2011 Rugby World Cup Final: End of a Great Tournament

2011 Rugby World Cup logo
http://rugbyfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Rugby-World-
Cup-2011-1024x384.jpg

The Rugby World Cup has been held since 1987. The 7th annual Rugby World Cup recently played it's last game of the tournament. There are two main different types of rugby, rugby union and rugby league. The Rugby World Cup is the world cup for rugby. It was played in New Zealand and 20 teams participated. Those teams are Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, France, Fiji, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Namibia, New Zealand, Romania , Russia, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga, United States of America, and Wales.


Here are 3 main points to remember about the tournament, from 3rd to 1st.


3. Performance of Teams

Tonga came within 2 points of making the knockout round
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/teams/team=47/photo/index.html

There were 4 pools of 5 teams. Top 2 teams in each pool make the Knockout Stage. In Pool A, New Zealand went undefeated. Both France and Tonga went 2-2-0 (Wins-Losses-Draw), but France made the Knockout Stage due to having more points. Canada went 1-2-1 and Japan went 0-3-1. In Pool B, England never lost and Romania never won. Argentina went 3-1-0, Scotland went 2-2-0, and Georgia went 1-3-0. Pool C saw Ireland go without a blemish and Russia go without a victory. Australia went 3-1-0, Italy 2-2-0, and the US went 1-3-0. South Africa led Pool D with a perfect record, followed by Wales with a 3-1-0, Samoa 2-2-0, Fiji 1-3-0, and Namibia 0-4-0.


In the quarter-finals, Wales def. Ireland 22-10, France def. England 19-12, Australia def defending champs South Africa 11-9 and New Zealand def. Australia 33-10. That made the semi-final match-ups, France-Wales and New Zealand-Australia.

Morne Styen
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/team
s/team=39/player=26292/index.html

2. Stat Leaders Are Led By South Africa's Morne Styen and New Zealand's Colin Slade 


South Africa's Morne Styen was the top scorer of the tournament with 62 points, 10 more then the runner-up. He also tied for  1st in conversions with New Zealand's Colin Slade. France's Vincent Clerc and England's Chris Ashton had the most tries with 7. Slade and France's Morgan Parra had the most points in 1 game this tournament with 23 points. Fiji's Vereniki Goneva had 4 tries in 1 game, this year's tournament record. New Zealand had the most overall points with 301 points. The biggest score differential of 1 game was a 87-0 win by South Africa against Namibia. 


1. The Finals


In the semi's New Zealand beat Australia and France beat Wales. That made the final New Zealand (All Blacks) and France. Both of these teams  faced each other in the final in 1987. The Australian Wallabies and Wales faced off in the bronze medal game, the same as 1987, too. The end result was different, though. In 1987 Wales won. Australia won this time 21-18.

New Zealand vs France
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/matches/match=11235/photo.html

Both New Zealand and France started the tournament in Pool A. In their earlier meeting, New Zealand won easily 37-17. The Final wasn't as one sided. New Zealand started off strong with Tony Woodcock scoring a try (5 points) but the conversion was missed. Then, in the second half, Stephen Douglas of New Zealand kicked a penalty to make it 8-0. France responded quick with a try scored by Thierry Dusautoir and Francios Trinh-Duc converted the conversion. That made the score 8-7. That's the way it ended with New Zealand winning it's 2nd championship, it's first since 1987.

2011 Baseball World Cup: Surprise after Surprise

2011 Baseball World Cup
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Every year there are many world cup's that happen that get little to no attention. The Baseball World Cup is one of them because there are no MLB players and it is not sponsored. The World Baseball Classic gets attention because it is based on Major League Baseball. This year Baseball World Cup, held in Panama was full of surprises.

When you think of international baseball you think of the US, Japan, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Cuba. Only Cuba and the US made it to the knockout stage. In Pool 1 there were Canada, Chinese Taipei, Greece, Japan, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico, and USA. Australia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Germany, Italy, Nicaragua, South Korea, and Venezuela were the countries in Pool 2. The top 4 teams from each pool make the next round


In a packed Pool 1, Germany didn't win 1 game. The top teams were Canada and the Netherlands, both with a record of 6-1. Japan, which usually doesn't play it's best baseball in the World Cup, underperformed with a record of 2-5. Chinese Taipei also didn't play it's best with a 2-5 record to show for it. The US, Panama, and Puerto Rico had to fight for the last 2 spots in Pool A. Panama and the USA got it with a 5-2 and a 4-3 record respectively. 


Pool 2 was head by IBAF's (International Baseball Federation) number 1 ranked team, Cuba. Cuba posted a spotless 7-0 record. Germany was the exact opposite of Cuba, going a winless 0-7. Nicaragua didn't do much better, going 1-6 with it's only win against Germany. Venezuela and South Korea clinched their spot in the next round by both going 5-2. The Dominican Republic, Italy, and Australia all were fighting for the final spot. Australia ended up beating out the other two for the spot.


Round 2 placed all 8 teams that made it to the next round, Australia, Canada, Cuba, Netherlands, Panama, South Korea, USA, and Venezuela, were placed in 1 group. Each team places each other once. Top 2 teams make the finals, next 2 make the 3rd Place Game, and so on. Gaining way into the championship game were Cuba and Netherlands who both had 6-1. At 4-3, both Canada and USA got entry to the 3rd place game. Australia and South Korea won their way into the 5th place game. The 7th place game ended up being a between Venezuela and Panama


In the 7th place match, Venezuela beat Panama 8-3. In the 5th place match, Australia defeated South Korea 3-2. The 3rd place game between neighboring countries, the US and Canada, was cancelled due to rain.

Netherlands celebrates after winning the championship
Ratti/IBAF

The final was an intense match-up. The number #1 team in Cuba, who has won 3 Gold Olympic  Medals, 2 Silver Olympic Medals, 25 World Cup Titles, and 11 International Cup titles vs. the 6th ranked team in Netherlands, which has come in 2nd for the International Cup twice. The two met in the 2010 International Cup finals with Cuba winning 4-1. The first runner to cross the plate was Cuba's Frederich Cepeda on a sac fly in the top of the 4th. Netherlands quickly struck back in the bottom of the 4th, with two RBI singles by Bryan Englehardt and Jonathan Schoop, to make it 2-1. It stayed like that for 4 more innings. Then, in the top of the 9th, Cuba started to rally and got runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs. They couldn't score and the Netherlands won their first Baseball World Cup. They were led by INF Curt Smith, who won the World Cup's MVP award. Smith played the 2011 season for the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. 

NHL Premiere in Europe

NHL Premiere Logo
http://3.cdn.nhle.com/kings/images/upload/2011/04/NHLPREMIERE_LOGO.jpg

For the last 4 years the National Hockey League has played some of it's preseason and early season games in Europe. This year was no different. There were 7 preseason games and 4 regular season games played this year.  4 teams made the trip, the Anaheim Duck, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, and New York Rangers. The games were played in Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland. For the preseason games, the NHL teams faced a local pro team. For the regular season, the NHL teams faced another NHL member.


The preseason games were called the NHL Premiere Challenge. The Rangers played the first 4 games. The first game was in Prague, Czech Republic between New York and HC Sparka Praha. The Rangers won 2-0. New York played in the next game in Gothenburg, Sweden, defeating the Frolunda Indians 4-2. In Bratislava, Slovakia, New York faced and beat HC Slovan Bratislava 4-1. For their final game, New York was dominated by EV Zug, 8-4 in Zug, Switzerland.


Anahiem played their only European preseason games in Helsiniki, Finland vs. Jokerit. They won in overtime 4-3. The Kings then played in Hamburg, Germany and beat the Hamburg Freezers 5-4. The last preseason game in Europe was played between Buffalo and the Adler Mannheim in Mannheim, Germany. The Sabres won in a blowout, 8-3. The NHL went 6-1 in the preseason games.


The first regular season games was between Anaheim and Buffalo from Hartwell Areena in Finland. The Sabres dominated from the get-go, with Thomas Vanek scoring on a power play within 5 minutes and then a goal a little later by Ville Leino. In the 2nd period, the Ducks started to rally when Nate Guenin scored. However, Buffalo countered the game with a Jason Pomiville goal and a Thomas Vanek PP goal.

A Fight for the Puck in Stockholm
AP Photo/Niklas Larsson

In the other game, the New York Rangers faced the Los Angeles Kings in Stockholm, Sweden was an overtime thriller. The first goal of the game was scored by LA's Anze Kopitar in the first period. The Rangers countered quickly with a goal, 5 minutes later, by Ryan Callahan. After a scoreless 2nd period, New York's Marian Gaborik broke the tie with 10 minutes left in the 3rd period. Then the Kings' Mike Richards scored the equalizer to put the game into OT. With less then 1 minute left in OT, Jack Johnson of Los Angeles scored the game-winning goal.


One night passed and then Anaheim and the Rangers faced off in Stockholm. Anaheim started off hot when Andrew Cogliano scored at the 9 minutes mark. But then no one could score for more than 2 periods. New York tied it up with less then 3 minutes left in the 3rd period with a Brad Richards goal. With everyone going cold again, it went into a penalty shootout, where again, scoring was scarce. After each team missed their first 3 goals, the Ducks' Bobby Ryan beat New York's goalie, Henrik Lundqvist to take the lead. New York couldn't tie it back up and Anaheim won 2-1.

Berlin's 02 World
Stuart Franklin/Bongarts/Getty Images

For the final game in Europe, Buffalo and Los Angeles played at the 02 World in Berlin, Germany. Both teams didn't score in the 1st period. Early in the second, Buffalo's Luke Adam scored to make it 1-0 and then scored again 3 minutes later to make it 2-0. Sabres' Paul Gaustad scored later in the 2nd. Los Angeles finally got on the board with 2 minutes left in the 2nd period with an Anze Kopitar goal. Drew Stafford of Buffalo put the game out of reach with an early 3rd period goal. Kopitar scored late in 3rd but it didn't matter. Buffalo won 4-2.

And You Thought College Football Realignment Was Crazy?

One of the top stories of the sports world of the last year has been NCAA conference realignment, which is mostly about going to the best football conference. It all started when the University of South Dakota Coyotes moved from the Great West Conference to the Summit Conference. Then it heated up when the University of Colorado Buffalos and the University of Utah Utes moved to the PAC-12. Next came total chaos. There were so many rumors and moves that many people couldn't keep up. All this did not affect colllege hockey because colllege hockey has it's own conferences. However, college hockey had it's own conference shake up that in some places is crazier then the college football realignment.

Michigan, the college with the most NCAA men's hockey
titles, is leaving the WHCA for the Big Ten
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Before the realignment, there were 5 conferences and 1 independent team. The conferences were the Atlantic Hockey Association, Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), ECAC Hockey, Hockey East Association, and the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).  The madness of realignment started on March 21st when the Big Ten announced they were going to sponsor hockey, starting for the 2013-2014 season. Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State left the CCHA to go to the Big Ten. Minnesota and Wisconsin went to the Big Ten from the WHCA. Penn State, who is adding a hockey team which will start play in 2012-13, will also join the Big Ten.


Then about 4 months later rumors popped up about a new conference that would take teams from the WHCA and the CCHA. On July 13th, the rumors were rumors no more. The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) was officially formed with 6 charter members, Colorado College, Denver, Miami-Ohio, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota that would start play in the 2013-14 season. They all came from the WHCA. In September, St. Cloud State and Western Michigan announced that they will join the NCHA, leaving the CCHA.

Will the CCHA just become a memory of the past?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0e/CCHAlogo.png

Due to the realignment, the WCHA took 4 teams, Alaska-Fairbanks (known as just Alaska), Ferris State, Lake Superior State, and Northern Michigan from the CCHA. This has put the CCHA in a tough situation. As of October 4th, they have only 2 teams, Notre Dame and Bowling Green. Bowling Green is has been offered a spot in the WCHA and Notre Dame is weighing it's options. However, this doesn't mean the end of the CCHA. Independent Alabama-Huntsville could join the league. Minnesota State-Moorhead is trying to launch a team to play Division 1. They could also get some Division 3 teams.


Here are what the conferences will look like in 2013-14 as of today.
Atlantic Hockey [No Moves]: Air Force, American International, Army, Bentley, Canisius, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Niagara, RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology), Sacred Heart, UCONN (Connecticut)
Big Ten [New Conference, Gets 6 Teams]: Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, Wisconsin
CCHA [Loses 9 Teams]: Bowling Green, Notre Dame
ECHA [No Moves]: Brown, Clarkson, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Quinnipiac, Rensselaer, St. Lawerence, Union, Yale
Hockey East [No Moves]: Boston College, Boston University, Maine, UMASS (Massachusetts), Massachusetts-Lowell, Merrimack, New Hampshire, Northeastern, Providence ,Vermont
NCHC [New Conference]: Colorado State, Denver, Miami-Ohio, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota, St. Cloud State, Western Michigan
WCHA [Gains 4, Loses 8]: Alaska, Alaska-Anchorage, Bemidji State, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota State, Northern Michigan
Independents: Alabama-Huntsville 
Note: New teams are in italics


With questions that still haven't found their answers, college hockey is in for one wild ride.