USA 1, Italy 0

ESPN.com: US Soccer

Wednesday, February 29, 2012U.S. beats Italy for first time

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Associated Press
GENOA, Italy -- The United States beat Italy for the first time in 11 games over 78 years, a 1-0 victory in an exhibition Wednesday night on Clint Dempsey's goal in the 55th minute.

Dempsey took a short pass from Jozy Altidore following Michael Bradley's cross and put a right-footed shot from just inside the penalty area just past an outstretched hand of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. It was his 25th goal in 83 international appearances.

A native of Nacogdoches, Texas, who turns 29 on March 9, Dempsey has had the most accomplished season by a U.S. attacking player in European soccer. He's scored 16 goals this season for Fulham, becoming the American career scoring leader in England's Premier League with 43 goals.

The loss was particularly deflating for Italy, a four-time World Cup champion preparing for the start of the European Championship in June. The Americans, who are getting ready for their opening qualifier for the 2014 World Cup in June, had been 0-7-3 against Italy and had been outscored 32-4.

Italy dominated for stretches but the American defense held and the Azzurri were called for offsides nine times.

With retired baseball star Mike Piazza watching from the stands alongside former U.S. forward Brian McBride, the Americans won their fourth straight match to improve to 5-4-1 under Jurgen Klinsmann, who took over as U.S. coach from Bob Bradley last summer.

It was a measure of personal revenge for Klinsmann, the former German World Cup great. Germany, then coached by Klinsmann, lost to Italy in the 2006 World Cup semifinals and the Azzurri went on to win the title.

U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard had a big kick save in the fifth minute. Italy nearly tied the score in injury time when Riccardo Montolivo's shot went past a post.

Italy lost in Genoa for the first time since 1924. The previous time the Azzurri played at Stadio Luigi Ferraris was a match stopped in the seventh minute by crowd trouble. Italy was awarded a 3-0 win over Serbia in a Euro qualifier.

Klinsmann had most of his regulars back following victories over Venezuela and Panama while playing with a backup squad. He had hoped to be able to pair Dempsey with Landon Donovan for the first time since taking over as coach, but Donovan missed the match because of bronchitis.

Italy had its own personnel problem, especially up front where it was missing injured forwards Giuseppe Rossi and Antonio Cassano. Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli was left off the squad because of his temper and unpredictability.

Notes

Dempsey became just the fourth American to score against Italy, joining Buff Donelli (1934), John Harkes (1992) and Donovan (2009). There was also one own goal in 2006.

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And this is just heaven.

USA upsets Spain to make Confed Cup football final

By Martin Parry – 5 hours ago

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AFP) — The United States shocked Spain 2-0 on Wednesday to book a place in the Confederations Cup final and end the European champions record-breaking win streak.

A first half strike from Villarreal's Jozy Altidore and another 16 minutes from time by Fulham's Clint Dempsey did the damage in what will go down as one of the biggest victories in US football history.

They also had a flawless performance by Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard and a commendable defensive display to thank for earning them a shot at the trophy on Sunday against either Brazil or hosts South Africa.

Their only black mark was having Michael Bradley - son of the coach Bob - sent off for a lunging tackle with four minutes left, meaning he will miss the final.

It was a remarkable upset on a freezing night that not only ended Spain's record of 15 consecutive wins but also prevented them from surpassing Brazil's 35-match unbeaten run.

Spain will have to be content with going into the history books level with the South Americans after their first loss since November 15 2006.

After resting several players for their last match against South Africa, they were back at full strength with Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Joan Capdevila and Xabi Alonso returning to action.

The United States welcomed back captain and ex-Fulham player Carlos Bocanegra while Howard returned to goal.

Spain had won all three previous encounters but the United States' miracle run to the last four, qualifying on goals scored after finishing level with Italy on goal difference, showed they could not be understimated.

They had the first chance of the match with Howard forced to turn a dangerous Cesc Fabregas cross-cum-shot over the bar in the third minute.

But the US weren't sitting back and Charlie Davies sent a spectacular bicycle kick flashing just wide then wasted a free header minutes later.

With Dempsey firing a long range drive close soon after it was clear they meant business.

At the other end Fabregas sent a cross in from the left which Fernando Torres volleyed just past the post from six yards.

They combined superbly again shortly after with the Liverpool striker forcing a fine one-handed save from his Merseyside rival Howard.

But in a major shock the US took the lead on 27 minutes when the powerful Altidore muscled past Capdevila and Carles Puyol with Casillas unable to prevent his shot finding the back of the net.

It was only the third goal Spain had conceded in 16 games.

Spain were in trouble but bounced back with a hatful of chances with Torres and Ramos in the thick of it only for heroic defending to deny them time and again.

They went to the break losing 1-0 and in need of something special.

David Villa almost provided it soon after the restart when he let rip from just inside the box but Howard turned it round the post.

Spain had a penalty appeal turned down before Albert Riera tugged a shot just wide as they ramped up the pressure.

They threw all they had at the Americans but Bocanegra and his defensive partners held firm and against the run of play the underdogs scored a second.

LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan sent the ball in from the right and defensive errors by Gerald Pique and Ramos allowed Dempsey to hustle the ball over the line for a famous victory.

Brazil and South Africa play their semi-final on Thursday.

On the USA making another case for the World Cup...again

1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006. Can 2010 also be in the distance for the USA in the World Cup? I would think so. Ahhhh, the power of the spaz. It compels you.
From MLSnet.com...

Those Bradley Boys
US national team coach gets big night from his son
By Michael Lewis / Special to MLSnet.com

COLUMBUS -- If there was a time for any man to be boastful about his son, this was it.
After all, it isn't every day that your son scores twice in a World Cup qualifying game, let alone against archrival Mexico.

But this is much more complicated than than just a father saying how proud he is about his son.

The father is Bob Bradley, coach of the U.S. national team. The son, Michael, a midfielder on the team that defeated the Mexicans for the third consecutive time in this city by a 2-0 score.

Beyond Michael becoming only the fourth U.S. player to score two goals against Mexico in qualifiers dating back to 1934, Michael played a fine all-around game as holding midfielder, helping key a midfield that dominated the Mexicans.

But when he was asked whether he was proud of his son's performance, Bob did his best to downplay the question.

"Right now I'm the coach, it's about the team," he said during Wednesday night's postgame press conference after watching his team outbattle the Mexicans and the wind at Columbus Crew Stadium. "When you coach at a professional level there's a way that you want to do the work. There is an environment that you create and you want to establish a high level of being a pro in terms of what the right mentality is. The one thing that happens with Michael is that he gets a steady dose of that, not only when he's in with the team but in terms of the father-son relationship that we've had.

"I have three children and I have to say that I'm proud of all my kids. I have a great family and I'm a lucky man."

Bob Bradley doesn't like to single out or talk about his son. He has been walking a tightrope about the subject since 2004, when as the MetroStars coach, he selected 16-year-old Michael 36th overall in the MLS SuperDraft. Michael had just completed his time at the U.S. under-17 residency camp in Bradenton, Fla. He was ready for the next challenge -- professional soccer.

Michael was hampered by an injury in 2004, but became the starting defensive midfielder the next season. Ironically, he did not score his first professional goal until after Bob was dismissed as coach, in a playoff-clinching victory against Chivas USA in the regular-season finale.

Some MetroStars fans felt there was nepotism involved. The same thing happened when Michael started to play for his father on the national team in 2007. Hence, Bob not trying to boost or boast about his son.

A few years ago, there was a rare comment about how proud Bob was of Michael after he joined Heerenveen of the Dutch Eredivisie (Michael currently performs for Borussia Moenchengladbach in the German Bundesliga).

"I am happy for him," Bob said. "To go to a club in Europe and to establish yourself very quickly, earn the respect of the coaches and your teammates, so that you're playing and starting in the most important games of the season, that says a lot.

"For me, it's just with what we saw the last two years, especially last year. He's got a strong mentality, understands the game. He plays well beyond his years. I really felt that last year as the season moved along that he got stronger and stronger. And that's not something you see that often with young players in MLS, especially with ones who are asked to cover that much ground and be a factor in the center of the field, where things are really hard."

In many ways, they are so much alike and the similarities are not lost on Michael's teammates.

"He and his dad are just alike," said former New York Red Bulls forward Jozy Altidore, who helped set up Michael's second goal Wednesday. "Bob's just a bit older than him. On soccer they're both very intense. They have so much passion for the game. They really just eat, breath and sleep soccer.

"Michael loves the game. He loves talking about it. He loves talking about new ideas. The subject for them never gets old. And it's really refreshing to see that in American players and coaches. I think he's a great kid, has a great head on his shoulders and loves to work hard. What more can you ask?"

When asked about his performance against Mexico, Michael Bradley spoke of the team, rather than himself.

"I think everyone on our team was really excited to play tonight," he said. "Anytime you can play against Mexico it's great, it's also a really important World Cup qualifier. To be a part of a team effort like that and come away with three points is a great feeling."

When pressed about how he felt personally, Michael responded, "I'm happy we won. We got three points and we beat Mexico so that's important."

The thing is that he's only 21 years old and still learning the beautiful game. But already Michael Bradley has left his mark. With Heerenveen in 2007-08, he scored 21 goals, the most by an U.S. player in Europe.

On Wednesday night, Michael went into the U.S. history books as the fourth man to tally twice against Mexico in a qualifier. He joined Aldo "Buff" Donelli (hat trick in a 4-2 win in a 1934 qualifier), Eddie Murphy (in a 7-2 loss in a 1962 qualifier) and former California Surf and New York Cosmos forward Steve Moyer (in a 2-1 win in a 1982 qualifier) in this exclusive club. This from a player who had scored three goals in 25 previous matches prior to Wednesday night.

His performance certainly left his teammates impressed.

"It's great," said Landon Donovan, who set up both U.S. goals. "People forget he does a lot of hard work. He gets in [passing] lanes. ... He's dangerous going forward. He's a good, smart player."

Added goalkeeper Tim Howard, who survived a nasty hit by Mexican defender Rafael Marquez to record a shutout: "I think he was fantastic, aside from the goals. He was up and down the field, side to side, staying in the tackles, winning balls, collecting second balls. He did everything right."

Howard said that Bob "probably demands more of [Michael]. He treats us all equally. We trust all in the relationship that we have with Michael as a teammate and that Bob Bradley has with Michael as a player. We trust in our relationship. Michael doesn't take any short cuts. He is the hardest working guy on the team. He demands a lot of himself, which I think is the epitome of a big-time player, which I think Michael will be."

Perhaps someday Michael will accomplish something so grand (a national team hat trick or a spectacular or dramatic game-winning goal, maybe?) that we'll hear the father and not just the coach speak.

Until then, we'll have to let Michael's actions speak for themselves.

Michael Lewis covers soccer for the New York Daily News and is editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He can be reached at SoccerWriter516@aol.com. Views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.

And some more from Goal.com...

Mexico Captain Marquez Apologizes For His "Error"
Rafael Marquez said he made a mistake by kicking American goalkeeper Tim Howard, which led to a red card in Mexico's loss to the U.S.

After not having spoken to the press upon his arrival in the United States, Mexico captain Rafael Marquez sought out the media in a press conference after El Tricolor's 2-0 loss to the U.S.

Marquez was sent off in the 65th minute for a vicious challenge on U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, which left Mexico the task of trying to overcome a deficit with 10 men.

"My intentions to be here in this press conference is to ask for public forgiveness," Marquez said. "I've already asked the same from my teammates, the coaching staff and the federation and now I want to apologize publicly to my fans, my country and the media for my conduct... I made an error and threw away all the hard work we had put in all week."

The red card was the latest in a history of ejections for Marquez. In the 2002 World Cup, Marquez was shown red after a horrid assault on U.S. midfielder Cobi Jones. Marquez also was sent off in the 2005 Confederations Cup semifinal match against Argentina.

"It always happens here with the national team," Marquez said. "My desire always is to win and perhaps when we don't, I don't know what to do and that is what causes me to do this."

Until that point, Marquez had done well to patrol the Mexican defense. Aside from the United States' first goal, a 43rd-minute strike from Michael Bradley off a corner kick, and a scattered few chances, Marquez had done well to cover for a shaky Aaron Galindo and to set the tone for Mexico in defense.

After Mexico was left with 10 men, the U.S. tried to control the match having the advantage of personnel. Mexico, though, pushed forward in search of an equalizer.

It was the United States, though, who nabbed the game's final goal. Again, it was Bradley who did the damage as he fired a shot from distance that appeared to fool Mexico's Oswaldo Sanchez. The shot went right through a giant gap in Mexico's defense, one that may have been filled by Marquez.

Mexico must now make do without Marquez for the next World Cup qualifying match, a March 28 home match against Costa Rica. When he does return, Marquez said he will try and be on his best behavior.

"I will put forth my best desire to try and control my intense desire I have to win and the type of desperation I feel," Marquez said.

USA vs. North Korea: The seeds of a new women's football rivalry are born

It was only less than a month ago that the inaugural FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup was decided with an extra-time goal by Jang Hyon Sun of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, one of Asia's rising powerhouses, in Auckland. On Saturday, December 7, on the 67th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks, the USA's Under-20 team returned the favor by dethroning the defending champions, 2 goals to 1.

The USA's women's association football team, acknowledged as one of the pioneers and flagbearers of the women's game internationally, has had historic rivalries with squads from Brazil, Germany, Sweden, China, Norway, Australia, and Englandm among others. But what can arguably be the rivalry gaining the most steam is that of the USA vs. North Korea, a country that has been reviled for many reasons, and, as a country, is in trouble.

North Korea's men's national team was known for their effort in England in 1966, but their star has faded. "Chollima," as they are called, have taken a back seat to their female counterparts, ranked 5th in the world (as of the September 2008 FIFA Rankings).

At the senior level, North Korea and the USA have met only twice since 1995, with the USA winning their first-ever match at Crew Stadium 3-0 at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup in Columbus, Ohio and a 2-2 draw at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in Chengdu, China. Overall, if the results from the youth national teams are added, the USA holds a 2-1-1 advantage over

Due to travel restrictions placed by its government, North Korea's national team has been unable to face off against the USA on a regular basis unlike its counterparts from the South.

But if the fact that North Korea winning the Under-17 Women's World Cup at the expense of Kazbek Tambi and his American counterparts isn't enough to convince that a new rivalry in women's football emerging out of its shell, then perhaps hosting an annual series of friendly matches between both countries may confirm that the seeds have been sown.

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."

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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....

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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.

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More Olympics thoughts on Day 13

In team competition, the USA had had its share of ups and downs. The USA Women had their sloppiest game yet at the Wukesong Indoor Stadium. Against Becky Hammon and the Russians, they eked out a 67-52 victory. In extra time, the USA women defeated Brazil thanks to Carli Lloyd's goal in the 96th minute.

There were a few letdowns, all of them big. Down at the Yingdong Natatorium, the USA lose a heartbreaker to the Netherlands, 9-8. And what the bloody hell just happened in Fengtai!? In what will go down as one of the biggest chokes in softball history as well as a day of infamy for softball in this country, the USA loses to Japan, 3-1. This USA side was undefeated before this game. For these ladies to lose the very last game in their Olympic campaign-THE VERY LAST GAME-is something that will never be erased from this proud American psyche for years, even after the sport is reinstated.

This softball picked the WRONG time to drop one. Let us have a moment of silence for their campaign gone south. See the obituary below.

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More chokes. In taekwondo, Mark Lopez lost to Son Tae-Jin for the gold medal, while Diana Lopez salvaged a campaign gone south, defeating Veronica Calabrese for the bronze. Allyson Felix was outrun by Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica for the gold in the women's 200 meters. Just in case you had any doubt about the Havana Affair being put to rest, David Payne and David Oliver were not match for Dayron Robles of Cuba in the men's 100-meter hurdles.

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There were some other good things that also happened. Lashawn Merritt, Jeremy Wariner and David Neville made it a 1-2-3 finish for the USA in the men's 400 meters.

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More diving medals for the Chinese. Ruolin Chen and Wang Xin finish 1-3 in the women's 10-meter platform.

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Konata's gonna need to crank up those sliders, because it IS Brazil that the USA will face in the women's volleyball gold medal game. They swept China 3-0. And it WILL be Australia in the gold medal game in women's hoops, with the Opals thumping China, 90-56.

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Rest in peace, Gene Upshaw.

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And just when you thought it couldn't get any more worse for the USA, it does. Both 4 x 100 meter relay teams dropped the baton. And suddenly, Chicago's prospects for 2016 have taken a serious about-face.

Mercy.

A great day for Team USA...and Saskatchewan

It's been a great day for the national teams. First, Team USA wrapped up the gold medal in the FIVB World League (men's volleyball), downing Serbia in four games. The USA Collegiate National Team outlasted Japan in Brno, Czech Republic for the 4th World Collegiate Baseball title. And the women's U-17 national football (soccer) team crushed Costa Rica, 4-1, a few days after edging Mexico in the last minute of stoppage time, 1-0.

The only downers were my Galaxy (weaklings couldn't lay a finger to soon-to-be player of the year in MLS, Kenny Cooper and FC Dallas, 3-0) and the Angels, who saw Baltimore snap a four-game winning streak. But that couldn't take away from Sparks finding their winning track after dropping a couple of stinkers due to a brawl in the Palace at Auburn Hills.

Or the fact that the Saskatchewan Roughriders are 5-0 after getting the benefit of the doubt in a 28-22 win over the Toronto Argonauts. The funny thing about that touchdown by Wes Cates was that the priopr play should have been a touchdown, but was not, even after head coach Ken Miller challenged it.

It makes you wonder if the officlas wanted to make up for it.

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.

Random hits - 4/9/08

I'm going to need to get a new Social Security Card, and some other new IDs. Fast. And that will be the last time I buy long pocketbooks.

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Mexico's football teams must be feeling like they are going through foreclosure right now. A few days ago, Hugo Sanchez got the axe after his U-23 side failed to qualify for the Olympics. Now, it looks like Leonardo Cuellar is going to join him in the unemployment line. His women's national team lost to Canada tonight, 1-0. And they won't be going to Beijing, either. Ouch.

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That has to be a huge irony down in Ciudad Juarez: Canada and the USA fighting it out on Saturday for the CONCACAF Women's Pre-Olympic Tournament title in Mexico. It makes you wonder if there will be anyone bothering to come down there.

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This April has been a crazy month. Mugabe is still alive (unfortunately) and has become a dirty, blind old ape willing to fight to the death to keep his patch of wasteland that is Zimbabwe. A 75-year old lady dies making an illegal left turn after getting the Blue Line crash into her. A couple of teen girls lose their lives after being thrown out of a taxi, but not before trying to stab the driver. David Petraus wants more blood. China is trying in vain to reel Tibet in. Beijing 2008 is poised to become Moscow 1980 Revisited. Memphis' John Calipari and his team are being barbecued for their inept free throw shooting by sportswriters who feast on writing articles of futility so that they can earn their peanuts. The Dirtbag baseball team has now become so beatable, Cerritos College would blast bad boy out of the Blair.

Darfur is still Darfur. Iraq is still Iraq. And the feud between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is still that.


Fuck. And a third of this already Bedlam-infested year ain't over yet! Oh God.

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!

Wake me up when September ends.

It’s great to see the underdog triumph, because it proves that on any given day, a top team can be felled, and it reinforces that timeless adage: You have to play the game. So I have see some top teams fall from their perch on September 29, 2007. West Virginia lost to South Florida, 21-13. Oklahoma was edged by a Colorado field goal, 27-24. Auburn also booted a field goal to drain Florida’s swamp, 20-17. Texas was given a Kansas State-style lynching, 41-21. Rutgers was routed by Maryland, 34-24. Clemson got shacked by Georgia Tech, 13-3. Illinois outlasted Penn State, 27-20. And Florida State squeaked by Alabama, 21-14.

However, calling this Saturday “Insanity Saturday” is just Pat Forde’s shyster way of stretching the impact of this weekend’s results to make it look like the end of the world. It’s not being fair to the top teams who are still alive, specifically the top two teams. USC and LSU are still on track to be in the show. The Trojans defeated Washington, 27-24. The Tigers, after a shaky start, defeated Tulane, 34-9. Cal and Ohio State are still in the running, too. The Golden Bears dismissed Oregon, 31-24, while Ohio State continued on its merry way, 30-7. Wisconsin, Boston College, and Kentucky also survived, so they are the latest contenders. And the only difference between the interceptions that Hawaii and Idaho made was that the Warriors were able to convert them into points (48-20 Hawaii).

Keep in mind that App State was not involved, either. The Mountaineers, after being upset themselves by Wofford, got back to business, dismissing Elon, 49-32.

Meanwhile, the USA gutted themselves of any hope to salvage 3^rd place, starting Brianna “The Hag” Scurry against Norway. I predict that the Norwegians got this one in the bag. The world will have ended if the USA wins this one. The world will be saved if the USA finishes 4^th, and Greg “I am Hope Solo’s worst enemy, and will be lynched for my faggotry” Ryan is sacked.

In other news, my Anaheim Ducks are feeling London Burning right now. Hey Randy Carlyle, call 99999 already! Punk. On the other side of the world, the Angels continue their warm-ups, felling the Athletics, 3-2. In Canada, the President’s Cup is all but going to go to the Yanks, as they are 7-up on the rest of the world.

And the Cubans will be crushed tomorrow in Valdivia, Chile. You may have our number in baseball, Fidel Castro, but these soon-to-be defectors are due to roll over and die come Sunday Bloody Sunday. It’s their duty.

St. Jimmy and Jesus of Suburbia, send help. And bring some Novocain with you while you’re rolling down this boulevard of broken dreams, bruised egos, and American idiots. This is a request from the Bedlam.

Where's Brooke Valentine when you need her?

30 runs in a game. Unbelievable.

The Texas Rangers defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 30-3. Those are the most runs eve n in a Major League Game since June 28, 1897, when the Chicago Cubs rang up 30 in a game as well. That was a pillow fight gone wrong.

Meanwhile, as Texas roughs up Baltimore in a meaningless contest, Bob Bradley finds himself on the hot seat. We lost, 1-0, to Sweden. If we lose to Catalonia, Bradley is out. I can’t see Sunil letting him stay when we are slumping. We couldn’t beat Real Salt Lake with this type of performance.

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.

USA 2-1 Uruguay: Own goal, and then a brawl afterwards. What mo, er, less could you ask for?

Midweek Mayhem Minutes from the Midwest couldn't have come any sooner.

Just when things couldn’t get any worse for the USA, Uruguay take a page of the playbooks of the ultras of Nueva Chicago and Tigres, and starts up a postgame brawl…in Toronto, Canada! Toronto, Canada, peoples! If there was a wrong place to start up a melee between young men (bring out my One Piece pirates, Naruto ninjas, and robot army for reinforcements!), it was here.

Baghdad, Iraq, should have been a place to do it. Send out some streakers were suicide bomb jackets to shut them up. But they never came to Toronto, and I don’t think they ever should, so to keep their youthful, troubled, weeaboo-free sanities intact.

The melee on the pitch tainted a 2-1 USA victory, thanks to the heroics of one Michael Bradley, and you wonder if the Ultimate Fighting leagues of the world were watching intently. Maybe some of these closet hooligans can make money off of this, albeit in a more proper setting.

Spirited group fight, wrong place to do it by far. End of post.

All good streaks must come to an end some day...

How about Emirates Team New Zealand. Dean Barker got the best of Brad Butterworth's Alinghi boys at the America's Cup earlier today. It's all square at 1-1. We have ourselves a contest.

The USA's streak is still going...after giving up the first goal by Mexico on American soil in a long while, those scrappy Nats rallied for a 2-1 win over El Tri to hoise the Gold Cup for the 4th time, tying their neighbors south of the border. And for the first time in my two years plus on BigSoccer, I got a warning from one of the mods for rubbing it in. I couldn't resist. Sour grapes is sour grapes. Hugo Sanchez, you should admit that the better team won. Hubris is poison.

Maybe Pat Casey should have been the USA Baseball coach this year. His Oregon State Beavers has just about set the stage for a dynasty, and are a few outs away from wrapping up another College World Series title (though I hope North Carolina makes things interesting and proves me wrong). I have to shake my head at that.

I wonder if we will even score a goal at the Copa America later this week. I start to wonder now, as I download a torrent of the match earlier today after having already recorded it on tape.