Giants Beat Phillies, 5-0 -- In Soccer??

Although he is  not a soccer fan by any means and can at times be sarcastic and caustic, I always like reading Frank Fitzpatrick's columns in the Inquirer.  He is close to my age and often writes (very well I might add) about Philadelphia sports history that I am old enough to remember - to a point.

In today's paper Fitzpatrick writes about the fabled Lighthouse Boys Club in Kensington, home of seven Hall of Famers.   (Fitzpatrick mentions one of the seven, Walt Bahr, but does not say that he assisted on the most famous goal in U.S. Soccer history in a 1-0 upset of England in the 1950 World Cup.)

Having played against and with numerous Lighthouse alumni myself, that aspect of the article was of great interest and will be to anyone who grew up playing in the Philadelphia area.  But what was even more fascinating was the latter half of the column about the American League of Professional Football, founded by Major League baseball owners in 1894.  Most of the seven teams took the names of their baseball counterparts, an exception being the Brooklyn Bridegrooms.

As Fitzpatrick points out, "These owners lacked any useful knowledge of soccer."  As an example, he cites the selection of Phillies baseball manager, Arthur Irwin, a Canadian, as league president.  He was also coach of the soccer Phillies.  And so it was that on October 6, 1894 an estimated 500 fans paid 25 cents each at the Baker Bowl on Broad Street to watch the New York Giants beat the Phillies, 5-0.

The league folded after the Phillies had played nine games - more than any other team.  They finished just above the last place Washington Senators.  Not much better on the soccer pitch than their current day namesake is on the baseball field, the soccer Phillies won two and lost seven, and were outscored 37-15.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Women's World Cup TV Schedule

The Cup kicks off in less than a week.  The full television schedule is in today's Inquirer.  The U.S. begins a week from tomorrow with an opening match against Australia in Vancouver.  The Americans final tune-up was last night, a listless 0-0 draw with Korea in Red Bull Stadium in Harrison, NJ. 

FIFA Re-elects Sepp Blatter - Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss.

What's a little bribery and corruption scandal?  Not much for Sepp Blatter who today in Zurich was elected to his fifth consecutive term as president of FIFA just several days after 14 soccer and marketing officials were arrested on various charges of what the New York Times called :staggering levels of corruption." Didn't seem to both the 133 countries that voted for Blatter.

The official press release on the FIFA website is here while the Times' soccer superwriter, Sam Borden, provides a more objective account of the vote.

Christie Rampone and the World Cup

Lost in the hubub over the arrests of numerous top FIFA officials and others on charges of bribery and the like is the fact that the Women's World Cup begins in less than 10 days when host Canada faces the Peoples Republic of China on June 6 at 2:00 p.m. eastern time in Edmonton.

Related to the tournament is yesterday's article by Juliet Macur in the New York Times about American veteran Christie Rampone.  Macur always writes good stuff, usually from a point of view, and this article is no exception, although the headline (which she did not write) is a bit overly dramatic.  A fax certainly rewrote Rampone's career, but not U.S. soccer history.  Given the talent, I suspect the United States would have reached the World Cup final, and probably won it, without Rampone.  But it was sure nice having her on the field with all the others.

More on the World Cup in the days to come.

Uncle Sam Goes After FIFA

Early this morning - too late for the newsprint editions of the morning newspapers - Swiss authorities arrested eight top officials of soccer's governing body, FIFA, on corruption charges filed in the United States.  The New York Times on-line edition has full coverage.

A Bicycle (Kick) Built For Two

Check out this video of a high school play-off game on May 5, 2015 in South Carolina.  It starts with a corner kick on the left by the white team.  The kick goes over to the right and the white player there sends it in the middle but the red fullback at about the 6 does a poor job of clearing and the ball loops back out to the same guy in the white team who had just kicked it.  This time he controls it then does a bicycle kick and sends the ball on a line drive into the middle where a teammate does another bicycle kick and puts the ball into the net.  Spectacular sequence.

Black Days in Blackpool

Five years ago, Blackpool played in the English Premier League.  Now the Seasiders are on their way down to the Third Division with a record of just four wins, thirteen draws and a whopping 28 defeats.

But fans in this cit of 140,000 on the coast of the Irish Sea in Northwestern England aren't taking relegation lightly.  As reported by David Goldblatt in the May 2 editions of The New York Times, have taken to the streets and the pitch to protest the apparent mismanagement of the club by chairman Karl Oysten.  Since the fans' displeasure was made public in April 2014, Goldblatt wwrites that ". . . there have been boycotts and walkouts, flash mobs and smoke bombs in the Oystons’ village, as well as sabotage of the signage of Oyston real estate agencies. After relegation was assured, thousands of supporters protested inside and outside the stadium during a game against Reading. Flares and fireworks were set off, and eggs were thrown at the directors’ box."

At least one group of supporters,  the Blackpool Supporters Trust, is seeking to have the team controlled by fans.  Whether they are successful remains to be seen.  For now they need to get used to the Third Division this August.

No JAGS Tournament Again This Year - Or Ever?

As readers of this blog know, the JAGS Tournament was a big part of my life for many years, as a parent, coach and for more than 10 years as college coordinator.  During that time I had the pleasure of working with so many good people dedicated to the sport and the girls, most of whom I saw only once a year; and of getting to know many many college coaches from around the East Coast.

Last year it was announced that after 33 years there would be no JAGS Tournament because the fields were being used by the Special Olympics and no other weekend would work.  Some said it was the end of JAGS, others held out hope it would return in 2015.  There was a glimmer last September when long-time director (and JAGS League VP), Rick Firth e-mailed committee members inquiring as to their interest in working in 2015.  Count me in, I'll be there.  Looking forward to see everyone.

In January Rick sent another e-mail around saying the tournament would be U9 through U15.  OK, some colleges are looking at U15s in the spring these days and it would have been a good excuse for me to go watch soccer for a weekend.

But two days ago came the death blow when Rick e-mailed us:
 

It comes with great regret that we are forced to cancel this years event. We do not have enough teams in any age bracket to make it work. For those who have paid, you will receive your original check back as they have not been cashed. You should have them by Monday. Enjoy the rest of your season and best of luck to all.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of for your time and effort in this and previous years tournaments. I wish continued success to you and your teams.

Thanks again,

Rick

While I still hold out hope of a return in 2016, I am afraid two years in a row with no tournament will be more than any event can survive, even one as long-running and with as dedicated people as JAGS has.  But I'm still keeping my fingers crossed.