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final in March and celebrated their Coca-Cola League Two title triumph, not to mention the academy that is tapping into the potential footballers of a fast expanding region.

AFC fans remain resolutely unimpressed. Woe betide anyone who suggests that the opening goal scored by Keith Andrews in MK Dons’ 2-0 Johnstone’s Paint final defeat of Grimsby Town was the Dons’ first at Wembley since Lawrie Sanchez downed Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup Final. Indeed, the internet forums hummed with suggestions that they should hand over the latest trophy, too.

The argument is that supporters cannot feel comfortable with honours gained without having slogged your way up the footballing mountain, as Wimbledon did under Allen Batsford, Dario Gradi and Dave Bassett in the 1970s and 1980s – and AFC have been doing in the past six years to reach their present position at the top of Blue Square South.

The club, they point out, did not arrive off the back of a removal lorry but started with supporters unloading trestle tables at grounds in the Combined Counties League from which scarves, replica shirts, key rings, calendars, and mugs bearing the visage of Terry Eames, the first manager, were sold. Each penny counted. No nice covered stands here, barely room to be crushed against rudimentary railings; the only shelter coming from numbers amid howling gales and lashing rain.

AFC Wimbledon’s predicament is that their prospects of returning to Wimbledon from Kingsmeadow, the ground they bought off and now share with Kingstonian in Norbiton, are no better than those of the original Wimbledon.

The other issue is that the sheer size of their following – league attendances average 2,900 this season and the commercial department is thriving – has made them a powerhouse in nonLeague football and enabled them to retain their status as a supporters-run club. Yet if they reach the Football League, or indeed Blue Square Premier, the finances required would put them under pressure to open the door to the kind of investors and potential controlling interests that could cut away the moral high ground that the club claim at present.

Supporters of a dispassionate nature believe that AFC’s superiority as a club does not need to be validated by beating MK Dons on the pitch. Yet football is a game that incites high passions. No wonder two clubs, two councils, two sets of safety officials – and two police forces – may be watching the draw with trepidation tomorrow.

‘You cannot manufacture passion, hence you lot will never have it’ - Best (and worst) of the web

Here is a selection of some of the heated exchanges that have been flying across the web during the build-up to a possible meeting between the clubs, writes Kaveh Solhekol

“I never wanna play against the franchise scum” – afcwgb.com

“I’d rather have a football fixture than the media circus that those clowns would turn it into” – moocamp.com

“The ground would empty well before the whistle – our celebrating would be too much for them to take” – moocamp.com “A tie against AFC Wimbledon would bring in some much-needed TV revenue. If we pull them out of the hat (assuming they get through against Maidstone), I will eat it” - moocamp.com

“I find it hilarious that people bash us for being a franchise. We do not meet any definition known to man of a franchise and these bashers shop in franchise stores, buy petrol from franchised garages, eat in franchised restaurants, etc, etc, so why the hell would they find watching a franchised football club so outrageous? Idiots” – moocamp.com I support AFC Wimbledon and before that Wimbledon. It was a little disappointing that I’m now supporting a nonLeague team, but as I began supporting Wimbledon when they were in the old fourth division (and I remember them from Southern League days and their legendary FA Cup run), I didn’t mind so much. And I certainly don’t recognise the Milton Keynes club as an honest successor to FC. As AFC say, it’s the fans who make the club – and judging by the support from past players, they think that AFC is the real Wimbledon as well. So if the fans agree, and the old players agree, who is qualified to disagree?” – yahooanswers.co.uk

“If MK Dons moved to say Salford, Greater Manchester, how would you feel after sweating blood, tears and lots of cash for 20 years? It’s clear you have a passion for your football club, would you continue to support them from afar or start another FC club?” – moocamp.com

“You cannot manufacture passion, hence you lot will never have it. Viva AFC Wimbledon” – moocamp.com

Welcome back, you Dons.

---

The San Diego Toreros have put on one of the lousiest performances of the season, losing to Jacksonville, 30-29. If they go on a losing streak after this. I will not be surprised. This team has reached new depths of suckitude with this excuse of a defeat.

I can't count on any of these guys to even be within a sniff of the next level. Don't come calling for any of these turds, Canada.

---

I am starting to get a hankering for this new series, called Chaos;HEAd. This is based on another of those visual novel games (think Clannad, Kanon, Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni, etc.), and this is based in the ward where I got my handle of Hachiko...Shibuya City. The same place where Ran Kotobuki plied her trades.

They are also showing episodes of this at the CSULB Anime Club meetings this year, along with Nabari no Ou, Moyashimon, and Detroit Metal City.

I am warming to the likes of Rimi Sakihata. If she is in the running for ISML 2009 as an at-large, I am not going to be surprised.

"Is that all you can do!? TWELVE pushups? That's it? Man, get the hell outta here!"

In lieu of risking getting caught in friendly fire between some Bloods and Crips (and others) in the lovefest (as well as a lack of itinerary), I eschewed the historic first meeting between Lakewood High and Verbum Dei High at Centennial High in Compton to watch the Long Beach City College football team take on West L.A. College at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Little did I know that I got more than I bargained for.

To be honest, I had to sit out watching Viking football games last season because I was disgusted with losing my press credentials (leading to the self-imposed shutdown of my blog covering them and the other teams in the now-defunct Mission Football Conference). I didn't attend a single game. The only game I even went to at any level was the Lancers taking on the Tesoro Titans, and I wasn't quite pleased with the 2nd half effort from them.

It was good thing I didn;'t come, because they had a crappy final season for Jerry Jaso, who stepped down. In his place was a man named Mike Reisbig, the brother of Larry Reisbig, the LBCC Men's Athletic Director. He was an assistant for 16 seasons. He now had his chance to prove himself. After paying $8.00 for admission and media guide ($6.00 + $2.00), I took my seat behind the 50-yard line. In the background, the Oilers were doing some pregame ritual that was comparable (or maybe not) to Long Beach Poly. I just thought, "They have the bark, but we got the bite. And we're gonna keep chomping till the clock reads 0:00."

The first half was all my guys as they climbed to a 21-0 halftime lead. The first touchdown I did 7, the second 14, and so on. All of the first-half push-ups were in the wheelchair-accessible section where I had lots of space to do it correctly.

Interestingly, it was in front of the West L.A. supporters. Buy the time I completed 21, some irresponsible African-American mother of an at-risk youth just waiting to pay the price for being affiliated with the wrong people tried to break my back. Luckily, she failed, and I shoved her off. Now, she's trying to be a CSC Event Staffer, but she didn't do a good job at it (first off, she isn't donning her Event Staff garb, and she would have been best not to be in my way. Some mother she grew up to be in. Puts my dealings with my mom in perspective, when I think about it. My mom's issues arean't as bad as this woman's issues.) As I shoved her off, I got into a scuffle, with the brat rabbit-punching me. He said, "You hit my mom!" I said, "She deserved it. If she wasn't on my back, I wouldn't have defended myself! And is that your best punch, you son-of-a-bitch? My dad can hit harder than you. Weak! Pathetic! You're wasting your time here! I don't fear you lot, and I never will, scum!" Truth.

After discussions regarding the altercation (and the lack of security thereof) with an old friend from the Long Beach Union Weekly (now a writer for the Long Beach Post), as well as another old friend, Dr. John Fylpaa, and cooler heads from the West L.A. parents, I proceeded to do more pushups in the 2nd half. In total, I did 147.

I was shaking my head at the West L.A. kids trying to do pushups the way I did them. Note that they didn't score until 3 quarters and four seconds into the game (and a personal foul by one of my guys made that touchdown a gift). When they tried to do 7, I was not pleased. When you do a pushup, your back, legs, and head have to be straight. You push your weight at an agle. You don't bend your body like an asymptote, and risk straining your back. I had to school these kids in how it should be done. When they hit 14, they did a little bit better, but they only did 7. When they reached 21, the best they could do individually was 12. I said to they guy who did 12, "That's it? You scored 21 points, not 12. Get back here and do nine more!" He didn't, I said, "I can see why you attend West L.A., and not LBCC. Here, such half-assing will not cut the mustard." During my Tong days, failing to finish my pushups was something I couldn't do. The quality was what I was looking for, but the quality wasn't. And when we got the last touchdown, a fumble recovery by David Sausau after Lawrence Alai punished Oiler QB Ryan Rosenvall, I did 42, and I yelled across the bleachers, "NOw THAT'S how you do a push-up, West LA! Quality and quantity! Let's see if you can impress me on your next score."

Sure enough, they had a consolation touchdown, and I said, "All right kids, 28 pushups. Go!"
None of them went down.
"I said GO!"
Still none of them went down.
Now I was a little peeved, "Oh come on. Not a single one of you bother to try to do even one push-up. Of 28. Now we all know why you attend West Los Angeles College, and not LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE! Because out here, even if we are losing, we'd still do those push-ups, as a morale boost at least. And all y'all gave up. Quitters. After this game is over, get the hell outta our stadium. For all your feistyness, you need to get in shape."


Only at Long Beach City College (and perhaps elsewhere) can you see an alum on the home side outdo youthful visitors on the visiting side in terms of push-ups. Personally, that's the first time it happened. I think I got some payback. And I was gonna applaud them for trying just one. I'm not even in shape, and I can still do 147.

Pep Band - Check.
Cheer Team - Check.
Better Football Team - Check.

I should thank my visiting team for having the old "Super Fan" side of me rear its down-and-dirty head again. I got fired up. Also I should thank Pechange for giving me some coffee. Man, I was starved to get my java. I need that. I really, really needed that.

One of the parents from West L.A. said, "You did well in standing your ground. Good job."
"Thanks, Lee." That was his name. "You know, I'll be honest. I didn't come here to fight anybody. I came here to watch a game, and do push-ups for every point we scored. That's it."

Nothing else.

===

Meanwhile, Verbum Dei was shut out by the Lancers, 34-0. It wasn't a good day for most of my teams, thought. LOng Beach State women's volleyball isn't cutting the mustard. While the defeated UC Davis today, they lost to Pacific in a sweep. Thw Angels are in danger of coming into the postseason on a losing note, effectively preventing me from coming to their rally on Monday. The Sparks also dropped a stinker to San Antonio on a buzzer-beater, while my Hawaii Warriors are clearly in a rebuilding phase, losing to San Jose State 20-17. AFc Wimbledon let a FA Cup win slip away against Bedford Town in the 89th minute, forcing a replay. And while AFC Liverpool defeated AFC Blackpool 6-3, it will take time for me to forgive them for failing in grandiose fashion to Waterloo Dock 6-1. The men's water polo team coached by Gavin Arroyo isn't doing themselves favors either, choking against Loyola Marymount in a rally failing short.

Man, what is it with rallies going awry in my neck of the Beach? In the words of Torri Hunter, "Ohhhh man!"

Cheers though to the Mauricio's bridesmaids defeating Arizona, the USD Toreros running down Drake, and even to Duke University making some wise decisions in miving the student section behind the home players, and changing their mascot to a slimmer, menacing and more photogenic character with marketing opportunities abound.

And yes, the Dodgers and Mets winning was good, because the drama can be saved for tomorrow.

===

ERROR

The combined length of all the labels must be at most 200 characters.

===

Doesn't it suck to have limits like this? I think so.

Dour mood today...

Ugh. God, I am disgusted today. Not for the fact that we lost to Florida, but the fact that we gave up the last three sets after winning the first two. There can be no excuse for Brian Gimmilaro's ladies failing to fish the job. I am looking at another second-place finish to Cal Poly after what just transpired today.

Unforgivable. Totally. I mean, if you're gonna be up two sets to none in a volleyball match, you'd better focus on finishing your opponents off. Today, you witnessed an example of Long Beach State volleyball putting the foot off the pedal at the most critical point in a contest.

I am not gonna be surprised if any future defeats are in this fashion. Brian, Debbie, Melissa...you gotta talk to these ladies about finishing. This is the type of volleyball that runner-ups and also-rans are skilled at. It's so easy to lose in this fashion, you won't know it until the other team across from you jumps like they are half their age.


Thie start was epic, but the finish was pathetic. Better fix this when you face Central Connecticut State....

===

Meanwhile, the Dodgers win again, the Angels lose...again, and it hasn't been a good day for my favorite club teams. FC United's match this week was postponed due to waterlog, AFC Wimbledon drew even with Weston-Super-Mare, and AFC Liverpool dropped a stinker. While my national teams won (USA over Cuba, Australia over Netherlands), the Galaxy continue their nasty slump. 3 minutes from halftime, 1-1 tie with Real Salt Lake.

The Sparks lost last night to the San Antonio Silver Stars. Thank God my St. Anthony Saints and Lakewood Lancers won their games. It was a decent outing for a majority of my teams, but I was hoping for more of my teams to have gotten the job done.

===

Quick hits, August 31, 2008

Within a couple of weeks, Francisco Rodriguez is due to not only smash Bobby Thigpen's signle-season saves record, but also become the first closer to tally 60 saves in a single season.

Chew on that, White Shox.

===

The Long Beach Armada clinch the GBL South Division 2nd half title. Nice. Now let's see if they can ACTUALLY win it all in the playoffs.

===

Volleyball and soccer at the Beach are off to a decent start. The volleyballers are 3-0, while Mauricio's bridesmaids are 2-0-1, the draw against Denver.

Let's see if they can keep it up.

===

After a two-game slump, the Saskatchewan Roughriders learn how to win again. A 19-6 victory over those Blue Bombers from Winnepeg snaps the funk..at the expense of poor Marcus Crandell being released in favor of Michael Bishop, the former Toronto Argonaut.

Time for Eric Tillman, Ken Miller and the crew to make this a habit for the rest of the season and learn to win again and again. I mean, the best thing for Saskatchewan now is: you already got a spot in the playoffs, and now it's time to tally up those W's because you want to have that good ol' home field advantage all the way to the Grey Cup.

Ride on, Riders.

===

I not only follow the Chelsea (that's the only team I follow from the EPL), but I also follow a few non-league sides.

All good things have to come to an end for AFC Wimbledon. Their win streak was halted by the likes of Bath City in a 2-2 draw. If Jon Main gets healthy, and some other players step up, these guys will be back in business as they continue their promotion push in the Blue Square South.

Meanwhile, out at Gigg Lane, the likes of FC United of Manchester are having a test in the Unibond League PRemier Division. They are in the middle of the table, and it's early, but a 3-1 win over Whitby is the way to go.

And down in little old Prescot, a suburb of Liverpool, AFC Liverpool is enjoying their maiden year in the Vodkat LEague Division One. They are where FC United was three years ago. Whether or not a promotion push is in the works remains to be seen, but a 3-0 win over Ashton Town, as part of a 4-game win streak in the Vodkat Division One is a sign that they intend to stay at the top of the table...at least until they get promoted.

Will it happen? We'll find out...

===

Olympic Quick Hits; Days -2, -1, 0 and 1

Olympic Quick Hits; Days -2, -1, 0 and 1 Some of the lowlights I can point out from the Beijing 2008 Opening Ceremony... * China's athletes entering to Jarabe Tapatio. WTF!? * No playing of the Olympics Fanfare & Theme, or Bugler's Dream. * Estonia's threads. Yuck Highlights: * The BOCOG can rest assure that Li Ning was not hurt, or did not fall to his death, when being gurney upward to light the cauldron. * The caligraphy painting, finished off with the athletes leaving their footprint on the parchment, should go to a museum. Or auctioned for untold riches at Sotheby's. * Love the electric taiko and 2008 time a few performers setting things up. * For the cheer girls to have to go through two hours of jumping up and down nonstop is pure guts. * Fireworks. NBC will say this was maybe too much. I say it's not enough fireworks. * HUngary and Russia had some women's suits to die for. Any delegation with handbags gets my vote of the Olympics. --- The USA women's have been doing well in the early going, with a clean sweep of the women's individual sabre, while the USA women's soccer (1-0) and volleyball (3-1) teams trounced Japan. The guys (1-0) beat Japan too. Both sides need a win in their next match to go through. No question, the NEtherlands will be a test for Landon and company. The women's hoops team also ripped apart the Czech Republic. All in all, a good start for the USA. --- Commisserations to the Roughriders of Saskatchewan for finally suffering their first defeat. I think the guys who are injured neet to get healthy fast, or Ken Miller and Eric Tillman are gpoing to need some talented replacements in a hurry. --- Cheers to Aldershot and AFC Wimbledon on winning their first contests in their first seasons in the Football League Two and Football Conference South, respectively.

Crikey!

I got a message from pink-sakura, one of the admins at AnimePaper. She informed me that extending my posts with Wikipedia fluff is a no-no on the forum rules and regulations. That's news to me. So I read the FAQ, and it did not say anything about it explicitly. They may want to change that now.

It's funny, really. Had I done that on MiniTokyo, I would have been muted, or put on Restricted Membership. Ironically, I have on my account a boat-load of credits, and I don't go on the forums as much, unlike on AP. Actually, I use AP to get images that are not otherwise available on MT.

I'm studying how all the hi-res scans are circulated. It could pop up on communities like this, and on the free image boards and repositories simultaneously. I've seen it happened. I have no qualms about my reprimand on AP. I don't use the account as seriously as that on MT (presumably due to the credits I've gotten from fellow users, as well as the approved scans I submitted).

Actually, not only that, on MT, if I had done someting like that, I would have my posting rights revoked indefinitely. That's moot now, I suspect...


---

How about that Barnsley football team! First Liverpool (2-1), now Chelsea (1-0)? Who's next, Portsmouth? Middlesborough? A fellow Football League team!?

I am convinced that Avram Grant and Rafa Benitez are going to be saying adios if they can't hold their ground in Champions League play.

Very rough day for the other teams I followed. Aldershot got ambushed by Ebbsfleet in the semis of the FA Trophy, Accrington was put on the make again, and the Australian Institute of Sport met its match against newcomers Coburg United in Foxtel Cup play (luckily, it ended in a draw).

At least AFC Wimbledon and FC United of Manchester are holding their ground. I do like AFC Wimbledon's chances of promotion. Even though they are well behind Isthmian Premier League leaders Chelmsford City...if they can hold their ground in the playoffs, they are off to the Football Conference South.