Can Fans Make A Difference?

The roar of the crowd can sometimes be a good thing and other times it can be very distracting. The cheering and booing, we believe as fans can have an impact on the game and can make a difference, but does it really?

There are several ways fans are trying to make a difference in sport these days, which ones actually do, well that is for you to decide.

1. The Vuvuzuela – the ever present buzzing you hear while watching World Cup games. The noisemaker is distracting to everyone watching at home, so one can only imagine what it must be like on the field. Players cannot possibly hear each other, the referee or the coach for instruction. Soccer players have long been exposed to singing and chanting in the stands but this is different and not in a good way. Effect: X-Large

2. The Fan Rally – the rally is becoming more present in trying to get an idea or thought noticed by a team or particular player. We have seen an abundance of fan rallies trying to get certain NBA free agents to choose a new hometown, or stay in their present city. Miami has organized meet-ups for Dwayne Wade and New York and Akron have both mobilized itself to support the signing on Lebron James. Nothing in Toronto for Chris Bosh though…guess we are tired of rallies after the G-20. Effect: Small

3. Fan Club – although not that popular in North America, the fan clubs or supporters clubs in Europe and South America are very strong and organized. These supporters can often control many of the decisions that happen within in a team. These can include which players to sign, if a coach should be fired or even if the ownership should change (see Manchester United and Liverpool). Effect: XX-Large

4. Blogs/Media – the North American version of the supporters club. Fans take to message boards and writing comments in newspaper articles to show their displeasure (normally) with a certain decision that a team or management has come to. Unfortunately, many of the blogs (this one included) have a small reach and therefore cannot sway management decision making like the supporters. Effect: Small

5. Cheering – the old fashion approach to the fan making a difference. Two great examples that this can still work happened this year. During the Grey Cup, fans of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, known as the 13th man, took over the stadium in Calgary to the point where it was basically a home game for the green riders. Unfortunately, during all the cheering and effort to distract Montreal from kicking a game winning field goal, the team didn’t notice there were actually 13 men on the field. It cost them the championship. The other example was during the NBA playoffs. ESPN columnist Bill Simmons started a twitter account call @CelticsChants – where he posted cheers for fans to start during home games directed at opponents. These were successful and turned going to games at the TD Bank North Arena something similar to going to games at the old Boston Gardens. Even though Simmons didn’t tweet anything during the actual finals, Boston fans gave us the great “Ugly Sister” chant directed at Lamar Odom for marrying the “other” Kardashian. Effect: Medium to Large

6. Getting Naked – popularized in the movie Major League, getting naked is certainly a way to get the attention of your team. For fans of the Paraguay World Cup, your super fan (pictured above) and model has agreed to take it off if you win the tournament. Betcha everyone has a new team to cheer for now…



One thing many of us don’t think about while participating in all this is how it actually affects the athlete. Are they sad that they are being picked on? Does it make them happy because by being booed at an away stadium means they are doing well? A couple of incidents have occurred that let us know that the fans voices are being heard.

Near the end of a lackluster season with the Toronto Raptors, Hedo Turkoglu was booed on the court for giving less than stellar performances. Coupled with the fact that he had sat out games because of the flu and was later seen enjoying the Toronto nightlife with teammates caused a fan backlash and he was booed while on his home court. During the summer, Turkoglu did an interview with a Turkish media outlet and in not so many words said he would like to leave Toronto because the fans didn’t respect him. He wondered openly how they could boo him on his home court. The other similar incident happened after England’s second game of the World Cup vs. Algeria. A disappointing performance for England, that led to a 0-0 draw and put the team in danger of being eliminated. While leaving the field the team was booed by supporters who had traveled from afar to see their country play. Wayne Rooney, arguably the best player on England and one of the best in the world left the pitch and turned to camera and cursed the fans for booing the team and said it didn’t help at all. Well, you know what Wayne – play better and we wouldn’t boo….

How do you express your fandom? Can you see yourself as part of a supporters club or would you just rather go to games and clap clap clap

Are You Finished Yet?

The mind of an athlete is complicated. They are consistently striving to be the best, to work at a level that not many others can fathom and are always in competition. This last point is what makes stepping away from sports so difficult. Athlete’s, especially those that reach the professional level thrive on the competition. When this is taken away from in the form of retirement, there is usually a feeling that one could still compete at high enough level and therefore they should return from their hiatus.

Coming out of retirement is nothing new in professional sports. We see it constantly with boxers. George Foreman retired for the first time in 1977, then made a comeback in 1987, then another in 1994. If some promoter offered him enough money, he might consider fighting this year. Floyd Merriweather is another shining example of someone who thinks he will always have the chops to fight and would step back in the ring if there was a decent offer.

Boxing isn’t the only sport to be affected by this phenomenon. Basketball also has there share. The most prominent player in this group being Michael Jordan. Jordan retired from the game to pursue a dream of playing baseball. When then didn’t work out so well (or in reality his suspension for gambling was finished), he returned to the game. He also retired one other time only to come back and play with the Washington Wizards which was only good for Nike based on merchandise sales.

Now we get to the story of Lance Armstrong. The American cyclist owns the Tour de France by winning it a record seven times. He had most of his success after being diagnosed with cancer in 1996. After his seventh win in 2005, and amid lots of controversy in the cycling world surrounding blood doping and performance enhancing drugs, Armstrong retired…only to return in 2009 to the Tour de France. His years off did not make him any stronger and he imposed drug testing on himself that surely took lots of mental and physical wear on his body and he ended up third in the race. This year, Armstrong has said that this will be his last, but can we believe him? He is getting up there in age, but is coming in third place really that bad? If he can still compete and ends of top five this year, what stops him from coming back in 2011. In his mind he will be on the edge of victory - one excellent time trial or one small mistake from an opponent would hand him the win and an eighth Tour de France win, why step away from that?

The other major retirement in sports in the last month or so was Scott Niedermayer from the NHL. After a story book career where he has won everything possible, including a Memorial Cup, Stanley Cup, World Championship, World Junior Championship and Olympic gold medal, Niedermayer figured he had enough hardware and put the skates and stick away. Hypothetically, what if Anaheim is one solid defenceman away from being a favourite in the Stanley Cup playoffs next season? Do you think Niedermayer contemplates returning to the ice…of course he does and that would add to the long list of athlete’s returning to the games they love.

Who do you think have been the best and worst athlete’s to come out of retirement?

Is This Good For Soccer In The USA?

On Wednesday morning the goal heard around the world was Landon Donovan of the USA putting in a rebound past the fallen Algerian goalie in the 91st minute of the last round robin game to give the USA a 1-0 win and put them through to the round of 16 in this year's World Cup. It was a stunning moment, because without the goal in extra time, the USA would have been knocked out of the World Cup. With the win, they have unbelievable momentum and the attention of a whole nation.

Soccer in the United States has been gaining traction since 1994 when the World Cup was held on home soil. The US has had mediocre results in the last few tournaments but with a thrilling run in the Confederation Cup last year and now this moment, could soccer have reached the tipping point?

The casual fan will probably always be that, there are too many other sporting options for them to choose, but those who may have been following international soccer, things like the UEFA Champions League or the English Premier League might now find it interesting to follow their international players when they return home to play in the MLS. This will lead to better quality soccer and then a better chance in 2014.

So would a win today be good for soccer in the USA? I say without a doubt. As much as the international soccer world probably loathes the fact that the Americans are getting good at "their" sport, the longer the USA stay in the tournament the more attention it gets in North America. That is good for the growth of soccer not just in the United States, but internationally as well.

With expectations building up on Donovan, Tim Howard and the rest of Coach Bob Bradley's team can they exact revenge on Ghana who ousted them from the World Cup four years ago in the final group stage game? I don't believe they can. Ghana has an attacking squad who has produced a bunch of chances in their group stage games. With a shaky back line, those chances might turn into goals pretty quickly. Also, Ghana was the lone African team to qualify for the knock-out stage, which means the whole continent can unite in one loud vuvuzuela. My prediction Ghana 2 - 1 in an exciting up and down game.

Names To Know - Patrick Patterson

Although the Raptors are talking about moving their 2010 Draft pick, the 13th overall selection. Tonight's NBA draft is supposedly a draft deep with "rotation" talent - as Chad Ford and Bill Simmons put it during their 3 hour mock draft chat yesterday, but is that what Toronto really needs? Probably not.

If they do indeed select at #13, one of the most respected NBA draft websites - Draft Express has the Raptors taking University of Kentucky junior power forward Patrick Patterson. Here is how they break him down...

Patrick Patterson’s projections vary depending on who you talk to, but a situational analysis supports him as an immediate contributor who could be worth taking in the lottery.

Patterson is capable of contributing on the next level in a number of ways, as his tools give him the ability to score in all sorts of set plays. His 0.894 PPP in jump shooting situations ranks above average, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Patterson continue to make progress in that part of the game.

Couple his ability to score from multiple areas, with his excellent intangibles, team-first mentality, and athleticism, and Patterson seems like a very safe pick for a team looking to compete next season.

So the Raptors will roll the dice tonight and try to build a team that can compete with the new look NBA after July 1.

My Wrigley Experience

On Saturday afternoon, I was fortunate enough to experience one of the joys of being a fan. I was able to watch a Chicago Cubs game from the bleachers at Wrigley Field.

This wasn't my first time at Wrigley. Back in 1991 I went to a game with my parents. We sat down the first base line. It was the only time my parents ever bought scalpers tickets to a baseball game. They let my brother and I wait against the fence where the players park their cars to get autographs (I got Mitch Williams) and then we entered the stadium as soon as the gates opened so we could be right up against the wall to get autographs of the Expos. It was only about a week after Dennis Martinez pitched his perfect game. I wanted his autograph so bad, but to no avail. After standing out in the blazing sun that August I dreamed of returning. I finally got my chance.

It is a different experience attending a Cubs game with 18 buddies rather than your parents. This time the day started a little later, since the Friday night was a bit of a party. In the cab ride to the stadium, I began to get excited. You begin to see the names of the streets that surround the stadium and you know you are getting close - Addision, Clark. After getting dropped off, we strolled around the stadium and got in line for the bleachers. The buzz outside the stadium is great. Vendors on the street, all the fans wearing Cubs gear and people already enjoying the day to the fullest.

Once inside the stadium, we were actually able to find 18 seats together in the general admission bleacher section. We sat in three rows in front of each other near the top in right field. With the sun beating down and still some time before the first pitch, we had time to absorb the surroundings and start the party all over again.

Ted Lilly was the starting pitcher for the Cubs on Saturday. He was coming off a masterful pitching performance five days earlier when he pitched 8 no hit innings to beat the White Sox. Lilly was the first Cub to take the field and it was to a great ovation as he jogged along the warning track.

Before the game started a couple of other moments...two fans won the opportunity to play catch in the outfield. Neat promo, but I would probably have taken the chance to try and throw a runner out at home. The other was actor Channing Tatum (GI JOE) throwing out the ceremonial first pitch...and then the game was under way!

Three pitches later it was 1-0 Angels as the home run went into the first row of the right field bleachers. The route was on. After Lilly struggled to get through the first couple of innings and the Cubs bats weren't hitting Weaver, it allowed the group to concentrate on our surroundings. We had a mean game of mound ball on the go, picking out random jerseys and caps (saw a couple of Expos hats) and of course cheering and heckling - the left field bleachers.

The experience of going to a game at Wrigley is different than anywhere else. This could be a bad thing or a good thing depending on how old you are. There are no jumbotrons, no replay screens and the scoreboard is manually operated. By not having all the distractions and in game entertainment, it really does make you pay more attention the game and that is not a bad thing.

The only in game entertainment was the 7th inning stretch. On Saturday it was former SNL alum Tim Meadows who did the honour with the sold out stadium singing right along with him.

As the game came to a close and fans started heading to the exit, I took the chance to sit row 1 in the bleachers. Not a great seat, but to be that close to the ivy and Fukodome was awesome. A nice reward for sitting through a 12-0 loss.

After the game, the day doesn't stop. The outside of the stadium has just as much to offer as inside. The bars with all the fans, more vendors out in the street selling t-shirts and hats and the big noodle or the statue of Ernie Banks.

As you can tell it was a great day at Wrigley Field for me, and this would be a excursion I would make every year.

GAME 7

After 82 regular season games and four best of seven playoff series the NBA champion will be decided in the final game of 2009-10 season.

The NBA season was very unpredictable. The Western conference had the dominant teams all season long. The Lakers, Spurs, Nuggets, and Suns all could been the top seed at some point during the regular season. The Eastern conference had the big three coming into the season - Orlando, Boston and Cleveland. They were joined by Atlanta and Boston disappeared from contention around the all-star break. Near the end of the season Boston apparently came together as a team and made their playoff run, and the Lakers proved their championship caliber by running through all Western contenders.

The six games leading up tomorrow's night death match has been just as unpredictable as the season. Game one was dominated by the Lakers, game two was the Ray Allen show, game three was the anti-Ray Allen show, game four was the Celtics bench dominating, game five was Paul Pierce show and then game six was total Lakers domination. There has been no MVP that has risen to the top or no overiding theme other than there has been no them.

So what does this game 7 mean to the NBA? It means everything...instead of a best four of seven, the NBA gets it's one shining moment like all the other sports where one game final decides the champion.

So what happens tomorrow night? The Lakers and the crowd is pumped up, but if Ray Allen or Paul Pierce can hit some early baskets to quiet the crowd they stand a chance. Without Kendrick Perkins for game 7 due to a knee injury sustained in game 6, the Lakers need to take advantage of that with Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. The MVP though, will be Kobe Bryant. He lives for these situations and you better believe he has another 30 point game in him.

Lakers NBA Champions!

Watching The World Cup

The eastern time zone spoils you. Everything the media does is geared to the eastern time zone. Prime time TV, starting of sporting events, and the nightly news come to mind. This is the odd relationship or the rationalization that we deserve these things because we live on the east coast.

This is what is so odd about the World Cup, they could care less about us in the Eastern time zone. The games start at 7:30am, 10am and 2:30pm. That does nothing for me! Don't they know that is the middle of my work day? Don't they understand that my bosses don't like me watching the live online feed from cbc.ca? Don't they care that I will need to use all my sick days for the entire year during a four week span? I guess not...

As I mentioned, the eastern time zone is spoiled and I don't know how to get over it. Guess it will be only a little better in Brazil 2014. Oh well...

The New Fosbury Flop

After a weekend full of soccer, the haters have started to rear their ugly head. We are already hearing cries of it is too low scoring, the vuvezelas are annoying and of course, the players dive.

The flop or dive was created in the 1982 World Cup by the Italians. The Italians won the tournament and Paolo Rossi was the tournament MVP. Although, he scored 6 goals he also set the record with 15 dives that drew cards.*

Ever since 1982 the flop has been part of soccer, for better or worse. In the last 7 years it has gotten worse in soccer. The players don't even need contact anymore to twist in the air, roll around on the ground and scream in agony. FIFA has tried to correct this by having the officials give out cards to those players who dive. This solution has started to work, but as we have seen in the first 10 games of the World Cup, the flop is still a part of soccer.

Although critics are harsh on soccer with regards to the flop it is not the only offending sport. Both hockey and basketball have their offenders. The hockey playoffs saw many dives and the referees tried to crack down by giving out penalties. The basketball playoffs have been ripe with diving. Even the finals haven't been immune. Derek Fisher has spent more time on the floor than guarding Rajon Rondo. It has become so bad that the announcers are even calling the players out on it and the refs have stopped calling the fouls because they can't tell what is contact and what is a flop.

So, although soccer has the slow motion replays that show a trip wasn't necessarily a trip, other sports are immune to the 'flop'.




*editors note: this is a made up story

World Cup Talking Points

2010 is a big year for major sporting events...we already had the Olympics and now less than 5 days away is the World Cup. The most watched and played sport takes centre stage for a month in South Africa.

Here are some tips on players and teams to make you sound like you follow the beautiful game year round...

Best Teams:
Brazil - The number 1 ranked team in the world by FIFA. They are always a force in the World Cup and this year should be no different. They lack the true goal scorer of past years, but don't count them out.

Germany - Along with Brazil, you can almost always count on them making a deep run in the tournament. They are big and strong team with good touch around the net.

England - This may be a pipe dream for a squad that hasn't lifted the trophy since 1966, but the Three Lions put out their best team on paper this year. If they can avoid any more serious injuries (Rio Ferdinand and David Beckham out for the tournament) than they could find a way to be in the finals.

Spain - Now that the team that always had the knock of not being able to win the big tournament has shaken the monkey from its back by winning the European Championship in 2008. They feature some of the biggest names in soccer who play for the biggest clubs. Although, they will face a big 2nd round game vs. the second place of the "group of death" they are looking like a team to beat.

Players to Watch (club team in brackets):
Lionel Messi - Argentina (Barcelona) - the best player in the world has phenomenal touch on the ball. If he gets into space, he has the ability to make 3 or 4 defenders miss and score goals.

David Villa - Spain (Barcelona) - Villa was the top scorer in the 2008 Euro Championship and turns his great season with Valencia into a huge off-season transfer to Barcelona. Villa has a knack for scoring goals and that is why odds makers have made him the favourite to win the golden boot. Look for him on SportsCentre.

Wayne Rooney - England (Manchester United) - The English bulldog is the key to the attack of England. He came into his own this season with the club, learning to score with his head, as well as his feet.

Arjen Robben - Netherlands (Bayern Munich) - The Dutch squad always play great soccer, but have the same monkey on their back as Spain - never being able to win the big tournaments. Robben is coming off a year with his club team where he led them to the league and cup championship and lost in the Champions League final. If he can bring that winning attitude to the Dutch locker room, along with his great shot and hustle, the Orange could do some damage.

Kaka - Brazil (Real Madrid) - The leader of the Brazilian squad and the former "best player in the world", he has taken a back seat in that conversation for the past year and a half. With Brazil being such a strong team overall, look for Kaka to stake a claim to the title once again. The creative midfielder will not only create goals for others, but has a shot to seal the deal as well.

Jozy Altidore - USA (Hull City) - Although, most fans of the American squad will say Landon Donovan will be the deciding factor if the USA can make it out of the group stage, it may well rest on Altidore right foot. The striker finished the season on a sour note getting red carded in the last game of the season as his team was relegated. He likely won't return to Hull City, but he could find a new club very easily by scoring some goals and leading the US team.

Snack of the Day

Well it is officially summer, so what better way to celebrate with a summer snack that is refreshing, tasty and fun to eat - Watermelon!

Watermelon is a great snack. You can eat with your hands, which is a pre-requisite, it is juicy (hopefully) and when you get a seed, you get to spit it out for distance. Just a great snack all around.

If you aren't hungry, but sitting out in the sun, a cold beverage is always required. Last year the beverage of choice was a mojito, this year try a tall glass with half iced tea, half cranberry juice. For an adult version, add vodka.

Now enjoy your weekend, with the French Open finals, Jays vs. Yankees, NBA Finals game 2 it should be a good one.

All Together Now

Nike has produced some truly kick ass ads lately. Starting with the haunting Tiger Woods spot (the one with his dad), then the World Cup commercial and now the above Kobe spot for the Finals.

This not only features Kobe, it has Andre 3000 covering a Beatles song. You know what else, the Raptors make an appearance. Yeah!

NBA Finals - It's The Usual

The NBA Finals start this week and it shouldn't be a shock as to which teams are playing - Lakers vs. Celtics. This will be the 12th time the teams meet in the finals. It shouldn't be a shock either because the same teams to appear in the finals year after year. The NBA, unlike other major sports seems to thrive on dynasties.

The 1960's were dominated by the Celtics who won 10 of 11 championships, the 1980s the Magic Johnson led Lakers and the Larry Bird led Celtics again controlled the Larry O'Brien trophy. The 1990's were dominated by the Chicago Bulls led by none other than his airness Michael Jordan. If Jordan was retired, the Rockets took back to back championships and then in 2000's it was the David Robinson/Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs who won four trophies.

So why can the NBA be dominated by one team. The simple answer is that one dynamic player can control the game. Everything that these dynasties had in common was the superstar. Whether it was Magic, Bird or Jordan - the one player could score, defend and bring home the championship.

The other thing these teams had in common were a great second fiddle - Worthy, McChale or Pippen. These players were able to bail their teams out if the star wasn't playing well and was the tie that bound the team together.

Unfortunately, some of today's biggest stars haven't been able to carry their teams to titles recently. DeWayne Wade managed the feat in 2006 and Kobe Bryant has carried the Lakers for the three seasons, so can he do it again.

Here is my two cents, breaking down the 2010 finals

Guard
Celtics have the best young PG in the game in Rajon Rondo, with the best pure shooter Ray Allan. The Lakers will counter with the the clutch shooting of Derek Fisher and the best player in the NBA, Kobe Bryant.
Edge - Lakers. When you have the best player, you get the edge.

Forward
The C's have Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. While the Lakers have Paul Gasol and Ron Artest. Pierce the leader of the Celtics, will be covered by Artest. Artest has become the defensive stopper that the Lakers envisioned and he'll be put to the test in this series. Pau Gasol is able to get his points and rebounds no matter what the scenario, while Garnett has turned into a reliable role player for the Celtics.
Edge - Lakers. Gasol and Artest are too much for Pierce and Garnett to handle.

Center
The Celtics have the defensive power of Kendric Perkins playing the post. He has really come into his own during the post-season, but he will be challenged by Andrew Bynum. As long as Bynum's knee holds up this will be an interesting match up.
Edge - Celtics. With Bynum's injury bug, Perkins gets the edge.

My prediction - Lakers in 6 games, with Pau Gasol winning the MVP.

Here are the list of the most common NBA Finals match-ups (courtesy Wikipedia)
* 11 times: Boston Celtics (9) vs. Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (2)
* 6 times: Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (5) vs. Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (1)
* 5 times: Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (3) vs. New York Knicks (2)
* 4 times: Boston Celtics (3) vs. St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (1) (Such a meeting is now impossible due to current conference alignment.)
* 3 times: Detroit Pistons (2) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (1)
* 2 times: Seattle SuperSonics (1) vs. Washington Bullets/Wizards (1)
* 2 times: Boston Celtics (2) vs. Houston Rockets (0)
* 2 times: Chicago Bulls (2) vs. Utah Jazz (0)

England Name World Cup Squad

Today in England was equivalent to the day about 6 months ago when Team Canada Hockey was named for the Olympics. The England FA (football association) named the team that will represent the country at the World Cup in 10 days.

As it was in Canada when the hockey team was named, there is much second guessing about the team that was named. Who was omitted, who was named and who will start on Fabio Capello's team when they take the field against the USA for their first game.

As usual, when a team of this magnitude gets named it is the snubs who were the talk of the back pages. The first name on everyone's list was Theo Walcott. The Arsenal stand-out made the team back in 2006 as the youngest ever player for England at 17. He scored a magical hat trick during the qualification rounds, but lacked form during the Premiership which eventually caused Capello to exclude him from the squad. A very disturbing turn of events for Walcott. He is young enough to make it back from this and contribute in the run up to 2014.

The other big name excluded was Darren Bent. Bent finished 3rd in scoring in the Premiership this season while playing for Sunderland. He was electrifying at times, but the main concern with adding Bent to the squad is that he wouldn't play well with the others up front - namely Wayne Rooney. Could the two co-exist and Bent can be quite temperamental - just look at his twitter feed.

The other omitted players have either been injured and tried to make a comeback in time for the World Cup or youngsters who have shown some promise (Adam Johnson of Man City or Leighton Baines of Everton) and will likely play key roles on the next team.

Anyway you look at it, the Three Lions have lots of pressure on them to perform starting on June 12.

Follow me on Twitter - @MMMMBLT - for instant reactions during all of the England games.