Z.I.P.

Only one (1) thing wrong with your theory Z5. The Soviet players may have been AS GOOD as Western professional hockey players, but they were paid like mere pawn/subjects of the Soviet state. That was the case with amateur athletes in Communist bloc nations for decades. So, while you may argue their amateur status was nominal or technical at best, it did in fact meet the standards of international amateur competition. I remember the times very well. The criticism from within the USA was mostly from people who wanted US amateur athletes to be able to compete with foreign (including Western European and other) amateurs who were subsidized by their governments, but were mostly opposed to the USA subsidizing our athletes in the same manner. Then along came the defiler of amateurism and international competition, Juan Antonio Samaranch to install a for-profit Olympic movement and an end to true amateurism in international athletics. He and that movement are the reason why I haven't paid attention to most Olympic competitions since the 1970s. There are a few events in teh Winter Olympics I still enjoy, but they too have been professionalized/bastardized for the most part.

Thanks to GoZips for the update. I'm afraid this will dampen coach Bovaird's day on Maui, as he will be cc'd. I have yet to make it to Maui for this event. At least they have been able to put in AC to make it a more breathable three days at Lahaina Civic. I did however view the Silverswords knock off an ACC team on their home gym court in the early 90s. I believe it was Maryland, however I also recall Vinny Del Negro being on the floor, and he played for NC State. Did Md have a tall Italian guard? -- and don't say Marc Iavarroni! That was 15 yrs earlier.

Akron's secret weapon: We own the Hawaiian Standard Time zone!

take it from Tech alum Andy Landers, longtime Georgia Bulldogs' mentor. Nope.

EARLY? I bet no one else got up at 5 a.m. dark to watch such a mish-mash of bad offense and poor strategy by two teams. Pardon me, I'm going to have to nap through lunch now.

I just LOVE to read the comments, including: Bisbee says: November 14, 2012 at 6:15 PM Akron has an added incentive to win it all….a big F…You to the committee

Well! Isn't that interesting -- not one of them picked The University of Connecticut.

A victory in Cookeville, Tennessee may not elicit more than a nod from even most real fans of Akron's women's basketball, but the opponent, Tennessee Tech is actually one of the traditional powers of mid-major women's hoops. I'll bet they've been to the NCAA tournament more times than any MAC or just about any mid-major conference school -- and they've sprung many upsets over ranked teams over the years. For Akron to gain the first series win on the road says a lot about this year's version of the team. The squad has a LOT of weapons. I'm looking for a post-season experience for Akron Women's Hoops in 2013.

Yeah! At least when we had to play at Northwestern for no good reason, they let us call it a home game.

I think he was actually referring to the SSFC - Real SL game. Sounders learned the hard way about MLS playoffs. Bring your best game, or don't show up -- especially vs LA Gal.

FYI: I wrote Maori, not midget. Maori all-stars ranged from about 6-3 to 6-8. Guards were big and relatively athletic. Scored a lot off the dribble. Their posts were slow, was their undoing. OTOH Chaminade has only one player over 6-6.

So, if someone at the university brought this to the NCAA's recognition, were they doing the program a favor? Looks to me like the compliance office has egg, sunny-side-up on their faces.

For some strange reason, I can't help thinking they'd get a better turnout if they held the session with Steelers rather than Brownies. Maybe even GP1 would show.

While the article is linked from the front page, I thought this deserved a separate thread. I'm semi-shocked, after the first season results.

It took former Zip Mike Green about three minutes to become accustomed to Division 2 basketball after his reserve appearance began five minutes into last night's game versus New Zealand's All-Maori team. He quickly took three seemingly poor-percentage three-pointers (though the third fell in), and made a bad defensive foul before shaking off the cobwebs and leading Chaminade University of Honolulu to a 117-103 victory with a career high 30 points and five rebounds. I never expected the guy to be an outside gunner, however, that was the way his play went in making 6 of 12 three point attempts for the Silverswords. This Chaminade team looks to be their most athletic and entertaining squad in many years, led by Coach Eric Bovaird, formerly of West Liberty in Wheeling, WV. They host the Maui Invitational on ESPN in two weeks. beginning I think vs Illinois, a game they may have a punchers shot in.

I'll find out whether Michael Green (and Chaminade's coach) are interested in recruiting a former Jackson Polar Bear, and turning the Silverswords into a receptacle for washed out MAC players. CUH (Chaminade U of Honolulu) plays the New Zealand National team Tue. night. Mike will be playing the 4-spot for the Swords, as they're very low on both size and bodies. Good thing he can play right away.

Very interesting to know Keith is a soccer dad! A diversely talented sporting family. Baseball, basketball, soccer. I know the Dambrots are keen observers of human behavior. I was a classmate of Keith's, and his sister was in a couple of my psych classes, one I think taught by their mom.

I noticed that Mike Green is listed on the roster for local school Chaminade U. this year (and not as a red shirt). Is there a no-redshirt rule for transfers from D1-to-D2? May go to game next week and see if he plays.

Wear your Daniel Boone jacket. And bell-bottoms. They won't suspect a thing.

Please let me (and Gozips) know if they can do an Akron aloha shirt. lol

WOW! I can't find anything on the net about the punch. Anyone see anything? Vom Steeg has a bad enough reputation already without his guys beating up the officials.

Well, I WAS going to suggest you all arrive in Oneonta early and take in the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, this article describes how that is no longer possible. Apparently, there is no permanent museum for US soccer any longer.

Thanks for the great news on the tailgate. I hear we won the game also. Meves' clean sheet run ends.

Yeah -- so what's new? Did anyone really think this team would be competiitive this year...or next? But in all truthfullness, they are one of the most improved teams in the MAC. This NIU team would have scored 50 in the first half against Ianello's team.

Just out of curiosity, what does this year's scarf look like/say? This is first year I haven't gotten a scarf for the $40 cost of women's tix.