World Cup, Everblades, Noel Devine

NBC2 Sports Blog – Chris Long
US Flops in the Cup, the Blades have a new big brother, and where things stand with Noel Devine.

It’s been a while since we’ve revved up the old ‘Blog and taken it for a spin. We’re hoping to put a few more miles on it in the coming months. Be sure to check back more frequently as we’ll have more regular updates, as opposed to the event-based posts we’ve been sticking to in the past.

There are a few topics swirling around that warrant discussion in the world of sports both national and local. I suppose with the World Cup in full swing, we can even take things global.

So let’s start with the World Cup, where the United States once again fell short of lofty expectations.

Ask anyone who knows anything about worldwide soccer (and you’ll know, because they’ll call it football), but the FIFA world rankings are basically a farce. If you think American college football rankings are weird, you ought to see the formula for the FIFA rankings. But this was the ranking that had the United States ranked 5th in the world going into the 2006 World Cup. The rest of the world looked at that as a massive joke, and the Team USA players even admitted they were far from the 5th best team in the world. As it played out in Germany the last two weeks… they were right.

For the second time in three World Cups, the US failed to win a game in their three-match group round. In fact, it took them until the final game to even put a ball in the opponent’s net without help (remember, the other goal they scored was put in by an Italian defender in the second match). The tie-breaker is goal differential in determining final placing in the Cup, and by at least losing in close games the US won’t come in last… like they did two Cups ago.

The current media storm is focusing on the should-he-stay-or-should-he-go around coach Bruce Arena. The team was woefully unprepared for the opener against the Czechs, and their offensive strategy (assuming there was one) was just awful. Brian McBride was the lone striker until the very last minutes of the do-or-die against Ghana when Eddie Johnson looked to have instructions to join the attack. To think a team like the US can hang with the world’s elite based on trying to own the midfield and smother with defense is just foolish. Not bringing sparkplug Clint Dempsey in until the second half against Italy was a nearly indefensible call. Dempsey proved his worth with the rocket-like strike he fired into the Ghana net… the lone tally for the US in the entire ’06 Cup. It was one of the more powerful goals of the entire competition. Eddie Johnson, who possesses world-class speed also should have been involved well before his initial insertion with just 30 minutes left in the final match. There simply should have been more help up front, and the decision to leave McBride as the lone threat up front could ultimately be the call that ends Arena’s tenure.

Last takes on the US’ run in the Cup:
Kasey Keller: A tough curtain call for a superb keeper whose only Cup run with the national team came years too late
Brian McBride: Will retire one of the most underrated players ever for the US team. He just never had the right bodies behind him to fuel his offensively creative fire
Landon Donovan: Entered the Cup as the face of US soccer. Leaves the Cup as having one of… if not THE… worst performances of the Cup. He was invisible in all three games.
Claudio Reyna: A rock for many years on the US National Team. This was a tough way for the captain to go out.
DaMarcus Beasley: Will be the star if the US is to make a deeper run in 2010
Clint Dempsey: Had street cred before even taking the field thanks to his very credible turn as a rapper. Will undoubtedly serve as the US’ primary offensive threat for the next decade
Freddy Adu: Deemed too young for this Cup, the superstar-in-waiting will have four good years of MLS (or other?) pro soccer experience by the time 2010 rolls around. That could be his coming-out party.
Bruce Arena: Thanks for the memories… good luck wherever your travels take you.

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Ok, on to a quick note about the state of the Florida Everblades.

For years, the ‘Blades affiliation with the Carolina Hurricanes has meant promotion from the Blades up to Lowell of the AHL as players move their way up pro hockey’s pecking order. Lowell has switched over to being under the New Jersey Devils, which left the ‘Canes looking for a new AHL affiliate. They have settled on the Albany River Rats, which the ‘Canes will share as an AHL affiliate with the Colorado Avalanche..

What’s interesting is that there are only two AHL teams who have shared affiliations, as most are in singular relationships with just one NHL parent club.

The only other AHL team to share affiliations with two teams is the Rochester Americans – shared by the Florida Panthers and Buffalo Sabres. As you probably know, the Panthers are also a parent club of the Everblades. What that means is: the two teams the ‘Blades promote players to in the AHL are the only two dually aligned teams. This could be a good thing in the long run for Everblades fans. With two NHL teams sharing the duties of filling the rosters in Rochester and Albany, there will be fewer open slots for Everblades players to promote up to.

While that’s probably bad news for players who look to elevate out of the ECHL and up the chain… but it’s good for the fans. Many players who might readily earn promotion to the AHL otherwise will stay with the Everblades a little longer.

The most frustrating part of this past season was the many call-ups and send-downs the team had to handle from the start of training camp all the way through the end of the season. That problem won’t go away, but it should be far better at least in the near future than it was last season.

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Lastly, I offer a quick note and observation about the supernova status of North Fort Myers High running back Noel Devine.

Devine is set to do a cover shoot for a national prep recruiting magazine. The magazine is sending a full-blown photography crew to town to shoot the senior-to-be who was recently touted by one recruiting service as “the most electrifying high school prospect since (Heisman winner and current New Orleans Saint) Reggie Bush.”

The interesting note here is that the cover shoot seems to go against the no-press rule that has reigned over the Red Knight program since Devine emerged as a superstar two seasons ago.

I was at the Cape Coral home Devine lives in when he returned home last summer following his brief and ill-fated adoption by Deion Sanders. It was the first and last time I have spoken to Devine. That day, he portrayed himself as quiet but confident… but it was clear he was far from comfortable talking to a member of the press. I actually looked forward to my next encounter with Devine, whenever it happened to be.

It hasn’t happened yet.

Despite one of the most amazing seasons in Southwest Florida prep football history, Devine was shielded by school and team officials from any contact with the media. Workouts this summer have come with notices of media exclusion, and I personally witnessed a verbal sparring match between one member of the local media and a team official that was clearly a product of both sides’ mutual frustration with one another.

I refuse to fault Red Knights coach James Iandoli for his constant desire to protect Devine from the press. I may disagree with some of his methods, but as a teacher and coach it’s his job to act in the interest of his student and player. If I were in Devine’s shoes… I’d want Iandoli in my corner.

So the big question is… will Devine finally speak at the upcoming photo shoot?

My guess is no.

Posing for a cover of a magazine is one thing. Answering questions about his past is another. I’d love to cry foul and say it’s not fair to us, the media, who are just trying to do our job – bringing the stories to the people of our community. But it’s the school’s job to protect the students. If there were some way that all parties could agree to only talk about his on-field play and his ever-brightening future… at least we might begin to unlock at least part of what’s really become a mystery.

But he’s a kid… maybe we don’t have the right to hold that key. Not as the media, not as members of the community.

Professionally, I’d love to sit down with him and have him tell his whole story. From the horrible shooting incident that had him witness the death of a friend, to his whirlwind week as Sanders’ adopted son, to his decision to hop a plane and head back to North Fort Myers.

But personally, I’d just like to have a chance to talk to the kid again. He really seemed like he’s a decent kid, and he’s obviously a heck of a football player. At the very least, I’d love to hear him just talk about the game.

But until he hits a college campus next year, that probably can’t happen.

Hopefully, by this time next year he’ll be properly instructed and mentally-prepared for what’s ahead of him at the next level. Be it Florida, Florida State, Miami, USC, Texas or whatever football powerhouse Devine chooses to bless with a commitment… he’ll be in an environment where he can’t be protected. There are weekly newsletters, monthly magazines, half-hour TV programs and hundreds of Internet sites dedicated to the football teams at those schools… and many others just like them. Devine is hot as he heads into his senior year of high school, but he’ll be off the charts by the time he sets foot on a college campus.

I hope he’s ready. I hope he buries whatever lies in his past and find his way to success on the field, in the classroom and in life. If he doesn’t, he’ll have far worse than a handful of local writers and reporters chasing him.
I wish him the best. I honestly do.

CHRIS LONG is a Sports Anchor, Reporter and Blogger for NBC2. You can reach Chris via e-mail at ChrisL@Water.net . He welcomes opinions and suggestions on both the blog and on the day-to-day work of the NBC-2 Sports Department.