I love Hard Workers.

So I decided to go play some soccer today with Vlad. I couldn't kick with my right foot because my right ankle is absolutely killing me. I started being goalkeeper which I love because I love diving and blocking shots. I also did kick left footed. I actually was impressed with how much better I had gotten left footed. It was also my 9th time ever playing soccer lol. I hope that the people who I am about to mention did not notice me playing...They don't need to spread the word about my lack of abilities.

I couldn't help but notice who were playing on the other side of the field. They need to get their credit in my blog for their hard work...away from their coaches. I saw Amanda Schwartz, Brianna Gray, Kacey Richards, Courtney Wilkinson Maitland and Shawn Nicklaw playing soccer over by the softball field. I love that they were practicing and playing even when their coaches weren't there telling them that they needed to be. It shows a passion for the game of soccer. It also makes me happy to see them practice and put in some work in their free time.

I am happy that I will be showing both the men's and women's soccer teams some support in the fall.

I am thrilled that Men's Soccer Senior Day will be held on my 21st birthday.

Nothing will stop her

After a meeting it has been determined that nothing, I mean nothing will stop Willis Reed from getting to Citi Field this summer. If She has to dig a canal and row to Citi Field she will.

It wouldn't make sense to dig a canal from Storrs to New York and than go back to Storrs to row to New York...but whatever.

Willis is a big baseball fan, don't get it twisted. She is a bigger fan than you.

So I was going to study

I was in the middle of studying for a test when I realized that the Arsenal were playing Manchester United so I figured I'd tune into that.

The wrong team won.

Chris Ochoa asked me the score because I was watching the game in the Natatorium. I think he was rooting for Manchester United. Anyway he seems like a typical cool and laid back California kid. He seems like a nice guy. He also scored for ice hockey all the time when I went to their games.

best sportscenter commercial yet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2gM3RgiGZA

I really have a one track mind

Seriously somehow I can think of sports for any reason. For example I was reading a book for my sports management class. A character in the book is named Phil Tegeler...so of course the first thing I thought of when I read that was Brittany Tegeler from the women's soccer team.

They also mentioned Milton Academy in Massachusetts, that reminded me of Milton, Massachusetts. The first thing that comes to mind for Milton, Massachusetts is Alexandra Garufi, because that's where she is from. She is a women's soccer player who didn't play that much this year.

I also couldn't stop laughing last year when I found out that Meghan Frey is from Chaska, Minnesota. All I could think of is this scene in the movie "Fargo" that is so funny and it mentions Chaska. I didn't know Chaska really existed until I read the Volleyball roster.

I also heard that Hasheem Thabeet would go to Volleyball games with white gloves on and start conducting music. Interesting. I think he joined the Block Party. Jonathan Mandeldove thinks that their should be a student group for Men's Basketball called the Block Party because The Men's Basketball team has lead the nation in blocks since 2001-2002.

interesting song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFLGRidfFo4

an athlete at UConn is trying to make this song famous.

I haven't metioned Pitea in a-while

So Stephanie Labbe's team is still in season, they just have had a long break. Their next game is coming up on Saturday.

Pitea is where Tomas Holmstrom, left winger on the Detroit Red Wings is from.

The weather in Pitea is 45 degrees and rain right now...it's actually supposed to hit 65 on Friday...and be between 45-55 during our finals week.

Also...random but feel like mentioning that Brianna Gray is also awesome...I love when people who add you on facebook say hello to you when they pass. She is mad cool. Plus Shauna Musser is really cool. You should post 2008 women's soccer posters everywhere because of them.

Brianna Gray is also from New Hampshire and that automatically makes her great...anything and everything about New Hampshire is great. Literally I think every trip to start or end school has started or ended up with me taking a trip to New Hampshire If I had a house in Heaven and New Hampshire, I'd rent out the one in Heaven and live in New Hampshire.

College

Tuition, Room and Board $19,000

Books $500

Mentioning Meghan Cunningham in a paper and writing an anthropology paper on UConn Volleyball....Priceless.

Oh and insane and weird too...

BTW I got an A- on the Volleyball paper, my teacher loved it...No grade yet on the one where I mention Amazingness.

Dan Torf Oozeball

In Oozeball action Dan Torf's team won their first two games of Oozeball 13-4 and 15-2 before losing.

Diversity exercise

UConn Soccer goalkeeper Matt Sangeloty was talking in my business class about a diversity exercise that he did. He went to Hartford and played soccer with some Portuguese guys. At first the Portuguese guys weren't all that interested in having him play. They didn't think he'd be good enough to play because he was an American. Than he owned them. Then they wanted to be his best friend. Thought it was a good story so I decided to tell you about it.

Wow

I remember saying that I can only name Hope Solo from the U.S. Women's National Soccer team...(I do remember Brandi Chastain, Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly) well I can now ad Carli Lloyd to that list. The only reason I know that is that she was in an advertisement on the Hartford Courant Website. I also found out that she was sponsoring $220 soccer cleats...

Wow, I need to buy some, but I was planning more on like $80 tops...but that is a lot of gear that UConn will be getting for free. If they got soccer cleats for our teams like that for free...jeez that's a lot of money.

a thought or two

Ok so well I was really disappointed today because I was going to bring my rowing media guide to South, where I always see the rowing team and Willis Reed and read it during breakfast just to make people laugh...

For the first time all semester I didn't see one rower at breakfast. My day is already off to a bad start.

Also I think it's a great idea to pull pranks on people in their own little world. Really, I mean their own world. These would be people who always have their Ipod on, always on the phone or always texting with their head down. They are in their own little world, and they make me laugh.

I came from behind my friend one morning and scared the crap out of him when I just dropped my stuff on his foot. It was so funny and he just wanted to kill me...If he wasn't plugged in he would have heard me.

This is a crash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nlytg1bYI0&feature=related

You should check this clip out.

Today

Today is Dan Holst's birthday. He is on track and field, which is a great thing, he works with me and he's a cool dude.

He is so important so I decided that everyone should know that today is his birthday.

I also want 100 posts in April.

UFA's

I have read...

that Julius Williams and Tyler Lorenzen were signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. I am really surprised that the Patriots didn't sign Lorenzen. Coach Bill Belichick wanted to see Lorenzen at safety at pro day at UConn according to the Hartford Courant. I am surprised that he didn't take Lorenzen.

The Bears signed Dahna Deleston and I won't lie I am disappointed that the Cowboys didn't draft him. Although I remember talking to Dahna last year and he said that he didn't want to be a Cowboy, so I guess he's happy. I am also disappointed that Julius Williams wasn't drafted because I thought that his numbers were absolutely amazing at Pro Day. I thought he deserved to be picked. A team is getting a pretty good player with a chip on his shoulder because he was not drafted.

The Panthers picked up Keith Gray.

I don't understand the Raiders. They picked Michael Mitchell who wasn't even ranked by scouts inc. I think Mel Kiper said that he had Mitchell as his like 70th best safety. Maybe 40th at best. You don't take either the 40th or 70th best safety with the 47th overall pick. The Raiders could have easily taken him in the 5th round...and more than likely just signed him as an Undrafted Free Agent...But to take him in the 2nd round and pay him 2nd round money is completely idiotic.

The Cowboys had an interesting draft. I think their hope is that 4 of their 12 picks really develop into players. All these guys were in the late rounds. They are low risk high reward picks considering they were all 3rd round picks or later. I didn't understand why we drafted a kicker when we already have Nick Folk. But I loved that we picked up both of Cincinnati cornerbacks, DeAngelo Smith and Mike Mickens. I liked both of those players on the Bearcats and I think at least one of them will develop into something useful in the NFL.

If I was a team looking to rebuild I would have picked either a dominant linebacker or defensive end or a dominant Offensive Tackle if I want to build a winning football team. I believe that games are won and lost at the lines. If you don't have a line you can't run or throw so I would start by building that before anything else.

I also like what the Patriots do which is trade down and accumulate a lot of picks. I think that is smart. Draft picks are like money, currency, in the NFL.

The Jets and Redskins scare me because they too often give up a lot of draft picks to move up. I don't think you can win like that...and they haven't to be honest.

I also sort of laugh at the draft rankings...Really the only time to evaluate a draft or recruiting class is after they have played for their school or played in the league for 4 years or more.

Next year

I think at least half of the two sport athletes will be gone next year...if not 3.

Also what is with El Monte, California? I have never heard of it until I came to UConn...Cruz Hernandez, Oscar Castillo and a rower Diana Ramirez all come from this place...Like I think there are more athletes from El Monte then from Stamford.

Ok I did the research, El Monte is a suburb of Los Angeles. It is home to almost as many people as Stamford. Over 110k

Just a shout out

A shout out to Ed, the announcer at soccer games. Really this guy is so much fun to listen too. One of the reasons I go to soccer games is to listen to him on the public address system. He is so good. I love hearing Soph-o-more. He is a part of the charm of Morrone Stadium. It's great anytime the public announcer can add something to the atmosphere and enjoyment of the game. I'd be willing to pay just to hear his voice.

I love these athletes

I love athletes who were born after August 1st and did not stay back a year in school...

For example if you were born in October of 1988 you would be a junior...not held back and be a sophomore.

I want a study to be done...and I'll do it...of the effect of staying back a year on athletic performance. I feel like kids get an advantage if they stay back because they have an extra year to grow and be stronger than the rest of the kids in their grade...which helps give them more confidence...which helps then enjoy and excel at sports. It amazes me how many athletes are born either in the early months of the year or are held back if they are born August 1st or after...so they are older than everyone else in their grade.

Basically I love athletes who are younger, who are born in the later part of the year.

Two examples of ones I'd like would be Willis Reed and Tina Charles...both born in the later half of 1988 yet both are juniors.

87 Juniors, 88 Sophomores, 89 freshman would be people held back...

If the media guide is right...Courtney Wilkinson Maitland was actually moved up a grade...she's the only one I've noticed that for...but she was red-shirted so she's now athletically back with the kids in the same year as her...but she was recruited with people born in 89 when she's listed as being born in 1990...for that she gets some cred...

Don't freak out...this really intrigues me...I'd like to do a study to see if being older, or staying back has a huge effect on playing college athletics. I also hope that parents don't hold kids back just so they can be good athletes. I think that's wrong. I know in places like Ohio, they hold kids back to improve their football play and basically give them an extra year to grow and mature athletically...Again I don't like this idea.

I think Women's soccer loves reading about themselves

I probably wrote all this already so if you want a quick summary, two guys were wearing women's soccer gear and I thought the team might like to know that some people love them.

Considering that someone thinks Meghan Cunningham has a website about her (I can only assume they mean this) and that Mandy Schwartz and Brianna Gray were beyond thrilled that I knew who they were, I figure they should know a few things that I see and hear from the marketing table.

Contrary to what they might think, they do have some fans. I saw two guys with a Women's Soccer hat on today at the baseball game. Sam Witryol also showed up at softball although I forget if he was showing off his women's soccer hat. They know Sam is a fan though. John from Somers also came by and seemed to know everything about the incoming freshman women's soccer class. He also mentioned that one player currently on the team was a sweetheart and that another was awesome. He said that Mandy Schwartz was awesome...and to be honest I get the impression that she is. John called Erin Clark a sweetheart. That goes pretty accurately with Willis Reed's description. As I have said before everyone picks Erin Clark to score the first goal for women's soccer...I mean everyone, especially 8 year old girls and guys that like to shout it out as if it was from the gospel and stare you down. Ashley O'Brien, Brittany Tegeler, Annie Yi and Elizabeth Eng got there fair share of votes too...Their fans just weren't as loud and proud as Clark's.

Bob Maxon, the NBC 30 weatherman brought his Simsbury team to a UConn game and told them specifically to look for Meghan Cunningham. (not making that up at all)

During the UConn vs. WVU game the CBS College Sports TV announcers could not stop talking about Stephanie Labbe and Erin Clark. They were in love with both of them. Annie Yi was not far behind in love from the commentators...They talked about her and Labbe a lot in the Notre Dame game. I was kind of surprised they didn't talk more about Kacey Richards and Brittany Tegeler considering that they won awards for their play this year.

Another man came up and said that Melissa Busque was the best freshman soccer player in America at the Notre Dame vs UConn game on October 19th.

A women at a women's basketball game started to talk about going to the women's soccer games when I was going through the stands at the XL center.

My neighbor asked me how Stephanie Labbe was doing.

That is some real fan feedback for the team...if they read it...

That is fact...I am not lying about any of this at all...I can be serious sometimes.

My fan feedback would be to be more confident in themselves. The biggest mistake they could ever make is not believing in themselves.

John from Somers also was given some apparel from Coach Penders so Coach Jim Penders deserves some credit for that. It's a good gesture for a good fan.

Oozeball

I went to Oozeball yesterday to show support for Sam Gannon and BreAnn Cheung's team, which also featured swimmer, Audrey Prior, I think Adrian Astiz, Tennis's Joe Goldstein and another swimmer who I don't know.

They lost in the first round. Don't know the score, it took me about 15 minutes to find them. There were some good volley's back and forth.

Sam and Bre didn't get muddy enough so after the match was over they covered each other in mud.

random injury stuff

This will be the last time I write about casts etc...because I just see these things too often for me to get worried about them...

Anyway I saw Cara Silverman in a boot, Cruz Hernandez with a crutch and Mike Olt is no longer in a cast or brace but he isn't playing.

I can't read into these things...who knows why. They use these things for such a short amount of time that it's not even worth talking about. I also don't know why anyone cared about it to begin with but now I officially will stop talking about it.

For some reason Justyne Roy is always cold. It was so nice out today, so hot. She was still wearing a long sleeve shirt. She was the only UConn player doing so. It worked for her though because she hit well.

What is wrong with St. Johns...

Seriously, they almost caused a brawl at women's soccer because they kicked someone in the head.

Then their school almost caused a brawl at a baseball game.

Today in another baseball game their pitcher gave up a fly ball that was caught. When it was caught the St. John's pitcher started staring into the UConn dugout and started gloating...

You do not do that under any circumstances in baseball...it's like a low blow...it's not ethical, you don't do that.

I have lost all respect for St. Johns.

I also saw the field hockey girls wearing St. John's stuff because Ali Blankmeyer's father is the head coach of the St. John's baseball team... I wish they just wore UConn stuff...If my parents were a head coach of any school that played UConn, I'd still root for UConn because it's where I go.

Interesting observation

Here is an interesting observation of myself, a huge fan.

I am friends with some athletes. My expectations for them are different than the athletes I am not friends with but root for. It's really funny what being a sports fan can do to you. For example, the ones that I am friends with, I want them to have fun and enjoy their lives. It's ok if they go out and have fun, I see them as people, as friends.

The athletes I am fans of I think of differently. I think of them as a teammate..because their team is so important to me. It's really funny, for them I never expect them to have fun unless they win a national championship, because then you should celebrate. Rather, as a fan I expect that they will do nothing but work on their game, and stay in shape. As a fan of a team that had a bad season I would expect to find them on the practice field or court every Friday and Saturday night. By not doing that I feel like I am being let down by a teammate. My mind views the players I am fans of as a teammate because we want to reach a common goal...to be champions. (this might be a hard concept...but fans want to win almost as much as the athletes themselves...fans take losses hardly...there is a reason many fans won't pick up the newspaper or watch sportscenter after their team loses)

Sometimes a fans perception of reality is a little skewed...seriously...fan...fanatic.

It goes back to the balance theory (yes I am applying something I learned) You want to win, you didn't win, you go out and have fun... My mind can't logically understand that. Something has to give in order for that to make sense. It's different for friends though...your my friend, you want to have fun, you go out and have fun... That makes sense. My mind can logically understand that.

It's funny, the ones I am friends with I expect to relax and chill out on a Friday and Saturday night no matter what happened during the season. You never get to see them and you think they should get a break. They've worked hard enough, it's just that the ball didn't bounce their way.

It's funny how differently you can see things when you are a fan of a team or friend of them. I think there is a real difference.

Another observation I have is how you want to recruit nice people. Really you want people with good characters who represent the team well off the field. These people make you think highly of your program or team when they are in public. However, at the same time you need them to be really mean on the field. It's tough to find the right mix...really nice off the field and really competitive on it. I obviously think Maya Moore has the perfect balance of nice and competitive.

It's a great day

It's a great day in UConn Football History. 4 players in the first two rounds of the draft...including the first ever first rounder. The whole State of Connecticut should be proud of the school, program, team, players, coaches etc...who have helped improve our football team so much.

UConn only trails USC in schools with the most players drafted after 2 rounds.

I feel bad for Hasheem

I just saw Hasheem being surrounded by drunk people looking for photographs...Leave the poor guy alone people. I know he's a star, a nice guy but give the guy a break and let him eat his dinner in peace and quiet. If Hasheem is posing for pictures then it's ok to ask him...if he says no respect that...but if he is avoiding you leave him alone.

I love sports, I know I can recognize at least half probably 70-75% of the athletes at UConn...I might know 5% of them...I'd love to talk to any athlete about anything related to sports...If they needed someone to vent to after a game I'll listen...I'll straighten out their mind if their not thinking right...if they want it. I am a huge fan, I support and will say hello to my friends on teams but I will not go up to athletes I don't know or bother them when they don't want or should not be bothered. Sometimes people need to step back and realize that Hasheem is a human being too and he probably would like to be able to go out every once in awhile without being bothered by requests. So if Hasheem is open to requests, by all means say hello and meet a great guy and basketball player...but if he's tired and busy respect that.

Intresting fact

Real Interesting fact here...

UConn and Texas had Pro Day on the same day...

UConn had more NFL scouts there.

Guess who waved to me today???!!!

I'm so excited. Guess who waved to me today. I know they were waving to me because there was no one else around me...

If you said that they played soccer, or ran track you'd be....


Wrong...not Softball, Baseball, Football or Volleyball either...

It would be none other than Hasheem Thabeet.

That is something that I will tell my grandkids about. Hasheem Thabeet waved at me...It's one thing to go to college with him, it's another to have him wave at you...

Do I know why he waved at me???Not really. We went into Husky Sport together once. Probably because his graduate assistant coach that I know waved at me too.

Hasheem Thabeet is a good kid. I enjoyed having him at UConn. I feel like he tried really hard to be a part of campus and not campus itself. He's a good person. I don't say that enough about Hasheem. I've never heard a bad thing about him. Mandeldove is another great person. Jonathan is really friendly and easy to get to know and I'd say the same thing about Scottie Haralson too.

only here

According to the Tom Brokaw of UConn Rowing, Willis Reed will be undergoing shoulder surgery...sometime.

Now you can look up UConn Rowing surgery on google and find something.

Softball randoms

I was discussing a few things today at softball and we have decided that the best fielder, most clutch player and most likely to turn a Double Play is Justyne Roy. She went 2-4 against one of the best pitchers that UConn will face all year.

Erin Burtner went deep too to tie up the game.

I volunteered for operations and I ran as fast as I could after every foul ball. Greg Lloyd even commented on my hustle and work out. Which I take as a huge complement because he's on the football team and I remember watching his father and how dominant he was.

Sam was there and I found out that I will be the first one invited to his wedding to his fiance. (For those of you who don't know she would be the 2nd baseman, and outstanding hitter Julie Towers...It's a running joke between Sam and Her and everyone who goes to softball games)

I promised that I'd buy them a toaster.

I got a chuckle out of this

So yes yes I saw Meghan Cunningham running today and I of course couldn't help but point her out so everyone around me knew that she is a two-sport athlete who works hard, has no life and doesn't get enough attention for her efforts.

BTW seeing Meghan running today was poetic. And I mean this...I just think it's poetic for an athlete to be running by themselves with no one noticing their hard work. That's what champions do...they work hard...and then they get noticed. It's refreshing in many ways. She does what she does because she loves what she's doing. How can a sports fan not appreciate that?

Back to where I was going with this.

There was a kid there who was like "oh I know Meghan she lives the floor above me. Did you know there is like this website about her? It talks about how amazing she is."

I said No....we never spoke again...if he reads this he'll know that I lied...

I hope people notice Meghan but truthfully people should also realize that she never ever ever would have been written about had she not showed up to Ryan Grace's intramural game and given him support. Seriously, that's how it all started.

So I'm famous for writing about Meghan Cunningham......great......Atleast they can put something on my gravestone when I die.

But seriously I hope to be known for more in life than that.....and I hope that she doesn't think I'm too weird (to a certain extent everyone is weird) because I talk about her all the time...I just really think what she's doing is remarkable, and as a sports fan, and sports management major I'm fascinated by what motivates her, how she trains, how she was socialized into sports etc...I also hope Meghan is known by more sports fans than just me. God knows she does more in a day then you and I do in a month combined. She deserves a lot of credit for it.

It's sunk in

For all the Meghan Cunningham talk..."amazingness" it's finally kind of sunk in how amazing it is that she does what she does. Seriously. I just can't help but notice seeing her run the steeplechase on Saturday and then on Tuesday be practicing for Women's Soccer.

She will also be playing for the New England Mutiny this summer, a women's soccer team.

The amount of time that she must commit to competing for UConn in two sports and the Mutiny is enormous. Plus she is in school. I don't know how she has a life but I'm sure she enjoys it. She must be in tremendous shape too. Such good shape that she probably looks forward to conditioning because she can just fly by everyone else.

What I am saying is that behind all the goofy, weird and memorable things that I've said about her, she truly is doing something amazing and worth noticing. I'd like to meet her one day. What she is doing is truly remarkable because I just don't know how there is enough time in the day for her to do anything other than work on her game and go to school.

I don't know how she does it.

I'm also really jealous that I didn't have the parents to socialize me into sports nor give me the genes to be really really really good at them!

But really Meghan Cunningham is doing something special and I hope, truly hope that I'm not the only one who notices that. If her name is ever announced for winning an award at a football or basketball game then I hope that the student section gives her a huge round of applause...especially to make up for the lack of one that O'Brian White got when his name was announced at a game this year.

I am a maven and I will continue to talk about Meghan Cunningham. I guess a serious entry about her is good every once in awhile. Trust me, the Sports Management teachers will know everything about her accomplishments before I graduate. Dr. Fink already knows a little.

Seriously...Meghan Cunningham might not be on my list of the 3 people dead or alive that I'd want to have dinner with...but she's head and shoulders above 99% of other UConn athletes.

I LOVE HOLIDAY INN

I just saw a picture of my friends facebook that showed a Holiday Inn with a "Welcome UConn Men's Track" sign.

Stay at Holiday Inn because of their support of track.

I GOT THEM

I got the Rowing and Swimming and Diving media guide yesterday thanks to two awesome people, Willis Reed aka Kristen Beasley and Sam O'Donnell.

The largest College Regatta in the United States takes place in Philadelphia and is called the Dad Vail Regatta. It began in 1934. Over 100 colleges/universities from the U.S. and Canada participate.

There is an entire page dedicated to Sam Witryol in the back of the book. More love for Sam.

I also now can name and recognize some rowers. That ought to make my day. Willis could always correct me but I think I saw Willis and Gretchen Stern getting something from the South grab and go...which is a place I frequent often. I love those Chocolate Chip Cookies...and thank you Wintana for getting them for me.

I also always see Efmorfia Efthimiou in the dining hall.

I saw Kathryn Rauscher and Michael-Ann Sevick at a baseball game this weekend. Too bad the game wasn't at Fenway Park. If it was Willis might have shown up. Willis is very particular when it comes to ball-parks. She is very picky. I bet she hopes that the Red Sox never move out of Fenway Park.

She claims that she is going to Citi Field this summer. I bet the baseball gods rain it out. Which would be really mean by the baseball gods because they rained out last nights game for Willis too. Thankfully Willis arrived back safely.

I've never been to Fenway Park, but I have been to Coventry Lake. Not that many people can say that.

Rebecca Likar drives for Husky Sport.

I don't know how they can deal with the fame. I've been told that they would be absolutely shocked if anyone knew they rowed.

I feel like bringing my rowing Media Guide to the dining hall to make the team laugh.

Rowing has Big East's this weekend and then they have the Dad Vail Regatta coming up.

Stay tuned, Willis will tell me whatever is important.

My blog could be considered the National Enquirer for rowing.

Goal Patrol Meeting

There is a Goal Patrol meeting on Wednesday April 29th at 5pm...Be there.

Finally I get it

The foot casts I see on all athletes...especially women's soccer players are usually given for high ankle sprains, shin splints or foot pain like a stress fracture. Anything to take pressure off of the foot.

Former UConn soccer player

Former UConn soccer player Kevin Burns had ankle surgery in 2008. He is on the comeback trail now.

O'Brian White hasn't started playing in games yet.

Ryan Cordiero is in the USL with Real Maryland FC

Julius James is with the Houston Dynamo now. He has played in two games for 33 minutes this year. He scored a goal in 2008 with Toronto FC.

I believe that Chris Gbandi is playing in Norway.

Shavar Thomas plays for Chivas USA. He plays defense and has played 450 minutes in 5 games.

Stephanie Labbe's next game is May 2nd. Her teammate Kaylyn Kyle is recovering from an injury. It doesn't seem too serious according to the translations.

Neusch

I don't know a whole lot about Sarah Neuschwander's injury...she was walking...with a big knee brace on. I guess that's a positive sign. She wasn't using her crutches. Maybe things on her are a little bit more positive than I first thought. No idea for sure though.

this is random

Jamaican people are really cool. Honestly. I just think that they are and I love speaking with a Jamaican accent. My roommate thinks it's horrible...if I had to listen to it if I recorded it I'd think it's horrible...but I left a message on Wintana's phone with my Jamaican accent and she couldn't figure out what Jamiacan friend of her's had called...she even had her friend listen to it to figure it out.

Oh some one asked me

Someone asked me where I got my tan. They asked me if I went to Florida...

I was like...I was waiting for someone to ask me that...I was at the Sherman Complex and J.O. Christian Field.

They were like "Oh"

We need

We need more Ryan Graceisms. We have gone too long without some.

Remember I said this

Donald Brown will be the best running back drafted in this years draft.

Biased, yes...I also don't care. I really think he is the best running back because he was so productive and consistent. Plus you knew UConn was going to run the ball and you still couldn't stop him. He is also so strong and so fast.

She's mad cool

Samantha O'Donnell from the UConn swimming and diving team is one of the cooler people around. Just thought you should know.

That's UConn basketball for you

Ray Allen hits the game winner in a game when Ben Gordon scores 42. That's UConn basketball for you.

Why was this playoff game only on Comcast Sports Net?

I'm talking about the NBA?

Back to Swedish Women's Soccer

Old Skool

So lets talk about Mel Thomas. I spoke to Mel Thomas twice in my life. The first time I spoke with her I told her that she was my "alarm clock" because everyday in the fall the team would walk past my room in the morning and would wake me up. Literally everyday I'd wake up and I'd see them walking past my room and then I'd go eat breakfast at South...which is where they ended up going to eat. I would go out of my way not to bother them even though I was a big fan of theirs.

Anyway the other time I spoke to Thomas I told her that a church said a prayer for her.

I told her about a church saying a prayer for her and being my alarm clock.

I'm sure she thinks I'm one normal guy. I mean how could she not...

Anyway the old skool story is that I remember that she was getting an apple after breakfast...and I was next in line waiting to get apples. She took forever. I mean forever to choose a freaking apple. She picked up several of them. She probably weighed them, checked for imperfections etc. etc. I mean it took forever before she finally moved on with her life.

But her perfectionism in choosing apples is also the perfectionism that it took to get her jump shot. I can live with waiting 30 minutes for an apple if it means Mel Thomas will make jump shots for my team.

I heard it through the Grapevine

It's a great song by Marvin Gaye. Marvin Gaye and Ashley O'Brien are great and they should be put in the same sentence. Plus Kaili McLaren is great and she was impressed by O'Brien in the Big East Tournament. I will talk about her as it relates to track. I heard it through the grapevine that Ashley O'Brien was too fast in high school to run with the girls at her school, so she practiced with the guys team.

Uh oh

Meghan Cunningham is on women's soccer and Megan Cunningham runs women's track...same person just the media guides spell their names differently under their profiles...too give communications credit...they spell it correctly with Meghan most of the time...but not all the time. In another part of the track media guide they spell Meghan correctly. You know I am bummed that it was wrong though. She's too great to have anything go wrong.


In Unrelated news Women's Basketball's Tiffany Hayes, Tina Charles and Caroline Doty competed in a homerun derby. I don't know who won but they did scream Money Ball pretty loudly.

I love the steeplechase

your not supposed to do this...but you will laugh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfoInY4hk4U&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZS10b1dzXI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CiMYPXfWZM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNHR2l17TN4

Meghan Cunningham really is so much better than that.

Also...just noticed...I had no idea so many people watched the steeplechase...honestly their are so many people screaming during those videos.

Injuries stink

really, they have probably robbed another UConn team...the softball team. What is with our bad luck?

baseball

Dan Mahoney was getting his fastball up to 93 MPH on Friday.

Scott Oberg also has some really really really really really intense intro music. If your intro music sounds like his than you better throw like 110 MPH. Literally his music is perfect for a hard throwing reliever. You can't have his intro song and be a lefty who throws soft change-ups outside.

George Springer, who has been sensational for the Huskies as a freshman has holes in his batting gloves. I would hope that he would get new ones. This is one huge hole. Maybe he hasn't gotten new ones because he's superstitious.

Also I need to thank catcher Doug Elliot because he found my missing student ID and got it back to me.

I also like how the baseball players try and help the little kids during contests by giving them clues.

On an unrelated note I am so happy that I will be able to tell people that I got my tan from the Sherman Complex and J.O. Christian Field. No one else can give that answer to the question "How did you get so tan?"

Oh and I did see Lauren Lemond on her bike today.

observation

Look at all the basketball players when they enter the court of play...they always seem to have their heads down to me. I've noticed this I'm not sure why. Coach Auriemma also often leaves and enters the court with his head down.

I do the same thing when I go on and off the court or playing field for work...I was working track yesterday and when I was going past the stands I put my head down. I can't understand why I do it either.

Bike obsession

I think it's dangerous for a division one athlete to play against non division one athletes. They have to realize that if they get beaten just once they will never, I mean never ever hear the end of it even if they beat them 999,999 other times. Perfect example is that I made a 3 pointer over a high jumper on track. He won't admit to that happening when I bring it up. According to him it never happened. But I'm bringing it up again, I'm just nice enough not to mention who it was.

Another person always on a bike is Meghan Nanfeldt and I think it's really cool that she's known for riding it. I don't think Sam Witryol notices Meghan without her bike.

Also I saw Kaili McLaren and Lorin Dixon hanging out and talking in one of the parking garages. They are the first two people I've ever seen just chilling on the 2nd floor of a parking garage. They are champions though, they can do whatever they want.

Speaking of Kaili, both her and I were smart enough to decide to sit in the press box last weekend for the lacrosse game. It was unbelievably cold and rainy for that game.

Also you need to get to games early if you want to get any giveaways.

Also the music atmosphere at baseball games is very good now. The music matches the situations well. I just wish their were more people their to cheer our team on. I also think that the bushes in the outfield make the ballpark look so good.

Mark Martin won his Nascar race last night. I think it's great that a 50 year old driver won and on top of that was so respected in the sport that nearly all of his competitors gave him hugs and hand shakes after the race. I thought that was cool and a sign of great sportsmanship. Martin is a famous driver who has done very well, for those of you who don't know.

oh yeah I forgot something

Also, I was talking about the 3 people that made me interested in soccer. I forgot, there is a 4th...just unlike the other 3, this person wouldn't say hello to me because she doesn't know me. But as most of you know, Cory Bildstein's kick against Yale hooked me on soccer. That was amazing, and that play, more than any other, is why I like the game of soccer. So unlike those other 3, who would at least say hello, I have no personal connection to Bildstein, but I can still remember, feel and picture that play in my head. I literally have a picture in my head of the ball being chased by Kacey Richards, seeing the ball in the air, hitting off of the Yale players arm, the referees making a decision, The Wall being formed, Cory lining up to kick, watching the ball bend past the defenders and past the outstretched arms of the goalie and into the back of the net and then jumping off of the stands in complete shock and excitement. I remember Annie Yi scoring the game winner (she should get credit for that, even though no one else probably remembers it) and also remember talking about that play non-stop with the women's basketball team when I was reporting. I remember Renee Montgomery and Kaili McLaren walking by with this amazed expression on their faces and they were saying "what a game"

I've heard from a source that this play was relived by a certain individual a lot...and that certain other individuals close to the situation had heard enough about it by the next day. Sorry, but I had to bring it up for the 1,000th time today.

I understand part II

Again I stated that I couldn't understand how soccer players could possibly be injured so much...plus they love acting injuries during games...but I understand why they get injured. I just started playing soccer and I've already strained a knee ligament.

Oh and I love seeing Gary Sheffield hit his 500th home-run as a Met. I remember year after year that the Mets were rumored to sign or trade for Sheffield. I knew the Mets were bound to get him. Many great players play for the Mets, and usually, like in Sheffield's case, is past their prime. However, I still enjoyed seeing him hit 500 as a Met, to tie a game.

This to me is an insane stat

North Carolina Women's Soccer has never lost to a team twice in a season before. They've lost to a team in the regular season 9 times and then beat them in their next meeting all 9 times...They also have 19 National Championship titles...Kristine Lilly of Wilton, CT and Mia Hamm went there. They are coached by Anson Dorrance...that's a coaches name that you should remember.

I'm scared

No really I am. I am a junior...but 3 weeks from a senior...That scares me. I hope and pray to go to graduate school at UConn for Sports Management...and continue being here for a couple more years...but who knows...What scares me is that I am 3 weeks a way from summer...3 weeks from being a senior. I am scared that I didn't make the most of my time here. I am scared that I didn't take advantage of enough opportunities...to get a job...to meet people...to take classes etc. It's scary because I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I have one more chance to do everything next year. Everyone is looking forward to Spring Weekend and Summer...I'm not...I want to enjoy every second of my time remaining at Storrs. Time is flying by and it's scary...I was just a senior in high school right??? Now I'm about to be a senior in college. I can honestly say that this is the first time that I've ever not wanted summer to come. I want school to go on forever and ever and ever. This year has gone by way too quickly. It's gone so quickly it's scary.

Something I don't do

I really hate it when I have something to ask or tell an athlete...like it's important...but I won't say anything, I mean anything after a loss. A loss and I leave people alone no matter how big the emergency.

Track and Field

I love Track and Field...One reason is because you can compare yourself to track and field easily...all you need is a stop watch or a tape measure.

Here are some UConn Track and Field Records as of the beginning of this year.

Some UConn Outdoor records for Men

100 Meters 10.44 seconds Raymond James Sherman Complex Record: 10.48 Marvin Regis (Seton Hall)
400 meters 45.94 Joe Mendel Sherman Complex Record: 45.28 Obra Hogans (Seton Hall)
800 Meters 1:47.9 Joel Legare Sherman Complex Record: 1:49 Jesse O'Connell (Georgetown)
Mile 4:00.79 Dan Wilson
High Jump 7' 4.5" James Hopson Sherman Complex Record: 7' 2.5" Tone Belt (Louisville)
Long Jump 25' 2.75" Mike Christy Sherman Complex Record: 25' 8.25" Tone Belt (Louisville)
Shot Put 60' 11.25" Ray Wilks Sherman Complex Record: 60' 3.75" Ray Wilks (UConn)

Women's Outdoor Records as 0f 2008
UConn Records
100 Meters 11.37 sec. Trish Ann Hawthorne Sherman Complex Record: 11.40 sec Lauryn Williams (Miami)
400 Meters 54.22 sec. Alyssa Evering Sherman Complex Record: 52.05 sec Liz Grow (Notre Dame)
800 meters 2:08.56 sec. Audra Price Sherman Complex Record: 2:05.86 Tyrona Heath (Georgetown)
1500 meters 4:29.63 Kim Grabarz Sherman Complex Record: 4:18.57 Treniere Clement (Georgetown)
High Jump 6' 2" Deirdre Mullen (Carin Knight may hold this record before long) Sherman Complex Record: 6' 0.75" Tamika Toppen (UConn)
Long Jump 21' 2.25" Carol Galloway Sherman Complex Record: 21' 8.25" Tamiesha King (Notre Dame)
Shot Put 52' 1.50" Tynisha McMillian (Ty will or already has beaten this record) Sherman Complex Record: 59' 7.25" Amber Knighten (Boston U)


If you go to UConn and can do those things then you may want to try out for track...

Also Meghan Cunningham ran the 3000 Meter Steeplechase today at 10:55.72...the Sherman Complex Record is 9:58.26 by Roisin McGettigan from Providence.

The reason I like soccer

Ok well as most of you know, I have become a new fan to the sport of soccer. Contrary to popular belief (my friends beliefs) my love of soccer has nothing to do with Erin Clark being nice when she visited the marketing table or Meghan Cunningham being amazing. Really it has to do with 3 people, O'Brian White, Akeem Priestley and Stephanie Labbe.

I remember my first soccer game at UConn. I went with my roommate Errol to a game in August 2006. It was the Men's soccer game that all the freshman go to. I was really cold, UConn was ranked really high...and lost. Needless to say that didn't do much for me.

The next season Aggrey, from the goal patrol, and my roommate Josh, who was in the goal patrol convinced me to go to a game. Finally I went again and saw UConn play South Florida...I was hooked then...We won 5-0...and their goalie pissed me off...Then I saw us against Virginia Tech...enough said. I found out that O'Brian White wanted to meet me and I did meet him and Akeem Priestley at a Goal Patrol meeting. They both were down to earth and just like any other person on campus. I wanted to root for them. Every time I saw them from then on they said hello to me when I past by. On top of that they were so good. O'B could just take over a game and score goals at the right time...like the Tulsa game...or the Cincinnati game. Akeem amazed me with his ability to control the ball.

The last player would be Stephanie Labbe. She is so nice and is so good. I loved watching her play. I never saw the women play until 2008. Ryan Grace convinced me to go. Labbe was so good in goal and was so much fun to watch on TV against WVU and ND in the Big East Tournament. I met her after her soccer career at UConn was over...but I was impressed with her as a person and I feel like if she is representative of the rest of her teammates...then they are good people, who are talented and worth rooting for.

Those 3 people have gotten me interested in soccer...finally...

They are ultimately the reason that I started to watch the Premier League, follow their professional teams and leagues and bought a soccer ball.

On another note...Shauna Musser is really cool...I was introduced to her at a lacrosse game by my friend Meghan Nanfeldt. I was immediately asked by Meghan to tell her who she is. I did... making her the 4th women's soccer player that I've done that too. Today I saw Shauna and she asked me to recite Elizabeth Eng's favorite soccer team...I got it too...Manchester United.

Shauna also looked like she was pretty good at wiffle ball.

There is a method to my madness

So I was just talking to Madeline Northrup...and we were discussing the Steeplechase and how she saw "my hero" today. She meant Meghan Cunningham. I asked her if she would have noticed Meghan Cunningham with out my inability to not talk about her. She did say that she probably would not have noticed Meghan Cunningham without me talking about her all the time in my blog. I want people to notice Meghan Cunningham...and if it means that I have to compare her to God or Amazingness then I will. Not many people Play Women's Soccer, run indoor track, outdoor track and then play amateur women's soccer...year round...She is constantly competing, constantly training and not enough people notice that.

Some people think it's weird, it's madness that I write about her so much...what's madness is that more people can spot a walk-on...or unimportant basketball player than Meghan Cunningham...Meghan Cunningham won more games this season for UConn than Jonathan Mandeldove did...and until Meghan Cunningham is as noticed as he is my job is not done. It's mind boggling to me that someone could do so much...and get so little attention for it. My Method for giving her attention might be unconventional...but it works...because you remember her name and remember to pay attention to her.

Some people think I talk about her too much...I'm just making up for the fact that no one else at UConn does (Except her teammates and close friends) There is something inherently wrong with that. More people should notice her walking in the student union than the walk-on's for basketball combined. While those walk-ons and Mandeldove do a lot for UConn...they do not do more than Meghan Cunningham...Meghan Cunningham has done much more than most athletes at UConn.

Track and Field

Meghan Cunningham won the 3000 meter steeplechase today at the Sherman Complex...Looking at the clock, my guess is that she was just barely behind 2nd place all time by a UConn runner in that event. Orlaith Cunningham is 2nd in UConn history behind Jillian Sullivan who ran the steeplechase at 10:13:45 in 2007...She was also a Big East Steeplechase champion...I bet I actually saw Jillian win that in 2007 because I was there in 2007 for all the meets.

I think that the steeplechase is a crazy event. It was nice today because it was 76 degrees. That is nice weather. But I also saw it when it was 40 out and saw a girl land all the way in the water. That sucks... Meghan Cunningham is 5'10''...she has long legs...she barely got wet in the race today. Sara Leslie is short and she got a little bit more of the water.

I was speaking with one of the track officials and he was telling me that one kid got mad about running the steeple-chase so he decided to do cannon balls off of the hurdle.

Here is a video of someone else doing that.

Steeplechase cannonball

I had a lot of fun at the Pole Vault today. I helped out operations by putting up the pole vault bar and making it stay. The wind early in the day made the job difficult...as did our shorter heights...but it worked and it was fun. I certainly can put a pole vault up in my sleep now.

Our official was telling me about how he never has seen the fiber-glass pole break in half. Well he did today, one of the Boston University girl vaulters went up and the bar snapped in half and she landed in the front part of the cushions. It was sort of scary. The girl was shaken by what happened. She was scared, but she continued.

The 3 people

I feel like people are asked "if you could have dinner with any 3 people dead or alive who would they be and why?" pretty often. I was thinking about it tonight. Here are my people and the reasons why.

Jackie Robinson: Jackie Robinson for many reasons. Like me, he has a connection to North Stamford. More importantly he was one of the most important people in the history of the United States. His success on the field spurred equality and changed history. He opened the door for millions of minorities for sports and other fields.
On top of that he was an amazing baseball player. I'd love to get the chance to talk to him about his athletic abilities...He played all sorts of sports, but was famous for baseball...and how he changed history.

Geno Auriemma: Geno...of course. Did you think I couldn't have a UConn connection? Geno for several reasons. I am amazed by Geno's ability to tell stories and make you laugh. I also think that Geno is one of the best coaches ever to live in any sport. I love how he recruits certain, good people and makes great basketball players, great teammates. He can put together all the parts and make it work right. He knows how to press the right buttons at the right time to get his players to respond. I think he is a genius with regards to getting the most out of people and that's something I'd like to learn about. I also want to learn how to build a championship program out of nothing...out of practicing in the field house in Storrs, Connecticut to having the most popular team in the entire state.

William R. Palmer Jr.: He was the only grandparent that I never met. Sometimes I wonder if I'd want to eat with my deceased grandma again, but I think my paternal grandpa is such a mystery. I'd do anything to see what his personality was like. I'd love to know why he married my grandma, what qualities did she have that were so attractive. It worked out really well for him so I'd love to apply his wisdom to my life. I'd love to hear about the history of my family and see his work ethic. I know so little about a person who had a profound impact on my life. Not only are 25% of my genes from him, but inevitably some of his wisdom rubbed off on my dad, which rubbed off on me. Getting to speak to him once would make me beyond happy.

Hard Work again

Need to give Lorin Dixon some credit for being in Gampel shooting around today...It's the second time I've walked past her playing in Gampel this year...which is more than most other players. I see her and Tina most often. Lorin also ran stairs the first time I saw her in between taking shots.

To some baseball...Mike Olt is injured...he has a brace on his wrist/forearm

Nick Ahmed hit a homerun today. I must say it was the worst sounding homerun ever...especially with a metal bat. I heard it and thought it would be a can of corn...but instead it got out.

Joe Pavone scored on a single from second base. I love it when a catcher does that.

Yes Man

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

It's a good word. I learned that. Greg M is the man.

All the single ladies need to hit up Greg M. Your boy is a G a triple O G...He can pick movies.

So Greg told me that I should watch the movie Yes Man. I said I would...in time...and then I said Yes I would because he said I should...which kind of has a lot to do with the movie. I rented the movie tonight on ITunes and loved the movie. It was funny.

I loved all of the movie. My roommate said the Mets lost...and I said YES!!!(I am a Mets fan...coincidentally Greg M was at the game) even though I love the Mets. Why did i saw Yes...because I saw the movie...and I rationalized it because the Bullpen of the Mets gave up 0 runs.

I loved the movie..It was really good...some great scenes. It is true, you do really need to live life. I don't do it enough...

I loved the scene where he slips a homeless guy money...I can relate...let's not bring that up though. I thought the tempur pedic mattress thing was really funny. Being hopped up on Red Bull looks interesting lol...I loved how useful speaking Korean was...and I never thought about just taking a plane ride to a random place...That was funny...of all places Lincoln, Nebraska and a telephone museum...Sounds fun...then being spotted on TV by friends...funny.. And being stopped and interrogated was funny. 0h and that scene with that neighbor was very interesting

You never do know what will happen when you say Yes...so sometimes you should say it.

Funny, Great Movie...thank you Greg M for telling me that I should watch it.

Softball injuries

I read the Daily Campus and apparently Tricia Sullivan and Sarah Neuschwander both have significant injuries and could both be out for the season.

I love Versus

Really, every time I see Versus on TV I see hunting or fishing on. I love it. Especially the fishing part, I learn so much from them.

I bet I still won't catch much at my Lake House.

Pitea/Stephanie Labbe news

Stephanie Labbe is 4th in her league in terms of goal-keeping statistics.

She has had more shots against her than anyone else in the league, 35, and has saved 88% of those shots.

A good oldie TV Show

I'm sorry but Family Matters is a great show. Erkel is funny.

Women's celebration...long overdue

So I do want to touch on the celebration for the Women's Basketball Team last week. I wish that Gampel was 100% full for that celebration. We won a national championship and I think it would be nice to honor all of the teams that won championships that day too...I think it should be a huge celebration for our entire school and especially the Women's Basketball Program.

I thought Geno was funny and quotable...but when don't I think that.

I loved the T-I-N-A TINA TINA TINA chant. That was really funny.

I loved how the players went around and said hello and thanks to all the fans after the event...

and in case you didn't already know this...as I told Maya Moore this when I was a reporter....Maya Moore is a better person than basketball player. That's saying something since we all know that she is the best player in the country.

I was talking about this with someone from marketing today...and a women's lacrosse fan I might add...and if you listened to Maya Moore she said that people need to find and appreciate people who push them to make themselves better. How many college sophomores do you know who would say that?

I also think that we all saw Old Greg thanks to Ryan Grace.

ok this is insane

Someone ranks college tennis recruits...I thought I was weird and insane...

Ohh for fun

Take a look at the jersey's you own. People tend to buy jersey's of players that embody them or live up to some ideal that they want to live by.

There is a reason that you wear a certain jersey

Joe McEwing: Was a hard worker (like me) who did a lot of the little things and played all of the different positions. (Did the dirty work, was scrappy, tough)

Emmitt Smith: Was just a durable running back... He was Emmitt. I wanted to be like Emmitt. I wanted to jump over the pile like he did (this is back when I was 10)

Richie Anderson: Unheralded Fullback on the Cowboys who lead the team in rushing in Parcells first year. I loved Richie Anderson..unheralded but good...kind of like me in a way.

Michael Jordan: Greatness...M.J. is great...who doesn't want to be great? Everyone wants to be like Mike.

Ben Gordon: I associate Ben Gordon with the championship winning tradition of UConn athletics...that is why I bought a retro UConn jersey and not a current one...I wanted the jersey of a UConn Champion.

Deion Sanders: It's simple, I wanted to Dance like Deion when I scored a touchdown.

Dexter Coakley and Roy Williams: I've always loved to play defense...both of these guys came up with big plays and were really strong. I wanted to be like them.

Roberto Alomar: I loved Roberto Alomar because he was a switch hitter...an all-around player...(maybe not person)I always think of him hitting a pitch to the opposite field down the line for a double...unfortunately that was when he was with the Indians...I have his Met's jersey.

Randy Moss and Cris Carter (Vikings jerseys) I thought that duo was amazing. Carter was consistent, Moss made fantastic catches.

I never bought a Troy Aikman or Scottie Pippen jersey...they weren't me. Michael Irvin for the same reason...I wanted to run through people, like Emmitt Smith...not jump over them, like Irvin...I didn't want to be Pippen...Jordan's right hand man...or Troy Aikman because he didn't run...

I wanted to buy a Akeem Priestley jersey but I never got around to it...I wanted Akeem's because no one talked about Akeem (compared to O'B)...like no one talks about me...yet he is very good...like I'm a good person (atleast I hope so...) Akeem also plays with such skill...I wish I could maneuver a soccer ball the way he could. I wish I had his ball control.

Think about the jerseys that you have bought and chances are there is some reason that you chose a certain player...chances are they are saying something about you.

Baseball

I also saw a large part of the baseball game today. Let me say, when your best player isn't in the line-up and you win by 8 runs your having a good day. I didn't see Mike Olt play...also UConn had a freshman start the game on the mound.

This wasn't full of drama.

Also I saw Coach Kimball whipping the volleyball team into shape. I am very excited for weightlifting next semester with Zak Penwell, a former UConn Football player and member of the armed forces.

Willis Reed warned me that Zak is tough...I think that's a good thing.

Softball wins

Softball won in 8 innings against softball today. It was a 2 hitter for Rachael Crossin. The offense for UConn was created by Justyne Roy, who hit a double and then an RBI single by Julie Towers, to drive in pinch runner Tricia Sullivan.

YES YES YES

sorry back to women's soccer. the team announced 5 newcomers will be added. I'm just really happy that two of them are international players. You don't come to Storrs, Connecticut from Finland or England if you aren't any good.

Another one of the incoming players is supposed to be pretty good. She was the youngest person ever to play on the New England Mutiny, the same WPSL team that featured Stephanie Labbe, Karen Gurnon, Erin Clark, Becky Gundling, Meghan Cunningham and Jessica Diakun. (hopefully I didn't leave anyone else out) She also was a High School All-American.

They also recruited another goalie from New Jersey...she was first team ESPN Rise...I guess that means she's the best high school goalie in America...not sure...but she had 56 shutouts in high school and had a Goal Against average of .23.

Not bad...I wonder where that guy who does women's soccer recruiting rankings is...(that guy is NOT me)

It's hard to believe it but there is a "Mel Kiper Jr." out there somewhere who is so excited about soccer signing day.

This article made me laugh

and no it has nothing to do with a soccer player, UConn or scooters...so have at it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/090414&sportCat=mlb

Senior Day

The Lacrosse Team is having their senior day tomorrow. Be there to show them your support. It will be the final game for several Huskies. Don't miss your last chance to see them in action.

So this is such a great stadium

Really I love Citi Field. Mets fans were booing by the second inning. The first hit in the stadium in the regular season was a home run by Jody Gerut...of the opposing team. He also scored the first run.

So far I'm glad we spent $800 million on it. On top of that it looks there is a better chance of Rey Ordonez hitting a homerun in April than Barry Bonds against a batting practice pitch. So it looks like no one will hit a homerun there.

To make things better a cat ran on to the field.

Maybe Bobby Valentine will show up in the dugout with a mustache on. That would be funny.

To be fair Tom Seaver did throw a strike for the ceremonial first pitch. You almost never see that. Like he threw it from the mound to Piazza as catcher. That was pretty good.

But The Mets have managed to record 1 run in 3 innings against a 32 year old rookie. Great!

In case your wondering

Pitea has had two games lately and both of them were set-backs. In both games it appears as if Pitea was out-shot by large margins. I believe that one of the losses was to the best team in the league and the other game was a 1-0 heart-breaker.

Attendance seems to be good. They got 2000 for today's game, up from 400 last year. Apparently they need the fans to get louder though.

I think we should send the Mayor of Storrs there. Plus The Blue and White guy could go to Sweden and support Stephanie Labbe and Pitea as the Red and White guy.

Now you know that the team colors of Pitea are Red and White.

I can now name three Canadian National Team members, Stephanie Labbe, Kaylyn Kyle and Brittany Timko. Now you can too.

How many U.S. Women's soccer National Team members can I name....Mia Hamm...wait I think she's retired...Kristine Lilly (should be retiring soon....if she hasn't already) Hope Solo....Brandi Chastain....(Probably retired too) I think someone from UCLA was on the U.S. Women's team.

I watched Golf

I can't believe I found myself casually watching Golf today. I am a Tiger Woods fan, and it was Augusta, it was The Masters so I tuned in for a second. Then I saw Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods start playing out of their minds and they made things interesting. I paid attention until Tiger hit one off of a tree. I thought Tiger's eagle was ridiculous. Like he had to make that and he did. Mickelson's shot on I think 7 was insane. Hit it from the woods, around the trees, avoided a bunker and landed a couple feet from the hole. He played amazing golf today...and I actually watched.

Amazing since I'm not in their target demographic at all.

What the heck happened to the Celtics It was 47-19 Cavaliers when I tuned in. I couldn't believe it. For a second I though ABC was putting on a UConn Women's Basketball game when I saw that score....Well it was just a little too close for that.

random stuff about me

I've been sick with a cold for the past week. It's probably a side effect for watching one of the sports last weekend in the cold and rain.

That side effect was worth it.

One of the grad students I work a lot with was telling someone that I wasn't feeling well/wasn't right because I didn't want to talk...yeah that sounds about right. Hearing that made me laugh...It's true. (Although I am working on talking less too, it was a new years resolution. I'm sure hearing that disappoints the people who don't know me and lifts the spirits of those people I do know)

Back to things that involve sickness.

I make people sick with all this Meghan Cunningham talk...but that's another story for another day. Except if people got sick by all of my talk about Meghan Cunningham, Meghan Cunningham herself could cure the sickness I give them with her amazingness.

Ohh what wonderful thoughts I have at 12am.

I actually sent a serious quote about Meghan Cunningham to the Daily Campus for their quote of the day. I wonder if it will get published.

My roommates girlfriend thinks that Meghan Cunningham will not like me because I've put her on a pedestal taller than the Empire State Building. She thinks that Meghan Cunningham would not like me because she can never live up to the expectations that I and all 5 of my devoted readers have for her.

I think my roommates girlfriend is wrong. I'd bet one week of Meghan Cunningham references on that.

That would be like you betting your house.

We spent a half an hour arguing about that one night. Now you know what fun stuff goes down in my dorm room. Come join the party! I also spent 40 minutes convincing someone on the floor that he should come to rowing. I even gave him a schedule card with Willis Reed on it. (I carry them around as if they were my business card)

Two of the soccer players I correctly identified this week added me on facebook. I have to say that of the friend requests I get...there are only a select few that I go...wow they wanted to add me??? I was honored they added me, it's so much better than all those requests I get from sketchy people from places like Long Island.

I'm proud of myself

I'm proud of myself because I made a 3 pointer lying down.

Justyne Roy is on fire

Justyne Roy is still on fire. She had a beautiful opposite field line drive double to drive in two runs today when UConn played against Notre Dame in the pouring rain.

Unrelated to this...just a random thought...I think it's amazing how much some of our UConn athletes have traveled to compete before they got to UConn. Growing up, or playing in high school most teams travel to all different parts of their state or region...but I just think it's cool how far our athletes travel.

For example before Melissa Busque came to Storrs she played some games for Canada in Germany.

you tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv0_EpF5SyY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1urPaEOtwtM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IS6j_Cayck&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSO-kdWLFes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f83xB7M5pmk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXBl6u59ryc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viXx3RfFc4Q

Answer's to DC question of the day

Now that Basketball season is over which UConn spring sport will you root for the most?

Rowing, because Kristen Beasley is the second-coming of Willis Reed

All our teams, but especially Track and Field because I want to to cheer for our All American's and our four two-sport athletes: Meghan Cunningham, Ellis Gaulden, Ashley O'Brien and Dominique Thibault.

All of them, because none of them get enough respect.

Softball because they have 7 seniors, the two-time Big East Player of the Year, the best "Taco" ever and they have put themselves in good position to compete for a Big East Championship.

I am majoring in women's soccer

It's official. I am. So here I was at Gampel waiting for the Women's Basketball team to arrive and Ryan Grace decided to enter me into a trivia contest with a big UConn fan. I believe that I won. I knew that the 2000 final four was in Philadelphia, That Meghan Gardler wore number 14 before she wore 22 and that Meghan Gardler and Chris Dailey got a technical because Meghan stepped on to the floor wearing her new number, when her old number was on the score book.

The women's soccer players behind Ryan were very impressed with my knowledge. So much so that Ryan decided to tell them that I knew everything about UConn Athletics. He told then I knew so much that I could tell those 3 players their names, hometown, number, position and anything else they needed to know. So I started with Amanda Schwartz...well actually she was like, you don't know my name...I took that as a challenge and said...Amanda Schwartz...she was intrigued and surprised. Then I told her she was from New Jersey...and she asked me who her favorite entertainer was and I said: Ashley O'Brien. Amanda Schwartz was so elated that I new this about her. She was so happy. Honestly...I think she said I was her new best friend. Then we moved on to Brianna Gray...Barrington, New Hampshire..Forward..number 9...Lauren Ebert...New Jersey, defense...They were all impressed that I knew this about them...I am glad.

Like honestly I didn't really know what to do or say...I mean I just told them stuff that they don't even remember writing down...like seriously I was informing them of what they wrote...and they were ok with it. Like they not only didn't find it as weird as my friends find it but they were legit elated that I knew who they were. Like seriously, I swear they celebrated everything I said as if they had scored a goal.

While we are talking about Amanda Schwartz...She is the best Karaoke singer in the history of Late Night at the Student Union.

For crazy fans

type in Dead Schembechlers on you tube for a glimpse of crazy fans.

I am so BIRGING

I BIRG, I am BIRGING WE WON, LETS BIRG!!!!!

Wahoo...Let's BIRG all week!

See you can learn something from me

Pep Rally

There will be a Pep Rally at Gampel Pavilion at 4:30 for the team. Doors open at 3.

I will talk about the CHAMPIONSHIP

First of all PRESIDENT HOGAN IS AMAZING...I LOVE HIM...I am writing him in for Vice President in 2012...(Of course Meghan Cunningham for President)

I am so 100% excited about us winning. I am so happy, so proud, so elated. It's hard to describe. Like I ran up to my parked car just to Honk my horn.

Tina Charles was amazing, she played her best game ever.

Maya Moore got going at the end too.

I believe that Renee Montgomery will end her career with 1990 points. I am so happy she got to win a National Championship. I am so proud for Geno...So proud to say 39-0.

I can't wait to celebrate further. I hope I can tell my kids and grandkids about going to college and having my school have the only undefeated basketball team in Division 1 basketball in 2009. I have so much more to say, but I am in so much need of a good nights sleep.

6
6
6
6
6
6

Yeah I like saying 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2009....Oh and yeah guess whose number 6 on Softball...yeah if you read my post earlier...it would be Justyne Roy.

My question? where will we fit another banner. No seriously look at the women's side of Gampel. There is no room. Something will have to come down.

I am still beyond thrilled.

I am so glad I have a job and can afford to buy some of the stuff to remember that glorious team, that amazing season...I reported some of those games this year. Got to talk with some of the players. I was a fan during a lot of the season too. I worked for athletics during the season too.

I enjoy being able to relive the great moments in life. I will pick up several Daily Campuses today. I will also buy a Hartford Courant...and I will post a blog entry of course. I will probably buy the DVD and the shirt too. Yes UConn has got me right where they want me. I love the team so much that I am just willing to open my wallet and give them all my money. I am willing to write about it at a time when I shouldn't be writing about them. There are other things in life I should be doing right now. But...I want to relive this moment in time. You just don't win National Championships all the time...and in our case...as special as this year's victory was...we went undefeated.

Last year when the basketball season was over...there was this emptiness because we didn't win a championship. This year, that hole in my life...isn't there yet because atleast one of our teams won.

One of my favorite things about my blog (yeah I like myself, who could have guessed?) is that it details what happened for me or UConn Athletics since December. Since I am such a highly Identified fan, UConn is actually well, like something I live for. Sad I know, but I can admit it. (My theory on life is that everyone is weird in their own special way, but only a few people aren't afraid to admit it) It's really cool to re-read EVERYTHING I ever wrote. I guess it's probably cool for other people who are mentioned in here to read about themselves too.

Highly Identified Fans

Yes that person who your thinking about showed me that.

I think a certain teacher is rubbing off on me. I now hate Michigan. I will root for Ohio State in that rivalry. Truthfully, for some reason, I've probably always rooted for Ohio State over Michigan. At least my teacher knows that he/she can trust me.

It beg's the question...would I really want a Sarah Stanzcyk autographed three musketeers bar if she would transfer from UConn to Michigan?

Probably... Did you know that former UConn football player Rhema Fuller marketed Michigan Softball in 2008?

Now you know something about Michigan Softball.

Back to the game

I knew we were going to win midway through the second half and we started to pull away. I didn't leave Gampel early, or right after we won. I wanted to savior the moment. Watch it, enjoy it. I loved seeing people rushing Gampel, I love that the band was there. I love that some Men's Basketball players were there, I loved President Hogan's speech. I love that some people donated to Husky Sport. I had to stay and watch the nets being cut down...(which I saw in front of People's Bank) I had to see the team rush the floor and celebrate in St. Louis and I can't wait to talk about the Pep Rally tonight.

More Stories

So I was talking to an un-named person from an un-named department in athletics and we were talking about throwing T-Shirts. He/she told me that when Women's Soccer tied Yale...When Cory Bildstein scored that goal with 1.1 seconds left...that she/he was so excited that when she/he threw T-Shirts into the crowd she/he threw them so excitedly, and hard that she/he hit an elderly women in the head.

Cory Bildstein has something in common with many soccer players...they do something on the field that results in a fan getting injured.

It is April, that happened in September, and yes people are still talking about that game...well "The kick heard round campus"

Speaking of women's soccer...because that's what it seems I am majoring in at UConn...I was very disappointed that I didn't have more T-Shirts to throw out at Gampel. I wanted to throw one in the direction of Jessica Diakun because of her hustle in September...with her cast on...she ran across Gampel in hopes of getting a T-Shirt.

Now on to Erin Clark...because I do have a story about her believe it or not...Actually I am sure you all believe that. First of all as I was leaving the floor of Gampel after throwing out T-Shirts I looked up into the stands and saw her with this "innocent, poor me" look. She made me feel like a horrible person for running out of T-Shirts.

Secondly Willis Reed said something similar to Erin Clark being "Extremely Nice." One of my friends said he held the doors for her when going into the dining halls. She said Thank You after he opened both doors for her. Most people around here don't say thank you if you open one of them.

On top of that...I mentioned a long-time ago that Erin Clark was nice enough to spend 10-15 minutes standing in goal patrol with one of the handicap women's soccer fans. I was telling that to someone I know, who knows the person she was talking to and he/she said that doing that was really nice of Ms. Clark and something that few others would do. (I know some people are sick of hearing this story but that's just too bad)

I was at a Baseball game a week ago and I was really content to sit by myself and just enjoy the game. However, an older gentleman their by himself really wanted to talk. At first I wasn't all that interested and was giving the "ok" "sure" "yeah" answers to whatever he said. Then I thought to myself "what would Erin Clark do?" I kid you not, but I actually decided, because of her act of kindness half a year ago that I should have a conversation with him because I knew that although the conversation I had with him wouldn't mean too much to me, I knew that it would make his day.

I admire Erin Clark for doing what she did...and I will not stop talking about her...or other people being nice. (like Jordan Todman who I saw talk with one of the handicap cafeteria workers at South, or Maya Moore, who is amazing in so many ways, take the time to speak with a reporters son at a press gathering, or all of the female athletes, like Julie Towers, Katy Ryan and Meghan Nanfeldt that take their time to talk and help out Sam Witryol...I guarantee you, and Sam would never admit this, that those people are what keep him alive because they give him someone to look forward to seeing) That little thing that Erin Clark did is something that I remembered and is the reason I decided to be nice to someone. Hopefully someone saw me and will be nice to someone else in return. Peace on Earth will never exist if good, decent and honest people aren't given the attention and credit that they deserve. Rewarding good people with recognition is the least I, and anyone else, can do.

I guess sometimes I can be serious...

On second thought...to clear up any misconceptions...for many of the people I have stories about...I really don't know them...I may have had very very brief encounters with them, but they have no idea who I am. I was talking to Willis Reed today and I joked that the worst thing about attending rowing is that I can now awkwardly pass rowers whenever we cross paths. Because I attend so many events I can usually recognize athletes by their faces. I can literally spot most of them walking around campus...and many times I can tell you where they are from or many other things that you don't need to and in reality probably shouldn't know. (I met Katy Ryan's Parents after a lacrosse game and somehow I said "I heard that you are teachers" because I remembered Katy talking about them in the Husky Sport class...I was also talking to Stephanie Labbe one day and she was talking about being an international player and I go "oh yeah your from Stony Plain, Alberta")
The reason I can do this is because I watch so many games intently, I literally can not watch a game if I don't know who is who because I love sports, I am obsessed with them, and sports are what I talk about. If I don't know who did what I wouldn't be able to talk about them. To give you an idea of how much I love sports, There is a better chance of me spotting Margot Demere or Kevin Vance out of a line-up of people than Kiera Knightley or Shia Lebouf.

Sad I know, but I speak the truth.

If this happens this should too

If the UConn Women's basketball team wins the National Championship they need to thank one person and one person only. Not god, not Geno (even though some times I confuse him for god [Sometimes I confuse Meghan Cunningham and her amazingness for God too {I wonder how many brackets I can use in one blog entry}]) They need to thank Softball first baseman Justyne Roy. Before UConn beat Stanford on Sunday in the final four, she hit a homerun. That was a good Omen and UConn went on to win. Today, before the Championship game vs Louisville, Justyne Roy drove in the game tying run with an RBI double and scored the game winning run. That is a good omen. I believe that Justyne Roy should be the MVP of the 2009 NCAA Women's Final Four if UConn goes on to win tonight.

I'm sure Softball Coach Karen Mullin's is on Justyne Roy's side. Coach Mullins averaged more points as a freshman at UConn playing basketball then the freshman averages of seniors Renee Montgomery, Kalana Greene and Tahirah Williams combined.

Some random facts

Felipe Lopez and Tony Clark were the first two players to hit home runs from both sides of the plate on Opening Day in major league history.

UConn has a winning percentage of 1.000 against Florida State in baseball

Syracuse doesn't have a varsity men's ice hockey or baseball team.

Between 1896-1898, and in 1912, the UConn baseball team had no coach. There record those years was a combined 12-15. In 1918, during World War I, there was no UConn baseball team.

Larry Panciera has the highest winning percentage in UConn baseball history at .650 between 1962 and 1979.

Two UConn baseball coaches never won a game.

In 1900-1901 UConn Men's Basketball won 1 game and scored 17 points to their opponents 12. How exciting. The team they played is called Windham High...I hope that's a college and not a High school.

Between the 1900-1901 and 1914-1915 seasons UConn Men's Basketball had no head coach. During that stretch they didn't compete in 3 seasons (1908-1909, 1909-1910 and 1913-1914)

Mets

I love the signing of Gary Sheffield. We pay him $400,000. Sheffield is worth a $400,000 gamble. Of course he's 40 and above his prime...but he can still play. He still will strike fear into pitchers and would be a great bat in the 6th or 7th hole and a great bat off the bench. I feel like it's a small risk with a big upside...I like the move.

Oh and I love our new bullpen. We actually dominated the last innings of a ball game. I love Putz and K-Rod. Daniel Murphy has also been amazing so far in his Mets career. I love this kid.

Doubleheader vs CCSU

So basically Central traveled to Storrs to play a "home game" (because their field is no good) and lost a combined 19-0 in two games that ended in 5 innings.

Justyne Roy continued her hot hitting, hitting a home run over the left field fence in game 1. She also added a double in the first game.

Micah Truax hit a homerun in each game. One was a line drive rocket that left the field in seconds. The other was a bomb that I think hit off of a car. Both were to left field.

Ali Adelman pitched in the first game and then had an RBI on a ground out...She's a pitcher.

Julie Towers was amazing. She hit a home run and a couple more base hits today. 4-4 with a home run, two doubles and 5 RBI's in game two.

Meghan Tierney also had a fantastic at bat in the 2nd game. She worked the count to 3-2 and kept fouling off pitches before picking up an infield single. True lovers of baseball/softball would truly appreciate her at-bat. She went 3-3 in game two.

I played Soccer again

So I played soccer again this week. After watching O'Brian White, Akeem Priestley, Josh Ford, Stephanie Labbe, Meghan "Amazingness" Cunningham and of course Ryan Marciel Grace, you begin to want to play soccer every once in awhile.

I tried to bend in like Bildstein, or Beckham, whatever you prefer. I kind of did. It went in but I didn't think it was as beautiful as Bildstein's shot heard round campus...or heard by me...or broadcast by Cory to her team...but I've heard that she is way too (I mean way too) humble to have done that.

Sometimes I get things twisted. It's up to you to figure it out.

We got around to playing 2 vs 2 vs 2 with a goalie on Memorial...Basically my friend Vlad and I were a team...and well we basically are no good. I'm good at defense, I'm good at stopping others. I'm not all that good at dribbling or making accurate passes or especially being like Boogie with the ball. Basically I'm a slightly better soccer version of the kid you would laugh at for playing basketball...you know keeps his head down while dribbling...and dribbling really high, making it easy to steal from.

But I vow to work on it...that's why I want to learn how to juggle a soccer ball.

Anyway somehow Vlad found the back of the net on a lucky play. One of the 2 vs 2 teams won so they sat out and let the last two teams duel it out. The two kids we played against were really quite good. Somehow I stole or got the ball and dribbled it a little and then decided it would be good to shoot it on goal. I kicked it pretty hard (I have strong legs) and the ball hit the cross bar or goalkeepers fingers and then cross bar and bounced off his back and into the goal...I couldn't believe it. It was like the 16 seed beating the 1 seed. The other guys there were like "great shot, wow that was amazing." I was more than happy to tell them that I'd never played before. I celebrated because I knew that this is not going to happen to me that often...and it was the first time I scored because I made something happen...the other time I was just in the right place at the right time. I ran over to Vlad and gave him a chest bump...Like I've actually never been so excited in sports...When I had a game winning or tying hit in baseball I never really celebrated. When I've scored game winning shots in pick-up basketball I never celebrated. But scoring a goal in soccer??? THATS WORTH CELEBRATING. I almost did a dance...and thats a scary thing.

Then I decided that I wanted to play goalie. I thought I might be good at it because I've been good at defense when I played soccer. Plus I had just met Stephanie Labbe this semester so I decided that I would love to see how hard it is to be a goalie. And of course I saw Ryan Marciel Grace play and I wanted to see if I could be as good as him.

I am as good as Ryan Marciel Grace...maybe better.

I thought I should have been better at goalie. Everyone said I was pretty good...I thought I should have been better. I made a good foot save...like I squeezed the ball between my feet on a volley...I'm sure that's not how your supposed to save it...(I've never seen Josh Ford or Labbe do that) but it worked. I was really good at the shots that were like volleyed off of rebounds. They probably didn't score on any of those. I remember them being frustrated by a couple of my saves. I also showed my inexperience. There was one slow roller that I thought for sure would go wide of the goal...and of course it didn't go wide...it went right in. I think I let another roller go in because I didn't want to get too dirty. That won't happen again though because next time I play I will be prepared to wear bad clothes and get extremely dirty.

Bad news

After rowing today I went up to Willis Reed and told her how badly I would like to be the one who just sits and does nothing...But they do work...The coxswain is like a player/coach who also steers the boat. So when you go to rowing next year you will understand that the person who is not rowing is actually doing something useful.

Rowing is the oldest college American Sport.

I also have a theory that the most intimidating thing in rowing is the name on the boat.

For example I knew Trinity would be good when the name of the boat was the Norman T. Graf...or the Sheldon Watson Brown. Things named like that tend to be pretty good.

Our Varsity 8 boat is named after Sam Witryol. If it smelled like Sam's tobacco and other teams knew just how much of a gangster Sam is then they would probably be too nervous to even launch their boat.

On another random thought...I would pay to watch Sam be put in the coxswain seat (person who motivates and steers) at a race and watch him light up his pipe while coming past the last buoy.

Unrelated news...I must truly be famous...I'm that guy who was at UConn rowing and Track and Field today. I saw Marquis Thomas and he thanked me for my support of Track...(I am very loyal to Track and Field because my roommate freshman year was on the track team and I know several people on men's track) I told Marquis that I had gone to rowing earlier and he said "I know, our trainer Mo told me." Either I'm that guy that they saw or I'm just recognizable.

Whatever it may be I love my sports and I love my major of Sports Management and I love learning and I love experiencing everything about sports. So I attend a lot of sporting events and show support to all of UConn's teams.

Searching for National Championships?

So which UConn teams have the best chance to win a National Championship within the next year or two???

I am depressed so I will attempt to lift my spirits and yours by mentioning the positive things, some teams that have at least a fighting chance or fair shot at winning it all.

UConn Women's Basketball...could win a championship this week. We still have Maya Moore for the rest of this year and two more years. That automatically gives us a chance for several National Championships.

UConn Men's Basketball...Regardless of who comes and goes we still have a great coach and lots of talent. Let's at least assume that Stanley Robinson, Jerome Dyson and Kemba Walker will be back for next year, so we will contend.

UConn Women's Soccer...losing Stephanie Labbe and Meghan Schnur in back to back years is a tough thing. A key for this team will be goalkeeping...but Jessica Dulski, an incoming sophomore is highly regarded. Amanda Schwarz...a redshirt junior has had a lot of time to pick things up from the departed Stephanie Labbe. On top of that the women's soccer team is way too talented to have a season like 2008 again. Brittany Taylor and Jessica Diakun should be back for 2009 and a good sophomore class will turn into juniors. Annie Yi will be back for her senior season too. This team was in the Elite 8 in 2007 and almost took down Notre Dame in the Big East Championship in 2008. I have high expectations for them in 2009.

UConn Field Hockey...We've lost several great players due to graduation over the last few years, yet we continually bring in great recruits. Nancy Stevens is a tremendous coach and considering that we've won Big East Championships left and right with Field Hockey it is reasonable to expect that UConn, with a leader like Melissa Gonzalez, could win it all.

UConn Men's Soccer...UConn was robbed of a National Championship in 2007 by bad field conditions. I can still see that freak goal going in, all of our players slipping and sliding and our team lying on the field after the loss. The team will need to figure out how to replace the scoring of O'Brian White and Akeem Priestley. Ray Reid is a great coach who can find talent. UConn should be pretty good with players such as Josh Ford, Toni Stahl, Mike Pezza and Tony Cascio returning.

UConn Women's Track and Field...I don't know much about track and field championships so I could be a little off on this one...but I'll explain. We have been ranked as high as 13th in the country. Add to that some great talent such as Trish Ann Hawthorne, Carin Knight, Tynisha McMillian and Victoria Flowers...none of which are seniors. I love coach Terrelonge and the team looks like it will use some redshirts to improve the team's performance down the road.

Maybe sometime in the near future

Football: Our program is on the up and up. I think we have a strong shot at making a BCS game in the next two years...Our defense continually produces no matter who graduates and our offense is improving. Our new play calling should be interesting. On top of that our program is getting better athletes and recruits with our programs successes. Things will continue to go up for our program.

Women's Ice Hockey...The program is fairly young and lately has been fairly successful. It needs some time to grow but hopefully with in the next decade it can consistently stay with Maine, New Hampshire etc...(We did beat New Hampshire in a shootout this year)

Willis Reed and Amazingness all in the same day

So I got up at 6:50am on Saturday morning to head over to Coventry Lake to watch Rowing. I am glad that I went. I went into the woods and on to a hill with an overlook of the course. I saw Willis Reed....aka Kristen Beasley in the Varsity 8 in Witryol's wake. Willis was the reason that I went. It was choppy which made the boats harder to control and the wind was at the teams backs. By the time the race was over Willis had exerted herself so much that she felt a little sick. She also had to pull through her shoulder injury too. She did, and we expect nothing less from someone such as Willis Reed. I also got to see where they kept their boats. It was interesting and you should stop by and watch a race. This morning was cold and windy, so it woke me up, but I imagine that it would be really nice to watch when it is warmer out.

On top of that I saw Amazingness compete today in the 1500 meters. She finished in 2nd.

Ashley O'Brien won the 800 meter race.

I also heard that Tynisha McMillian is red-shirted for outdoors. Victoria Flowers dominated the throws. Amanda Martin won Javelin.

Anthony Burris Won the 400 meter race, Kyle Edmonds finished 2nd.

Jamaal Smith took the Long Jump.

Most importantly the Bennatan Brothers did something that I think is amazing. These identical twins were both competing in the same events, 1500 meter run and the 800 meter run. Alex and Tim Bennatan recorded the exact same time for the 1500 meter run and were three-one-hundreths of a second different for the 800 meter race. They virtually ran the exact same times. It was funny watching them race the 800 too. I was watching with my friend Dan Holst who ran the 4x400 relay and the 1500 meter run today. The two of them went back and forth down the home stretch. One would speed up then the other would catch up, back and forth they went. They apparently almost always run the same times so the team was really going to get excited if one of them pulled ahead of the other, but it didn't happen. I think that the Bennatan brother's performances are amazing. Identical Twins running Virtually Identical times. I'm sure there are a few professors at UConn who would find that fascinating.

I just wish it was warmer out today!

Uh Oh

My facial hair has run out of luck

Akeem

I heard the Akeem Priestley is trying out for a team in Europe. That's all I know.

Justyne Justyne Justyne

More amazing Justyne Roy news. Today, Greg Mihailides High School peer hit the game winning, line drive single. UConn won 2-1. It was hit right up the middle perfectly. Roy was the player of the game. She hit pretty well vs. Pittsburgh and she added the game winner today vs. Boston University. On top of that Justyne made several great defensive plays that will not show up in the box score. Seriously she was terrific, as always, with the glove. She made an amazing catch late in the game and made a couple nice picks at first base. She is also one of the most clutch performers on the team. Her batting average is much higher than her overall average in pressure situations (like runners on third with less than two out is higher than her overall batting average).

One thing I have noticed about Justyne is that she's always smiling. She always seems happy. It helps warm things up on those cold days.

My favorite player is Jillian Ortega because she plays the game the way it should be played. She is intense, hard working and upbeat. She is a joy to watch. You must see her play before she graduates.

Danielle Del Ponte is almost never talked about but she is a great hitter. I love that she can hit to the opposite field well and not only well, but with power.

Jessica Arremony also made an amazing leaping catch at short stop today.