No I meant you don't follow college basketball that closely, as in the entirety of college basketball from the beginning of the season to the end.
Because if you did, you would know FAU was legit, San Diego St was legit, Miami was legit, etc. These teams were very good all season if you pay attention to the whole sport and not just the Big Ten or Power 6.
You guys just don't follow college basketball that closely all season.
FAU was a top 5-10 team ALL season against the spread. They were in the top 25 at one point. I believe they had a 20 game unbeaten streak during the season. 3 total losses. Won the Conference USA regular season championship and tournament championship definitively.
Oh, and Conference USA also has 2/4 NIT Semi finalists in North Texas and UAB (UAB should've been a tourney team IMO). And Charlotte also won the CBI.
If it makes you feel any better, I obviously knew all of this and still had FAU losing to Memphis in the first round. FAU won on a buzzer beater layup.
Yep. I played at Carleton College (Minnesota) in the MIAC from 2003-2006.
I was fortunate enough to be a pivotal senior for a rising program. Played in some big games, including upsetting then #17 Bethel and also in front of about 15,000 at #5 St. John's when we were both undefeated. Was a larger crowd than those early UCLA games this season.
Carleton plays their crosstown rival St. Olaf this weekend for the iconic 'Goat Trophy.'
Carleton comes in 4-0 and looking stronger than 3-1 St. Olaf for the first time in years.
Not only does the winner claim the Goat Trophy, but the winning team also marches to downtown Northfield and turns a large eagle statue towards the school that won the game for the rest of the year.
When did downtown MPLS become so seedy and dangerous? 3 comments mention it.
2005-2007 there was a vibrant nightlife scene. Our safety was never a concern. Always seemed like new swanky clubs and bars were opening to accommodate the growing nightlife scene. Restaurant scene was very solid during this time also.
In my Plano, TX (Shops @ Legacy) apartment with my brother & parents who were in town visiting (it was Easter weekend). My brother and I got courtside seats for the elite 8 game vs Florida on Easter.
Missed Braylonfest, away game for D3 college football
At the Game, Section 42
I saw the Manningham game winner after a home college football game in the dorm lounge.
Poole shot I was watching in bed assuming it was over, woke right up.
Peppers return, probably at my parent's.
Watched DPJ MSU game in Nashville at one of my best friend's houses.
That's a huge stretch insinuating that the residents of Hampton Roads / Tidewater area care about Old Dominion. I've never lived there but have spent a lot of time in and around the area , I could be wrong but I don't think too many people view Old Dominion as the team of 'southern Virginia'.
Plus that area is full of military transplants and it's one of the most spread out 'metro' areas in the country.
Trey & Walton were both 6'0" in sneakers. Trey could play slightly above the rim and Walton could take it to the rim, so that made up for it.
Darius Morris was argubaly worse than Simpson shooting 3s and long range 2s. His size, court vision, and passing ability glossed over that. Trey was an upgrade the next year.
In my Royal Oak neighborhood (Northwood), U of M houses are vastly outnumbered by MSU houses.
As I've walked my dog around the neighborhood I've noticed an extreme absence of MSU flags. Last year this time they were everywhere. This year I can barely find one or two. Hell even the guy who has had one hanging from his porch every day for the last 10 years has taken his down.
Too bad they still have their Spartan license plates, we know who you all are. :-)
I drive the Ohio Turnpike from Toledo to the Pennsylvania border 2-4 times per summer traveling back and forth from North Carolina.
On September 6th of this year, the Sunday before Labor Day, I saw more state troopers on that stretch than I could even fathom. No less than 25-30. Multiple pulled over. At least 2-3 getting arrested. And other 20 + trying to catch more speeders.
Thank god for Waze, but even Waze couldnt keep up with them all.
COYS. Not the best season, but great to see Harry back in top form. It was a joy watching the first half of the Leicester City match last weekend.
It will be interesting to see who Mourinho sells off and brings in. He obviously does not like Ndombele, and it can't be due to skill or talent. But on the other hand, he has helped Lo Celso shine, especially since the restart.
Hopefully they get things going next season, I would hate to see Harry leave Tottenham.
1. Christian Pulisic, Chelsea# (1) — Get well soon.
2. Weston McKennie, Schalke (4)
3. John Brooks, Wolfsburg (3)
4. Tyler Adams, RB Leipzig (2) — Healthy, and back starting.
5. Sergino Dest, Ajax (6)
6. Duane Holmes, Derby County (N/R) — Man’s on fire.
7. Alfredo Morales, Fortuna Dusseldorf (5)
8. Jordan Morris, Seattle Sounders (7)
9. Zack Steffen, Fortuna Dusseldorf (10)
10. Antonee Robinson, Wigan Athletic (N/R) — Almost AC Milan!
11. Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC (12)
12. Julian Green, Greuther Furth# (15)
13. Giovanni Reyna, Borussia Dortmund (N/R) — What a goal.
14. Timothy Weah, Lille# (14)
15. Timothy Chandler, Eintracht Frankfurt (N/R) — Incredible resurgence.
16. Tim Ream, Fulham (13)
17. Matt Miazga, Reading (8)
18. Josh Sargent, Werder Bremen (9)
19. Miles Robinson, Atlanta United (23)
20. Ulysses Llanez, Wolfsburg U-19 (N/R) — Go on, son.
21. Tyler Boyd, Besiktas (21)
22. DeAndre Yedlin, Newcastle United (11)
23. Reggie Cannon, FC Dallas (N/R)
24. Michael Bradley, Toronto FC# (18)
25. Sebastian Lletget, LA Galaxy (22)
Another interesting fact is that the Canadian Alphonso Davies would clearly be #2 on this list. He starts for Bayern Munich. I can't ever remember Canada having a player that much better than the rest of the American pool.
And here is another good article with more recent and updated infromation on most of these European based players.
You're giving St. Thomas more credit than they deserve. St. Thomas has never won a D3 national title in football. They were runners up twice in 2012 and 2015. Both times losing to Mount Union by 14+ points.
However, they have won two national titles in basketball in 2011 and 2016. They were always the MIAC's traditional powerhouse in basketball. But you are correct, their prominence nationally in both sports has all been over the last decade. They do not have a long storied history and tradition of athletic dominance.
Their football stadium is very much that of a D3 school. Theyre going to need a $25-$75 million renovation on that alone I would assume?
I'm guessing they will also have to build a completely new basketball arena, I'm not sure you can renovate their tiny D3 gym into a D1 level arena? Probably need some improvements for soccer and baseball facilities. Everything else should likely suffice.
I would love to see St. Thomas become a D1 doormat for the next decade, especially in football.
St. Thomas once belonged in the MIAC, but they quickly outgrew the small school DIII conference. Their enrollment was by far the largest. They have numerous postgradute programs. Their resoucrces are far more extensive in every way than every other MIAC school. Not to mention, their Head football coach ran up the score countless times on these much smaller schools and programs. So if he wants tougher competition, he's got his wish. I hope he can recruit DI level kids.
I played football in the MIAC at Carleton College in the mid 2000s. St. Thomas was an average football program every year and was not a basketball powerhouse either. Their success is all recent, over the last decade. They were not a historically dominant DIII athletic powerhouse.
No fellow board riders-surf, snow, skate, wake- or adrenaline junkies on this board? I'll watch me some World Surf League on CBS Sports.
1) Surfing
Americans don't completely dominate like they once did. It's a pretty international leaderboard, but Brazilians are now the dominate force. Interesting to note in Surfing, Hawaiian Americans are seperate from North American Americans.
The tricks these guys now pull in all three of these board sports is just mind blowing. Incredible athleticism and acrobatics.
Watching these sports to me is similar to casually playing golf then watching pro golf. You just appreciate their talent level that much more when you know how incredibly difficult it is.
The other day a teenage girl was seriously lucky that it was me and not another driver. (right place / right time / right person)
I was driving in my neighborhood in Royal Oak, MI. I was going south and about to cross a residential intersction that I had no stop sign for, but East & West bound traffic do have a 2 Way stop.
A teenage girl riding a bike, with Airbuds & no helmet, casually runs the stop sign and makes a left towards me, without looking either way before she did. Finally she saw me as she rounded her turn, long after I had stopped.
Her eyes popped out of her head when she did finally see me! Rightfulyl so, she was inredibly lucky I saw her at the earliest possible moment, it was never close. She could have been killed if someone else was driving that was alson on their phone, talking to a passenger, or not familiar with the neighborhoodt. I yelled at her "You need to watch what your doing", but she didn't hear me because Airbuds.
This also likely never would have happened for multiple reasons if it was not for quarantine.
You're not missing anything. I was at Park City last weekend. The snow was terrible. Ice in the morning, mashed potatoes by 1:30-2 due to 45-50 degree temps and sun. Some wet pow on Sunday that was almost completely tracked out by 11 AM (aside from the random tree line).
Not to mention crowded runs, lots of beginners/intermediates cutting you off, and some very long lift lines (Miner's Camp). The scene on Main Street is a lot of fun though.
If we ever go back, it would need to be in January.
I've seen him do it earlier in the season in a similar situation, but I can't remember which game. I think he is grade A trolling. High five me, we're winning, you’re losing. Plausible deniability because it is part of his 1st to 2nd free throw routine.
Kid plays with a lot of toughness and emotion, he knows what he is doing. I like it.
I had a 55 in Vizio that also lasted about 18 months max, 2016-2017. Worst TV I've owned or operated.
But I also have a 37 in Vizio from 2011 that's been through a couple of cross country moves + moving between rooms on occasion. Not the best picture, but it is built to last. Perfect bedroom TV.
I went with Samsung for the living room and man cave the after the 55 in Vizio crapped out.
A lot of the gifts Ive recieved have been crap, enrgraved zippo lighter stands out as the worst. I think a custom leather passport holder was another I was unimpressed with based on how much $ we spent to go to this wedding (& bachelor party), plus that couple is very wealthy. I can't even remember what my brother did and I was his best man, so it was nothing that good.
My favorite was a Brooks Brother's matching tie set that included a tie clip and pocket square that we also all wore during the wedding with the tux.
Pray that it does not down pour at any point from Thursday-Sunday. If it does, bring extra socks, shoes, and maybe shorts in a backpack to the festival.
The one year I went in 2014 it did, and the mud pits were unavoidable if you want to see different acts at different stages throughout the day.
Great festiavl though, I liked it more than Lolla. Very similar.
This past week I was with family and overheard two family members sharing information that was nothing but negative in regards to Chris Illitch and his management (of all organziations) since the passing of Mike Illitch.
One family member shares the same lobbyist and the other's father is pretty high up in one of the subsidiary organizations.
I have a lot, especially related to U of M. I'll narrow down to a Best of
1) Best Story - Answering the home phone during high school (2000-2002ish) and hearing "Hi this is Bo Schembechler, can I speak to Bob?" My dad is/was a well connected athletic department and football booster.
2) Most Famous Encounter (and most stupid) - My brother's friend and I were black out level drunk at Rick's on a Saturday night during the Rich Rod era. I was in grad school at the time, so I was 23-24. Neither of us remember it very well, but we were both kicked out for trying to start a fight with Michael Phelps. Pretty sure he was the guest of honor at the football game earlier. I believe we were salty because he was monopolizing all the girls at Ricks (or at least their attention).
3 Most Recent
3) My brother and I sat first row at the 2013 Elite 8 game against Florida. We were on the same side as the media. I said Hello and shook hands with pre Warriors Steve Kerr and the late Craig Sager as they were walking by.
4) I was still living in Dallas during the fall of 2014. One of my best friends was in town visiting from Chicago, so we went out to the bars right near my apartment in Plano (Shops at Legacy). A group of 4 cougars/MILFs kind of picked my buddy and I up, so we started hanging out with them at their table. 1 of the 4 was married and she had her gigantic husband with her, who was super nice. We ended up learning he was Tyron Smith. He'd become All pro in the coming seasons. Interesting to note that this was a Friday night during the season.
5) My brother is friends with Jordan Morgan. J Mo took us 'backstage' after the Penn State game in January 2017. We were able to meet Beilein and interact with all the players on that roster. During the summer J Mo met up with my brother, his wife, and me at a large upscale party/ event in downtown Detroit. I walked around the event a bunch with J Mo, women thought I was someone famous. Those same women didn't exactly know who he was, just that he was a basketball player by his height (there were a lot of people there that did know who he was)
Blame the Directors / Producers of the broadcast, not the network or camera team.
My brother and I were first row / courtside for the Michigan v Florida Elite 8 game in 2013 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
As the game started to get out of hand in Michigan's favor, a camera man started filming my brother and I celebrating and cheering for what was at least 45-60 seconds. We ended up being shown on CBS for 3-4 seconds. That was enough time for everyone to recognize us and even get a Tweet from Rich Eisen (asking if we were the Sklarr brothers).
The directors/producers could have easily featured us for more screen time or absolutley no screen time. They are also the ones telling the camera men what to do for the most part.
"The popularity of soccer—both in participation and interest—is increasing in the United States. There’s no doubting that.
According to a 2018 Gallup poll, 7% of Americans cited soccer as their favorite sport to watch, while 9% preferred America’s pastime baseball. Not only is soccer growing as a whole in the United States, but Major League Soccer ( MLS ), the top domestic league, has experienced a 27% rise in interest since 2012, according to Nielsen Sports Sponsorlink."
You are 100% spot on. This one HURT more than most.
Did anyone else see the front page of the print version for the Sunday Detroit Free Press?!?! Thank god my dad still gets the paper delivered on Sundays.
"It's a Sparty Party, this is OUR YEAR"
I could not believe the editors let that go to print for the front page of the Sunday Free Press. They honestly thought there was no way they were losing to Texas Tech, this was some team of destiny HAHA.
Aside from the Freep epic fail, I could not believe the amount of people I saw out and about on Saturday afternoon decked in Spartan gear. It was apparent that many watch parties were happening in my Royal Oak neighborhood...
For some reason yesterday, everything was just very quiet compared to Saturday, considering how nice it was. The Spartan family next door was not outside yelling and screaming while kicking soccer balls into my new expensive privacy fence. I hope that little brat and hid dad cried all day.
No, I don't pay attention to the hockey team or program at all. I'm also a fan who cares equally about basketball and football. I attend homes games for both those sports regularly.
I attend games at Yost once once every few years, usually at the suggestion of others + free tickets.
Honestly, it has everything to do with the sport of hockey. I just don't care for the sport.. it's the whole ice, skates, sticks thing.
I'm a football, basketball, soccer person as far as team sports. Hockey is just not for me.
Logged in Strictly to comment on your Vizsla pic!? Yours?
I have had 2, the first passed but my 2nd is 16th months! Incredible animals, 100% the breed for me. My big pup was an immediate pick me up on Saturday... the best dogs.
He inheritated a growing giant at Wisconsin-Whitewater. I played D3 in the Minnesota conference from 2003-2006, they were a top 5 program during 2004-2006, for sure 2005 & 2006.
They were national runners up in 2005 & 2006. And from what I remember of those two years, it was basically Mount Union, Wisconsin-Whitewater and everyone else (similar to Bama & Clemson). Whoever won our conference--St Johns, Bethel, St Thomas, Concordia Moorehead --was always ranked top 10 heading into the playoffs. St Johns & Bethel were completely blown out of the water (pun intended) by Whitewater in the playoffs my junior and senior year.
The Wisconsin D3 league also has a tremendous advantage in D3 because all the schools in thier conference are public, which is a big advantage for recruiting when traditional scholarships arent awardeded and tuition comes in to play.
Seriously? You are in an extreme minority with that bitching and complaining. I can't think of a more lame and isolated place to see a concert than the 'north burbs'. Downtown Detroit is much more centrally located and convenient for everyone else including those in A2.
It has its own Wikipedia page, lol. Just because one event isn't 'memorable' to you doesn't make it any less important in the context of sports history.
The MSU play, like you just said, was one of the most memorable sports plays of 2015. That doesn't automatically make it one of the most memorable plays in sports history.
Maybe it would have been more memorable to general sports fans if it happened in a championshihp level game, but it didn't, so that's why it's not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of sports history...
(Unless of course youre a biased MSU fan or a traumatized UofM fan. I witnessed it in person, hence the PTSD I've been feeling this week.)
Maybe it was a Top 20 Most Memorable/greatest College football play... but all of sports? I know numerous guys that are huge sports fans but don't really watch or care for college football.
https://www.si.com/100-greatest/
That list was comrpised in 2016, so it's missing a few recent great plays (Lebron's Block, Tua's game winner, etc). MSU's luck play doesn't even come close to making this list. Nor do any of Michigan's greatest plays in football or basektball.
I've also recieved an open intox ticket due to walking down a side walk with a beer. This was about 10 years ago walking to the bar at night, but the cop got 3 of us at once, all of age.
I'm pretty sure had we been smoking a joint, the fine would have have been a lot less than open consumption. I believe mine was closer to $225 and all 3 of us had to appear in court to pay the fine.
It's a lot more relaxed on game days, the police are there primarily for crowd control and a 'worst case scenario situation'. They aren't looking to write tickets or arrest people unless you give them a great reason.
We've had a place in OBX since I was a kid, so I've spent a lot of time in and around the 'Tidewater Area'. I've always said if you like water, it is one of the most underrated areas for natural beauty.
I'm also surprised by how much crime there is in that metro, whenever I turn on the news down there, another shooting in Norflok, Portsmout, Newport, VA beach...etc
I had been telling everyone in my family and around me that did not follow U of M hoops as closely that it was 'Our Year'. I just had a feeling about that squad after the 2012 Big Ten regular season title and first round flame out vs Ohio U. I knew they were going to take it to the next level. I had a lot going on in my life at that time and that win wouldve really meant a lot. I was at a lot of the homes games and courtside for the Elite 8 thrashing of Florida.
#2 - 2018 NC game vs Villanova. While it was devastating and I had high hopes, I knew we were not the better team.
#3 2015 vs MSU. In attendance, I made my brother stay so we could watch that play, he wanted to get a jump on traffic. I dont think I've ever been 'sick' over a loss before that or after. Easily the worst loss 'hangover' Ive ever had, lasted 2 weeks.
#4 2016 OSU. I've never been more pissed because we got screwed by the zebras and my roommate at the time was an OSU alum and season ticket holder. She admitted that their win was not very 'legit' and that their karma was the Clemson embarassment.
#5 2007 App State. In attendance Easily the most embarassing and humiliating moment of my life long Michigan fandom. It was also my first game as a student (grad school), which made it worse. The girl i was dating and I were so humiliated that we left A2 almost immediatley and spent the rest of that labor day weekend in Chicago. This loss also prevented my best friend/roommate and U of M PhD student at the time from switching his allegiance from Iowa to Michigan for football. He was ready to go all in and backed out after that fiasco, despite Michigan giving him a full ride for his PhD.
#6 2006 OSU. This would likely be higher up on the list but I was a senior in undergrad at a small school in Minnesota and having one of the best years of my life. But I did attend the away game at Minnesota, so I still felt 'apart' of that season. But out of all the seasons aside from 1997, I thought that was 'our year' ala 2013 basketball.
He was with his daughter(s) if I recall correctly, apparently his brother has season tickets. He rear ended us in his Tesla getting off at the Washtenaw exit going to the UCF game in 2016. Pretty hilarious to see him in a frantic state until he lwe realized there was no damage, luckily for him.
My brother tried to parlay the whole event into some sort of business relationship with him for charity donations. Pretty sure Mike never made one donation to the charity my brother works with. Strangely enough that charity helps the youth of Detroit.
He's a professional bullshit artist, and also about 5'4-5'5.
I'll admit that I would 100% bang his sister, solid MILF.
I was part of a pretty large tailgate group for MSU 2015. They chose Pioneer over the golf course and some of the other go to spots.
Right across from us in the next car line over was one of the strangest groups of tailgaters I had seen at a Michigan game. It was a bunch of guys in their 20s with a few random women who seemed out of place. One for sure was the 'stereotypical Asian hooker' type and the leader stuck out like a sore thumb in his bright red Wisconsin hoodie and herpe on his lip.
I realized befrore anyone else in my group what they were up to. A few from my group went ove rand realized what was going on when they started playing beer pong with the group. I couldnt stop staring out of pure amazement. There were bicyle cops riding around and this group was operating right there.
At one point I broke off to go use the Port-o-john and one of the ladies ran up to me and made an offer with a price. I declined.
The one question I was left wondering was do they show up every week? Or was this just for the UofM v MSU 'party' scene.
I thought Wiz representing North Dakota was probably the most random and unexpected out of all 50 options.
I would like to see a Map representing where the artists were 'raised' or the state they were in when they first began making music, it would be a better reflection of the relationship between their 'art' and 'place'
Recent Comments
No I meant you don't follow college basketball that closely, as in the entirety of college basketball from the beginning of the season to the end.
Because if you did, you would know FAU was legit, San Diego St was legit, Miami was legit, etc. These teams were very good all season if you pay attention to the whole sport and not just the Big Ten or Power 6.
You guys just don't follow college basketball that closely all season.
FAU was a top 5-10 team ALL season against the spread. They were in the top 25 at one point. I believe they had a 20 game unbeaten streak during the season. 3 total losses. Won the Conference USA regular season championship and tournament championship definitively.
Oh, and Conference USA also has 2/4 NIT Semi finalists in North Texas and UAB (UAB should've been a tourney team IMO). And Charlotte also won the CBI.
If it makes you feel any better, I obviously knew all of this and still had FAU losing to Memphis in the first round. FAU won on a buzzer beater layup.
Yep. I played at Carleton College (Minnesota) in the MIAC from 2003-2006.
I was fortunate enough to be a pivotal senior for a rising program. Played in some big games, including upsetting then #17 Bethel and also in front of about 15,000 at #5 St. John's when we were both undefeated. Was a larger crowd than those early UCLA games this season.
Carleton plays their crosstown rival St. Olaf this weekend for the iconic 'Goat Trophy.'
https://www.southernminn.com/northfield_news/sports/the-goat-trophys-origins/article_6356b7d3-4c7d-5d82-81c5-f95ffd4b58ba.html
Carleton comes in 4-0 and looking stronger than 3-1 St. Olaf for the first time in years.
Not only does the winner claim the Goat Trophy, but the winning team also marches to downtown Northfield and turns a large eagle statue towards the school that won the game for the rest of the year.
Couple of cool traditions.
When did downtown MPLS become so seedy and dangerous? 3 comments mention it.
2005-2007 there was a vibrant nightlife scene. Our safety was never a concern. Always seemed like new swanky clubs and bars were opening to accommodate the growing nightlife scene. Restaurant scene was very solid during this time also.
In…
That's a huge stretch insinuating that the residents of Hampton Roads / Tidewater area care about Old Dominion. I've never lived there but have spent a lot of time in and around the area , I could be wrong but I don't think too many people view Old Dominion as the team of 'southern Virginia'.
Plus that area is full of military transplants and it's one of the most spread out 'metro' areas in the country.
Trey &…
Manny was not a PG
Trey & Walton were both 6'0" in sneakers. Trey could play slightly above the rim and Walton could take it to the rim, so that made up for it.
Darius Morris was argubaly worse than Simpson shooting 3s and long range 2s. His size, court vision, and passing ability glossed over that. Trey was an upgrade the next year.
I'd agree with you more about the Minnesota loss if Brooks played. He's our glue guy IMO. I still think Gonzaga and Baylor are a step above.
Also, Michigan does not go into Iowa this year. They play once this season, at Crisler. We also don't have to go to Illinois.
Though the remaining road schedule still has @ Purdue this Friday, @ Wisconsin, @ OSU, @ Indiana, @ MSU.
The only remaining road game that seems like a gimme is @ Northwestern (and @ PSU if it does get rescheduled), but even those could be an L.
In my Royal Oak neighborhood (Northwood), U of M houses are vastly outnumbered by MSU houses.
As I've walked my dog around the neighborhood I've noticed an extreme absence of MSU flags. Last year this time they were everywhere. This year I can barely find one or two. Hell even the guy who has had one hanging from his porch every day for the last 10 years has taken his down.
Too bad they still have their Spartan license plates, we know who you all are. :-)
I drive the Ohio Turnpike from Toledo to the Pennsylvania border 2-4 times per summer traveling back and forth from North Carolina.
On September 6th of this year, the Sunday before Labor Day, I saw more state troopers on that stretch than I could even fathom. No less than 25-30. Multiple pulled over. At least 2-3 getting arrested. And other 20 + trying to catch more speeders.
Thank god for Waze, but even Waze couldnt keep up with them all.
COYS. Not the best season, but great to see Harry back in top form. It was a joy watching the first half of the Leicester City match last weekend.
It will be interesting to see who Mourinho sells off and brings in. He obviously does not like Ndombele, and it can't be due to skill or talent. But on the other hand, he has helped Lo Celso shine, especially since the restart.
Hopefully they get things going next season, I would hate to see Harry leave Tottenham.
Here is a solid list / rankings back from February.
https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2020/02/04/top-25-players-in-the-usmnt-pool-right-now-2/
1. Christian Pulisic, Chelsea# (1) — Get well soon.
2. Weston McKennie, Schalke (4)
3. John Brooks, Wolfsburg (3)
4. Tyler Adams, RB Leipzig (2) — Healthy, and back starting.
5. Sergino Dest, Ajax (6)
6. Duane Holmes, Derby County (N/R) — Man’s on fire.
7. Alfredo Morales, Fortuna Dusseldorf (5)
8. Jordan Morris, Seattle Sounders (7)
9. Zack Steffen, Fortuna Dusseldorf (10)
10. Antonee Robinson, Wigan Athletic (N/R) — Almost AC Milan!
11. Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC (12)
12. Julian Green, Greuther Furth# (15)
13. Giovanni Reyna, Borussia Dortmund (N/R) — What a goal.
14. Timothy Weah, Lille# (14)
15. Timothy Chandler, Eintracht Frankfurt (N/R) — Incredible resurgence.
16. Tim Ream, Fulham (13)
17. Matt Miazga, Reading (8)
18. Josh Sargent, Werder Bremen (9)
19. Miles Robinson, Atlanta United (23)
20. Ulysses Llanez, Wolfsburg U-19 (N/R) — Go on, son.
21. Tyler Boyd, Besiktas (21)
22. DeAndre Yedlin, Newcastle United (11)
23. Reggie Cannon, FC Dallas (N/R)
24. Michael Bradley, Toronto FC# (18)
25. Sebastian Lletget, LA Galaxy (22)
Another interesting fact is that the Canadian Alphonso Davies would clearly be #2 on this list. He starts for Bayern Munich. I can't ever remember Canada having a player that much better than the rest of the American pool.
And here is another good article with more recent and updated infromation on most of these European based players.
https://ussoccerplayers.com/2020/07/how-2020-21-is-shaping-up-for-american-players-in-europe.html
They all…
Rufus du Sol.
They all might be under 30, I'm not sure of their ages.
You're giving St. Thomas more credit than they deserve. St. Thomas has never won a D3 national title in football. They were runners up twice in 2012 and 2015. Both times losing to Mount Union by 14+ points.
However, they have won two national titles in basketball in 2011 and 2016. They were always the MIAC's traditional powerhouse in basketball. But you are correct, their prominence nationally in both sports has all been over the last decade. They do not have a long storied history and tradition of athletic dominance.
Their football stadium is very much that of a D3 school. Theyre going to need a $25-$75 million renovation on that alone I would assume?
I'm guessing they will also have to build a completely new basketball arena, I'm not sure you can renovate their tiny D3 gym into a D1 level arena? Probably need some improvements for soccer and baseball facilities. Everything else should likely suffice.
I would love to see St. Thomas become a D1 doormat for the next decade, especially in football.
St. Thomas once belonged in the MIAC, but they quickly outgrew the small school DIII conference. Their enrollment was by far the largest. They have numerous postgradute programs. Their resoucrces are far more extensive in every way than every other MIAC school. Not to mention, their Head football coach ran up the score countless times on these much smaller schools and programs. So if he wants tougher competition, he's got his wish. I hope he can recruit DI level kids.
I played football in the MIAC at Carleton College in the mid 2000s. St. Thomas was an average football program every year and was not a basketball powerhouse either. Their success is all recent, over the last decade. They were not a historically dominant DIII athletic powerhouse.
Here's all the evidence you need if you're willing to read.
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/hawkeyes/iowa-football/iowa-hawkeyes-football-allegations-tweets-20200611
Over the last decade soccer has completely passed hockey in popularity, attendance, spectators, etc.
The ironic part is it's European soccer - English Premier League, UEFA Champions leage, etc-- that draws the television viewers.
MLS has higher attendance than NHL.
You also are neglecting to realize how many Latino Americans and Immigrants there are this country who are obsessive soccer fans.
No fellow board riders-surf, snow, skate, wake- or adrenaline junkies on this board? I'll watch me some World Surf League on CBS Sports.
1) Surfing
Americans don't completely dominate like they once did. It's a pretty international leaderboard, but Brazilians are now the dominate force. Interesting to note in Surfing, Hawaiian Americans are seperate from North American Americans.
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/athletes/tour/mct?year=2020
2) Snowboarding & Skateboarding.
The tricks these guys now pull in all three of these board sports is just mind blowing. Incredible athleticism and acrobatics.
Watching these sports to me is similar to casually playing golf then watching pro golf. You just appreciate their talent level that much more when you know how incredibly difficult it is.
This was the exact comp - D Wade - I used when describing his game to friends tonight when we were dicussing the departure of DDJ
The other day a teenage girl was seriously lucky that it was me and not another driver. (right place / right time / right person)
I was driving in my neighborhood in Royal Oak, MI. I was going south and about to cross a residential intersction that I had no stop sign for, but East & West bound traffic do have a 2 Way stop.
A teenage girl riding a bike, with Airbuds & no helmet, casually runs the stop sign and makes a left towards me, without looking either way before she did. Finally she saw me as she rounded her turn, long after I had stopped.
Her eyes popped out of her head when she did finally see me! Rightfulyl so, she was inredibly lucky I saw her at the earliest possible moment, it was never close. She could have been killed if someone else was driving that was alson on their phone, talking to a passenger, or not familiar with the neighborhoodt. I yelled at her "You need to watch what your doing", but she didn't hear me because Airbuds.
This also likely never would have happened for multiple reasons if it was not for quarantine.
You're not missing anything. I was at Park City last weekend. The snow was terrible. Ice in the morning, mashed potatoes by 1:30-2 due to 45-50 degree temps and sun. Some wet pow on Sunday that was almost completely tracked out by 11 AM (aside from the random tree line).
Not to mention crowded runs, lots of beginners/intermediates cutting you off, and some very long lift lines (Miner's Camp). The scene on Main Street is a lot of fun though.
If we ever go back, it would need to be in January.
I've seen him do it earlier in the season in a similar situation, but I can't remember which game. I think he is grade A trolling. High five me, we're winning, you’re losing. Plausible deniability because it is part of his 1st to 2nd free throw routine.
Kid plays with a lot of toughness and emotion, he knows what he is doing. I like it.
* Find a girlfriend (if you're single) with a hot tub. That's what I did earlier this year!
Ohhh, and a projector screen TV also
No buyers (GF) remorse here.
I had a 55 in Vizio that also lasted about 18 months max, 2016-2017. Worst TV I've owned or operated.
But I also have a 37 in Vizio from 2011 that's been through a couple of cross country moves + moving between rooms on occasion. Not the best picture, but it is built to last. Perfect bedroom TV.
I went with Samsung for the living room and man cave the after the 55 in Vizio crapped out.
Depends how much you're spending. Personally, if I was about to get married Id go with a quality pair of wireless earbuds that aren't airpods.
I swear by these
https://www.jabra.com/bluetooth-headsets/jabra-elite-65t?utm_expid=.kcLK6N4KQeSRHJZ9HS_yJw.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F#/#100-99000000-02
Cheaper option
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/jbl-tune-120tws-true-wireless-in-ear-headphones-black/6356676.p?skuId=6356676&ref=212&loc=1&extStoreId=401&ref=212&loc=1&ds_rl=1266837&ds_rl=1268709&ds_rl=1268706&ds_rl=1266837&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-4nuBRCnARIsAHwyuPooLEikTgUoUWSSLlksEuTHaGnZKDUcYNM5hgNe9hL9m1IjMjkM3joaAuDVEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
A lot of the gifts Ive recieved have been crap, enrgraved zippo lighter stands out as the worst. I think a custom leather passport holder was another I was unimpressed with based on how much $ we spent to go to this wedding (& bachelor party), plus that couple is very wealthy. I can't even remember what my brother did and I was his best man, so it was nothing that good.
My favorite was a Brooks Brother's matching tie set that included a tie clip and pocket square that we also all wore during the wedding with the tux.
I posted this in the Michigan v Illinois thread.
I heard weeks ago that ND is a certain night game. I also heard there was a strong chance MSU would be a night game.
My source: 3rd hand from people who know (original source is staff on the team/athletic department).
I trust my sources. We've already planned our very large group tailgate around a night game.
I was told weeks ago that ND is going to be a night game. The same source also said there is a strong chance that MSU would be a night game.
My Source: 3rd hand from people who know (Originating directly from team and athletic department)
Pray that it does not down pour at any point from Thursday-Sunday. If it does, bring extra socks, shoes, and maybe shorts in a backpack to the festival.
The one year I went in 2014 it did, and the mud pits were unavoidable if you want to see different acts at different stages throughout the day.
Great festiavl though, I liked it more than Lolla. Very similar.
Hey, that's my neighborhood - Northwood
Great take! I agree 100%
This past week I was with family and overheard two family members sharing information that was nothing but negative in regards to Chris Illitch and his management (of all organziations) since the passing of Mike Illitch.
One family member shares the same lobbyist and the other's father is pretty high up in one of the subsidiary organizations.
Take that for what it's worth.
I have a lot, especially related to U of M. I'll narrow down to a Best of
1) Best Story - Answering the home phone during high school (2000-2002ish) and hearing "Hi this is Bo Schembechler, can I speak to Bob?" My dad is/was a well connected athletic department and football booster.
2) Most Famous Encounter (and most stupid) - My brother's friend and I were black out level drunk at Rick's on a Saturday night during the Rich Rod era. I was in grad school at the time, so I was 23-24. Neither of us remember it very well, but we were both kicked out for trying to start a fight with Michael Phelps. Pretty sure he was the guest of honor at the football game earlier. I believe we were salty because he was monopolizing all the girls at Ricks (or at least their attention).
3 Most Recent
3) My brother and I sat first row at the 2013 Elite 8 game against Florida. We were on the same side as the media. I said Hello and shook hands with pre Warriors Steve Kerr and the late Craig Sager as they were walking by.
4) I was still living in Dallas during the fall of 2014. One of my best friends was in town visiting from Chicago, so we went out to the bars right near my apartment in Plano (Shops at Legacy). A group of 4 cougars/MILFs kind of picked my buddy and I up, so we started hanging out with them at their table. 1 of the 4 was married and she had her gigantic husband with her, who was super nice. We ended up learning he was Tyron Smith. He'd become All pro in the coming seasons. Interesting to note that this was a Friday night during the season.
5) My brother is friends with Jordan Morgan. J Mo took us 'backstage' after the Penn State game in January 2017. We were able to meet Beilein and interact with all the players on that roster. During the summer J Mo met up with my brother, his wife, and me at a large upscale party/ event in downtown Detroit. I walked around the event a bunch with J Mo, women thought I was someone famous. Those same women didn't exactly know who he was, just that he was a basketball player by his height (there were a lot of people there that did know who he was)
Blame the Directors / Producers of the broadcast, not the network or camera team.
My brother and I were first row / courtside for the Michigan v Florida Elite 8 game in 2013 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
As the game started to get out of hand in Michigan's favor, a camera man started filming my brother and I celebrating and cheering for what was at least 45-60 seconds. We ended up being shown on CBS for 3-4 seconds. That was enough time for everyone to recognize us and even get a Tweet from Rich Eisen (asking if we were the Sklarr brothers).
The directors/producers could have easily featured us for more screen time or absolutley no screen time. They are also the ones telling the camera men what to do for the most part.
Forbes published an article on April 26th, 2019 that says otherwise.
Soccer's Growth in America Has Interational Legends Buzzing
"The popularity of soccer—both in participation and interest—is increasing in the United States. There’s no doubting that.
According to a 2018 Gallup poll, 7% of Americans cited soccer as their favorite sport to watch, while 9% preferred America’s pastime baseball. Not only is soccer growing as a whole in the United States, but Major League Soccer ( MLS ), the top domestic league, has experienced a 27% rise in interest since 2012, according to Nielsen Sports Sponsorlink."
You are 100% spot on. This one HURT more than most.
Did anyone else see the front page of the print version for the Sunday Detroit Free Press?!?! Thank god my dad still gets the paper delivered on Sundays.
"It's a Sparty Party, this is OUR YEAR"
I could not believe the editors let that go to print for the front page of the Sunday Free Press. They honestly thought there was no way they were losing to Texas Tech, this was some team of destiny HAHA.
Aside from the Freep epic fail, I could not believe the amount of people I saw out and about on Saturday afternoon decked in Spartan gear. It was apparent that many watch parties were happening in my Royal Oak neighborhood...
For some reason yesterday, everything was just very quiet compared to Saturday, considering how nice it was. The Spartan family next door was not outside yelling and screaming while kicking soccer balls into my new expensive privacy fence. I hope that little brat and hid dad cried all day.
No, I don't pay attention to the hockey team or program at all. I'm also a fan who cares equally about basketball and football. I attend homes games for both those sports regularly.
I attend games at Yost once once every few years, usually at the suggestion of others + free tickets.
Honestly, it has everything to do with the sport of hockey. I just don't care for the sport.. it's the whole ice, skates, sticks thing.
I'm a football, basketball, soccer person as far as team sports. Hockey is just not for me.
Logged in Strictly to comment on your Vizsla pic!? Yours?
I have had 2, the first passed but my 2nd is 16th months! Incredible animals, 100% the breed for me. My big pup was an immediate pick me up on Saturday... the best dogs.
One of my older brothers was a U of M alum living in Columbus during the 90s.
He was at the massive upset of 1996 and said that it was like walking out of a funeral when he left the Shoe that afternoon.
He inheritated a growing giant at Wisconsin-Whitewater. I played D3 in the Minnesota conference from 2003-2006, they were a top 5 program during 2004-2006, for sure 2005 & 2006.
They were national runners up in 2005 & 2006. And from what I remember of those two years, it was basically Mount Union, Wisconsin-Whitewater and everyone else (similar to Bama & Clemson). Whoever won our conference--St Johns, Bethel, St Thomas, Concordia Moorehead --was always ranked top 10 heading into the playoffs. St Johns & Bethel were completely blown out of the water (pun intended) by Whitewater in the playoffs my junior and senior year.
The Wisconsin D3 league also has a tremendous advantage in D3 because all the schools in thier conference are public, which is a big advantage for recruiting when traditional scholarships arent awardeded and tuition comes in to play.
Seriously? You are in an extreme minority with that bitching and complaining. I can't think of a more lame and isolated place to see a concert than the 'north burbs'. Downtown Detroit is much more centrally located and convenient for everyone else including those in A2.
It…
Google 'Lebron Block'
It has its own Wikipedia page, lol. Just because one event isn't 'memorable' to you doesn't make it any less important in the context of sports history.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Block_(basketball)
The MSU play, like you just said, was one of the most memorable sports plays of 2015. That doesn't automatically make it one of the most memorable plays in sports history.
Maybe it would have been more memorable to general sports fans if it happened in a championshihp level game, but it didn't, so that's why it's not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of sports history...
(Unless of course youre a biased MSU fan or a traumatized UofM fan. I witnessed it in person, hence the PTSD I've been feeling this week.)
You're giving that play wayyyyy too much credit.
Maybe it was a Top 20 Most Memorable/greatest College football play... but all of sports? I know numerous guys that are huge sports fans but don't really watch or care for college football.
https://www.si.com/100-greatest/
That list was comrpised in 2016, so it's missing a few recent great plays (Lebron's Block, Tua's game winner, etc). MSU's luck play doesn't even come close to making this list. Nor do any of Michigan's greatest plays in football or basektball.
I've also recieved an open intox ticket due to walking down a side walk with a beer. This was about 10 years ago walking to the bar at night, but the cop got 3 of us at once, all of age.
I'm pretty sure had we been smoking a joint, the fine would have have been a lot less than open consumption. I believe mine was closer to $225 and all 3 of us had to appear in court to pay the fine.
It's a lot more relaxed on game days, the police are there primarily for crowd control and a 'worst case scenario situation'. They aren't looking to write tickets or arrest people unless you give them a great reason.
I'm primarily English and also a big time Spurs supporter... COME ON YOU 3 LIONS. 'ARRY 'ARRY!
We've had a place in OBX since I was a kid, so I've spent a lot of time in and around the 'Tidewater Area'. I've always said if you like water, it is one of the most underrated areas for natural beauty.
I'm also surprised by how much crime there is in that metro, whenever I turn on the news down there, another shooting in Norflok, Portsmout, Newport, VA beach...etc
I had been telling everyone in my family and around me that did not follow U of M hoops as closely that it was 'Our Year'. I just had a feeling about that squad after the 2012 Big Ten regular season title and first round flame out vs Ohio U. I knew they were going to take it to the next level. I had a lot going on in my life at that time and that win wouldve really meant a lot. I was at a lot of the homes games and courtside for the Elite 8 thrashing of Florida.
#2 - 2018 NC game vs Villanova. While it was devastating and I had high hopes, I knew we were not the better team.
#3 2015 vs MSU. In attendance, I made my brother stay so we could watch that play, he wanted to get a jump on traffic. I dont think I've ever been 'sick' over a loss before that or after. Easily the worst loss 'hangover' Ive ever had, lasted 2 weeks.
#4 2016 OSU. I've never been more pissed because we got screwed by the zebras and my roommate at the time was an OSU alum and season ticket holder. She admitted that their win was not very 'legit' and that their karma was the Clemson embarassment.
#5 2007 App State. In attendance Easily the most embarassing and humiliating moment of my life long Michigan fandom. It was also my first game as a student (grad school), which made it worse. The girl i was dating and I were so humiliated that we left A2 almost immediatley and spent the rest of that labor day weekend in Chicago. This loss also prevented my best friend/roommate and U of M PhD student at the time from switching his allegiance from Iowa to Michigan for football. He was ready to go all in and backed out after that fiasco, despite Michigan giving him a full ride for his PhD.
#6 2006 OSU. This would likely be higher up on the list but I was a senior in undergrad at a small school in Minnesota and having one of the best years of my life. But I did attend the away game at Minnesota, so I still felt 'apart' of that season. But out of all the seasons aside from 1997, I thought that was 'our year' ala 2013 basketball.
He was with his daughter(s) if I recall correctly, apparently his brother has season tickets. He rear ended us in his Tesla getting off at the Washtenaw exit going to the UCF game in 2016. Pretty hilarious to see him in a frantic state until he lwe realized there was no damage, luckily for him.
My brother tried to parlay the whole event into some sort of business relationship with him for charity donations. Pretty sure Mike never made one donation to the charity my brother works with. Strangely enough that charity helps the youth of Detroit.
He's a professional bullshit artist, and also about 5'4-5'5.
I'll admit that I would 100% bang his sister, solid MILF.
I was part of a pretty large tailgate group for MSU 2015. They chose Pioneer over the golf course and some of the other go to spots.
Right across from us in the next car line over was one of the strangest groups of tailgaters I had seen at a Michigan game. It was a bunch of guys in their 20s with a few random women who seemed out of place. One for sure was the 'stereotypical Asian hooker' type and the leader stuck out like a sore thumb in his bright red Wisconsin hoodie and herpe on his lip.
I realized befrore anyone else in my group what they were up to. A few from my group went ove rand realized what was going on when they started playing beer pong with the group. I couldnt stop staring out of pure amazement. There were bicyle cops riding around and this group was operating right there.
At one point I broke off to go use the Port-o-john and one of the ladies ran up to me and made an offer with a price. I declined.
The one question I was left wondering was do they show up every week? Or was this just for the UofM v MSU 'party' scene.
I thought Wiz representing North Dakota was probably the most random and unexpected out of all 50 options.
I would like to see a Map representing where the artists were 'raised' or the state they were in when they first began making music, it would be a better reflection of the relationship between their 'art' and 'place'