Champs, Choking, and How DVR has Changed My Life

By Reece

The Champs

Firstly, I must again publicly share my complete and utter joy with the Boston Celtics 17th NBA Championship! I'm glad they lost Game 5, just so they could win... ahem... DOMINATE at home in the Garden. Usually, blowouts are no fun to watch (unless they're this guy), but I couldn't help losing my mind every time Ray Allen drained a 3, and Rajon Rondo stole the ball (a million times and counting), and James Posey played D well after the whistle, and Kevin Garnett came back to life and Eddie House came off the bench, and Paul Pierce took one of his stumbling drives saying "I'm going to crash into the photographers, but first let me make this lay-up using only my Jedi mind. Oh, and I'll take a foul call, too. Thanks."

Enough about the Celtics. They're great, and it was awesome to see three NBA All-Stars finally get a ring (and it was almost as satisfying to see a certain NBA player lose, especially with his daughters there to see it. I guess that's what happens when you use your kids as part of your PR campaign to prove your innocence).

The Choke Artists

Three out of four of the quarterfinal games in 2008 EUROCUP Soccer ended in defeat for the top seed. I guess soccer is like that though, when just a chance at a shot is considered good offense. It all started horribly for me - my beloved, and immensely talented Portugal losing to, ze Germans. Then Turkey blows everyone's mind, by tying Croatia in the final minute of the game, sending it to penalty kicks and winning. Croatia - the better team, particularly with Turkey lagging with suspensions and injuries - totally choked, missing, yes, MISSING two penalty kicks. (Props to the Turk keeper - their 35 year old BACK-UP keeper - Rustu, for playing out of his mind). And finally, the early favorites the Netherlands blew it against Russia to really screw up my brackets. Only Spain was able to defeat Italy to keep some semblance of balance in the rankings. Regardless, I went from 1st to 4th in my pool, and now I have no faith in my instincts for the semi-finals.

And How DVR has Changed My Life...

I didn't watch any of these games live. I know... who does that? But I didn't have a choice. My schedule just doesn't always permit me to see live sports on TV. In the past, and in general, it's no big deal - I'll read a game report, watch some highlights - but I couldn't live with myself as a Boston fan if I didn't watch every second of every Celtics Playoffs game (after all, they neeeeed me). I could probably live without watching entire soccer matches - but the drama is just too great, and really, a singular futbol goal is immensely more intense when you've been waiting 90 minutes.

THE POINT

I now have the ability to watch sports at my convenience. I choose the time, but not the place... yet. Face it, sports highlights on my iPhone still aren't good enough - but what if I could set my TV to record the game at my house, and that syncs with my phone, so when I get off of work, I could go to my buddy's place and broadcast the game from my phone to his bigger, better, TV?

The bigger picture (not talking about the TV anymore) is that I will consume the media I choose, when I want to. Like I said, in the past I'd let a game go by once in a while, now I make sure I record every important match I can. If only there was a way to block spoiler phone calls from friends...

Head, Heart, Hustle!

By Joe

I think everyone knows what I'm going to write about. I wouldn't be much of a fan/alumni if I didn't. I have to send a congratulations out to Coach John Desko and the Syracuse Orange. They are the 2008 NCAA Men's Lacrosse National Champions. They are back on top again!

Now, I know this might sound like a complete cliché, but this really couldn't have happened to a better group of kids, families, and coaches. Syracuse is seen by most lacrosse fans as almost the "Evil Empire" of lacrosse. I know I thought of them as that before I went there. Let me tell you, this couldn't be further from the truth. The lacrosse family up at Syracuse has fans that are loyal to the very end, families that would take any player, past or present, in as their own, and coaches that would do absolutely anything for their kids.

I know this first hand. The two years I spent up at Syracuse were two very tough years because of some unfortunate outside circumstances. If it wasn't for the Syracuse lacrosse family, I don't know if I would have made it through them.

I could write pages and pages of stories about the players on the team, the coaches, and the remarkable tradition up there. But for now I'll just say Congratulations fellas. You earned your spot back on top. 2008 National Champs!

Happy Mother's Day

By Overtime Media Inc.

Yea, ok. We mostly use this space to talk about sports, and technology and other manly subjects, but we couldn't really let the day go by without a shout-out to all the moms in the world who dropped us off at practice, picked us up when we fell down and cheered for us no matter the score. We'd like to take the opportunity to say thanks to all of the moms who made playing team sports so much fun... Whether it was for the Falmouth Clippers, Tabor Seawolves, St. Anthony's Friars, the Bucknell Bison, the Syracuse Orangemen or the Brown Bears - there have been countless mothers along the way who have been there in the stands, supporting us win or lose... Happy Mother's Day.

And to the mothers of Overtime Media Inc. (us), thank you for your continued love and support.
Reece, Dan, Joe

On Preparation...

By Reece

"Most people have the will to win, few have the will to prepare to win."

- Bobby Knight [As crazy as he is, he knows a thing about winning].

Dan stumbled across this quote recently, and it's a great point. Wanting to win is nothing new or uncommon. Every competitive athlete wants to win... the difference in those who win and those who don't, is their preparation.

And if you don't agree with me, then hear it from a legend...

[Note: I got this video from Joe who was kind enough to send me an email full of Jordan YouTube videos as workout inspiration leading into our MLL Training Camps.]

Lax on TV and Why You Should Scout Your Opponents

By Reece

Wow... it's been way too long since I posted last. In my defense, there just hasn't been much time. And what have I been doing in my free time? You got it. Watching lacrosse on TV - regularly! ESPNU has been great this year, covering a few games each week. I usually don't get to see them in real-time, so I DVR all the games and block my ears when Joe starts talking about the scores. It worked until Saturday - when I learned that Army beat Navy for the first time in 13 years!

I've only seen the first quarter so far, but the Black Knights really came to play, getting up 3-0 on the Mids. What stuck out to me in this early stanza was Army's second goal. The Knights moved the ball around the outside of the offensive zone at a solid pace. No cutters, no motion, just working it around... for a while. I thought the refs may call them for stalling. The Navy defense held their ground, playing man-to-man, just following the ball. Slowly, the Black Knights started to move and a cutter came around the back of the crease, as the ball moved to the top right middie. He fed this cutter coming up from the crease, who quickly moved the ball to the top left middie cutting back door on his defender, who wasn't out of position... until it was too late. The streaking middie came down the wing uncontested and bounced it in for an easy goal.

The reason this stood out: the announcer, and former Army coach Jack Emmer, then said "Army has been running this play for years." I want to say I remember this play when we scouted them at Bucknell seven years ago, not certain though. Point is, this play was not new to Navy. They should have recognized it, particularly when Army spent so much time working it around - purposefully lulling the Navy defense into a stupor that cost them an early goal.

THIS IS WHY YOU SCOUT. Army vs. Navy! League play! Ranked opponents! Arguably each team's biggest regular season game of the year! Games like this are too important. You've got to know your opponent. I don't want to sound like I'm criticizing Navy too harshly. Obviously, Coach Meade is one of the best in the game - the Navy program is outstanding. What I am saying, is if those Navy players had a better opportunity to study their opponents, they may have iced that play long before it even started - stopping Army from getting on a roll so early on in the contest.