New Zealand is one of the few planets on the globe that doesn’t priortize soccer. Rugby is king.
But soccer yesterday got a high profile day when David Beckham and the LA Galaxy in front of the largest crowd ever for soccer in New Zealand (35,000) defeated the Wellington Phoenix 4-1.
Beckham produced a goal and an assistant. His goal came via a penalty kick which Landon Donovan graciously stepped aside from.
The profile and attention that Beckham is bringing to MLS still is amazing.
Speaking of down under, that is where I am. Well kind of. I am in beautiful Orange, Alabama on the Gulf, and I mean beautiful beaches!
I am calling the NCAA Division 2 National Championships starting today at noon (CST) on the College Sports Television (CST).
Today it is Tampa against Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire. Franklin Pierce is led by the top womens player at division 2 Gabriel Demoner who is a highly talented Brazilian and worth watching.
University of Tampa has two girls that played at Texas Premier Youth club in Houston. Shelby Kuni a striker and Alicia Wyman a Jr. Kuni is the all time leading scorer at the school with 52. Another example of all the womens youth players from Houston playing around the country.
Last night Midwestern State coached by Doug Elder another former Houstonian was defeated by Franklin Pierce on the mens side. His team on this night was the better squad and was cruely knocked out of the semi-finals on penalty kicks.
His squad also featured a number of Houston area players .
Let me just take this opportunity to remind all how ridiculous it is that NCAA Division 1 mens soccer is not prevalent in our state. It is amazing this has been overlooked.
The mens final is tomorrow on CST also pitting Franklin Pierce against Lincoln Memorial of Tennesee . Lincoln Memorial has 8 Brazilians on their squad.
glen i know this is off topic, but i would like to look back upon your post the other day about beasley being injured. do you think that this will open up a spot for either davis or holden on the mnt. i would say alvarez but afraid of his temper. or do you think bradley will stick with a mapp, bornstein, or possibly adu (not fond of freddy on the outside to much quality needs to be in middle). being the next game is in houston and their recent play i would think holden or davis would be the way to go.
Comment by brent — December 1, 2007 @ 11:49 am
@Brent
It might, but you have to remember Convey is healthy again and starting to play well for Reading.
Comment by AlexS — December 1, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
GD, do you get to go to Hawaii to cover the “Pan Pacific Championship”?
Comment by Alex — December 2, 2007 @ 6:16 pm
Brent, I think Bob Bradley is looking at all options but few can control a wide area of the field like DaMarcus Beasley from box to box. It will be tough for Stuart Holden internationally as a wide player , he would have to play central. I do think Holden will get called into a camp.
Bradley is a big fan of Bornstein, Mapp is clearly talented but for me seems to have little “edge” or fire in the belly for me at that level.
Good that Convey is healthy. Biggest issues for the national team for me is outside backs and strikers but the Beasley injury is a concern.
Trying to get Bob Bradley on my show this Wednesday.
As for Hawaii, I do not know. My next tv assignment is the mens NCAA semi-finals and final in Cary, North Carolina.
Hawaii would be a great place to call a game!
Comment by glenndavis — December 2, 2007 @ 10:35 pm