Successful Former Philadelphia Athletes

Why does it seem like that a number of ex-Philadelphia athletes always do better elsewhere? Is this a part of William Penn's devious plan in regards to "the curse" or is it just players not being able to withstand the pressure to succeed in Philly? Well, all I know is that it'd be nice for those athletes to live up to their potential in the City of Brotherly Love. Is that too much to ask for?

You can choose from any major sport, and I could give you an athlete that didn't pan out too well in Philly, yet managed to find their groove with another organization. Here's my list:

Eagles

Chris Clemons - Averaging a lowly 3.5 sacks during his two years as an Eagle from 2008-2009, the defensive end out of Georgia moved on to Seattle, where he currently plays now, and averaged 11.2 sacks in his three seasons there. Talk about career-altering stats right there!

Sixers

Andre Iguodala - The Arizona product was known as the frustrating Sixer who never flourished into the superstar he was anticipated to become. Free throws, the ability to shoot well consistently as well as sinking clutch shots were not his forte; however, now as a member of the Denver Nuggets, Iguodala seems to have found his fit as just another piece to the puzzle and not a superstar. He's even making clutch shots for the playoff-bound Nuggets. Check it out:

  



Phillies

Michael Bourn - Drafted by the Phillies in 2003 and spending his time in the minor leagues until 2007, Bourn spent two years on the squad until being traded to the Astros, and then again to the Braves in 2011. In 2012, Bourn hit nine home runs and 57 RBIs as opposed to one home run and six RBIs as a Phillie; the speedy outfielder also recorded 61 stolen bases in 2009 as an Astro. He is currently on the Cleveland Indians.


Flyers

Simon Gagne, Mike Richards, Justin Williams and Jeff Carter - All were on the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings team in 2012. I think that's all that needs to be said.

Most Dangerous Positions in Sports

It has happened to all of us. You're playing the sport you adore and suddenly, a quick thought of doubt flashes before your very eyes - the thought of never being able to play again. With this cloud of doubt trapped in your mind, your next move is carefully thought through, causing unforeseen flaws in your gameplay; you think to yourself, "This is not how I play." Well, that's a sign that the threat of danger has taken control, making you think twice about the next move.

In sports, danger constantly lurks, whether it's an injury that may put you on the sidelines for a few weeks or even worse, for good. Surely, every athlete has heard the saying: "Play like it's your last game." However, no other athletes from the five major sports have said this more than the players in the following positions:

Football: Kick Returner

 Imagine having 11 football players running at you at full speed, and their sole focus is to tackle the snot out of you. Sounds kind of like the hundreds of thousands of Persians attacking the 300 Spartans, am I right?

Don't believe me, just ask former Titans RB Chris Henry during this 2007 game against the Colts. Hold on to your helmets for this hit:

    

Basketball: The guy being dunked on

You don't want to be that guy that is situated right in front of the basketball hoop, especially when you see a player in your path that has the capability of endangering your career. Unfortunately, Pistons PG Brandon Knight experienced just that the other night against Lob City: 

Hockey: Goaltender 

You have to be nuts to be a goaltender in hockey. These guys fear nothing, even when a 100 mph slap shot is fired their way; it is casual for them to get in front of the puck's way and block/deflect it out so it doesn't go into the net.  These guys are the ones who should be saying "NBD" (No big deal), and then brush the dust off their shoulders.

Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff took a slap shot to the face, which knocked the mask off of his head. No complains there from Kiprusoff as he grabbed his helmet and went back to work:

Baseball: Catcher

Being in a kneeling position for a long period of time is quite uncomfortable, and may I say, stressful on the knees. That is not the only thing stressful about the catcher position in baseball; they have to worry about high-speed pitches zooming straight at them as well as runners sprinting in from third base, looking to nail a good lick on the catcher as he/she concentrates on catching and holding onto the ball to tag the runner out at home plate. 

Here's a segment from the "The Franchise: A Season With the San Francisco Giants" when catcher Buster Posey was involved in a scary collision:   

Soccer: Goalkeeper

To be a goalkeeper in soccer, you have to fear not of the ball ricocheting off your face, or ribs or dare I say, the nads. As the lion from "The Wizard of Oz" learned, being brave is a necessity. Scenarios such as a 50/50 ball between a forward and a goalkeeper are won through sacrifices to the body like diving at the legs of a forward to retrieve the ball at all means. 

Watch this studs up sliding tackle USA goalkeeper Tim Howard absorbs against England during the 2010 World Cup:

    

Manchester United's Card to Remember

Was it or was it not deserving of a red card? That is the question many are bantering about this week in the soccer world. Yesterday, during the 57th minute of a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in England, United midfielder Nani attempted to bring down a ball that resulted in a waist-high challenge on Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa. Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir chose to give Nani a straight red card. The complexion of the game changed after the booking, as the Red Devils' 1-0 lead turned into a 2-1 defeat and elimination from Champions League play.

In my opinion, Nani should have never received a red card for his action. Nani's only intention on that particular play was to trap the ball; he didn't even notice the lurking Real Madrid defender. As a soccer player, when the ball is in the air like that, there is an instinct to either flick the ball on with the head, use the chest to bring it down or raise the foot high enough to the point where it's not endangering the opponent's upper body. The Portugese midfielder (Nani) chose to raise his foot, which I agree with, since the ball was too far for it to be either flicked on from a header or brought down with the chest. Yes, his boot was in the air, but like I said before, the intention was the ball first, not the man. What do you think? United coach Sir Alex Ferguson sure showed his fury. Check it out for yourself:

Now, hear from a United fan's perspective: (his reaction may contain some language not suitable for the youngsters...just saying)

However, Roy Keane and company had some compelling arguments about the call and were actually in favor of the Turkish referee - that he indeed had made the right decision.     

An Oscars For Sports

This past weekend, the year's best films were celebrated as movies like "Argo" and "Life of Pi" stole the night with their collection of awards. In honor of the presentation, I decided to create an Oscars-type award show for sports. Here are the categories and winners for 2012-2013:

Best Actor: PG/SF Rudy Fernandez of the Denver Nuggets receives an invisible elbow to the face from the Lakers' Matt Barnes. Watch as he fools the crowd, refs and even the announcers -- of course until the magic of slow motion instant replay reveals his guilt.

Best Score: Newcastle United striker Pappis Cisse's wonder goal against Chelsea left physicists scratching their heads and Stamford Bridge in pure silence. Also, BBC radio's Steve Claridge's reaction to the goal had his fellow colleagues confused of what the fuss was all about.  

Best Costume Design: PG Russell Westbrook of the Oakland Thunder struts his way into the Staples Center before facing off against the Los Angeles Lakers. The guys at ESPN couldn't help but notice Westbrook's odd attire, cracking an arsenal of jokes.  

Best Hairstyle: Although he is a force to be reckoned with on-the-field, off-the-field is a whole different story for AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli. The picture below says it all. 

Best Cinematography: Led by the great, late Steve Sabol, there is no question that the team at NFL Films are the greatest at capturing sports and telling stories. See for yourself in 2012's shots of the year.  

Philly Fans Face Tough Times

Picture courtesy of philly.com

Philadelphia is a city most notably known for its delicious cheesesteaks. Topped with melted cheese wiz, grilled onions and a condiment of your choice, the "Philly" cheesesteak is a mouth-watering treat waiting to be consumed. But what if all of a sudden those delicious cheesesteaks turned tasteless and didn't produce the same orgasmic experience as before.

Boy, Philadelphia would be in even more trouble, especially since how their sports teams have been performing lately. 2012 has not exactly been a season to remember for Philadelphia; it's been more like a season to forget.

Picture courtesy of philebrity.com

First, let's start with the Phillies. An inconsistent season led them to being eliminated from playoff contention, missing it for the first time since 2006. During the off-season, they have signed a few unknowns, one including an overweight outfielder, Delmon Young, who will get paid extra for losing some weight, which should ultimately give him motivation to come into spring training in shape. Even though the Phillies haven't made any huge signings, look for them to still be competitive in their weak division. 

Then, there are the Flyers. Coming off a Conference Semifinal loss to the New Jersey Devils in five games, the "Fly Guys" didn't envision losing half of their 2012-2013 season due to the NHL lockout. Yet, when the season came out of hibernation, they were not prepared, losing three straight and scoring a lowly two goals in three games. However, things are looking much brighter for the Flyers, winning the last two games and improving their record to 4-6.

Picture courtesy of backpost.wordpress.com

Thirdly, a team whom many seem to forget, the Union. Placing eighth in their conference with a 10-18-6 record last year, Philly's soccer team was a disappointment, especially after their 11-8-15 record during the 2011 season, when they reached the MLS Conference Semifinals. Even though they lost to the Houston Dynamo, the Union showed what seemed to be a promising future. That was not the case, as they hit a downfall in 2012.  For 2013, the Union hope the additions of Conor Casey as well as their move to reunite with forward Sebastian Le Toux will help them get back on track.

Another team struggling to find their groove are the Sixers. Head coach Doug Collins and his staff thought they hit the jackpot when they traded for coveted center Andrew Bynum; so far this season, he was been dominant...on the bench! I understand the 7-footer has knee issues, but his focus and will to get back onto the court doesn't seem legit because of his careless attitude. The players the Sixers management team brought in was specifically to help build around Bynum. Since there's no big-time presence on the floor, the team's chemistry has failed to click. Hopefully, Bynum will make an attempt to comeback during the season and show his all-star qualities. If not, they have to move forward via free agency and/or the 2013 NBA Draft.  

Picture courtesy of philly.com

Finally, we have the Eagles. There's nothing really positive to say about their performance during the 2012 NFL season. It didn't look good from the start as former head coach Andy Reid was given an ultimatum from owner Jeffrey Lurie: another 8-8 season and you're gone. The Eagles went on to go 4-12, and Lurie cut the cord on Andy Reid's tenure in Philadelphia. It was a mess of a season, deserving of a firing. Not only did Reid get fired, but he even fired some of his staff during the season such as his defensive line coach Jim Washburn and defensive coordinator Juan Castillo. After 14 years, Lurie finally decided enough was enough with Reid, and now has a fresh new start in former Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly. Kelly's innovative mindset has given Eagles fans a sign of hope to one day celebrate as did Baltimore in Super Bowl XLVII.     

 

Call it a 'Harbowl'

Image courtesy of aol.sportingnews.com

Last weekend, as time dwindled down in the AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens, media outlets from around the country hopped aboard the Harbaugh train, craving to create that next, new catchy Super Bowl XLVII phrase.  Already knowing the outcome of the NFC Championship Game between the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers, I’m sure the media was excited for a Ravens’ victory, since 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh’s brother is the Ravens' head coach.  Headlines exploded onto Twitter, ranging from “Harbowl” and “Brother Bowl”, to the “Super Baugh.”

Next week, when media members have the opportunity to seek out their coverage, both coaches will experience the craze that goes on the week before the biggest game in America.  However, the brothers squaring up against each other is not the only story that will attract attention.

The following are potential stories from each team:

San Francisco 49ers

Image courtesy of sacbee.com

-QB Alex Smith’s injury and how it affected the 49ers’ season.

-The emergence of QB Colin Kaepernick during a Week 11 matchup against a tough Chicago Bears’ defense.

-Jim Harbaugh’s gutsy decision to keep Kaepernick as the starter for the rest of the season as well as the playoffs.

-Harbaugh and Ravens LB Ray Lewis used to be teammates during Lewis' rookie year.
-Lewis recorded his first career NFL sack on Harbaugh when he was the Colts' QB. 

-Kaepernick growing up as an adopted child.

-Kaepernick’s birth mother trying to keep in contact with her son.

-The 49ers’ defensive dominance.

-Kicker David Akers and his struggles.

Image courtesy of sbnation.com

Baltimore Ravens

-Whether QB Joe Flacco is an elite quarterback or not.

-WR Torrey Smith playing for his brother, who passed away earlier this season.

-WR Anquan Boldin catching fire in the playoffs.

-Ray Lewis’ last game in the NFL.

-Lewis shrugging off a triceps injury to lead his team to the promise land.

- Terrell Suggs coming back from a torn Achilles injury.

-Safety Ed Reed’s first Super Bowl and possible retirement after this season. 

Racism Still Exists, Even in Sports



As we enter a new year, the topic of racism, shockingly, still exists in today's world, even in the realm of sports.  Racism seems to be a problem of the past for many, yet there are still those in certain parts of the world who partake in these senseless acts.

When you think of sports, you think of it as being an outlet or an escape from concerning issues, whether it's political or racial; yet, that still doesn't seem to be the case.  From Chelsea defender John Terry's racially abusive comments toward Anton Ferdinand, to an Italian newspaper publishing a racist cartoon monkey of Mario Balotelli, an Italian of African descent, and now, AC Milan midfielder Prince Boateng receiving racist chants from opposing fans in a friendly match against Pro Patria, which ultimately was abandoned.

Italy is not the only place where racism is a dilemma.  Black players who participated in the Euro 2012 in Poland-Ukraine did not bring their families to the games, fearing an attack on their loved ones by fans in the stands.  Also, in Russia, there have been extensive problems, specifically when a Zenit St. Petersburg fans' group issued a statement calling on the Russian club not to sign black or gay players.    

Racism is more prevalent in soccer as opposed to American sports such as basketball, football and baseball.  FIFA has taken its stance against discrimination by developing awareness programs like the FIFA Anti-Discrimination Days, which have been present at FIFA's competitions every year to raise attention of the need to abolish racism and other forms of discrimination worldwide.

Nevertheless, FIFA needs to explore racism more thoroughly in hopes to resolve this ongoing issue.  As the old expression goes, "why can't we all just get along?"

Is Andy Reid Losing His Locker Room?

Picture courtesy of pro32.ap.org

Hurricane Sandy couldn't of painted a better picture for yesterday's debacle in Philadelphia.  In embarrassing fashion, the Philadelphia Eagles were handed their third loss in a row, slipping to the Atlanta Falcons 30-17.  This has also been the first loss coming out of a bye during the Andy Reid era.

Prior to yesterday, when Reid had two weeks to prepare for a game, he was 13-0.  However, this year was a different story.  

Plain and simple, Reid seems to have lost his locker room, and here are my reasons: 

• Coming off an inexcusable loss to the Detroit Lions two weeks ago, the Eagles' coaching staff supposedly "challenged" their players to look at themselves in the mirror and see if they could turn the season around from average to above average.  That "challenge" didn't seem to have any affect as the Eagles came out flat yet again against the Falcons, especially the defense; they were scrutinized a week ago for giving up a 10-point lead with four minutes left in regulation against the Lions, which resulted in the firing of defensive coordinator Juan Castillo.  

• Players like Michael Vick are questioning their job security.  Vick, who dearly respects Reid - since he is the one who gave him another shot in the NFL - seems to have a bit of a change of heart for his coach, who announced that "he'll evaluate the quarterback position."  Maybe he just wants to tell Reid to come out with a balanced play-calling approach, so he can feel protected and more confident in the pocket.  Maybe Vick is tired of hearing Reid saying the same things, cough cough "we got to do a better job."  Or maybe Vick is just not good enough.  Ultimately, it has been all talk, but no change from Reid.

• In the Atlanta game, the Eagles' defense allowed points on every possession until late in the fourth quarter; the Falcons almost went the entire game without punting!  Costly penalties, bad tackling and the wrong in-game decisions all played a role in their pathetic performance.  LeSean McCoy summarized it best after the game, when he explained that he didn't see any heart from his team.  In times of need, Reid's players didn't seem to respond. 

A change is needed.  I think Reid will change the game plan if he puts in rookie quarterback Nick Foles.  Why not do the same for Vick, you might ask?  Well, we, as Eagles fans, will just never know and that sense of doubt fuels us up even more to dethrone the man in charge.     

Is basketball back in Philly?

Picture courtesy of phillysportslive.com

Are you tired of witnessing those important free throws that could've propelled the Philadelphia 76ers to a victory in critical situations?  Or how about the time when trying to be too fancy with passing altered possible scoring drives?  Better yet, watching a much-needed clutch shot to go in, yet it doesn't.  Ah, some may say I am too harsh, however, that was the reality for former-Sixer Andre Iguodala during his stay in Philadelphia.  

Iguodala was traded to the Denver Nuggets in a four-team deal, which sent Dwight Howard, Earl Clark and Chris Duhon to the Los Angeles Lakers, Arron Afflalo, Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless, Christian Eyenga, Josh McRoberts and first-round protected picks to the Orlando Magic and Andrew Bynum along with Jason Richardson to the Sixers.  

Yes, I know what you're thinking, "Phew, that was hard to digest."  Well, I'm just telling you the facts. 

Anyways, I'm going to dissect this trade from a Philadelphia fan's perspective.  We are excited to embrace a star in Andrew Bynum to our city, something we've lacked since the Allen Iverson days, especially a big-man who can draw the double team and body up in the paint.  

By obtaining a center like Bynum, arguably one of the best centers currently in the Eastern Conference, this undoubtedly makes the Sixers a contender.  I'm not saying they are a top-echelon team like the Oklahoma City Thunder or Miami Heat, but they could compare to a team similar to the Boston Celtics or San Antonio Spurs.  When I say Spurs, I mean a San Antonio team without the rings.  

In addition to Bynum, the Sixers acquired Richardson who will definitely improve the Sixers' shooting percentage as well as their maturity, considering he is a 31-year-old veteran.

Where there are positives, there are negatives.  The Sixers will falter a bit defensively, losing Iguodala's abilities to guard perennial superstars such as a LeBron James or Kevin Durant.  And yes, they will miss the presence of a scorer off the bench  in Lou Williams.  However, picking up players in the off-season added depth to the Sixers' bench.

The signings of Dorell Wright, Nick Young and Kwame Brown pick up some of the pieces that players like Lou Williams or Elton Brand have left in the Sixers' organization.  It will be a work in progress this off-season, but once this team clicks as a unit, anything could happen.

As fans of Philadelphia, we thank and give HUGE praises to owners Josh Harris and Adam Aron for bringing basketball back to the City of Brotherly Love and having an appreciation towards the fans' opinion.  This ones for you fellas!     

Sports: Best and Worst for TV

To many of us, sports is a religion, watching it on a daily basis and following our favorite teams passionately through the ups and downs of their seasons.  Sports provides entertainment, giving us the stress reliever we sorely need in our lives, especially when coming home from a busy day at work or taking care of the kids all day.    

Entertainment is the number one goal all sports strive for; to bring the viewer into a sense of being a part of something, making them comfortable and anxious on every play.  However, some sports are made for television, while some are not.

Here is my list for the best and worst sports made for television...(they are not in any particular order and just because they are in the worst for television category, doesn't mean I don't like the sport)


BEST (television)

Football-  Television stations pounce on the opportunity to cover football games.  Football is brilliantly made for television, containing stoppages of play that go to commercial breaks every four downs or so, helpful marks to track where the first down marker or line of scrimmage is as well as a comfortable cushion of time to roll replays.  Hard hits, breaking tackles and long passes are all factors to why football is entertaining to watch.

Basketball-  Similar to football, basketball has its advantages of timeouts that create stoppages of play for advertisements as well as replays, which also can be shown when players are at the free-throw line.  It is a fast-paced game where players fly up and down the court, attempting to make a stop or basket during the 24 seconds they have on the shot clock.  Basketball receives its entertainment from thunderous dunks, three-point shots and cross-over moves.    

Soccer-  Even though many of you will disagree, if you think about it, soccer is decent for television, especially during big tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup or Euro 2012, where everyone in the world is involved watching each match.  Although soccer is not necessarily "made" for television with its lack of commercials and advertisements and stoppages of play, the numbers don't lie, viewer wise; almost half the world, 3.2 billion people, watched the last World Cup in 2010, according to Fifa.com.  The game only stops play during halftime, guaranteed to end on time, which is very beneficial for TV stations looking to not go over the time coverage they have.  Soccer has its non-stop action, and has the one play or goal that can ultimately change a game.

Worst (television)

Baseball-  Lacking movement is not entertaining to the human eye.  The game of baseball possesses exactly that.  No disrespect to baseball or the skill to play the game, but the pace of the game is just too slow for television.  Waiting for something to happen like a hit from a batter, usually takes at least six pitches or more.  Knowing there is no time limit enables the pitcher to go through the motions, which in my opinion, the non-presence of a clock in baseball affects the game's level of entertainment.  I know many of you will say, "Well, soccer shares the same aspects of baseball, waiting for the one goal to change the game."  Well, my response to those people is that at least soccer provides movement, which will at least keep the level of entertainment higher.




Golf-  Another sport too slow for television is golf.  Golf requires a substantial amount of concentration and technique I dearly respect.  However, when it comes to television, it is not entertaining.  The most exciting moment in golf is a hole-in-one, unfortunately, happening once in a blue moon.  Again, exception to that, not much other action in golf will bring in viewers consistently.

Hockey-  Although it contains non-stop action, heavy hitting, fights, crafty moves and laser-driven shots, hockey is not made for television.  The sport is the kind of sport where it is more exciting and better to watch in person.  The main reason why it's not made for television because of the visibility of the puck.  I believe if hockey had a wider and longer area to play on, then it would be better for television, thus giving viewers an eye to the action; too much back-and-forth action can also hurt a sport.

Playing overseas

Whether it's an NBA player like Dirk Nowitzki or a soccer player like Clint Dempsey, both pursued their dreams of being in the best league for their respective sports.

Without a doubt, the best basketball league in the world is in America.  Most basketball players in the NBA derive from financially-stricken cities across the USA; they use basketball as their escape to play the game they love, stay away from the streets as well as providing economic support for their families.

Players such as Kevin Durant played from dawn to dusk, shredding the courts of Washington D.C., while other players like Mario Chalmers, an Alaskan native, played from dusk to dawn due to Alaska's twenty-four hour daylight during certain times of the year.  

However, Europeans, South Americans and Asians are diversifying the style of play in the NBA.  German-born Nowitzki is an overseas player who has significantly contributed to the NBA for the better; he has won an NBA title with the Dallas Mavericks, becoming the Finals MVP in 2011.  Meanwhile, for players like Serbia's Darko Milicic, playing in the NBA has not been a smooth transition, only averaging a lowly six points per game for his career.  Being selected just after LeBron James as the number two pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, Milicic has definitely not lived up to expectations.  Other notable NBA players whom have excelled are Argentina's Manu Ginobli, Spain's Jose Calderon, Turkey's Hedo Turkoglu, Serbia's Peja Stojakovic and many more.

Soccer also known as futbol is the world's most popular sport.  The game can be found being played in the slums of Rio De Janiero to the streets of Tokyo.  If born American, the typical dream for a soccer player looking to play professionally is to take their talents to soccer's heartbeat, Europe.

Similar of how European basketball players are attracted to America, American soccer players are attracted to Europe.  Europe is a soccer factory of the world's finest players.  Through academies, players are taught how to play with intelligence, skill, craft and tactics.

There are Americans, however, that have stepped foot onto European soil.  The first to do so in Italy's top soccer league, Alexi Lalas.  Lalas was the model face for American soccer players in 1994.

Clint Dempsey is a success story, growing up in a trailer park in South Texas to making it onto the USA national team as well as playing overseas for Fulham, and now being rumored to join one of the elite clubs in the Premier League, Liverpool.  Dempsey has proven to the English that Americans are no push over when it comes to soccer; his play displays fight and grit, desperately wanting to remove the label of America not being a fanatic of soccer, and hopefully, one day, becoming a soccer powerhouse.

In addition, Landon Donovan has been beneficial for American soccer, recognizably known for his last-minute goal against Algeria in the 2010 World Cup, sending the Americans to the group stages.  If you need to be reminded, here you go...

  Although, his stint in Europe did not go the way he planned, deciding to move back and play in America with the MLS.  Still, Donovan manages to give American soccer headlines, performing well in the MLS and international competitions.  Other notable players whom have gone overseas to play are Oguchi Onyewu, Giuseppe Rossi, Michael Bradley, Carlos Bocanegra, Jozy Altidore and many more.    

EURO 2012: The Finals

Italy

                The Italians showed their resiliency, versatility and mental toughness, shocking the world, defeating the Germans, co-favorites to raise the European trophy, 2-0 in the semi-finals of the Euro 2012 tournament.  It was not just a lucky win; it was a game where the Italians dominated in possession as well as preventing the Germans from entering Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon’s box.   Chances were seized by players on offense like Mario Balotelli, scoring two outstanding goals in the first half of play.  The Italian defense, led by Federico Balzaretti and Giorgio Chiellini, headed and cleared rapid crosses, also making several disruptive challenges to keep the ball out of danger.  Heading into their final game against Spain, the Italians are labeled as the underdogs, however, their chemistry has clicked at the right time, and tying against the Spaniards in group stages doesn’t hurt their chances of becoming champions of Europe. 

Spain             

Another team that has experience in the penalty-kick shootout, along with Italy, is the reigning champions of Europe, Spain.  Spain outscored Portugal in the dreaded penalty-kick shootout in the semi-finals of the Euro 2012 tournament.  Cesc Fabregas’ premonition was correct, knowing that he would score the game-winner Wednesday, mirroring his performance in 2008, sending his team to the finals and a chance to accomplish a three-peat that no team has ever done in the history of soccer.   Although the Spaniards haven’t looked like themselves lately, they still show their will and fight to get a positive result.  The Spanish are chasing history, and the only team in their way is Italy.        

       My prediction: 2-1, Italy

EURO 2012: One win from the finals

After 28 games played in the Euro 2012 tournament, three remain on the schedule.  The semi-finals have arrived, and four teams linger, relieved to still be alive in the tournament.  Wednesday, June 27 and Thursday, June 28 are the dates to look forward to.

Spain's road to the "Final Four" has not been a walk in the park.  Being in a group with competitive teams such as Italy and Croatia, the Spaniards squeaked in as the one seed, then handily defeated a talented French side in the quarterfinals.  Portugal survived the "Group of Death," eliminating hopes of the Netherlands and Denmark's chances of advancing.  Italy slipped into the second seed after falling to third in Group C going into the last game of group stages; they are the only team to get a result in the tournament against Spain, the defending Euro champions.  Last but not least, Germany.  The Germans controlled their group as well as the quarterfinals, winning every game coming into the semi-finals.

Wednesday, June 27

Spain vs. Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo's confidence has since been revived when he proved the naysayers wrong in his rebound game against the Netherlands, scoring two goals, and helping the Portuguese claim a quarterfinals spot against the Czech Republic, where he netted the game's only goal.  Now, Ronaldo has a huge wall to climb in the semi-finals, playing a Spainish side that's dominant in all facets of the game.  Many of the players he will go up against will look particularly familiar, many of whom play on the same team as Ronaldo at Real Madrid or in the same league.  Spain will search to find a way to contain Ronaldo, preventing him from dangerous attacks in the final third against a Carlos Puyol-less Spanish defensive line, while Portugal look to stop Spain from possessing the ball for an extended period of time, knowing that if not successful, devastating consequences are likely. 

My prediction: 1-0, Spain

Thursday, June 28 

Italy vs. Germany

These two teams are used to facing against each other in meaningful games or shall I say semi-final games.  From the 1970 World Cup semi-finals, also known as the "Game of the Century," to the 2006 World Cup semi-finals, Germany and Italy have the history to show their rivalry, however, Italy tends to be the victor.  In the "Game of the Century," the Italians won 4-3 in a back-and-forth rally that needed extra time;  fast forward to 2006, where once again, both teams needed extra time, resulting in two late goals by the Italians, making matters worse for Germany as Italy went on to win the World Cup.  Although, 2012 is a different year for the Germans; they seek revenge against the Italians, hoping to capture the dominance in possession, which the Italians have excelled in throughout the tournament.  On the other side, the Italians have an eye on the surging German offense, who have scored nine goals in four games.  

My prediction: 2-1, Italy

EURO 2012: The Final Eight

Eight teams down, seven to go in the Euro 2012.  That is exactly what Michel Platini, UEFA President, as well as many fans around the world are thinking as group stages end and the quarterfinals begin.  Let's see how the quarterfinals will play out...

Portugal vs. Czech Republic

Cristiano Ronaldo is coming off a two-goal performance against the Netherlands, overshadowing his failures of not being able to finish the game off against the Danes.  Ronaldo and Nani have become a dangerous tandem; Nani taking the role as the play-maker with two assists in the tournament, while Ronaldo, only if he is consistent, as the finisher.  

Speaking of scoring, Petr Jiracek and Vaclav Pilar have been the scoring threats for the Czechs, each having two goals under their belt in the tournament.  Petr Cech has been solid in net and has experience in big games.  

My prediction: 2-1, Portugal

Germany vs. Greece

The Germans have showed their dominance in the group stages, racking up all nine points in the Group of Death.  Tied for first with three goals in the tournament,  Mario Gomez has been a significant contributor.  Gomez has given the German general manager Joachim Loewa a reason to start him over Miroslav Klose, the second all-time leader in goals in World Cup history.  Bastian Schweinsteiger, like Nani, has been Gomez's facilitator, recording two assists so far in the tournament.  

On the other hand, the Greeks have not been exactly following the manual of how to play the beautiful game.  They have gritted out games by the skin of their teeth such as the upset over Russia, scoring in the last two minutes of stoppage time during the first half, while hoping for a Poland loss against the Czechs, which the Soccer Gods graciously granted.  The Greeks will have to deal with a huge blow to their team, losing Girogos Karagounis, the captain and goal scorer against Russia, for the quarterfinal match-up due to multiple yellow cards.  However, don't forget that the Greeks won the Euros in 2004, so they have the experience.  

My prediction: 2-1, Germany

Spain vs. France

Coming out of Group C as first place winners were the Spaniards.  Known for their lethal ticky-tack passing system, the Spaniards, led by Andres Iniesta and David Silva in the midfield, seek to continue their championship streak and make history.  No team has won three championships in a row, giving Spain the opportunity to change that.  Silva leads his team with two assists, while Fernando Torres, looking like the Torres from the 2008 Euros, and Cesc Fabregas have two goals each.

At times, the French resemble a championship caliber team, although their inconsistency has plagued them, losing their last game 2-0 against an already eliminated Sweden, finishing second in Group D.  French striker Karim Benzema has yet to have scored his first goal in the tournament, but does have numbers in the assist column, with two.  Also, the French have received production from midfielders Jeremy Menez and Yohan Cabaye, both scoring against Ukraine in the group stages.    

My prediction: 3-2, Spain

Italy vs. England

Sneaking out of Group C as second place winners over Croatia were the new-look Italians.  The Italians have  evenly chipped into the goal sheet, receiving goals from Andrea Pirlo, Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano and Antonio DiNatale, all of whom have a goal each.  Balotelli scored his first goal, which just may be the goal of the tournament, off a Pirlo corner, side-volleying it past the Ireland keeper; after scoring, he tried to keep his emotions under control, angry that he didn't get to start.  Italy manager Cesare Prandelli has some tough decisions to make going into their quarterfinals game with his starting lineup as well as the loss of Giorgio Chiellini with a thigh injury. 

Roy Hodgson, replacing Fabio Capello less than just two months ago, has become the savior of England. The English have defeated Ukraine and Sweden, and tied the French during group stages.  Having English striker Wayne Rooney, who scored in his debut against Ukraine, back in the lineup has given the English squad another threat going forward.  Tied with two others for the most assists with three at the Euros is midfielder Steven Gerrard, who has threaded the needle with his crosses into the box.  Theo Walcott also gives the English depth and instant quickness off the bench.  If Hodgson keeps this up and wins the Euros, he may be eligible to become knighted by the Queen.  

My prediction: 2-1, Italy