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Atleast when it comes to soccer.
A frenzied crowd of nearly 50,000 soccer fans, the largest ever to watch a non-World Cup game in Northern California, will gather in Oakland tonight to watch an exhibition game between two national teams from foreign countries — Mexico and Ecuador.
The Mexican national team is the most popular soccer team in the United States and consistently outdraws America’s team, or any other soccer club for that matter.
And any game in California is like a home game for the Mexicans.
The Oakland Coliseum will be filled with thousands of screaming fans wearing “El Tricolor” — the green, red and white of the Mexican national flag. The game sold out nearly a month ago. Tickets originally priced at $60 were being resold on Craigslist for $150 on Tuesday.
“We in Mexi-fornia consider this a home game,” said Roger Fernandez, owner of ChivaMex, a store in Oakland’s Fruitvale District that specializes in Mexican League and other international soccer apparel. “I mean Ecuador is coming to our house, so we got to represent for Mexico.”
Its really not suprising story to read because despite America’s size soccer’s popularity ranks somewhere between the NHL and hitting yourself in the head with a hammer. Beyond that its really not suprising that Mexican immigrants maintain a close tie to the team the respresents their home country, especially given the large amount of spanish media outlets that can provide an up to the second link to their childhood teams. Of course with everything there are problems because many of the fans still act like they are in Mexico for the game, which is why I aviod any game in which a Latin American Team is involved. At any given game played in Southern California its not uncommon for the US National Anthem to be booed, objects thrown at non-Mexican fan, threats of violence, and so on. Its great to support your team, even I pull for teams that represent countries where my family comes from (when they aren’t playing the US), but you don’t need to be a soccer hooligan to do it.
Its been a week for Jack Johnson, in 6 days he will have gone from playing in the NCAA Tournment to suiting up for his first NHL game. A trip that will take him from Ann Arbor to Los ANgeles with a lay over in Denver. After argeeing to a deal with the Kings on Monfay he spent Tuesday working out with some players on injured reserve, today was full practice with the team and his childhood hockey idol Rob Blake.
Photo Source: RinkRat @ Letsgokings.com
While Anze Kopitar has become a foundation for the team at the center position, Dean Lombardi has been singing the praised of Johnson since he was aquired looking to him to be the cornerstone of the team on the blue line for better part of the next two decades. By Johnson jumping right into the NHL, it gives the Kings a glimpse at where his development stands to this point. The season is already a loss for the team but getting Johnson NHL experience will help in the creation of a development plan over the summer, acclimates him to NHL life and will shape the off-season aquisitions the Kigns will make with their anticipated $15-$17m in cap space this off-season. This move alone may end up selling out the last two home games fo the season because it sure won’t be playoff excitement. I of course will be at the game, because I am pretty much always there.
Spurred on by the post Jeff Van Gundy Wants Random NBA Lottery, it is worth looking at the NHL, who also combines a lottery with the inverse order of finish and playoff success to building its draft order.
The first is the distinction between playoff teams (finish as 1-16) and non-playoff teams (finish as 17-30) and the draft ordering, as well as the first round and rounds two thru seven.
Rounds 2 thru 7
Picks 1-14: Non-playoff teams ranked in order of fewest points (2 pts for a win, 1 pt for overtime loss).
Picks 15-24: Non-Division Winners who did not make the Conference Finals ranked by points, will consist of 6 to 10 teams.
Picks 21-26: Division Winners who did not make the Conference Finals ranked by points , will consist of 2 to 6 teams.
Pick 27: Conference Final Loser with least points.
Pick 28: Conference Final Loser with most points.
Pick 29: Stanley Cup Runner-Up.
Pick 30: Stanley Cup Champion.
1st Round
Picks 1-14: Teams ranked by points. Balls numbered 1-14 are selected to form series of numbers with the 14 Teams involved assigned combinations of numbers using a probability chart. The four-digit series that results from the balls drawn are be compared to the probability chart to determine the team to which that combination has been assigned. There are 1,001 numerical combinations possible, with one combination eliminated to make the odds fair; if the eliminated combination is drawn (a 0.1% probability), the drawing is immediately re-done. The percentage chance of being selected in the lottery is as follows, based on team finish:
30th: 25.0% (250 combinations), but a 48.2% chance of picking first
29th: 18.8% (188 combinations)
28th: 14.2% (142 combinations)
27th: 10.7% (107 combinations)
26th: 8.1% (81 combinations)
25th: 6.2% (62 combinations)
24th: 4.7% (47 combinations)
23rd: 3.6% (36 combinations)
22nd: 2.7% (27 combinations)
21st: 2.1% (21 combinations)
20th: 1.5% (15 combinations)
19th: 1.1% (11 combinations)
18th: 0.8% (8 combinations)
17th: 0.5% (5 combinations)
The team selected in the lottery may not move up more than four positions in the draft order. Thus the only clubs with the opportunity to receive the 1st overall selection are the five clubs with the lowest regular-season point totals (or clubs that acquired those clubs’ first-round drafting positions). No club can move down more than one position as a result of the lottery. Under the weighted lottery system, the club with the fewest regular-season points will have the greatest chance (25%) of winning the lottery and will pick no lower than second at the Entry Draft.
After the club selected moves up, the balance of the first 14 draft selections are adjusted by one, with the appropriate clubs moving down one slot to accommodate the winner, if necessary.
Picks 15-30: Same as Rounds 2 thru 7.
2005 was an exception to the standard draft procedure, due to the NHL Lockout. Teams felt it was unfair to reuse the the 2004 Draft order, so teams were assigned 1 to 3 balls based on playoff appearence over the previous 3 seasons (3 balls = 0 playoff appearneces, 2 balls = 1 playoff appearence, 1 ball = 2 or more playoff appearances). To make the draft “fair” the draft order was reversed each round, so who ever picked last in the current round pick first in the next round. The developing of this draft was quite tense as it was the year of the Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes and every team wanted a shot at him. And yes there were accusations similar to the Patrick Ewing frozen envolope draft involving weighted balls to make sure Pittsburgh got Crosby to “help” the team stay in Pittsburgh.
Shaq passed Reggie Miller to be #12 on the all-time scoring list, but its not so much that which makes it great to be Shaq. No, its shooting 60% from the free throw line and getting this headline:
O’Neal shines from free-throw line (12-of-20) in milestone game
I don’t think shines should be attached to a 60% success rate, unles of course Its your batting average.
As for Robert Horry, Yahoo Sports list his reason for not playing as “Old Age”.
10 years ago was a night that saw the Dertoit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche become one of the most intest rivalries in the NHL. It started as the Red Wings looking to get even with Claude Lemieux for a cheap shot the year before on Kris Draper.
It has been 10 years since Darren McCarty pummeled Claude Lemieux, Brendan Shanahan flew through the air to get after Patrick Roy, and, of course, Mike Vernon fought Roy, punches thrown wildly, with coaches screaming and fans going berserk.
Kris Draper had been on the receiving end of an ugly hit by Lemieux the season before in the playoffs, and that touched off the bad blood between the teams.
Nearly a year had passed and, in the minds of the Wings, payback came due on March 26, 1997. The game, won by the Wings, 6-5 in overtime on a goal by McCarty, was a unifying force for that team, which would go on to win the next two Stanley Cups.
Yes a fight brought the team together, not just becuase it was fight it was because they drew a line to which no one would be allowed to cross when it came to their teammates.
The Draper-Lemieux incident was on the mind of every player, coach and fan that evening. Lemieux never showed remorse for the injuries he inflicted on Draper after drilling Draper’s face into the boards.
The fact that Detroit lost to Colorado in that 1996 playoff series increased the Red Wings’ sense of urgency.
“Everyone expected (the brawl) to happen, and how we got there wasn’t good, but it was an accumulation of a lot of games,” Chris Osgood said. “It was probably more fun for the fans (than players). But it was kind of necessary. It was probably one of the last steps for us to take, to come together as a team and the fact we stood up for each other, going into the playoffs.”
The buildup heading into the game, and the war of words between the teams, led everyone to believe something memorable was going to happen.
“There was hatred between the teams,” Osgood said.
“They were a great hockey team, and we were a great hockey team, and they had the one thing that we wanted, the Stanley Cup,” Draper said.
“They had beaten us the year before, and New Jersey had beaten us in the Finals in 1995, and we had to find a way to get over that hurdle.
“That night really helped us and excited us, especially because it was so close to the playoffs.”
It was old time hockey at its best and were some of the most intense and hard fought games I have ever seen (Even more intense than when Mattias Norstrom check Peter Forsberg so hard so may times it burst his spleen).
You can find a video summary of the rivalry here.
This is just too sad for words.
HACKENSACK, N.J. — A 21-year-old University of North Carolina student who served as a mascot for the school’s basketball team died Monday, three days after he was struck by a sport-utility vehicle while walking along a highway.
Jason Ray, who dressed up as UNC’s ram mascot, Rameses, had been in critical condition since the accident on Route 4 on Friday afternoon. He had been in New Jersey for the men’s NCAA Tournament game between North Carolina and Southern California at Continental Airlines Arena.
Steve Kirscher, UNC’s associate athletics director for communications, said Ray died at 8:38 a.m. Monday.
According to police, Ray left his hotel to go to a nearby convenience store Friday afternoon, and was walking back along Route 4 when he was struck from behind by an SUV. The driver stopped immediately to call 911. No charges have been filed.
Police said Gagik Hovsepyan, 51, the driver who hit Ray, had a valid driver’s license and did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. His son was asleep in the SUV at the time, police said.
Ray was scheduled to graduate in May with a major in business administration and a minor in religion.
Nothing but thoughts and prayers for his family and friends.
On April 5th, the Frozen Four will feature Maine vs. Michigan State and North Dakota vs. Boston College. The winners will play on April 7th in St. Louis for the NCAA Title.
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1st Round
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Quarterfinals
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Semifinals
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Championship
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National
Champion
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| 1-Clarkson |
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| 4-Massachusetts |
Massachusetts
Won, 1-0 ot |
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| Â |
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Maine
Won, 3-1 |
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2-St.
Cloud State |
Maine
Won, 4-1 |
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| 3-Maine |
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| Â |
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4 p.m. ET
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| 1-Notre Dame |
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| 4-Alabama-Huntsville |
Notre Dame
Won, 3-2 2ot |
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| Â |
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Michigan State
Won, 2-1 |
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2-Boston
University |
Michigan State
Won, 5-1 |
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| 3-Michigan State |
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| Â |
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Frozen
Four
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St. Louis,
Mo. |
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| 1-Minnesota |
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| 4-Air Force |
Minnesota
Won, 4-3 |
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| Â |
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North Dakota
Won, 3-2 ot |
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| 2-Michigan |
North Dakota
Won, 8-5 |
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| 3-North Dakota |
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| Â |
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8 p.m. ET
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| 1-New Hampshire |
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| 4-Miami |
Miami
Won, 2-1 |
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| Â |
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Boston College
Won, 4-0 |
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| 2-Boston College |
Boston College
Won, 4-1 |
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| 3-St. Lawrence |
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Looks like Jack Johnson the #3 pick in the 2005 NHL draft will leave University of Michigan and play for the Los Angeles Kings this week.
DENVER, March 25 – Michigan star defenseman Jack Johnson is negotiating a contract with the Los Angeles Kings today, ending speculation of whether the sophomore would forgo his two remaining years of eligibility.
Johnson confirmed his departure in an exclusive interview with The Michigan Daily this afternoon.
“I thought I was ready for a new challenge,” Johnson said. “With all my close friends, the seniors, gone now and everything, I thought it was time for me to pretty much go for a new challenge.”
Following Michigan’s 8-5 loss to North Dakota Saturday night in the NCAA West Regional semifinals in Denver, the team flew back to Ann Arbor, but Johnson and his family stayed behind. Johnson’s agent, Pat Brisson, and the Kings’ general manager, Dean Lombardi, worked out the details of the contract.
“I’ll be flying from Denver to Los Angeles,” Johnson said. “Everything’s done except for they’re negotiating bonuses.”
Johnson said he will be in the Kings’ lineup Tuesday night when they play on the road against the San Jose Sharks.
The Kings aquired the rights to Johnson just before the start of the season from Carolina, in a trade that saw the Kings send forward Eric Belanger and defenseman Tim Gleason to Carolina for Jack Johnson and defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky. The Kings took advantage of Carolina who was desperate for an NHL defenseman and in need of a willing partner to take on Tverdovsky’s contract. While the move hurt the Kings in the short term, this news makes the pain go away.
This has to be one of the most bizzare recruiting stories I have heard lately. Just a few choice quotes below:
Mayo was first mentioned in Sports Illustrated when he was in the seventh grade. He was considered a future lottery pick by the time he entered high school. He once talked trash to Michael Jordan during a pickup game at Jordan’s camp.
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“Let me call him,†Floyd said.
The man shook his head again. “O. J. doesn’t give out his cell,†he said. “He’ll call you.â€
…
Before Floyd hung up, he asked one more time for Mayo’s cellphone number. “No,†Mayo said. “I’ll call you.â€
Its going to be an interesting one and done eyar for OJ and USC.
In an attempt to put its best nose forward, London will spend 2,000,000,000 Pounds to upgrade its sewer system.
A new £2bn “super sewer” intended to stop the 2012 London Olympics site from being swamped by untreated sewage was today given the go-ahead by the government. The 18-mile tunnel – the construction of which will add £37 a year to water bills in the capital – will help stop untreated sewage from pouring into the Thames during heavy rainfall. It will also prevent sewage from backing up the Lee and Bow Back rivers, which run through the east London Olympic site.
The games will be staged close to the 19th century Abbey Mills pumping station – known as the “cathedral of sewage” – which deals with the biggest overflow of sewage in the capital. Approval of the new scheme comes after warnings that the games could be ruined by the sight and smell of overflowing sewage from the city’s outdated drainage system.
In 2005, the Thames Tideway Group, a government advisory committee, warned that there was a “100% chance” of sewage overflows at the site during the summer months.
One would have to agree that odor of raw sewage would ruin one’s Olympic experience. Of course this kind of work needs to be done anyways to prevent the associated pollution with sewage spills. While a great idea at the time, combined sewer-storm drain systems are a major source of problems in many cities when it comes to meeting environmental regulations. Good thing I live in LA where we kept our sewer and storm systems separate.
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