Wednesday, February 6, 2013

United States Falls to Honduras 2-1

The final round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying, known as the Hexagonal round, or Hex for short kicked off today. The United States did not not get off to a good start in the Hex today, Losing on the road 2-1 to Honduras. The US took the lead in the 36th minute on a Clint Dempsey goal, but surrendered the lead just four minutes later on an incredible bicycle kick goal by Juan Carlos Garcia. There was nothing Tim Howard could do to stop that goal. The teams headed into halftime tied 1-1. With 11 minutes to go in the match, The United State's defense broke down  allowing an easy match winner set up an easy winner for Jerry Bengtson on an empty net after Howard had to come off his line. After the game winner  Honduras spent the rest of the match time wasting, in the usual manner most CONCACAF teams do whenever they have a positive result lined up by embellishing "injuries" and taking a long time on free kicks and throw ins.

While today's loss is disappointing, it is certainly not devastating. Road losses in the Hex are expected and there are still nine games remaining before the end of qualifying. There were also a couple of positives to come out of today, first off, Sulani Gulati said that Landon Donovan is not retiring and he was just taking a hiatus. He said that he fully expects Landon to be back on the pitch wearing the Red, White, and Blue soon. Also after starting today, Timmy Chandler is now Cap-Tied to the United States, ending the guessing game of will he stay or will he go. Now in order to qualify, the United States must capitalize on their home fixtures and steal some points on the road. There next match is on March 22, at home, now a must win game for the United States before travelling to Mexico to play in Azteca one of the most difficult places to steal a point. In  order to prevent themselves from falling into a huge hole, making it very difficult to qualify, the United States must get three points against Costa Rica.

The United States full Hex schedule is as follows:

February 6th at Honduras L 2-1
March 22nd vs Costa Rica
March 26th at Mexico
June 7th at Jamaica
June 11th vs Panama
June 18th vs Honduras
September 6th at Costa Rica
September 10th vs Mexico
October 11th vs Jamaica
October 15th at at Panama

The top 3 teams automatically qualify for the 2014 world cup while the fourth place team plays the Oceania champion in a playoff and the winner of that also qualifies for the World Cup. Provided the United States plays like they are capable, they shouldn't have a problem qualifying for the World Cup, although they likely won't win the Hex like they did in 2010 qualifying, they should come in second behind Mexico.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

The 10 Greatest Calls In Sports History

Recently, a friend and I got into a conversation about the greatest calls in sports history and I thought it would be good material for a new blog post despite not posting on here in almost a year. With many of the best moments in sports, in addition to remembering the moment, we remember the call that accompanied it. There are multiple calls from great moments that I can recite from memory. So I have decided to compile a list of the greatest calls.

Before we can list what the greatest calls in sports history are, we must figure what exactly makes a call great. To me, the following criteria combine to make a great a call:

  • The moment: The greatest calls of all time need a great moment to go along with it, these usually involve important games ending in dramatic fashion. A groundnut to the second baseman in a random baseball game in June is not going to have a memorable call to go with it, a game winning home run in the world series on the other hand has much more potential to have a great call. 
  • Genuine Excitement: Whats taking place on he field in front of the announcer is exciting; the fans are excited, the players are excited, those watching at home are excited, the announcer should be excited too. Even more importantly  the excitement should be genuine and not artificial. Joe Buck is terrible at this, which is disappointing, because Joe Buck finds himself Calling many of the momentous sporting events. Joe Buck either has no emotion at all or it all seems artificial.  

Joe Buck calling one of the best moments in Super Bowl history. Terrible, just terrible.

  • A Way With Words: The most memorable calls all have a classic line that everyone remembers. The best announcers even in the most intense moments just have a way have a way of saying something brilliant that people remember. 
Without further to do, I present The greatest calls in sports history. 

Honorable Mention: Vin Scully calls Sandy Koufax's Perfect Game, September 9th, 1965. I list this as honorable mention because its different from all of the others, while the others focus on one single moment, this is an entire inning. Vin Scully is without a doubt one of the greatest announcers ever and appears on my list multiple times. This call displays Vin Scully's utter brilliance, it is like listening to Shakespeare, it is poetic. I love how he mentions the time several times throughout the inning, it adds another dimension to this brilliant call.

Sit Back and Listen to Perfect Game Poetry by Vin Scully.

10. Jack Buck calls Ozzie Smith's walk-off home run in 1985 NLCS game 5. Jack Buck delivers a classic one liner in this memorable call.


Go Crazy

9. Howie Rose calls Stephane Matteau's game winning goal in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. Howie Rose is probably my all time favorite announcer. I grew listening to him call Mets games on TV and later on the radio. Known primarily for his work with Mets, his most famous call came with the rangers. Some people might say he is being too much of homer, however I will take this level of excitement and emotion over the bland Joe Buck any day.


MATTEAU!

Side Note On Howie Rose: For a true display of his brilliance, take a listen to this from May 1st, 2011. The New York Mets were playing the rival Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday Night baseball. During this snippet, Daniel Murphy is at Bat, he hits a foul ball, takes strike 2, and takes ball 2. From the game, that is all that happens, however while this is going on the biggest news story of the year breaks. Howie Rose is able to alert those listening to the death of the most wanted man in the world while simultaneously not missing a beat in the action on the field. (Note this is not part of the countdown just an aside on Howie Rose's brilliance in the booth.)

8. Tom Cheek calls Joe Carter's walk off home run to win the 1993 World Series.  "Touch em all Joe, You'll never hit a bigger home run in your life". A world series ending on a walk off home run deserves an equally impressive call and Tom Cheek does the moment justice. 


Touch em all Joe!

7. Joe Starkey calls "The Play". Probably the single craziest play in the history of sports is paired with an announcer who is fittingly, going crazy. There are laterals, a band on the field, just complete and total chaos unfolding, and through it all a game winning touchdown and The Bears win.


The Band is Out on The Field!

6. Ian Darke calls Landon Donovan's game winning goal against Algeria in the 2010 World Cup. This has the distinction of being the only call on this list that I was fortunate enough to be able to watch live. I remember sitting on my couch, hopeless as the United States was mere minutes away from elimination and then going absolutely crazy when Landon buried the game winner. One of the greatest moments I ever watched live and Ian Darke serves up a great call to go along with it. 


You Could not write a script like this!

5. Dan Davis calls the "Hail Flutie" Anytime there is a game winning hail mary, it is naturally exciting and the announcer is equally excited. This Call is simple yet great.


He Did It! He Did it!

4. There are two calls coming in at number 4, both from the same play. Vin Scully and Bob Murphy call  the infamous Bill Buckner error from Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.  As a Mets fan, this play holds a special place in my heart. Luckily, we have not one but 2 fantastic calls to remember this great Moment in Mets History.


Vin Scully's Call


Bob Murphy's Call

3. Again, we have two calls of the same play coming in at number 3. Vin Scully (Of Course) and Jack Buck call Kirk Gibson's Home Run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. Both of these calls contain memorable lines. Like The Buckner play, both of these calls are great in their own right and memorable.


Jack Buck's Call


Vin Scully's Call

2. Russ Hodges calls "The Shot Heard Round The World". This call is the definition of excitement, I can picture the announcer jumping up and down while excitedly yelling "The Giants Win The Pennant!" over and over. This is one of those sports moments where the call became bigger than the moment itself. The call is what makes this moment live through time.


I'm Not sure, but I think The Giants won the Pennant.

1. Al Michaels calls the Miracle on Ice. It is fitting that the greatest moment in sports history is accompanied by the greatest call in sports history. This has everything, The moment could not be any better, the genuine excitement is definitely there and to bring it all together, the greatest single line from any call ever. So here it is, the greatest call in sports history.


Do you believe in miracles?

So that wraps up my list of the greatest calls in sports history. I wonder what this list will look like 50 years, when there are even more moments to choose from (provided we get rid of Joe Buck calling the World Series, The Super Bowl etc.) and all the great calls get better with age as the folklore surrounding the moment grows even more. I hope you enjoyed my list, even if you disagreed with my order, or exclusion of something.