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Saturday, May 26, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
MLB Rumors: Trading Cole Hamels Would Be Major Mistake by Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies find themselves in a tough position after a slow start. They currently sit in the NL East basement, leading General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. to say he might have to consider selling at the trade deadline.
Even though the Phillies aren't happy about their poor play after winning five straight division titles, it's way too early to make selling an option. That's especially true when you consider one of the names being floated around is starting pitcher Cole Hamels.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports the Toronto Blue Jays have already contacted the Phillies in hopes of landing Hamels, who will be a free agent at season's end. He states that no deal is imminent, but that talks have taken place.
While losing Hamels without getting anything other than a compensation pick for him is obviously a major concern, waiting until his contract year makes things extremely difficult on Amaro. Since the ace can enter free agency after the year, his open-market value is well below his actual value.
Hamels finished last season with a career-low 2.79 ERA, which ranked sixth in the National League. He's shown even further improvement in 2012. He sports a 2.45 ERA and the peripheral numbers suggest it's sustainable, mostly due to improved strikeout and walk rates.
Trading a superstar like him so early in the season—or at any point, really—would be a sign of surrender for the Phillies. While they envisioned a better start, no team has been able to run away with the division early, leaving Philadelphia just 5.5 games back despite playing well below expectations.
Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are both working their way back from injury and would provide a gigantic boost to a lineup that's been been wildly inconsistent so far. If they can stay healthy, there's no reason the Phillies can't go on an extended hot streak.
They will need Hamels to make that possible, though. The drop-off from him to his replacement would be enormous, because the Blue Jays—or another team that steps up—probably wouldn't be looking to deal any of their top-notch pitchers to get Hamels. They are looking for a deadline-year bargain.
So even though there are some obvious risks involved, the Phillies should keep Hamels. Getting him to re-sign would be the ideal scenario, but at the very least he will help them stay in contention and should give Philadelphia a hometown edge if he does enter free agency.
That's likely better than any package teams would offer for him before the deadline. Ultimately, he's worth more than the Phillies could get right now.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
NHL Playoffs 2012: Do The Devils Want The Rangers Or Capitals In Round 3?
The New Jersey Devils are guaranteed this much while they continue to wait for their adversary in the Eastern Conference final: the series will start on Monday, the other team will be wearing red, white and blue and they will present a comparable concoction of reliable goaltending, defensive-minded coaching and one or two elite scorers.
If the top-seeded New York Rangers prevail on Saturday, the discussions will immediately turn to Martin Brodeur versus Henrik Lundqvist and Ilya Kovalchuk versus Marian Gaborik, just to name two storylines.
If the Washington Capitals complete the upset, it will be Brodeur versus Braden Holtby, Kovalchuk versus Alex Ovechkin and so on.
If the Rangers end up on deck, they will be confronting a sixth-seeded Devils team immediately after surviving a scare from the seventh-seeded Capitals and a nearly identical toil with the eighth-seeded Ottawa Senators beforehand.
With four more nights of recharging and preparation, New Jersey could have a written invitation to be the ostensible underdog that finally lassos John Tortorella’s pupils. Although, they will have to do that by taking at least one game away from Madison Square Garden, where the Rangers will be 5-3 this spring, including two Game 7 victories, if they triumph on Saturday.
On the other hand, if the Caps prevail in their second straight Game 7, the next round will begin at the Prudential Center, where the Devils are 4-1 in the playoffs for a league-best .800 winning percentage on home ice.
In addition, the unripe Holtby will be asked to pull the hat trick and win yet another arm-wrestling bout with a seasoned, elite counterpart. And that will be after a negligible recovery period in the wake of besting Lundqvist and Boston’s Tim Thomas, each in the maximum seven games.
Do note that Brodeur has 193 career Stanley Cup playoff games under his belt, whereas Holtby, Lundqvist and Thomas will have all combined for 115 after Saturday’s New York-Washington decider.
At the same time, the 40-year-old Devils’ goaltender has not had much postseason fulfillment in the last nine years, and he may be looking at his best chance for a savory sendoff. His odds in the intangibles department may be better against an out-of-the-blue rookie than a seven-year franchise cornerstone looking to hit the final frontier.
Washington may also have a tougher time averting and/or responding to two-goal deficits if they cross paths with the Devils. Not counting empty-netters, three of New Jersey’s first eight playoff wins have been decided by more than one goal, including two out of four against the potent Philadelphia Flyers.
The Rangers have won two of their first 13 games in the same fashion, one of which was a 3-1 Game 1 triumph over Washington, the only multi-goal differential on the Capitals’ transcript.
Meanwhile, Washington has seen six of its 13 postseason games go to overtime, posting a 2-4 record in that scenario. They split four bonus stanzas in the first round against Boston, but have blinked against the Blueshirts on two tries.
The Rangers are 2-2 in sudden death, with both losses coming in the quarterfinals and both wins in the semis. The Devils are 3-1 with two wins in back-to-back elimination games against Florida and a split in the Philadelphia series.
If their first six tangles with one another are any indication, the Rangers will need to tap into their depth a little more if they move on, whereas some of Washington’s top guns could stand to shore up at even strength.
Each team has seen a pair of its most leaned-on scorers penetrate the opposition’s laser-beamed defense for three goals apiece, those being Gaborik and Brad Richards for New York and Ovechkin and Jason Chimera for Washington.
Gaborik and Richards have played on the same line and accounted for nearly half of the Rangers’ 13 goals against Holtby.
Chimera and Oveckin play on separate offensive units at even strength, though two of Ovechkin’s goals on Lundqvist have come on the power play. Ditto four of Washington’s 12 goals on the series, none of which have come from the likes of Alexander Semin or Troy Brouwer.
The Rangers, have also tallied four power-play strikes in the conference semifinals, which only amplifies the mirror-image look of the Devils’ prospective third-round foes.
In turn, the proper course of action in deciding the more ideal opponent may be inaction. Instead, New Jersey should appreciate and be ready to capitalize on the critical difference in rest, recovery and page-turning time.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Novak Djokovic: Madrid Open Must Change Blue Courts to Please Top Tennis Players
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have been the most vocal about their disapproval of the blue clay surface at the 2012 Madrid Open, and if the tournament doesn't change back to the red clay going forward, it will be very sorry.
According to The Telegraph, both Djokovic and Nadal—two of the top tennis players in the world—are threatening to boycott the tournament next year if the changes aren't made.
It's one thing to be upset about the change in color, but these star players are more concerned about their health.
"They are claiming that the court is exactly the same as red clay, which is not true because there is a big difference," Djokovic said. "You are tripping, slipping all the time, sliding. The winner will be the one who doesn't get hurt by the end of the week."
Tournament officials argue that the color change helps viewers at home to see the ball better, but honestly, the Madrid Open needs to cater to the players and not those watching on TV.
Djokovic will likely keep winning and go on to win the whole tournament. He's on fire right now, and it's tough to see anyone slowing him down, especially with Nadal having been upset already.
If Djokovic and Nadal don't play in next year's Madrid Open, the tournament will lose its appeal to viewers, which is something they cannot let happen.
With the ATP World Tour already being a pretty long season, it's easy to buy into Djokovic and Nadal's threats.
It's a good tournament, and excellent preparation for the French Open. However, if the players aren't happy with the surface of the courts, it makes perfect sense they wouldn't want to play there.
After all, this is about their safety and health. Tennis is a grueling sport that puts a lot of wear and tear on those at the professional level, since they are playing so much.
They could use a break every now and then, and it wouldn't be a big shocker to see these guys skip out on the tournament next year.
Hopefully, the organizers of the Madrid Open wise up and make the changes to please the players. Keeping the players healthy is a must. TV viewers will simply have to focus harder to find the ball, which isn't that big of a deal anyway.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Phil Taylor's Injury Is a Setback the Cleveland Browns Can Handle
It seems that year after year, the Cleveland Browns just can't catch a break. From injuries to personnel issues, it seems as though the Browns take two steps backward for every one forward, often through no fault of their own.
The latest small crisis hit the team yesterday, when starting second-year defensive tackle Phil Taylor tore his pectoral muscle. Taylor will have surgery next week and will be out no less than four-to-six months and perhaps the entire 2012 season.
It's not as though the Browns cannot solve this problem—they can rotate in two of their recent draft picks, John Hughes and Billy Winn at the position and it's possible that Taylor will return mid-season. But in an offseason that is equally imbued with as much optimism as it is paranoia that 2012 will be more of the same, Taylor's injury easily touches some already-frayed nerves.
The frustrating thing about football is that so much controlled by humans is still completely subject to arbitrary moments that cannot be completely planned for or reined in. These setbacks continually put the Browns in the situation of having a make-or-break season year after year, and progress seems incremental at best.
At the risk of contributing to the rhetoric—this truly is a make-or-break season for Cleveland. They've been on a long-term rebuilding process since 2010, and in 2012, the Browns have taken an aggressive stance toward making improvements in the past weeks.
It would be a gamble whether the Browns started QBs Brandon Weeden or Colt McCoy Brett Deering/Getty Images
They're primed to move on from starting quarterback Colt McCoy, replacing him with the newly-drafted Brandon Weeden. They selected the top running back in the draft, Trent Richardson. They added players to boost their struggling run defense.
If this latest push to build a competitive roster falls flat, it's likely to lead to another series of rebuilding seasons—it just doesn't seem like Head Coach Pat Shurmur, General Manager Tom Heckert and team President Mike Holmgren will all three survive the attrition that would result from another failed season.
So there's clearly reason for Browns fans to be holding their breath in guarded optimism about the approaching NFL season. There's quite a bit more going for the team than against it, but it's early, and anything can happen, as the Taylor injury demonstrates.
But for every cloud, there is a silver lining. Taylor is hurt, yes, but the two rookies are already working to fill his role at minicamp this weekend. At the same camp, Weeden is looking like the first-round talent the Browns hoped he'd be.
If the Browns can handle every step backward by brushing it off and moving forward, it may not be enough to end the season above .500—but that's the only way they can be assured that they don't get mired in these disappointments.
There are bad football teams, and there are bad circumstances, and sometimes the Browns have dealt with being handed both at the same time. Right now, the Browns have encountered another bad circumstance, but they aren't a bad football team—at least, at this early point, they don't seem like one—so while a setback like Taylor's injury is never welcomed, they have the tools to overcome it.
As long as more injuries to key players don't befall them in the coming months, they'll enter the season in a better position than they have in years.
Follow @FBALL_Andrea
Monday, May 21, 2012
Usain Bolt: Jamaican Sprinter Splits with Lubica Slovak Ahead of London Olympics
Before Usain Bolt collects a bounty of gold in London, he is showing the Heisman to his wonderful girlfriend Lubica Slovak.
I'm sure there were about three of you out there who were really pulling for this couple, but they are now splitsville. The reason?
Those damn Olympics.
While I am sure the impending London Games are hardly interfering with your daily lives, they have certainly been a nuisance for Bolt and his now ex-girlfriend.
The New York Post reports the worst news since Rachel and Ross almost got together, but didn't, because Ross didn't read the note and...
Anyway.
The champion sprint star ended his relationship with gorgeous fashion designer Lubica Slovak so she won't "distract" him from training.
Harsh. I mean, this is the same reason you send your dog out of the room for—he keeps stepping over the cords as you try to camp out in Call of Duty.
I understand how having a girlfriend can weigh on the mind in this case, though. Consider the report states Bolt was taken to task by fans recently for having a white girlfriend.
Photo Credit: Platinum Kids Sound When a picture of the two kissing surfaced, he received a great deal of flack. From there, we can finally see what's really behind this part of the report.
They were said to be "very comfortable together" and to favor quiet dinners over glitzy functions.
I can just imagine how he might have answered her constant asking of, "Honey, can we go to the movies, the party or anywhere?"
Bolt would just sit back and mutter, "Nah, I'm good."
At least, that's how I see it.
Consider the Olympics as the best excuse to break up with someone that you have been wanting to break up with for months.
I'm not saying, but I am saying.
Sure, this could all be a grand ruse to buy Bolt the sentiment of his fans who apparently don't like him dating Slovak, but I am a glass-is-half-empty kind of guy.
These two are as done as Jennifer Aniston and her next future ex-boyfriend.
Follow me on Twitter to get the latest on all things awesome.
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Sunday, May 20, 2012
WWE: Dolph Ziggler with Kharma as a Bodyguard
Dolph Ziggler is like a bull pacing in the pen just waiting for the gate to open.
I've heard a lot of people try to compare different stars to Shawn Michaels. I heard it a lot with John Morrison, that he was a young Shawn Michaels. I usually disagree with all the comparisons, but I do feel that Ziggler comparisons to a mid 90s Shawn Michaels are among the most accurate.
He has personality. He can back it up in the ring, and he knows it. So give Ziggler a bodyguard. Give him Kharma.
It's a great heel move to need muscle to follow you everywhere. And it works better when the person being protected doesn't need it.
When The Brian Kendrick had Ezekial Jackson as a bodyguard, nobody cared. The big, bad bodyguard can only aid their inadequate client so many times before it gets old. When the protected is talented enough as is, but still wants a protector, the formula works better. This worked for Shawn Michaels when he had Diesel or Sid, and it worked for Triple H when he had Chyna. They didn't need a bodyguard, but it made them that much easier to hate and that much more dangerous.
Kharma is a fascinating situation. She has been under WWE contract for over a year, but we have only seen her a hand full of times on WWE television, and she is so over. Kharma versus Beth Phoenix is the biggest money match in the divas division future. But what do you do after that? How many times can she run over the other divas who clearly aren't a threat to her. Don't try and sell them as such.
Kharma's time competing against the divas needs to be limited or just a part of her gimmick. She needs to be involved in storylines with the male superstars. Having her walk in the shadows behind the self-proclaimed show-off would fit.
Vickie Guerrero worked to bring more heat on to Ziggler as he was rising up the card. Kharma stands out in her own right and would the appropriate level of attraction in walking behind a main event-level Dolph Ziggler.
Follow @JustinLaBar
Saturday, May 19, 2012
EFAF General Assembly 2012: Hotel reservation instruction mailed to all members ()
Dear EFAF Member Federations,
please note that EFAF Office has send out the hotel reservation instructions to all members on today. If you have not recieved the file please approach directly EFAF office at office@efaf.de.
EFAF Annual General Assembly
Berlin
Schedule of events (tbc):
Friday, March 30, 2011
17.00 h EFAF Board of Directors meeting (invitation only)
Saturday, March 31, 2012
11.00 h EFAF General Assembly
17.00 h End of General Assembly
20.00 h EFAF Banquet hosted by EFAF and AFVD
Best regards
Robert Huber
President
EFAF Coaching Development Program at Turkey (EFAF)
EFAF Coaching Development Program was conducted by EFAF in Turkey, by the ivitation of Turkish AmericanFootball Federation. EFAF Coaching Development program was represented by Coach Paul Vincent Miraval and Coach Giorgio Longhi, Turkish Federation was represented by Coach Oktay Cavus head coach of the Turkish senior National team. Coaches Miraval and Longhi stayed in Harem Hotel, in Istanbul and Angora Hotel, in Ankara.
Level 1 Clinic, in Istanbul, was held in Ministry of Sports Istanbul Branch Office building (Gençlik ve Spor Il Müdürlügü) Turkish Active Soccer Referees and Observers Association Seminar Room. Facility was well prepared before our arrival and the Ministry of Sports Istanbul Branch Office Manager and American Football Branch Representative were very helpful during the Clinic.
Level 2 Clinic was held in Gazi University, Ankara. Gazi University is also known for their strong American Football program in Turkey. They were named as Division 1 Champions in Clubs League last year and were named as Division 1 champions in College League 2 years ago. The Vice President of Turkish American Federation, Mr. Mehmet Güçlü is also one of the Professors in Gazi University and was the promoter of the Coaching Clinic in Ankara.
More than 40 Turkish Coaches were certified after the EFAF Coaches Development Program Clinic and had an opportunity to share valuable videos, information and material brought by Coach Miraval and Coach Longhi.
"Also we, as Turkish Coaches, had an opportunity to share information and use Coach Miraval and Coach Longhi’s experience outside the Clinic hours. They were available and helpful even in their spare times and very dedicated to help the Turkish football coaches".
"I personally have been conducting Player and Coaching Clinics in Turkey since 2001, with American High School and College Coaches. Being an AFCA Member since 2009 I also had a chance to attend many High-School and College Clinics and a few NFL Camps in America. The football conditions; programs, budgets, equipments, fields, etc… in America are very different than Turkey. So, with my humble opinion, I firmly believe that European Coaches understand us better and are very experienced in overcoming the difficulties we are facing today.
I’m looking forward to have an ongoing program with EFAF and I want to thank to Coach Paul Vincent Miraval and Coach Giorgio Longhi for their contributions to American Football in Turkey " said coach Cavus.
Friday, May 18, 2012
EFAF OFFICIALS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: Executive Summary (EFAF)
PURPOSE
EFAF is developing officiating ability in Europe by providing officiating clinic to its members.
EFAF has two levels of clinics 1 and 2 for beginners and more advanced countries.
SPEAKERS
To be decided
AGENDA
It is an officiating clinic weekend; here is an example of schedule and contents:
Saturday
11H00 Presentation
12H00 Rules Application/Philosophies
13H15 General Principles
11H00 Passing plays 7-man crew
14H30 Axioms of Officiating
15H00 Lunch Break
16H00 Kick plays 5-man crew
17H00 Running plays 5-man crew
18H00 Passing plays 5-man crew
19H00 Other situations 5-man crew
20H00 End
Sunday
09H00 Kick plays 7-man crew
10H00 Running plays 7-man crew
12H00 Other situations 7-man crew
13H00 END
CONDITIONS
EFAF provides two speakers and the plane tickets for the speakers, contents
Local federation provides:
Lodging, food and local transportation for the speakers
General organisation such as Classroom, video projector, coffee breaks, etc.
Football field and equipments
APPLICATION
EFAF member federations can apply to Paul Vincent Miraval EFAF Technical Director
Email: p.miraval@efaf.info
EFAF General Assembly took place at Berlin March 31, 2012 (EFAF)
The EFAF General Assembly took place at Berlin March 31, 2012. Delegates of 22 federations attended the conference. The delegates approved the accounts of 2010 and 2011 as well as the budget 2012 and 2013.
The President of the Belgium Football League (BFL) Lesley Moreels was elected as new member of the Board of Directors for the remaining term of the Board until 2014.
The AFBN (The Netherlands) as been accepted as full member of EFAF again. The SAAF (Serbia) was recognized as new full member for Serbia. Croatia was accepted as new full member. With those three additions EFAF has as this time 24 full members.
The General Assembly also approved a new system of sending delegates to the GA which had been proposed by a working group composed of six legal experts out of the member federations.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
EFAF represented at AFCA coaches convention (EFAF)
EFAF Technical Director Paul Vincent Miraval and EFAF Director of Coaches Development Giorgio Longhi attended the 89th annual AFCA coaches convention at San Antonio, Texas. The convention is the most profiled in the world, with more than 6.000 American Football coaches from around the globe gathering. „This is very important for EFAF, not only to be represented at this meeting“, said Miraval. „American Football coaching is developing at such a fast pace, and in order to keep our clinics throughout Europe up to date, we have to stay in constant contact with coaches from the United States and the whole world.“
More than 400 European American Football coaches attended EFAF's clinics since 2007 - most of the clinics held in countries, where American Football is quite new on the scene. Thus most coaches from these countries are not able to attend meetings like the one at San Antonio directly yet - but instead need the clinics to come to their home countries. Shortly after their return from San Antonio Miraval and Longhi will be on the road again, to conduct another EFAF coaching clinic, this time in Slovenia on the first weekend of February. Attendees certainly will benefit from Miraval's and Longhi's trip to Texas, as they are guaranteed to learn about the newest trends. Future clinics will be held at Bruxelles (Belgium), Istanbul/Ankara (Turkey), Budapest (Hungaria) and Sofia (Bulgaria) during the next 12 to 15 months.
Miraval's and Longhi's efforts to improve the level of coaching within Europe go beyond these clinics itself. Both are assisting coaches throughout the year and manage an ever-growing network of European American Football coaches. „The questions we receive are diverse - but usually we find a way to help to solve a problem“, says Miraval. Some of their time at San Antonio they spent with meetings with suppliers of equipment, such as helmets, shoulder pads, computer software or strength and conditioning equipment, because much of their daily work on behalf of EFAF has to address the basics. Still of course they attended more sophisticated sessions at the convention like for instance the Master coach series featuring coaching legend Tubby Raymond from Delaware, the coach who literally created the offensive system called wing T.
Of course most - if not all - new coaching trends still are developed in the U.S., but European American Football coaches catch up steadily. Part due to Miraval's, Longhi's and EFAF's efforts, and still this is what they see as the fitting reward for their activities, when coaching skills are enhanced in Europe. But certainly they also enjoy their work being appreciated personally, like when Giorgio Longhi recently was appointed by IFAF as assistant coach for a world junior team which will play an international game versus an USA team in February at Austin, Texas. „This is a welcome recognition of what we have developed in the past four years by staging EFAF's coaching clinics. I am very proud to be there“, says Longhi.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
GFL versus X League (AFVD)
On May 19, 2012, the Obic Seagulls and the Dresden Monarchs will play the first ever game between a team of the X League and a team of the German Football League. The game will be played at Dresden's „glücksgas stadion“. Coverage of the game on TV is supposed to be provided by EUROSPORT 2, available throughout Europe and Asia and also via web-based IPTV. The game has been agreed upon by the two clubs, the Japanese American Football Association (JAFA) and American Football Verband Deutschland (AFVD). Both national federations already have staged German-Japan Bowl I, the first game between their national teams back in April 2010 at Düsseldorf (which Japan won by 24-14).
Now it is time for two clubs of Japan and Germany to open up a new chapter in the history of worldwide American Football. Japan's X League and Germany's GFL undisputedly are the two most-profiled American Football leagues outside of North America. While both federations share the goal of globalizing American Football and in that respect are two of the most active members of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), often uniting in initiatives to enhance international play (both federations have successfully staged World Cups in 2003 and 2007 respectively), athletes and fans in both countries enjoy a friendly rivalry about which of the two leagues features the higher level of playing skills.
The Dresden Monarchs are member of the German Football League since 2003 and have reached the play-offs in all but two of their nine GFL seasons. The team is coached by American Gary Spielbuehler, who will enter his 4th season with the Monarchs in 2012. After an injury-plagued season in 2011 the Monarchs again will enter the 2012 season as one of the top play-off prospects in the Northern division of the GFL. If they are spared from injuries of that abnormal extent they suffered last year, the Monarchs might turn out as one of the top favorites for winning the German National Championship in 2012, as the core of their team remains intact and they already have added some very profiled players from Germany and other European countries to their roster.
The Dresden Monarchs from Saxony currently are the only GFL team from Eastern Germany, which in 1990 was re-unified with the Western parts of the country. Accordingly the Monarchs are one of the younger clubs in the GFL, founded in 1992, as until 1989 American Football was prohibited in Dresden and the former GDR. The Monarchs are celebrating their 20th anniversary with that special game against the Obic Seagulls and - as some of their GFL games in the last two seasons - will play it at Dresden's most modern stadium. „glücksgas stadion“ has a capacity of 32,066 seats and was newly erected in 2009, with building costs totalling 46 million euros. The playing field features natural grass, and the stadium is also home to Dresden's most profiled soccer team Dynamo.
GFL league games and especially the national final German Bowl in recent years are played in the respective city's prime sporting arenas more frequently, in part due to the Monarchs organization serving as one of the trendsetters. The GFL was founded in 1979 as a six-team „Bundesliga“ and in 1999 was renamed as the German Football League. The league is the oldest American Football league in Europe and currently comprises 16 teams: eight teams each in a Northern and a Southern division. Reigning champions are the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns who in October 2011 defeated their predecessor Kiel Baltic Hurricanes in German Bowl XXXII at Magdeburg. The GFL is supplemented by a second national division GFL 2, which also is comprised of 16 teams divided into a Northern and Southern division. In total, about 250 tackle teams participate in league play in Germany, the German federation AFVD with more than 40,000 individual members is by far the largest American Football federation in Europe. Roughly every second person engaged into American Football within Europe stems from Germany. With 18,000 players Germany according to a recent IFAF survey is the world's most active nation regarding male senior tackle football behind the U.S. slightly ahead of Japan. AFVD also oversees activities in junior and youth football, flag football, women's football, Australian Rules football and cheerleading in Germany and is a member of „Deutscher Olympischer Sport-Bund“, Germany's National Olympic Committee and governing body of sports. GFL clubs seven times have won the Eurobowl, the champions league of European American Football. The national team won two European Championships (recently in 2010), one World Games gold medal in 2005 and finished third in the World Cups of 2003 and 2007.
The Obic Seagulls were established in 1983 and are member of X League. The team from Narashino city in Chiba prefecture has won six X League Championships in 1996, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2010 and 2011 and won the National Championship of Japan four times in 1996, 1998, 2005, and 2010. On January 3, 2012, the Seagulls again are playing for the National Championship in the Rice Bowl. 13 players from the Obic Seagulls played for the Japanese national team at the 4th World Championships 2011 in Austria. One of them, Noriaki Kinoshita, was member of the international practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL, before he joined the Seagulls for the 2011 season.
The X League is the top level American Football league in Japan and consists of 18 teams separated to three regional divisions. The season usually runs from September to December, the championship game, called Japan X Bowl, is held in mid-December. The 25th Japan X Bowl was held on December 19, 2011, at Tokyo Dome and featured an attendance of 19,864. Annually the winner of Japan X Bowl plays the college league national champion at the Japanese National Championship game, called Rice Bowl, in the first week of the new year.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Happy Christmas and a wonderfull new year 2012! (EFAF)
Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.
International officiating clinic in Budapest (EFAF)
More than 75 officials attended an international officiating clicic at Budapest, Hungary, organized by the Officiating Committee of the Hungarian federation MASZ. Participants of the two-day-clinic on February 11/12 came from five different countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovakia and of course Hungary. The clinic was conducted by renowned Big Ten official Bill LeMonnier, who brought lots of material with him from the United States. His vivid presentation excited the attendees who embraced the opportunity to share valuable videos, information and training material.
„As a new sport in Hungary, American Football is developing at a fast pace. In order to keep our officials prepared, we have to organize such events and have to invite experienced colleagues from Europe or from the United States. That inspired me to invite Bill LeMonnier to Budapest“ - said Gyula Udvardi, chairman of MAFSZ's OC.
"I personally have been officiating 1973 and working in Big Ten since 1994. I had 15 different Bowl game assignments, worked two world championships and I am sure I can forward something about my experience. I am really glad to be invited and will do my best to share all those knowledge” – said Bill when he arrived to Budapest.
"All participants had an opportunity to share information, ask question and use Bill LeMonnier's experience outside clinic hours. He was available and very helpful even in his spare time and was very dedicated to help us. We spent Saturday evening together and went out for a dinner and were chatting about football", added Udvardi. The clinic was held in Budapest's Griff hotel. The facility was well prepared for the event, staff was very helpful during the clinic and for the comfort of the foreign clinic attendees they all could stay in the same hotel during the weekend.
At the end of the weekend all guests had lots of new information, some new training material and a lot of interesting stories about NCAA football to tell when they came home. “Next time we are eager to further improve our clinic, invite more colleagues from more countries and make this event a real European meeting for officials“, promises Udvardi.
Finally let's share Bill LeMonnier's thoughts about those five days he spent in Budapest with his wife Barbara: “Can't thank you enough for the great experience to visit Budapest and see so many friends. Both Barbara and I will remember this as one of our best experiences.”
“I think this to be the biggest admission we can get from Bill”, said Udvardi after the clinic. “I am really proud that we were able to organize and host this meeting and I am glad to hear those words from Bill.”
London, Grenoble and Sollerod earn playoff berths (EFAF)
The London Blitz, winner of EFAF Cup and British champion of 2011, are the first of four division titlists in this year's European Football League. The Blitz defeated reigning Spanish champion L'Hospitalet Pioners by 21-14 at London's Finsbury Park and became only the second British team in EFL quarterfinals since the European reign of the London Olympians faded in the Mid-90's. The Blitz, who in their first EFL game had escaped with a 7-6 win at La Courneuve, had to fight hard against their Spanish opponents again, but in the third quarter broke a 14-14 halftime tie by Steve Clements' interception return touchdown. And again it was their defense that was able to secure that lead until the end. Next stop of the Blitz will be Berlin, where last year's Eurobowl runner-up Adler will be the hosts in the quarterfinal game on May 27.
The race for the second of the open quarterfinals spots will be decided on April 29, when the Prague Panthers travel to Vienna to face the Danube Dragons. Both teams agreed to decide their battle for the right to square off with reigning Eurobowl champion Tirol Raiders in old-fashioned football style - in just one game, where the winner takes it all. As both find themselves struggling in national Austrian Football League play, at this time advancing to the EFL quarterfinals looks like their last chance to turn their 2012 season into one to be considered successful by their own standards. And as the Tirol Raiders suffered their first loss after 371 days (losing their road game at Vienna against the Vikings like in 2011, this time by 15-17), there still might be some hope to turn the season into a „defining“ one, when one of both plays the Raiders at Wattens on May 26.
A „defining season“ is something the two other winners of EFL group play of the last weekend are after for sure. Swiss and German champions Calanda Broncos and Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns both left no doubt they are bound for the EFL quarterfinals at Graz and Vienna respectively, and for both clubs the Eurobowl trophy is officially declared to be this season's goal. The Calanda Broncos defeated Finnish champions Helsinki Wolverines easily by 49-6, a margin that would take more than just a single miracle to be turned around in the second encounter at Finland's capital on May 5. The Unicorns still might be a little more concerned. While their 44-6 win at Badalona was in no way less convincing, they have to play against a third team, Italy's Parma Panthers, on May 5, to conquer the division title. However, with Tirol's AFL loss the Unicorns took over the role of holder of the longest current „unbeaten, untied“ streak among EFL contestants, as their last defeat dates back to September 18, 2010. Neglecting ties the current record holder would be the London Blitz, whose last defeat came in EFAF Cup 2010 on June 5 against Carlstad. So with this set of teams to challenge the top four seeds in the quarterfinals some very exciting games will certainly be ahead in EFL 2012.
Same goes for EFAF Cup: Two of the semifinalists have already cleared their way into the postseason. The Sollerod Gold Diggers, the finalist of 2011 from Denmark, beat Poland's Wroclaw Giants 58-7 to take the division title, and France's „shooting star“ of the last couple of years from Grenoble won a close game at Hohenems (17-15) to conquer group A. An all Danish and French semifinal might be possible, as Amiens and the Triangle Razorbacks from Jutland may become the other two group winners.. However there is a strong German GFL team from Braunschweig that steps into the way of the Danish champions next Sunday. And even when Braunschweig's head coach Phil Hickey, who himself coached in Denmark for some years, warns his team to not underestimate the challenge, his team is favoured to secure the semifinals spot with a win over the Razorbacks.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Playoff spots at stake ()
Games in all three of EFAF's running club competitions are scheduled for the weekend of April 21 and 22. In the European Football League the first of the four division champions could be crowned, when the London Blitz host Spain's champion of 2011, L'Hospitalet Pioners, at Finsbury Park. London set up this situation by a surprising 7-6 road win at Paris, which left 2011 French champions La Courneuve Flash with little hope to reach this year's quarterfinals. London, winner of last year's EFAF Cup, entered EFL 2012 with a strong defensive performance and held on to the narrow lead after its first-quarter touchdown and a missed Flash PAT kick that hit the left goal post after the sole Flash touchdown. A win or tie against the Pioners now would seal a London trip to a quarterfinal game at Berlin.
Also on Saturday German champion Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns will make its EFL debut. Six months after a perfect season in the German Football League the game at the Badalona Dracs will be the first of the season for the Unicorns, and that's what worries them a little more than the fact that their set of American players will not be the same as in last year's spectacular run for their first national championship. Still the team is confident to set up a divisional final game with the Parma Panthers in May by emerging victorious at Badalona. Saturday also marks the first of two round-robin games of the Calanda Broncos and the Helsinki Wolverines for another quarterfinal spot. The Swiss team from Chur again has left no doubt in its 2012 games at Switzerland that there should be no arguing about who is favoured in the Nationalliga A. Helsinki, which quite surprisingly won last year's Finnish championship, surely hopes to again prove to be more than just the underdogs.
Two of the top favourites in the EFL competitions who already have their quarterfinal spot secured due to their 2011 progress in the competition will face each other on Sunday - however in their national competition at home. Defending Eurobowl champion Tirol raiders travels to Vienna to play the first of what could turn out to be four encounters of the season with the Vikings. Both teams went unbeaten through the first four weeks of Austrian Football League competition, both have their eyes firmly set on the Eurobowl trophy. And whenever a series of games against the same opponent will define the outcome of a season, the first of these games is quite eagerly awaited by players, coaches and fans alike.
Another Austrian team is engaged in one of the three EFAF Cup games of the weekend. The Blue Devils from Hohenems take on the Grenoble Centaures from France, who brought over their strong performances of 2011 into the new season. Only promoted to the French first division before the 2011 season the team from the French Alps started its European venture with a convincing 30-0 against Valencia and could secure a semifinal spot at Hohenems. In other action last year's runner-up Sollerod from Denmark takes on Wroclaw Giants from Poland, and the second French team from Amiens travels to Alphen in the Netherlands.
One game is scheduled in the CEI Interleague on Sunday. The Györ Sharks, who won the CEI Interleague's opener at Klek by 33-8, visit their fellow-Hungarians Nyiregyhaza Tigers. The CEI Interleague last year was established and replaced former Challenge Cup as EFAF's regional competition in Southeastern Europe. Like in 2011 the core of teams in CEI Interleague stems from Hungary this year, however future plans of EFAF and the Hungarian federation see it expanding to many more countries of the region.
EFAF COACHES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (EFAF)
EFAF COACHES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
EFAF COACHING CLINIC
PURPOSE
EFAF COACHING CLINIC
PURPOSE
EFAF is developing coaching ability in Europe by providing coaching clinic to its members.
EFAF has two levels of clinics 1 and 2 for beginners and more advanced countries.
SPEAKERS
Paul Vincent MIRAVAL
EFAF Technical Director
FFFA Former French Junior National Team Head coach
European junior Champion 2004-2006
Giorgio LONGHI
EFAF Director of Caching Development
Director Players & Coaches Development Program - Former Team Italy Head Coach
AGENDA
It is a coaching clinic weekend; here is an example of schedule and contents:
Saturday Sunday (On the Football Field)
11H00 Presentation 08H00 Basics
12H00 Ethic/Teaching/Pedagogy 9H30 Drills
13H00 Safe practice of American Football 11H30 Lunch
14H00 Equipment 13H00 Drills
15H00 Lunch Break 16H00 END
16H00 Video /Organisation
18H00 Game day
19H00 Systems
20H00 Offseason
CONDITIONS
EFAF provides two speakers and the plane tickets for the speakers, contents
Local federation provides:
Lodging, food and local transportation for the speakers
General organisation such as Classroom, video projector, coffee breaks, etc.
Football field and equipments
HISTORY
Warsaw Poland 7-9 December 2007 Level 1, Nis Serbia 19-21 September 2008 Level 1
Dublin Ireland 20-22 November 2009 Level 1, Istanbul Turkey 29-31 January 2010 Level 1
Prague Czech Rep 12-14 February 2010 Level 1, Prague Czech Rep 21- 23 January 2011 Level 2
Portoroz Slovenia 4-6 February 2011 Level 1, Bruxelles Belgium 1-2 October 2011 Level 1
APPLICATION
EFAF member federations can apply to Paul Vincent Miraval EFAF Technical Director
Email: p.miraval@efaf.info
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