Cacau Trikot Trikots
When will USA Basketball learn from US Soccer and look to the future of its sport through development of its future players? In 2003, I published an article titled Arrested Development; How US Soccer became a Role Model for USA Basketball, most of which appears here. It's now 2005, and the chasm between US Soccer and USA Basketball appears to be growing. While the NBA attempts to rid itself of some of its best players through the use of an age limit, US Soccer has expanded rosters, encouraged younger players to join its league and created an avenue for the players to train with professionals and get minutes on the field through a Reserve league. While the NBA proposes an age limit to help veteran players maintain roster spots (a flawed concept in and of itself as explained below), the MLS seeks more talent to bolster its growing league and provide competition for its burgeoning talent: “The kick-off of the new reserve division is another milestone in the League's commitment to developing new stars and world-class professionals in the United States,” said MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis. “The reserve division will be the proving ground for countless young players and will increase the competition for roster spots on every senior team in MLS.” What a concept? Competition for jobs, not guaranteed salaries! At UCLA, legendary men's volleyball coach Al Scates uses the “blue curtain” to motivate his players; basically, any player can be banished behind the curtain to play with the red shirts and walk-ons, and the players behind the curtain do not suit up for the next game. A player has to work his way back onto the main floor to play on game day. Eighteen national championships later, the curtain works. Instead of forcing LeBron James to sit through college lectures and inhibiting his development by not allowing him to work with his coaches for more than three hours per week during the off-season due to the NCAA's archaic rules, why not develop a Reserve League for NBA teams, allowing those on the end of the bench to play an abbreviated Reserve League schedule? Instead of forcing these dis-interested athletes upon universities, allow them to make some money playing professional basketball and earn their way onto the “real” team. This would be a fantastic development. Teams could play double-headers, or allow the Reserve Teams to play in nearby smaller towns. The Clippers could send its Reserve team to Orange County for games, while the Lakers could its team to the Inland Empire. The Kings could concur Reno, while Golden State could send its team to the South Bay. The Supersonics could play in Spokane and Portland in Eugene. Instead of forcing players like Ndubi Ebi and Trevor Ariza into classrooms, let them play for pay and learn the professional game on a Reserve Team. College is not for everyone; why force it upon borderline students uninterested in classes with minds totally focused on a professional basketball career? And, why allow players like Ebi to rot on the end on an NBA bench with a guaranteed contract? The Reserve League is a win-win. Players like King James have access to the League, while other players not yet ready for NBA play get paid to work on their games with professional coaches in a professional atmosphere, and universities remain educational institutions, not minor league stopovers.
from: Katrines Blog
Aidas Site
Ansells Weblog
No doubt that one of the most precious and interesting object in the soccer world is the World Cup of soccer. It has almost a hundred years, yet it has not lost its air of legend and always fascinates with its intriguing past.
The vessel of victory in soccer world is the symbol of success and utmost bravery for almost a century and it will continue to be so for the next soccer generations of players and their fans. Although many people have manifested a genuine interest and love for this sport, the history of this cup might still be unknown. So let’s find out a little more about it in a brief history lesson.
At first, the World Cup of soccer bore the title “Jules Rimet Trophy“; as the title itself shows it, it was named after the first president of FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association). Its design (a gold-plated sterling silver finish on a lapis lazuli – blue natural stone base) belongs to the French sculptor named Abel Lafleur and had also a representation of the Greek god of victory, Athena or Nike.
Thus, originally, the World Cup Soccer trophy was also named “Victory”. The trophy also bares the engraved names of all winners of the World Cup soccer championship. In 1946, to its original name, “Jules Rimet Trophy”, was also added the title of “Coupe du Monde” (World Cup).
The World Cup has a very interesting history, especially the part related to the World War II period. Fearing the Nazi would confiscate it (since the region where it was then held went under German occupation), the trophy was hidden in a shoebox under the bed of Dr. Barassi (he was at the time the FIFA president; he was Italian by birth); there it lied for several years.
Ironic is the fact that in spite of going so much trouble in preserving it during war time, in 1966, during a public display in England, at Westminster Central Hall, the trophy disappeared. It was found in seven days’ time, buried under a tree in a suburban garden in South Norwood, quite far from the place it was exhibited. It was discovered by a little dog named “Pickles” that happened to dig right on that spot. However, the mobile of its theft or the benefits of doing it remain unknown to these days.
When Brazil won its third world cup soccer title in 1970, the trophy was taken to Rio De Janeiro, the capital of Brazil. Sadly, in 1973 the trophy was stolen again and no one has ever seen it since then, not even the soccer fans. However, there are some rumors saying that the vessel has been melt down for its precious metals.
In 1974, the original world cup was replaced by another trophy, which was handed to the captain of the victorious team of that edition of the soccer championship, Franz Beckenbauer from Germany. In order to choose a design for the new world cup, suggestions from seven continents have arrived at FIFA. Eventually, FIFA experts chose a solid 18 carat gold swirling statue with a double-row malachite base. Just as the first time, an Italian was the author of the trophy’s design: Silvio Gazzaniga (designer of other soccer and baseball trophies as well).
The name the trophy bares today is the FIFA World Cup Trophy, although sometimes fans call it “Victory” as a sign of remembrance of the first one. Five countries have won it, Italy being the last, but the trophy still waits for new adventures in the soccer game and names to be engraved onto its base until 2038.
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The Celtics were supposed to be too old, too hurt, too inconsistent. Boston coach Doc Rivers knew better.
The team that muddled through its last 54 regular-season games with a 27-27 record is headed to the NBA finals after winning Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals over the Orlando Magic 96-84 Friday night.
“The first thing we said when we got in the locker room is this is where we thought we would be,” Rivers said. “So don't be surprised. This is what we talked about before the season started.”
An 86-77 win at Orlando on Christmas Day gave the Celtics a 23-5 record. Then injuries to Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce took their toll and the Celtics were content to give them and others time to heal even if it meant risking losing games late in the season.
The strategy paid off and now Boston will play Los Angeles or Phoenix with a chance for its second championship in three years and 18th overall, an NBA record.
“That stretch the last month, we formed a game plan, and I thought it was the right plan,” Rivers said. “Obviously, it didn't look right because we were losing games, but guys were resting and conditioning, and I thought that was the only chance we had.”
That mediocrity didn't fool Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, not after the Celtics eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James in six games. And certainly not after they won the first three games of the best-of-seven series against the Magic.
“They beat two very good teams, and made us both look like we weren't very good teams,” Van Gundy said.
Boston's “Big Three” of Pierce, 32, Garnett, 34, and Ray Allen, 34, all made key contributions Friday.
Pierce led the Celtics with 31 points and 13 rebounds, Allen scored 20 and Garnett added 10 points and 5 rebounds. Throw in Nate Robinson's 13 points off the bench in the second quarter, and the Magic's chances of becoming the first NBA team to overcome a 3-0 deficit — there were 93 others — were slim.
“I never really think negative about losing, or being up 3-0 and something tragic happening,” said Pierce, the MVP of the 2008 finals. “Even though one day it's possibly going to happen. … I'm just glad we were able to prolong it one more year.”
The Boston Bruins opened a 3-0 lead against Philadelphia this month in the NHL's Eastern Conference semifinals before the Flyers rallied to win in the same building. The Magic, who dressed in the same locker room where the Flyers celebrated their comeback, couldn't even force the series back to Orlando for a Game 7.
“To win four straight games, you've got to be perfect,” Orlando forward Matt Barnes said, “and we weren't perfect tonight.”
The Magic were far from it.
They led for just 11 seconds, trailed by at least 12 points throughout the second half and were outrebounded 56-44.
“Those guys played like they wanted to win the championship the whole series,” said Dwight Howard, who had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the defending East champions. “That's why they're in the position they're in now.”
Vince Carter scored 17 points, and point guard Jameer Nelson finished with 11 points and four assists but had five turnovers and was outplayed by Rajon Rondo, Boston's starting point guard, and Robinson, his backup.
Reporters and fans scoffed when Rivers said last month that Robinson, who struggled to get playing time since coming to Boston at the trade deadline on Feb. 18 and had never appeared in the postseason before this season, is “going to win us a playoff game.”
He came off the bench at the start of the second quarter, when Boston led 30-19, and hit 3-pointers 90 seconds apart to help stretch the lead to 15 points.
“Nate Robinson was huge in the first half,” Van Gundy said. “That was a huge, huge lift for them.”
Orlando cut the lead to 55-42 at halftime, but the Celtics scored 11 of the first 13 points in the third quarter — including back-to-back 3-pointers from Allen 38 seconds apart.
“The one thing that Doc said all year was, 'I like this team. I like the guys on this team. We can win it with the guys that are on this team,'” Allen said.
Last year, the Magic eliminated the Celtics in a seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal series that Garnett missed with a knee injury. The previous year, the Celtics won their 17th title in a six-game series with the Lakers.
“This starting five has never lost a series, ever,” Rivers said. “We believed that coming into the season, and we just kept believing.”
The finals will begin Thursday in Los Angeles or Phoenix. The Lakers lead the Western Conference finals 3-2, and a victory over the Suns in Game 6 on Saturday would set up the cross-coast rivals for a rematch of the 2008 finals — and 10 other championship series from 1959-87.
“We never take these moments for granted, especially at this point in my career where it's winding down,” Pierce said. “I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. To get back here is a great accomplishment, but even greater if we win another one. “
NOTES: Rondo hit the court hard and was slow to get up after he was fouled by Jason Williams late in the final minute of the first quarter. He stayed in the game. … The Celtics are 9-2 against the Los Angeles and Minneapolis Lakers in the finals. The Celtics and Suns have met once in the finals, when Boston won 4-2 in 1976. … Celtics F Rasheed Wallace left the game in the fourth quarter with back spasms and did not return.
