Down Under

#Socceroos 

Down Under

#AUSvHON #GoSocceroos #WCQ #RoadToRussia

Australia: 2015 Asian Cup Champions

If ever there was a strong case for more government funding for major football tournaments and the game itself, it was made last night by those 23 warriors dressed in gold who delivered Australia its first major men's football trophy in emphatic fashion against a worthy opponent and in a manner in which the whole nation can feel immensely proud.

1. Congratulations to Ange Postecoglou and the Socceroos players. They did what was asked and in a manner Australia is justifiably proud of.

Korea Republic brought something extra out of the team, which is what finals are about. If we could be guaranteed the win, we would have voted for extra time because it is in the expenditure of every resource, the straining of every sinew that great achievements are forged. From the goal-saving tackles by 'Prince Massimo' in the first half and Matt Spiranovic late in the game, to the beautiful turn by Tomi, the match ebbed and flowed as only epic football matches can, and Australia was a match for the moment.

Well done. Your place in history is assured, everyone who contributed;

2. We have long argued the national team does not belong to the players, but the country and that they must represent the nation well. Two things stand out in this regard. First, the Socceroos played in that most emblematic of Australian ways, hard but fair. At the same time as imposing themselves physically against a superb Korean team, they also took the time to shake hands, to pick the opponents up off the ground and to demonstrate how it is that we play sport. Captain Mile Jedinak gets special mention here. Tough, but sporting.

Second, to see the team pouring forward at 2-1 in front late in extra time is what Australia wants. In fact, Korea lost the game when it sat back in the first part of extra time, having got the tieing goal. 

3. On this, hopefully the argument is now settled for good. Many have argued we could not attack. We were too old, not good enough, blah, blah, blah. We always could, we have, and the trophy stands as testament to what can be achieved. After ten years of debates and fights on the issue, let us never step backwards again. Only in approaching the game in a consistent and representative way can we continue to be tested, to learn, develop, improve and reach the holy grail;

4. Further, the last year should also put to rest the debate on results, at both senior and youth level. Yes, we love to win, but all our national youth teams are learning to play and the benefits of this will be long lasting. Like the Socceroos, the short-term pain will see long-term gain. Every coach must be accountable for the performances and development of the team, but the fixation on only results should be behind us, thank god;

5. Also, plenty have resisted a National Curriculum, understandably since Aussies don’t like to be told anything about sport, but we just won the Asian Cup with the Curriculum. High pressing, winning ball back as quickly as possible, effective possession of the ball (meaning playing forward where possible), the 1-4-3-3 system of play. It’s all there. Hopefully, arguments are now at an end and we can move on to improving the national plan with everyone on board. There is a massive amount of work to do. Without complete integration from top to bottom, we beat ourselves before we begin. 

6. I have already congratulated Football Federation Australia for the vision to bid for the event, and a special thankyou to Julia and the Gillard Government for support of the Asian Cup. Kevin Rudd supported the World Cup bid, another bold decision that deserves credit and, at a time when football was under the pump from other sports with intense, internal lobbying to cut off the funding streams, Julia committed to this tournament, as did state governments. Time moves quickly, and people forget, but thanks to you and Kevin;

7. I speak for no one but myself, however, as a former Socceroos player I am fairly certain that I can say there are more than 500 of my brothers standing side by side to congratulate today's team. Each generation wants the next to go further, and all fought tooth and nail for the game. To see Prince Massimo, Timmy Cahill who, fittingly, passed the baton on departure, and the rest on the podium will have been an emotional moment for everyone who has worn the nation's shirt;

8. It is great to see the blanket coverage across Australian media this morning and, with respect to Australian Open tennis champion Serena Williams, it is ideal that this achievement occurred on its own so that the moment can be properly experienced. Having appeared throughout the tournament on Channel 9, with the blessing of SBS, it is wonderful to see the genuine joy and pride that the crew and on air staff felt as general sports fans. Step by step, Australia has come to know the incredible emotional ride that football delivers and why it is the most loved sport around the world. Like Uruguay in 2005, this game tested everyone to their limit and more and more Aussies will support, attend and play the game as a result;

9. Importantly, our message to those that loved last night is that there's plenty more where that came from. The A-League is back this weekend, so adopt your local team and join the party. It will take you places you have never been;

10. As we celebrate, be sure to immediately lift your eyes again because the never-ending journey goes on. This is just one stop on the stairway to football heaven. It is necessary to conquer Asia to prove ourselves and have any chance of progressing long-term, since Asia's performances in World Cups is still problematic. Next we need to take steps forward on the global stage. It is fabulous to see the optimism from the whole country this morning, and long may it last, but this game is like none other. Winning the Asian Cup does not mean winning the World Cup. With respect, this is not rugby union or cricket, it is the world's largest and most competitive sport. This is why the ultimate goal is so worthy, the last great sporting frontier for Australia, because it is the greatest challenge we have ever faced. We will win in this half century, I reckon in twenty years, 2034 or 2038;

11. As for now, this win is a challenge to the Abbott Government. Gents, there is nothing that can add value to National identity or international branding like football and our requests and need for funding other major tournaments or parts of the game itself cannot be measured against other sports. We have the most participants, the biggest challenges and the most to offer this country. This Asian Cup has shown you that. We can accelerate progress with more funding as part of a National plan to be world champion, but it will take a visionary politician to bring it to life;

12. To all those in the stadium, thankyou. Like in '05, you helped enormously.

What's most important is that we are quickly building a culture where, certainly in these big moments, the fans know they are there to assist. This is becoming an incredibly difficult country to play in for any opponent. Let this continue to grow. When we play, we play as 23 million people, and that will become more critical as the scale of the matches grows.

13. Lastly, please consider for a moment what it will be like to contest a World Cup final. If last night was merely a Continental Final and '05 nothing more than a qualifier! This is important because, when football needs support from the Government, or in the media, you can help. Australia has never experienced anything like what is ahead of us at future World Cups and it will be a wonderful journey to find out together, as a nation.

Australia to the ASEAN Football Federation...finally!

April 9 (Reuters) - Australia will continue to compete in future editions of the East Asian Cup despite their impending membership of Southeast Asia's ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), officials told Reuters on Tuesday.

 The Socceroos will have their AFF invite affiliation upgraded at the federation's Extraordinary Congress in August but have no plans to compete in its biennial Suzuki Cup against teams more than 100 places below them in the FIFA rankings.

 "Australia was invited to participate in this year's EAFF Cup. If invited again we will continue to accept and participate in this competition," a Football Federation of Australia spokesman said.

 "At this point we would not seek to enter senior national teams into the Suzuki Cup, however, Australia is committed to entering underage and Futsal teams into AFF competitions."

 Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 after moving from the less competitive Oceania Federation where they routinely racked up double-digit victories over largely amateur sides in the Pacific Islands.

 The Socceroos, ranked 39th by world governing body FIFA, were then made invite members of the AFF and have routinely competed in youth competitions in the 11 nation federation.

Last week at an AFF meeting in Malaysia they had their entry 'unanimously supported' by members, the spokesman said.

Australia will make their debut in the EAFF Cup in July after coming through qualifiers against North Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Guam undefeated with a largely youthful side in December.

The four team finals also feature Japan, China and hosts South Korea. (Reporting by Patrick Johnston in Singapore)

The Roos are back in town...

SYDNEY, June 18 (Reuters) - Holger Osieck has taken quite a bit of flak during Australia's World Cup qualifying campaign and it was as much with relief as euphoria that the coach greeted the win that sent the Socceroos to Brazil on Tuesday.

A lacklustre campaign that featured only two wins from seven matches before the 1-0 victory over Iraq at Sydney's Olympic Stadium has tested the relationship between the German and Australia's soccer fans and media.

 The 64-year-old, an assistant coach with the Germany team that won the 1990 World Cup, made it clear at the post-match news conference that he wanted to enjoy the qualification and not go into an analysis of the game.

He did, however, find time to fire a salvo at the many who have questioned his decisions over the past three years.

"When you have 10 people, you have 10 different opinions, when you have 100 people, you have 100 opinions," he told reporters.

"Why should I care? I know what I'm doing, I'm close to the players, I know the situation.

"Sometimes a player you consider a starter, I don't see as a starter. Because of the situation in his club, because he's carrying an injury, whatever...

"But I can assure you, I'm pretty much on top of it although some people may not be of the same opinion."

 Osieck was brought in after Australia bowed out at the group stage of the 2010 World Cup finals to oversee the transition from an ageing golden generation to a younger group.

 The presence in Tuesday's line-up of players such as captain Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer indicate that he has been only partially successful.

 With seven minutes to go before fulltime on Tuesday, the match was locked at 0-0 and it looked like the direct path to Brazil would be blocked, at least until Oman met Jordan in the early hours of Wednesday morning, local time.

 Osieck had just made his last roll of the dice with a flurry of substitutions, which included bringing onJosh Kennedy for an unhappy Cahill, the darling of the nation.

"At times you reach a phase in a game where you have to make things happen, and it was about the time," Osieck said.

 Fortunately for Osieck he was vindicated when Kennedy, who had been absent from the Socceroos team for more than a year because of a back injury, headed home the winner.

Osieck admitted there is a lot of work to do over the next 12 months before he takes his squad to Brazil, but sounded delighted that he is still around to perform it.

"I'm very happy to live in Australia," he said. "I'm not, let's say, a distant coach. Coaching a team via computer, whatever.

"I like to live here and I want to live here and hopefully after today's victory I get at least another year."

Socceroos show ruthless streak

By Gerard Whateley in Doha

Updated January 26, 2011 11:54:00

Rout: Sasa Ognenovski puts Australia two goals to the good in a six-goal humbling of Uzbekistan. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)

• Related Story: Socceroos reach Asian Cup final

For those who've had their nerves thoroughly tested and, at times, shot by the Socceroos through the decades this was the pay-off.

As recently as its last match the Australian football team put its followers and themselves through the wringer.

Why score the winner in the third minute when you can wait until the 117th? You'd miss all the agony and anxiety if it were so simple.

Not today. In its first semi-final appearance at an Asian Cup the Socceroos made a mockery of the past and turned in a rout the likes of which hasn't been seen since the days of Samoa and Fiji.

It was ruthless and unmerciful. It was joyful. And by the end measured by half a dozen goals past the best team in Central Asia.

Some will say it was embarrassing or gruesome. The narks can please themselves.

Holger Osieck's Australia plays football to score. And it is formidable.

Now Australia has a Saturday night date with Japan for the title of the Kings of Asia.

The magnitude of what was achieved was measurable in the assessment of Harry Kewell.

"For me it's a highlight. It's fantastic," he said.

"I've been in big games before where certain things have happened to me and you feel not part of the team success even though you are. This is the highlight.

"It's fantastic to be part of something that you've worked incredibly hard for."

Lucas Neill spoke of getting Australia Day off on the right note.

"Those that stayed up and watched it are going to celebrate in style and those that wake up to it will be in good moods. We certainly are," Neill said.

"I think it's just reward for a lot of good work so far in the tournament and now we're one win away."

The signs were immediately good. After the anthems Uzbekistan had the ball for two minutes but once the Australians got a look in they were on.

In the third minute Tim Cahill found Brett Holman unmarked at the far post and he was denied a goal only by a fine save from the Uzbeki 'keeper Temur Juraev.

But within 90 seconds the lead was Australia's and it was the combination that had finished the job against Iraq.

Matt McKay played a lovely ball through to Harry Kewell on the left and the striker didn't waste it. He cracked the shot across the keeper and into the net.

Holger Osieck reaped immediate dividends from his gamble to leave McKay on the park and start Brett Emerton on the bench in his return from suspension.

In the 34th minute the lead doubled. McKay won a free kick in a promising position and David Carney placed it threateningly inside the penalty area.

Cahill got his head to the ball and it fell for Sasa Ognenovski.

While the defender might have been denied his first international goal from an audacious bicycle kick in the quarter final, he was in this time off the left boot.

While Uzbekistan had the majority of possession that was a lie if you watched the game. Australia was boss and picked up after the break.

Kewell was given the luxury of an early shower after 53 minutes and his replacement Melbourne Victory striker Robbie Kruse was immediately into the action.

He started a sublime passing move through the middle of the pitch that set up Carney and the match was over as a contest.

Sensing this the Uzbek players lost their minds. They hacked at their opponents and soon enough Ulugbek Bakaev saw a second yellow card and was marched.

Flood gates: open.

Kruse layed off unselfishly to Emerton who scored. McKay, who was instrumental again, did the same for Carl Valeri to open his goal scoring account in his 35th cap.

And Kruse got one for himself, from his least promising build up. The keeper fumbled the shot.

By this time the hit out was of little worth other than making everyone feel good. What a marvellous novelty that is in international sport.

What a contrast it was to the events earlier in the evening at Al Gharafa Stadium where three-time champion Japan survived one of the greatest Asian Cup matches ever.

South Korea opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Park Ji Sung was awarded a touch-and-go penalty that Ki Sung Yong duly converted.

That was cancelled out in the 36th minute when Ryoichi Maeda got on the end of some fine attacking play from Yuto Nagatomo to slot home the equaliser.

And enthralling second half didn't add to the score but in the seventh minute of extra time Japan was awarded a penalty for a clear foul. However it happened half a step short of the box.

Keisuke Honda stepped to the spot but had his kick saved by Korean keeper Sung-Ryong Jung. Hajime Hosogai pounced on the ricochet and slammed his country into the lead.

It was an advantage the Japanese protected into the very last seconds when South Korea took a free kick, a goal-mouth melee ensued and somehow Hwang Jae Won was able to take a full swing with the boot and hit it home.

But that joy turned sour in the immediate penalty shoot-out.

Japan nailed three of its first four kicks while South Korea missed the lot. Keeper Eiji Kawashima made to brilliant saves leaving Yasuyuko Konno to finish the shoot-out.

So onto the final and the next chapter in an unfolding sporting rivalry as the Socceroos duel with the Blue Samurai for supremacy and the Asian Cup.

First posted January 26, 2011 11:34:00

On the Roos' rush towards crossing the Indian Ocean

I had a pretty tenuous day. Crappy internet connection at home, pancakes that gone south for the winter, maple syrup running over the plate, my professor unfamiliar with Geico commercials...

And so I pondered the possibilities of the Socceroos booking their spot in the FIFA 2010 World Cup. From Fox Sports...

Earning a point, learning a lesson

Comment by Tom Smithies

February 13, 2009

NEVER mind the quality, feel the points - that is the message Pim Verbeek and his troops were articulating after their priceless draw in Yokohama on Wednesday night.


Sitting top of the group with 10 points from four games, and the most difficult fixtures of this final round navigated successfully, is an enviable position and one that Verbeek's paymasters at Football Australia would have snatched at when qualification began.

So let's acknowledge the positives first of all - the most overwhelming being that Australia stand on the brink of a second successive World Cup appearance.

The last two were 32 years apart but, like buses, it seems Germany and South Africa will follow in quick succession. We could get used to this.

The point earned in Japan came on the back of essentially no preparation, no time for work on tactical shape and barely a chance to stretch properly after the flight.

It was built on the acumen and resilience this squad has accrued over recent years and, while there was luck involved, Japan didn't have a huge number of real chances.

There was also a fourth consecutive clean sheet, a miserly statistic to be proud of.

Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill and Craig Moore are a holy trinity for Verbeek and he knows it.

The coach was a satisfied man in the aftermath of the draw, well aware of the fine margins that define success at this level - in this case the centimetres by which a deflected shot flew wide of Schwarzer's goal at the death.

But Verbeek also touched on some of the negatives, chief among them the carelessness with which possession was squandered.

Albeit against inferior opposition, remember the way Australia kept the ball in the 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan in Tashkent? Handing over possession so much on Wednesday just invited Japan to keep coming at the Socceroos.

Part of that was Tim Cahill's struggle to hold the line as a makeshift striker.

Boxed in by smart defending and crass refereeing, Cahill failed to give his side respite by holding on to the ball - not surprising as his natural game is not remotely one with his back to goal.

As an experiment it didn't work and deprived the team of Cahill's lethal qualities from midfield.

There is only one sure-fire solution to the forward line issue, and it answers to the name of Mark Viduka.

How well Australia might do in South Africa - assuming those final qualifying points are secured - could be defined by whether Viduka will ever be fit enough again to pull on the gold shirt.

But for now the focus is on Uzbekistan in Sydney in April. The best-case scenario would be for Bahrain and Qatar to both lose their games on March 27, so an Australian win five days after would mean they could only be overtaken on goal difference.

But whenever the actual point is reached, it's going to take an absolute disaster to prevent Australia reaching the World Cup from here.

Of Statistics, Ebonics, and Football Mechanics

At my Stats class today, I made a joke about converting statistical data into Ebonic speak when analyzing something. The instructor, who is African-American said, "You know, you're trying to be funny, but you aren't." I thought, "Well EXCUUUUUUUUSE ME for putting the ASS in CLASS, but that's just the way I am, chief." And while I went into Diplomat Mode after class, I stil thought, "And you know, that's not the worst epithet I can lay on you, either. At least be happy the bloody N-word wasn't decked out in a nod to the KKK being reformed as a result of the election a couple weeks ago, and that I am doing my role in making this class fun like you are. You ungrateful instructor."

He was even gargling a bit while talking about the 5-Step Hypothesis Test. For a few fleeting seconds, I thought, "My god, is Screamin' Jay Hawkins teaching the course? Did he somehow get back from the dead? Damn you, Henry!" Henry is Jay's little butt-smoking skull friend on a stick. Something like that.

As I left for the 111, I was like Kyou Fujibayashi post-Tomoya Okazaki Bitchslap of Horror: "Sheeesh, why do professors who gargle like Screamin' Jay Hawkins show a lack of gratitude? Are they taught to be that way since childhood? If so, may the Devil Incarnate save them."

===

Speaking of elections, what took the damn pricks from CNN so fucking long to call Missouri to McCain. I mean, it's TWO WEEKS after the fact, and just today...they called it.

God help whoever was working the map, or compiling the exit polls down there at the Election Center. They call Missouri a bellweather state...I beg to differ; Missouri got its bell rung today. Guess they showed them, huh?

===

And aside from my little chastising moment a few hours ago, I am actually in a good mood overall. The Socceroos and the USA men's national team (unlike the U-17 girls against Kim Jong Il's young Arirang Mass Games gymnasts-in-training) actually won. Australia's 1-0 win against Bahrain was funny. It looked like the goal winner by Marco Bresciano was a Steven Bradbury-esque goal. The seas party like the Men's 1,000 meters in short track at Salt Lake 2002, and the most unlikely of heroes takes advantage of the unexpected opportunity.

Ironically, Mark cycled a cracker against this same Bahraini side two years ago in Sydney. One thing's for sure: Bresciano is a hated man in Manama now. He may have as well ruined their hopes of even coming close to the fifth-place match.

As for the guys, it was just plain cleaning up in a 2-0 win over Guatemala., So they enter the Hexagonal with Mexico (I mean, come on, a CONCACAF Hexagonal would not be a CONCACAF Hexagonal without the USA and Mexico in it...it just wouldn't be the same without both of them qualifying), Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Trinidad and Tobago (who dealt Bob Bradley's guys the only loss in the third round).

One has to feel for Jamaica, though. In spite of a 3-0 blasting of Canada, they are set to be in a state of lux (and their manager is destined to be sacked like a gift in Santa's gunny) after Mexico failed to do their share of the dirty work in a 1-0 defeat (with two red cards; ugh!) against Los Catrachos. Poor Reggae Boyz..now they will get the epithet of "Reggae Toyz" for four more years.

It's a cruel game, football is. But that's what makes it fun to watch.

===

Once agaim, I said it again...good riddance Ted Stevens. Thanks to Mark Begich unseating the old geezer, we Now all that needs to happen in Norm Coleman and Saxby Chambliss to fall in their races in Minnesota and Georgia, respectively. They will be luckier than Steven Bradbury if they do get re-elected, the GOP rubes.

What happened to showing up?

There are teams that I follow that lose, and there are teams that I can't help but wonder, "Why do you even bother playing if you don't even bother to show up for it? It's asinine, really. That was the case with a number of teams I follow. First, AFC Liverpool, a fledling outfit, got walloped by a team a tier blow them, called Waterloo Dock, 6-1. And this side at the top of their table...and they get thumped. Bloody wanks. I mean, at least if you're going to exit, you'd at least make the score respectable. That just gets on my bad side. Even though they are in theri first year, one would expect a scoreline better than this. Scouse fags.

Even worse, while Yankee Stadium is due to be nothing more than a smoldering pile of rubble in a number months' time, the Angels, who are three wins away from 100 victories, cannot rely of Jered Weaver to help him. The rube can't pitch his way out a wet paper bag in a 9-6 loss to the Mariners. Adding a little insult, the Dodgers won that day.

And that's what drives me to bedlam here. Dodgers win, Angels lose. Send Jered back to Salt Lake, MIke Scioscia. We can't rely on him next month. We'd have to bring up the bullpen at the top of the 2nd inning.

===

Is it just me, or has the world ended? While President Bush's dementia has reached beyond Satanic levels with his plan to make the rich richer and the poor poorer (a plan that will go back to hell from whence it came), the Los Angeles Galaxy...actually WON a few days ago. DC United fell, 5-2.

About bloody time you pricks did something right. Now let's get on a streak already, you dormant rubes.

===

Two-game losingt streak, Roughriders? Get out of here.

===

Lack of consistency isn't restricted to my university's women's soccer team, apparently. The women's volleyball team suffered their first sweep of the season...to fucking Santa Clara, of all sides, a day after sweeping them on Friday.

Gimmillaro...we ought to send the New York Five Families to question you and your team's dwindling commitment to consistent play this year.

===

There are individuals and teams, though, that cut the mustard. The USA, Australian, and English squad are undefeated in their runs towards South Africa 2010. And Francisco Rodriguez became the first closer to reach 60 saves in a season. Adelaide United is the first Australian side to advance to the semifinals of the AFc Champions League, defeating the defending J.League champions Kashima Antlers 2-1. Robert Cornthwaite, who scored an own goal in the first leg in Japan, made up for it by scoring the winner at the Hindmarsh Stadium. I think Oswaldo may want to send their first team keeper, Hitoshi Sogahata, to the reserve side.

And the Sparks are still alive. Bring on San Antonio. 71-64 win over Seattle.

The weekend after 9/11

Some insane things have gone on this weekend: while Hurricane Ike slams Houston and the heart of Texas, a clash of two trains marytyred dozen twofold and some in Chatsworth. Mercy.

My Lancer football team won, as well as my women's volleyball team, and the likes of AFC Liverpool, Melbourne Victory and AFC Wimbledon did, too. The Socceroos and the USA MNT also did their part of the work. I am disappointed in the Los Angeles Galaxy's failure to get any positive results for the bulk of this season, hence I changed the color layout. I also changed it due to the MLS season wrapping up down here.

SPeaking of MLB, how about that Francisco Rodriguez. 58 saves. He made history tonight, passing Bobby Thigpen in a 5-2 win for the Halos. Nine wins away from 100, two saves away from 60 for K-Rod. Some more milestones are in order.

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.

===

A great day for footballing

As I continued my search for work, and harvested some cans and bottles for the next recycling run, I tuned in to the radio and the YouTube for some soccer. All in all, in spite of futility by the Angels and Sparks, as well as Tiger walking the line at Torrey Pines...it was a good day for the teams I followed.

Well, most of the teams.

Coburg United, against was able to outlast my boys from the Australian Institute of Sport in a 4-3 goal feast. Actually, that was not the only feast of goals today.

Down in Doha, Qatar was ambushed by the likes of Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell in a 3-1 win. Toronto FC was unstoppable against the Colorado Rapids in a 3-1 victory. My Los Angeles Galaxy had ice water in their veins, as Edson Buddle took down the San Jose Earthquakes at the MCAfee Coliseum, 3-0. And Japan shut out Thailand by the same score, via Marcus Tulio Tanaka, Yuiji Nakazawa and Kengo Nakamura.

I think the icing on the cake would be tomorrow. Barbados getting crunched early and often by the USA in what is slated to be a farce of a game...now that would hit the spot. So what if Boston is ready to squeeze all the jizz out of the Lakers on Sunday Bloody Sunday? Go right ahead! Fornicate with the Larry O'Brien Trophy!

As for me, I'll stick to the football.

Quick hits, June 12, 2008

Rest in peace, Jim Gray. 86 years, and countless memories. Well done. We hope to see you again...one day. Till then...we will miss you.

---

So, I find out, in between the Socceroos prepare to trump Jorge Fossati's plans yet again down in Doha, stabbing rampages who want blood (and got it), planning for yet another visit to USC as a grad student, and the Galaxy rebuilding from scratch, that sandwiched between a couple of NBA Finals ties at Staples Center is a Sparks game. The ladies were at home to face the Detroit Shock, a team that, with their ace Cheryl Ford, had given us problems, especially when we faced them in the WNBA Championship Game/Series.

They didn't give us any problems this time. 80-73 victory over Detroit. Now, if only Boston had a women's team...

---

Rick Dutrow: "I feel like a loser."

Advice: Abstain from listening to the Beatles and Beck Hansen. And I'll tell you why Big Brown finished last. He pulled off a Cincinnatus on you. See, he doesn't want the glory of following Seattle Slew and Affirmed. He's gonna go his own way. Big Brown doesn't need the attention. In the end, Big Brown decided to go in a different direction. He doesn't believe that he should make history. He's a horse with humility as well.

And I knew this was coming all along. Admit it. You're not a loser. Denying the inevitable just made you feel like one.

---

I believe that L.A. does not have the divine right to finish second to anyone. I just found out that the Clipper Spirit Dance Team finished second to the Miami Heat. Ugh. Boston rebounding in the series with the Lakers would make it a clean Eastern sweep, for sure.

---

I am so glad I am staying away from Blair Field. The Armada are playing some uninspired ball at the moment. While it puts our futility against teams like Fresno State and San Diego in perspective, one would think that with some early blowouts to begin the year, the guys would be running the table in the South.

You wish.

---

Speaking of wishes, I wish for more yuri. I don't know why. I just think that young high school women making each with each other and loving it is a stimulus package that has been tried and true. Same with yaoi for the OLs and hags in the throes of menopause. It's THAT effective.

Don't believe me? Get some and boost your hormonal libi-er, leverage. I mean it. No, seriously.

---

My eyes have gone bleary again. Aghh.

It was mostly a good day...

Well, I should concur that this was a good day, for the most part. A few letdowns here and there, but nothing too bad. Here is a recap of my favorite teams' recent endeavors.

SOCCER AND HOOPS TEAMS CHOKED, BUT THE REST ARE ALL RIGHT: Not a good start for Bob Nash's Bows at the Stan Sheriff Center. When you can't even get the work done against San Diego and Illinois...well, it's not a good sign. And Pinzoom Tenzing of Lahore, India, learned something after the sccer team's loss to Colorado: get better players. And schedule the Beach next year.

However, the weekend wasn't a complete failure for Hawaii. The football team capped off a succesfull road campaign thanks to Dan "The Iceman" Kelly. If the game-winning field goal against the Nevada Wolf Pack to get the 28-26 win at Mackay Stadium doesn't warrant a WAC Special Teams Player of the Week honor at the minimum, the people who make the decisions didn't see the game. Meanwhile, down in Las Cruces, Dave Shoji's Rainbow Wahine cap off a successful WAC Tournament run, going the distance to whitewash New Mexico State, 28-30, 30-20, 24-30, 30-23, and 15-11.

AND JUST WHEN IT COULDN'T GET ANY MORE WORSE FOR THE TOREROS, IT DOES: San Diego loses to UC Davis...again, 49-46. Way to close your season on the wrong note, you Alcala Park pricks!

THE WAIT ENDS FOR ONE, CONTINUES FOR ANOTHER: And the Rainmaker, Dan Monson, comes through. Long Beach State defeated Idaho State in men's basketball, 66-61, in overtime. And the College of Business Administration, with only three players, show that quantity is no match for quality, defending their Chick-Fil-A free shootout championship, scorching University College and Extension Services, 11-5. Meanwhile, the women continue their wait to break their hoodoo, after an uninspiring performance against LMU.

WATER POLO FUTILITY: Long Beach City College had a weekend from hell at the COA water polo championships in Fresno. The women will play for third place, after dropping a 12-10 decision to American River, while the men, simply...choked.

MELBOURNE, SAY IT AIN'T SO!: Oh Ernie, your days are getting numbered. Melbourne Victory lost to the Queensland Roar, 1-0. Ugh.

BUT AT LEAST THE ROOS ARE FIGHTING BACK: I still played a little Men at Work. Australia exacted revenge over Iraq after dropping their recent meeting at the Asian Cup, 2-0, while a friendly against Nigeria, gave the Soccceroos a 1-0 win.

MORE BASHING OF AFRICA: And the United States are getting themselves a nice win streak in friendlies. Put this in your Janjaweed, haters: Steve Cherundolo gave Bob Bradley's boys a 1-0 win over Bafana Bafana.

COMING DOWN THE ROAD: Forget Wellington Phoenix, the hottest football team in New Zealand is Auckland City. The boys from Kiwitea Street dismissed Otago United, 2-0, and continue their undefeated run in their league. New Zealand, in international competition, defeated Vanuatu, 2-1, and continue to put themselves in position to have a crack at Asia to qualify for South Africa 2010. Wish they faced off against Uruguay instead. Ah well. And Aldershot Town continued their pace to get to the Football League 2nd Division. Go the Shots... Hooah!

10,000...

Ain’t it great to be a Phillies fan?

10,000 losses. The most in any professional sport in this country. The most futile franchise in the majors reached a milestone that will be in infamy.

Wonder if the current manager down there is already sacked.

The Tropicana has invited be for a slot tournament in September. Well, this is a no-brainer: NO THANKS. I already have classes going on. I’ll take school over slot machine tournaments any day.

Saimoe 2007 is underway with the preliminaries up an running. Who will dethrone Suiseiseki as the champion? Find out by clicking the link in my del.icio.us page, and click the “Saimoe 2007” link. Saimoe is a combination of Saikyou and Moe, meaning “The Best Moe.”

Australia escaped with a 4-0 victory over Thailand at Rajamangala. Took them a while to actually do something right, didn’t it? God save this Socceroos team.

Friday the 13th

“Hmmm…A haunted house…”

So pondered Utena Tenjou before going on a spree, defeating every opponent, save for a slight hiccup that was rectified.

Speaking of haunted houses, for Australia’s Socceroos, they met their undoing in a house of horrors earlier today, also known simply as…Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, where Iraq entered the Twilight Zone as foretold by Rod Serling, 3-1.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders saw their own house, Mosaic Stadium, turn into a house of horrors on Friday the 13^th, as the defending Grey Cup champs BC Lions continued from where they left off, soundly smothering the Green and White through some savvy ballhawking, 42-12.

One wonders if the USA U-20s are poised to see their impending doom against the Austrians in Toronto later today.

David Beckham is now officially with the G’s. Good. Now crush Tigres for me, please.

Bryan Brothers choke in the final. The world turned upside down.

All you doubles teams playing tennis right now, whether competitively or for recreation, here is a perfect example of what not to do: give up three straight sets while winning the first. I seriously have to question Bob and Mark Bryan’s preparation against Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra in the gentlemen’s double final at Wimbledon. After steamrolling through most of the bracket, the last thing you want is to give up three straight sets in the final after not dropping a single one until then.

Overconfidence? Divine intervention? Karma being a bitch after Venus Williams defeated Frenchie Marion Bertoli? The conspiracies, accusations, and water cooler double talk will no doubt linger in the local tennis circles regarding this match. It’s an unpredictable game, tennis is. And a loss of this magnitude is something the local papers love to rip apart.

Speaking of choking, a few of my favorite soccer teams came out with draws. Ties. Not victory or a loss. Melbourne Victory ties Tianjin Teda 1-1, Australia drew 1-1 with Oman, the LA Galaxy tied 2-2 with Kansas City, Toronto FC tied Chicago Fire 1-1, and the Japan U-20 played to a scoreless draw with Nigeria’s U-20’s. What a drag. This means the only new torrent downloading right now (outside of Toronto’s victory over doormats Real Salt Lake and USA humbling Brazil in the U-20 world cup) is Saskatchewan starting their season off right with a victory over the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL.

Well, my Angels won, the Dodgers choked, and the Armada got back on the winning track after Orange County prevented a 5-game sweep. Not the best weekend for me, but not the worst in terms of futility, either.