Leave the Glass Slippers at Home if you want to Name a Champion

We are hardly 72-hours removed from naming the UCONN Huskies as the NCAA Men’s Basketball champions for the 2010-2011 season. UCONN defeated Butler in a less than pretty fashion, as both teams shot poorly (don’t try to convince yourself this was a defensive battle). UCONN entered the championship game as a 3 seed, while the Butler Bulldogs were an 8 seed – the highest combined seeding ever in a championship game. And let’s not forget that this number could have been higher as number 11 seed VCU and 4 seed Kentucky made up the rest of the Final Four. It was an NCAA tournament to remember, with great upsets, storylines, basketball and millions of busted brackets after the first weekend.

So what did we learn? That UCONN was the best college basketball team this season? Or was it that Butler and UCONN managed to play the best basketball at the right time, and had the deck stacked just right, to make it to the final game?

We learned that the NCAA Tournament is not the perfect system for determining the champion of college basketball.

Yep. That’s correct. A play-off isn’t a perfect system for determining a champion. And maybe that crazy, money hungry system they have in college football isn’t all that ridiculous after all. We’re talking the BCS, for all of those who need help reading between the lines. This is the same hated system that is the bane of all existence to those in Boise, Idaho or Fort Worth, Texas. But after what we saw last night, I hate to break it to those smurf-carpet munchers, and unicorn-toads, but maybe you don’t actually belong in the title game. At least not yet.

The biggest knock on the BCS is that it doesn’t truly match-up the best teams in a championship game, and that by using a play-off system the best teams would face-off head-to-head until the best two were two remaining. Then a true champion could be crowned.

But is the play-off system is the best way to determine the best team? You may have some skeptics after yesterday’s tourney finale. When you have two teams who weren’t even sniffing the top-25 as they entered the field of 68, one finishing the regular season ninth in conference, and the other that couldn’t even win its mid-major conference out-right, matched up for a championship, it’s hard to say that we have the best teams. Instead what we are doing is discounting the regular season, and allowing 68 teams in to a tournament, the majority of who should never enter “the best team” discussion, and let them hash it out until one is left to cut down the nets.

So maybe there is something to this BCS format, where the regular season is used to determine the best teams, and then let them determine it on the field in a one-game, winner take all championship.


However, comparing college basketball to football is apples to oranges. The number of college football teams is drastically different. There are a different number of players on the field. Players don’t often play both defense and offense in football, lessening the ability for one to take over, like in basketball. Scheduling is different, between the number of games in a season, home and away, home field advantage, in season tournaments, etc. In college football one bad game can ruin your chances at winning a championship, while in basketball, you just need to be able to make the field of 68 in order to still have a chance.

Ok, BCS haters, you can put down your pitchforks, and torches. By no means am I calling the BCS a perfect system. In fact, I really do think a playoff type format is the best approach to picking a winner. The reality is we want to see the best sports action, and make any team that wins a National Championship to earn it. UCONN did just that this year in basketball. Though they may not have been the best regular season team, they were the last ones standing. And in college football, Auburn remained undefeated all season long, and withheld an undefeated Oregon team, that also deserved a shot at a national title, to become the champions.

Two different formats. The same result.

The BCS has some work to do. And with the parity we have in college hoops, we will continue to see the Butlers and VCUs pushing for a title. That’s sports, and it’s open to debate.

Maybe this FIFA World Cup, field of 32 thing is the best format? Another discussion.

Thank you Paul and Brian Nichols for your thoughts during our recent e-mail debate. I’d like to credit them with some of the opposing thoughts that were included in this post.

No Wonder Soccer Doesn’t Get Respect in This Country

Be honest, how much World Cup soccer have you actually watched? I know the games are at inconvenient times, but still that’s the beauty of DVR. Beyond the poor TV times there are a number of things I am noticing this World Cup that is further strengthening the anti-soccer opinion of so many Americans. Between the soccer fans and the play itself, soccer may not become a part of the “Big Three” anytime soon. 

Stay on Your Feet
Soccer players have been given the title of being sissies, because they don’t hit like football players and they roll around whining like they’d been shot when a stiff breeze hits them. Tell that to Aaron Ramsey. On the other hand, there are players like Cristiano Ronaldo, who has made a name for himself through his good-looks, fancy footwork and amazing goals. Despite those qualities, Ronaldo is also known for folding like a lawn chair when the thought of a tackle enters his mind, which is followed by four exaggerated rolls while yelling and a plea to the ref. Ronaldo is not alone though, as much of the world practices this technique of trying to draw a foul, only giving soccer players a bad name and quite frankly making them look ridiculous. The addition of super slow-mo replay doesn’t do them any favors.

Bringing Crowd Noise to a New Level
The World Cup introduced the Vuvuzela to world. If you have not heard this horn, consider yourself lucky. When the entire crowd is going, it sounds like a swarm of bees on your TV set. They are loud obnoxious and receiving negative reviews from fans and players alike. That being said, crowd noise is part of the game. Live with it. Every sports show at some point this week has hosted a segment specifically discussing the Vuvuzela. It’s now old. Stop talking about it. It’ll be over soon.

Not Enough Goals
This has been a fairly low scoring World Cup with a lot of ties. Tying is like kissing your sister. It’s the type of outcome that doesn’t get the casual American sports fan excited about a sport. We need a winner and a loser, and high scores. That hasn’t happened yet this World Cup and it is deterring fans from watching. This is too bad, as there is so much more to soccer than goals, but this often goes over the head of the sports fan. But this is the world’s game, not ours. The rules aren’t changing.

The American Soccer Fans
There are three types of soccer fan in America. The soccer snob, the World Cup fan and the wannabe hooligan. To be fair, there is probably a fourth. The soccer fan, who enjoys that game, understands the strategy, but doesn’t rub it in your face. The above three though aren’t helping convert non-soccer fans.

First, the soccer snob. This is the person who corrects you when you announce the score “one to zero” and they reply “umm… it’s one, nil.” They remind you that it’s not a field, rather “a pitch.” Oh and soccer players don’t wear jerseys, they are “kits.” This type of fan wants to try to explain the intricacies of the game, over analyze each pass, and gasps for air on every shot, whether on target or 20 feet over the crossbar. This fan turns others off soccer with their annoying comments and constant need to prove their soccer knowledge and vocabulary over those around them.

Second is the World Cup fan. This is the person who watches soccer for one month every four years, but comes into the office draped in the Portuguese flag telling everyone in ear-shot that they are going to watch the game this weekend. Oh and did I mention they are American with Irish heritage, but thinks Ronaldo is cute. The World Cup fan “loves soccer,” filled out a World Cup Bracket and can’t wait for the next game. Come July 12, it’s back to baseball and pre-season football, and the World Cup and soccer are a mere memory.

Third, is the wannabe soccer hooligan. These people piss me off. To be fair “hooligan” may not be the right term, but these people associate themselves with a group of soccer fans in a US city and “bleed their team’s colors.” These aren’t the hooligans of England, who fight before, during and after games with clubs, broken bottles and brass knuckles. Rather, these are the soccer fans who come up with songs during games, wear their team scarf, love the smoke bombs that go off in the crowd and attend every team related event. But when you look a little deeper these are the people who never played a sport in high school, they don’t understand the rules of football and feel like basketball is “too mainstream.” They want to be a part of something else that is different and new. That’s fine, but then this group tries to impose their “soccer knowledge” on others and make outrageous claims and statements in regards to their team. Yep, I’m talking to you Timbers Army. I’m all for your fandom, but get serious. Cursing at the Mayor after revealing the new logo. Swearing throughout the games and attempting to match the same obsessive nature that the fans in Europe have. Sorry, you’re not there. You’ll never be there.

Still Love Soccer
All that being said I still love soccer. If I had to categorize myself, I’m somewhere between the soccer snob and the soccer fan. I’ve learned a lot about soccer from my years and years of playing, watching and learning the game. I have learned from some of the greatest Oregon coaches and played against some of our countries best players. I know what I am talking about. The World Cup is an amazing time. No matter what type of fan you are, watch and love the game. But it’s almost football season and I do love my Ducks.

The Falling Stars of the World Cup

First it was Michael Ballack, then Michael Essien. Now we have Didier Drogba, Rio Ferdinand and possibly Jozy Altidore, who are all injured and may not be able to play in the World Cup. If I could make on suggestion to all the teams who have friendly warm-up matches…. Don’t play them. The stars of the World Cup are dropping left and right, and with them the hope of a nation.

Ballack, Essien and Drogba are key components to their teams and major contributors to any type of success they planned to have in 2010. It’s a shame that these players lose out on an opportunity to play for their country and it’s a shame for their countrymen who had such high hopes for these players.

Perhaps there is more to this story… Karma’s a bitch, huh? All those soccer players who take a dive when a stiff wind hits their legs trying to draw a foul, only to pop back up once the desired outcomes occurs. Drogba, I’m looking at you. Not as fun when you actually go down and can’t keep on playing.

Wait. Is there a Chelsea connection, at least for these three (Ballack, Essien and Drogba)? Did they sell their souls to cash-in on the big paycheck and win the English Premier League (EPL) title? Chelsea did become the powerhouse of the EPL when Roman Abramovich bought the team back in 2003. Money may have bought you a championship, but was it worth it?

The World Cup will still be amazing, but it’s a shame these great players will miss this opportunity to represent their country. This completely changes my outlook on how the World Cup turns out. Maybe not the winner, but the teams that advance… more on that next week.

You don’t have to embrace it to appreciate it

In 2006 it was estimated that a billion people in more than 200 countries tuned-in to watch Italy take the World Cup against France. How many people tuned-in to watch the 2010 Super Bowl? 106-million people. Looks like soccer truly is the world’s most popular sport.

That being said America still haven’t embraced this beautiful game the way the rest of the world has. There are three factors that play into the lack of nationwide acceptance of soccer. 1. The sport doesn’t receive the same commercialism as the other big sports, so players aren’t paid the big bucks making the youth of America say “I want to be like Landon Donovan.” 2. The number of jaw-dropping, athletic plays seem few and far between to the casual fan. 3.  We are already too far behind the rest of the world.

Not The Big Three
Soccer will never compete with the big three (baseball, basketball and football) until the athletes are paid like the other athletes, and this will never happen until it generates the revenue of those other sports. The top soccer players in America, though well-paid, don’t come close to the LeBron James’ in terms of salary and endorsement deals. Therefore soccer players don’t receive the same recognition and face-time of the other athletes of America. By no means do I think this is unjust. These sports organizations are ran by top business men that know how to market their leagues and how to get the best return on their investment.

“Real” Athletes Use Their Hands
Since we were kids, we have watched some of the most amazing athletes run, jump and fly to exhibit the athleticism the rest of us dream of. And all of these plays are ultimately made with their hands. The way these, often, men gigantic men are able to maneuver their bodies and make it look so simple is what keeps us on the edge of our seats and going home to tell the story. These are the plays we have grown up watching. An diving catch in baseball, an alley-oop in basketball or the perfect throw from a QB are the plays that we have associated with the best athletes in the world. However, you can’t take anything away from an individual who can run at a full sprint, changing directions and manipulating a ball effortlessly with only the use of his feet. Soccer players display athleticism that is undervalued in the USA because of the way soccer is viewed, though it cannot be ignored.

Trying to Play Catch Up?
While the youth of America are growing up to be the starting point guard or the star quarterback or the best pitcher , the rest of the world is in the streets playing soccer trying to become the next Lionel Messi. It is obvious that the USA has basketball, football and to an extent baseball dominated. The result is that the best athletes grow up wanting to play one of those sports, not soccer. The rest of the world has their best athletes playing soccer, putting the USA a leg (no pun intended) behind. This is not a trend that will soon change, leaving us as a second or third tier soccer nation.

Bringing the World Together
There are no timeouts. No huddles for play calling. No line-changes. No pitch count. This is the beautiful game, played across the world by people of all ages, races and economical class. The simplicity of the game adds to its beauty. All you need is a ball. In some countries if a ball is hard to come by t-shirts tied together or cardboard taped up will do. But everywhere else in the world you would be hard-pressed to not walk the local streets and see some form of soccer match in action. It is the international sport.

And now it’s time for the world’s most popular sporting event, the World Cup. The world is watching, from a small village in Ghana, to the large city of Paris. All eyes will be on the Cup for the next six-weeks. Even though it may be hard for many to fully embrace the game of soccer, it is impossible to not see the passion each nation has for its team and feel a sense of patriotism for our own.

There is no other sport in the world that breaks international borders or breaks language barriers or can bring the entire world together the way soccer does.

This is the beautiful game.

Don't call it a come back

After a year long hiatus, it's time to get back on this blog. It's been a busy past year. Ducks took it to the Rose Bowl, making for one of the most exciting seasons a fan could ask for.

But it's time to look forward. We've got the World Cup, College Football, NFL and more. 

A Season of High Expectations

It must be getting closer to college football season. The first feel of autumn is in the air with the rain and clouds. Fall camp is underway for all collegiate programs. Early season predictions and pre-season rankings are debated amongst the top analysts. And Oregon Duck season ticket holders are beginning to see that long awaited envelope arrive in the mail. It’s like Christmas, but instead of the jolly old fat man, it’s a postal worker. And instead of spreading Christmas cheer, it’s pre-season anticipation.

Oregon’s much anticipated first game is now less than a month away against Boise State, a team that came into Autzen upsetting the Ducks. Oregon players and fans are now seeking revenge against the boys in blue, as well as a great start to what many believe has the potential to be a special season.

The players and fans are right. This does have the potential to be a very special season. Many of the returning players have solidified themselves among the Pac-10’s best, such as quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, running back, LeGarrette Blount, tight end Ed Dickson and cornerback Walter Thurmond III. Many of the incoming and returning players have received a lot of hype to make their mark on this season, including running back LaMichael James, linebacker Eddie Pleasant and wide receivers Jamere Holland, and Tyrece Gaines. In addition to the players, the schedule is in favor of the Ducks with the Pac-10’s elite teams (USC, Cal, OSU) having to play in the always hostel Autzen stadium. And let’s not forget that the Ducks were featured on the upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated in the West region as one of the potential BCS “party crashers.” Needless to say, the expectations for the 2009 season are at an all-time high.

It is easy to buy into the hype and rightly so. Duck fans know that the pieces have been put in place to give the Ducks a chance to compete for a Pac-10 title and more. Believe me, I am right there with everyone. But the danger that comes with these high expectations is that any slip up has the potential to turn fans opinions around and those highs to be turned into disappointed lows. Let’s not forget the thousands of boo-birds that were nested in Autzen who turned on quarterback Masoli. Still holding the same opinions? This will be a special year, but those who are quickly joining the Oregon bandwagon, don’t be so quick to jump off. Good things are going to happen.

Is it fair to say “BCS or bust?” Maybe not. But I, as many other Duck fans do, believe that we have a chance to win every game. We should feel this way, because we can. This can be our year. But the season ends at the last whistle, not after the first interception or first blown coverage. Buy into the hype and jump on the band wagon, but be a loyal fan. It is a great feeling to be an Oregon Duck. It’s a good thing we don’t support a school like Duke or Syracuse, then we’d be asking ourselves, “when does basketball start?”

Let the countdown begin. Let’s make a statement in Boise. Is it September 3rd yet?

When One Door Closes, Another One Opens for Oregon Running Backs

On Tuesday, February, 10, it was announced that senior Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount was suspended indefinitely. With the first game of the season still so far away, it is hard to speculate what this suspension may mean for the season. Regardless of the ultimate outcome this is a situation for other Oregon running backs to step up and shine.

Outside of LeGarrette Blount, Oregon returns three running backs. Senior Andre Crenshaw, redshirt junior Remene Alston Jr. and redshirt freshman LaMichael James. These three combined have little experience at the college level, but may all be called upon at some point this season to make plays.

Andre Crenshaw is the most experienced back of the three. Andre was forced to step in and back up Jonathan Stewart during the 2007 season when Jeremiah Johnson went down with a torn ACL. Andre proved to be a very capable back. He has good speed, decent power with his 5’ 11” 196 lbs frame and can make his man miss the tackle. Andre may not be the one making the highlight real each game, but he can help keep the chains moving. What makes Andre most valuable is his ability to catch the ball coming out of the back field. He has good hands and a great burst after catching the ball, to turn and get up-field.

Despite Crenshaw’s strengths, there come some weaknesses. The first, as with the other two backs is experience. There is a learning curve to play running back at the collegiate level that only comes from being on the field. Crenshaw also hasn’t been in a situation where he is an every down back. He hasn’t taken 20 touches a game week-in and week-out. His durability hasn’t been tested, which may not prove to be a weakness, but something to keep in mind. Lastly, Crenshaw is the not homerun hitter or big play-maker that Jeremiah or LeGarrette are or have been. When he lines up, he doesn’t scare the defense the way the other two do.

Crenshaw will be a very serviceable back for Oregon. Will he pick-up where Jeremiah left off? Hopefully, but those are big shoes to fill.

Remene Alston Jr. is a hard one to peg. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but has also been limited on the field. And just as things started to click for Alston in 2008, he broke his foot. Alston is a fireplug at 5’ 8” and 200 lbs. He is a shifty runner and hits the hole hard. He has the ability to break the big play, because once he gets into the open field he can be tough to bring down. Alston is again a serviceable back, but he won’t be your every down back for an entire season.

The biggest knock on Alston is experience. He was buried in a talented backfield his first two years and broke his foot the following year. Alston has been recognized as a key contributor on the scout team during his time at Oregon, but practice is a different atmosphere than game day. Alston will find areas where he can contribute, but he may not be the every down back Oregon needs.

LaMichael James is the sleeper of the three. He has yet to play a down of college football. If you haven’t seen his high school highlights, I suggest you do so. LaMichael is a game-breaker with track speed. (He will be running track at Oregon.) LaMichael is a very shifty runner who won’t be taken down easily in the open field and won’t get caught from behind. When a player with his speed and his ability to break the big play steps on the field, everybody’s eyes on defense start looking into the backfield. He is small at 5’ 9” and 180 lbs, but this can work to his advantage at times. He can hide behind his linemen and sneak under those arm tackles. LaMachael has already started receiving the hype, since the week before the Civil War, players and reporters were raving about this kid’s ability as he helped the Ducks prepare as a member of the scout team.

There are two major concerns with LaMichael. First, is a lack of experience. Not to sound like a broken record, but experience can’t be taught. Second, is size. I know I commented about how this could be an advantage, but there are times when it is a disadvantage. At 180 lbs, James will have a difficult time pushing the pile forward or falling forward against the defense. Also a player of LaMichael’s size, his body will get beat up more so than Blount 230 lbs frame. This may limit him how many touches he can take. But with multiple backs around him, the carries will be split, decreasing the pounding any one of them will take.

The issue with LeGarrette Blount has every Oregon fan concerned. The running game has been key to Oregon’s success in the past few seasons and Blount was going to keep this trend going. It is too early to rule Blount out for the season or even for the Spring game. (I have my own theory what is going on, but that’s for a different article). But if Blount is on the field or not, there will be a need to have the other players step in and get some touches. Of the three backs discussed, I think LaMichael has the most potential to be a game-breaker and become a key player at Oregon. Crenshaw is the most experienced and polished back of the three. He can be used in more situations than the others. But Alston started to show his abilities, so don’t sleep on hi

It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few months. Is it September 5th yet?