The US soccer season is up and running, so here's some musings from the Woodchuck Hole about the World's Game:
America has five soccer leagues. Only one is crying "fixture congestion," only one is scheduling stand-alone U.S. Open Cup Qualifiers (outside the league schedule). Inexplicably, it's the same league.
Am I the only person who finds it odd that Cleveland State and Cleveland City play at the same ground?
Is Sallieu Bundu 2008's Adam Moffatt?
CONCACAF is based in New York. CONCACAF has just announced a Champions League tournament that could see games played in New York (or worse, Toronto) in the dead of winter. Apparently, CONCACAF decision makers don't go outside much.
On a Non-Soccer-Related note, the Indy 500 entry list is out. As any fan of Indy knows, however, this entry list is not the complete story. At the very least, it's not May without AJ Foyt bringing out a backup car on Bump Day (May 18th this year) to bump a driver or team he doesn't like from the fabled eleven rows of three. Seriously, it isn't, April just keeps counting up to the 61st otherwise.
It's a great weekend in Cleveland and Akron sports. There's something for virtually any sports fan in town this week. Here's a list:
Tonight
7:00 Colorado Crush (owned by Elway) @ Gladiators (partailly owned by Kosar) - arena football
7:05 Oakland Athletics @ Indians - season's first fireworks show
7:05 Bowie Baysox @ Akron Aeros - Indians-affiliated AA baseball - first fireworks of 2008
Tomorrow
2:05 Baysox @ Aeros - magnet schedules to the first 2,000
7:00 Rochester Raging Rhinos @ City - exhibition minor league soccer @ Byers Field - preceded by introductory press conference @11:30 AM and youth tournament
7:05 Athletics @ Indians - stocking caps to all fans
7:30 Hamilton Bulldogs @ Lake Erie Monsters - AAA hockey, fan appreciation night, final 2008 home game
Sunday
1:05 Athletics @ Indians - coin bank to all kids
2:05 Baysox @ Aeros
5:00 Columbus Crew @ City - MLS team visits Byers Field (City regular season matches are @ CSU) - preceded by Christian worship @ noon and youth tournament
Have a good weekend, y'all! (I'm quarter-southern, I can get away with saying "y'all")
Friday, April 11, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
A bit of marmot humor
With the prior sports weekend not much to write home about (besides the Monsters' shootout win on Friday in front of 12,300 - imagine the numbers if they counted the comps!), I have decided to impart some of the products of my furry sense of humor upon ye, the readership of this blog. Today's theme: my nicknames for various people or groups and why I call 'em that.
Mindy (KISS frontman Gene Simmons) - Gene has done various promotional work for the IndyCar series as part of the series' contract with his Abramson-Simmons PR firm. This work included a theme song titled "I am Indy." However, since sung words ending in m tend to meld into the following word if it starts with a vowel, it sounds like he is singing "I am Mindy." If he says he's Mindy, then who am I to argue?
Rahalito (IndyCar Driver, and St. Pete GP winner, Graham Rahal) Graham's the son of legendary IndyCar driver Bobby Rahal and is thus the Little Rahal or, in Spanish (my second language), Rahalito! Also it just sounds cool, seriously, try saying it a few times without smiling. Rahalito, Rahalito, Rahalito, see?
Beck Ham United (MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy) The name (a play on the English Premiership's West Ham United) is self-explanatory. Galaxy's a one-man show. It's all about Beckham.
Pyromaniac FC (MLS club Toronto FC) For those of you who have not seen TFC's ultras (The Red Army) in action, they are known for throwing smoke bombs onto the field and would probably use flares if they could get them past stadium security at the away games.
Finally on a sad note, the city of Cleveland is a little worse place than it was when I last posted. Gib Shanley has passed away. While I am too young to remember Gib calling Browns games (he called his last when I was still in diapers), I remember his work as a sports anchor on WUAB 43 and as a Sunday night sports editorialist on WEWS 5. Cleveland sports has lost one of its true greats.
Mindy (KISS frontman Gene Simmons) - Gene has done various promotional work for the IndyCar series as part of the series' contract with his Abramson-Simmons PR firm. This work included a theme song titled "I am Indy." However, since sung words ending in m tend to meld into the following word if it starts with a vowel, it sounds like he is singing "I am Mindy." If he says he's Mindy, then who am I to argue?
Rahalito (IndyCar Driver, and St. Pete GP winner, Graham Rahal) Graham's the son of legendary IndyCar driver Bobby Rahal and is thus the Little Rahal or, in Spanish (my second language), Rahalito! Also it just sounds cool, seriously, try saying it a few times without smiling. Rahalito, Rahalito, Rahalito, see?
Beck Ham United (MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy) The name (a play on the English Premiership's West Ham United) is self-explanatory. Galaxy's a one-man show. It's all about Beckham.
Pyromaniac FC (MLS club Toronto FC) For those of you who have not seen TFC's ultras (The Red Army) in action, they are known for throwing smoke bombs onto the field and would probably use flares if they could get them past stadium security at the away games.
Finally on a sad note, the city of Cleveland is a little worse place than it was when I last posted. Gib Shanley has passed away. While I am too young to remember Gib calling Browns games (he called his last when I was still in diapers), I remember his work as a sports anchor on WUAB 43 and as a Sunday night sports editorialist on WEWS 5. Cleveland sports has lost one of its true greats.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Oh! To Be a Cleveland Sports Fan Right Now! (aka Chuckin' Wood and Lovin' Life!)
To quote local sports talker/anchor and all-around irrepressibly joyous guy Tony Rizzo: It's good to be alive!
It's even better to be a Cleveland sports fan, consider the facts:
baseball - Tribe is 2-1 and is a legitimate contender, the Aeros are returning enough players that they should be as good as ever, the Captains are dropping their program price from $3 to FREE as well as adding $22 all-you-can-eat seats (highway robbery on my part with an appetite like mine), and Avon's a near shoo-in for an independent team next year.
football - Gladiators are 3-1, Browns are confirmed for a preseason MNF game and are rumored to appear on SNF in the regular season and host the Thanksgiving night game, the Zips are only a year away from playing in a stadium that can pass a building inspection, and the Buckeyes just got Terrelle Pryor.
basketball - Cavaliers are all but certain to get home court in the first round, Vikings made the NIT, Buckeyes won the NIT, and the MAC tournament appears headed nowhere but up.
hockey - Monsters are drawing well, are trying, and are not being rumored to move. While the last two may sound like faint praise keep in mind the following two facts: the Sharks were so development minded that the Barons often appeared to be running practice drills in game situations, and the second phone call to the Barons office and the first question at their introductory press conference involved when the team would move.
soccer - City made the playoffs last year, look better for this year, and have picked up some major sponsorship.
auto racing - Every day that passes, it seems more likely that the Grand Prix will return in 2009 on the IndyCar schedule.
now, some advice for various people who need it
F1 chief Max Mosley - quit
Monsters equipment manager Terry Geer - Take Mike Wall's and Brent Kelly's jerseys, rip the numbers off and replace them with another number, any number! The Monsters are being punished by the hockey gods for being an AHL team in Cleveland and using the numbers of the great Johnny Bower and Freddy Glover. Those numbers belong in the rafters, not on the ice, even if the team isn't called the Barons.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton - see advice to Max Mosley
Columbus Crew owner Clark Hunt - sell the team to Pizzuti
Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig - Break up the Royals!
Reebok employees responsible for designing NFL gear - Helmet: good, Elf: better!
That's all from the Woodchuck Hole for now! Remember, it's not a bad day unless you're in Hell, a war zone, or a hospital (or if you're a Miami sports fan).
It's even better to be a Cleveland sports fan, consider the facts:
baseball - Tribe is 2-1 and is a legitimate contender, the Aeros are returning enough players that they should be as good as ever, the Captains are dropping their program price from $3 to FREE as well as adding $22 all-you-can-eat seats (highway robbery on my part with an appetite like mine), and Avon's a near shoo-in for an independent team next year.
football - Gladiators are 3-1, Browns are confirmed for a preseason MNF game and are rumored to appear on SNF in the regular season and host the Thanksgiving night game, the Zips are only a year away from playing in a stadium that can pass a building inspection, and the Buckeyes just got Terrelle Pryor.
basketball - Cavaliers are all but certain to get home court in the first round, Vikings made the NIT, Buckeyes won the NIT, and the MAC tournament appears headed nowhere but up.
hockey - Monsters are drawing well, are trying, and are not being rumored to move. While the last two may sound like faint praise keep in mind the following two facts: the Sharks were so development minded that the Barons often appeared to be running practice drills in game situations, and the second phone call to the Barons office and the first question at their introductory press conference involved when the team would move.
soccer - City made the playoffs last year, look better for this year, and have picked up some major sponsorship.
auto racing - Every day that passes, it seems more likely that the Grand Prix will return in 2009 on the IndyCar schedule.
now, some advice for various people who need it
F1 chief Max Mosley - quit
Monsters equipment manager Terry Geer - Take Mike Wall's and Brent Kelly's jerseys, rip the numbers off and replace them with another number, any number! The Monsters are being punished by the hockey gods for being an AHL team in Cleveland and using the numbers of the great Johnny Bower and Freddy Glover. Those numbers belong in the rafters, not on the ice, even if the team isn't called the Barons.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton - see advice to Max Mosley
Columbus Crew owner Clark Hunt - sell the team to Pizzuti
Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig - Break up the Royals!
Reebok employees responsible for designing NFL gear - Helmet: good, Elf: better!
That's all from the Woodchuck Hole for now! Remember, it's not a bad day unless you're in Hell, a war zone, or a hospital (or if you're a Miami sports fan).
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Random reflections on a crazy weekend
Howdy! Hairpin here. I survived the weekend. Don't know how, but I did. Here's a few random observations.
Toronto FC's motto should be "Not Satisfied Until The Fire Department Gets Called In." Seriously, if the Dawg Pound threw that many smoke bombs onto the field, there'd be an uproar to kick the Browns out of the NFL. I love soccer, but some of these supporters groups are out of control (I'm talking to you, DC and Chicago).
Big Woodchuck Hole/Green Army/Crew Supporters Union props to Crew (and ex-City) midfielder Adam Moffat, who let loose an absolute golazo from what must have been 30-40 yards out for the first goal of the MLS season in the Crew's 2-0 victory over Pyromaniac FC. MLS can end their "Goal of the Year" promotion now, that was it! Okay, Green Army, say it with me!
Su-per, Su-per Ad!
Su-per, Su-per Ad!
Su-per, Su-per Ad!
Super Adam Moffat!
Also, congrats to Miami 300 winner Scott Dixon. It was great to see 25 cars on an Indycar grid as well as all of the top drivers on the same track. Not everything was good, however, as it is still plainly evident that Milka Duno is not capable of controlling an IndyCar on an oval for a full race. The problem is that Townsend Bell doesn't have enough sponsorship to run a full season in Dreyer & Reinbold's 2nd car. Thus, Milka gets to run the other races with her Citgo sponsorship. I'm thinking about starting a "Park Milka" campaign in order to get Mr. bell the necessary backing he needs to displace Milka and send her back to the type of racing she's good at: sportscars. I'll check around for pertinent figures as well as D&R's mailing address and post more info when I find it. I harbor no personal animosity towards Ms. Duno, by the way, I just think that she needs to leave the whole "female IndyCar driver" thing to those who are good at it, like Danica Patrick and Sarah Fisher.
Then there was Monday (OPENING DAY!!!!!!!!!!) The only thing more fun than opening day is kicking Chicago's butt on opening day. Baseball is back and the Tribe is looking good (Okay, the pitching was shaky, but it's only one game. By the way, it's not like anyone else in the AL Central has anything better) Right now all I know is that the Tribe is 1-0 and I am once again able to attend baseball games in person (the most fun a human being can possibly have).
Finally, there is the issue of the Monsters. Until this weekend, I couldn't figure out what was wrong with this team. It surely wasn't talent as the team has several players with NHL experience as well as some blue-chip prospects. It surely wasn't a lack of effort on the part of the coaching staff as Roy Sommer is nowhere in sight*. This weekend, however, it all became crystal clear. Just take a look at the following figures:
3/25 L 2-7 full-size rink
3/26 L 1-6 full size rink
3/28 L 1-4 full-size rink
3/29 OTL 5-6 short rink
3/30 L 1-6 full-size rink
These numbers make the necessary course of action crystal clear: shorten the rink @ the Q! After all, what's the sanctity of the 200X85 rink compared to brining the Calder Cup back to it's rightful home: Cleveland? It would also allow for some more seats, which appear to be necessary after Friday night's crowd of 14,343 (a legit number, by the way. If anything, there were comps that were not included), a number the NHL's Nashville Predators would kill for right now.
Also, am I the only one amazed that there were no penalties in sunday's game @ Toronto? Yes, you read that right: 0 PIM in 60 minutes of hockey!
Parting shot from the Woodchuck Hole: To those who claim that there is no connection between Saddam and 9/11 (meaning Al-Qaeda), explain this and this (neither article's from Fox News, so that's not an excuse).
*Roy Sommer, coach of the modern AHL Barons (01/02-05/06) was one of the most laid-back coaches, I've ever seen. I don't know whether or not it was a lack of interest in winning, but it sure came off that way.
Toronto FC's motto should be "Not Satisfied Until The Fire Department Gets Called In." Seriously, if the Dawg Pound threw that many smoke bombs onto the field, there'd be an uproar to kick the Browns out of the NFL. I love soccer, but some of these supporters groups are out of control (I'm talking to you, DC and Chicago).
Big Woodchuck Hole/Green Army/Crew Supporters Union props to Crew (and ex-City) midfielder Adam Moffat, who let loose an absolute golazo from what must have been 30-40 yards out for the first goal of the MLS season in the Crew's 2-0 victory over Pyromaniac FC. MLS can end their "Goal of the Year" promotion now, that was it! Okay, Green Army, say it with me!
Su-per, Su-per Ad!
Su-per, Su-per Ad!
Su-per, Su-per Ad!
Super Adam Moffat!
Also, congrats to Miami 300 winner Scott Dixon. It was great to see 25 cars on an Indycar grid as well as all of the top drivers on the same track. Not everything was good, however, as it is still plainly evident that Milka Duno is not capable of controlling an IndyCar on an oval for a full race. The problem is that Townsend Bell doesn't have enough sponsorship to run a full season in Dreyer & Reinbold's 2nd car. Thus, Milka gets to run the other races with her Citgo sponsorship. I'm thinking about starting a "Park Milka" campaign in order to get Mr. bell the necessary backing he needs to displace Milka and send her back to the type of racing she's good at: sportscars. I'll check around for pertinent figures as well as D&R's mailing address and post more info when I find it. I harbor no personal animosity towards Ms. Duno, by the way, I just think that she needs to leave the whole "female IndyCar driver" thing to those who are good at it, like Danica Patrick and Sarah Fisher.
Then there was Monday (OPENING DAY!!!!!!!!!!) The only thing more fun than opening day is kicking Chicago's butt on opening day. Baseball is back and the Tribe is looking good (Okay, the pitching was shaky, but it's only one game. By the way, it's not like anyone else in the AL Central has anything better) Right now all I know is that the Tribe is 1-0 and I am once again able to attend baseball games in person (the most fun a human being can possibly have).
Finally, there is the issue of the Monsters. Until this weekend, I couldn't figure out what was wrong with this team. It surely wasn't talent as the team has several players with NHL experience as well as some blue-chip prospects. It surely wasn't a lack of effort on the part of the coaching staff as Roy Sommer is nowhere in sight*. This weekend, however, it all became crystal clear. Just take a look at the following figures:
3/25 L 2-7 full-size rink
3/26 L 1-6 full size rink
3/28 L 1-4 full-size rink
3/29 OTL 5-6 short rink
3/30 L 1-6 full-size rink
These numbers make the necessary course of action crystal clear: shorten the rink @ the Q! After all, what's the sanctity of the 200X85 rink compared to brining the Calder Cup back to it's rightful home: Cleveland? It would also allow for some more seats, which appear to be necessary after Friday night's crowd of 14,343 (a legit number, by the way. If anything, there were comps that were not included), a number the NHL's Nashville Predators would kill for right now.
Also, am I the only one amazed that there were no penalties in sunday's game @ Toronto? Yes, you read that right: 0 PIM in 60 minutes of hockey!
Parting shot from the Woodchuck Hole: To those who claim that there is no connection between Saddam and 9/11 (meaning Al-Qaeda), explain this and this (neither article's from Fox News, so that's not an excuse).
*Roy Sommer, coach of the modern AHL Barons (01/02-05/06) was one of the most laid-back coaches, I've ever seen. I don't know whether or not it was a lack of interest in winning, but it sure came off that way.
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