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.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Divisional Semi Recap / Divisional Final Preview
EVERBLADES PLAYOFF BLOG – They’re movin’ on!
(Divisional Semi Recap / Divisional Final Preview) -Chris Long, NBC2 Sports
The final two games of the Division Semifinal series against Greenville showed how screwy the ECHL playoffs can be.
In Game 3’s 1-0 overtime loss, the Blades were defensively tight, but offensively lacking. Their power outage on the power play continued – still just a single extra-man goal in the series. The moment Jason Josza’s overtime game-winner wove it’s way off his stick, off a teammate’s stick, off a ‘Blades defenseman and then just inside the left post behind Phil Osaer… it looked like the series might spin 180-degrees. Goals like that always seem to have some kind of lasting effect on the series… but not this time.
Game Four was a clinic on how to run special teams. The Everblades, having scored just the one in the three games prior, exploded for seven power play goals in the eventual series finale. Greenville put themselves behind the 8-ball by giving the ‘Blades ten opportunities… but Florida made them count, shattering the franchise playoff record that had been three. They also tied a playoff record for goals in a game in the 9-4 win.
The blowout win put an exclamation point on the series that the ‘Blades truly hoped to sweep. Having to play a fourth game prevented the team from being able to return home before the start of the next series. Instead of making a 1350-mile Greenville-Estero-Gwinnett trip, the team opted to remain in Greenville before taking the quick 2-hour trip directly from Greenville to Duluth, Georgia (the actual town Gwinnett plays in).
Looking ahead to the upcoming Division Final, despite Gwinnett winning the regular season division title and holding home-ice, this series appears to be a dead-even matchup. The teams split their eleven regular season matchups 5-5-1, and have never met in the playoffs prior to this coming series.
Due to the different number of teams in the East and West Conferences, this year’s Kelly Cup Playoffs has an unbalanced bracket this season. It means Eastern Conference teams continue to play Best-of-5 series’ while the Western teams have already been into Best-of-7’s for a round already.
The shorter series can work either for or against a team like the Everblades. They’ve show they can be a little streaky at times this year, and even a two-game losing streak is crippling in a five game series. The longer seven game series allows a team to take a couple strikes, and still be in position to win the series. On the other hand, as hot as goalie Phil Osaer has been… the likelihood of him cooling off may be less likely in a short series with very little travel time.
Finally, that lack of travel time will also play a role in the Gladiators-Everblades series. While the opening round against Greenville featured a week-long break between the openers at Germain and the second pair of games in Greenville, the entire Division Final will be over in a span of eight days:
GAME ONE: @ Gwinnett Center – Wednesday 7:05pm
GAME TWO: @ Gwinnett Center – Friday 7:35pm
GAME THREE: @ Germain Arena – Saturday 7:30pm
GAME FOUR: @ Germain Arena – Monday 7:30pm
GAME FIVE: @ Gwinnett Center – Wednesday 5/3 7:05pm
The first thing that jumps out from that schedule is the back-to-back games Friday and Saturday that are separated by 24 hours and 750 miles of bus travel. This blog addressed the ECHL’s bizarre scheduling rationales during the Everblades run last season, but once again this year… it just makes no sense. Understandably, they want to have as many games as possible on the weekends, to assure the largest crowd possible. They also don’t want to string series’ out any longer than they need to, so the entire playoff can progress at a good pace. But this situation seems pretty strange. The teams will play Friday night in Georgia, then hit the road immediately afterward en route to Estero for Game Three the very next night. Whichever team can handle the quick turnaround and long overnight bus trip the best between those two games will have a leg-up in closing out the series.
That’s it for now, check back as we’ll be updating our Blog as long as the ‘Blades stay alive!
CHRIS LONG is the Weekend Sports Anchor on NBC2 and has been covering the Everblades for two seasons. The Everblades Playoff Blog debuted when he traveled with the team in last year’s Kelly Cup Finals in Trenton, NJ. Click here to send Chris an e-mail with any comments, questions. He makes every effort to respond to each and every submission.
Around the league (courtesy ECHL):
North Division Finals (Best-of-Five) – Winner of this series plays winner of Gwinnett/Florida
* Toledo was 5-1-1 at home against the Nailers in the regular season, outscoring Wheeling 28-17. * Rookie Sean Collins led Nailers on the road against Toledo with three goals, seven assists and 10 points. * Scooter Smith led the Storm at home against Wheeling with eight assists and 11 points. * The last three meetings have been one-goal games with Wheeling winning two of the three. * Matt Zultek has three points at home in the playoffs, including a team-leading two goals. * Nailers' Kurtis McLean has scored in all four playoff games (4g-3a). * Storm rookies Chris Blight (2g-2a) and Bracken Kearns have combined for 10 points in three playoff games. * Wheeling rookie Andy Franck is 3-1-0 with a goals against of 3.21 and a save percentage of .893.
Pacific Division Finals (Best-of-Seven)
No. 2 Bakersfield Condors (40-26-6) at No. 1 Fresno Falcons (43-15-14) 7:30 p.m. ET* Fresno was 3-0-0 at home against the Condors in the regular season, winning last two games in a shootout. * Dave Bonk, who leads the playoffs (5g-5a), had two goals in 3-2 shootout loss at Fresno on Mar. 28. * Falcons' Rob McFeeters scored four points (2g-2a) in three home games against Bakersfield. * Bakersfield is looking for its first win at Fresno since beating the Falcons 4-1 on Mar. 13, 2005. * Falcons' Kelsey Muench scored in all four playoff games with five points, including a team-high four goals. * Condors' Mathieu Brunelle is tied for the postseason league lead with two game-winning goals. * Jamie Holden is 3-1-0 with goals against of 2.40 and a .939 save percentage against Bakersfield. * Condors lead the postseason with 27 goals, including 10 in the second period which is tied for league lead.
West Division Finals (Best-of-Seven)
No. 2 Las Vegas Wranglers (53-13-6) at No. 1 Alaska Aces (53-12-7) 7:15 p.m. AT* Aces' Matt Underhill is 4-0-0 with a 1.25 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage in playoffs. * Wranglers won three in a row against Idaho, outscoring the Steelheads 17-4, to reach division finals. * Alaska was 3-0-0 at home against Las Vegas, outscoring the Wranglers 9-3. * Las Vegas' Marco Peluso is averaging two points per game in the last three games (1g-5a). * Aces' Chris Minard has five goals in the playoffs and is tied for the league lead with three power-play goals. * Las Vegas has won three of the last four meetings with Alaska, outscoring the Aces 17-9. * In Game 1s in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, Alaska is 6-0 and Las Vegas is 1-1. * Wranglers lead the playoffs with 10 goals in the third period and rank second overall with 26 goals.
Notes:
This year marks the first time in ECHL history that all the top seeds advanced to the playoff’s Elite Eight… led by regular season champion Alaska and regular season runner-up Las Vegas, who will meet in the West Division Finals.
The Aces finished with 113 points, which is the second-highest total in league history, while the Wranglers had 112 points, which is the third-highest total. Five teams reached 100 points in 2005-06, surpassing the previous high of three in 2003-04, as Gwinnett had 107 points and Florida and Fresno both had 100 points. The last time a 100-point team advanced in the postseason was 2003 when Toledo beat Lexington in the division semifinals before losing to Cincinnati in the division finals. The all-time postseason series record for 100-point teams is now 20-14.
Each of the past two seasons, the regular season champion has been upset in the first round as Pensacola lost in four games to Greenville in 2005 and San Diego was swept in three games by Alaska in 2004. The last time a regular season champion advanced to the conference finals was 2001 when Trenton swept Toledo in three games in the semifinals and then beat Peoria in seven games in the conference finals to advance to the Kelly Cup Finals where it lost in five games to South Carolina. South Carolina is the only team in league history to win both the regular season championship and the postseason championship, accomplishing the feat in 1997.
Alaska, Florida and Gwinnett return to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive year while Bakersfield, Fresno and Las Vegas have reached the Elite Eight for the first time. Toledo returns for the first time since 2001 and Wheeling makes an appearance for the first time since 1998.
In the National Conference, the West Division Finals have No. 1 Seed Alaska (53-12-7) meeting No. 2 Seed Las Vegas (53-13-6) while the Pacific Division Finals have No. 1 Seed Fresno (43-15-14) against No. 2 Seed Bakersfield (40-26-6). The semifinals in the National Conference are a best-of-seven series with the winners advancing to the conference finals which are a best-of-seven series scheduled for May 8-20.
In the American Conference, the South Division Finals have No. 1 Seed Gwinnett (50-15-7) meeting No. 2 Seed Florida (48-20-4) while the North Division Finals have No. 1 Seed Toledo (46-21-5) against No. 2 Seed Wheeling (45-21-6). The semifinals in the American Conference are a best-of-five series with the winners advancing to the conference finals which are a best-of-seven series scheduled for May 5-20.
The winners of the National Conference and the American Conference will meet in the best-of-seven Kelly Cup Finals which will be played May 22-June 3.
Alaska has advanced to the division finals in each of its first three seasons in the ECHL. The Aces have been eliminated each of the past two years by the eventual Kelly Cup Champion, losing to Idaho in the divisional finals in 2004 and losing in seven games to Trenton in the conference finals last year. Las Vegas won the first playoff series in its three-year history beating Idaho in seven games, becoming only the second team in league history to come back after trailing 3-1. The Wranglers won the last two regular season meetings with Alaska, both played at Las Vegas. The Aces, however, captured the season series by going 4-2-1.
Florida is trying to become the first team ever to reach the league finals three consecutive years. The Everblades advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals in each of the last two years, losing to Idaho in five games in 2004 and losing in six games to Trenton in 2005. The other teams to reach back-to-back league finals are Hampton Roads, which won the Riley Cup in 1991 and 1992, and Toledo, which won the Riley Cup in 1993 and 1994. Gwinnett returns to the division finals for the second time in the last three years, having lost in the conference finals to Idaho in 2004. Gwinnett was 6-3-2 in the regular season against the Everblades, who were 5-5-1 against the Gladiators.
Wheeling won its first playoff series since 1998 when current Carolina Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette led the Nailers to the conference finals, beating Toledo in four games in the conference semifinals. The Nailers lost in the conference finals to Hampton Roads, which went on to beat Pensacola in six games in the Kelly Cup Finals. The Nailers are in the playoff for the second time in three seasons after missing the postseason for five years. Toledo, which is making its second consecutive postseason appearance and its 12th overall, won its first playoff series since 2003 when it lost to Cincinnati in the division finals. The Storm swept Wheeling in three games in 1994, advancing to the Riley Cup Finals where they beat Raleigh in five games. Toledo and Wheeling met in the Riley Cup Finals in 1993 with the Storm winning in six games, including a 7-6 double overtime win in Game 6. Toledo was 8-4-1 in the regular season against Wheeling, which was 5-7-1 against the Storm.
In the playoffs for the second year in a row, Bakersfield beat Long Beach in seven games for its first postseason series win while Fresno, which is making its first appearance in the Kelly Cup Playoffs since joining the league in 2003-04, swept San Diego in the division semifinals. Fresno won the last three regular season meetings and was 4-0-2 against the Condors.
BY THE NUMBERS (Courtesy: Everblades):
Quick Stats
Overall Record 3-1
Home Record 2-0
Road Record 1-1
Overtime Record 1-1
Power Play 8-31 (1st)
Penalty Kill 30-36 (11th)
Leading Scorers
Vince Bellissimo 2-4-6
Corey Neilson 2-4-6
Dustin Johner 2-3-5
Reggie Berg 2-3-5
Leading Goaltenders
Phil Osaer 2.49 GAA, 3-1
Plus/Minus Leaders
Matt Bannan +4
Corey Neilson +3
Drew Larman +3
Ryan Brindley +3
Weekly Award Nominee: The Everblades goaltender of the week nominee is Phil Osaer who finished the week 1-1 with a 2.24 goals against average and a .937 save percentage with one shutout. The Player of the Week nominee is Steve Saviano who tallied one goal and three assists in lone game he played in during Florida's 9-4 series clinching win over Greenville.
Record Breaking Night!: In Florida's 9-4 win over Greenville on Apr. 22, the Everblades set or tied several single-game franchise records. The nine goals scored tied the teams all-time mark for most in one playoff game, matching the time is was done on May 14, 1999 at Birmingham...of the nine goals scored, the Everblades scored seven of them on the power play which shattered the previous franchise mark of three on May 10, 2005 vs. Charlotte...the four assists picked up in the game by Vince Bellissimo set a team record for most helpers in one game.
Series at a Glance: The South Division Finals between the Everblades and Gwinnett Gladiators marks the first time the two teams will meet in the post-season...during the 2005-06 regular season, the Everblades posted a 5-5-1 record vs. Gwinnett, going 3-2-1 at home and posting a 2-3-0 record at Gwinnett...all-time the Everblades are 9-10-4 vs. Gwinnett...the Everblades advanced to the South Division Finals by defeating the Greenville Grrrowl 3-games-to-1 in the semifinal round...the Gladiators advanced to the Division Finals by sweeping the South Carolina Stingrays 3-games-to-0 in the semifinal round...Gwinnett and Florida finished first and second in the South Division standings...the Gladiators posted a record of 50-15-7, while the Everblades finished the regular season with a mark of 48-20-4.
Playoffs by the Numbers: The Everblades have qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs in each of their eight seasons...the Everblades are 34-24 all-time in the post season...on home ice the Everblades are 18-15 in the post season, while posting a 16-10 road record...Reggie Berg is the team's all-time leader in post-season games played with 49 and is tied for first all-time in goals with 17. Berg also ranks first all-time in playoff points as an Everblade with 44.
Playoff Ticket Information: Everblades 2006 Kelly Cup Playoff Tickets for Games “C”, which will take place on Saturday, April 29, are on sale now to the general public! Fans can purchase tickets at the Germain Arena box office, which is open from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com. For additional information, contact the Everblades office at (239) 948-7825.
Everblades On The Air: The Florida Everblades are broadcast on Sportsradio 770 AM and on the web at www.floridaeverblades.com. Join the "Voice of the Everblades" Kevin Reiter for all the play-by-play action. The Florida Lottery pre-game show begins 20 minutes before face-off.
(Divisional Semi Recap / Divisional Final Preview) -Chris Long, NBC2 Sports
The final two games of the Division Semifinal series against Greenville showed how screwy the ECHL playoffs can be.
In Game 3’s 1-0 overtime loss, the Blades were defensively tight, but offensively lacking. Their power outage on the power play continued – still just a single extra-man goal in the series. The moment Jason Josza’s overtime game-winner wove it’s way off his stick, off a teammate’s stick, off a ‘Blades defenseman and then just inside the left post behind Phil Osaer… it looked like the series might spin 180-degrees. Goals like that always seem to have some kind of lasting effect on the series… but not this time.
Game Four was a clinic on how to run special teams. The Everblades, having scored just the one in the three games prior, exploded for seven power play goals in the eventual series finale. Greenville put themselves behind the 8-ball by giving the ‘Blades ten opportunities… but Florida made them count, shattering the franchise playoff record that had been three. They also tied a playoff record for goals in a game in the 9-4 win.
The blowout win put an exclamation point on the series that the ‘Blades truly hoped to sweep. Having to play a fourth game prevented the team from being able to return home before the start of the next series. Instead of making a 1350-mile Greenville-Estero-Gwinnett trip, the team opted to remain in Greenville before taking the quick 2-hour trip directly from Greenville to Duluth, Georgia (the actual town Gwinnett plays in).
Looking ahead to the upcoming Division Final, despite Gwinnett winning the regular season division title and holding home-ice, this series appears to be a dead-even matchup. The teams split their eleven regular season matchups 5-5-1, and have never met in the playoffs prior to this coming series.
Due to the different number of teams in the East and West Conferences, this year’s Kelly Cup Playoffs has an unbalanced bracket this season. It means Eastern Conference teams continue to play Best-of-5 series’ while the Western teams have already been into Best-of-7’s for a round already.
The shorter series can work either for or against a team like the Everblades. They’ve show they can be a little streaky at times this year, and even a two-game losing streak is crippling in a five game series. The longer seven game series allows a team to take a couple strikes, and still be in position to win the series. On the other hand, as hot as goalie Phil Osaer has been… the likelihood of him cooling off may be less likely in a short series with very little travel time.
Finally, that lack of travel time will also play a role in the Gladiators-Everblades series. While the opening round against Greenville featured a week-long break between the openers at Germain and the second pair of games in Greenville, the entire Division Final will be over in a span of eight days:
GAME ONE: @ Gwinnett Center – Wednesday 7:05pm
GAME TWO: @ Gwinnett Center – Friday 7:35pm
GAME THREE: @ Germain Arena – Saturday 7:30pm
GAME FOUR: @ Germain Arena – Monday 7:30pm
GAME FIVE: @ Gwinnett Center – Wednesday 5/3 7:05pm
The first thing that jumps out from that schedule is the back-to-back games Friday and Saturday that are separated by 24 hours and 750 miles of bus travel. This blog addressed the ECHL’s bizarre scheduling rationales during the Everblades run last season, but once again this year… it just makes no sense. Understandably, they want to have as many games as possible on the weekends, to assure the largest crowd possible. They also don’t want to string series’ out any longer than they need to, so the entire playoff can progress at a good pace. But this situation seems pretty strange. The teams will play Friday night in Georgia, then hit the road immediately afterward en route to Estero for Game Three the very next night. Whichever team can handle the quick turnaround and long overnight bus trip the best between those two games will have a leg-up in closing out the series.
That’s it for now, check back as we’ll be updating our Blog as long as the ‘Blades stay alive!
CHRIS LONG is the Weekend Sports Anchor on NBC2 and has been covering the Everblades for two seasons. The Everblades Playoff Blog debuted when he traveled with the team in last year’s Kelly Cup Finals in Trenton, NJ. Click here to send Chris an e-mail with any comments, questions. He makes every effort to respond to each and every submission.
Around the league (courtesy ECHL):
North Division Finals (Best-of-Five) – Winner of this series plays winner of Gwinnett/Florida
* Toledo was 5-1-1 at home against the Nailers in the regular season, outscoring Wheeling 28-17. * Rookie Sean Collins led Nailers on the road against Toledo with three goals, seven assists and 10 points. * Scooter Smith led the Storm at home against Wheeling with eight assists and 11 points. * The last three meetings have been one-goal games with Wheeling winning two of the three. * Matt Zultek has three points at home in the playoffs, including a team-leading two goals. * Nailers' Kurtis McLean has scored in all four playoff games (4g-3a). * Storm rookies Chris Blight (2g-2a) and Bracken Kearns have combined for 10 points in three playoff games. * Wheeling rookie Andy Franck is 3-1-0 with a goals against of 3.21 and a save percentage of .893.
Pacific Division Finals (Best-of-Seven)
No. 2 Bakersfield Condors (40-26-6) at No. 1 Fresno Falcons (43-15-14) 7:30 p.m. ET* Fresno was 3-0-0 at home against the Condors in the regular season, winning last two games in a shootout. * Dave Bonk, who leads the playoffs (5g-5a), had two goals in 3-2 shootout loss at Fresno on Mar. 28. * Falcons' Rob McFeeters scored four points (2g-2a) in three home games against Bakersfield. * Bakersfield is looking for its first win at Fresno since beating the Falcons 4-1 on Mar. 13, 2005. * Falcons' Kelsey Muench scored in all four playoff games with five points, including a team-high four goals. * Condors' Mathieu Brunelle is tied for the postseason league lead with two game-winning goals. * Jamie Holden is 3-1-0 with goals against of 2.40 and a .939 save percentage against Bakersfield. * Condors lead the postseason with 27 goals, including 10 in the second period which is tied for league lead.
West Division Finals (Best-of-Seven)
No. 2 Las Vegas Wranglers (53-13-6) at No. 1 Alaska Aces (53-12-7) 7:15 p.m. AT* Aces' Matt Underhill is 4-0-0 with a 1.25 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage in playoffs. * Wranglers won three in a row against Idaho, outscoring the Steelheads 17-4, to reach division finals. * Alaska was 3-0-0 at home against Las Vegas, outscoring the Wranglers 9-3. * Las Vegas' Marco Peluso is averaging two points per game in the last three games (1g-5a). * Aces' Chris Minard has five goals in the playoffs and is tied for the league lead with three power-play goals. * Las Vegas has won three of the last four meetings with Alaska, outscoring the Aces 17-9. * In Game 1s in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, Alaska is 6-0 and Las Vegas is 1-1. * Wranglers lead the playoffs with 10 goals in the third period and rank second overall with 26 goals.
Notes:
This year marks the first time in ECHL history that all the top seeds advanced to the playoff’s Elite Eight… led by regular season champion Alaska and regular season runner-up Las Vegas, who will meet in the West Division Finals.
The Aces finished with 113 points, which is the second-highest total in league history, while the Wranglers had 112 points, which is the third-highest total. Five teams reached 100 points in 2005-06, surpassing the previous high of three in 2003-04, as Gwinnett had 107 points and Florida and Fresno both had 100 points. The last time a 100-point team advanced in the postseason was 2003 when Toledo beat Lexington in the division semifinals before losing to Cincinnati in the division finals. The all-time postseason series record for 100-point teams is now 20-14.
Each of the past two seasons, the regular season champion has been upset in the first round as Pensacola lost in four games to Greenville in 2005 and San Diego was swept in three games by Alaska in 2004. The last time a regular season champion advanced to the conference finals was 2001 when Trenton swept Toledo in three games in the semifinals and then beat Peoria in seven games in the conference finals to advance to the Kelly Cup Finals where it lost in five games to South Carolina. South Carolina is the only team in league history to win both the regular season championship and the postseason championship, accomplishing the feat in 1997.
Alaska, Florida and Gwinnett return to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive year while Bakersfield, Fresno and Las Vegas have reached the Elite Eight for the first time. Toledo returns for the first time since 2001 and Wheeling makes an appearance for the first time since 1998.
In the National Conference, the West Division Finals have No. 1 Seed Alaska (53-12-7) meeting No. 2 Seed Las Vegas (53-13-6) while the Pacific Division Finals have No. 1 Seed Fresno (43-15-14) against No. 2 Seed Bakersfield (40-26-6). The semifinals in the National Conference are a best-of-seven series with the winners advancing to the conference finals which are a best-of-seven series scheduled for May 8-20.
In the American Conference, the South Division Finals have No. 1 Seed Gwinnett (50-15-7) meeting No. 2 Seed Florida (48-20-4) while the North Division Finals have No. 1 Seed Toledo (46-21-5) against No. 2 Seed Wheeling (45-21-6). The semifinals in the American Conference are a best-of-five series with the winners advancing to the conference finals which are a best-of-seven series scheduled for May 5-20.
The winners of the National Conference and the American Conference will meet in the best-of-seven Kelly Cup Finals which will be played May 22-June 3.
Alaska has advanced to the division finals in each of its first three seasons in the ECHL. The Aces have been eliminated each of the past two years by the eventual Kelly Cup Champion, losing to Idaho in the divisional finals in 2004 and losing in seven games to Trenton in the conference finals last year. Las Vegas won the first playoff series in its three-year history beating Idaho in seven games, becoming only the second team in league history to come back after trailing 3-1. The Wranglers won the last two regular season meetings with Alaska, both played at Las Vegas. The Aces, however, captured the season series by going 4-2-1.
Florida is trying to become the first team ever to reach the league finals three consecutive years. The Everblades advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals in each of the last two years, losing to Idaho in five games in 2004 and losing in six games to Trenton in 2005. The other teams to reach back-to-back league finals are Hampton Roads, which won the Riley Cup in 1991 and 1992, and Toledo, which won the Riley Cup in 1993 and 1994. Gwinnett returns to the division finals for the second time in the last three years, having lost in the conference finals to Idaho in 2004. Gwinnett was 6-3-2 in the regular season against the Everblades, who were 5-5-1 against the Gladiators.
Wheeling won its first playoff series since 1998 when current Carolina Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette led the Nailers to the conference finals, beating Toledo in four games in the conference semifinals. The Nailers lost in the conference finals to Hampton Roads, which went on to beat Pensacola in six games in the Kelly Cup Finals. The Nailers are in the playoff for the second time in three seasons after missing the postseason for five years. Toledo, which is making its second consecutive postseason appearance and its 12th overall, won its first playoff series since 2003 when it lost to Cincinnati in the division finals. The Storm swept Wheeling in three games in 1994, advancing to the Riley Cup Finals where they beat Raleigh in five games. Toledo and Wheeling met in the Riley Cup Finals in 1993 with the Storm winning in six games, including a 7-6 double overtime win in Game 6. Toledo was 8-4-1 in the regular season against Wheeling, which was 5-7-1 against the Storm.
In the playoffs for the second year in a row, Bakersfield beat Long Beach in seven games for its first postseason series win while Fresno, which is making its first appearance in the Kelly Cup Playoffs since joining the league in 2003-04, swept San Diego in the division semifinals. Fresno won the last three regular season meetings and was 4-0-2 against the Condors.
BY THE NUMBERS (Courtesy: Everblades):
Quick Stats
Overall Record 3-1
Home Record 2-0
Road Record 1-1
Overtime Record 1-1
Power Play 8-31 (1st)
Penalty Kill 30-36 (11th)
Leading Scorers
Vince Bellissimo 2-4-6
Corey Neilson 2-4-6
Dustin Johner 2-3-5
Reggie Berg 2-3-5
Leading Goaltenders
Phil Osaer 2.49 GAA, 3-1
Plus/Minus Leaders
Matt Bannan +4
Corey Neilson +3
Drew Larman +3
Ryan Brindley +3
Weekly Award Nominee: The Everblades goaltender of the week nominee is Phil Osaer who finished the week 1-1 with a 2.24 goals against average and a .937 save percentage with one shutout. The Player of the Week nominee is Steve Saviano who tallied one goal and three assists in lone game he played in during Florida's 9-4 series clinching win over Greenville.
Record Breaking Night!: In Florida's 9-4 win over Greenville on Apr. 22, the Everblades set or tied several single-game franchise records. The nine goals scored tied the teams all-time mark for most in one playoff game, matching the time is was done on May 14, 1999 at Birmingham...of the nine goals scored, the Everblades scored seven of them on the power play which shattered the previous franchise mark of three on May 10, 2005 vs. Charlotte...the four assists picked up in the game by Vince Bellissimo set a team record for most helpers in one game.
Series at a Glance: The South Division Finals between the Everblades and Gwinnett Gladiators marks the first time the two teams will meet in the post-season...during the 2005-06 regular season, the Everblades posted a 5-5-1 record vs. Gwinnett, going 3-2-1 at home and posting a 2-3-0 record at Gwinnett...all-time the Everblades are 9-10-4 vs. Gwinnett...the Everblades advanced to the South Division Finals by defeating the Greenville Grrrowl 3-games-to-1 in the semifinal round...the Gladiators advanced to the Division Finals by sweeping the South Carolina Stingrays 3-games-to-0 in the semifinal round...Gwinnett and Florida finished first and second in the South Division standings...the Gladiators posted a record of 50-15-7, while the Everblades finished the regular season with a mark of 48-20-4.
Playoffs by the Numbers: The Everblades have qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs in each of their eight seasons...the Everblades are 34-24 all-time in the post season...on home ice the Everblades are 18-15 in the post season, while posting a 16-10 road record...Reggie Berg is the team's all-time leader in post-season games played with 49 and is tied for first all-time in goals with 17. Berg also ranks first all-time in playoff points as an Everblade with 44.
Playoff Ticket Information: Everblades 2006 Kelly Cup Playoff Tickets for Games “C”, which will take place on Saturday, April 29, are on sale now to the general public! Fans can purchase tickets at the Germain Arena box office, which is open from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com. For additional information, contact the Everblades office at (239) 948-7825.
Everblades On The Air: The Florida Everblades are broadcast on Sportsradio 770 AM and on the web at www.floridaeverblades.com. Join the "Voice of the Everblades" Kevin Reiter for all the play-by-play action. The Florida Lottery pre-game show begins 20 minutes before face-off.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
NBC2 EVERBLADES PLAYOFF BLOG: Round 1 / Games 1-2
NBC2 EVERBLADES PLAYOFF BLOG: Looking good through two
-Chris Long, NBC2 Sports (e-mail)
The difference in the regular season series between the Florida Everblades and Greenville came down to the power play. The Everblades scored on an amazing 30 percent of their extra-man advantages, while Greenville scored on just 8 percent… a total of just three goals. Thanks to their special teams success, the Blades went 3-2-1 against Greenville this regular season.
Similar man-up mastery helped the ‘Blades to a 3-0 series sweep of Greenville in last year’s Kelly Cup Playoffs.
But through the first two games of this year’s ECHL Playoffs, the tables have turned. It has been Greenville holding the power play advantage. However the Everblades have used the Grrrowl power play against them. In the first two games of the series, a very high number of penalties have been called. The Blades have had 13 extra-man situations, while Greenville has had 17.
Florida has just a single goal for their 13 power plays. While on their 17, Greenville has scored four goals… that’s the exact same number of goals the ‘Blades have scored shorthanded on those same 17 situations.
These four shorthanded goals are the single biggest reason the Everblades have a 2-0 series lead. Some might wonder if the Grrrowl might consider declining penalties when they’re called on the ‘Blades from here on out. For any hockey novices out there, no… that’s not allowed.
Reggie Berg scored two of the shorties, one in each game, each coming through fantastic individual effort. They’ve helped Berg climb atop the Everblades franchise playoff scoring list.
The Everblades even found a way to turn Game 2 on a very strange man-advantage situation. With less than three minutes to go in the second period, and Florida clinging to a 2-1 lead... the Everblades had two men in the penalty box, while Greenville had one. Each team had a man in the box on coincidental minors… so the ‘Blades were skating shorthanded 4-on-3. Just as the coincidental were set to expire, ‘Blades goalie Phil Osaer made a spectacular save flicking his left skate out at the last moment, blocking the would-be tying goal for Greenville. The rebound bounced back in front of the net, right onto the backhand-side of Ryan Brindley’s stick. While there’s no way to know for sure if Brindley was just trying to clear the puck, or if he actually saw Matt Bannan exiting the penalty box… either way, Brindley lobbed the puck into the air, out of the defensive zone, and right to Bannan. The Grrrowl defender who was coming out of the box at the same time was already step behind Bannan as he entered the zone. Bannan made a quick deke, and buried the puck for his first professional goal… giving the ‘Blades a 3-1 lead and a stranglehold on the game’s momentum.
There’s an old saying that says, “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” This one play demonstrated how true that saying is… and just might sum up the identity of the Everblades. Shorthanded, under attack, and desperately trying to hang on to the end of the period with a one-goal lead… a rapid-fire series of great plays turned everything around, and allowed the Blades to push Greenville to the brink of elimination.
As the playoffs progress and the ‘Blades march on, other key elements will eventually emerge. Phil Osaer has been superb, but it’s still very early in the long journey to the Kelly Cup. Injuries could flare up, but the same could be said for current and future Everblades opponents as well.
But if the ‘Blades can get their power play to click… and the penalty kill keeps not only preventing opponents goals, but scoring their own… the Blades should be in terrific shape. The way penalties have been called in the playoffs so far, special teams could overcome any hot goalie or injury’s impact on the Everblades run to the Finals.
-Chris Long, NBC2 Sports
Feel free to e-mail any comments, questions or suggestions you might have to Chris.
EVERBLADES PLAYOFF RECAP:
DIVISION QUARTERFINAL: Everblades had bye
DIVISION SEMIFINAL: Everblades lead Greenville 2-0 in Best of 7.
Game 3: Friday @ Greenville
Game 4 (if necessary): Saturday @ Grenville
Game 5 (if necessary): Sunday @ Germain Arena, Estero
Just in case some of you aren’t following along with the rest of the playoff outside of the ‘Blades-Grrrowl series… here’s a quick update:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ROUND ONE (complete):
-Defending Kelly Cup Champion Trenton was defeated by Johnstown in the first round, 2 games to 0
-South Carolina defeated Charlotte 2 games to 1.
-Greenville defeated Augusta 2-1, which moved Greenville into the Division Semifinal against Florida.
ROUND TWO:
-Toledo leads Johnstown 2-0 (3-2, 4-1). Game 3 is Wednesday.
-Wheeling leads Reading 2-1 (3-2OT, 1-4, 4-3). Game 4 is Wednesday.
-Gwinnett leads South Carolina 2-0 (5-3, 5-4OT). Game 3 is Wednesday. If the Everblades advance past Greenville, they will play the winner of this series.
***Note, all three Eastern Conference series’ except for Florida-Greenville can end tonight.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ROUND ONE:
-Fresno has swept San Diego 4 games to 0 (4-3OT, 4-3, 2-1OT, 5-1).
-Long Beach and Bakersfield are tied 2-2 (BAK won Gm 1 and 3, LB won 2 and 4). The winner of this series will play Fresno. Game 5 is Wednesday.
-Alaska has swept Utah 4 games to 0 (4-1, 3-1, 4-1, 6-2).
-In the most exciting series of the round, Las Vegas and Idaho are tied 3-3.:
=Idaho won Game 1 2-1 in 2 OT’s.
=Idaho then won Game 4-2.
=Idaho led Game 3 by two goals with just a few minutes to go, but Las Vegas scored
twice to tie then won 5-4 in overtime.
=Idaho won Game 4 4-2, pushing Las Vegas to the brink of elimination.
=Needing a win on the road to stay alive, Las Vegas won Game 5 5-2.
=Returning home for Game 6, Las Vegas again avoided elimination with a
6-0 blowout win.
=Game 7 is Wednesday. The winner will play Alaska in Round Two.
2005-06 EVERBLADES PLAYOFF NUMBERS
Overall Record 2-0
Home Record 2-0
Road Record 0-0
Overtime Record 1-0
Power Play 1-13 (16th)
Penalty Kill 13-17 (19th)
Leading Scorers
Reggie Berg 2-1-3
Kevin Estrada 1-2-3
Drew Larman 1-2-3
Ryan Brindley 0-3-3
Paul Cabana 2-0-2
Leading Goaltenders
Phil Osaer 2.75 GAA, 2-0
Plus/Minus Leaders
Ryan Brindley +5
Kevin Estrada +3
Drew Larman +3
Tyson Telplitsky +3
-Chris Long, NBC2 Sports (e-mail)
The difference in the regular season series between the Florida Everblades and Greenville came down to the power play. The Everblades scored on an amazing 30 percent of their extra-man advantages, while Greenville scored on just 8 percent… a total of just three goals. Thanks to their special teams success, the Blades went 3-2-1 against Greenville this regular season.
Similar man-up mastery helped the ‘Blades to a 3-0 series sweep of Greenville in last year’s Kelly Cup Playoffs.
But through the first two games of this year’s ECHL Playoffs, the tables have turned. It has been Greenville holding the power play advantage. However the Everblades have used the Grrrowl power play against them. In the first two games of the series, a very high number of penalties have been called. The Blades have had 13 extra-man situations, while Greenville has had 17.
Florida has just a single goal for their 13 power plays. While on their 17, Greenville has scored four goals… that’s the exact same number of goals the ‘Blades have scored shorthanded on those same 17 situations.
These four shorthanded goals are the single biggest reason the Everblades have a 2-0 series lead. Some might wonder if the Grrrowl might consider declining penalties when they’re called on the ‘Blades from here on out. For any hockey novices out there, no… that’s not allowed.
Reggie Berg scored two of the shorties, one in each game, each coming through fantastic individual effort. They’ve helped Berg climb atop the Everblades franchise playoff scoring list.
The Everblades even found a way to turn Game 2 on a very strange man-advantage situation. With less than three minutes to go in the second period, and Florida clinging to a 2-1 lead... the Everblades had two men in the penalty box, while Greenville had one. Each team had a man in the box on coincidental minors… so the ‘Blades were skating shorthanded 4-on-3. Just as the coincidental were set to expire, ‘Blades goalie Phil Osaer made a spectacular save flicking his left skate out at the last moment, blocking the would-be tying goal for Greenville. The rebound bounced back in front of the net, right onto the backhand-side of Ryan Brindley’s stick. While there’s no way to know for sure if Brindley was just trying to clear the puck, or if he actually saw Matt Bannan exiting the penalty box… either way, Brindley lobbed the puck into the air, out of the defensive zone, and right to Bannan. The Grrrowl defender who was coming out of the box at the same time was already step behind Bannan as he entered the zone. Bannan made a quick deke, and buried the puck for his first professional goal… giving the ‘Blades a 3-1 lead and a stranglehold on the game’s momentum.
There’s an old saying that says, “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” This one play demonstrated how true that saying is… and just might sum up the identity of the Everblades. Shorthanded, under attack, and desperately trying to hang on to the end of the period with a one-goal lead… a rapid-fire series of great plays turned everything around, and allowed the Blades to push Greenville to the brink of elimination.
As the playoffs progress and the ‘Blades march on, other key elements will eventually emerge. Phil Osaer has been superb, but it’s still very early in the long journey to the Kelly Cup. Injuries could flare up, but the same could be said for current and future Everblades opponents as well.
But if the ‘Blades can get their power play to click… and the penalty kill keeps not only preventing opponents goals, but scoring their own… the Blades should be in terrific shape. The way penalties have been called in the playoffs so far, special teams could overcome any hot goalie or injury’s impact on the Everblades run to the Finals.
-Chris Long, NBC2 Sports
Feel free to e-mail any comments, questions or suggestions you might have to Chris.
EVERBLADES PLAYOFF RECAP:
DIVISION QUARTERFINAL: Everblades had bye
DIVISION SEMIFINAL: Everblades lead Greenville 2-0 in Best of 7.
Game 3: Friday @ Greenville
Game 4 (if necessary): Saturday @ Grenville
Game 5 (if necessary): Sunday @ Germain Arena, Estero
Just in case some of you aren’t following along with the rest of the playoff outside of the ‘Blades-Grrrowl series… here’s a quick update:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ROUND ONE (complete):
-Defending Kelly Cup Champion Trenton was defeated by Johnstown in the first round, 2 games to 0
-South Carolina defeated Charlotte 2 games to 1.
-Greenville defeated Augusta 2-1, which moved Greenville into the Division Semifinal against Florida.
ROUND TWO:
-Toledo leads Johnstown 2-0 (3-2, 4-1). Game 3 is Wednesday.
-Wheeling leads Reading 2-1 (3-2OT, 1-4, 4-3). Game 4 is Wednesday.
-Gwinnett leads South Carolina 2-0 (5-3, 5-4OT). Game 3 is Wednesday. If the Everblades advance past Greenville, they will play the winner of this series.
***Note, all three Eastern Conference series’ except for Florida-Greenville can end tonight.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ROUND ONE:
-Fresno has swept San Diego 4 games to 0 (4-3OT, 4-3, 2-1OT, 5-1).
-Long Beach and Bakersfield are tied 2-2 (BAK won Gm 1 and 3, LB won 2 and 4). The winner of this series will play Fresno. Game 5 is Wednesday.
-Alaska has swept Utah 4 games to 0 (4-1, 3-1, 4-1, 6-2).
-In the most exciting series of the round, Las Vegas and Idaho are tied 3-3.:
=Idaho won Game 1 2-1 in 2 OT’s.
=Idaho then won Game 4-2.
=Idaho led Game 3 by two goals with just a few minutes to go, but Las Vegas scored
twice to tie then won 5-4 in overtime.
=Idaho won Game 4 4-2, pushing Las Vegas to the brink of elimination.
=Needing a win on the road to stay alive, Las Vegas won Game 5 5-2.
=Returning home for Game 6, Las Vegas again avoided elimination with a
6-0 blowout win.
=Game 7 is Wednesday. The winner will play Alaska in Round Two.
2005-06 EVERBLADES PLAYOFF NUMBERS
Overall Record 2-0
Home Record 2-0
Road Record 0-0
Overtime Record 1-0
Power Play 1-13 (16th)
Penalty Kill 13-17 (19th)
Leading Scorers
Reggie Berg 2-1-3
Kevin Estrada 1-2-3
Drew Larman 1-2-3
Ryan Brindley 0-3-3
Paul Cabana 2-0-2
Leading Goaltenders
Phil Osaer 2.75 GAA, 2-0
Plus/Minus Leaders
Ryan Brindley +5
Kevin Estrada +3
Drew Larman +3
Tyson Telplitsky +3
Friday, April 14, 2006
HERE WE GO AGAIN!
HERE WE GO AGAIN!
For the eighth time in the eight-year existence of the Florida Everblades, the franchise is headed to the ECHL’S Kelly Cup playoffs.
When last we left the ECHL postseason, the Everblades were skating off the Germain Arena ice as the Trenton Titans skated off with the Kelly Cup and the ECHL Championship.
So just to refresh your memory… we’ll prepare for this season’s Kelly Cup run with a quick recap of how the 2005 ECHL Playoffs went for the Florida Everblades.
Be sure to check back all throughout the 2006 playoffs as we keep tabs on the Everblades as they once again look to chase down the Kelly Cup!
2005 Florida Everblades Postseason Recap:
-The 2005 Kelly Cup playoffs seemed to fall perfectly for the ‘Blades. As each round unfolded, higher seed after higher seed was upset, leaving the Blades with a progressively easier road to the Cup Finals. Pensacola, Columbia and Reading were all seeded ahead of, or had earned more points than Florida… but all fell along the wayside in the opening rounds.
-The ‘Blades were relatively untested in the opening two rounds, downing South Carolina in four games (in a Best-of-5 series) then sweeping Greenville in another Best of 5 thanks to overtime wins in games two and three.
-In the American Conference Final, the ‘Blades finally got a fight from Charlotte. The teams traded wins through the first four games of the Best-of-7 series until the Everblades won Game 5 in a 5-0 shutout… then hung on to win the decisive sixth game 1-0 on an overtime goal by Damian Surma.
-With the Conference Final clincher going to overtime, the Everblades became the first team in Kelly Cup history to win three straight series-clinching games in overtime.
-With the entire season pared down to two teams… Florida and Trenton… the ‘Blades set out in their second straight Kelly Cup Finals appearance.
-The series began at Germain Arena in forgettable fashion. Road-weariness and showing signs of vulnerability… the ‘Blades surrendered 7 goals to the Titans in losing 7-0. The disgust and anger in the Florida locker room after the game were palpable.
-A stronger showing in Game 2 also resulted in a 2-1 loss that sent the Everblades on the road to Trenton not knowing if they’d skate again on home ice.
-After trailing and seeming somewhat listless in Game 3 at Trenton, the Everblades came to life. They rallied late to tie, then Ernie Hartleib scored one of the most memorable, and important, goals in team history. His overtime winner meant the ‘Blades would avoid a sweep thanks to a 5-4 win… and the momentum the goal provided would carry into game 4 the following night.
-The Everblades were clearly “feeling it” in Game 4. The game was nip-and-tuck for a while until an offensive explosion led to a 6-3 win. The win assured the ‘Blades would play at least one more game at home… but it also evened the Best-of-7 series at 2 games each.
-In Game 5, Trenton defended home ice well in their arena’s season finale. They gained control early and held on for a 5-2 victory. The Titans left for Estero knowing they needed one win in two games to win the Kelly Cup.
-In the series, and season, finale… the Everblades simply seemed to be out of gas. Overtime winners, game and series rallies and a weeklong roadtrip to Trenton had taken their toll. The Titans claimed the Kelly Cup with a 4-1 win in front of 7,805 fans in a jam-packed Germain Arena.
-Florida’s David Lundbohm ended up the leading playoff scorer with 12 goals and 12 assists. Then-newcomer Steve Saviano proved a more than capable playmaker with 14 postseason assists. Goalies Tyler MacKay and Craig Kowalski were streaky, but both seemed to get hot when they had to.
-Watching the visiting Titans skate off with the Kelly Cup, smelling the cigar smoke wafting from their locker room and the impending departures of major contributors such as Brad Church, Tim O’Connell, Matt Pagnutti, Brent McDonald, Surma, Lundbohm and the goalies all combined to give those players who would return plenty of motivation for the 2005-2006 season.
For the eighth time in the eight-year existence of the Florida Everblades, the franchise is headed to the ECHL’S Kelly Cup playoffs.
When last we left the ECHL postseason, the Everblades were skating off the Germain Arena ice as the Trenton Titans skated off with the Kelly Cup and the ECHL Championship.
So just to refresh your memory… we’ll prepare for this season’s Kelly Cup run with a quick recap of how the 2005 ECHL Playoffs went for the Florida Everblades.
Be sure to check back all throughout the 2006 playoffs as we keep tabs on the Everblades as they once again look to chase down the Kelly Cup!
2005 Florida Everblades Postseason Recap:
-The 2005 Kelly Cup playoffs seemed to fall perfectly for the ‘Blades. As each round unfolded, higher seed after higher seed was upset, leaving the Blades with a progressively easier road to the Cup Finals. Pensacola, Columbia and Reading were all seeded ahead of, or had earned more points than Florida… but all fell along the wayside in the opening rounds.
-The ‘Blades were relatively untested in the opening two rounds, downing South Carolina in four games (in a Best-of-5 series) then sweeping Greenville in another Best of 5 thanks to overtime wins in games two and three.
-In the American Conference Final, the ‘Blades finally got a fight from Charlotte. The teams traded wins through the first four games of the Best-of-7 series until the Everblades won Game 5 in a 5-0 shutout… then hung on to win the decisive sixth game 1-0 on an overtime goal by Damian Surma.
-With the Conference Final clincher going to overtime, the Everblades became the first team in Kelly Cup history to win three straight series-clinching games in overtime.
-With the entire season pared down to two teams… Florida and Trenton… the ‘Blades set out in their second straight Kelly Cup Finals appearance.
-The series began at Germain Arena in forgettable fashion. Road-weariness and showing signs of vulnerability… the ‘Blades surrendered 7 goals to the Titans in losing 7-0. The disgust and anger in the Florida locker room after the game were palpable.
-A stronger showing in Game 2 also resulted in a 2-1 loss that sent the Everblades on the road to Trenton not knowing if they’d skate again on home ice.
-After trailing and seeming somewhat listless in Game 3 at Trenton, the Everblades came to life. They rallied late to tie, then Ernie Hartleib scored one of the most memorable, and important, goals in team history. His overtime winner meant the ‘Blades would avoid a sweep thanks to a 5-4 win… and the momentum the goal provided would carry into game 4 the following night.
-The Everblades were clearly “feeling it” in Game 4. The game was nip-and-tuck for a while until an offensive explosion led to a 6-3 win. The win assured the ‘Blades would play at least one more game at home… but it also evened the Best-of-7 series at 2 games each.
-In Game 5, Trenton defended home ice well in their arena’s season finale. They gained control early and held on for a 5-2 victory. The Titans left for Estero knowing they needed one win in two games to win the Kelly Cup.
-In the series, and season, finale… the Everblades simply seemed to be out of gas. Overtime winners, game and series rallies and a weeklong roadtrip to Trenton had taken their toll. The Titans claimed the Kelly Cup with a 4-1 win in front of 7,805 fans in a jam-packed Germain Arena.
-Florida’s David Lundbohm ended up the leading playoff scorer with 12 goals and 12 assists. Then-newcomer Steve Saviano proved a more than capable playmaker with 14 postseason assists. Goalies Tyler MacKay and Craig Kowalski were streaky, but both seemed to get hot when they had to.
-Watching the visiting Titans skate off with the Kelly Cup, smelling the cigar smoke wafting from their locker room and the impending departures of major contributors such as Brad Church, Tim O’Connell, Matt Pagnutti, Brent McDonald, Surma, Lundbohm and the goalies all combined to give those players who would return plenty of motivation for the 2005-2006 season.
Monday, February 20, 2006
DAYS 6/7/8/9 - Still Looking for positives... looking really hard
Chris Long is posting regular blogs packed with news, opinion and observation on world, national, regional and local sports. The blog makes its debut during the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics, and will focus on all things Olympic throughout the Games.
It’s been a strange few days in the sports world, and it’s taking all I have in me to keep this blog Olympic-based. With Ricky Williams apparently falling off the wagon, spring training firing up and Tony Stewart losing his mind at the Daytona 500 while Jimmie Johnson wins amid cheating accusations… I’ve got a lot on my mind.
That said, the Games are still rolling on… and they still have my full attention.
…even if the USA continues what may be the most disappointing Olympic effort in history.
There are two national columnists I simply refuse to read because I’ve long considered them to be nothing but negative. I won’t name names, but one is in USA Today and the other is one of ESPN’s big shots. I appreciate their writing. Both use the power of words terrifically… and far better than I can, do or will.
But I don’t appreciate the way they use them. They never congratulate, they never offer positive alternatives to negative situations and they never seem to give me any reason to think they’re anything but nincompoops.
They’re like those two old guys who sat in the balcony on the Muppet Show, making fun of everyone and everything. They think they’re a riot, and all they do is sit back and rip the efforts of Kermit, Miss Piggy and their peeps as they do their best to entertain.
Yeah, I know that’s a stretch… but I hope you’re still with me.
So since this blog is fairly new, having debuted during the Olympics, I’m pleading with you – the reader – to bear with me.
I’m not a nincompoop, and I like to think of myself as a very positive person. I love sports and prefer to celebrate the challenges and success rather than dwell on villains and controversies.
That’s why the Torino Games have been tough. The US can’t catch a break. I feel like I’ve been hammering every US athlete and every story in this blog has been negative.
I’ve tried to be as fair as possible, and I sincerely hope you’re reading this with a sense that I’m watching the Games in good faith… not sitting back waiting for things to attack.
We’ve still got a week to go, and I’m staying optimistic. When a feel-good, ‘hip-hip-hooray’ inducing celebration of sport occurs… I’ll be the first one to herald it’s’ occurrence.
Until then… here goes. With four days to discuss, this is gonna be a long one.
DAYS 6/7/8/9
Even good news is turning bad for the Americans
Just when I was picturing the post-Olympic Wheaties box…
Shani Davis, an African-American who almost certainly stared racial pressure and bias straight in the eye working his way up through the lilywhite world of speedskating, won a gold medal.
Davis was lauded as an underdog who peaked at the precise moment, stealing Olympic glory from skaters tabbed far superior. Even American silver medalist Joey Cheek, who was ecstatic at his runner-up finish, looked as if he was okay with the fact that Davis had beaten him.
You’ve got me. Right there, I’m hooked. That’s the story of the Games for the US. For the first time in our history, Davis stood on the medal podium as the first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal winning African-American athlete.
The way things have been going for the US in Torino, maybe it was no surprise that the last bars of the Star-Spangled Banner had barely had time to fade in the medal plaza… we find out there’s infighting on the US speedskating team, and Davis is at the center of it.
When asked (or being given the privilege, depending on your point of view) to skate as part of the US speedskating relay team… Davis declined. As one of the best skaters on the team, it made sense they’d want him to skate a leg in the relay.
Davis’ refusal was based on the fact that he didn’t want to upset his routine as he prepared for his 1000m skate. If the end justifies the means, then he’s free from blame, as sticking to that routine could be part of the reason he was able to win gold in the event.
It gets worse. He refuses to even train with the rest of the team, training year-round by himself and staying away from his teammates. Of course, being the .001 percent of what’s a 99.999% white-skinned sport may have something to do with his feelings on that. Again, I’m sure he could tell dozens of stories from his past where he was made to feel like an outcast, rather than making himself into one.
But all that goes against everything the Olympics is supposed to stand for. He chose to skate for himself instead of for his country. You could even argue he should have been there even more just for his teammates. I don’t really care if he’s not at working out at the same skating facilities as the rest of the team, or isn’t breaking training-table bread with them. But when the chips are down, he had a chance to do the right thing. Instead of helping those teammates succeed (they would have likely been the favorites for gold), he focused on his own task at hand.
I know this one is kind of blurry… but I don’t like the way it looks. I accept that he went to great sacrifices to get to where he is as a world-class athlete. I accept that all-in-all Olympians don’t typically get a whole lot after their short every-fourth-year in the spotlight. I accept that you need to grab your 15 minutes of fame and hold on as tight as you can before it slips away.
…but you’ve gotta take the nod and skate for the team.
You just gotta.
Yet another US success that comes with a footnote
Instead of Davis, the biggest American success of the weekend was probably the come-from-behind surge by the ice dancing duo.
Forgive that I really don’t know the difference between the “Figure Skating” and “Ice Dancing” events (is the only difference that one has tricks in the air and one doesn’t?), I appreciate what Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto were able to do.
They came into the 2nd of 3 nights of competition in 6th place, with no fewer than four teams ahead of them who are supposed to be in medal contention.
Maybe it was bad ice, maybe it was the pressure… but every single contending pair stumbled or fell in their second round routines. I hadn’t seen anything like it since the ‘all-skate’ at my childhood rink on Friday nights.
But Belbin and Agosto were terrific. They were perfectly in synch, sharp and graceful. Nobody was going to catch the Russians for first, but charging from 6th to 2nd while everyone else was falling apart is truly a champion effort.
But once again, this apparent success comes with some sketchy details.
You see, Belbin is just barely an American.
From her bio:
TANITH BELBIN
Sport – Figure Skating
Event(s) – Ice Dancing
Birthdate – July 11, 1984
Birthplace – Kingston, Ontario
Hometown – Kirkland, Quebec
Residence – Canton, Michigan
In case you’re not reading between the lines there… Belbin is as Canadian as Molson, the North Pole and the MacKenzie brothers.
Belbin and Agosto won the 2005 World Championship, as you don’t need to be a citizen of a country to skate for it in the Worlds.
But you do for the Olympics.
Just days before this year’s Nationals, which determined the US Olympic team, President Bush signed a decree that came through a special act of Congress that ultimately helped speed the process of Belbin becoming an American citizen.
It was passed, she became a naturalized citizen, they won Nationals… and here we are.
Their late-inning rally could be a sweet story. I just wish is didn’t require an act of Congress to happen.
They skate in the Finals on Monday night.
Lindsay Jacobellis’ secures a place in history and it ain’t a good one.
Ever heard the name Vinko Bogataj?
You probably don’t recognize the name… but you’ll know him if I mention a familiar four-word phrase: “…the agony of defeat.”
For decades, ABC’s Wide World of Sports opening montage included many different shots of athletic glory as it opened the networks myriad of sporting event telecasts. But throughout all those years, whenever they got to the part about the “agony of defeat”… there was Bogataj’s suffering through a misguided attempt to abort a ski-jump that sent him sailing like a rag doll off the jump, into the air, and down onto the ground.
The actual event happened on March 21, 1970… beginning the Slovenian’s run as the poster boy for the “agony of defeat.”
After 36 years, ol’ Vinko just might be off the hook.
Enter Lindsay Jacobellis… American snowboarder and heavy favorite for gold in the inaugural Women’s Snowboard Boardcross event.
Fortunate to rally in a qualifier, Jacobellis was one of four women to start the Boardcross gold medal run. It was her, two Canadians and Switzerland’s Tanja Frieden. The top three would medal, and Jacobellis was the heavy favorite.
Things started looking good when one of the two Canadians fell around the midpoint of the race. So at least now Jacobellis was guaranteed a medal.
Moments later, the other Canadian caught an edge and flew into and through the big catch-fence lining the course. She was slightly injured, and Jacobellis was now going to finish no worse than silver.
A final grace from the snow gods appeared to come when Frieden, the only remaining threat to Jacobellis’ gold, bumped into the back of Lindsay’s board, skidded slightly and slowed significantly.
Jacobellis found herself pulling ahead. As the overhead TV camera pulled out, widening to a shot that even from way back showed only Jacobellis in the frame, she was 50-yards clear of Frieden… the only remaining competitor. There was no sign of the disaster lying in wait.
Jacobellis turned for home, entering the final downhill stretch to the finish line. It was at that moment when pride and ego won the battle for Jacobellis’ mind in a stunning and soon-to-be historic upset over reason and sanity.
With that single downhill stretch left to go, two jumps stood between Jacobellis and gold.
As she approached the penultimate hill, Jacobellis opted not to ease over the jump, or absorb the launch by bending her knees.
Instead, she flung herself off the jump. Turning the board slightly at an angle to the downhill line, she reached down and grabbed the side rail. Your kids will tell you this is called a “Method Air” in the world of Freestyle Snowboarding. They'll also probably tell you there’s no explanation why Jacobellis would choose to uncork such a trick in the middle of a race that was all about speed, and nothing about style.
Surely, as reason and sanity hit the canvas in the fight for her mental state… Jacobellis began seeing the flashbulbs pop. She saw herself in mid-air, mid-grab on the cover of SnoBoarder Magazine, USA Today and maybe even a Wheaties box. A photo of her wearing an Olympic gold medal just wouldn’t be enough… she had to give it something more… I don’t know… extreme!
Among the many problems that converged on Jacobellis at this fateful instant was the fact she was mounted atop a racing snowboard. Racing boards are narrow and rigid, not suited for launching… or worse, landing… jumps and tricks. Freestyle boards are more rounded and flexible, allowing the halfpipers and tricksters a wider margin of error when they attempt their aerobatic feats.
Jacobellis had no such margin of error.
Sailing through the air and into infamy, she held the grab a moment too long and her board was just a hair off-center when she landed back on the snow. Her balance and direction were misaligned and she fell on her back, skidding along the snow and off course.
She did manage to get back to her feet reasonably fast and it looked for a split second she might be able to make up for the inexplicable lapse of judgment. But all her forward momentum was lost, and she was way short on the amount of speed she needed to climb the shallow face of the race’s final jump.
Just as she hopped and inched her way onto the jump, Frieden streaked into the frame. The same rider who had lost all her speed when she bumped Jacobellis’ board earlier in the race now sailed by, firm and poised and headed to an improbable gold medal.
TV replays showed the instantaneous change of emotion on the face of Jacobellis’ parents and coach. For a moment, they were aglow watching their would-be hero crest the final hill and head straight for them. Instantly, the expressions changed… as her mother began yelling “Get up! Get up!”
Jacobellis did get up, but the die had been cast. Hers would be one of the most tarnished silver medals in Olympic history.
To give her some credit, she didn’t run and hide in the finish area… nor did she shed any visible tears. But in the first words of her post-race debrief, she lost any remaining credibility when she tried to construct a defense that involved repeated problems with that next-to-last jump and swirling winds that led her to try the grab for stability. That defense would be wholly believable… had she not also kicked the board out of alignment. Racers do often go to grabs to lower their center-of-gravity and add stability while airborne. Bu they sure as heck don’t add the flair of kicking the board to the side as well.
It wasn’t about stability, it was about swagger.
Lives can change in the Olympics when the hand of fate reaches down and delivers greatness and glory. But every now and then it works the other way, reaching down and instead connecting with a sharp smack of reality and humility.
It’s hard to recall any in recent memory this sudden, sharp and painful.
At least poor Vinko Bogataj was only competing in a remote niche event back in 1970. It was just bad luck for him that ABC happened to have a small camera crew on hand from Wide World of Sports as he catapulted into sports history.
Jacobellis’ had the misfortune of receiving her does of reality on the world’s biggest athletic stage.
There is an urban legend out there that Bogataj recently appeared as a patient in the pilot episode of the NBC hit sitcom Scrubs. If true, maybe it’s not so bad for Jacobellis. Maybe there’s a TV career ahead for her out of all this. At best, she can maybe parlay her newfound infamy into a similar cameo on some sitcom… but it’s more likely she’ll end up in a similar recurring role as part of the opening montage of a network’s sports coverage for the next three decades.
Curling… you buying it yet?
The success of the US Men’s team and the tremendous amount of televised matches really has my Curling bandwagon rolling.
A mild buzz-alert sounded after I gave the first couple responses to the dozen-or-so “What the heck is going on in that game” questions I’ve been asked since the Games began.
But things really picked up when I noticed that each day, at least two or three of my co-workers would stop by the sports office to chat about the USA’s matches that day. It may be that the matches are on right before we begin our afternoon-to-night workdays… but it may also be that the sport is catching.
You’re running out of time… get on board while you can. The US is riding a terrific winning streak, and has a fair chance to medal.
If you’re new to the blog and need some curling clarification… scroll down and check the old blogs for quick intros to the sport, and some online demos you can play on your computer.
I kind of wish the US team that included we’re-not-twins-but-we-sure-look-like-we-are Johnson sisters could have picked up a little steam. They’re fun to watch, and I’d have liked to see them advance a little farther. It felt as if they always happened to err on that one shot per match that swung the momentum to their opposition.
Short-track speedskating = Rollerderby with medals!
If you’re the type to dismiss my beloved curling on the “Wow, that can be really boring” argument, then maybe the newest “extreme” sport will pique your interest.
Ok, it may not be totally extreme… but it’s gotta be close. At the very least, short-track speedskating can be called action-packed and wildly entertaining, conjuring up images of the old televised Rollerderby matches that ran on Sunday mornings when I was a kid. I loved the Los Angeles T-birds. (If you get that amazingly obscure reference, color me impressed!)
Anyway, the premise here is that they take the extreme pace of speedskating off those massive Olympic ovals… and pack it into a plain old hockey rink.
This would definitely be “extreme” if they allowed / encouraged a little contact… but then I guess it would be exactly like the old Rollerderbies.
That’s where the only real flaw (and this does come into play WAY more than it should) occurs in short track: you can be disqualified for any improper contact when passing another skater or trying to keep someone from passing you. There are off-ice referees who can wave a hand and disqualify someone after the race. I don’t like that at all. Just ask the Seattle Seahawks how much referees can spoil something. (Hey, a non-Olympic sports reference!)
America’s Apolo Anton Ohno won gold in Salt Lake when a Korean skater was slapped with a very questionable disqualification. Koreans, who are the world’s most passionate short-track fans, sent him so many death threats that he skipped the Worlds in Korea last year.
While I’m already mildly interested in the sport… they really could hook me with just a few tweaks: Get rid of all the DQ’s… allow some bumping… and I’ll come running, short-track speedskating fans.
The Bode Miller soap opera continues
Bode Miller is now the forgotten man in Torino.
You couldn’t get away from him before the games. But now after he botched the Downhill and hit gates in the Combined and Super-G… there isn’t any buzz at all about the rest of his events.
He was promoted as a potential American white knight on the slopes… a genuine threat to go pole-to-pole with the giants from Europe. He could, they said, sweep golds in every event he enters.
Not so much.
No ‘Miracles’ this Games
I’m a hockey guy. Played it my whole life, was knee deep in it as a sports journalist in Northern Minnesota for eight years, and I’ll watch anything from the Stanley Cup Finals to two kids playing bubble hockey in an arcade.
That’s why this year’s Games really hurt. Our hockey teams have been pretty brutal.
As for the men…
While we don’t have the PR nightmare we had when the Nagano team went rock n’ roll and demolished hotel room after their dismal play in 1998… this year’s team, both men’s and women’s, has been more “Debacle on Ice” than “Miracle on Ice.”
Team USA Coach Peter Laviolette, a two-time Olympian himself, has been very shaky with his decision-making. He’s been superb behind the bench of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, but the exact thing that has made his ‘Canes successful is what’s killing Team USA 2006.
Sure, Carolina has been up-and-down the last dozen-or-so seasons, but they do have a Stanley Cup Finals run on their resume and look to be one of the teams to watch this season once again.
One constant: they always seem to bring out the most from their players. Their 2002 Finals run ended only when they ran into a Detroit team that is one of the greatest in NHL history. Captained by Ron Francis, who is coincidentally NBC’s studio analyst in Torino, the ‘Canes got career years that season from Sami Kapinen, Jeff O’Neill and Bates Battaglia.
Who?
Exactly. They won with no-names. Francis was the beating heart of that team, but a roster full of grinders, muckers and hustlers served as the body of the team that nearly won hockey’s biggest prize.
Laviolette didn’t coach that team, but the personality of the Hurricanes hasn’t changed since he took over.
Torino’s Team USA is the exact opposite. Much like the women’s team (see the next bulletpoint for more on them), the 2006 Men’s Olympic team just doesn’t seem like it was assembled with winning a gold medal in mind.
Didn’t the late Herb Brooks teach us anything when he said, “I don’t want the best players, I want the right ones,” as he cut star after star from the ’80 roster. By the way, see also the US Olympic basketball team for more evidence on this one. You don’t take an All-Star team, like the one we have in Torino, to the Olympics. You take the best collection of players who can mesh into a cohesive unit.
I’ll admit there are a couple guys on this team that aren’t exactly All-Star caliber. Rick Knuble is no future hall-of-famer, and others like 44-year-old Chris Chelios and once venerable Bill Guerin are shadows of their former selves. Chelios is in his fourth Olympics. That’s amazing, seeing that the first one was in 1984. But it doesn’t mean he’s the right guy for the team.
There just aren’t enough playmakers on this team.
Just like the USA basketball team was packed with guys who wanted the ball and needed to be in the flow to run at peak efficiency… the ’06 hockey team has plenty of goal-scoring punch… but, to further the basketball analogy, they have no point guards.
Rolston, Cole, Gomez, Gionta, Tkachuk, Drury, Weight, Guerin, Conroy… that’s ¾ of the American roster of forwards. All nine are more known for their goal-scoring… not playmaking. Don’t get me wrong, Rolston, Cole, Gomes and Drury are among my favorite NHL’ers… and while you need those finishers, you have to mix in a few set-up men.
I left Mike Modano off that list as he’s an amazing all-around player. Jason Blake is also fairly multi-dimensional, but not anywhere close to Modano’s skill level.
I may give Rolston a pass too, since he plays for Minnesota… whose offense is vastly different than any other in the NHL.
I already discussed Knuble. Sure, he’s tallied 47 points in Philly this year… but you could put me on a line with Simon Gagne and Peter Forsberg and I’ll have at least 30 or so.
So there are two, maybe two and a half, guys on the entire 12-man offensive unit that I would call ‘playmakers’… and Modano is the only one who truly ranks as ‘world class’.
Need statistical proof? The US failed to convert on two 5-on-3 power plays that occurred almost back-to-back in the Sweden game. You don’t see many 5-on-3’s in hockey… and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen TWO of them so close to each other. Not only did the US fail to score… they only created one truly good scoring chance in nearly four whole minutes with a two-man advantage.
Furthermore, they have scored just 9 goals in the four Olympic games. Seven of them came against Latvia and Switzerland.
Now look at the other teams.
Slovakia has been the surprise of the tournament thus far. Their top line includes Marian Hossa, Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra… two-way threats who have been on the ice for 8 goals, while allowing just one. Clearly, they are playing defense as well as they are playing offense. They’ve also been a lot of fun to watch.
Finland has their finisher in Olympic scoring leader Teemu Selanne (6 goals), but he’s surrounded by a team full playmakers. I’d throw Sweden’s supporting cast some kudos too, built around the central support column that is Daniel Alfredsson.
The there’s Russia’s Ilya Kovalchuk, who just scored four goals in two periods over the weekend… TWICE as many as the entire US team scored against Slovakia and Sweden. Pavel Datsyuk and NHL rookie phenom Alexander Ovechkin are on a line that has scored four goals… and allowed none.
Now I will give the American defensemen some credit… they may have better play control abilities than the forwards. With Jordan Leopold and youngster John-Michael Liles on the blueline, things should be clicking a little better… especially on the power play. But defense can’t start offense on the wider-ice and higher-speed style common to the Olympics.
So maybe the “American style of play” is to blame. Maybe it’s not that Laviolette didn’t pick playmakers… there just aren’t that many Americans who fit the mold.
Flint, Michigan native Brian Rolston’s 37 assists with Minnesota this NHL season ranks him as the top American… but is only 30th in the entire league. He made the Olympic team. So did Craig Conroy, who’s one assist back with 36.
It’s possible I’m expecting a higher standard of American hockey than is currently possible with the players we have in the system.
All I can offer is this: the other teams have just been fun to watch. The Russians speed and creativity are amazing, the Finns have been creating scoring plays at the drop of a hat, and that top line for the surprising Slovakians is turning plays that look more like they came from hitting the L1 button on a PlayStation than real-life hockey.
I’ve left Canada out of this whole discussion, because they’re simply more talented and have more depth that any other nation in the world. They’re slumping too, but it’s just because they’re not playing well… not because of any strategic errors. As good as everyone else is playing, I’d still be mildly surprised if Canada doesn’t win the gold… even with Martin Brodeur out injured.
The US didn’t put any flavor in the mix when they assembled all the ingredients to cook this team up, but if they want to do anything memorable… they’d better throw some spice in there before they serve it up in the medal round.
The USA’s loss may be the world’s gain.
I’m a rare proponent of women’s hockey. While the talent pool is still pretty shallow, I love that the sport is growing. Back in Minnesota, I saw the genesis of girls hockey going varsity in high schools, as well as covering the three-time NCAA Champion Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs… who have players dotting nearly every roster at Torino. Some say a women’s version of any sport is slow, not physical enough, and boring. But I say hockey, along with soccer, are the two sports I feel the women’s edition is worth the attention of true sports fans.
A gold medal run in Torino could have done for girls hockey what Brandi Chastain, Mia Hamm and the girls did for girls soccer when they won soccer’s World Cup. This could have been the watershed kicking-in of the door that would have allowed girls hockey to sidle up alongside girls hoops, soccer, volleyball and softball in the mainstream youth sports world.
But the 2006 Women’s hockey team befell the same sort of fate that befell the 1980 Soviet Men’s team. You’ll recall they were on the receiving end of the aforementioned “Miracle on Ice.”
The US women, along with Canada, have enjoyed a duopoly on the world of International hockey since it became a fully accredited sport by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Neither team had ever lost a game to anybody but each other.
It seemed a foregone conclusion by everyone associated with women’s hockey that the two would once again resume their heated, and fun to watch, rivalry in Torino.
Both teams were upset at one point in the tournament, but Canada was still able to answer the wake-up call in time to rebound and win their way back into the gold medal game.
The US took the ice in their semifinal against Sweden with a little too much swagger. It’s easy to spot in hockey when a team is overconfident. They don’t pass as much as they should, as players feel they’re not in danger when they carry the puck. They don’t shoot as much, as players try just a little too hard to score pretty goals… instead of just “settling” for boring ones that count just the same.
Even the roster decisions the US staff made before the Games reeked of overconfidence. Cammi Granato, the godmother of women’s hockey, was cut from the team to make room for a few players who are still in their teens.
“We’re not in any danger of losing to anybody, so why not get some younger players some experience. We don’t need Cammi, she’s past her prime anyway.”
Obviously that’s not an actual quote… but as the US team blew the lead, and eventually the game and any gold medal hopes, to Sweden… you saw on the players faces how wrong they were.
Again, it was just like the 1980 Soviets. As Al Michaels counted down the seconds and uttered his immortal decree of victory in Lake Placid, the Soviets were emotionless. They weren’t angry, sad or even really frustrated. They simply had no point of reference for what had happened. They had no idea what it felt like to lose.
I saw the same thing on the American women after the Sweden loss. Once it set in, I’m sure there was anger, sadness and frustration. But as it happened, they just couldn’t comprehend what had happened.
The world officially caught up with them… and while it’s a shock, and American pride took a hit… in the world-view of things… it may not be all bad.
Believe it or not, America expedited its own demise. In the late 90’s, the NCAA officially recognized women’s hockey… giving it full Division One status. While women’s hockey isn’t quite mainstream yet, the level of play has accelerated rapidly. It has begun to serve as a hotbed not just for hockey-inclined girls from Massachusetts, Minnesota and Michigan… but also from Finland, Switzerland and yes, Sweden.
The American collegiate athletic system has had a tremendous impact. Furthermore, I can say with firsthand knowledge, that same Minnesota-Duluth team I used to cover may be the single biggest influence on the growth of the game. Their coach, former Canadian National Team coach Shannon Miller, has made it a point to be the game’s best… and most worldly… ambassador.
Swiss goalie, Patricia Sautter, who was amazing in their game vs the US is a grad. Minnesota-Duluth’s third National Championship was won with a blistering overtime slapshot off the stick of Nora Tallus… who’s skating in Torino for Finland.
And maybe most notably of all… Maria Rooth, who scored Sweden’s lone regulation goal AND the clinching goal in the shootout against the US, was the Bulldogs’ team captain.
That’s bad for the US teams… especially the particular edition in Torino… but it’s a good thing in the long run for the sport of women’s hockey.
NBC2 Sports Blog Viewing Guide
(Note, the Women’s Super-G and Women’s Aerial Freestyle were postponed Sunday by heavy snow. They will be rescheduled)
MONDAY – Day 10 (NBC Primetime: 8pm-Midnight)
>Featured Event: Ice Dancing Final Routines>Best of Primetime: Freestyle Skiing: Men’s Aerials
>Top US Hopes: Well, it’s certainly not Bode Miller in the Men’s Giant Slalom
>What I’ll be watching: USA-Canada in the round-robin final – 8am on USA and then the gold medal women’s hockey game LIVE at 1pm on NBC2
>Also today:
W Hockey: Bronze Medal Game (USA vs Finland) 10:30am - MSNBC
Skiing: Men’s Giant Slalom – Primetime on NBC2
TUESDAY – Day 11 (NBC Primetime: 8pm-11:30pm)
>Featured Event: Start of Ladies Figure Skating (Emily Hughes hits the ice!)
>Best of Primetime: Men’s 1500m speedskating (Chad Hedrick vs Shani Davis)
>Top US Hopes: Gotta be Hedrick. The feud with Davis should fuel the world
record holder’s fire.
>What I’ll be watching: Men’s Hockey – USA vs Russia – 2p LIVE on USA
>Also today:
Bobsled: Women’s final on NBC2 Primetime
M Hockey: Five straight LIVE games from 5:30a to 4:30p on MSNBC
WEDNESDAY – Day 12 (NBC Primetime: 8pm-11:30pm)
>Featured Event: Women’s Slalom Skiing (Janica Kostelic adds to 5 golds?)>Best of Primetime: Hard to choose from the 8 events NBC will air in Primetime
>Top US Hopes: Apolo Anton Ohno is due, right? Should finally go gold.
>What I’ll be watching: US Hockey team in quarterfinals, 3p on USA
-or- Men’s Curling Semifinals 5p-8p MSNBC
>Also today:
Women’s Curling Semis: 8a-2p on USA
Men’s Hockey Qtrfinals: USA/MSNBC virtually all day long
Che Cosa? (According to AltaVista, that’s Italian for “What?!”)
The story of Italian police breaking down the door of the Austrian biathlon team’s residence in a drug raid was a little jarring. From what I hear, that’s just how the Italian police handle drug raids. It’s not like the US where there are exhaustive warrants and an onus more on snaring dealers than users (and let’s remember, if you’re using illegal steroids… you are a user of illicit drugs).
But this is where it gets weird… this comes from NBCOlympics.com:
Banned Austrian ski coach Walter Mayer, whose presence at the Olympics touched off anti-doping raids and an IOC investigation, was taken into custody after crashing his car into a police barrier Sunday evening to end a bizarre chase.
Mayer was not injured in the accident, in which he struck a police car at an impromptu roadblock set up in the town of Paternion in the southwestern province of Carinthia, about 15 miles from the Italian border, police said.
The unusual chain of events began when Mayer -- returning to his native Austria just hours after Italian authorities raided Austria's biathlon and cross-country team quarters for banned substances -- pulled over to the side of the road and took a nap in his car, a police statement said.
A suspicious local resident alerted police that a man was sleeping in a car with the engine turned off, and when officers arrived on the scene to wake him up, Mayer sped away, striking and slightly injuring an officer, the statement said.
The officers on the scene then called for backup, and authorities parked an empty police vehicle across the highway as a roadblock. Mayer then slammed into the squad car, totaling both vehicles.
It was unclear whether he would face criminal charges, and authorities declined to say whether they searched his vehicle for doping substances or equipment.
Mayer, the nation's former Nordic team coach who was banned from the Olympics under suspicion of performing blood transfusions at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, triggered the latest investigation after he showed up in Torino, arousing suspicion among officials of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The Austrian Ski Federation said Sunday night it had ended its relationship with Mayer effective immediately. In a brief statement, federation president Peter Schroecksnadel cited the accident as the reason. He did not elaborate.
Italian authorities searched the residences of staff members of the Austrian biathlon and cross-country teams early Sunday, looking for banned substances, officials said.
The International Olympic Committee also conducted unannounced, out-of-competition drug tests on "a number of Austrian cross-country and biathlon athletes,'' the IOC said.
Alfred Eder, a trainer for the Austrian biathlon team, said police searched and interviewed athletes for four hours Saturday night. "We are very angry,'' Eder said. "It is not very gentlemanly.''
The search raises the specter of a doping scandal at an Olympics where athletes are undergoing the most rigorous drug testing in Winter Games history. Earlier in the week, a Russian biathlete was stripped of her silver medal and expelled from the Olympics after testing positive for an illegal stimulant.
The current case began when the World Anti-Doping Agency discovered blood-doping equipment in Austria that was connected to Mayer, WADA chairman Richard Pound told The Associated Press.
Pound told the AP that doping control officers went to Austria to test athletes there and could not find them. Instead, he said, they found blood-doping equipment linked to Mayer and were told he was with the Austrian team in Italy.
"We were concerned something might be going on in Italy,'' Pound said.
The agency passed that information on to the IOC, which said late Saturday it brought Italian authorities into the case and conducted its own unannounced testing.
"(The) IOC is fulfilling its responsibility to conduct anti-doping control on athletes who might have been under his (Mayer's) influence,'' the IOC said in a statement.
The searches were conducted by Italian investigators. It was not immediately clear whether they turned up any evidence.
Italian police were outside a private home rented by the Austrian biathlon team near San Sicario. One officer guarded the door to the house. An Austrian ski team van was parked in front. Inside, Austrian athletes could be seen sitting on a sofa.
Police said a similar search was going on at Austrian quarters in nearby Pragelato.
At least a dozen police officers were seen leaving the Austrian residence in San Sicario, some wearing Olympic credentials.
"All of a sudden some 20-30 people came into the house,'' Markus Gandler, sporting director of the Austrian Nordic ski team, told the Italian news agency ANSA. "I don't have the faintest idea of what the Italian police are looking for. We are all shocked.''
Any doping case would be investigated and prosecuted by Italian authorities under the nation's criminal anti-doping law.
The IOC has said it plans to test a total of 1,200 samples at these games -- a 72 percent increase over the number in Salt Lake City.
Russian biathlon star Olga Pyleva was stripped of a silver medal and kicked out of the games on Thursday after testing positive for the stimulant carphedon.
No Austrians have medaled in biathlon or cross-country at the Torino Games; the highest finish in either sport by an Austrian athlete so far is Wolfgang Perner's fourth place in the men's biathlon 10km sprint.
A 2002 investigation of Mayer began after a cleaner found blood transfusion materials in a house used by the Austrians at the Salt Lake City Games.
The Austrians claimed the equipment was used for ultraviolet radiation treatment of athletes' blood to treat and prevent colds and flu, and not for performance-enhancing purposes.
However, the IOC said any manipulation of blood was a form of blood doping and the group's executive board ruled that the Austrians violated the Olympics' anti-doping code.
I guess the silver lining is that this bizarre story kind of makes the US’ disappointing effort in Torino seem a little less problematic. At least we’re only losing games.
Feel free to e-mail any questions or comments to chrisl@water.net. He’ll make every effort to respond to your inquiries, and possibly include them in later blog entries. Please check back every few days as the Games unfold… and then after the Games when this blog will turn to the more ‘routine’ items in the world of sports.
It’s been a strange few days in the sports world, and it’s taking all I have in me to keep this blog Olympic-based. With Ricky Williams apparently falling off the wagon, spring training firing up and Tony Stewart losing his mind at the Daytona 500 while Jimmie Johnson wins amid cheating accusations… I’ve got a lot on my mind.
That said, the Games are still rolling on… and they still have my full attention.
…even if the USA continues what may be the most disappointing Olympic effort in history.
There are two national columnists I simply refuse to read because I’ve long considered them to be nothing but negative. I won’t name names, but one is in USA Today and the other is one of ESPN’s big shots. I appreciate their writing. Both use the power of words terrifically… and far better than I can, do or will.
But I don’t appreciate the way they use them. They never congratulate, they never offer positive alternatives to negative situations and they never seem to give me any reason to think they’re anything but nincompoops.
They’re like those two old guys who sat in the balcony on the Muppet Show, making fun of everyone and everything. They think they’re a riot, and all they do is sit back and rip the efforts of Kermit, Miss Piggy and their peeps as they do their best to entertain.
Yeah, I know that’s a stretch… but I hope you’re still with me.
So since this blog is fairly new, having debuted during the Olympics, I’m pleading with you – the reader – to bear with me.
I’m not a nincompoop, and I like to think of myself as a very positive person. I love sports and prefer to celebrate the challenges and success rather than dwell on villains and controversies.
That’s why the Torino Games have been tough. The US can’t catch a break. I feel like I’ve been hammering every US athlete and every story in this blog has been negative.
I’ve tried to be as fair as possible, and I sincerely hope you’re reading this with a sense that I’m watching the Games in good faith… not sitting back waiting for things to attack.
We’ve still got a week to go, and I’m staying optimistic. When a feel-good, ‘hip-hip-hooray’ inducing celebration of sport occurs… I’ll be the first one to herald it’s’ occurrence.
Until then… here goes. With four days to discuss, this is gonna be a long one.
DAYS 6/7/8/9
Even good news is turning bad for the Americans
Just when I was picturing the post-Olympic Wheaties box…
Shani Davis, an African-American who almost certainly stared racial pressure and bias straight in the eye working his way up through the lilywhite world of speedskating, won a gold medal.
Davis was lauded as an underdog who peaked at the precise moment, stealing Olympic glory from skaters tabbed far superior. Even American silver medalist Joey Cheek, who was ecstatic at his runner-up finish, looked as if he was okay with the fact that Davis had beaten him.
You’ve got me. Right there, I’m hooked. That’s the story of the Games for the US. For the first time in our history, Davis stood on the medal podium as the first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal winning African-American athlete.
The way things have been going for the US in Torino, maybe it was no surprise that the last bars of the Star-Spangled Banner had barely had time to fade in the medal plaza… we find out there’s infighting on the US speedskating team, and Davis is at the center of it.
When asked (or being given the privilege, depending on your point of view) to skate as part of the US speedskating relay team… Davis declined. As one of the best skaters on the team, it made sense they’d want him to skate a leg in the relay.
Davis’ refusal was based on the fact that he didn’t want to upset his routine as he prepared for his 1000m skate. If the end justifies the means, then he’s free from blame, as sticking to that routine could be part of the reason he was able to win gold in the event.
It gets worse. He refuses to even train with the rest of the team, training year-round by himself and staying away from his teammates. Of course, being the .001 percent of what’s a 99.999% white-skinned sport may have something to do with his feelings on that. Again, I’m sure he could tell dozens of stories from his past where he was made to feel like an outcast, rather than making himself into one.
But all that goes against everything the Olympics is supposed to stand for. He chose to skate for himself instead of for his country. You could even argue he should have been there even more just for his teammates. I don’t really care if he’s not at working out at the same skating facilities as the rest of the team, or isn’t breaking training-table bread with them. But when the chips are down, he had a chance to do the right thing. Instead of helping those teammates succeed (they would have likely been the favorites for gold), he focused on his own task at hand.
I know this one is kind of blurry… but I don’t like the way it looks. I accept that he went to great sacrifices to get to where he is as a world-class athlete. I accept that all-in-all Olympians don’t typically get a whole lot after their short every-fourth-year in the spotlight. I accept that you need to grab your 15 minutes of fame and hold on as tight as you can before it slips away.
…but you’ve gotta take the nod and skate for the team.
You just gotta.
Yet another US success that comes with a footnote
Instead of Davis, the biggest American success of the weekend was probably the come-from-behind surge by the ice dancing duo.
Forgive that I really don’t know the difference between the “Figure Skating” and “Ice Dancing” events (is the only difference that one has tricks in the air and one doesn’t?), I appreciate what Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto were able to do.
They came into the 2nd of 3 nights of competition in 6th place, with no fewer than four teams ahead of them who are supposed to be in medal contention.
Maybe it was bad ice, maybe it was the pressure… but every single contending pair stumbled or fell in their second round routines. I hadn’t seen anything like it since the ‘all-skate’ at my childhood rink on Friday nights.
But Belbin and Agosto were terrific. They were perfectly in synch, sharp and graceful. Nobody was going to catch the Russians for first, but charging from 6th to 2nd while everyone else was falling apart is truly a champion effort.
But once again, this apparent success comes with some sketchy details.
You see, Belbin is just barely an American.
From her bio:
TANITH BELBIN
Sport – Figure Skating
Event(s) – Ice Dancing
Birthdate – July 11, 1984
Birthplace – Kingston, Ontario
Hometown – Kirkland, Quebec
Residence – Canton, Michigan
In case you’re not reading between the lines there… Belbin is as Canadian as Molson, the North Pole and the MacKenzie brothers.
Belbin and Agosto won the 2005 World Championship, as you don’t need to be a citizen of a country to skate for it in the Worlds.
But you do for the Olympics.
Just days before this year’s Nationals, which determined the US Olympic team, President Bush signed a decree that came through a special act of Congress that ultimately helped speed the process of Belbin becoming an American citizen.
It was passed, she became a naturalized citizen, they won Nationals… and here we are.
Their late-inning rally could be a sweet story. I just wish is didn’t require an act of Congress to happen.
They skate in the Finals on Monday night.
Lindsay Jacobellis’ secures a place in history and it ain’t a good one.
Ever heard the name Vinko Bogataj?
You probably don’t recognize the name… but you’ll know him if I mention a familiar four-word phrase: “…the agony of defeat.”
For decades, ABC’s Wide World of Sports opening montage included many different shots of athletic glory as it opened the networks myriad of sporting event telecasts. But throughout all those years, whenever they got to the part about the “agony of defeat”… there was Bogataj’s suffering through a misguided attempt to abort a ski-jump that sent him sailing like a rag doll off the jump, into the air, and down onto the ground.
The actual event happened on March 21, 1970… beginning the Slovenian’s run as the poster boy for the “agony of defeat.”
After 36 years, ol’ Vinko just might be off the hook.
Enter Lindsay Jacobellis… American snowboarder and heavy favorite for gold in the inaugural Women’s Snowboard Boardcross event.
Fortunate to rally in a qualifier, Jacobellis was one of four women to start the Boardcross gold medal run. It was her, two Canadians and Switzerland’s Tanja Frieden. The top three would medal, and Jacobellis was the heavy favorite.
Things started looking good when one of the two Canadians fell around the midpoint of the race. So at least now Jacobellis was guaranteed a medal.
Moments later, the other Canadian caught an edge and flew into and through the big catch-fence lining the course. She was slightly injured, and Jacobellis was now going to finish no worse than silver.
A final grace from the snow gods appeared to come when Frieden, the only remaining threat to Jacobellis’ gold, bumped into the back of Lindsay’s board, skidded slightly and slowed significantly.
Jacobellis found herself pulling ahead. As the overhead TV camera pulled out, widening to a shot that even from way back showed only Jacobellis in the frame, she was 50-yards clear of Frieden… the only remaining competitor. There was no sign of the disaster lying in wait.
Jacobellis turned for home, entering the final downhill stretch to the finish line. It was at that moment when pride and ego won the battle for Jacobellis’ mind in a stunning and soon-to-be historic upset over reason and sanity.
With that single downhill stretch left to go, two jumps stood between Jacobellis and gold.
As she approached the penultimate hill, Jacobellis opted not to ease over the jump, or absorb the launch by bending her knees.
Instead, she flung herself off the jump. Turning the board slightly at an angle to the downhill line, she reached down and grabbed the side rail. Your kids will tell you this is called a “Method Air” in the world of Freestyle Snowboarding. They'll also probably tell you there’s no explanation why Jacobellis would choose to uncork such a trick in the middle of a race that was all about speed, and nothing about style.
Surely, as reason and sanity hit the canvas in the fight for her mental state… Jacobellis began seeing the flashbulbs pop. She saw herself in mid-air, mid-grab on the cover of SnoBoarder Magazine, USA Today and maybe even a Wheaties box. A photo of her wearing an Olympic gold medal just wouldn’t be enough… she had to give it something more… I don’t know… extreme!
Among the many problems that converged on Jacobellis at this fateful instant was the fact she was mounted atop a racing snowboard. Racing boards are narrow and rigid, not suited for launching… or worse, landing… jumps and tricks. Freestyle boards are more rounded and flexible, allowing the halfpipers and tricksters a wider margin of error when they attempt their aerobatic feats.
Jacobellis had no such margin of error.
Sailing through the air and into infamy, she held the grab a moment too long and her board was just a hair off-center when she landed back on the snow. Her balance and direction were misaligned and she fell on her back, skidding along the snow and off course.
She did manage to get back to her feet reasonably fast and it looked for a split second she might be able to make up for the inexplicable lapse of judgment. But all her forward momentum was lost, and she was way short on the amount of speed she needed to climb the shallow face of the race’s final jump.
Just as she hopped and inched her way onto the jump, Frieden streaked into the frame. The same rider who had lost all her speed when she bumped Jacobellis’ board earlier in the race now sailed by, firm and poised and headed to an improbable gold medal.
TV replays showed the instantaneous change of emotion on the face of Jacobellis’ parents and coach. For a moment, they were aglow watching their would-be hero crest the final hill and head straight for them. Instantly, the expressions changed… as her mother began yelling “Get up! Get up!”
Jacobellis did get up, but the die had been cast. Hers would be one of the most tarnished silver medals in Olympic history.
To give her some credit, she didn’t run and hide in the finish area… nor did she shed any visible tears. But in the first words of her post-race debrief, she lost any remaining credibility when she tried to construct a defense that involved repeated problems with that next-to-last jump and swirling winds that led her to try the grab for stability. That defense would be wholly believable… had she not also kicked the board out of alignment. Racers do often go to grabs to lower their center-of-gravity and add stability while airborne. Bu they sure as heck don’t add the flair of kicking the board to the side as well.
It wasn’t about stability, it was about swagger.
Lives can change in the Olympics when the hand of fate reaches down and delivers greatness and glory. But every now and then it works the other way, reaching down and instead connecting with a sharp smack of reality and humility.
It’s hard to recall any in recent memory this sudden, sharp and painful.
At least poor Vinko Bogataj was only competing in a remote niche event back in 1970. It was just bad luck for him that ABC happened to have a small camera crew on hand from Wide World of Sports as he catapulted into sports history.
Jacobellis’ had the misfortune of receiving her does of reality on the world’s biggest athletic stage.
There is an urban legend out there that Bogataj recently appeared as a patient in the pilot episode of the NBC hit sitcom Scrubs. If true, maybe it’s not so bad for Jacobellis. Maybe there’s a TV career ahead for her out of all this. At best, she can maybe parlay her newfound infamy into a similar cameo on some sitcom… but it’s more likely she’ll end up in a similar recurring role as part of the opening montage of a network’s sports coverage for the next three decades.
Curling… you buying it yet?
The success of the US Men’s team and the tremendous amount of televised matches really has my Curling bandwagon rolling.
A mild buzz-alert sounded after I gave the first couple responses to the dozen-or-so “What the heck is going on in that game” questions I’ve been asked since the Games began.
But things really picked up when I noticed that each day, at least two or three of my co-workers would stop by the sports office to chat about the USA’s matches that day. It may be that the matches are on right before we begin our afternoon-to-night workdays… but it may also be that the sport is catching.
You’re running out of time… get on board while you can. The US is riding a terrific winning streak, and has a fair chance to medal.
If you’re new to the blog and need some curling clarification… scroll down and check the old blogs for quick intros to the sport, and some online demos you can play on your computer.
I kind of wish the US team that included we’re-not-twins-but-we-sure-look-like-we-are Johnson sisters could have picked up a little steam. They’re fun to watch, and I’d have liked to see them advance a little farther. It felt as if they always happened to err on that one shot per match that swung the momentum to their opposition.
Short-track speedskating = Rollerderby with medals!
If you’re the type to dismiss my beloved curling on the “Wow, that can be really boring” argument, then maybe the newest “extreme” sport will pique your interest.
Ok, it may not be totally extreme… but it’s gotta be close. At the very least, short-track speedskating can be called action-packed and wildly entertaining, conjuring up images of the old televised Rollerderby matches that ran on Sunday mornings when I was a kid. I loved the Los Angeles T-birds. (If you get that amazingly obscure reference, color me impressed!)
Anyway, the premise here is that they take the extreme pace of speedskating off those massive Olympic ovals… and pack it into a plain old hockey rink.
This would definitely be “extreme” if they allowed / encouraged a little contact… but then I guess it would be exactly like the old Rollerderbies.
That’s where the only real flaw (and this does come into play WAY more than it should) occurs in short track: you can be disqualified for any improper contact when passing another skater or trying to keep someone from passing you. There are off-ice referees who can wave a hand and disqualify someone after the race. I don’t like that at all. Just ask the Seattle Seahawks how much referees can spoil something. (Hey, a non-Olympic sports reference!)
America’s Apolo Anton Ohno won gold in Salt Lake when a Korean skater was slapped with a very questionable disqualification. Koreans, who are the world’s most passionate short-track fans, sent him so many death threats that he skipped the Worlds in Korea last year.
While I’m already mildly interested in the sport… they really could hook me with just a few tweaks: Get rid of all the DQ’s… allow some bumping… and I’ll come running, short-track speedskating fans.
The Bode Miller soap opera continues
Bode Miller is now the forgotten man in Torino.
You couldn’t get away from him before the games. But now after he botched the Downhill and hit gates in the Combined and Super-G… there isn’t any buzz at all about the rest of his events.
He was promoted as a potential American white knight on the slopes… a genuine threat to go pole-to-pole with the giants from Europe. He could, they said, sweep golds in every event he enters.
Not so much.
No ‘Miracles’ this Games
I’m a hockey guy. Played it my whole life, was knee deep in it as a sports journalist in Northern Minnesota for eight years, and I’ll watch anything from the Stanley Cup Finals to two kids playing bubble hockey in an arcade.
That’s why this year’s Games really hurt. Our hockey teams have been pretty brutal.
As for the men…
While we don’t have the PR nightmare we had when the Nagano team went rock n’ roll and demolished hotel room after their dismal play in 1998… this year’s team, both men’s and women’s, has been more “Debacle on Ice” than “Miracle on Ice.”
Team USA Coach Peter Laviolette, a two-time Olympian himself, has been very shaky with his decision-making. He’s been superb behind the bench of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, but the exact thing that has made his ‘Canes successful is what’s killing Team USA 2006.
Sure, Carolina has been up-and-down the last dozen-or-so seasons, but they do have a Stanley Cup Finals run on their resume and look to be one of the teams to watch this season once again.
One constant: they always seem to bring out the most from their players. Their 2002 Finals run ended only when they ran into a Detroit team that is one of the greatest in NHL history. Captained by Ron Francis, who is coincidentally NBC’s studio analyst in Torino, the ‘Canes got career years that season from Sami Kapinen, Jeff O’Neill and Bates Battaglia.
Who?
Exactly. They won with no-names. Francis was the beating heart of that team, but a roster full of grinders, muckers and hustlers served as the body of the team that nearly won hockey’s biggest prize.
Laviolette didn’t coach that team, but the personality of the Hurricanes hasn’t changed since he took over.
Torino’s Team USA is the exact opposite. Much like the women’s team (see the next bulletpoint for more on them), the 2006 Men’s Olympic team just doesn’t seem like it was assembled with winning a gold medal in mind.
Didn’t the late Herb Brooks teach us anything when he said, “I don’t want the best players, I want the right ones,” as he cut star after star from the ’80 roster. By the way, see also the US Olympic basketball team for more evidence on this one. You don’t take an All-Star team, like the one we have in Torino, to the Olympics. You take the best collection of players who can mesh into a cohesive unit.
I’ll admit there are a couple guys on this team that aren’t exactly All-Star caliber. Rick Knuble is no future hall-of-famer, and others like 44-year-old Chris Chelios and once venerable Bill Guerin are shadows of their former selves. Chelios is in his fourth Olympics. That’s amazing, seeing that the first one was in 1984. But it doesn’t mean he’s the right guy for the team.
There just aren’t enough playmakers on this team.
Just like the USA basketball team was packed with guys who wanted the ball and needed to be in the flow to run at peak efficiency… the ’06 hockey team has plenty of goal-scoring punch… but, to further the basketball analogy, they have no point guards.
Rolston, Cole, Gomez, Gionta, Tkachuk, Drury, Weight, Guerin, Conroy… that’s ¾ of the American roster of forwards. All nine are more known for their goal-scoring… not playmaking. Don’t get me wrong, Rolston, Cole, Gomes and Drury are among my favorite NHL’ers… and while you need those finishers, you have to mix in a few set-up men.
I left Mike Modano off that list as he’s an amazing all-around player. Jason Blake is also fairly multi-dimensional, but not anywhere close to Modano’s skill level.
I may give Rolston a pass too, since he plays for Minnesota… whose offense is vastly different than any other in the NHL.
I already discussed Knuble. Sure, he’s tallied 47 points in Philly this year… but you could put me on a line with Simon Gagne and Peter Forsberg and I’ll have at least 30 or so.
So there are two, maybe two and a half, guys on the entire 12-man offensive unit that I would call ‘playmakers’… and Modano is the only one who truly ranks as ‘world class’.
Need statistical proof? The US failed to convert on two 5-on-3 power plays that occurred almost back-to-back in the Sweden game. You don’t see many 5-on-3’s in hockey… and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen TWO of them so close to each other. Not only did the US fail to score… they only created one truly good scoring chance in nearly four whole minutes with a two-man advantage.
Furthermore, they have scored just 9 goals in the four Olympic games. Seven of them came against Latvia and Switzerland.
Now look at the other teams.
Slovakia has been the surprise of the tournament thus far. Their top line includes Marian Hossa, Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra… two-way threats who have been on the ice for 8 goals, while allowing just one. Clearly, they are playing defense as well as they are playing offense. They’ve also been a lot of fun to watch.
Finland has their finisher in Olympic scoring leader Teemu Selanne (6 goals), but he’s surrounded by a team full playmakers. I’d throw Sweden’s supporting cast some kudos too, built around the central support column that is Daniel Alfredsson.
The there’s Russia’s Ilya Kovalchuk, who just scored four goals in two periods over the weekend… TWICE as many as the entire US team scored against Slovakia and Sweden. Pavel Datsyuk and NHL rookie phenom Alexander Ovechkin are on a line that has scored four goals… and allowed none.
Now I will give the American defensemen some credit… they may have better play control abilities than the forwards. With Jordan Leopold and youngster John-Michael Liles on the blueline, things should be clicking a little better… especially on the power play. But defense can’t start offense on the wider-ice and higher-speed style common to the Olympics.
So maybe the “American style of play” is to blame. Maybe it’s not that Laviolette didn’t pick playmakers… there just aren’t that many Americans who fit the mold.
Flint, Michigan native Brian Rolston’s 37 assists with Minnesota this NHL season ranks him as the top American… but is only 30th in the entire league. He made the Olympic team. So did Craig Conroy, who’s one assist back with 36.
It’s possible I’m expecting a higher standard of American hockey than is currently possible with the players we have in the system.
All I can offer is this: the other teams have just been fun to watch. The Russians speed and creativity are amazing, the Finns have been creating scoring plays at the drop of a hat, and that top line for the surprising Slovakians is turning plays that look more like they came from hitting the L1 button on a PlayStation than real-life hockey.
I’ve left Canada out of this whole discussion, because they’re simply more talented and have more depth that any other nation in the world. They’re slumping too, but it’s just because they’re not playing well… not because of any strategic errors. As good as everyone else is playing, I’d still be mildly surprised if Canada doesn’t win the gold… even with Martin Brodeur out injured.
The US didn’t put any flavor in the mix when they assembled all the ingredients to cook this team up, but if they want to do anything memorable… they’d better throw some spice in there before they serve it up in the medal round.
The USA’s loss may be the world’s gain.
I’m a rare proponent of women’s hockey. While the talent pool is still pretty shallow, I love that the sport is growing. Back in Minnesota, I saw the genesis of girls hockey going varsity in high schools, as well as covering the three-time NCAA Champion Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs… who have players dotting nearly every roster at Torino. Some say a women’s version of any sport is slow, not physical enough, and boring. But I say hockey, along with soccer, are the two sports I feel the women’s edition is worth the attention of true sports fans.
A gold medal run in Torino could have done for girls hockey what Brandi Chastain, Mia Hamm and the girls did for girls soccer when they won soccer’s World Cup. This could have been the watershed kicking-in of the door that would have allowed girls hockey to sidle up alongside girls hoops, soccer, volleyball and softball in the mainstream youth sports world.
But the 2006 Women’s hockey team befell the same sort of fate that befell the 1980 Soviet Men’s team. You’ll recall they were on the receiving end of the aforementioned “Miracle on Ice.”
The US women, along with Canada, have enjoyed a duopoly on the world of International hockey since it became a fully accredited sport by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Neither team had ever lost a game to anybody but each other.
It seemed a foregone conclusion by everyone associated with women’s hockey that the two would once again resume their heated, and fun to watch, rivalry in Torino.
Both teams were upset at one point in the tournament, but Canada was still able to answer the wake-up call in time to rebound and win their way back into the gold medal game.
The US took the ice in their semifinal against Sweden with a little too much swagger. It’s easy to spot in hockey when a team is overconfident. They don’t pass as much as they should, as players feel they’re not in danger when they carry the puck. They don’t shoot as much, as players try just a little too hard to score pretty goals… instead of just “settling” for boring ones that count just the same.
Even the roster decisions the US staff made before the Games reeked of overconfidence. Cammi Granato, the godmother of women’s hockey, was cut from the team to make room for a few players who are still in their teens.
“We’re not in any danger of losing to anybody, so why not get some younger players some experience. We don’t need Cammi, she’s past her prime anyway.”
Obviously that’s not an actual quote… but as the US team blew the lead, and eventually the game and any gold medal hopes, to Sweden… you saw on the players faces how wrong they were.
Again, it was just like the 1980 Soviets. As Al Michaels counted down the seconds and uttered his immortal decree of victory in Lake Placid, the Soviets were emotionless. They weren’t angry, sad or even really frustrated. They simply had no point of reference for what had happened. They had no idea what it felt like to lose.
I saw the same thing on the American women after the Sweden loss. Once it set in, I’m sure there was anger, sadness and frustration. But as it happened, they just couldn’t comprehend what had happened.
The world officially caught up with them… and while it’s a shock, and American pride took a hit… in the world-view of things… it may not be all bad.
Believe it or not, America expedited its own demise. In the late 90’s, the NCAA officially recognized women’s hockey… giving it full Division One status. While women’s hockey isn’t quite mainstream yet, the level of play has accelerated rapidly. It has begun to serve as a hotbed not just for hockey-inclined girls from Massachusetts, Minnesota and Michigan… but also from Finland, Switzerland and yes, Sweden.
The American collegiate athletic system has had a tremendous impact. Furthermore, I can say with firsthand knowledge, that same Minnesota-Duluth team I used to cover may be the single biggest influence on the growth of the game. Their coach, former Canadian National Team coach Shannon Miller, has made it a point to be the game’s best… and most worldly… ambassador.
Swiss goalie, Patricia Sautter, who was amazing in their game vs the US is a grad. Minnesota-Duluth’s third National Championship was won with a blistering overtime slapshot off the stick of Nora Tallus… who’s skating in Torino for Finland.
And maybe most notably of all… Maria Rooth, who scored Sweden’s lone regulation goal AND the clinching goal in the shootout against the US, was the Bulldogs’ team captain.
That’s bad for the US teams… especially the particular edition in Torino… but it’s a good thing in the long run for the sport of women’s hockey.
NBC2 Sports Blog Viewing Guide
(Note, the Women’s Super-G and Women’s Aerial Freestyle were postponed Sunday by heavy snow. They will be rescheduled)
MONDAY – Day 10 (NBC Primetime: 8pm-Midnight)
>Featured Event: Ice Dancing Final Routines>Best of Primetime: Freestyle Skiing: Men’s Aerials
>Top US Hopes: Well, it’s certainly not Bode Miller in the Men’s Giant Slalom
>What I’ll be watching: USA-Canada in the round-robin final – 8am on USA and then the gold medal women’s hockey game LIVE at 1pm on NBC2
>Also today:
W Hockey: Bronze Medal Game (USA vs Finland) 10:30am - MSNBC
Skiing: Men’s Giant Slalom – Primetime on NBC2
TUESDAY – Day 11 (NBC Primetime: 8pm-11:30pm)
>Featured Event: Start of Ladies Figure Skating (Emily Hughes hits the ice!)
>Best of Primetime: Men’s 1500m speedskating (Chad Hedrick vs Shani Davis)
>Top US Hopes: Gotta be Hedrick. The feud with Davis should fuel the world
record holder’s fire.
>What I’ll be watching: Men’s Hockey – USA vs Russia – 2p LIVE on USA
>Also today:
Bobsled: Women’s final on NBC2 Primetime
M Hockey: Five straight LIVE games from 5:30a to 4:30p on MSNBC
WEDNESDAY – Day 12 (NBC Primetime: 8pm-11:30pm)
>Featured Event: Women’s Slalom Skiing (Janica Kostelic adds to 5 golds?)>Best of Primetime: Hard to choose from the 8 events NBC will air in Primetime
>Top US Hopes: Apolo Anton Ohno is due, right? Should finally go gold.
>What I’ll be watching: US Hockey team in quarterfinals, 3p on USA
-or- Men’s Curling Semifinals 5p-8p MSNBC
>Also today:
Women’s Curling Semis: 8a-2p on USA
Men’s Hockey Qtrfinals: USA/MSNBC virtually all day long
Che Cosa? (According to AltaVista, that’s Italian for “What?!”)
The story of Italian police breaking down the door of the Austrian biathlon team’s residence in a drug raid was a little jarring. From what I hear, that’s just how the Italian police handle drug raids. It’s not like the US where there are exhaustive warrants and an onus more on snaring dealers than users (and let’s remember, if you’re using illegal steroids… you are a user of illicit drugs).
But this is where it gets weird… this comes from NBCOlympics.com:
Banned Austrian ski coach Walter Mayer, whose presence at the Olympics touched off anti-doping raids and an IOC investigation, was taken into custody after crashing his car into a police barrier Sunday evening to end a bizarre chase.
Mayer was not injured in the accident, in which he struck a police car at an impromptu roadblock set up in the town of Paternion in the southwestern province of Carinthia, about 15 miles from the Italian border, police said.
The unusual chain of events began when Mayer -- returning to his native Austria just hours after Italian authorities raided Austria's biathlon and cross-country team quarters for banned substances -- pulled over to the side of the road and took a nap in his car, a police statement said.
A suspicious local resident alerted police that a man was sleeping in a car with the engine turned off, and when officers arrived on the scene to wake him up, Mayer sped away, striking and slightly injuring an officer, the statement said.
The officers on the scene then called for backup, and authorities parked an empty police vehicle across the highway as a roadblock. Mayer then slammed into the squad car, totaling both vehicles.
It was unclear whether he would face criminal charges, and authorities declined to say whether they searched his vehicle for doping substances or equipment.
Mayer, the nation's former Nordic team coach who was banned from the Olympics under suspicion of performing blood transfusions at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, triggered the latest investigation after he showed up in Torino, arousing suspicion among officials of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The Austrian Ski Federation said Sunday night it had ended its relationship with Mayer effective immediately. In a brief statement, federation president Peter Schroecksnadel cited the accident as the reason. He did not elaborate.
Italian authorities searched the residences of staff members of the Austrian biathlon and cross-country teams early Sunday, looking for banned substances, officials said.
The International Olympic Committee also conducted unannounced, out-of-competition drug tests on "a number of Austrian cross-country and biathlon athletes,'' the IOC said.
Alfred Eder, a trainer for the Austrian biathlon team, said police searched and interviewed athletes for four hours Saturday night. "We are very angry,'' Eder said. "It is not very gentlemanly.''
The search raises the specter of a doping scandal at an Olympics where athletes are undergoing the most rigorous drug testing in Winter Games history. Earlier in the week, a Russian biathlete was stripped of her silver medal and expelled from the Olympics after testing positive for an illegal stimulant.
The current case began when the World Anti-Doping Agency discovered blood-doping equipment in Austria that was connected to Mayer, WADA chairman Richard Pound told The Associated Press.
Pound told the AP that doping control officers went to Austria to test athletes there and could not find them. Instead, he said, they found blood-doping equipment linked to Mayer and were told he was with the Austrian team in Italy.
"We were concerned something might be going on in Italy,'' Pound said.
The agency passed that information on to the IOC, which said late Saturday it brought Italian authorities into the case and conducted its own unannounced testing.
"(The) IOC is fulfilling its responsibility to conduct anti-doping control on athletes who might have been under his (Mayer's) influence,'' the IOC said in a statement.
The searches were conducted by Italian investigators. It was not immediately clear whether they turned up any evidence.
Italian police were outside a private home rented by the Austrian biathlon team near San Sicario. One officer guarded the door to the house. An Austrian ski team van was parked in front. Inside, Austrian athletes could be seen sitting on a sofa.
Police said a similar search was going on at Austrian quarters in nearby Pragelato.
At least a dozen police officers were seen leaving the Austrian residence in San Sicario, some wearing Olympic credentials.
"All of a sudden some 20-30 people came into the house,'' Markus Gandler, sporting director of the Austrian Nordic ski team, told the Italian news agency ANSA. "I don't have the faintest idea of what the Italian police are looking for. We are all shocked.''
Any doping case would be investigated and prosecuted by Italian authorities under the nation's criminal anti-doping law.
The IOC has said it plans to test a total of 1,200 samples at these games -- a 72 percent increase over the number in Salt Lake City.
Russian biathlon star Olga Pyleva was stripped of a silver medal and kicked out of the games on Thursday after testing positive for the stimulant carphedon.
No Austrians have medaled in biathlon or cross-country at the Torino Games; the highest finish in either sport by an Austrian athlete so far is Wolfgang Perner's fourth place in the men's biathlon 10km sprint.
A 2002 investigation of Mayer began after a cleaner found blood transfusion materials in a house used by the Austrians at the Salt Lake City Games.
The Austrians claimed the equipment was used for ultraviolet radiation treatment of athletes' blood to treat and prevent colds and flu, and not for performance-enhancing purposes.
However, the IOC said any manipulation of blood was a form of blood doping and the group's executive board ruled that the Austrians violated the Olympics' anti-doping code.
I guess the silver lining is that this bizarre story kind of makes the US’ disappointing effort in Torino seem a little less problematic. At least we’re only losing games.
Feel free to e-mail any questions or comments to chrisl@water.net. He’ll make every effort to respond to your inquiries, and possibly include them in later blog entries. Please check back every few days as the Games unfold… and then after the Games when this blog will turn to the more ‘routine’ items in the world of sports.
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