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.

Failure to Launch

What does it mean for US Soccer that they were not able to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London this summer? I am not quite sure yet, but it did not leave a good feeling in my gut. The United States plays in the CONCACAF region, which includes North and Central American countries, as well as the island countries in the Caribbean. If you think this is an area chock-full of soccer powers, you are quite mistaken. Mexico is obviously the most formidable foe for the United States, and outside of that there are only a couple Central American countries that are somewhat respectable (Panama is the only other team in the top 50 in the world). So, it should be a given that both the U.S. and Mexico qualify for every major world tournament, right? Before this failure, I would have thought the answer was yes, but let’s take a look at what went wrong and if it matters at all.

It must be noted that the United States U-23 team was playing in these qualifying games. While it is easy to use this as an excuse, it would have been nice to see the future of American soccer show that they were ready for the big stage. Just because some of the main cogs of the national team did not participate, rising stars such as Freddy Adu, Juan Agudelo, and Brek Shea still played. One of the main reasons that they did not qualify is that, in my opinion, they may have thought the task too easy and simply failed to muster up the motivation to play 100%.

The national team is coming off of a huge road win against Italy, as noted here by an expert soccer journalist. Even though it was in a friendly competition, coach Klinsmann was able to quiet his doubters as the U.S. earned their first significant victory in a couple years. This should not have taken the focus away from Olympic qualifying. Even more, World Cup qualifying begins this summer, so the staff may have lacked in the effort and strategy categories.

The main reason I am disappointed in this result is that it is a huge buzz kill for the high that American soccer fans were feeling after the Italy match. The Olympics could have been a chance to show off the young talent that Klinsmann has at his disposal over the next couple of World Cups. Instead, the U.S. will focus on qualifying for the World Cup and hope to beat the soccer powerhouses of the Caribbean and Central America to reach the World Cup…in 2014. London could have given the Americans a chance to measure up to high caliber competition before Rio de Janeiro. It will not match up to the level of play that we see at the World Cup or near what we will see in Poland and Ukraine at the Euro Cup this summer. However, it will be a good measuring stick for the future of soccer all over the world.

American soccer still has a ways to go to reach a consistent level of success. No matter how frustrating this is, I am used to my sports teams letting me down, so I will keep the faith. Plus, the hiring of Klinsmann and the subsequent events still give me hope that the future is bright. I would just love to get to this future a little quicker.

As the EPL Turns

It was an interesting week for the top teams in the English Premier League. Sunday brought us an upset of Manchester City by recently promoted Swansea while Wayne Rooney led Manchester United to a victory over West Brom. This turn of events allowed United to leapfrog its rivals for the top spot in England. With only 10 matches remaining, City finds itself in a precarious situation.

Both teams also played in the Europa League during the week. If you remember, both were embarrassingly knocked out of the Champions League in group play and relegated to playing in the second-tier Europa competition. Of course, both were knocked out that this week. This was just the final punctuation in what has been a miserable year for English teams in European competition (except you Chelsea, congratulations on advancing, or whatever).

So now the teams from Manchester only have the EPL title to fight over. City had been coasting along most of the season, but United has been able to fight through injuries to get results and stay within striking distance. With the shocking loss to Swansea, City finally cracked and let United into the driver’s seat.

While examining the remaining schedules, I always thought that City had the tougher road to glory. They still have to play the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Arsenal. Even more importantly, a second match against United (who they manhandled earlier this season) looms. This match may very well decide the championship.

I still believe that both teams have some kinks to work out and whichever squad is able to regain composure will take the title. Overall, the league has seen some new teams sustain success (Newcastle United and Tottenham) and a familiar face regain some pride (Arsenal). The contest for a top four spot in the EPL and thus a spot in the Champions League next season also remains in the balance.

The end of this season, however disappointing it was in Europe, still guarantees excitement as we wind down. While many may say that the EPL had a down season, I think (and hope) that they saved everything for the last two months. Whoever takes home the title will have earned it and will show the world that there are still competent soccer clubs outside of Barcelona and Madrid.

One Large Leap for US Soccer

So the last day of February rolled around this past Wednesday, the twenty-ninth day of this odd month, and the United States Men’s National Team found itself in Italy facing a side that it had never defeated. Never! Unfortunately, I found myself in class, and since you can’t skip grad school classes, I was forced to find a way to watch and participate in higher learning (borrow a classmate’s laptop and sit in a strategic part of the classroom!).

I originally thought about writing this article about how this team, under the still-new leadership of Jürgen Klinsmann, was not progressing at the rate it needed for several reasons. The full ‘A’ squad has not played together yet, including stars Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan, and constantly injured Stu Holden. Furthermore, they have had a couple good performances littered amongst some mediocre showings. I was also going to comment on a couple players who I thought had received a fair audition but were not national team-worthy just yet.

But here we were, in Italy on a day that only comes once every four years. I tuned in about 20 minutes into the game to see the Americans donning their new away jerseys (which I didn’t hate). The first half wasn’t perfect, but Italy was held in check. The U.S. came back in the second half and it seemed as though they were not the same timid team that we saw at the end of 2011.

The pitch was very slow. Italy was spending too much time on the offensive, and Jozy Altidore was spending too much on the ground. But after some good ball movement, Fabian Johnson got a good cross in to Jozy, who instead of trying to draw a penalty kick, dropped it off to Dempsey who slotted it home for the winner. I must admit, I almost cheered out loud in the middle of class, but somehow kept my composure.

The last 35 minutes of the match were not easy. Italy pushed the ball repeatedly and we witnessed the best defense the US has displayed in a long time. Captain Carlos Bocanegra led his defenders into battle; players were diving and sacrificing their bodies to block shots and break up passes in a manner you only see during power plays in the NHL. It was hard for me to contain my emotions because the only thing I enjoy more than goals is stellar defense. The line held and the US walked out of Italy with their first victory ever against this world soccer power.

While Italy wasn’t at full power, the Americans were also short a couple key players. Playing on the road, they never backed down and though they didn’t play at their best, they played well enough to complete a much-needed signature win. Now, Klinsmann has a game that he can point to in meetings as the “see, you can beat the big boys” game.

Even more than these typical motivating points, the Americans can feel good about a win while still realizing that they didn’t play their best. It’s much easier to self-criticize and improve after a victory and now they can stay positive while still perfecting their craft.

This game may also provide Klinsmann the break he needs to get out of the media spotlight and work on building his team in time for World Cup qualifying. For the short term at least, he can concentrate on assembling his ideal squad. Up next for Klinsmann and co. is Scotland and then a home test against 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil. These matches won’t happen until May, so the Americans can ride this feel-good wave until then. However, these international friendlies will be quickly followed by World Cup qualifying. At that time, we hope to finally see a team ready to take the leap.

The RVP Conundrum

Robin Van Persie is one of the best strikers in the English Premier League. No, let me correct myself—in the world. But he plays for Arsenal. A couple of seasons ago, that was great for him. But Arsenal has been on an unbelievable drought, failing to win silverware since the 2004-05 season. This has become a perennial story in England and the struggles of manager Arsene Wenger to keep supporters have been well-documented. This season has been much of the same, but RVP has been phenomenal, scoring 22 goals in league play.

What to do for the left-footed striker who could be collecting trophies elsewhere? He plays for the Netherlands national team, one that is considered one of the best in the world. However, they also have not won a premier competition in quite a while.

In professional sports, we tend to highlight either the athletes who are starring for winning teams or brooding over athletes who are making the spotlight for the wrong reasons. But for every Kevin Garnett (Boston era) there is a Kevin Garnett (Minnesota era). These phenomenal talents seemingly waste away on teams that cannot truly compete for a title. But here in lies the question: is it better to have these talents move to teams that have larger budgets and better chances at the title, or should they stay with their current teams in hopes that they lift these underdog squads to glory?

A better example may be Demba Ba, Newcastle United’s breakout star. He is chasing RVP for the goal title and has 16 goals and counting. This Senegalese striker is lesser known around the world, and though Newcastle United is in contention for a top four spot, they are not a club (like Arsenal) that can compete financially with the Chelsea’s and Manchester City’s of the league.

While I can see the pros of having players like RVP and Ba transferred to teams that compete year in and year out, the part of me that loves underdogs has to prevail. It was painful to see the nightly efforts of Kevin Garnett only in the regular season, but seeing the small teams make a splash makes sports fun to watch. If my beloved Manchester United continued to sign all the rising stars, the same teams would compete and the same teams would fight for relegation.

Right now, that is the state of professional soccer. In England, both Manchester teams, Liverpool, and Chelsea can spend the most money to acquire the best talent. In Spain it is Barcelona and Real Madrid. The list goes on. Major League Baseball has the same issues because it too does not have a salary cap. At some point, the governing bodies for these leagues will have to decide if it is better to continue to alienate the small market teams or to make significant, unprecedented leaps and introduce parity into their leagues.

Even though I am a fan of the one of the top-spending teams, I vote for the latter. It is time for a change in professional sports. We have lost touch of why kids around the world play soccer or baseball or football growing up. For some reason, love for the game is trumped by money at the top levels. RVP and Ba may very well end up at other squads because they will be tempted by chances to play in the limelight, but we should root for them to stay put.

Let’s hope that rising players for smaller squads stay true to their roots and make this league more fun to watch for a wider base of fans. It will only do us all good.