Woe is Me

I am going to take this time to apologize to the country of Netherlands and all of those faithful Dutch fans out there. I should never have fallen in love with this team since all of my sports teams let me down on a regular basis. The Bengals haven’t had a playoff win since 1991. The Reds last won a World Series in 1990 (Wire-to-Wire, baby!) and were recently no-hit in their last playoff appearance. My college teams have consistently raised and then subsequently crushed my hopes. US Soccer has been improving in the 2000s, but cannot breakthrough into the top ranks of the world. Even the Women’s team, who has dominated the world, lost to Japan after an amazing run last summer in the World Cup. Even my crutch, Manchester United, came in second to their cross-town archenemies in the most devastating manner last month.

My love affair with Netherlands began when I saw their famous orange uniforms in the late 1990s, especially with Edgar Davids looking awesome in his dreads and goggles. Since orange is my color, this was a natural fit (especially since US Soccer was a joke at the time). However, my fandom has been a curse to this team. They have lost in heartbreaking fashion every two years in the Euros and World Cups, including not even qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.

After their loss to Spain in the 2010 World Cup Final, I was under the assumption that they would come back in this competition with a fire to avenge that loss like Robert Downey, Jr. I was wrong. They flopped against Denmark, the supposedly weak team in the Group of Death, then disappeared against their hated rivals, Germany, on Wednesday. They’re sitting ugly in last place, hoping that they can pair a victory over Portugal with a German win over Denmark on Sunday to move on.

This tall task can only belong to one of my teams. I continuously question my love of sports because my teams treat me so poorly. There are four gray hairs on my head, and I’m pretty sure they are a result of sports and not my grad school workload. There is a nonstop debate in my head to give up rooting for certain teams, but then my heart steps in as the voice of love and stops that nonsense.

For now, I will continue to complain about my teams and hope that the sports gods will have some mercy (I mean, COME ON!). So please, this Sunday, as you tune into the Euro Cup and see that orange-clad team trying to claw its way back, have pity for me as I watch with white knuckles and gritted teeth.

Your Semi-Complete Euro 2012 Preview

After a wild end to the Premier League and Championship League seasons, the amazing summer for sports is upon us. This Friday, the highly anticipated Euro 2012 begins in Poland and Ukraine. Most of the top international teams reside in Europe, so this satiates the void left between World Cups for most soccer fans. This year there are several countries that should contend and this may be one of the most exciting competitions we have seen in awhile. So, sit back, relax, and get pumped.

Group A

Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Russia

The battle of eastern Europe (plus Greece) could go down to the wire or could be a runaway. Poland has homefield, but the other three countries will not be intimidated. Greece has tended to surprise in Euro competitions of the past, including winning it in 2004. Russia has the talent to go far in this competition if they can get on the same page and realize their ability. The Czechs have the best goalie in the world (Petr Cech) but are coming off a disappointing qualifying season. Time will only tell us if they can move on.

Must-see Match: Poland v. Greece, June 8; It’s the first match of the competition and will set the tone for the tournament. Russia-Greece should also be entertaining.

Group A Winners: Russia and Greece

Group B

Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal

For me, this is the most exciting group. Germany and Netherlands are the clear-cut favorites, but Denmark and Portugal won’t go without being heard from. Portugal were the losers to Greece in 2004, a loss that I’m sure still stings to the core, given that the final was played in Portugal. Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, they will definitely provide for some intriguing matches. While Denmark may have a chance in another group, I can’t see them overcoming the other three teams. As a youngster, I fell in love with Le Oranje, and I’m hoping they can show up like they did in the World Cup.

Must-see Match: Netherlands v. Germany, June 13; Maybe the best group stage match of the tournament. Depending on how the tournament breaks down, this could be a potential Finals matchup. It would be a shame to miss any matches from this group.

Group B Winners: Netherlands and Germany

Group C

Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Spain

What a cakewalk for Spain. The reigning World Cup champions must have counted their blessings when the groups were announced. Italy is in turmoil off the field with the allegations of match-fixing (see my fellow soccer writer’s article here). They also recently lost at home to the United States, showing a slight lapse in quality. Ireland were robbed from appearing in the World Cup by a Thierry Henry handball, so I think they come out with some underdog fire. Croatia has little chance but would be a potential upset candidate against Italy.

Must-see Match: Spain v. Italy, June 10; Even though Italy is reeling, it may be fun to watch Spain break down the Italian side. If Italy is to move on, they may get out of bed for this one and actually put up a fight. I’m also excited to see Ireland’s passion in all their matches.

Group C Winners: Spain and Ireland

Group D

England, France, Sweden, Ukraine

A bad break for the other co-host in Ukraine. Sweden has Serie A star Zltan Ibrahimovic to lead them into battle, while England and France look to turn around disappointing World Cup showings. France look like they have overcome the coup that marred their World Cup and the English look talented and ready to compete (for once). Ukraine will be hard-pressed to win atleast one match, but could hold a team back if they steal some points.

Must-see Match: England v. France, June 11; This match will be key in deciding which of these teams is ready to compete again. If one team prevails as the winner, the other may have a tough time picking its head up to move on to the knockout stages. It will also present Sweden an opportunity to sneak through.

Group D Winners: England and France

So there you have a preview of the group stages. If it plays out like I predicted here is how the first knockout round looks:

Russia v. Germany

Netherlands v. Greece

Spain v. France

England v. Ireland

Germany and Spain would occupy one semifinal and Netherlands and England would duke it out in the other. I like a Netherlands-Germany final. England’s ability to make it this far will be applauded, but they don’t have the talent to match up with the Dutch. I think Spain’s days of dominance are behind them (for now) and Germany has looked good recently. I like Netherlands to finally come through in the clutch to take home the title as Europe’s best. The final will be played at a very high level and should be a fantastic finish to a great tournament. You won’t regret tuning in. I promise.

Paint it Blue

I almost did it. If you read last week’s article, you may have sensed that I was trying to jinx Manchester City as they vied to clinch the Premier League title against Queens Park Rangers. And wow, was I close. City pulled off the most historically ridiculous comeback in English soccer, setting off a storm in the soccer world. If you were one of the lucky few who got up early Sunday (9 am is early for me, ok?) to watch, then you know exactly what I am talking about.

As a Manchester United fan, this was a tough pill to swallow. It was made even tougher by watching the United players celebrate before having their faces turn to terror when the City score was displayed in the stadium (thanks for showing that scene a million times, by the way). For City fans, it must have been jubilation. Their side had not won a title since the 1960s (!) and they have had to sit there year after year as the other team in the city competed for silverware.

Now that a team other than United, Chelsea, or Arsenal have won the title (Blackburn won it once, but that’s irrelevant), what does this mean for English soccer? One of the main criticisms of the Premier League has been this obvious lack of parity. City finally broke that spell and now we will see a bunch of new teams winning and expelling the big name clubs from the top, right? Wrong. Under new ownership, City spent and spent and spent to bring in top tier players and was able to buy their way to a title. Admittedly, it has worked for my beloved United and others, but it made me sad to see a new team win their first title in a similar fashion.

What I take away from this season as a positive, besides the most spectacular finish since Oklahoma-Boise State, is that Tottenham and Newcastle were able to remain in the top five throughout the season. While Newcastle choked their Champions League spot away near the end, both teams showed that it is possible to fight against the top squads and stay respectable. I would love to see this trend continue in the future in the face of increased spending from the previously established teams.

While I offer my congratulations to Manchester City on a season well played (threw up in my mouth a little there), I hope that the trend of lower-budget teams competing continues. City deserved this title as they played their hearts out and beat United when it counted, so I have to concede they were the better team this season. However, I hope this summer brings strong acquisitions to the smaller clubs so that next season’s race is more than just a highly paid Manchester derby.

The Downer Effect

I am going to keep this short. I am really dreading Sunday, the final matchday of the English Premier League this season. This will be the first time in a bajillion years that Manchester CITY (not United) will be taking home the title. As a United fan, this is devastating for me because this is the first time in a long while that United will not be taking home any type of silverware.

A few months ago, both City and United famously crashed out of the UEFA Champions League before knockout rounds even began, and they were ridiculed for this failure. No matter who won the EPL, the season was marred by the failure to advance in the most prestigious of club competitions. Then, both City and United fell out of the FA Cup, leaving them to only fight for the EPL title. No matter who won, it was an ugly year for both and neither was going to leave completely satisfied with the season.

Now that we are approaching the final game for every team, City is set to face Queens Park Rangers to secure their first title in a gabillion years while United and all their glory are snubbed of a title. I will not lie, this is painful to swallow. United has long been the only team to come through for me, as my other favorite sports team reside in Ohio. However, soccer will finally also leave that familiar sour taste in my mouth as United will go home empty-handed. (Oh, and the fact that Chelsea beat Barcelona and is now set to play for the Champions League title does not really help).

I do not want to be a complete downer in this rant. The EPL had an exciting year because finally, teams that are not included in the “Big Four” were able to stay near the top. Newcastle United and Tottenham gave us a lot of fun and were able to knock out Chelsea and Liverpool from top-four status.

This season sets up what should be a very interesting summer. City will be coming off of their first title in FOREVER and will try to strengthen weak spots without really knowing how to act like a champion. United will be coming off their most disappointing season in years and will try to infuse youth in a team that relied heavily on older players. Chelsea and Liverpool will be forget about what went wrong and the upstart teams will try to keep their star players so they can contend once again.

No matter how depressing this season has been for a United fan, I have complete faith in their ability to rebound and I know that Euro 2012 will give me a chance to forget about the past season. Plus, I can always count on the MLS, right?

Pat Summitt: A Tribute

The famed coach of the Tennessee Volunteers Women’s basketball program stepped down recently due to a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Her name lends itself to hundreds of sport-related puns, but none could give her the respect that she deserves as possibly the greatest basketball coach of all time.

John Wooden, Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Bob Knight, Geno Auriemma. These are the names of some of the greatest coaches in college basketball history. Coach Summitt belongs near or at the top of that list. She has the most victories in NCAA history. She has the most Final Four appearances. She has eight national championships. But the most amazing legacy she may leave behind is a 100% graduation rate. In this day and age, that is probably the most astonishing fact of Summitt’s career.

The men’s game obviously has a potential for leading to the NBA, while the WNBA is less popular and very low paying relative to its male counterpart. So, one may argue that academics are much more “important” for women athletes than men. I will concede that the monetary pressure is greater for male athletes, which means that there is more potential for violations and less pressure to perform academically (which we see way too much). However, men’s sports can take a hint or two from Coach Summitt’s stress for academic excellence. She has shown that academics do not have to take a hit to achieve athletic dominance.

That Summitt has been forced to step down due to early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease is more than unfortunate. Having seen the effects of Alzheimer’s first-hand, this disease is a struggle not only for the afflicted, but their families and friends as well. It is good to see that Summitt will stay on in some capacity and make the transition for players and coaches as smooth as possible.

In almost every society in the world, women are still de-valued and in the sports world, this is still very true. It is time to realize that Pat Summitt is not just the best women’s basketball coach of all time, but possibly the best college coach to every grace the hardwood. So please, stand and applaud.

Upset of a Lifetime

Tell me you watched. Tell you me were able to get off work or had the game recorded and you experienced the same wondrous, awe-inspiring, history-defining moment that occurred on Tuesday in Barcelona. If you don’t know, you’re about to: Chelsea, a club that has been disappointing in Premier League play this season, pulled off the upset of the century in the Champions League semifinals against the mighty Barcelona.

The week before at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea played phenomenally and held off Barcelona 1-0 to take a lead going into the leg in Spain. Even though they were down, no one expected that Barca would have any trouble regaining their form and moving on at home. Then, Saturday happened. What happened, you ask? The all-important match with Real Madrid that pretty much decided the La Liga title ended with a loss for Barcelona. In that match, and in the first leg with Chelsea, something looked off with the Spanish giants. They didn’t have the consistent and precise touch and finishing that has been so frustrating for opposing sides the last few years.

After that loss, I thought that Chelsea might have a chance to move on, even though on paper they were the far inferior team. This thought was weakened when the game began. Camp Nou was rocking and Barcelona came to play, dominating from the get-go. Sergio Busquets gave them a lead in the 35^th minute and then John Terry committed a dirty knee-in-the-back foul and earned himself a red card just a couple minutes later. Chelsea found themselves a man and then another goal down after Iniesta scored Barca’s second. However, just before halftime, Ramires took a wonderful through-ball from Frank Lampard and scored a beauty of a goal, chipping the ball over Victor Valdes from the edge of the box. This goal evened the aggregate score and gave Chelsea some hope.

For me, the deciding blow came shortly after halftime. Barcelona were again pressing heavily in the Chelsea box and Didier Drogba, who has played so well in Champions League, committed a penalty in the box. Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player of this generation, stepped to the spot to finish the Blues off. Right as he went to kick it, there seemed to be a moment of hesitation and he banged it off the crossbar.

After the Messi miss, there were still an innumerable amount of chances for Barcelona to score the winning goal. They had possession almost non-stop and were in Chelsea’s half constantly. In this manner, they looked the Barca of old. However, they lacked just the right amount of finesse to finish off their chances. Chelsea even tried to help. They brought on Fernando Torres, who up until that time was the biggest bust of recent transfer memory, for Drogba. Torres struggled a bit in defense and it seemed that he could be the goat once again. But in the 90^th minute, Torres broke free on a clear and coolly slotted home the goal that assured Chelsea of advancement. To have Torres finish off this monumental upset was symbolic of the greatness of this accomplishment.

Taken as a whole, this round was as unlikely as anyone could have imagined. Even the most loyal of Chelsea fans had to admit that their chances were minimal. But Chelsea showed that heart and willpower could trump a less-than-perfect Barca squad. Over a span of eight days, Barcelona fell hard from glory. They were bounced out of both Champions League and La Liga title contention and on Friday, coach Pep Guardiola stepped down as Barca’s top man. Barcelona will have to use this offseason to re-group and evaluate how to get back to the pinnacle.

Chelsea, on the other hand, will have a tough time in the final against Bayern Munich, who won in astonishing fashion against Real Madrid, as they lost several players on yellow cards and Terry’s red. Though their chances will be slim yet again, I will not doubt Chelsea’s chances, even if they have to travel to Bayern’s home stadium to play. No matter the result, I have to like interim coach Roberto Di Matteo’s chances of becoming the permanent coach, as he has done an amazing job of keeping this squad on task. We can only wait and wonder until May 19^th to see how this crazy and exciting Champions League season comes to a finish.

The Hunt for Silver Lining

Leagues around the world are winding to a close as we enter the end of spring (already?) and the beginning of a summer that will include Euro 2012, the Summer Olympics, and World Cup Qualifying. The last few weeks of the English Premier League have seen Manchester City squander away their stranglehold on first place. City fell apart to the extent that Manchester United climbed to an eight point lead last week and it seemed that the race was all but over. Even though this has been a down year for the EPL, this race has ensured that the title run will have some excitement.

City has regained some semblance of their early season form over the last two matches, winning by a combined score of 10-1. Meanwhile, United lost to lowly Wigan and now, after Saturday’s matches, sit only two points of City with a game in hand. If United struggle with Aston Villa on Sunday, Sir Alex Ferguson and crew will feel less than comfortable. The Manchester derby now looms larger than ever on the last day of April.

As I mentioned before, this has been a disappointing year for the EPL. The level of competition has been lower as it seems that injuries and lack of top form have ravaged many clubs. The title race has long been a two-team race and the battle for the last two Champions League spots has seen each team try to give it away. Tottenham started strong but has faltered. Arsenal started, well, like Arsenal, but they have come back with a vengeance to snatch third place. Liverpool continues to oscillate between competent and unmotivated. Chelsea fired their millionth manager in five years but have found a way to stay competitive. And Newcastle United continue to stick around with impressive victories and striker play from Demba Ba.

Last season, I stated that the EPL was the strongest club league in the world, closely followed by Spain’s La Liga. Barcelona and Real Madrid have been so strong this year that I can no longer state this as fact. However, there is plenty left to cheer for in England. Chelsea remain alive in the Champions League and if they can play as a unit, they may have a chance to surprise Barcelona in the semifinals. Arsenal have shown that it is possible to overcome the critics and ridicule they suffered in October. The staying power of Newcastle and Tottenham give credit to the unmatched top-to-bottom depth of the Premier League.

While this season has left many sour tastes in the collective mouth of the fanbase, there is hope that all will be better. The competition at the top of the table has been running hot for several years in a row, so we had to be aware of a letdown sooner or later. Given the apparent lack of fire by some clubs, we are still being treated to battles for the title, Champions League spots, and avoiding relegation. When players return from injury or clubs like Chelsea regain stability, the battle for glory will once again be intense and fun to watch. Until then, we can enjoy what is available and savor the last few matchdays of the season.