In Training

Arizona beats #4 Zags

YEAH BABY! Gotta love college basketball.

My University of Arizona Wildcats scored a 69-64 win to beat the #4 in the county undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs!

The win is even more sweet when you know that this is the first year without our beloved long-time coach, Lute Olson. One of the most fantastic coaches to grace the floor. Even though I know that this season might not be the most fun, and even though I know that next season will probably be even worse, all I can do right now is be extremely happy and excited that my team just knocked off number FOUR! YEAH! No matter what, I'll always be a fan.

And you thought cricket was boring...

It's not, and definitely not in this match!

Australian cricketer hits streaker for six during international match

Including photos and video! He clocks him, by golly. 
But then again, Mr. Symonds did consider rugby before making it in cricket.

Wildcats vs. Oregon

# 2 who? 

My Arizona Wildcats just upset the number two (2!) ranked Oregon Ducks! 
Final score 34 - 24. 

Go Cats!

Our pick for player of the game : Spencer Larsen the kid is everywhere and he hits HARD. (though definitely Antoine Cason stepped it up with his interception and punt return - both touchdowns)

That makes three wins in a row.  If we can just beat our sworn enemy Arizona State (boo hiss!) on December 1st we'll be eligible for a bowl game.  And hey, we just beat # 2.  I'm thinkin' we'll be a bit motivated to take down #8.  Especially since it's those damn devils!  I very much dislike those guys...

When it comes to the Wildcats, I'm forever an optimist!

Back to Back Championships!!

Go Cats! Go Cats! Go Cats!

The Arizona Women's softball team has beat the Tennessee Lady Vols to win back to back National Championships!  For the third time!

That makes EIGHT national championships since 1991!

Can't believe I missed it, but I know my Dad & Mom were watching and cheering - both graduated from the UofA.

To honor this glorious occasion, I will sing a breathtaking rendition of Bear Down Arizona!

Bear Down Arizona
Bear Down Red and Blue
Bear Down Arizona
Hit 'em hard
Let 'em know who's who - Rah! Rah!
Bear Down Arizona
Bear Down Red and Blue
Go! Go! Wildcats go!
Arizona Bear Down

Bizarre World Cup News

One and 1/2 days until the U.S. takes on Ghana in a must-win game!  I'm thinkin' it's a win. 
To celebrate our draw against Italy, one of the soccer powerhouses, I bring you MSNs Top Ten Bizarre World Cup News Stories. My personal favorites being:

2. Supporters lose their trousers
Patriotic followers of Holland were forced to watch their team’s game against the Ivory Coast in their pants after their traditional orange lederhosen were confiscated by stadium officials in Stuttgart. The offending garments, bright orange trousers replete with a lion’s tail, carried the name of a Dutch beer that wasn’t an official World Cup sponsor.

Over 1000 fans were defrocked on their way into the stadium. Though officials claimed they could be collected after the game, the trousers were thrown in with the rubbish. "It was ridiculous. Fortunately, I had a long t-shirt," one fan lamented.

5. Cambodian monks warned over behaviour
Having a national side so bad that the Cook Islands would give them a good game hasn’t stopped the 40,000 Buddhist monks living in Cambodia from embracing the World Cup spirit. Unfortunately for them, a love of football (replete with blind unquestioning faith and a love of chanting) is thought to threaten the Buddhist way of life. Though they are allowed to watch the matches, they will lose their monkhoods if they "cheer or make noise" according to supreme patriarch Non Nget.

Heh.

It's HERE! A Kinda Sorta Round-Up

My boys visiting Mayor Ole von Beust of Hamburg, hanging out on the balcony of the Rathaus.  Photos from ussoccer.com.

Just 3 more days until our game against the Czech Republic!  Don't forget to check the US Weblog for funny stories and inside info...

Entry #35: June 8, 4:23 p.m. (10:23 a.m. ET)
Bruce se habla espanol?  During today's presser - that would be 'press conference' for you non-media types - Pablo Mastroeni answered a question in Spanish about the team's preparation for the Czech Republic.  When asked to repeat his answer in English, Pablo's response was "I can't remember what I said."  In jumps Bruce to save the day: "c'mon, You're preparing; individually you're confident; estamos is 'We are'... "  which brought laughter to the entire room.  You just never know what Bruce has in store ...

Right Wing Nuthouse strikes again (I love his series, excellent writing!) with Countdown to Germany: Politics and Sports. 

Donovan & O'Brien warming up.  We are gonna kick some tail. 

Keep up with the standings, so far Germany has won over Costa Rica, 4-2.  Ecuador has a goal up on Poland as I'm typing...

Also watch Studio 90, the daily web show from Germany.  ALSO (I know, it never stops!!) for those bored with soccer already (gasp!) here's an interview with Claudia Schiffer.  And she LOVES football and the World Cup.  So all y'all that were just dissing this post, you'll never have a chance with the Claudia love.

FIFAworldcup.com: What does it mean for you personally to carry the FIFA World Cup Trophy on to the pitch with Pele? Are you nervous?
Claudia Schiffer: Definitely. I'm totally thrilled. This is the highlight of my career.
....
Are there any games at this FIFA World Cup that you really don’t want to miss?
Of course. The semi-final and the final are extremely important to me, as well as the games involving Germany and England.

Sites to watch:
FIFA World Cup Site

Official U.S. Soccer Site

U.S. Soccer Baby, 7 Days & Counting

ussoccer.com

Check out the USA Soccer Blog, it has short entries like this:
Entry #13: June 5, 8:08 a.m. (2:08 a.m. ET)
Has anyone ever made the connection of how Germany’s Michael Ballack looks like Matt Damon? Ballack is a spokesperson for an electronics company in Germany and there are advertising billboards all over the bus stops here in Hamburg. With his hair parted down the middle, he looks so much like Damon in “Good Will Hunting” it’s scary. Seriously. When you get a chance, compare the two.
Cracks me up.

A new post from Right Wing Nuthouse goes into more specifics on some of the players, such as the ever-international Claudio Reyna:
"Team USA Captain Claudio Reyna is an established international star, having played with the famed Glasgow Rangers of the Scottish Premier League and currently with Manchester United. Considered the best American field player ever, Reyna has been hobbled by injury and is just now getting back to match fitness. In the 2002 Cup where the Americans made it to the quarters, his brilliant, composed play helped the US side to withstand the tremendous defensive pressure of both Mexico, a second round win, and Germany, a close loss of 1-0 where some observers believed that the US played well enough to win. His crisp, accurate passes will allow the US to maneuver through the midfield, where the marking will be very tight and his long balls, feeding the American’s speedy wingers will open the field to some decent scoring chances."


John O'Brien, all photos from ussoccer.com  Look at the hair seriously.  How can you not like this guy?

And, as RWNH notes, the Team's rallying cry is "Don't Tread on Me."  I happen to like their gear.  Especially the soccer ball. 

"No matter how much France looks down on us, Brazil doubts us, or England mocks us; no matter what the odds, or the situation, or the game, the American people have this uncanny, gloriously stubborn belief that if we want something badly enough, we will achieve it. This is the desire that coursed through the veins of our revolutionaries in 1776. This is the desire that courses through the veins of Team USA as they prepare to challenge the World in 2006."

U.S.A.! U.S.A!

I love U.S.A. Soccer.

Eddie Johnson in the win against Latvia last week.  Photo from ussoccer.com.

It's true.  LOVE IT.  LOVE IT.  Which is not unusual, really.  I'm all over the Olympics, and I adore college sports.  Not much for professional sports, though.  But I'm off-track.

One of my new reads, Right Wing Nut House is also a lover of soccer and has (and will be) been posting about the team. 

Countdown to Germany is the name of the series. 

"So you hate the very mention of soccer and will let me know in no uncertain terms in the comments that you are disgusted with me for being so much in love with a game that most Americans find dull, boring, and so…so…EUROPEAN!

Color me unfazed. Soccer is about to take center stage in the sports world and like it or not, our country has a chance – a minuscule one to be sure – to win the World Cup in Germany that starts next week..."

I played soccer when I was younger, on an all boys team.  I don't think soccer is boring, though it is most definitely more fun to play than to watch!

AND the newest: Countdown to Germany: Team U.S.A.

"...Ranked 5th in the tournament, Team USA boasts several players who have distinguished themselves on the international pitch as well as a couple of bona fide stars who have made a name for themselves in Europe. Coach Bruce Arena – the longest serving international coach in the competition – has also assembled a strong cast of supporting characters drawn largely from MLS (Major League Soccer) clubs here in the United States.

Gone are the days when the US team was composed mainly of naturalized citizens and college kids. America is now recognized as a legitimate soccer power in the world and the European club teams line up at the doors of our best players, hoping to sign them to contracts that rival those of any professional athlete in the United States..."

Royal, the poor guy, cannot stand soccer (football).  He's rugby all the way.  But I did kinda get him to say that he would take me to a game sometime when we're living in Britain! 

My favorite player thus far is John O'Brien. A midfielder who plays the bongos.  I dig the hair.

The U.S. has a team to be proud of, so let's be proud!**

** And even if they weren't all that great, we should still support.  So there.