Re: Regionals 2006 Well, one last post before I leave. We have returned from our 8:00 AM game, where we played really well, holding Dallas to 0-0 until the 67th minute before finally giving way and allowing 3 goals. (Two of them came off blatant handling, but I've given up on getting any calls at this tournament.) It proves once again that you can't get inside the head of a 15 year old - if the boys had come to play yesterday like they did today we might be advancing instead of going home. Oh well, live and learn. They proved they belong on the field, now they have to prove they can win.
Re: Regionals 2006 Updates from the weekend: The U18G Attack 88 Blue advanced from pool play to the quarterfinals, where they will face the Georgia state champions, PTC Lazers 88, today at 11:30. The U14B Jets 92 Blue got a 3-2 win in their 3rd match against Tennessee. They had a great showing, losing only 1-0 to the North Texas state champions and 2-1 to Mississippi for a net goal differential of -1. The U16B Streaks 90 managed a 1-1 draw in their final match with Arkansas but it wasn't enough to capitalize on their favorable draw and advance. The U17B Steamers 89 and the U15B Jets 91 Blue proved once again that the laws of math do not apply to soccer: If U17B AL beats SC 3-1 and SC beats PL South 4-3, the commutative law would indicate that when AL played PL South they should have a +3 differential - but they lost 4-0; likewise if U15B NTX beats PL South 6-0 and PL South beats AL 4-0, NTX should expect a -10 differential over AL, but they only get -3. The U18B Jets 88 Blue finished their career with a 1-1 draw with CASL Elite . Next year's regionals are in Oklahoma City. It looks to be about a 12-13 hour drive. Oh joy. Looking back over the last several years, we see the following pattern: 2000 Plano 2001 Memphis 2002 Little Rock 2003 Greensboro 2004 Austin 2005 Plano 2006 Little Rock 2007 Oklahoma City There are evidently not many venues in the eastern part of Region III that qualify to host the event. Some back of the napkin calculations (ok, I used Excel) show that the minimum economic impact of the event under the assumptions I chose is about $2.3M with $114K direct tax income: 23,500 hotel nights (not including staff, referees, etc), which at $75/night would be $1.76M of revenue, and assuming a 5% lodging tax would generate $88,000 in taxes 52,500 meals (lunch and dinner), which at $10/meal would be $525,000 revenue and $26,000 in sales tax at 5% Obviously this leaves out the other things like Wal-Mart trips and gas (and let's not forget the bar tabs) which also generate revenue and taxes. If we had a quality 16 field complex, we could have this event every fourth or fifth year if history is a guide.
Re: Regionals 2006 I started an EPL pick 'em game. All you do is pick win or draw. You must save your picks after you make them or you will not accrue points. Here is the link: http://epl.pickdee.com/Alabama-Premier-League/ the game is public so feel free to pass it on to others.
Re: Regionals 2006 congrats to Joel Nash of the Briarwood SC for getting picked for the US U15 boys NT camp that starts today. http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_281204.html
Celtic partners with Hoover? Any thoughts on this recent news? Is there likely to be any real impact other than cool new hooped kits for the Hoover competitive clubs? Can a Rangers association with some other local club and sectarian violence be far behind? Just kidding on the last bit...
Re: Celtic partners with Hoover? http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1154683201296410.xml&coll=2
Re: Celtic partners with Hoover? I wonder if anyone noticed that 'hoover' is a British English colloquialism meaning 'to vacuum', as in "I can't play football today, I have to hoover the living room." Not that there's anything to that, I just have a memory of walking into a Scottish B&B many years ago and the proprietress mentioning that she had 'just finished hoovering the parlor'. That was a great place, but it had one of those mounted-on-the-wall hot water/shower things because there was no hot water heater in the home (it having been built in the 1700s or so).
I'm upgrading my Alabama Resident credentials this year. My eldest son (the one that doesn't play soccer) is now a freshman member of the Million Dollar Band.
Re: Celtic partners with Hoover? Should have mentioned - this place was about 5 miles from Doune Castle, where a lot of the exteriors and interiors for "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" were shot. We visited - it was quite the experience. This all took place in what I refer to as the "B.C. era" (before children). Played golf at the Old Course that trip too. Golf - that's a pastime from the "B.S. era" (before soccer).
I am forsaking two state league games and the Memphis game at Legion Field to go watch my son in the band at the Bama-Duke game.
Birmingham United Appoints Eric Dade as Executive Director After a national search, Birmingham United has appointed Eric Dade as its first Executive Director. There's an announcement in Ken Gamble's al.com blog http://touchlines.blogs.al.com/default.asp?item=239744 and at the BUSA website www.birmingham-united.com/main.shtml
Jets 91 Blue will finish either first, second, or third in Region III Premier League Central (AL, AR, MS, LA, TN), depending on the outcome of the Knoxville FC vs Smoky Mountain Soccer Club game and the Smoky Mountain vs Gulf Coast United game. Not bad. They finished W5 D3 L1, with their only loss coming to Smoky Mountain SC 3-2 in their last match.
I have to brag Congratulations to James McNeill (my son) for being selected to the '94 OPD pool. He tried out a year early but showed excellent skill, awareness, effort, and attitude that weekend. Yes, I am very proud of him.
congrats to the BUSA Angels 90 for winning their bracket in the Disney Showcase. Katy Frierson from that same team stayed behind in Orlando for the US U17 WNT camp. Good news all around!
very fast, not the greatest touch. has a pretty good eye for goal. doubt he'll make it in MLS. maybe A-League.