The men lost today to Croatia in the Bronze Medal game. This one seemed to be going great in the first half as the team had amassed a lead but Croatia came back in the second half and was able to pull out the victory. A definite bummer to the end of what was a great tournament for both teams because the men were so close to a medal, something that had never been achieved before at a World Championships.
That said over the last two years the men have accomplished one thing, and that is returning the USA men to among the elite in international water polo. They are in the top four for the second straight year and that is pretty good especially when you consider the company that was left out of the top 4 in this year's World Championships.
Well that about puts a bow on this edition of the USA Water Polo blog at the FINA World Championships. Thanks to our photographer Alberto Lingria who supplied us with amazing images for the blog, the website and future issues of Skip Shot. Also to Alan Abrahamson of Universal Sports who took some time out of the swimming madness to give water polo a look.
Next up on the usa water polo calendar outside of tomorrow's JO finale will be the men's and women's junior national teams in action. The Women's squad will be making their way to Siberia (fun) and the Men's squad will be going to Croatia. Be sure to follow along in the usual spots on twitter and usawaterpolo.org for updates on those teams.
Ciao!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Now It's Official...USA Women Are World Champions
Well after some debate and a protest filed by Canada the result that happened last night stands, the USA Women's National Team are winners of the Gold Medal and the 2009 FINA World Championships. This marks the second consecutive World Championship for the women after winning in 2007 in Melbourne. They are also alone in an exclusive club of nations that have won three World Championships. Pretty impressive stuff, also consider that Brenda Villa and Heather Petri were part of all three of those title teams.
A great scene last night of the team receiving their medals and celebrating around the pool. Some videos of this are currently making their way onto the USA Water Polo channel on Youtube at www.youtube.com/usawp.
That said there is still one more medal to pick up before we head out of Rome and that is the Bronze Medal for the men who are starting against Croatia in about an hour or so. A medal here would be a first ever for the men at the World Championships and if the men are to win the United States would be the only nation to medal in both men's and women's water polo at this event. They accomplished that feat last year in Beijing with a pair of Silver medals.
As for my time here in Rome, it is winding down, headed back to the USA tomorrow morning and I will say I am looking forward to it. Rome is a great place but I think anywhere after nearly three weeks can grow a little routine. That said it was fun to see the sights and hang out with water polo folk. Shout out to everyone who has come through and read the blog and posted comments etc.
A great sign that this event is coming to an is the level of exhaustion of other media members. Just walking into the press center today I saw two cameraman passed out in their chairs perhaps waiting for the next event to shoot.
Well, I'll be back with an update after the men's game go USA. Here are some videos from last night.
A great scene last night of the team receiving their medals and celebrating around the pool. Some videos of this are currently making their way onto the USA Water Polo channel on Youtube at www.youtube.com/usawp.
That said there is still one more medal to pick up before we head out of Rome and that is the Bronze Medal for the men who are starting against Croatia in about an hour or so. A medal here would be a first ever for the men at the World Championships and if the men are to win the United States would be the only nation to medal in both men's and women's water polo at this event. They accomplished that feat last year in Beijing with a pair of Silver medals.
As for my time here in Rome, it is winding down, headed back to the USA tomorrow morning and I will say I am looking forward to it. Rome is a great place but I think anywhere after nearly three weeks can grow a little routine. That said it was fun to see the sights and hang out with water polo folk. Shout out to everyone who has come through and read the blog and posted comments etc.
A great sign that this event is coming to an is the level of exhaustion of other media members. Just walking into the press center today I saw two cameraman passed out in their chairs perhaps waiting for the next event to shoot.
Well, I'll be back with an update after the men's game go USA. Here are some videos from last night.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Gold Medal...We Think
Quick update for those that saw the USA Women won the Gold Medal tonight defeating Canada 7-6. A wacky game that saw players rolled from each game. Canada is protesting the defeat based on one of those calls in the second quarter. So for now the celebration is on hold until this can get squared away tomorrow morning. Will have an update then. More info on the usawaterpolo site if you are interested
Thursday, July 30, 2009
A Real Spain
I could really do the Spain/pain play on words thing all night, in fact I have about 10 different ones picked out for the home page but finally had to make a pick. But in all seriousness I was hoping to have a more positive headline after a win by the men's team that would send them to the gold medal game. Instead it was a tough loss 7-6 and now they will meet up with Croatia (losers to Serbia) for a shot at the Bronze Medal.
This game was just close throughout and really Spain scored last and that proved to be the winner. Team USA started off quickly with two straight goals but once Spain tied that up it was just more a back and forth. Not a ton of exclusions called, some contra fouls that leave you wondering but other than that just didn't go the USA way on this night.
So they remain with a chance at history still, the men's program has never medaled at a world championships. A bronze would be very nice.
Women with a big match tomorrow for all the marbles as they say. USA-Canada for the Gold. The two met in the World League Prelim in Southern California and split the two official matches, perhaps some of you got a chance to see those in person.
Canada has been a wrecking crew here in Rome knocking out some of the big guns in this tourney and they seem to be playing real well. But, so are the USA women. These two teams are so familiar with each other as they seem to play several times every year if not in tournaments, than in common training. You can also pretty much pencil in USA-Canada for every Pan American Games final while we are at it.
I'll be over at the pool somewhat early tomorrow to figure out the postgame setup as medals will be dealt out and hopefully some more media make their way through.
Now I leave you with some random photos that I had meant to post earlier in the journey, as can you believe it, this thing is almost over. Only two more games. I nearly had to file for dual citizenship here in Italy.
This is not the entrace to Alice in Wonderland, but a secret driveway at St. Peter's
"I don't want to be a product of my environment, I want my environment to be a product of me"
This is one of those street performers that paints themselves and holds one position, or it's a statue inside the Vatican, your choice
This game was just close throughout and really Spain scored last and that proved to be the winner. Team USA started off quickly with two straight goals but once Spain tied that up it was just more a back and forth. Not a ton of exclusions called, some contra fouls that leave you wondering but other than that just didn't go the USA way on this night.
So they remain with a chance at history still, the men's program has never medaled at a world championships. A bronze would be very nice.
Women with a big match tomorrow for all the marbles as they say. USA-Canada for the Gold. The two met in the World League Prelim in Southern California and split the two official matches, perhaps some of you got a chance to see those in person.
Canada has been a wrecking crew here in Rome knocking out some of the big guns in this tourney and they seem to be playing real well. But, so are the USA women. These two teams are so familiar with each other as they seem to play several times every year if not in tournaments, than in common training. You can also pretty much pencil in USA-Canada for every Pan American Games final while we are at it.
I'll be over at the pool somewhat early tomorrow to figure out the postgame setup as medals will be dealt out and hopefully some more media make their way through.
Now I leave you with some random photos that I had meant to post earlier in the journey, as can you believe it, this thing is almost over. Only two more games. I nearly had to file for dual citizenship here in Italy.
This is not the entrace to Alice in Wonderland, but a secret driveway at St. Peter's
"I don't want to be a product of my environment, I want my environment to be a product of me"This is one of those street performers that paints themselves and holds one position, or it's a statue inside the Vatican, your choice
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Hella Good Win Over Greece
So currently on the usawaterpolo homepage it has the headline Hella Good. This has a few meanings and in case anyone isn't aware of Northern California slang, the music of No Doubt, or nicknames in Greece I'll explain. Hellas is another name for Greece, it was used back in the day until eventually Greece took over but much how people still refer to John Cougar Mellencamp, now he's just John Mellencamp or something like that.
With that you have the other uses of Hella in California and as I understand generally the northern part of the state meaning really cool or really good in this case. No Doubt even has a song with that in the title. So those two combined and maybe there is some word play there involved.
A closer look at the water polo pool...pre game
Anyway this is all in discussion of a big win by the women's team over Greece, 8-7. The win sends the team to the Gold Medal game against Canada. A nice all-North American final here in Italy for the World Championship. The women hope to claim their third crown this decade having won back in 2003 and 2007.
Before the game I was saying to some co-workers how I looked at the stats and everyone on the USA team, goalies aside, had scored a goal except Elsie Windes. Then what does she do, Elsie scored five goals. To add to the fun everytime the USA scored they played Born in the USA, by Bruce Springsteen, who has made his mark in this blog already. Little does Italy know this isn't the most pro-American song but it's the thought that counts.
Men back in action tomorrow for their chance to do as the women have done and go on to the Gold Medal match. They take on Spain at 9pm local Italy time. From there they will take on either Serbia or Croatia in what should be one heck of a match. Hopefully those two tire each other out in their semi-final match.
a photo that I meant to include...phelps pre-race from the other day
Last night, we got an opportunity to hit up another authentic Italian eatery. Nice place for dinner even though I didn't understand what was going on in much of the menu. I just listened to other people order and then took some out of column a and some out of column b if you will.
That's all for now but check out a postgame interview with the aforementioned Elsie. Let's go USA men tomorrow!
With that you have the other uses of Hella in California and as I understand generally the northern part of the state meaning really cool or really good in this case. No Doubt even has a song with that in the title. So those two combined and maybe there is some word play there involved.
A closer look at the water polo pool...pre gameAnyway this is all in discussion of a big win by the women's team over Greece, 8-7. The win sends the team to the Gold Medal game against Canada. A nice all-North American final here in Italy for the World Championship. The women hope to claim their third crown this decade having won back in 2003 and 2007.
Before the game I was saying to some co-workers how I looked at the stats and everyone on the USA team, goalies aside, had scored a goal except Elsie Windes. Then what does she do, Elsie scored five goals. To add to the fun everytime the USA scored they played Born in the USA, by Bruce Springsteen, who has made his mark in this blog already. Little does Italy know this isn't the most pro-American song but it's the thought that counts.
Men back in action tomorrow for their chance to do as the women have done and go on to the Gold Medal match. They take on Spain at 9pm local Italy time. From there they will take on either Serbia or Croatia in what should be one heck of a match. Hopefully those two tire each other out in their semi-final match.
a photo that I meant to include...phelps pre-race from the other dayLast night, we got an opportunity to hit up another authentic Italian eatery. Nice place for dinner even though I didn't understand what was going on in much of the menu. I just listened to other people order and then took some out of column a and some out of column b if you will.
That's all for now but check out a postgame interview with the aforementioned Elsie. Let's go USA men tomorrow!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Butterfly In The Sky...I Can Fly Twice As High
Another night and another USA Water Polo team headed to the final four at the FINA World Championships. For only the third time the men's program goes to the medal round in this event and will look to come up with their first ever medal. They knocked down Germany earlier today in an 8-5 victory that including a big third quarter that put the game away. Eight different players scored eight goals for the win and that third quarter had five of the tallies.
Germany took an early lead in the first, the game was tied at halftime and then in the third the United States just pulled away and didn't look back. With big named teams falling all over the place the other matchup that was decide Thursday's semi-final opponent was Spain-Canada. Spain seemed to handle the Canadians with ease and are headed as well to the final four.
On the men's side 2008 Gold Medalist Hungary got dumped out today by Serbia while Montenegro was bounced earlier leaving some of the general powers that be out of the medal mix here in Rome. On the women's side the the Gold Medal winner from Beijing, the Netherlands are out of the mix along with stalwarts Australia and Hungary.
As they say this is why you play the games, because obviously anything can happen. Thankfully neither USA team was swept up in the bad luck that seemed to plauge other squads.
In other news we got a chance to see Michael Phelps swim today in the 200 freestyle finals. Unfortunately he came in second place but I don't take much stock in this with all the swimsuit craziness going on right now. Basically we are a few modifications away from jet ski races, which would be fun to see in this close quarters but that is for another day. I had gotten so use to seeing Phelps win it was kind of surprising he didn't, kind of like when Tiger misses a big putt or something, you just expect it to happen.
Regardless, he has a few more opportunities to pick up some hardware so all is not lost, but he definitely didn't seem thrilled about the Silver Medal but as Ricky Bobbby's daddy says, "If you ain't first, you're last."
Finally bonus points to anyone who can name what tv show theme song the title of this blog post came from. That's all for now.
Germany took an early lead in the first, the game was tied at halftime and then in the third the United States just pulled away and didn't look back. With big named teams falling all over the place the other matchup that was decide Thursday's semi-final opponent was Spain-Canada. Spain seemed to handle the Canadians with ease and are headed as well to the final four.
On the men's side 2008 Gold Medalist Hungary got dumped out today by Serbia while Montenegro was bounced earlier leaving some of the general powers that be out of the medal mix here in Rome. On the women's side the the Gold Medal winner from Beijing, the Netherlands are out of the mix along with stalwarts Australia and Hungary.
As they say this is why you play the games, because obviously anything can happen. Thankfully neither USA team was swept up in the bad luck that seemed to plauge other squads.
In other news we got a chance to see Michael Phelps swim today in the 200 freestyle finals. Unfortunately he came in second place but I don't take much stock in this with all the swimsuit craziness going on right now. Basically we are a few modifications away from jet ski races, which would be fun to see in this close quarters but that is for another day. I had gotten so use to seeing Phelps win it was kind of surprising he didn't, kind of like when Tiger misses a big putt or something, you just expect it to happen.
Regardless, he has a few more opportunities to pick up some hardware so all is not lost, but he definitely didn't seem thrilled about the Silver Medal but as Ricky Bobbby's daddy says, "If you ain't first, you're last."
Finally bonus points to anyone who can name what tv show theme song the title of this blog post came from. That's all for now.
Super Slo-Mo Internet
We have been transported back to 1998 and the time of dial-up internet connections and free AOL 60-day trial cds that you could use as frisbees. I bring this up because that is how slow the internet is here at the hotel at certain times. Due to the overwhelming amount of people staying here the old internet just can't take it and has slowed to a crawl. It reminds me of being on AOL back in the day and waiting 3 minutes to hear the "You've Got Mail" sound effect. Anyway long story short that is why this blog is coming several hours after the fact.
As we know by now a big win by the USA women over Spain. Trust me they beat Spain, despite what you may have read on the USA Water Polo website that made it look like at least for the first quarter they played Greece again. That guy needs to check his facts, jeez. Speaking of Greece, however, the women's team will be playing them in the semi-finals on Wednesday. It is likely at 9pm but this seems to be more of a reservation and does not guarantee a table for dinner. Meaning the time could change so we will wait and see. For example the men's game was supposed to be at 9pm tonight but now it is at 3:20pm.
Back to the game against Spain. First quarter was a bit of a struggle but after that it was pretty smooth sailing. In talking with Coach Krikorian, Spain was a team that the USA hasn't seen a lot of so it took a little bit to adjust. Great defensive play throughout stopping some power plays and then Armstrong in goal getting a hold of two five meter penalty shots was pretty nice.
Lob shot was in full effect last night as well as Brittany Hayes delivered a couple along the way. A pretty impressive stat is that the women now advance to the medal round for the 10th straight time at a major FINA Championship. This includes all Olympic Games, World Championships, and World Cups since 2000. What is also stunning is the teams that have been knocked out thus far including Australia, the Netherlands, and Hungary.
Similarly on the men's side, Montenegro has been bounced out of the top 8. As for the men they ready to play Germany, kind of a surprise as many thought Montenegro would occupy that spot, but that's why they play the games. I'll check back in after the men's game. Below is a postgame chat with Betsey Armstrong after the win over Spain.
As we know by now a big win by the USA women over Spain. Trust me they beat Spain, despite what you may have read on the USA Water Polo website that made it look like at least for the first quarter they played Greece again. That guy needs to check his facts, jeez. Speaking of Greece, however, the women's team will be playing them in the semi-finals on Wednesday. It is likely at 9pm but this seems to be more of a reservation and does not guarantee a table for dinner. Meaning the time could change so we will wait and see. For example the men's game was supposed to be at 9pm tonight but now it is at 3:20pm.
Back to the game against Spain. First quarter was a bit of a struggle but after that it was pretty smooth sailing. In talking with Coach Krikorian, Spain was a team that the USA hasn't seen a lot of so it took a little bit to adjust. Great defensive play throughout stopping some power plays and then Armstrong in goal getting a hold of two five meter penalty shots was pretty nice.
Lob shot was in full effect last night as well as Brittany Hayes delivered a couple along the way. A pretty impressive stat is that the women now advance to the medal round for the 10th straight time at a major FINA Championship. This includes all Olympic Games, World Championships, and World Cups since 2000. What is also stunning is the teams that have been knocked out thus far including Australia, the Netherlands, and Hungary.
Similarly on the men's side, Montenegro has been bounced out of the top 8. As for the men they ready to play Germany, kind of a surprise as many thought Montenegro would occupy that spot, but that's why they play the games. I'll check back in after the men's game. Below is a postgame chat with Betsey Armstrong after the win over Spain.
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