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View Full Version : Lazo Alavanja - player/fighter


fatbastard
22 Mar 2005, 04:01 PM
CHICAGO (MNN) - What happened Saturday night at the UIC Pavilion was one of the ugliest and most disgraceful scenes I've ever witnessed in person in my 20 years watching soccer.

It all started at the 5:18 mark into the third quarter. After John Ball had equalized for Cleveland, he bumped into head coach Frank Klopas just as the teams were preparing for a timeout. Ball was evidently trash talking at Klopas and Storm defender Leo Pernia took exception and a brawl ensued that would eventually involved all the players and coaches and UIC Pavilion security.

Among the lowlights of this brawl: Gaston Pernia punched Force Forward Chris Dore (who had to leave the match with a cut above the eye) and going after anyone in a Force shirt--especially at Force goalie Jim Larkin, Force forward Joel Bailey trying to kung-fu kick Leo Pernia, Aaron Susi rabbit-punching Leo Pernia (who also went after Larkin and tried to kick someone). You know this would be an ugly brawl when the PA announcer asks security to come onto the field.

After the dust settled, both Pernia brothers and defender Fred DeGand were sent off for the Storm and Bailey and Susi were given their marching orders for the Force. Initially, Jim Larkin was to join his ejected teammates, but it was later rescinded because the Force didn't have a backup keeper. Storm midfielder Lazo Alavanja also had to leave the game due to a separated shoulder.

[rest of article snipped] - more at the FireAlarm site (http://thefirealarm.matchnight.com/tfadefault.cfm?page=ARTICLE&show=724)

mutinywxgirl
22 Mar 2005, 05:12 PM
Lazo makes proud all the Northwest Indiana soccer players who never made it to the pros.

Heal quickly, my friend!

mcontento
22 Mar 2005, 05:43 PM
I went to a soccer game and a hockey game broke out.

[edit to add] Man I miss the Caps. :(

Doctor Woo
22 Mar 2005, 08:33 PM
I went to a soccer game and a hockey game broke out.

[edit to add] Man I miss the Caps. :(

Yeah, for some reason hockey fights don't seem to shock me but this does. Likely because there are unwritten rules to fighting in hockey, like no hitting your man when he's on the ice, and inappropriate aggression demands payback. Barbaric, yes, but "part of the game". (A lame excuse, violence is after all violence.) Soccer fights lack both padding and rules.

mcontento
23 Mar 2005, 11:55 AM
Yeah, for some reason hockey fights don't seem to shock me but this does. Likely because there are unwritten rules to fighting in hockey, like no hitting your man when he's on the ice, and inappropriate aggression demands payback. Barbaric, yes, but "part of the game". (A lame excuse, violence is after all violence.) Soccer fights lack both padding and rules.


Not to mention that soccer players have not mastered the grapple and punch combination or the grapple and pull your opponent's jersey over his head technique so vital to hockey fighting's artform. A good hockey fight is as artistic and technical as lgihtweight or middleweight boxing.