US Perseverance Pays Off, Late Goal Sends them Past Algeria to the Next Round

USA had chance after chance to put in that one goal they needed, but for 91 minutes it looked as if it was not meant to be. Then, one minute into injury time, Landon Donovan tapped in the game winning goal to win the group and send USA into the next round. It really looked like it was not to be. The US had its normal poor start, allowing a shot from Algeria that beat goalie Tim Howard, but actually hit off the post. Still early in the first, Clint Dempsey tapped in an easy goal off of a pass from Herculez Gomez, but it was disallowed because he was called offsides. Replay showed Dempsey was not offsides at all, and the call left Americans everywhere muttering "not again."

Still, the team never gave up and really began to take control. Jozy Altidore missed an empty net shot, Clint Dempsey beat the keeper but hit the post and then deposited the rebound into the cheap seats, Edson Buddle headed a point blank shot right into goalie Rais M'Bolhi, chance after chance was turned away. With each one the tension grew, as word came that England was up 1-0 over Slovenia. A tie would send USA home. As the linesman raised the sign, the USA knew that without some kind of miracle, their World Cup would last only another 4 minutes. Then, after a nice save, Howard heaved the ball down the field. Algeria had begun to feel the pressure as they too needed a win to advance, and moved a lot of players forward leaving room for Donovan to move. Donovan took the pass and sprinted down the field. He passed it off to Altidore and he chipped it to Dempsey in the box. M'Bolhi came out to challenge and Dempsey could not get the shot off, but he did hit it hard enough that M'Bolhi was not able to control it and it bounced right to Donovan who netted the rebound. And just like that, the US went from an early trip home to group winners.

The reward for moving on? Ghana. With their 1-0 loss yesterday to Germany, Ghana fell to second in the group. Ghana actually sent USA home in the last World Cup. Heading into the final group game, the USA needed a win over Ghana, but Ghana had its own ideas and won 2-1 to seal their place in the next round. Ghana has reached this stage by beating Serbia 1-0, tying Australia 1-1, and falling to Germany 1-0. Ghana is very good at moving the ball and creating chances, but they cannot finish. Their two goals both came off of penalty kicks. When they get close to the goal they either send the ball a mile over it or a mile wide, but rarely do they force a save from the keeper. Ghana was heavily criticized for its game against Australia as a first half red card left Australia a man short for about a full 60 minutes, yet Ghana did not seem to push the tempo at all and settled for the tie. The game against Germany really opened up as Germany needed the win and Ghana looked very impressive until they got close to the box and then fell apart. Ghana will be able to create chances against the US, but the question is whether or not they can finish them. If they play timid like against Australia, the USA will walk away with this one. If they play they way they showed they are capable against Germany, then this could be a tough matchup.

One thing's for sure, the US will be walking away with their heads held high regardless of the outcome because it took a lot of guts to get here in the first place. USA has earned their spot in the final 16 and can be proud of what they have accomplished.

USA Gets Set for Pivotal Matchup with Algeria

Tomorrow morning USA will take on Algeria in their last group match with a chance to qualify for the knockout stage. USA is in a great position because if they win, they will advance regardless of what happens between England and Slovenia. Algeria has been held scoreless in their first two games and is certainly a team that USA should be able to beat. Any reason for US fans to be nervous? Well, Slovenia was a team the US should certainly have been able to beat. In fact, USA has a terrible history when it comes to big games against teams they should beat. USA had a chance to take control of group C last Friday, but soon found themselves facing a 0-2 deficit. USA did manage to battle back, but they did so because they were the better team and should never have been in that position in the first place. In the 2006 World Cup, USA came in ranked 5th in the world, their highest ranking ever. They were immediately brought back down to Earth with 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic. They tied Italy 1-1 but it was off an own goal. Despite their struggles, USA was still in a position to advance if they won their last game over Ghana. What happened? They lost 2-1. In the 2002 World Cup after upsetting Portugal and tying host South Korea, USA could seal their spot in the next round with a win or tie over Poland and they lost 3-1. They still advanced, but their loss made sure it was no guarantee. In the 1998 World Cup USA walked away with 3 losses. A loss to Germany was perhaps not surprising, but losses to Iran and Yugoslavia certainly were.

Algeria also proved they will not go down easily in their game against England. England was never able to establish themselves as the dominant team. Goalie Rais M'Bolhi had a solid game saving the 6 shots a sleep-walking England did manage on net. The Algerian offense constantly harassed England throughout the game managing 11 total shots of their own. So far, USA has had poor starts to both of their games. If they do that again, this Algerian team can make them pay with another early goal. If they manage that, they'll sink back into their disciplined defensive style of play that will be very hard to break. Do not forget that the one goal Algeria did concede was off of a bad goalie error. Otherwise, this defense can be air tight.

What is most important for the US is to forget about what happened against Slovenia. They have to be worried about Algeria and Algeria alone. Granted, the heartbreak of having a legitimate, game winning goal taken away for no reason is a hard pill to swallow, but what's done is done. If they continue to dwell on the fact that they should have 4 points right now instead of 2, then they will be thinking about it all the way home because Algeria will send them packing. If anything, USA should consider themselves lucky that despite a terrible start leading to a 2-0 deficit and a win stolen away from the referee, they still control their fate. While I believe Algeria will be a tough opponent, the fact is that if the US cannot beat Algeria, they do not deserve to advance. They are better than both Algeria and Slovenia, and even maybe England if they continue to struggle. Group C was a great draw for the US and it would take a collapse equal to those I listed above to prevent them from advancing into the next round.

Catching Up

As I've been gone for over a week a lot has happened in the world of sports so here are some quick stories to get me up to date:

Strasburg Dazzles in First Major League Starts
Stephen Strasburg made his highly anticipated MLB debut on June 8 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and put together a performance that left Nationals' fans excited more than ever about their young franchise. He pitched 7 innings allowing only 4 hits and striking out 14. In his second start against Cleveland on Sunday, he put together what many analysts consider to be an even more impressive outing. Strasburg battled a hostile crowd and a disintegrating pitcher's mound for 8 strikeouts and 2 hits in over 5 innings. The Nationals may have something really special in this kid and they need to start building around him. Excitement in the team has not been this high since they moved to Washington from Montreal, and it won't last forever. If the Nationals hope to build on the current interest, they will have to build a team around Strasburg sooner rather than later.

Nationals Select Harper with Top Overall Pick in the Draft
With all the excitement over Strasburg, it is easy to forget that there are other things happening in baseball, but the draft did take place the Nationals hope they have just taken another step forward by selecting Bryce Harper. Harper is the first junior college player ever selected number one overall in the MLB draft, but his talent and performance last season makes this no real surprise. In 66 games he has hit 98 RBIs and 31 home runs, breaking the previous school record of 12. The league in which he played, the Scenic West Athletic Conference, uses wooden bats so there is no issue of inflated batting stats as you see with players in division one baseball who use aluminum bats. There are questions, however, about Harper's character. Harper was ejected twice in 2010, including during the National Junior College World Series. After being struck out, Harper drew a line in the dirt with his bat indicating where he thought the pitch actually was and was ejected. As this was his second ejection of the year he was suspended for two games and his team lost the series. Many have described Harper as an arrogant jerk and scouts have reported he has a disturbingly high sense of entitlement. Well, that will happen when your parents allow you to get your GED after two years of high school so you can start your professional career sooner and you get drafted number one overall at the age of 17. That's right, 17. Harper may have some growing up to do before he shows up in the Nationals' lineup.

USA Manages a 1-1 Draw with Favored England
USA opened up the 2010 World Cup with their highly anticipated game against England on Saturday and managed an impressive 1-1 draw. England always comes into the World Cup with high expectations and talent to match, but remain dreadfully inconsistent in international play (they failed to qualify for the last Euro Cup). USA came into the tournament with high hopes after an impressive second place finish in the Confederation's Cup a year ago, but also with the cloud of the last World Cup's terrible finish (0-2-1, including a loss to Ghana) and the daunting task of facing England to start. Four minutes in, England embarrassed the US team with a goal from captain Steven Garrard which made the defense look outmatched, unprepared, and just plain sloppy. The US really picked things up after that and matched England step for step. What many no doubt remember from this game, is goalie Robert Green's failure to corrale Clint Dempsy's innocent shot which tied the game at 1. Most would say the US was lucky to walk away with a tie, but after England's quick start, the US looked much better and even had the better chances. Late in the second half, Jozy Altidore burned England's defensemen and banged a shot off the post that would have given the Yanks the lead. Tim Howard, who was just cleared to play in Friday's game against Slovenia, looked very solid in net and US looked every bit England's equal late in the game.

What is important now is for USA not to have any feelings of "mission accomplished." True, they walked away with a point against the best team in their group, but the pressure is on after Slovenia's win over Algeria. In the last World Cup, the US managed to tie eventual champion Italy 1-1, but then lost to Ghana 2-1 in a game that could have earned them a spot in the second round. A 1-1 draw against England means little if the USA cannot follow up against Slovenia and Algeria.

College Shake Ups
When I left, there was talk of Big 10 expansion. When I came back, all of the sudden college conferences seemed to be breaking at the seams. While there seems to be a new story everyday, here is what has happened so far: Colorado is leaving the Big 12 for the Pac 10, Nebraska is leaving the Big 12 for the Big 10, and Boise State is leaving the WAC for the Mountain West. The Texas shakeup has been avoided for the time being, keeping Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State in the Big 12. I was surprised by how deep this story went. When I heard the Big 10 extended offers to Nebraska, Notre Dame, Missouri, and Rutgers, the only team I thought would consider the move was Rutgers. I was very surprised not only that Nebraska accepted, but that they did so because most of the conference was considering moving as well. The Big 12 is considered second only to the SEC in college football and I was shocked that so many were considering leaving the conference. Silly me, I forgot what drives all these decisions: money. In the end, the Big 10 Network and the money it brings is what won Nebraska over.

And let's not forget Boise State who has gotten lost in all the speculation over Texas. The Pac 10 really dropped the ball by not getting Boise State. I do not know all the details of how this happened, but if the Pac 10 did not do absolutely everything they could to bring Boise State in, then they messed up. Boise State is a major competitor in college football and seemingly the only thing keeping them out of the National Championship game was their non BCS conference. Boise State would have brought a lot of interest, media coverage, and revenue to a conference who's traditional powerhouse has now been banned from postseason play for 2 years. It may have turned out that the Pac 10 did pursue Boise State and they chose the Mountain West anyway to help out fellow "ignored by the BCS" contenders TCU, BYU, and Utah. If that's the case, then you cannot fault the Pac 10, but this really seemed like a good fit to me and they must be kicking themselves now for not getting it done. What this means for the Mountain West is that they are going to push hard for a BCS bid and no doubt, because the BCS is run by morons, they will be ignored until conference expansion destroys the Big 12 or the Big East. Still, the Mountain West is now poised to become a power conference very soon.

Lebron to Washington? Short Answer, No

I saw in the Washington Post on Sunday an article about why Washington would be a good destination for Lebron James. The author did not understand why Washington was not in the discussion arguing that Washington was a major basketball market and had lots of money to work with thanks to the trade deadline departures of most of their expensive players. I had to laugh. This article was not in the "Sports" section, but in the "Metro" section, which of course explains why the author seemed to be taking a lot for granted when discussing the Wizards.

Don't get your hopes up. Lebron will not be wearing blue and gold next season. There were some good points made in the article and there are some reasons why Washington would at least enter the discussion. Washington was completely off the radar until they won the draft lottery. Most analysts agree Lebron will try to bring another superstar with him and with John Wall waiting, you could have 3 superstars playing next season which would completely transform the team. The Wizards are now owned by Ted Leonsis who transformed the Washington Capitals and looks ready to win in the NBA. DC might not have the glitz and glamor of New York, but wherever he goes the market will follow. With the top pick, the Wizards may be an easier team to build than New York and he wouldn't have to play in the shadow of Michael Jordan like he would in Chicago. With President Obama down the street, an avid basketball fan, Lebron should seriously be considering Washington.

Now let me tell you why this is all wishful thinking. Washington's entry fee into the Lebron sweepstakes would be to fire headcoach Flip Saunders, which if they were going to do they would have done by now. With the team that was put around Lebron this season, he's got to be feeling that coaching may be the missing piece of the puzzle. When he is looking for where to go next season if coaching is a major factor, which I think it will be, then you can count Washington out. If he can't win with Mike Brown, I doubt he thinks Flip Saunders is the right choice. As head coach of Minnesota, Saunders lost in the first round in his first eight playoff appearances. He did manage to make the conference finals in all three of his seasons as head coach of Detroit, but he lost all three times even with a championship caliber team that had won the NBA championship in 2004. This is precisely the problem Lebron has had in Cleveland. Why leave to have the exact same problem in Washington?

To say that Washington is as notable an NBA franchise as say Boston or Los Angeles is completely false. The author even argued that Red Auerbach was a Washington coach before he was a Boston coach. While this is true, it is irrelevant. It's like saying New York is a basketball market since Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn. Auerbach made his name in Boston, not DC. When people talk about the storied franchises of the NBA, they refer to several teams, but not the Washington Wizards who have won a single NBA title. Yes, the market will follow Lebron wherever he goes, but if he doesn't want to resurrect the major market of the Knicks or the Bulls, why leave Cleveland for Washington? Why leave a team dedicated to winning for a coach who struggles in the playoffs, a draft pick who could turn out to be a bust, and a franchise still clouded by Gilbert Arenas? There are far too many question marks surrounding the Wizards for Lebron to consider this a possible destination for the 2010-11 season.

Capitals Ready to Offer Defenseman Volchenkov Deal

Five weeks before free agency starts and the Capitals may already have their first target. Ottawa defenseman Anton Volchenkov is set to become a free agent this off season. Though both Volchenkov and the Ottawa Senators have expressed interest in working out a deal, the talks seem to have stalled. "I'd like to re-sign him," said Senators GM Bryan Murray, "but the dollars don't work at the present asking price." With sources saying that Volchenkov has put his house in Ottawa up for sale, it looks like he will be moving on and Washington will be the most likely destination.

Washington is definitely interested in the tough defensemen and is reportedly willing to offer him $5 million a year in a multi year contract. The team hopes to sell him with a large offer, the chance to play with a contender, and the chance to play with numerous star countrymen such as Alexander Ovechkin and Semyon Varlamov. Reports also say that the Capitals will ask Ovechkin to talk to Volchenkov to sell the deal.

While we are still five weeks away from free agency and Volchenkov is a long way off from donning the red, white, and blue jersey, this is an encouraging step from the Capitals. Volchenkov is the tough, gritty, defensive minded type of player this team so desperately needs on their back line. He was one of Ottawa's top defensemen and is consistently one of the best shot blockers in the league every year. Volchenkov's style of play is a "stay at home defenseman" who lines players up for big hits, but is reluctant offensively. This contrasts very well with the rest of the team's very aggressive style. It shows that the team has recognized the need for that defensive stalwart.

The only problem is the price tag. $5 million a year is a very steep price. The Capitals tend to outbid other teams for free agents and they do not always get their money's worth, Michael Nylander being the most obvious (and one of the most expensive) examples. It is also unlikely that the Capitals will sign only Volchenkov and wait for the season to begin, so with more players to sign, the team will need to free up some cap space. Jose Theodore's departure cannot be far off. The team will also have to decide on Alexander Semin's future sooner rather than later. Fans would hate to seem him leave and the team would hate to let him go without getting equal value in return, but such a high priced deal may force an early exit to one of the team's superstars.

Wizards Win Draft Lottery, Face Choice

Representing the Washington Wizards and her late husband, Irene Pollin's jaw dropped as she discovered the team had won the NBA draft lottery. Despite only a 10.3% chance, the Wizards will now have their choice of stars John Wall and Evan Turner, a good problem to have.

"I think it's the culmination of my husband's dream because he wanted another ring and maybe this will get us another ring," Pollin said. Wall and Turner are widely considered as the top two prospects. Wall played one year for the University of Kentucky and dazzled in his time there averaging 16.9 points per game and 6.4 assist per game. He also plays point guard which is considered the most important position in basketball. Turner is a shooting guard and was perhaps the best college player in the country averaging 20.3 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game at Ohio State. Wall is considered by most as the best pro prospect in the draft and expected to turn into a superstar player, but there is one thing standing in the way, Gilbert Arenas.

Arenas' mere presence continues to hurt the Wizards and now he has turned what looks like a no-brainer into a tough decision. The problem is that Arenas is the Wizards' current point guard. In order to rebuild this team, the Wizards need a starter and a possible star in the making from the draft. This is John Wall. Turner is a great player, but Wall is clear number one choice this draft. If the team is committed to keeping Arenas, as they claim to be, then unfortunately they will consider passing Wall for Turner who can start along side Arenas.

This is just stupid. Arenas has tainted the Wizards for too long and needs to go. They now have the opportunity to bring in a probable star at point guard and they cannot afford to pass that up. I am not down on Turner, but it is agreed among almost all NBA analysts that Wall should be the top pick. This is the team's chance to replace Arenas. They have cap space. With Wall and another superstar free agent pickup, you could see a new team next season. The Arenas era needs to come to an end because it has failed. I trust new owner, Ted Leonsis, who turned the Capitals organization around, to recognize what needs to happen and somehow push Arenas out the door.

As with all NBA stories these days, I also have to mention the possible impact this will have on Lebron's decision. The New Jersey Nets are named as one of the possible destinations for Lebron, but I feel the chances of that are now over. What New Jersey had to offer was a shot by winning the draft, but as they fell to number three I feel that is too low. Most likely the Nets will not get either Wall or Turner and so the appeal of New Jersey has now dropped tremendously. Owner Mikhail Prokhorov will do what he can to stay in the Lebron sweepstakes, but I think New Jersey's stock has now plummeted in Lebron's eyes because of the lottery.

Caps Take First Step, Sign Backstrom to 10 Year Deal

The Washington Capitals took the first step towards remaining a Stanley Cup contending team on Monday with a deal to keep their superstar center. The team announced this morning that they have signed Nicklas Backstrom to a 10 year, $67 million deal. Backstrom's entry level contract expired at the end of this season and he was scheduled to become a free agent in July.

Most general managers are reluctant to sign such long term deals, but the Capitals now have two with Ovechkin's 13 year deal. George McPhee seemed unconcerned. "The risks are that the player doesn't meet expectation with the contract, but I never for one minute with Alex Ovechkin or Nicklas Backstrom think that they won't compete all the way through," he said. "It sends the right message to our fans and to this franchise that we have outstanding young players who are ready to commit for the rest of their career." Backstrom has yet to miss a single game in his three year career and his points continue to improve. Singing a player of Backstrom's caliber does not seem to be much of a risk even if it is for such a high price. With the probable departure of other expensive players such as Jose Theodore, the team can afford to sign this much needed deal.

As soon as the Capitals finished their disappointing playoff series against Montreal, signing Backstrom became the top priority. He has become one of the best centers in the league and has developed a report with Ovechkin. The two teamed up for 210 points in the regular season, the highest scoring duo in the NHL.

The Capitals also announced that they had signed their first round draft pick from 2009, Marcus Johansson to a three-year entry level contract. The team hopes Backstrom can help him develop enough in the offseason to earn a roster spot next season. With the probable departure of Brendan Morrison, developing another center will be important.