Confederations Cup results: A balanced view

When looking at the U.S. finishing 2nd in the Confederations Cup, it is easy to start getting excited about the team.  I think, however, the excitement might be a little premature.

If we look at the tournament in its entirety we see, not a soccer team ready to vie for a World Cup, but rather a team that made the semifinals via the longest of long shots.  Did they deserve to be there?  Sure, they made their own luck, but that’s not to say that they’ve been a dominant team recently.

Now, don’t get me wrong, the victory over Spain was an excellent win, but it was a bit like surviving a siege.  The U.S. were dominated in every aspect of that game except on the scoreboard.  The U.S. will not get very far next summer, or even in CONCACAF letting Tim Howard get shelled every game.

That’s the problem.  The U.S. played the same way for every game of the Confederations Cup except for their game against Egypt, a team ranked considerably lower than them that they should beat every time.

When you look at each game of the tourney, it becomes even more obvious that the U.S. is not nearly ready for primetime.

Game 1:  They go up 1-0 at halftime and then let in 3 second half goals to Italy and lose 3 -1.

Game 2:  They get blown out by Brazil, who score 3 first half goals and cruise.  The final is 3 – 0.

In fact, going into the third game against Egypt, who beat Italy and nearly beat Brazil, most thought it was going to be another blowout.

Game 3:  The U.S. did a great job and finally played to win rather than not to lose, but the 3-0 win only helped them when Italy collapsed against Brazil.

Game 4:  The U.S. scored a goal early, then held on for dear life against Spain, who everyone knows overlooked the U.S..  Even then, Spain had most of the chances and were unlucky to score.  A late U.S. goal makes the final 2-0, but there was no time in that match that U.S. looked equal to Spain.

Game 5:  Finally the U.S. played like they may be ready to do something in the World Cup.  The first half against Brazil was the best they’ve played in months, but 45 minutes doesn’t make a game, and to be fair, Brazil still had most of the play.  If Tim Howard doesn’t make several huge saves, the game is tied at the half.  The U.S. comes out  and gets crushed in the second half when Brazil scores 3 (really 4) goals and ends up with the trophy.

The U.S. really played about 120 minutes of good soccer out of a possible 450 minutes played.  Not really the type of performance we should be expecting out of the 14th best team in the World, according to FIFA.

In fact, I believe that if the U.S. keeps playing the way they did for most of the Confederations Cup in CONCACAF qualifying, they might not even make it to the World Cup next summer.

The U.S. has a lot of work to do before next summer.  They would do well to study their play in the whole tourney rather than focusing on where they finished.

Turnabout is fairplay

I need to say this upfront.  I’m generally pro-bike on the roads.  I give them as much space as I can when passing.  Heck, I even have a bike I ride around town now and then.  Bicycles are a great mode of transportation.

What I don’t like, however, are the bicyclists who don’t obey the traffic laws, are belligerant, and basically have no respect for drivers, like me, who go out of their way to be courteous.

The worst is the Critical Mass folks.  Having been caught in one of their protests, I can tell you first hand that they had no respect for me or other drivers.

So this in today’s Daily Camera gave me a smile.  It talks about a “Critical Mass” with cars protest to stop bicycles from hogging the roads.  Part of the flier reads:

“On July 25, in celebration of driver’s rights, many cars will use the Left Hand Canyon Road, drive slowly and many may break down unexpectedly, blocking areas to the cyclists on the return leg of the ‘Sunrise Century,’” the anonymous, one-page note reads. “Many cars and safe drivers all working together can send a message to the Statehouse to restrict cycling on our roads which are our only alternatives during family emergencies, commuting and required duties.”

I love it!  It’s about time that drivers employed the same tactics to bicyclists that they have had to endure for years.  Of course the reaction from bicyclists is hysterical, and predictable:

David Flores, 46, an avid cyclist who lives near Lee Hill and Left Hand Canyon drives, said he and his neighbors found the fliers stuffed in their mailboxes Thursday.

“There is nothing to be gained in trying to line the roads with cars to try and disrupt people on bicycles,” Flores said. “I don’t hope cyclists unite and decide to block U.S. 36 to make a point.”

Flores said the tone of the letter is obviously meant to incite a confrontation during the ride, despite its suggestion that pulling over to “inspect” vehicles for “engine trouble, sounds or other safety issues” is a form of civil disobedience.

“If that happens, there will be either an accident or some kind of confrontation,” Flores said. “There are people who will go out of their way to light the powder keg on both sides.”

Flores is right.  It’s obviously a form of civil disobedience to incite a confrontation.  It’s what Critical Mass bicyclists have been doing for years.  Now that the shoe is on the other foot, however, bicyclists don’t like it.

Well turnabout is fair play and it heartens me to know that there is still a bit of rebellious spirit left in Boulder.

When coaching pays off

As a soccer coach, wins are fun and losses are tough, but it’s off the field accomplishments that make me the proudest.  Over the weekend, one of my captains did me proud.

Tomas Garcia accomplished something no one in his family has ever done. On Saturday, he graduated from the Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST) with the hope of becoming an architect.

Excellent news, but they didn’t report that Tomas was one of only a few graduates to not only win a state ACE scholarship but receive a national ACE scholarship as well.

Great job Tomas!!

Well then, I won’t

Sometimes stupidity in others is funny….really funny.  Other times, however, when their misguided actions are sure to cause them personal pain, or difficulty, it becomes a little harder to watch.

Take this story from Fox News…

Celebrity hotspot and renowned Japanese restaurant Nobu has written a note to diners at its London restaurants warning them not to eat the bluefin tuna on the menu because it is endangered, the London Telegraph reported Wednesday.

The restaurant, popular with stars like Brad Pitt and Kate Moss, calls the $50 dish on its own menu “environmentally challenged.” It asks patrons to “ask your server for an alternative.”

This misguided attempt to be environmentally friendly is not only a patently superficial gesture, but will probably cause the restaurant to take a huge hit, financially or otherwise.  Whoever does Nobu’s P.R. needs to tell them to rethink this.

Look, the worst thing you can do is sit on the fence about something.  If you really care about the plight of the noble bluefin tuna, then don’t serve the noble bluefin tuna at your restaurant.

If you’re interested in making $50 bucks a plate from selling the tasty, tasty fish, then sell it, without apology.

Fence sitting will only get both sides mad at you.

But hey, maybe they’re going for the “I tell others to be environmental but don’t have to do it myself cause I’m so cool” crowd.  And, Lord knows, there’s plenty of those folks around.

Needless to say, the next time I travel to one of my favorite cities, Nobu will not be on the…um…menu.

via Drudge.

Answering your own questions

According to Kyle Ringo of the Daily Camera, the Big 12 conference is trying to find ways to save money.  Here’s the first paragraph of the story.  In it there might be the answer they’re looking for.

COLORADO SPRINGS — Big 12 administrators gathered here Tuesday at the swank Broadmoor Hotel to begin discussions on reining in costs and taking a more frugal approach to doing business in a struggling economy.

I would say that having the meetings somewhere other than The Broadmoor, perhaps the ritziest hotel spa in Colorado this side of Aspen, might do a lot to save some money.

But that’s just me.

Look, I don’t care if they meet there. The place is awesome! And I certainly don’t want to see places like that go by the wayside because of groups being afraid to meet at a nice location.

I am saying that maybe it’s not such a great idea to be talking about cutting spending while staying at a place like the Broadmoor.

Just a thought.

Look what I found….

Walking and Drinking Beer is a new blog I was introduced to today.  All I can say is….YES!!!

I’m quite certain that Stephen will approve.

What hath these Nuggets wrought?

DREAD!

Long time Colorado sports fans know this feeling well, too well in fact.

It’s a feeling that is comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time, like an old wool blanket at your grandmother’s house. It’s warm and comfortable, but no matter how wonderful it feels, you know the scratchy, smoky, sneezy side will rear its ugly head.  It’s just a matter of time.

Denver sports teams are a lot like that blanket. Fans have grown up knowing that a local team is good, maybe great, but just knowing the other shoe is going to drop as heightened expectations are dashed by reality.

You need examples? Denver has plenty.

There were the hopes of the Orange Crush in ’77 and the expectations of the three Amigos in ’88, both dashed in Super Bowl blowouts. It got so bad many of us didn’t want to see the Broncos in the Super Bowl in 1998. We didn’t think we could take the pain of another trouncing.

There was the hard-court magic in 85 and 94 where Nuggets playoff wins were tempered by the knowledge that the climb to the top was too steep and that a title was never going to be in the cards.

There was even the magic of 2007 where thoughts of a World Series title were trashed by Rockies ticket agents before even one pitch was thrown.

Even when a title has landed in Denver, most have come with a bit of tarnish. The Avs in 1996 and 2001 felt bought, not earned. Colorado’s football championship was shared, thanks to the pettiness of the Little Red’s coach who, despite no rivalry, couldn’t stand to see the Buffs win a title before him.

Yes Saint John’s Super Bowls were great, but many wonder if all the years of pain that preceded them were worth it.

Now it’s the Nuggets once again, and the dread is back. In spades.

The Nuggets look strong, but…

DREAD!

Don’t get me wrong, these Nuggets are good, but even as they fought, and clawed, and defended (defended?) their way to the second seed in the West, no one believed they could win it all. Most picked them as the team that would get upset in the first round.

DREAD!

Only these Nuggets showed them.

They not only beat the Hornets, but dismantled them so thoroughly that the sheik pick for team of the future is contemplating rebuilding.

Dallas is next. Sure Denver has dominated them the last two years, but the playoffs are different. And it sure felt different for the first quarter and a half of Game 1.

DREAD!

But the tough as nails Nuggets came back and won easily. And then the Los Angeles Lakers, the elephants in the room called the West, got beat. At home.

Denver’s chances are improving daily. And more and more people are thinking if Houston can beat the Lakers, why not the Nuggets? Suddenly talk of getting to the Finals doesn’t sound so shrink worthy. Or does it?

DREAD!

There’s a long way to go, and Dallas isn’t out by a long shot. Neither is Los Angeles. But this team feels different somehow. They feel like the type of team that worries everyone else. The Nuggets are a tough, mean, athletic, composed juggernaut that finally learned to win a playoff series and realized how good they can be. But is that good, good enough?

DREAD!

Yeah, Chauncey has worked wonders, but are the ‘Melo, Kenyon, J.R., and Nene of years past gone for good, or just waiting for the worst possible moment to…to…I can’t even go down that road.

DREAD!

So what’s a gun-shy Denver fan to do? Well, one could always just turn the television of and save themselves the pain.

Not me. I’ll be following the advice of noted Denver sports fan Alfred Lord Tennyson, who after San Francisco’s 55-10 demolition of the Broncos in 1989, wrote. “’Tis better to have loved Denver teams and lost badly then to never have been to the playoffs at all.”

So sit back, relax, and enjoy Denver’s latest thrill ride.  Just try not to think about the…

DREAD!

Better to ask forgiveness than permission

It is a motto in journalism that it’s always better to ask for forgiveness than permission because the only way you can find out what you can get away with is to really see how much you can get away with before you get push back.

You’d be surprised how much you can do without permission.  Likewise, you’d be surprised how limited you are when you always ask for it.

“Oops!  I’m sorry I did everything I wanted to do and you couldn’t do anything to stop me.  I promise, PROMISE this will never happen again…until the next time.“

That’s what’s so great about asking forgiveness.   You already have accomplished your goals.

It was in this context that I got a huge chuckle as I was listening to President Obama talk about the whole “let’s see how close we can get Air Force One to the Statue of Liberty” incident.

A very serious Obama got out in front of the camera and asked for forgiveness saying that he would “make certain that this wouldn’t happen again.”

Of course it won’t happen again.   They already have all the photos of Air Force One flying over the New York skyline they’ll need for the rest of Obama’s presidency.  You think their going to dump those photos just because they terrorized a bunch of New Yorkers?

No way!

In fact, I bet you see those beautiful photos featured in a fawning, glossy spread by a major media publication before the end of the year.

And if someone complains about the spread?

“Oh, so, so sorry.  It definitely won’t happen again.  I promise.“

I just hope that they airbrush out all those panicked people running through the streets of N.Y. in the background.

WOW!!!! Just WOW!!!!

There are a lot of headlines that could have appeared today that I wouldn’t have been shocked seeing.

This isn’t one of those.

After 14 seasons and two Super Bowl wins, Mike Shanahan is out in Denver.

Excuse me while I peel my jaw off the floor.

In the Pressbox….Broncos v. Bills

It’s the last game of the season…at home…for the Broncos and it’s a cold one.  Thank goodness I’m in the warm confines of the press box.  I’ve already had some ice cream, so I inderstand how all those folk outside feel.

As for the game, the Broncos have to win this, seeing as how San Diego has beaten Tampa Bay.  I don’t think Denver wins if they go to the Chargers tied.

We’ll know a lot about the Broncos chances today after their first couple of drives.  If they come out looking to spread the ball around and try to mix in the run, they should be o.k..  If they come out passing every play, and looking for Brandon Marshall only, well, it could be a long day for Denver.

Also, if the Broncos lose they’ll have a losing record at home.  Yikes!!!  Oh well, time for some more ice cream.