You are here: Home / Archives for The Other Sports

USA Soccer: Reaction to final WCQs and Updated Roster Projection

October 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

90fd59f77f9f45799618fa1606165b19

The Cover 4.com presents you with USA Soccer: Reaction to final WCQs and Updated Roster Projection! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @thecover4 or facebook at theCo VerFour

The CONCACAF Hexagonal World Cup Qualifier has wrapped up, and wow did it go out with a bang. The United States won both of their games and several players saw action with an opportunity to help, hurt, or cement their place in the squad preparing for the World Cup.

If you’re late to the party that is the Hex, here’s how it went down: The US beat Jamaica to wrap up the top spot in the Hex going into their final game at Panama, and Mexico beat Panama to control their own destiny heading into their final game at second-place Costa Rica, where a win or draw would at least clinch a home-and-home playoff with New Zealand for a place at the World Cup. In other words, the US had nothing to play for and Mexico had everything to play for.

You wouldn’t have known it watching the US, who put on an incredible display of resilience that exemplified sportsmanship and fair play. Panama has never been to a World Cup, so even a shot at a playoff was huge and their stadium was ready to come unglued. With nothing to play for, it would have been easy for a group of fringe players from the US to mail in the game and let Panama have their party, but that’s not what they chose to do.

Jürgen Klinsmann has instilled in this squad that they are out to win every game, and that’s exactly what happened. With the traditional “never say die” attitude that has been a trademark of American soccer, the US scored twice in stoppage time to completely crush Panama’s dreams and keep Mexico’s hope alive. After the game several US players including Terrence Boyd and Aron Jóhannsson stayed on the field to console some of Panama’s players who were visibly emotional after they failed to hold the lead (more on that later).

Though it is true that the US had nothing to play for in the standings, many of the players who took the field had a spot on the roster to Brazil to play for. Several are considered to be fringe players heading into next summer, and they needed to prove to Klinsmann that they blend well with the team and are capable of making an impact if given the chance on the World’s biggest stage. Midfielder Kyle Beckerman stated after the game that he was going to play hard the whole game regardless of what was on the line for Panama, an attitude that was prevalent throughout the squad that night as well in a hard fought 2-0 victory against Jamaica.

Before analyzing individual performances from the final two games, here is the updated squad projection for next summer’s World Cup:

 

Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/England), Tim Howard (Everton/England), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake/MLS)

Outside Defenders (4): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla/Mexico), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana/Mexico), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96/Germany), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC/MLS)

Center Defenders (5): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City/MLS), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/Germany), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/England), Omar González (Los Angeles Galaxy/MLS), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes/MLS)

Outside Midfielders (3): Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes/France), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim/Germany), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City/MLS)

Center Midfielders (4): Michael Bradley (AS Roma/Italy), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg/Norway), Jermaine Jones (Schalke/Germany), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht/Belgium)

Forwards (4): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland/England), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC/MLS), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy/MLS), Aron Jóhannsson (AZ Alkmaar/Netherlands)

The only change in the squad from the last projection is Mix Diskerud taking Beckerman’s place as a center midfielder. This was a tough decision, especially since Beckerman played well in his start against Panama. However, Diskerud started both games and played a variety of roles, some he thrived in and some he did not, but the fact Klinsmann started him in both shows confidence in what Diskerud brings in his ball-handling skills and playmaking.

The decision ultimately came down to Beckerman or Sacha Kljestan. Though Kljestan was less than impressive as a starter for most of the Panama game, he was very solid as a substitute against Jamaica when he nearly scored right after he was brought on. The deciding factor was that Kljestan plays for a better club team, Anderlecht, which is playing in the Champions League, allowing Kljestan an opportunity to be tested and grow since he is a regular starter. In addition to this, he has been scoring goals and consistently turning in good performances. His experience will be valuable in the World Cup as the speed of play increases against the top teams, something I feel Beckerman might struggle with.

IMG_1258

Player Evaluations

Goalkeeper: Tim Howard started against Jamaica and Brad Guzan started against Panama. Both played well individually, taking goals allowed out of the equation since Guzan had an entirely different center-back pairing and a road environment to deal with, though he should have done better with the rebound he spilled leading to Panama’s second goal. Guzan is certainly the keeper of the future and the US has a lot to be excited about with him, but it is Howard’s net for now.

Outside Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley put in a solid stint against Jamaica which included a great run forward and a shot that barely missed the target in the first half before being subbed out in the second half. He’s not as fast as he used to be, but he still picks his spots well and is a threat in attack on overlapping runs. Edgar Castillo came on for him against Jamaica and went the distance against Panama. Castillo adds more speed and playmaking down the wing, but he leaves A LOT to be desired on the defensive side. I am ignoring Alejandro Bedoya’s cameo at right back in the Panama game, all I will say is don’t expect to see him there again. Brad Evans got exposed in these qualifiers on the right. He was repeatedly beaten by quicker wings for the opponent. Though he recovered well and bailed himself out a few times, he is not what is needed from a starting right back at the World Cup. If Panama made him look that vulnerable, imagine how much Cristiano Ronaldo, Franck Ribery, or even Theo Walcott would feast on him. Steve Cherundolo began his rehab last week, and the job is definitely his when he is healthy.

Center Defenders: Matt Besler and Geoff Cameron both played great in the clean sheet against Jamaica. Cameron can and probably will overtake Omar Gonzalez as the regular starter there at some point. He was very steady, consistent, and worked well with Besler, who was his usual calm and collected self, playing in front of his hometown fans in Kansas City. Clarence Goodson against Panama was the fixture he usually is; nothing flashy but no glaring mistakes either. Michael Orozco is another story. Yes, he scored the first goal of the night to tie it at 1 off of a corner kick, but he was often caught out of position and is just too inconsistent to be considered for the final 23 at this point.

Outside Midfielders: Landon Donovan was clearly not 100% when he took the field against Jamaica. He had a quiet first half by his standards and was subbed out at the break. He has been battling an injury, and his performance should not hurt his place in the starting lineup long-term given his track record. With Fabian Johnson injured and remaining in Germany, the aforementioned Bedoya started both games on the right flank and had his ups and downs. He created space well but failed to provide quality service on his short passes and crosses. His place in the squad is safe but don’t expect him to start with the full team healthy. Graham Zusi cemented his place in the squad going forward, scoring as a substitute against Jamaica and the late equalizer against Panama. Houston Dynamo veteran Brad Davis showed well as a sub against Panama providing stellar crosses, including the assist to Zusi’s header. But at a position of depth for the US he is a long-shot at best to go to Brazil.

Center Midfield: Center midfield had the most action in these two games. Jermaine Jones started against Jamaica and went the full 90, doing his duty as a part-time bruiser in front of the back 4 and part-time distributor bridging the gap from defense to attack. He remains the easy choice to partner with Michael Bradley when he comes back from injury. As mentioned before, Diskerud made a decent showing for himself, more so as he was freed to push forward and play underneath a forward. His pairing with Jones was not the best and he lends better to the role Clint Dempsey usually occupies, which he played against Panama. Beckerman did nothing to hurt his chances, with some decent passes from his holding role. Kljestan was an interesting case. He showed very well in his time against Jamaica pushing forward and holding up play, which created more offensive chances. Against Panama as a starter, it took him a while to get going. He worked much better with Jones than with Beckerman for some reason and looked much more comfortable perhaps because he knew Jones wanted to sit back so he was free to push forward, whereas Beckerman tends to do both. Once Diskerud was subbed out, he pushed up field more and looked much better in the final half hour of that game. I expect Klinsmann to call him in for the November friendlies for another look.

Forwards: Jozy Altidore played well both matches, captaining the Panama game, and scoring an easy tap-in near the end of the Jamaica match. He continues to distribute well with his back to the goal, though he tends to get passive when he isn’t getting consistent service or support. In the Jamaica game he tended to drift back into the midfield and allowed Jóhannsson to stay up top, which does not suit his game well. All things considered, he remains the top choice for the Americans as he is a menace for opposing defenses to deal with. Jóhannsson got his first start for the US against Jamaica in a 4-4-2 formation. He created, and subsequently wasted, many chances in that game while paired with Altidore, but he did show flashes of what he is capable of. When he came on as a substitute for Diskerud against Panama, he dropped behind Altidore and showed the two should have switched roles against Jamaica as he is more than capable of being a supporting forward. His best role for this team may be as offensive spark off the bench giving the US a two-striker attack with the ability to still keep possession of the ball and dictate the pace of play. Not to mention, he is a poacher from outside the box as he demonstrated on the winning goal (follow the link to see it, courtesy US Soccer/beIn Sport) to completely crush Panama’s spirits.

Finally, Terrence Boyd came on for Altidore for the final 15 minutes against Panama and provided the assist on Jóhannsson’s goal. Though he has been in good form for Rapid Vienna, this position is just too crowded right now to see him breaking through for a World Cup spot barring an injury or severe drop in form from someone ahead of him. He has a bright future for the National team and it was good to see him get some productive time on the field paired with Jóhannsson. His greatest moment from the match, without a doubt, was after the final whistle where he was photographed consoling a Panama player (follow hyperlink for photo) who was overcome with emotion, what many are calling a true demonstration of sportsmanship. In a moment where it would be easy to just walk away and go celebrate, Boyd and Jóhannsson represented the United States with class and honor by doing the right thing and acknowledging that in their victory there was a dream crushed on the other side. That moment combined with their on-field play should have all American soccer fans excited about what the future holds for these two.

Check back soon as the United States prepares for November friendlies on the road against Scotland and Austria, theCover4 will have full analysis of the squad leading up to those matches and all things US Men’s National Team as the 2014 World Cup inches closer.

 __________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for reading The Cover 4! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

Oh yeah, tell your friends too!

David Oleson
Guest Sports Activist for The Cover 4

http://www.facebook.com/thecover4
https://www.facebook.com/theco.verfour
http://www.twitter.com/thecover4

Filed Under: The Other Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Projecting the USMNT 23-Man Roster for WC 2014

September 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment

USMNT Lineup vs Mexico on September 10. Will all 11 be on the squad for Brazil 2014?

lineup pre-mexico game

The Cover 4.com presents you with the Projecting the USMNT 23-Man Roster for WC 2014! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @thecover4 or facebook at theCo VerFour

The World Cup is still many months away, with more than half of the field of 32 yet to be finalized. The United States, however, is one of the few teams who have cemented their place in Brazil next summer. Now that qualification is assured, the guessing game begins: Who will be on Jürgen Klinsmann’s 23-man roster when the World Cup rolls around next June?

            Predictions and projections this far in advance may be difficult, with changes in form and injuries forcing adjustments, but The Cover 4 is committed to keeping you up to date on who we believe are the best 23 players available and eligible to wear a United States jersey for the World’s greatest spectacle. From now until June, we will regularly predict that final roster and update you, our beloved readers, on who is tearing it up overseas that you may not know about, as well as any injury news that could create a spot for potential fringe players. In addition to this, we will highlight each positional battle equipping you with as much knowledge as possible leading up to Klinsmann’s final announcement next May.

            So without further delay, here is the first Cover 4 roster prediction for the United States Men’s National Team leading up to the 2014 World Cup:

 

Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/England), Tim Howard (Everton/England), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake/MLS)

Outside Defenders (4): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla/Mexico), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana/Mexico), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96/Germany), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC/MLS)

Center Defenders (5): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City/MLS), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/Germany), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/England), Omar González (Los Angeles Galaxy/MLS), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes/MLS)

Outside Midfielders (3): Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes/France), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim/Germany), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City/MLS)

Center Midfielders (4): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake/MLS), Michael Bradley (AS Roma/Italy), Jermaine Jones (Schalke/Germany), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht/Belgium)

Forwards (4): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland/England), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC/MLS), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy/MLS), Aron Jóhannsson (AZ Alkmaar/Netherlands)

            A couple notes for clarification before defending the selections: Geoff Cameron is listed as a center defender but has also been used in center midfield and right back, so consider him under all three of those positions. Fabian Johnson has also played outside defender but Klinsmann’s preference is to play him as a left wing so that’s where we put him. Similarly with DaMarcus Beasley who has been a regular at left back for Klinsmann but plays left wing for Puebla in Mexico, we went with where he plays most for the National team. Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan are listed as forwards, though one or the other could line up behind Altidore while the other moves to the right wing as we have seen when Klinsmann shifts to a 4-4-2.

Now to the real business of explaining some selections, the first thing to address: Steve Cherundolo is projected in this lineup under the assumption he will finally be healthy by next June. He has struggled with injuries for the past several months and is currently sidelined following another knee surgery. However, since no one has stepped up and solidified themselves in his place, he will remain the projected starter at right back. Brad Evans has been the best of the replacements, but a change in form could see the likes of Timothy Chandler or Michael Parkhurst step up and take a spot.

            German-American sensation John Brooks may also surprise some with his inclusion here as a center defender given his age and lack of international experience. With as much as Klinsmann has fought for him to commit his future to the US, it would be a crime for Klinsmann to leave him out this time around. Don’t be surprised to see Brooks on the field in one of the next two World Cup Qualifying matches that would permanently cap-tie him to the US, assuming he’s healthy, after leaving a recent match for his club early due to injury. He is also the top-rated defender on his team according to one reliable German football site that tracks and evaluates Bundesliga players, so expect to see him next summer in Brazil.

            Some of you may also wonder where Mix Diskerud and Jose Torres are on this list, who were regulars for Klinsmann this summer during the Gold Cup. Both of those players deserve to be on the team, especially given Diskerud’s performance as a substitute against Mexico, but there are only so many places. Sacha Kljestan is on this team right now because he has been absolutely on fire for Anderlecht in Belgium scoring goals at an incredible rate, so he gets the nod over Diskerud, though he has been in good form for Rosenborg in Norway as well. However, we saw Kyle Beckerman effectively used as a replacement for Michael Bradley in the Mexico game, and that performance combined with Klinsmann’s confidence in him give him preference over Diskerud or Torres, while Kljestan’s ability to score goals gives him the edge in the final spot there.

            Few would argue with Alejandro Bedoya, Fabian Johnson, and Graham Zusi on the wings. Bedoya has been a regular starter for Nantes and played well when he got his chance against Mexico, while Zusi has proven himself more than capable in prior World Cup Qualifiers despite struggling against Costa Rica. Brek Shea is currently on the shelf for Stoke City after picking up an ugly leg injury during a preseason friendly, and was not overly impressive during the Gold Cup, though he could challenge for a spot when healthy and at his best.

            The final tough decision came at forward. Both Terrence Boyd and Aron Jóhannsson are unstoppable right now for their club teams. Boyd has been attracting serious attention playing for Rapid Vienna in Austria, scoring 22 goals in 51 appearances since joining the club last year, and has teams like Lazio (Italy) and West Ham (England) hungry to add him during the January transfer period. Jóhannsson has been equally impressive with nine goals in 12 games so far this season for his club including a hat trick in the team’s Domestic Cup game this week to lead AZ Alkmaar to victory in extra time.

            For the first time in recent memory, the United States has a good problem to have: They have several quality players to choose from and depth at numerous positions. As the year goes on, it will be important to track who is getting healthy and who is playing well at the right time. A player on a hot streak is extremely dangerous in tournaments, especially when it is the World Cup, so an in-form player may get chosen over a more talented player that is out of form.

Be sure to check back with the Cover 4 as we continually update this squad list and analyze the positional battles over the coming weeks and months, and leave comments on who you feel we left off the list that should be on, as well as who you think should not be on the team that we have projected a spot to, and begin to catch World Cup fever with us!

__________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for reading The Cover 4! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

Oh yeah, tell your friends too!

David Oleson
Guest Sports Activist for The Cover 4

http://www.facebook.com/thecover4
https://www.facebook.com/theco.verfour
http://www.twitter.com/thecover4

Filed Under: The Other Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Inside the Circle: David Levi, Personal Assistant of Floyd “Money” Mayweather

September 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Mayweather v Canelo: undefeated champions face off in Time Square - video

The Cover 4 was fortunate to catch up to David Levi, who is Floyd Mayweather’s personal assistant. We asked Levi what it is like to be part of The Money Team. Mayweather will be fighting Canelo Alvarez on Saturday.”

Thanks for reading and thank you to David Levi for the interview!

photo-1-400x352What is your position with The Money Team? 

I am Floyd’s personal assistant. I also take care of various things needed for The Money Team.

What is your boxing background?

I started boxing back in high school. Every Friday my brother and I invited kids over from school and we all boxed each other in the backyard with 16-ounce gloves and headgear. A short while after I started, a boxing gym opened up near my house and I started training every day. I had my first amateur fight during my senior year of high school and won by knockout. The following year I attended UNLV just to fight for the boxing team there. After my freshman year boxing, I stopped fighting altogether to work at Mayweather Promotions.

Have you ever stepped in the ring with Floyd? Even just messing around? 

That’s a funny question because Floyd always asks me if I want to spar a little bit with him. He always tells me he’ll “take it easy on me.” The guy beats the hell out of world-class fighters, so I’m not so keen on getting in the ring with him. Maybe if I started training again I would do it for fun. I would like to do it someday just to say I did.

dsgHow did you join the Money Team? 

I interned for Mayweather Promotions on and off for about a year and a half. I then was hired as an office assistant for about six months. One day I was over at Floyd’s house, which rarely happened, and I approached him when he was alone and asked him to give me a shot and I would do whatever he needed to be done. About a week later he called me and said he was going to “test me out” and it’s been two years since!

What is the typical day in the life of David Levi? 

I’m on call 24/7. No day is ever the same and that’s what I like best about my work. Usually if Floyd is out of town my day consists of running a couple errands for him, paying people and I usually sit in the sports book and bet for Floyd the rest of the day.

During training my schedule is a little different. The day starts at the boxing gym around 2 p.m. The whole team encourages Floyd while he trains. I usually have to run out of the gym to the sports book to put bets in while he is training. We usually go to dinner after training and head to the fitness gym around 2 a.m.

What type of role do you take in fight planning or marketing?

Golden Boy Promotions basically does all the planning and marketing for Floyd’s fights. I use my Twitter and Instagram as a marketing tool by posting photos of Floyd while training. I occasionally do some interviews about Floyd’s training as well. I also seek out sponsorships and endorsements for various Mayweather Promotions fighters and Floyd.

What is the typical day in the life of Floyd Mayweather?

Floyd usually spends a lot of time with his children when he’s not training for a fight. The afternoons always consist of watching football and basketball. He and I are usually on and off the phone nonstop because I’m placing bets for him while he watches the games at home or wherever he happens to be at the time. He knows more about football and basketball than anyone I’ve ever met. He’s a tremendous athlete, he often plays basketball late at night at the fitness gym in pick-up games.

asdasdWhat’s your favorite part about being part of The Money Team?

There are definitely various perks in Vegas being part of the team. I’d say my favorite part is being able to see Floyd spar every day during training. Most people only get to see him fight once a year, I get to see if every day while he’s training!

What is the coolest experience you have ever had with Floyd?

I’d say my favorite experience this far was the whole fight weekend for the Mayweather-Cotto fight. The fight was so intense and I am a fan of Miguel Cotto as well, so I was extremely excited. I’ll never forget being in the back area with Floyd before the weigh-in and he was jumping around talking shit out loud as Cotto just glared at him nonstop. Definitely the type of stuff I love, being a huge boxing fan.

What was it like being interviewed by ESPN for their article?

Today’s social media has really simplified the ways to get into contact with media outlets. Over the last two years on Twitter I’ve created friendships with various writers for ESPN, Yahoo, FightHype, etc., and I get quoted from comments I make on Twitter. I’d say I enjoyed my interview with Yahoo’s Kevin Iole the most.

asdsaWhat happened with the 50 Cent split? 

I think there was some miscommunication between Floyd and 50 while Floyd was locked up. One thing was said and another came to fruition which Floyd didn’t agree with. I tend not to talk about it because it’s between the two of them.

What should people know about Floyd?

Floyd is one of the most fun people to hang around. He’s always joking around and talking shit. He has great energy and is a tremendous person. He does a ton of charity work, which most people don’t get to see that side of him.

After Pacquiao just got knocked out, will that fight ever happen? 

The fight is basically never going to happen at this point. Pacman was knocked out cold and is going to need a couple fights to get back to where he was. I don’t think he will ever be the same after that knockout. The money that was there for the fight is no longer there because of how Pacquiao lost.

When will Floyd step back into the ring?

Floyd will actually be fighting here in Las Vegas on May 4th. The opponent is yet to be named, but believe me it’s going to be a great match up! He also is scheduled to fight September 14th.

After Floyd’s boxing career is finished, how will he be remembered? 

I think after Floyd’s next two or three wins and retires undefeated he will go down as the greatest boxer of all time. At the end of the day, Floyd has fought dozens of world champions and hall of famers. He makes all of them look like amateurs. There is no fighter ever in the history of the sport that has faced the opposition he has and made it look so easy.

What do you have planned in the future?

I’m really enjoying my time with Floyd and The Money Team but of course eventually all things come to an end. I would like to get into promotion or work behind the scenes for television involving boxing and entertainment. I really enjoy the entertainment industry and I plan on staying involved with boxing one way or another.

Thanks for the interview Cover 4!

__________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for reading The Cover 4! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

Oh yeah, tell your friends too!

James Kaikis
Sports Activist for The Cover 4
http://www.facebook.com/thecover4
http://www.twitter.com/thecover4

Filed Under: The Other Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

USA vs. Mexico WCQ Primer and Lineup Prediction

September 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Jurgen Klinsmann

USA vs. Mexico WCQ Primer and Lineup Prediction

 Pick any cliché you want: All good things must come to an end; teams learn more from losing than from winning; it was just one game, or any number of possible options; the US Men’s National Team and coach Jürgen Klinsmann learned some harsh and valuable lessons in their game against Costa Rica in San Jose that should help prepare them for tonight’s clash against hated rival Mexico.

First, the depth they thought they had does not exist. Sure, they have more talent on the team than they have in recent history or maybe ever, but they do not truly have depth. They are like that really good high school varsity football team that is moving up in the state rankings, but has one or two completely irreplaceable players who really carry the team, rather than the true powerhouses who aren’t affected by injuries to even their best players. Michael Bradley is without a doubt the most important player for the US, and they were not nearly the same team without him on the field. They looked completely lost for the first 25 minutes. They had no link between defense and attack, and no one to calm things down and maintain possession to stop Costa Rica’s momentum. The players’ demeanor suggested that without Bradley they were in trouble. Geoff Cameron is a solid Premier League defender and defensive midfielder, but he lacks the passing, playmaking, and overall confidence on the ball that Bradley brings. Bradley has been ruled out for the Mexico game with the sprained ankle he sustained in warm-ups before the Costa Rica match, and Cameron is suspended for yellow card accumulation, leaving Klinsmann with another big decision to make at center midfield for tonight’s game.

Second, the Michael Orozco experiment at right-back was a complete disaster. Costa Rica exposed him all night and he was caught out of position several times. This has been a gaping hole for the US while Steve Cherundolo has been out with numerous injuries. Brad Evans was a steady stop-gap for the time being but he is also out with an injury. Which begs the question; will Klinsmann please explain what Timmy Chandler did to deserve this exile? The US worked hard to get him to commit, he finally did, and now they are leaving him in Germany for every significant game they play when they are desperate for quality at his position. He’s a Bundesliga right back with size, skill, and speed, and the US needs him. Michael Parkhurst is likely to start at right back tonight against El Tri after a solid showing at the Gold Cup, though he has rarely seen the field for his club team in Germany. Recent call-up Brad Davis could also slide back and fill-in, but Parkhurst is the clear choice after Orozco’s fiasco last week.

securedownload

Lastly, with Jozy Altidore starting on the bench due to injury, Klinsmann saw that his team must start with an established striker up front from here on out. The US employed what’s known as a “False 9”, meaning they are playing without a true striker while one of the midfielders at random drifts forward and acts as the striker. Clint Dempsey is an excellent forward, but he is not a true striker capable of playing alone up top. He is at his best as a playmaker behind the striker; same with Landon Donovan. Ahead of the match excitement was building because the US was supposed to start their first game with a full “A” team, yet with Altidore starting on the bench, arguably their two best in-form players were not on the field (Bradley being the other after a strong start with Roma in Serie A). Why did Klinsmann choose to go with Graham Zusi or Donovan instead of Eddie Johnson or Aron Johannsson, both of whom are established strikers with a nose for goal? We may never know, Klinsmann is a mad scientist who rarely explains his decisions, but expect to see Klinsmann’s standard 4-2-3-1 lineup against Mexico tonight following another failed experiment with a 4-2-4.

During the 12-match winning streak it seemed like every odd decision Klinsmann made paid off, but in Costa Rica the magic ran out against a talented team with a chip on its shoulder. Mexico is desperate coming into this game. They need to escape with at least a draw to keep hope alive of getting into the third place spot in CONCACAF, qualifying automatically for the World Cup, and avoiding a two-legged playoff against New Zealand with a birth in Brazil on the line. He needs to have the team prepared for the intensity they will face, they absolutely cannot come out flat like they did against the Ticos, and he has to be sure of his lineup decisions. That being said, here is my prediction for the US lineup tonight against El Tri:

GK: Tim Howard

LB: DaMarcus Beasley

CB: Omar Gonzalez, Clarence Goodson

RB: Michael Parkhurst

CM: Kyle Beckerman, Jermaine Jones

LAM: Fabian Johnson

CAM: Clint Dempsey

RAM: Landon Donovan

ST: Aron Johannsson

Starting from the back, Klinsmann called in Goodson after Cameron and Matt Besler were suspended for yellow card accumulation. With John Anthony Brooks being sent back to his club team Hertha Berlin, Goodson is the best choice over Orozco at this point. Had Brooks stayed, I would have made him the favorite to start, which would have permanently cap-tied him to the United States over Germany. Goodson had a solid Gold Cup for the US and carries a wealth of international experience, plus he is a force in the air on set-pieces. I have Parkhurst starting at right back for the reasons stated earlier, and Beasley remaining at left back due to his experience even though he had a rough outing against the Ticos last week.

For center midfield, I will admit I am not the biggest fan of Kyle Beckerman’s game. He is not a flashy player, but he is steady and gives Jones the freedom to push forward. They both have a knack for picking out a long pass and are capable distributors in attack. Though neither contain the goal-scoring prowess of Bradley, this is the best combination Klinsmann has available, with Beckerman more likely to stay back and assist with defensive duties. Mix Diskerud is another option here if Klinsmann chooses to go for a more attacking player in Bradley’s absence.

The only change I see in the attacking midfield is dropping Zusi to the bench and moving Dempsey back into his more natural center attacking midfield role. Yes, Zusi played a great pass to Fabian to set up the US penalty kick opportunity, but he was virtually invisible the rest of the time he was on the field and his corner kicks were downright awful, seeing Donovan replace him in that role to start the second half. With Fabian Johnson’s speed, playmaking, and recent form with the team, there is no way Klinsmann will bench him in this game. Out of all the German-American imports he has convinced to play for the US, Johnson has been the best by far and exactly what the team needs on the wing. Donovan and Dempsey showed how well they can work together during the second half of the Costa Rica game, so I don’t see Klinsmann splitting them up. That leaves Zusi as the odd man out for the team to bring in a true striker.

Speaking of that true striker, Aron Johannsson, the Kevin Bacon doppelganger nicknamed the Iceman, looks primed to start this game with Altidore out due to yellow card accumulation after his moronic act near the end of the Costa Rica match. I believe I speak for several US fans when I say I want to see this man in action for a full 90 minutes. Iceland was livid that he chose the United States over them, and it hasn’t taken long to see why. He has five goals in seven matches for his club team AZ Alkmaar, and was impressive during his time on the field against Bosnia-Herzegovina last month in his US debut. Eddie Johnson is the only other possibility here, and may get the nod based on his experience against Mexico and CONCACAF opponents, but I really see Klinsmann going with Johannsson here due to his form, skill, and Mexico’s lack-of familiarity with him. He’s unlike any other current US player and may be the spark they need in this game. He has seemingly infinite energy and he has a hunger to score goals.

Off the bench, I expect to see Alejandro Bedoya get his chance in this game. He has been impressive for Nantes in Ligue 1 (France), especially against European power PSG. He could come on for Donovan or Dempsey in the second half if the US wants more action on the right wing to provide more width to their play. Edgar Castillo could also see action at left back or left wing with his experience playing in Liga MX (Mexico) while providing more speed than Beasley is capable of at this point in his career. The final potential substitute will depend on how the match goes. Diskerud provides more attack in the midfield than Beckerman, Jose Torres is a steady midfielder who can string passes together to kill clock at the end of a match, or Eddie Johnson could come on if the team needs a goal late.

Regardless of who Klinsmann puts out there, the United States must make a good showing in their biggest game of the year against their fiercest border rival. Hype around the team has never been this high, and if they want to keep some of their new fans around, a win on National television in primetime will go a long way to building even more momentum ahead of next summer’s World Cup in Brazil. Check out the game tonight 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on ESPN.

__________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for reading The Cover 4! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

Oh yeah, tell your friends too!

David Oleson
Sports Activist for The Cover 4
http://www.facebook.com/thecover4
http://www.twitter.com/thecover4

 

Filed Under: Featured, General, The Other Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The British Ninja

August 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
McCarthy is changing how we look at sport specific training.

McCarthy is changing how we look at sport specific training.

What is 5-foot-9, 170 pounds with a British accent and can take down a 280-pound defensive lineman in less than a second? Meet Paul McCarthy. McCarthy, the current instructional program coordinator for UCLA Cultural & Recreational Affairs, coordinates a number of recreational sports, dance, arts and martial arts programs for the students of the university.

In addition to teaching a number of martial art and self defense classes for the university, McCarthy boasts an impressive martial arts resume with nearly 20 years experience; 10 of those years include extensive experiences in Hapkido, Jeet Kune Do, and Filipino Martial Arts. Stir in 15 years of kinesiology experience and add three years of Silat, Savate, & Muay Thai experience. The result? One bad british ninja! Although McCarthy’s vast experiences are impressive, what McCarthy is doing with his martial arts skills is even more spectacular.

Last season, the UCLA football team finished 96th against the run while adding just 14 sacks, 112th in the country; very unspectacular statistics for a competitive program in the Pac-12. In an effort to improve defensive numbers, UCLA coaches sought out McCarthy to bring something new to the table, martial art training to the gridiron.

Why would a football program seek out the guidance of a martial artist? Think about it; martial arts involve precise footwork, quick strikes, power, speed and energy reading. Using these techniques, football players will be able to gain an advantage on their opponents and, in a game of inches, these advantages can be the difference between a win and a loss.

“Martial arts training is can be critical for the team because the types of drills I sometimes see normal teams doing are not always specific in training the specific attributes the players need,” McCarthy told The Cover 4.

Instead of teaching athletes the specific martial arts, McCarthy takes the ideologies of each of the styles and adapts them toward player needs. He teaches them the down and dirty stuff that will give them the competitive edge. While McCarthy incorporates a number of diverse exercises in his training, some of the basics rely on Filipino martial Arts for timing and hand speed drills, Hawaiian Hula for strength and balance and Savate for footwork drills.

“I have seen a phenomenal change in their hand speed and their ability to pick up specific motions or techniques,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy implemented his “new” type of training and transformed the UCLA defense; a unit that finished 54th against the run, with a vastly improved 45 sacks, good for 7th in the country.

“Many martial arts base their techniques on a smaller opponent being able to beat a larger one,” McCarthy said. “By teaching these very large players to be light on their feet and be able to read the ‘energy’ of their opponent without looking, but just by tactile response, they will have a gigantic edge on other players”.

McCarthy’s martial arts and football connection initially started with his instructor Guro Dan Inosanto. Guro Inosanto used martial arts in football with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970s and the unit registered a high number of sacks, including three defensive linemen in double digits. Additionally, urban legend states that Deacon Jones may have learned his head-slapping technique from Guro Inosanto.

McCarthy’s new techniques and different approach to archaic methods gives UCLA an edge in an ultra-competitive industry. The interesting training and teaching methods can alter the way coaches and players think about traditional sports.

“This [specialized martial arts] is not a magic button. It takes thousands of repetitions to engrain this type of training into the body,” McCarthy said.

With the growth of fitness components like yoga, ballet and cycling, teams are looking for cutting edge ways to improve their athletic programs. New styles such as Insanity, P90X and CrossFit are helping revolutionize training. There is no reason to believe that martial arts won’t be in the same category.

McCarthy’s progress with the UCLA football team is only the start of a sports phenomenon. While McCarthy worked exclusively with UCLA last season, there is no reason to think that McCarthy won’t be providing training to college and pro sports teams all around the country; rumor has it a summer program may be on the horizon. Only time will tell, but in the end, our money is on McCarthy.


Paul McCarthy Website

____________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for reading The Cover 4! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

Oh yeah, tell your friends too!

James Kaikis
Chief Sports Activist for The Cover 4
http://www.facebook.com/thecover4
http://www.twitter.com/thecover4

Filed Under: Football, The Other Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tiger Woods: Major or Bust

May 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

tiger

Tiger Woods is one of the most successful and wealthiest athletes in this modern era. He changed the sport of golf for the better and arguably will go down in sports history as one of the most iconic sports figures of all time. That is a monumental accomplishment considering he’s a golfer. His run in golf at the turn of century will always be remembered as one of his highest levels of play, but it was a long time ago. With 13 Majors, it wasn’t a matter of if Woods would pass Jack Nicklaus for most majors won, but when would it happen.

 

Tiger won the 2008 U.S. Open by defeating Rocco Mediate in a playoff on a surgically repaired knee. Ironically and sadly, this was the last major he has won. And last time I checked my iPhone, it did read May 2013. It’s been almost five years and the new normal question for Woods is, “Will he ever win a major again?” A lot has happened to Tiger on and off the course. By now, most people are aware that Woods is human and like all athletes, subjected to the temptations that the fame and power that famous athletes experience. He divorced the mother of his two children and bottomed out when he checked himself into a sex addition rehab center.

 

However, Tiger still has many fans and followers, myself included, eager to get a taste again of what we witnessed back in 2001. Without Tiger dominating the sport, golf is not as exciting as a viewer. With Tiger, so goes the sport of golf. With the chase of the major streak, so gives us a story of anticipation and fascination of every major that is played. He needs five to tie and six to beat Nicklaus’ record, but winning one major is looking pretty good at this point.

 

Tiger has slowly improved and revamped his golf game in the past years, giving the fans hope and optimism that we might once again be seeing the Tiger of old. He has had new swing coaches, therapists and a new caddy desperately trying to help reestablish himself as the sport’s top golfer. He has indeed won his fair share of tournaments, thankfully helping himself regain his spot as the number one golfer in the world. Nothing against Lee Westwood or Luke Donald, but they were the Millard Fillmore and Rutherford B. Hayes of that spot.

 

Tiger just won The Players Championship in compelling fashion this weekend at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. He won by two strokes and had a competitive moment with Sergio Garcia that added to the tournament’s headline. “(Sergio’s)….always complaining about something,” Tiger muttered, reminding us who’s the top dog in the sport. Tiger has already won four tournaments this year, the fastest he has won four ever in his career. But the only one that matters at this point in his life is major titles. And this year, he is 0 for 1.

 

Going into this year’s Masters, he was hyped again as usual as everyone’s pick to win. With the improvement of Tiger’s game and hope restored amongst golf’s experts, the fact still remained that Tiger had not won a major since 2008. Every major that has gone by, Tiger has been a favorite and every one has gone by without him winning it. As a matter of fact, I cannot even recall him seriously contending recently. Going into this year’s Masters, however, something seemed different with his game. The putter. The putting stroke, where nothing was missed under ten feet, was back. The 50-foot snake putts were showing up in his game again like a forest in the Amazon jungle. The fist pumps were back like a club at the Jersey Shore. Energy was there. Confidence was rising.

 

In this year’s Masters, Tiger hung around after the first round, and made his move after day two. Just when we thought Tiger was ready to re-break through for a major title, we found out that Tiger literally and figuratively dropped the ball toward the end of his second round. He committed a rules infraction when dropping his ball after hitting his shot into the water. After the media scrutiny and an additional two-stroke penalty, Tiger once again faded out of major contention. He said he played well, but actually playing well and winning are two different things. He still has three majors left this year, but it seems as if Tiger does not break through with a major victory in the next year or two, we might be justified in wondering if he will ever win another one.

 

Tiger will be the favorite going into next month’s U.S. Open and he should be. He is the world’s number one golfer. He has already won four tournaments this year including The Players Championship, which he has not won since 2001. We remember that year for him, right? He looks to have that Tiger swag back. The staredown during his putting routine. The fierce look in his eye as a ball is in flight toward the pin. The red shirt on Sunday seems brighter than ever. He even is openly dating Lindsey Vonn, professional skier. Not that he wasn’t before, but he is doing quite well right now for himself, on and off the course.
However, in this golf fan’s eyes, the above details mean nothing to me if Tiger is not winning majors. And if he does not win one soon, I fear he might not win one for a long time. He is 37 and in golf that still allows many opportunities to win, but the pressure will continue to mount when a golfer that talented does not win for a period of time. See Phil Mickelson. But once Phil won his first major at Augusta, he quickly won three more. For Tiger, I believe if he wins one this year, he will get that proverbial newfound monkey off his back, and begin the final quest to break Jack Nicklaus’ major record. Show us what you got Tiger. We all desperately want to see it.

 

____________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for reading The Cover 4! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

Oh yeah, tell your friends too!

Paul Culley
Sports Activist for The Cover 4
http://www.facebook.com/thecover4
http://www.twitter.com/thecover4

Filed Under: The Other Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Barcelona Exposed in Lob-sided Defeat

April 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment

1

It was supposed to be a highly touted semi-final Champions League clash of two world football titans.  It was supposed to be Germany versus Spain.  It was supposed to be Lionel Messi and the unbreakable passing of Barcelona vs. Bastian Schweinstager and the complete team of Bayern Munich.  But what it turned into was a showcase of the pure physical talents of the Germans and it exposed a serious weakness in Barcelona.

The game in Germany started out as to be expected.  Barcelona had the lion’s share of the possession, and Bayern did its work on the counter-attack, feeding off a potent attack from Frank Ribery and Arjen Robben.  But the one thing that stood out even in the beginning was the physical dominance of Bayern in the air; they have a serious height advantage and looked to feed the ball in the box through the air.

Messi, the soccer golden-child, nursed a hamstring injury and looked a shell of himself against the physical Germans.  And it showed in Barcelona’s lack of ability to find the goal, both goals themselves and even shots on target.  However, midway through the first half, Bayern made Barcelona pay for their disadvantage.

In a brilliant build-up, Thomas Muller found himself in the box, but heavily guarded.  After a quick pass out to Robben, Robben chipped the ball through to Dante, who headed it directly back to an open Muller who headed in for the first goal of many for the Germans.  It was that airplay that would ultimately prove to be the demise of the Spaniards, who could not physically compete with the men of Bayern.

Early in the second half, they were once again exposed.  Off a corner, Robben found Muller on the far post.  Muller, everywhere on the pitch during this game, headed it right back to the center, where beloved German striker Mario Gomez was waiting to smash home the second for Bayern.  Barcelona looked lost and physically mismatched.  However, they began to build some momentum, driving and pushing forward and finding the ability to get good looks at the goal.

But the Germans were not finished.  Robben, who is regularly given flak for his disinterest in passing to his teammates, showed why he is capable of holding onto the ball with a brilliant bit of skill in the 73rd minute. With a little help from a Muller screen, he switched the ball from his right to his natural left and smashed home from an incredibly difficult angle to put the Germans up by an unthinkable score of 3-0.  Muller later scored again to make the score 4-0.

This was a very telling game for both squads.  The Germans asserted themselves and claimed their proper reward.  A dominant 4-0 win that made a statement to the football world and Barcelona, long thought of a football giants.  The smooth passing and game control of Barcelona have long been the staples of their huge success.  But Bayern played the counter-attack with brilliance and sent a message to both their opponent, as well as both of their potential future opponents in Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, who face off in their own Champions League semi-final Wednesday at 11:45 PST.

As for Barcelona, the opposite was true.  More questions were raised than answered.  They were unable to finish in front of goal with Messi hobbled.  They were unable to compete on set pieces and crosses.  They accumulated four yellow cards on ten fouls, and were majorly outnumbered on corner kicks, 11-4, and shots taken 15-4.  They melted down as the game went on and truly looked as though they were in a game out of their league, which is mind-boggling, because this is Barcelona we are talking about.  This team is essentially the Spanish national team, the same team that throttled Italy 4-0 in the Euro-Cup finals in the summer of 2012.

Now they head back home to the Bernabeu down 4-0 and they need to win by the same margin without allowing any goals to the visitors to even have a chance at penalty kicks.  Not the ideal position for the former Champions.

 

Player of the Match: Thomas Muller.  Muller was DOMINANT in this one, scoring two goals and registering an assist, not to mention making the physical play that allowed Robben’s goal in the 73rd minute.   His strength of pace and willingness to fight into the box was unparalleled on the pitch.

 

Worst Player of the Match: Gerard Pique.  Being married to Shakira has its perks, but the Spaniard was horrendous in this one.  His is the staple of the back four for Barcelona, but he looked lost, much like the rest of his team in the lob-sided defeat.  He also should have been called for a handball that would have resulted in a penalty kick, but he got away with it.  Karma struck though, and his team was throttled 4-0 in an embarrassing fashion

____________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for reading The Cover 4! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

Oh yeah, tell your friends too!

Screen Shot 2013-02-19 at 4.34.53 PM

Sammy Scherr
Sports Activist for The Cover 4
http://www.facebook.com/thecover4
http://www.twitter.com/thecover4

 

Filed Under: The Other Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Cover 4 Presents: The Hottest Female Athlete (2000-2013)

March 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Welcome to the first annual parallel bracket from The Cover 4!  Some of our contemporaries compare NFL quarterbacks, rock bands, or cereals, but we are cutting straight to what we all want to talk about.  Who is the hottest female athlete out there right now?

Now before you nominate the freshman midfielder from a Division II soccer team, prominence and success has played a role for the selection committee.  All of the final ladies selected for this tournament have had some form of success either at the Olympic or professional level of their respective sports.

Below you will find the entire first round outlined (click this link to print full bracket: The Cover 4 – Hottest Female Athlete Bracket)  with pictures and voting polls for your use, however we also encourage you to tweet, post, or even email your selections and brackets into us here at The Cover 4.  Also, feel free to print out the full bracket and pin it to your office bulletin board.

HERE. WE. GO.

Image

(1) Alex Morgan (Soccer) vs (8) Laila Ali (Boxing)

Image

(4) Caroline Wozniacki (Tennis) vs (5) Kim Glass (Volleyball)

Image

(3) Nastia Liukin (Gymnastics) vs (6) Gretchen Bleiler (Snowboarding)

Image

(7) Natalie Gulbis (Golf) vs (2) Lindsey Vonn (Skiing)

Image

(1) Jennie Finch (Softball) vs (8) Lolo Jones (Track)

Image

(4) Hope Solo (Soccer) vs (5) Shawn Johnson (Gymnastics)

Image

(3) Maria Sharapova (Tennis) vs (6) Amanda Beard (Swimming)

Image

(7) Ashley Force Hood (Funny Car) vs (2) Michelle Jenneke (Track)

Image

(1) Anna Kournikova (Tennis) vs (8) Sasha Cohen (Figure Skating)

Image

(4) Ellen Hoog (Field Hockey) vs (5) Gina Carano (MMA)

Image

(3) Danica Patrick (Racing) vs (6) Logan Tom (Volleyball)

Image

(7) Skylar Diggins (College Basketball) vs (2) Maria Kirilenko (Tennis)

Image

(1) Leryn Franco (Javelin) vs (8) Natalie Coughlin (Swimming)

Image

(4) Malia Jones (Surfing) vs (5) Camille Leblanc-Bazinet (Crossfit)

Image

(3) Heather Mitts (Soccer) vs (6) Allison Baver (Speed Skating)

Image

(7) Misty May-Treanor (Volleyball) vs (2) Ana Ivanovic (Tennis)

Filed Under: Basketball, The Other Sports

Tiger Woods & NFL Free Agency – A Behind the Scenes Look

March 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Cover 4 is bringing you a different approach to today’s major sports topics.

This week James & Long Island Sound go toe-to-toe about Tiger Woods & NFL Free Agency moves.

Additionally, we are going to give you a special sneak peak in how we do our debates. When you have a team that is spread throughout the United States, it can be difficult to coordinate schedules for debate topics. James & Long Island Sound seem to have spent too much time debating the outline of the actual debate rather than the topics at hand. You will see the commentary between the two writers in red with the actual debate topic is in black.

We hope you enjoy this weeks special uncut debate.

Is Tiger Woods back?

tiger

LI Sound: The question is.. is Tiger Woods back?

James: By the way, this is 220 characters. Keep it 200/220 as I dont want us to go overboard. 

James: We will try 3 correspondences.

James: As much as I would love to say yes, I am saying no. Mr. Woods had a fine showing this weekend but “Tiger” isn’t back; the once invincible golfer is just part of the pack. I think Tiger is great for golf but he’s not back yet.

LI Sound: Unfortunately, Tiger will never be back to his old form, but we are all back to watching golf on weekends (that aren’t majors). This current run is his best since a 7 iron went through his back windshield, so I’m going to be bold and say he’s winning a major this year.

James: You think after one great weekend Tiger is going to win one of the four majors? I don’t buy it. Yes Tiger is on a better streak but he has shown he can’t handle it mentally anymore. One bad day on the course and his weekend is done.

LI Sound: Already forgetting Pebble Beach a few weeks ago, my friend! This is the first time he has strung together some wins before The Masters in years. Spoiler alert: he is winning at places with previous success. I’m pumped for The Masters.

LI Sound: Round 1 goes to me.

James: It was supposed to be 3 rounds, idiot. I will let this one slide since your dumb self didn’t take the opposite stance. SMH. 

James:  It’s a 1 on 1 debate. If I go first and say he isn’t back then you can’t agree with me. There aren’t 3 of us this time.

LI Sound: You called me out for the major… It’s obvious he won’t be back to old tiger. Not going to be an idiot just to oppose you. 

James: You have to! That’s why we are 1 on 1 this time. It’s like PTI with Tony & Wilbon. Those guys dont mean half the things they say. 

LI Sound: I think this debate about the debate should be included in the article… Totally raw debate. 

James: Come on, Skip [Bayless].  Don’t you know how this stuff works?

LI Sound:  Show a common ground at the end… We have to develop our personalities with the audience so we can be consistent.

James: Sure. Can you maybe stay up past 730pm grandpa so we can finish this tonight?

LI Sound: Of this commitment how many of us work off Hawaiian time bro?

James: I forgot daily light savings pushes you to three hours now.

James: Don’t hate me cuz you ain’t me….

LI Sound: Back to the debate 

Who will do more for their new team: Harvin or Boldin?

harvinboldin

James: Would you like me to pick the same choice as you this time?!

LI Sound: Good cases for both so this is a good one to have different stances. By the fans and for the fans, but we can’t be the ignorant stupid fan James. 

LI Sound: Boldin hands down. Name a physical, possession receiver not afraid to go over the middle on the 49ers? Vernon likes to go vertical (because he can), Crabtree is soft, Manningham stays outside, and we know what Moss does. This is a Harbaugh type guy through and through who will fit in. Does Ed Reed intercept that pass in the Super Bowl if Boldin is the intended receiver?

James:  What don’t you understand about a 200/220 character count? What happened to our earlier conversation and debate? SMH. 

LI Sound: Dude I turned it on but it doesn’t count for iMessages. Stop being a little pansy and just refute my point.  

James: Nah! You gotta do it right or we need to change how we are going to do these; it changes how we respond. 

James: You have 380 characters aka 160 over max. So are we switching to that word count sir?

LI Sound: If that’s 380 then just keep it under 400. That was simple. 

James: Smh

LI Sound: You are so Rediculous. This string would be very entertaining [to run with our article]. Consider it because it’s different…

James: Isn’t it ridiculous? BOOM! +2 James 

James: You really want me to add this RIDICULOUSNESS? 

LI Sound: I think it’s way different and really shows a unique side man. Again, it’s different. Take a chance! 

LI Sound: Can we continue the debate? 

James: Did you really just say hands down? Are you forgetting that PERCY HARVIN was traded to the Seahawks? Yes, the player many considered a possible MVP candidate. One of the most versatile players in the NFL just joined a dangerous Seattle team. Harvin is going to be a major difference maker. Do you realize this gives Seattle one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL?

LI Sound: You are as frustrating as Percy’s migraine problem. The Seahawks needed to give up 3 picks and will need to pay him big time, when he is injury prone. They have an abundance of young talent at the receiver position already and back-up running back ready to thrive in Turbin. Is he dynamic? Yes, when healthy. Tavon Austin could put this team on the brink over the edge.

James: Way to sway your argument with Tavon Austin comment. We aren’t debating who received better compensation as we are debating who will do more for their team? Harvin!! He is upgrade at wr, rb, flex, slot, & special teams. No disrespect to Boldin but Harvin is going to make the Hawks offense that much more dangerous. Allow Wilson to by time and Harvin will ditch anyone guarding him. One of the top offenses, at the end of the season, just added arguably the most dynamic wide receiver in the NFL. As the MtV show used you say…NEXT!

James: Winner me!! 

LI Sound: Just 2 rounds?

James: You did it to me earlier… maybe you can try again next week? 

Thank you for reading The Cover 4! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

____________________________________________________________________________

TC4 Logo Concept_5.1

James/LIS


James Kaikis & Long Island Sound

Sports Activist for The Cover 4

http://www.facebook.com/thecover4

http://www.twitter.com/thecover4

Filed Under: The Great Debate, The Other Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lakers, Warrior Uniforms, Manti Te’o & Oscar Pistorius

March 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Cover 4 is bringing you a different approach to today’s major sports topics.

Will the Lakers make the playoffs?

lakers

Sammy: I firmly believe there is a chance the Lakers will make the playoffs. With great energy from Dwight Howard, Kobe’s efficiency and HUSTLE defense, they can pull it out.

Tye: The Lakers are three games back with only 24 games left. They’re 10-19 on the road and 12 of those games are away. It’s not happening.

James: Although I chose the Lakers as preseason favorites, I don’t see it. Houston has the fourth-easiest schedule from here on out. James Harden is playing on a MVP level.

Sammy: This team is just now starting to jell. It finally has continuity and the veterans have settled into their roles. They need help, but the Lakers will be doing their part in the race.

Tye: It’s taken 58 games to jell? It’s a sub-.500 team and only 6-4 in its last 10 games. The Lakers aren’t suddenly going to dominate the league and roll past Houston.

James: The Lakers have shown that this group of players can’t get it done. Dwight doesn’t work in this offense, Nash isn’t the same, they have no bench and Kobe can’t do it all

Sammy: To get to a 45-win season, the Lakers need to go 17-7 in the final 24 games. It’s highly possible that Houston or Utah goes 14-10 in that stretch and the Lakers sneak in.

Tye: If Utah had traded Millsap or Jefferson I’d say they might slip, but not now. And Houston just beat a top western team in OKC showing it’s here to stay.

James: 17-7 the rest of the way? I see at least 10 losses on the remaining schedule. Final three games: GS, SAS, HOU. They will flop at the end. Kobe can’t do it himself.

Are the Warrior Sleeve Unis Legit? 

Sleeves

James: Absolutely! 26 percent lighter, trendy, stretchy, 360 rotation. Did I mention the $115 price tag? Soon all teams will rock these jerseys and money will be made on sales.

Sammy: They can make shirts that have all the pros you just mentioned WITHOUT sleeves. Lookout Christmas sweaters, here come “ugly jersey” parties.

Tye: The Warriors broke into Lance Armstrong’s closet and stole all his yellow jerseys. They beat the Spurs because he had sweated PEDs into all of them.

James: Haha. Nicely done boys, but the sleeves are here to stay; the kids are gonna love it. Now you can put those guns away and rock the sleeves with your jersey.

Sammy: Honestly what are they thinking? It makes them look like little boys playing against the other teams, which look like beasts. They need to dominate to make a statement like that, not just win.

Tye: Going from short shorts to regular shorts was a good move back in the day, but the NBA jersey is something timeless. Some things shouldn’t be changed.

James: You guys are missing the point! This is about money. The almighty dollar reigns supreme as this is another selling tool for the NBA. Wait until every team wears them.

Sammy: It doesn’t matter about money. The NBA isn’t hurting for cash. What happened to tradition? Basketball holds on to tradition better than any of the major sports. It’s a damn shame.

Tye: I agree that the new jerseys will sell. Hell, NBA players wearing rimless glasses made them popular and sell. It doesn’t mean that the product looks good or makes sense though.

Is Manti Te’o worth a first-round selection?

teo

Tye: With his performance against Alabama and his 4.8 40 time, Teo’s chances of being taken in the first round are about as real as his girlfriend.

Sammy: I have trouble believing that a spotty performance in the National Championship game and the combine can affect a Heisman candidate that much.

James: Sometimes too much emphasis is on combine numbers. He’s a first-round talent but my problem is with how guys will react to him in the locker room. Definitely worth a mid-late first.

Tye: You really want to use a first rounder on a player who can’t be an every-down linebacker? The 4.8 shows he’s not going to be able to keep up with NFL receivers.

Sammy: AT THE COMBINE, Scouts compared him to Lance Briggs. Briggs is an elite LB on an elite defense without elite speed. Ball speed is different than running in a straight line, which he won’t be called upon to do.

James: Plain and simple Teo makes plays. Before the hoax we were talking about him being the first true defensive Heisman winner. Alabama showed some weaknesses but he’s still playmaker.

Tye: I see him going late first, early second. When you perform poorly against the best talent, it creates doubt at what you can do at the next level.

Sammy: Not enough doubt that he drops that far. He could go in the middle of the first to Tampa Bay or someone that could use the LB boost, or he could take over for Ray Lewis. Regardless, he’s a definite first rounder.

James: Reading Kiper’s mock draft, Sammy? The guy is a first rounder but only in the right situation. He needs to go to a team with strong leadership. Letting him slip may help.

If Olympian Oscar Pistorius doesn’t get charged with the murder of his girlfriend, is it safe to say that athletes get preferential treatment?

debate

Sammy: Pistorius, Lewis, OJ Simpson, Donte Stallworth…what do they have in common? All have been involved in a murder in some way, and all might be off without any major punishment, if any punishment at all.

James: Without a doubt athletes get preferred treatment in these situations. If Pistorius gets away with this it will be a travesty. He has a history of violence!

Tye: Do athletes get preferential treatment? Of course, but it’s up to the attorneys and juries to come out with the right verdict. So who is giving them the treatment?

Sammy: There have to be back alley type plea deals or behind the scenes agreements. There’s no other explanation. The process is corrupt, unfair and it goes against everything a government should stand for.

James: Pistorius’ camp is making all the right moves to get him off the hook. He committed a crime, was taking steroids and has a history of violence. He better go to jail.

Tye: Did you ever consider that his fame could lead to him being made an example of and increasing punishment? We shouldn’t automatically assume guilt either.

Sammy: This argument is based on the assumption he is guilty and not charged. And yes, I’ve considered fame. But that is the same boat the other athletes have been in. Fame has let others off the hook. It has to stop.

James: Guilty until proven innocent is the new system. At the end of the day, Pistorius is a local hero and will get away with murder. It’s terrible and pathetic.

Tye: Guilty until proven innocent is pathetic. Look how many people have been exonerated by DNA after people assumed they were guilty. Though if he’s found guilty, he’ll do time.

____________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for reading The Cover 4! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

For the Fans. By the Fans. Period.

James Kaikis, Tye Masters & Sammy Scherr
Sports Activist for The Cover 4
http://www.facebook.com/thecover4
http://www.twitter.com/thecover4

Filed Under: The Great Debate, The Other Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Next Page»
%d bloggers like this: