USWNT Qualifies for Beijing, and JordanCornblog Sleeps In!

No, these two facts are not related. Yes, the USWNT won their Olympic qualifying match 3-0 against Costa Rica. All of the goals involved Natasha Kai and all were scored in the second half, as Costa Rica successfully bunkered in for the entire first half and then some. The US adjusted, though, taking it to the flanks and eventually breaking through with the game winner … and then some!

Smiling PiaA smiling Sundhage on her feelings on qualifying for the 2008 Olympics:“Look at my face. I am really happy for the team and the fact that we turned it around in the second half.”

Canada defeated Mexico 1-0 to capture the other CONCACAF berth. They’ll travel to the Beijing Olympics this summer for what I understand is to be their first-every Olympics! Congratulations to our northern neighbors (and I must say I’m a little surprised that this is their first Oly’s).

The USWNT plays Canada on Saturday at 7:30 PM MT for the Championship. As usual, there’s no TV … but MatchTracker will bring us the game. (I find it very unfortunate that Fox, ESPN, etc. didn’t bother with this important tournament. We haven’t laid eyes on this team since Pia took over!)

Lori Chalupny was named Player of the Match … and I’ll update all the stats tonight!

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USWNT Vs Costa Rica

Christie Rampone-Mexico GameThe US Women’s National Team finishes up their CONCACAF qualifying run at 5PM MT with a game against Costa Rica. The game can be followed on MatchTracker, and is also reportedly on GolTV out of Canada, if you’re lucky enough to get it! Here’s hoping the US women can continue their splendid run. Mexico and Canada meet in the other semifinal. On the line are the two CONCACAF berths in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. (Last time around the US won their semi … and Mexico upset Canada to win the other.)

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HollyCornblog Injury Update

CarpalsNot to be outdone by Pat Summitt (dislocated shoulder x1) and Candace Parker (dislocated shoulder x2) we have learned that HollyCornblog not only broke her radius (see yesterday’s story) but also her wrist (some small bone whose name we THINK is pisiform). We hope that she heals well and soon … and keeps us posted on how she’s progressing as paddling season approaches!

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Summitt's Eighth-Morgan/Murray's First!

clipped from nbcsports.msnbc.com

That’s the long and the short of it, as Candace Parker and Shannon Bobbitt celebrate Tennessee’s eighth NCAA title and Morgan/Murray’s first JordanCornblog pool win! The Lady Vols became the first team to repeat since UConn’s run during the Taurasi years. Parker also became the fourth player to win back-to-back Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four honors. She joined Diana Taurasi (2003-04), Chamique Holdsclaw (1997-98) and Cheryl Miller (1983-84).

So Kudos to Tennessee and Pat Summitt, kudos to Stanford on a great run, and kudos to Morgan/Murray for knowing how to pick em! Here’s how the standings ended up in the JordanCornblog pool for 2008 … [TABLE=35] blog it
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Tennessee Two-Step

The Lady Vols took it to Stanford and danced away with their second National Championship in as many years. Here’s to tough defense, great rebounding, and involving everyone in the offense! And here’s to Nicky Anosike … the player of the game. A very well-deserved accolade, that!  More in the morning … so stay tuned!

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Nicky Anosike and Tennessee Up at the Half!

Six steals and 10 points … and a triple major to boot! Way to go Nicky! Everyone for Tennessee is stepping up … but Hornbuckle still needs to get on track! It’s 37-29 at the half. Nicky is playing the way she did in last year’s final, and the Tennessee pressure has Stanford totally discombobulated. Fourteen turnovers in the first half … and nearly 50% of ’em Nicky’s. I wonder what her three majors are!

Dewd and Paula LR just called in. Both of them are cheering for Stanford … so Jules says she’s not answering the phone anymore … because they are just dissing Tennessee in irrelevant, name-calling sorts of ways.

Ace is looking strong … Ice is having her moments, but struggling a bit, too.

Okay, here’s the skinny on Nicky … “Quite the scholar, Nicky is currently pursuing a major in sociology/criminal justice and additional majors in political science and legal studies…Was a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year High Honor Roll recipient at St. Peter’s for Girls…In addition to her exploits on the hardwood, Anosike also lettered twice in track and once in soccer during her prep career…Chose Tennessee over Connecticut, Georgia and Virginia in order to improve her game and grow mentally as well as physically…Lists being selected as an All-American as her biggest thrill to date in basketball…The late Johnnie Cochran and Beyonce Knowles are the famous persons she most admires…Hopes to become a lawyer after her playing career…Has seven siblings including: Nneoma, 28, Rotanna, 27, Ikenna, 25, Ifesinachi, 24, Anulika, 22, Oderah, 15, and Ejimofor, 8…Nkolika Nonyelum Anosike was born on Feb. 27, 1986, in Brooklyn, N.Y…Her mother is Ngozi Anosike.” (From the Tennessee website …)

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Final Prep Time and Video of the USWNT vs Mexico!

Stanford and Tennessee players wake up this morning to the prospect of one, final game of hoops down in Tampa! Ace and Ice have a lot riding on their shoulders, and a lot of history and respect between them. Meanwhile LSU and UConn head home … to rebuild and regroup!

On the soccer front, fans can follow the USA’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday, April 9, live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker with a kickoff of 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time. In 2004, the USA also defeated Costa Rica for a berth to the Olympics, winning 4-0 in the semifinal of the Olympic qualifying competition in San Jose, Costa Rica.

And here’s a treat! I picked this up from BigSoccer. If you want to watch the entire U.S.-Mexico game, you can go here and click on the 2:30 p.m. link from April 6 and it will start from the U.S. national anthem and take you through the game!

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Get Well Wishes to HollyCornblog and Her Radius!

clipped from en.wikipedia.org

We are sad to report that HollyCornblog took a tumble and fractured her radius – an injury that takes about 6 weeks to heal.

It sounds like her radius is hurting her a lot less than her wrist and ribs (which were not broken). Go figure!

Heal well, and heal soon, HollyCornblog!

  blog it
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Kansas Wins in OT

Mario Chalmers sank a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to send it to OT. He was named player of the game … and Kansas pulled out an exciting win over Memphis. The final score? 75-68.

clipped from nbcsports.msnbc.com

  blog it

The Kansas win means that Jeff wins the JordanCornblog Pool … followed by a resurgent Holly, then Chris in third, and Rachel in fourth place. The rest of us are in the same universe, if not the same solar system, for the most part!

Congratulations, Jeff! (When our JordanCornblog courier (and syndicated reporter) returns from Florida, we will get you your winnings. In the meantime, you should certainly start planning a trip or something. Between this and your tax rebate, you may even be able to retire! 😉

Here’s how we all lined up in the end. Thanks for playing!  [TABLE=34]

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So It'll Be Ace Versus Ice!

What to say? It’s Memphis-Kansas in the Men’s Final tonight … and will be TennesseeStanford for the Women on Tuesday night (and we’ll get to see Candace Parker and Candice Wiggins go at it one more time)!

In JordanCornblog land the brackets have shifted just a tad on the women’s side (where that UConn loss knocked quite a few folks out of kilter). Morgan/Murray continue well in the lead … and, not to ruin the drama or anything, but I see no way that they can be toppled at this point! (They picked Tennessee to win it all … and no one has Stanford.)

Here’s how it looks in our Women’s Pool going into the final: [TABLE=33]

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