Z.I.P.

This e-mail from the Z-Fund was in my in-box this morning: Akron Zips IMG Trade Show Invitation Dear Akron Z-Fund Member, You are invited to our 4th Annual Akron Zips IMG Trade Show on Friday April 29th at Rhodes Arena. The free event is from 11:30-1:00 p.m. in the upper bowl of Rhodes Arena. Sponsors who are on board for the upcoming 2010-11 season with the Akron Zips have been invited to showcase their business at the event. Each sponsor will have a table and personnel on site to answer any questions you may have. There are approximately 30 Akron Zips sponsors planning to attend. There will be snacks and raffles provide by some of the sponsors. If you have any specific questions please call Ryan Christy at 330-972-8410 or email him at ryan.christy@imgworld.com IMG is the multi-media rights holder of the Akron Zips and serves as the sponsorship arm for the athletic department. IMG is the country's largest and fastest growing collegiate multimedia rights holder, with partnerships involving more than 80 NCAA member institutions, conferences, bowl games and venues. The IMG family of leading universities and conferences reaches into 34 states from the Northeast through the mid-Atlantic and Southeast, while extending across the Southwest and most of the West coast as well. The company, which is based in Winston-Salem, NC, produces a variety of sponsorship opportunities and services for its partner schools and corporate clients, including publications, radio/TV networks, internet sites, game event promotions and stadium/arena signage. Support those who support the Zips! My question is, why did they send this out to all (thousands of) members, rather than a sub group, like corporate sponsors themselves, and those who make corporate decisions about sponsorships/marketing? Is it because they're too lazy to do the work of determing who fits in the subgroup? What exactly is the purpose of this -- to display the services UA Athletics sponsors provide? For that regard -- is the UA AD running this, or IMG? Whatever -- that's fine, but it seems this effort is just too scattershot, rather than directed at the best audience. I might go, if I were in the area, just for the pupus. Did they call them that?

1 2 Team Scores 1 1 Akron 294 289 583 +7 2 2 Illinois 295 298 593 +17 7 T3 Northwestern 308 292 600 +24 T5 T3 Illinois State 307 293 600 +24 3 5 Indiana 302 299 601 +25 8 6 Penn State 311 292 603 +27 4 7 Michigan State 303 301 604 +28 9 8 Ohio State 312 296 608 +32 How's THAT for a kick in the Columbass.

Well, let's hope they don't tear it up TOO bad. Coach Warzycha will be pissed!

Ok thank you, I wasn't quite sure if Xavier had made the tournament last year. Well, it will be another good test for us then. Damn! It's funny (in more than one sense) reading this description. I remember not very many years ago, when "we were Xavier" -- just making the NCAA tournament was considered a successful season. Do not forget how far we have come! And that there is just one Coach Porter BTW, Xavier has a very fine player from Jackson HS -- one of the state's best players in HS, who was "not good enough" for Akron.

What a GREAT article... and statement: Asked further about James' move, Tait added: ''For the past 10 years, the inmates have been running the asylum. Now it appears some of them have decided to burn down the building.'' And after saying he won't be watching or listening to the Cavs post-retirement, Tait added: ''If I need basketball, I'll pop on down the road to Cloverleaf. At least I'll be watching kids play as hard as they can play because they want to play, not because someone is paying them to play.'' Haven't heard his voice in near 30 years, but man do I respect that point of view. Makes you wonder how he's held on to the job all this time. And confirms why I haven't watched an entire NBA game in about the same period -- maybe since the Miracle at Richfield!

Actually, I think they might be pronouncing it right and we were pronouncing it wrong at Akron for two years. Check out his audio diaries that he made while the U20s were in Guatemala. He actually pronounces his own name as Valenteen, which makes me think that is the correct pronunciation. Also, these two segments are really funny, and feature not only Zarek, but his 'special guest' Perry 'whats cookin' in the' Kitchen. If you have free time, I would definitely give them a listen. Yaz, you have convinced me that you are ABSOLUTELY correct! I know that older brother Julian Valentin (national champ at Wake Forest) always had his name pronounced with a "soft 'i'" (like Tim). However, I found in his UA bio that the father is named Manuel, SO I will henceforth pronounce it in the Spanish method, "VAL-en-teen". I have long disliked the Fox broadcast of Chivas' games. They've always attempted to make the team a "semi-official" team of the Mexican-American community, and gone out of their way to hispanicize every aspect of the team, so I assumed they were carrying on in that direction. So, I guess in this case, Christian Miles actually has gotten it correct -- there's a first time for everything! Take a look at the the blog written by Chivas goalkeeper Zack Thornton. A great article about Zarek's youth, schooling and relationship with Julian.

She should try out for the Liberian National Team. She could probably make it.

I saw the first half of this game on TV. Chivas coach Robin Fraser has his work cut out! As far as Valentin goes (and I really wish Christian Miles on Fox would stop calling him Valenteen -- his brother played for the Galaxy, maybe that's the reason lol), he looked like a rookie...a bit murky on his touches and footing at times, but I saw no major mistakes. He's playing the single back (sweeper) in the center...so I can only assume Fraser must have a good deal of confidence in the 19 year old. Chivas' biggest problem so far is not the defense, but the lack of scoring. If that doesn't change, this will be another long season.

Crew, I'm recommending teh U of A hire you. You out-organize the athletic department by ridiculous margins. I imagine they can't afford you though.

Is Caleb listed as a part of the coaching staff, guest instructor...? Inquiring minds...

My uncle lives in Las Vegas and he lives right next to one of the girls thats coming to Akron. He was telling me that she got offers to Penn State who finished tied for first in the big ten with OSU, so i think were getting a very good recruit with her Yes. Lexi is the REAL DEAL. The other players are also good additions. Best recruiting class, by far.

Well, there IS an Off-Topic thread...And sorry to the Meechiganders for falling short (again). You have the right thread for that one.

I meant to post this last month, but never found time: The top defender in the 2011 class, US U17 starter Andrew Oliver signed with the Hated Whosers, Akron's biggest rivals. He was Top Drawer Soccer's #2 ranked player in the nation. A good thing is, he may last only a year in college. But, he's one of the few to get away from Caleb Porter. Here's a critique from ESPN Soccernet's US Youth Soccer blogger. Kudos go to Yeagley Jr for showing there is some competition in college futbol recruiting. Of course, Akron had no scholarships remaining.

In hindsight, McNees should have laid on the ground instead of putting a hand in the shooter's face. Just to eliminate the horrible, tragic "controversy." I love the Rasor blog, but sucking up to Ford and fabricating valor is pretty weak. I know he wants to be a sports writer one day...and you want to have Ford on your "Fave 5" in the unlikely event he's ever coaching at a major program (after the Bradley gig)...but come on.... Maybe it's just "Zips Fan's Guilt"... where a Zips fan is so used to losing these types of games they just don't know how to handle coming out on top? Could be a coping mechanism...I don't know... God Bless Steve "The Hacker" McNees Well, if Geno's dream job is coach at his alma mater...then the "Bradley gig" might be the right path. Couldn't hardly go there straight from Can't.

Mike Razor is a Golden Flush!

Just wondered -- is the U-17 WC qualifying over?

Type "jeff boals fresno state" in google. Example The Bulldog Nation already hates Jeff Boals. Frankly, I think he's too good for the Valley Boys. they're not going to get Reggie Theus either, BTW - lol. Jeff should stay in the Midwest -- he can get an upper mid-major (MVC, CAA...) shortly if he doesn't move up if Matta somehow leaves. BTW -- Fresno's AD (Boeh?) came from OU, so that's the Ohio connex.

Ummm...probably not. Look at the rafters of Beeghley Center. There isn't one men's basketball-related banner of any sort. I'm glad Penguin Guy is high from sniffing the coat-tails of a Bulldog, but let's be real...Youngstown couldn''t produce a decent basketball player, or team, if given a billion pounds of oily penguin food for a billion years. Please post more links to a team that would need to win 10 more games to get a CBI bid. Yeah -- but at least no one calls their school Youngstown U.

The only time I have gotten to see Schmitt, in Development Academy Finals couple or 3 yrs back, I could swear he played on top -- and looked very confident. What's he doing in back?

Searching through my junk mail box. I can't find the e-mail. Does it show or describe the new scarf? Hope it says something about NATIONAL CHAMPS! A piece of the net? Damn right I'll renew my seat. I can sell the tix on eBay.

WOW -- They won!! Beating Michael Cooper's Ladies of Troy before 7000+ on final night. And it appears the Jewish Jordan plays in Toledo? Hmmmm. Sounds like UT played all their games at home. This is, as far as I know, the first post-season tournament won by the MAC.

And Bunbury scored two goals to the chants of "traitor" from the Vancouver fans. However, Sporting KC gave up 3 goals, 2 of them in the 92nd and 93rd minutes (within about 90 seconds of each other) to turn a win into a tie. That was a heck of a comeback by Vancouver. The place went bonkers! KC Fail, but a great match to watch as a neutral though I don't disagree that it was a great comeback by Vancouver and a great match to watch. But, I hated seeing Teal's awesome goals neutralized, especially with the Canadians chanting "traitor". Any Teal goals in KC vs the Whitecaps should be accompanied by "U-S-A! U-S-A!" Rude Reception Doesn't Faze Bunbury I agree, I don't like it either, but visiting Vancouver, it was to be expected. Just wait if ever the USMNT takes on Italy and New Jersey born Giuseppe Rossi. So I know how the Canadians must feel losing an outstanding player. But I do not like when I see NYRB supporters chanting "US Reject" towards Houston Dynamo/USMNT player Brian Ching last Saturday night. Uncalled for and disrespectful towards a player who has done so much for the US squad. I wouldn't worry about Chingie, that's the same chant he heard most everywhere he went after last July. Brian's biggest regret is never getting on the field during his one World Cup in 06. Now he can go back to captaining the Hawaiian national team.

I'm not sure what "stacking" means. I went to the Hawaii men's tennis vs Michigan last weekend. Hawaii's best player played #3 singles, and just lost to a former HS all-American, ranked top 30 nationally. Somehow Hawaii won two of the three other singles matches, but lost the doubles and the overall match. It was only the second time I've attended, and was interesting. Free pizza! Did the pizza have pineapple and ham on it? No RFR -- it's HAWAII! Poi and pig.

Didn't we "let them beat us" last Spring also? This is Caleb mastering team positioning through making the opponents over-confident. Oh well, it beats the days of off-season games vs Rio Grande. All that matters is UA Zips: Don't worry about exhibitions/friendlies.

I've been to a lot of women's NIT games. They're very competitive. I think this is very cool, and a win would be a big feather in the MAC's urban sombrero. Go Rocketz!