The World What?

BY TOM NIERADKA

EDITORIAL - PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

So the World Cup…What’s the Deal with that?

With the World Cup about a week underway, now is as good a time as any to take a glance at the sport that everybody but America likes. 

This is really the one time where even Americans are interested in soccer, mostly because this is like the Olympics but only with one sport. It’s that chance for Americans to prove that “Hey, even though we don’t care about this sport we’re still better than you at it”. 

But so far the World Cup has been a bit lackluster, even by normal soccer standards. However as an impartial analyst I’m always trying to dig deeper into these problems, so let’s go ahead and take a look at the good and the bad of the World Cup thus far.  

 Good: A United Front 

The World Cup really is a chance for the whole world to come together and compete. 

Hot off the heels of the successful Winter Olympics, the World Cup is yet another event where the world unites in a battle to determine who is the best at kicking a ball around a huge field for 90 minutes. It’s is a time for people to learn about other countries, and especially a time for Americans to look at a sport that they are not normally interested in and learn about the global pastime. 

The Art of Sportswriting

by Jesse Liebman

Editorial. Photos by AP News

The question us aspiring sportswriters always ask ourselves is: will our profession ever see another Golden Age? I wouldn’t be so quick to answer that it’s impossible; I would, however, say it’s improbable. At the very least, the odds aren’t exactly stacked in our favor.

Make no mistake: there are plenty of great sportswriters in today. But with the advent of the television in the 1950s and the introduction of a little 24-hour network in Bristol, Connecticut in 1979, the culture of sports has been forever changed.

We no longer have seminal figures that we grew up reading whose personalities were as captivating as the stories they wrote. Ever hear of Bill Cunningham? This guy was Boston sports for decades. It was said that if he changed his job it would cost the old Boston Post 100,000 readers. Then there was George Plimpton: he combined immersion journalism with his sportswriting to bring fans closer to the action than ever before. We no longer have those larger than life personalities.


I don’t think it’s necessarily writers being forced to pander to the lowest common denominator, but rather the technology with which we deliver our news has grown at such an accelerated pace that writers have had to compromise by watering their stories down. I don’t think I’m alone when I say I believe that a lot of writing today has become clichéd and staid.

Gold Digging

by Ian Tasso

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Not much comes easily in life.

Similarly, in the realm of sports, anything from playing in the major leagues, to winning in the major leagues, to even writing about the major leagues isn’t exactly easy to do – otherwise, more people would do it.

Bottom line is, there are only a handful of people involved with sports. And yet, millions follow it. Bit of a discrepancy there, huh?

And a lot about sports is based on uncertainty. Will the Red Sox win the AL East? Will the Celtics compete for a championship? Will the Bruins make it out of the first round?

Well, the answer to all of those questions is eerily similar. Yes. Yes, they all can. Anything is possible.

But it won’t be easy.

Last Call on Air - Joslyn James

March 25, 2010
Tasso, Barker, Liebman
Special Guest: Adult Film Star, Tiger Woods Mistress
Joslyn James

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The Return Game

by Ian Tasso

Editorial. Photos by AP News

It didn’t take very long – three months and five days to be exact – but Tiger Woods is finally back.

On March 15, 2010, the troubled superstar formally announced that he will be making his return to the game of golf during this years’ Masters tournament, held April 8-11. It’s an announcement that was anticipated by some, expected by most but no doubt heard by all.

And that’s because for the greater part of the past three months, the news wire has been filled with Tiger’s name. It all started on that fateful night when he was pulled from his 2009 Cadillac SUV after striking a fire hydrant, and it only got worse from then on.

All sorts of accusations stemmed from the crash – many proven to be true, but all lending a hand in Tiger’s fall from grace. Now, after being linked sexually with as many as 20 women, his legacy has been tarnished, his image shattered and his life changed forever.

But he’s back. He’s back where he belongs.

Olympics in Review: Do You Believe In Miracles?

by Alexander Tam

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Ten seconds, nine seconds, eight seconds. As the clock finally reached zero, Al Michaels screamed into his microphone, uttering one of the most famous sport phrases in history; “Do you believe in Miracles? Yes!”

Do I believe in Miracles?

Why yes, yes I do, Al. I also believe in the 2010 US Olympic team.

Even if the U.S. had flopped and not win a single medal, I would never wear a bag over my head a la Detroit Lions fans, because there are no fair weather fans in the Olympics - you support your country, and for once it’s for entirely non-political reasons.

It’s difficult to try and put on paper my admiration and support for the US Olympic dream. I’ve even witnessed the pursuit of gold first hand: one of my best friends, Alex Dodge, has dreams of some day making the US Canoe and Kayak Olympic Team and medaling. And in pursuit of his dream, he quite literally trains non-stop.

The river is low you say? Time do to laps in the Lake. It’s snowing? Please. This hopeful future Olympian has had to break the ice of his boat numerous times.

But this story is common to many Olympic athletes.

There is no off-season for them, because to beat the very best in the world, they have to train twice as hard. For Linsey Vonn, it was not only being ridiculously awesome at skiing, but because of her talent and sheer strength, she was able to handle the transfer to men’s skis this Olympics.

In addition to watching my friend realize his Olympic aspirations, I have met and briefly trained with former Olympian and current US National Kayak Coach Kathy Hearn. That’s right folks - I have a little adventure in me.

I used to race and compete in kayak slalom and downriver which is essentially the same as downhill skiing: finish the run as fast as humanly possible. It was truly inspirational to be around someone like her - really puts the work and ethic required to succeed in the Olympic games into perspective.

But enough about me, let’s get back to our heroes, the individuals who deserve our attention and respect.

For those you who may be unfamiliar with the Winter Olympics, well, to be blunt, it’s not quite our thing. We perform well in ice-skating and the occasional skiing event, but we lack the domination that we bring to the Summer Olympics. Well ladies and gentlemen, the drought is over, the rains of victory have arrived.

This winter, the U.S. finished on top with total 37 medals. The last time we led the medal count was in 1932 at our very own Lake Placid. Four of this year’s 37 medals came from the Nordic combined, the first ever won by Americans. I repeat: we have never even medaled in the Nordic combined, until now. Oh, and did I mention we won both gold and silver?

Our rampage didn’t stop there. The US four-man bobsled team, aka “The Night Train” (how awesome is that?) led by driver Steve Holcomb who nearly lost his sight due to a degenerative eye disorder, won gold for the first time since 1948.

As tough as the loss to the Canadian Men’s Hockey team was to stomach, many didn’t expect the US team to even medal. Bode Miller got his life back on track and redeemed himself by pulling a hat trick at the Olympics: bronze in slalom, silver in the Super G, and gold in the super combined. And Apolo Ohno did what Apolo Ohno does best – win medals. Eight of them to be exact.

But for me, it’s not the decorations that truly stick out for the Americans - what I truly admire about US Olympians is their sheer dedication.

Many, if not all Olympians, consider it an honor and achievement to simply be on the team, to get the chance to represent their country, a chance that comes only every four years.

What further makes these athletes heroes in my eyes is the fact that they aren’t paid millions of dollars to represent their country, yet they sacrifice so much and compete with such grace and passion. They must find their own sponsors, raise money, and work jobs just like you and me. There is no contract bonus or contract extension. They dedicate their entire lives to reach one goal and attain ultimate greatness.

Nothing is given to these athletes; they have to work for it.

The USOC isn’t the NFL, NHL or NBA. There is no contract extension or contract bonus. The USOC does its best, but they can only pay for so much. The proud parents of Danvers, Mass. Native Megan Duggan, forward for the US Women’s Olympic Hockey Team, fundraised and borrowed from friends to see their daughter go for the gold – to watch their own daughter compete for her country.

That’s what makes these athletes so special, they are just like you and me. Local hometown hero and college student, Duggan represents the America that doesn’t have caviar with crystal for dinner (no disrespect Mr. Diddy). These athletes are our friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

It’s dedication like that that truly runs through the red, white and blue.

And it’s dedicated athletes like this that brought the fire back from 1980 this winter - going on a medal run that should make America's new generation just as proud as those who were around for the famous miracle on ice.

Olympics in Review: Team America

by Tom Nieradka

Editorial. Photos by AP News

America is usually not known for its domination of the Winter Olympics. In fact, most of the time we’re pretty awful in the final medal count.

But this year was a different story, with the US ending up with the most medals (37), seven more than our hat (Canada).

However, though it may seem as such, we didn’t win every event - far from it in fact. With that in mind, here goes my final review of the 2010 Olympics: complete with my take on the performance of the US in each event - I skipped the uneventful ones - and how we could hope to improve for the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia in the form of “expert” tips from myself.

Alpine Skiing:

US Finish: Bode Miller (1 G, 1S, 1B), Lindsey Vonn (1G, 1B), Julia Mancuso (2S)

What went right: Bode came back from his gloating, drinking ways to earn three medals and show kids everywhere what kind of Americans win medals. Vonn came back from injury to get her gold, and Mancuso came out of nowhere to grab some bling of her own.

What went wrong: Vonn disappointed by not finished three out of her five events. I get that it was snowy out and visibility was bad - but you’re a skier and really should be ready for all circumstances. I didn’t expect five golds, but not even finishing 60% of your events is a fail in my book.

Tips from the expert: Both Vonn and Miller have aggressive styles of play, but while Miller was able to stay upright (surprisingly) Vonn wasn’t, and the crashes and resulting injuries slowed her down.

Biathlon:

Best US Finish: Sgt. Jeremy Teela (9^th in 10k Spring)

What went right: An army man recorded the best finish in US Olympic history in the biathlon.

What went wrong: Apparently we’re not very good at combining skiing and shooting - shocking, huh?

Tips from the expert: Not really an area of expertise per say-but I would suspect we would hit more targets if we used automatic weapons. Just saying'.

Bobsleigh:

Best US Finish: Four Man Bobsleigh (Gold), Women’s Bobsleigh (Bronze)

What went right: The highly touted US team, led by veteran Steve Holcomb, manages a gold in their four man event, edging out Germany by .38 seconds on the fast Whistler track.

What went wrong: Holcomb ends up at a disappointing 6^th in the two man.

Tips from the expert: The US could have been faster off the push in the two man, and Holcomb took some of the corners poorly. Perhaps consulting the Jamaican bobsled team would have yielded some useful hints. They count as American, right?

Curling:

US Finish: Men 2-7, Women 2-7

The Good: We did manage to win four games total, which is four more than zero, ironically also the same amount of medals we received.

The Bad: The US is eons behind these other nations at curling, with both a lackluster strategy and poor play across the board. We were repeatedly smashed by arch-rival Canada, a bad sign for the popularity of curling in the US.

Tips from the expert: The US was often unable to score more than one point even with the hammer stone, which is a hallmark of an amateur curling squad. Their guards were often not as tight as they needed to be, and when they really needed some curl towards the house they usually got little to none.

Figure Skating:

US Finish: Evan Lysacek (Gold), Davis/White (Silver in Ice Dance)

The Good: Lysacek toppled the reigning champion Evgeni Plushenko, possibly restarting the Cold War. The Russian’s acrobatic jumps were no match for the American’s signature and catchy dance moves.

The Bad: Mirai Nagasu finished one spot out of the medals, rounding out a disappointing year for the US women. Also, is it just me or does Plushenko look like a possible villain from 24?

Tips from the expert: Lysacek had a great program, but he could run into trouble in the future if he cannot begin to master the complex jumps that Plushenko brought to the ice. Luckily the Russian couldn’t dance to save his life, which gave Lysacek the edge. Plushenko should also consider losing the 1960’s blonde Beatles mop-head look, the judges are looking for something more modern.

Short Track:

US Finish: Apolo Ohno (1S, 1B), Katherine Reutter (1S), J.R. Celski (1B), Men’s Relay (Bronze), Women’s Relay (Bronze)

The Good: Speed skating star Apolo Ohno wins his eighth medal, setting the record for the most in US Winter Olympic History. Ohno remains a dynamic skater, and is one of the few reasons that speed skating is kno

wn to the American public.

The Bad: We got blanked on the golds. Ohno did well, but he would have missed a medal in the 1500 had it not been for a greedy move by a Korean that led to a 2-skater fall. He did get hit with some bad luck resulting from a push by one of those damn Canadians as well, but still no gold for a star of the sport is unacceptable by American

standards.

Tips from the expert: Apolo loves sitting near the back of the pack, and from a strategic standpoint it allows Ohno to size up the race and decide when to make a move for the front. He is adept at passing and is very fast, but the world is starting to catch up with him. If he does again compete in the next Olympics, he need to consider moving towards the front of the pack earlier and taking charge of the race. He also might consider shaving off his signature goatee - that drag cost him big time.

Speed Skating:

US Finish: Shani Davis (1G, 1S), Chad Hedrick (1B), Men’s Relay (Silver)

The Good: Shani Davis defended his gold medal, becoming the athlete to do so in the 1000m. The win and the silver cement his as one of the best long track skaters in the world.

The Bad: The US is a whole lot of Davis and not much else. Shani was absent from the relay, and only one of the men in the relay medaled in another event. Had Davis been in the relay we could have won it, and why he was not we do not know. He’s got to be a part of the team.

Tips from the expert: Davis took the corners nice and tight, but slowed down on his last lap in his silver medal race. He’s got to work not only on his endurance, but also on being a team player.

Snowboard:

US Finish: Shaun White (Gold), Seth Wescott (Gold), Teter Hannah (Silver), Kelly Clark (Bronz

e), Scott Lago (Bronze)

The Good: The US dominates snowboarding, especially in the half-pipe. No one else in the world can even come close to doing the things that Shaun White does, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be catching up anytime soon.

The Bad: It’s a shame that Shaun White only does half-pipe. Even so, he should win two medals for the things that he does. Lindsey Jacobellis also managed to crash again (after her gloating-mishap four years ago that cost her the gold)

Tips from the expert: Shaun White is actually perfect in snowboarding terms. Jacobellis needs to work on not crashing so often.

Hockey:

US Finish: Men (Silver), Women (Silver)

The Good: Both the men and women got much farther than anyone expected them to, which is a huge plus. Zach Parise went a long way to making a name for himself as one of the better players in the NHL. Goalie Ryan Miller also amazed us with his historic play, and won the MVP of the tournament. Also, Russia didn’t even medal - ha.

The Bad: Both the men and the women lost in the gold medal game. To make it even worse, both were to Canada. And to make it even worser(er), the men lost to those pesky Canucks in overtime on a goal by the golden-boy of hockey Sidney Crosby.

The men managed to tie up the game with seconds left, but unfortunately the weight on the shoulder of Ryan Miller was too much and the entire country stood still when he let up that OT goal.

Tips from the expert: The US was ineffective at keeping the puck in the offensive zone, and the relative lack of skill of the US team as exposed as the tournament rolled on. Miller was able to hold his own in goal throughout, but the younger players of the US were no match for the experienced Canadian team.

I would recommend that the US start using NFL linebackers as defenseman to gain a size advantage over other teams, and possibly put Joe Mauer in goal and allow him to play on offense as well.

Overall, a very good showing for the Americans. Obviously we're the best at everything - but it's nice to get a little refresher once in a while.

Silver Medal, Golden Memory

by Jesse Liebman and Ian Tasso
Editorial. Photos by AP News

The Americans may have to settle for silver, but when you think about it, they were supposed to go home empty-handed.

Yes, there were a few proven NHL stars donning the red, white and blue, unlike thirty years back where the stars and stripes were carried by a bunch of college students.

But still, overall, the American hockey team was pretty much an afterthought. This year's games was about the Canadians, the Russians and the plethera of All Stars each of those teams trotted onto the ice.

But perhaps that’s what motivated and pushed Team USA to unexpected heights. In such a short tournament, anything can happen - especially when a goalie gets hot at the right time.

Because make no mistake about it: if it weren’t for Ryan Miller, the Americans wouldn’t have even sniffed the medal round. But combine his strong play with the efforts of young guns Zach Parise, Dustin Brown and Erik Johnson, and you have the keys to unlocking the potential of a team that’s destined for greatness - just not now. And maybe not ever.

Because if NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has his way, this may be the last time we or anyone else see's the National Hockey League's stars competing in the Winter Olympics.

In the grand scheme of things, we wish this team would join the history books along with the 1960 and 1980 teams. We thought the stars were aligned for another seat atop the podium. Instead, we're left with a sense of pride. A sense of pride that our nation hasn't felt on the ice since 1980.


And a sense that we got to witness what could very well be a last hurrah for our boys.

Assuming that the NHL sends its players to Sochi, Russia for the 2014 Games, this truly was a coming out party for USA hockey. Even so, politics and scheduling, along with dozens of other logistical nightmares threaten to put a stopper on NHL participation in the Olympics.

But there are still a number of years before a decision must be made; we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, we can focus on what was ultimately an exciting and enjoyable tournament, capped by one of the most thrilling gold medal games in history.

The Americans gave it their all, forcing overtime with less than half a minute to go in regulation. Perhaps Team U.S.A can take some solace in that fact. Still, it must hurt a lot to see your rivals from north of the border revel in the ecstasy of victory. Especially after a fluky goal by hockey’s golden boy, Sidney Crosby.

In a few months, it won’t even matter. Because the prize on everyone’s mind will be silver. You know the one - big, bulky, ‘bout 40 pounds, 117 years old?

Yes, soon, Lord Stanley’s Cup will be waiting.

Until then though, whether you're a fan of the Devils from New Jersey, the Rangers from New York or the Bruins from the Hub, the entire nation of America can take solace in one thing - our boys put on one hell of a show this winter.

And while they may not have recreated the magic of 1980, they did the next best thing - instilled an icy passion that hasn't been felt between the blue lines since Eruzione lit the lamp.

And that is something we can all be proud of, regardless of whether you wear red and black or black and gold. Because the red, white and blue runs deeper than all of that.

Opinion: NHL Hockey at the Olympics?

by Jesse Liebman

Editorial. Photos by AP News

It’s been said that there will never be another “Miracle on Ice” ever again. What happened 30 years ago in a quiet town in the Catskills of New York was one of those moments that transcended sports and was branded into the annals of human consciousness.

Since that day in 1980, the face of ice hockey at the Winter Olympics has changed dramatically. Since 1998, professionals have been allowed to represent their countries in a tournament that was once reserved for the best amateur players in the world. But the pendulum is slowly swinging back, and now that the Vancouver games are underway, the question on everyone’s mind is: Is this the last time we’ll see NHL players in the Olympics?

Once the tournament ends and the Olympic cauldron is extinguished, our thoughts will turn to the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia. There has been a lot of controversy and questions about whether the NHL will send its players to compete for international glory.

The current collective bargaining agreement between the owners and the players union does not account for 2014, which means that NHL teams would have to individually give their players permission to take a leave of absence for two weeks. In the span of two weeks, NHL teams play between five to nine games. Some teams may not be so willing to squander critical points in the standings as the season winds down with a playoff berth on the line.

Additionally, there is a significant chance that a player could get injured. Case in point: in 2006, Czech goalie Dominik Hasek saw his NHL season come to an end after sustaining a knee injury in the opening period of the Games. Many general managers and coaches are terrified of seeing this happening to their teams.

Another possible reason why the NHL has been reticent in their commitment to 2014 is because of the time difference. Sochi is eight hours ahead of New York time; will the casual fan even be up or have the free time in the United States and Canada to follow the games?

And while this situation ordinarily wouldn’t raise many eyebrows, there is a large faction of Russian players who want to have the opportunity to play at home on the world’s biggest stage.

Last season the number of Russian players in the NHL made up the sixth highest percentage of any nationality in the league after the United States and Canada. The total used to be stronger a decade ago, when the NHL wasn’t threatened by the tax-free promises of the Kontinental Hockey League, but the quality of players hasn’t diminished; in fact, it’s probably gotten better. With names like Alexander Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk, Evgeni Malkin and Pavel Datsyuk leading the way, it’s hard to argue.

In Europe, winning a world championship or an Olympic gold medal is a more sought-after dream than the Stanley Cup. For many of us here in North America, the thought is sheer lunacy. But people forget that these players come from a continent where international competition is what drives the game.

When a superstar like Ovechkin – arguably the best player in the world right now – goes on record stating, “I don't care. I'll go play in the Olympic Games for my country. If somebody says to me you can't play, see ya,” people stop and listen.

That declaration has essentially put commissioner Gary Bettman in a virtual no-win solution if an agreement isn’t reached: either the NHL loses Ovechkin and a bunch of other Russians for the duration of the Olympics, or Ovechkin packs his bags and stays in the motherland.

Granted, that probably won’t happen because Capitals owner and AOL media mogul Ted Leonsis recognizes the star power that Ovechkin has in the long run and wants to keep his investment (Ovechkin signed a 13-year contract extension in 2008 worth $124 million) happy, and Ovechkin knows the NHL is the best league on the planet, despite the KHL’s insistence of flashing even more money in the charismatic winger’s face.

On the other hand, there’s still a case to be made for the NHL not to bother with reaching an agreement on sending its players to Sochi. When NHL players were first allowed to participate at Nagano in 1998, it was about showcasing the best players on the planet in what was supposed to be the best winter sport on the planet.

But the hockey world has gotten smaller lately; less than a decade ago, it was the Czechs and Slovaks that dominated the hockey landscape. Now, the Czech Republic and Slovakia aren’t even top-tier nations. There may be 12 nations participating in men’s hockey this year, but the reality is that only four of those teams – Canada, Russia, Sweden and Finland – are serious contenders for the gold medal. The Americans have a formidable team, yes, but they aren’t expected to do much with a team that has virtually zero Olympic experience.

The fact of the matter is that there is no longer a sense that the Olympics are worth it – ratings are down, and there is too much of an inherent risk for the NHL to take in sending all of its best players overseas – and there has been a strong sentiment of returning the ice hockey competition back to its amateur roots. If a few pros want to compete for their nation, they have every right to, as long as they can work out an individual agreement with the teams that sign their paychecks. The NHL has taken many risks over the years; some have worked and some haven’t. But the Olympic experiment has run its course.

Media Review: USA Today's Kevin Allen

by Jesse Liebman

Editorial. Photos by AP News.

There is a reason why USA Today's Kevin Allen consistently winds up on the Hockey News' "People of Power" list year after year. When you get right down to it, Allen sees the game of hockey with a trained eye that is only rivaled by the general managers and coaches of the National Hockey League.

Last Friday's piece on the burgeoning USA Hockey program is a perfect example of Allen's vision. In the article Allen not only points to the Americans' gold medal-winning performance in the world junior championship as a measuring stick of success, but what the national development program has done to expand the game of hockey here in the states at the grassroots and amateur levels.

Allen uses a variety of statistics in his article, noting that despite the impact of the economy, the membership of USA Hockey has increased from five years ago to 130,000 adults registered in programs across the nation.

Granted, the subject matter is not necessarily as engaging as a game recap or a feature on the rivalry between Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, but because it comes on the heels of the world junior championship victory earlier in January, it serves its purpose as a timely and critical evaluation of just how far the United States has come in being recognized for its ability to ice a competitive team. Not only that, but Allen focuses on the all-encompassing nature of the sport itself -- not just at the professional level -- giving it a much larger context, while not appealing to the lowest common denominator.

The article itself is also not a jingoistic puff piece that lavishes praise on the United States, either. In fact, Allen quotes USA Hockey's executive director, David Ogrean, who acknowledges that despite the recent victories, Canada is still the world's hockey superpower. However, Allen informs the reader that the program has come leaps and bounds from when it was started in 1996.

All of this help to create an informative look at the sport while holding to the standards that have made Allen the de-facto hockey guru at USA Today for the past 24 years, as well one of the foremost experts on the sport.