2012 Schedule

Date	Sport	Venue	Result	Attendance/Time
Sat, Jan 21	bj League	Yachiyo City Gymnasium, Yachiyo, Japan	Akita Happinets 99 at Chiba Jets 78	1,111
Sat, Jan 28	Asia Ice Hockey League	DyDo Drinco Ice Arena, Tokyo, Japan	Anyang Halla 0 vs Oji Eagles 4	1,106
Sat, Jan 28	Asia Ice Hockey League	DyDo Drinco Ice Arena, Tokyo, Japan	High 1 3 vs Nippon Paper Cranes 4 (SO)	1,340
Sun, Feb 5	Japan Rugby Top League	Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo, Japan	Kobelco Steelers 28 at Suntory Sungoliath 32	10,944
Sun, Feb 5	Japan Rugby Top League	Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo, Japan	Panasonic Wild Knights 25 at Toshiba Brave Lupus 59	13,017
Wed, Feb 8	NBDL	Toyota Sports Center, El Segundo, CA	Tulsa 66ers 98 at Los Angeles D-Fenders 110	250
Thu, Feb 9	NCAA Basketball	Los Angeles Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA	Stanford Cardinal 61 at UCLA Bruins 72	5,207
Sat, Feb 11	WHL	ENMAX Centre, Lethbridge, AB	Prince Albert Raiders 1 at Lethbridge Hurricanes 4	3,227
Sun, Feb 12	WHL	Medicine Hat Arena, Medicine Hat, AB	Brandon Wheat Kings 2 at Medicine Hat Tigers 4	4,006
Tue, Feb 14	NHL	Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB	Toronto Maple Leafs 1 at Calgary Flames 5	19,289
Wed, Feb 15	NHL	Rexall Place, Edmonton, AB	Toronto Maple Leafs 4 at Edmonton Oilers 3 (OT)	16,839
Thu, Feb 16	AJHL	Edgeworth Centre, Camrose, AB	Lloydminster Bobcats 2 at Camrose Kodiaks 4	1,608
Fri, Feb 17	WHL	Credit Union Centre, Saskatoon, SK	Swift Current Broncos 3 at Saskatoon Blades 7	5,350
Sat, Feb 18	CIS Women's Basketball	Physical Activity Complex, Saskatoon, SK	Regina Cougars 83 at Saskatchewan Huskies 72	1,177
Sat, Feb 18	CIS Basketball	Physical Activity Complex, Saskatoon, SK	Regina Cougars 70 at Saskatchewan Huskies 110	1,608
Sun, Feb 19	SJHL	West Central Events Centre, Kindersley, SK	Battlefords North Stars 6 at Kindersley Klippers 2	713
Mon, Feb 20	WHL	Credit Union iPlex, Swift Current, SK	Moose Jaw Warriors 4 at Swift Current Broncos 5 (SO)	2,552
Tue, Feb 21	NHL	MTS Centre, Winnipeg, MB	Philadelphia Flyers 5 at Winnipeg Jets 4 (OT)	15,004
Thu, Feb 23	NHL	MTS Centre, Winnipeg, MB	Tampa Bay Lightning 3 at Winnipeg Jets 4	15,004
Fri, Feb 24	WHL	Brandt Centre, Regina, SK	Moose Jaw Warriors 2 at Regina Pats 8	5,498
Sat, Feb 25	WHL	Mosaic Place, Moose Jaw, SK	Swift Current Broncos 2 at Moose Jaw Warriors 5	4,050
Sun, Feb 26	WHL	Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB	Kelowna Rockets 1 at Calgary Hitmen 2	9,519
Tue, Feb 28	NCAA Baseball	Eddy D. Field Stadium, Malibu, CA	USC Trojans 2 at Pepperdine Waves 7	203
Tue, Feb 28	NBA	Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA	Minnesota Timberwolves 109 at Los Angeles Clippers 97	19,243
Wed, Feb 29	NCAA Baseball	Goodwin Field, Fullerton, CA	Loyola Marymount Lions 2 at Cal State Fullerton Titans 6	1,143
Sun, Mar 18	Eastern League	Yomiuri Giants Stadium, Kanagawa, Japan	Yokohama DeNA BayStars 6 at Yomiuri Giants 3	1,117
Sun, Mar 25	bj League	Naha City Gymnasium, Okinawa, Japan	Osaka Evessa 75 at Ryukyu Golden Kings 70	3,067
Wed, Mar 28	American League	Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan	Seattle Mariners 3 at Oakland Athletics 1 (11)	44,227
Sun, Apr 1	Pacific League	Kleenex Miyagi Stadium, Sendai, Japan	Chiba Lotte Marines 4 at Rakuten Golden Eagles 2	18,576
Sun, Apr 1	Kirin Challenge Cup	Yurtec Stadium, Sendai, Japan	USWNT 1 at Nadeshiko Japan 1	15,159
Thu, Apr 5	Pacific League	Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan	Orix Buffaloes 1 at Nippon Ham Fighters 3	15,041
Sat, Apr 7	J.League	Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan	Kashiwa Reysol 2 at Sapporo Consadole 0	14,023
Tue, Apr 10	Pacific League	Yahoo Dome, Fukuoka, Japan	Nippon Ham Fighters 1 at Fukuoka Softbank Hawks 3	27,466
Tue, Apr 17	AFC Champions League	Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo, Japan	Beijing Guoan 0 at FC Tokyo 3	9,537
Wed, Apr 18	AFC Champions League	Mizuho Athletic Stadium, Nagoya, Japan	Tianjin Teda 0 at Nagoya Grampus 0	6,006
Thu, Apr 19	Central League	Nagoya Dome, Nagoya, Japan	Yomiuri Giants 1 at Chunichi Dragons 4	27,800
Fri, Apr 20	Western League	Nagoya Baseball Stadium, Nagoya Japan	Fukuoka Softbank Hawks 2 at Chunichi Dragons 1	152
Tue, May 8	AFC Cup	Bishan Stadium, Singapore	Chonburi 2 at Home United 1	1,393
Fri, May 18	MLB Interleague	Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON	New York Mets 5 at Toronto Blue Jays 14	26,712
Sat, May 19	MLB Interleague	Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON	New York Mets 0 at Toronto Blue Jays 2	34,962
Sat, May 19	International League	Coca-Cola Field, Buffalo, NY	Indianapolis Indians 6 at Buffalo Bisons 11	7,005
Sun, May 20	MLB Interleague	Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON	New York Mets 6 at Toronto Blue Jays 5	41,867
Mon, May 21	AHL Western Conference Final, Game 3	Ricoh Coliseum, Toronto, ON	Oklahoma City Barons 3 at Toronto Marlies 5	7,327
Wed, May 30	Southeast Asia Swimming Championships, Water Polo	Toa Payoh Swimming Complex, Singapore	Indonesia (W) 13, Thailand (W) 8; Singapore (W) 17, Malaysia (W) 1; Thailand (M) 11, Malaysia (M) 9	~50
Fri, Jun 8	MLB Interleague	Turner Field, Atlanta, GA	Toronto Blue Jays 3 at Atlanta Braves 4 (10)	42,488
Sat, Jun 9	MLB Interleague	Turner Field, Atlanta, GA	Toronto Blue Jays 2 at Atlanta Braves 5	32,819
Sun, Jun 10	MLB Interleague	Turner Field, Atlanta, GA	Toronto Blue Jays 12 at Atlanta Braves 4	20,222
Mon, Jun 11	Southern League	Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL	Jackson Generals 8 at Jacksonville Suns 0	3,245
Tue, Jun 12	Florida State League	Space Coast Stadium, Viera, FL	Daytona Cubs 8 at Brevard County Manatees 3	883
Wed, Jun 13	Florida State League	Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland, FL	Dunedin Blue Jays 0 at Lakeland Flying Tigers 1	667
Thu, Jun 14	MLB Interleague	Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL	New York Mets 9 at Tampa Bay Rays 6	21,947
Thu, Jun 14	Florida State League	Bright House Field, Clearwater, FL	Tampa Yankees 7 at Clearwater Threshers 10	2,008
Fri, Jun 15	MLB Interleague	Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL	Miami Marlins 0 at Tampa Bay Rays 11	18,369
Sat, Jun 16	MLB Interleague	Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL	Miami Marlins 4 at Tampa Bay Rays 3 (15)	22,332
Mon, Jun 18	Florida State League	McKechnie Field, Bradenton, FL	St. Luice Mets 5 at Bradenton Marauders 6	5,126
Tue, Jun 19	Florida State League	Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte, FL	Palm Beach Cardinals 6 at Charlotte Stone Crabs 8	1,224
Wed, Jun 20	Florida State League	Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter, FL	Fort Myers Miracle 7 at Jupiter Hammerheads 3	1,493
Thu, Jun 21	NBA Finals, Game 5	American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL	Oklahoma City Thunder 106 at Miami Heat 121	20,003
Fri, Jun 22	MLB Interleague	Marlins Ballpark, Miami, FL	Toronto Blue Jays 12 at Miami Marlins 5	22,387
Sat, Jun 23	MLB Interleague	Marlins Ballpark, Miami, FL	Toronto Blue Jays 7 at Miami Marlins 1	24,448
Sun, Jun 24	MLB Interleague	Marlins Ballpark, Miami, FL	Toronto Blue Jays 0 at Miami Marlins 9	27,888
Mon, Jun 25	Florida State League	Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter, FL	Clearwater Threshers 7 at Palm Beach Cardinals 5	424
Tue, Jun 26	Florida State League	Digital Domain Park, St. Lucie, FL	Daytona Cubs 3 at St. Lucie Mets 4 (12)	1,686
Tue, Jun 26	Florida State League, Game 1 DH	Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers, FL	Tampa Yankees 6 at Fort Myers Miracle 7 (8)
Tue, Jun 26	Florida State League, Game 2, DH	Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers, FL	Tampa Yankees 6 at Fort Myers Miracle 5	1,009
Wed, Jun 27	Florida State League	Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, Dunedin, FL	Bradenton Marauders 5 at Dunedin Blue Jays 3	715
Thu, Jun 28	Florida State League	George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL	Brevard County Manatees 1 at Tampa Yankees 7	1,085
Fri, Jun 29	Florida State League	Jackie Robinson Ballpark, Daytona Beach, FL	Dunedin Blue Jays 11 at Daytona Cubs 10	3,221
Sat, Jun 30	National League	Turner Field, Atlanta, GA	Washington Nationals 5 at Atlanta Braves 7	26,491
Mon, Jul 2	American League	Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON	Kansas City Royals 11 at Toronto Blue Jays 3	17,127
Tue, Jul 3	American League	Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON	Kansas City Royals 3 at Toronto Blue Jays 6	15,516
Sat, Jul 7	CFL	Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON	Calgary Stampeders 36 at Toronto Argonauts 39	20,682
Sun, Jul 8	Indy Car	Exhibiton Place, Toronto, ON	Results	20,000
Sun, Aug 19	V-League	Thong Nhat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam	Ha Noi T&T 0 at Saigon Xuan Thanh 0	25,000
Sat, Sep 1	Malaysia Cup	Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore	Johor FA 0 at Lions XII 1	4,832
Sun, Sep 16	S League	Toa Payoh Stadium, Singapore	Albirex Niigata 0 at Balestier Khalsa 1	578
Fri, Sep 21	Formula 1 Practice	Marina Bay Circuit, Singapore	Practice1/Practice 2	~25,000
Sun, Sep 23	Formula 1	Marina Bay Circuit, Singapore	Results	~80,000
Sun, Sep 30	ICC World Twenty20, Super 8s	R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka	South Africa 146/5 vs Australia 147/2	~24,000
Sun, Sep 30	ICC World Twenty20, Super 8s	R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka	Pakistan 128 vs India 129/2	34,999
Tue, Oct 2	ICC World Twenty20, Super 8s	R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka	Pakistan 149/6 vs Australia 117/7	~12,000
Sun, Oct 7	Formula 1	Suzuka Circuit, Mie, Japan	Results	~120,000
Fri, Nov 2	Asia Rugby Sevens World Cup Qualifying	Singapore Cricket Club, Singapore	Results	~500
Sat, Nov 3	Asia Rugby Sevens World Cup Qualifying	Singapore Cricket Club, Singapore	Results	~7,000
Sun, Nov 4	Singapore Rugby Sevens	Singapore Cricket Club, Singapore	Results	~5,000
Sat, Nov 10	Singapore Open, 3rd Round	Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore	Results	8,000
Sun, Nov 11	Singapore Open, 4th Round	Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore	Results	12,000
Sun, Nov 18	Philippine Basketball Association	Smart Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines	Petron Blaze Boosters 110 vs Globalport Batang Pier 81	~9,000
Sun, Nov 25	Clash of Continents	Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore	Results	7,614
Sat, Dec 22	Dutch Eredivisie	Kyocera Stadion, Den Haag, Netherlands	NEC Nijmegen 0 at ADO Den Haag 2	11,000
Fri, Dec 28	EuroLeague Top 16	Palau Blaugrana, Barcelona, Spain	Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul 78 at FC Barcelona Regal 100	4,693

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NFL Playoff Picture - Week 16

Only 3 spots left with a week to go:

NFC
    Week 4      Week 10    Week 11     Week 12     Week 13     Week 14      Week 15      Week 16
1. GB  (4-0)   GB  (9-0)  GB  (10-0)  GB  (11-0)  GB  (12-0)  GB  (13-0) GB  (13-1) GB  (14-1)
2. Was (3-1)   SF  (8-1)  SF  (9-1)   SF  (9-2)   SF  (10-2)  SF  (10-3) SF  (11-3) SF  (12-3)
3. SF  (3-1)   NO  (6-3)  NO  (7-3)   NO  (8-3)   NO  (9-3)   NO  (10-3) NO  (11-3) NO  (12-3)
4. TB  (3-1)   NYG (6-3)  Dal (6-4)   Dal (7-4)   Dal (7-5)   NYG (7-6)    Dal (8-6)   NYG (8-7)
5. Det (4-0)   Det (6-3)  Det (7-3)   Chi (7-4)   Chi (7-5)   Atl (8-5)    Atl (9-5)   Det  (10-5)
6. NYG (3-1)   Chi (6-3)  Chi (7-3)   Atl (7-4)   Atl (7-5)   Det (8-5)    Det (9-5)   Atl (9-6)

AFC
    Week 4      Week 10    Week 11     Week 12     Week 13     Week 14      Week 15      Week 16
1. Hou (3-1)   Hou (6-3)  NE  (7-3)   Hou (8-3)   NE  (9-3)   Hou (10-3) NE  (11-3) NE  (12-3)
2. Buf (3-1)   NE  (6-3)  Hou (7-3)   NE  (8-3)   Bal (9-3)   Bal (10-3)   Bal (10-4) Bal (11-4) 
3. Bal (3-1)   Bal (6-3)  Bal (7-3)   Bal (8-3)   Hou (9-3)   NE  (10-3)   Hou (10-4) Hou (10-5)
4. SD  (3-1)   Oak (5-4)  Oak (6-4)   Oak (7-4)   Den (7-5)   Den (8-5)    Den (8-6)    Den (8-7)
5. Ten (3-1)   Cin (6-3)  Pit (7-3)   Pit (8-3)   Pit (9-3)   Pit (10-3)   Pit (10-4) Pit (11-4)
6. NE  (3-1)   Pit (6-3)  Cin (6-4)   Cin (7-4)   Cin (7-5)   NYJ (8-5)    NYJ (8-6)    Cin (9-6)

The NFC's final spot will go to the winner of the Cowboys-Giants game.

The AFC sees only 2 spots left. The Raiders and Broncos are vying for the West while the Bengals lead the Jets and Titans by a game.

Best,

Sean

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Gazélec Ajaccio 3 at Paris FC 0 - December 17, 2011

Every year, I take one trip with my girlfriend where sports is not the attraction. However, I can usually find one or two games that happen to be taking place in the city we are visiting. Such was the case when we visited France for the past couple of weeks. We spent most of the time driving around the country during a rather quiet sports time, but for two days we were in Paris and I was able to check out a Championat National game with Paris FC hosting Ajaccio GFCO at Stade Charlety.

Championnat National

The Championnat National is the third division in French soccer and features 20 teams scattered throughout the country. The league has only been around since 1993 and consists of professional and semi-pro clubs. The top 3 teams enjoy promotion to Ligue 2 while relegation sees 4 squads relegated to the Championnat de France amateur league, which includes a number of reserve squads from Ligue 1 teams.

The season sees a typical home-and-away round robin making 38 games per team. I was fortunate to arrive in France just before the last day of action before the Christmas break, which traditionally lasts three weeks.

Stade Charléty

Located in the southern regions of the city, Stade Sébastien Charléty is easily accessible by the RER B line from Cité Universitaire station, or by tramway 3. The stadium is generally used for rugby and has hosted some Rugby League World Cup matches (not the much larger Rugby World Cup, which is the union game).

It holds up to 20,000 fans but for Paris FC games it is far too large as only 326 hardy souls showed up for the game I watched, so that only one half of the seating bowl is open. The stadium is part of a larger complex that also hosts a volleyball/basketball court as well as some other sports facilities.

Tickets are 8 euro and you can sit anywhere you want, as long as it is on the west side of the stadium. There are very limited food options; I ordered a Coke and was served some warm pop out of an open bottle. When halftime came, there were a few sandwiches available, but it seemed like half the stadium was in line, so I decided to wait. Frankly, it's better to eat in any sort of restaurant after the game, this is not to be critical but you can't expect much from a sporting event that draws so few fans.

There are two levels here and you can move around with ease. Most of the seating areas are covered so you are protected from the rain.

It's not fair to rate a stadium when it is not being used for its primary purpose; I am sure this would be a good place to watch rugby when it is filled with fans, but on a cold night with so few supporters in the stands, there are probably better places to be in Paris.

The Game

The visitors were Gazélec Football Club Olympique Ajaccio, usually referred to as Ajaccio GFCO, a team from the island of Corsica, most famously known as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. They were champions of one of the groups in the amateur league and hence had been promoted for this season, their first return to National since the 1999-2000 campaign. They entered the match on a 5-game winning streak.

Hosts Paris FC were in Ligue 1 back in 1978-79 but have since spent their time in the lesser leagues in France. Despite this, they have seen some talented players and managers begin their careers here before moving on to bigger things. They entered the game with 7 wins and 7 losses from 17 games to lie mid-table.

The game itself was played on a field that was very slippery as it had been raining in Paris for most of the past couple of days. This didn't stop the visitors from starting strong, as Louis Poggi opened the scoring in the 20th minute, heading the ball home while colliding with the keeper. Poggi celebrated briefly before collapsing at the corner stick, although he was fine shortly thereafter.

Nine minutes later, Roderic Fillippi leapt high off a corner and headed home to give Ajaccio a 2-0 cushion. Fillippi was back on the scoresheet ten minutes after that, getting ejected after garnering his second yellow card.

Paris FC were able to use the extra man to their advantage and began to attack, but Ajaccio keeper Clément Maury was the hero of the game, stopping several point-blank shots. The best save the game saw him getting caught going the wrong way and slipping, only to stretches his arm across his body to knock the ball behind the net, stopping what would have been a sure goal. That's him punching away a kick early in the first half.

Paris FC were continually frustrated by Maury's magic, and Ajaccio clinched the game when substitute Paul Maisonneuve slotted home to complete a 2-on-0 break, helped by a Paris FC defender falling on the slippery turf. The final score of 3-0 matched the temperature which was about 30°F by the time the final whistle blew.

After the game as I left the stadium I noticed a volleyball game happening in the gym next door. It appeared to be a French college game between Paris and Cannes; I watched for a few minutes from outside but as volleyball is not a sport I enjoy, I walked around a bit more.

I noticed that the press box for the soccer stadium was open and went in to take the following picture; I love to see stadiums that are lit up but empty inside.

Not a great game, but a memorable evening as I've got another league in the books.

Next Up

It's 2012 and I've begun planning two major trips. One will see me in Western Canada for the Flames and Oilers hosting the Leafs as well as a trip to Winnipeg to see the new Jets, not to mention several WHL games. Later this year I'll be in Florida for a 3-week jaunt that includes 6 Blue Jays games and the new Marlins ballpark. The schedule will be posted here shortly.

Hope that all my readers have a safe and happy 2012!

Best,

Sean

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NFL Playoff Picture - Week 15

What a crazy weekend:

NFC
  Week 4      Week 10    Week 11     Week 12     Week 13     Week 14       Week 15
1. GB  (4-0)   GB  (9-0)  GB  (10-0)  GB  (11-0)  GB  (12-0)  GB  (13-0) GB  (13-1)
2. Was (3-1)   SF  (8-1)  SF  (9-1)   SF  (9-2)   SF  (10-2)  SF  (10-3) SF  (11-3)
3. SF  (3-1)   NO  (6-3)  NO  (7-3)   NO  (8-3)   NO  (9-3)   NO  (10-3) NO  (11-3)
4. TB  (3-1)   NYG (6-3)  Dal (6-4)   Dal (7-4)   Dal (7-5)   NYG (7-6)    Dal (8-6)
5. Det (4-0)   Det (6-3)  Det (7-3)   Chi (7-4)   Chi (7-5)   Atl (8-5)    Atl (9-5)
6. NYG (3-1)   Chi (6-3)  Chi (7-3)   Atl (7-4)   Atl (7-5)   Det (8-5)    Det (9-5)

AFC
  Week 4      Week 10    Week 11     Week 12     Week 13     Week 14       Week 15
1. Hou (3-1)   Hou (6-3)  NE  (7-3)   Hou (8-3)   NE  (9-3)   Hou (10-3) NE  (11-3)
2. Buf (3-1)   NE  (6-3)  Hou (7-3)   NE  (8-3)   Bal (9-3)   Bal (10-3)  Bal (10-4)
3. Bal (3-1)   Bal (6-3)  Bal (7-3)   Bal (8-3)   Hou (9-3)   NE  (10-3)  Hou (10-4)
4. SD  (3-1)   Oak (5-4)  Oak (6-4)   Oak (7-4)   Den (7-5)   Den (8-5)   Den (8-6)
5. Ten (3-1)   Cin (6-3)  Pit (7-3)   Pit (8-3)   Pit (9-3)   Pit (10-3)  Pit (10-4)
6. NE  (3-1)   Pit (6-3)  Cin (6-4)   Cin (7-4)   Cin (7-5)   NYJ (8-5)   NYJ (8-6)

The NFC has 4 teams at 7-7 but only the Giants have a good chance to make it as they are just a game behind Dallas. Both Atlanta and Detroit just need one win to clinch.

The AFC sees only 2 spots left. The Raiders and Chargers are a game behind Denver while the Bengals have the same record as the Jets.

I'm in France now so this page is somewhat delayed and will probably be again so next week, in the meantime, check out the NFL's much fancier page.

Best,

Sean

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NHL Standings After 27 Games

During the season, team schedules can vary considerably with some teams having played several more games than their competition. This can make it difficult to accurately assess just how well one squad is doing relative to their peers, particularly in the NHL where points are the measuring stick rather than win percentage. With some teams having played four more games than others, the standings can be a bit misleading at first glance. To overcome that, I like to look at the standings with all teams having played the same number of games, usually at a benchmark point of the season. This time, I'm choosing 27 games, about 1/3 of a full NHL season. Here is each team's record at that point:

East         GP W  L OT PTS ROW
NY Rangers   27 17 6  4  38  16
Boston       27 17 9  1  35  14
Florida      27 15 8  4  34  13
Philadelphia 27 17 7  3  37  17
Pittsburgh   27 16 7  4  36  13
Toronto      27 15 10 2  32  12
Buffalo      27 14 11 2  30  12
Washington   27 14 12 1  29  13
--------------------------------
Ottawa       27 13 11 3  29  9
New Jersey   27 14 12 1  29  8
Winnipeg     27 12 11 4  28  11
Montreal     27 11 11 5  27  10
Tampa Bay    27 11 14 2  24  10
NY Islanders 27　9 12 6  24  9
Carolina     27  8 15 4  20  8
  
West         GP W  L OT PTS ROW
Minnesota    27 17 7  3  37  13
Detroit      27 17 9  1  35  16
Phoenix      27 15 9  3  33  13
Chicago      27 16 8  3  35  13
Vancouver    27 16 10 1  33  16
St. Louis    27 15 9  3  33  15
San Jose     27 15 10 2  32  12
Dallas       27 15 11 1  31  13
---------------------------------
Los Angeles  27 13 10 4  30  12
Edmonton     27 13 11 3  29  12
Nashville    27 12 11 4  28  12
Colorado     27 13 13 1  27  9
Calgary      27 12 13 2  26  12
Anaheim      27  8 14 5  21  7
Columbus     27  8 16 3  19  6

ROW is regulation/OT wins, the next tiebreaker after total wins.

Surprisingly, the Rangers are the best team in hockey through this point, but it isn't noticed as they have played fewer games. The Leafs are in 6th spot and would face southeast champion Florida in the playoffs.

In the west, Phoenix are the top seed in the Pacific, a point up on San Jose, who are 7th despite a decent 15-10-2 record which illustrates the strength of the conference.

I like to run through the playoffs based on season series, but some matchups have yet to occur, so I'll save that for the second edition in February, during which I'll do this exercise again when each team has completed 54 games.

Next Up

I'm flying to France tonight for my annual non-sports road trip. I do hope to catch one third-tier soccer game in Paris over the weekend but after that I'll be driving around to smaller towns with no sports on the menu. I'll be back in Japan for the new year and should have a trip planned for early 2012 that involves more Leafs games, so check back then.

Happy holidays everyone!

Best,

Sean

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NFL Playoff Picture - Week 14

With three weeks to go, there's still a lot to be decided although 4 teams have now clinched (in bold):

NFC
   Week 4      Week 10    Week 11     Week 12     Week 13     Week 14
1. GB  (4-0)   GB  (9-0)  GB  (10-0)  GB  (11-0)  GB  (12-0)  GB  (13-0)
2. Was (3-1)   SF  (8-1)  SF  (9-1)   SF  (9-2)   SF  (10-2)  SF  (10-3)
3. SF  (3-1)   NO  (6-3)  NO  (7-3)   NO  (8-3)   NO  (9-3)   NO  (10-3)
4. TB  (3-1)   NYG (6-3)  Dal (6-4)   Dal (7-4)   Dal (7-5)   NYG (7-6)
5. Det (4-0)   Det (6-3)  Det (7-3)   Chi (7-4)   Chi (7-5)   Atl (8-5)
6. NYG (3-1)   Chi (6-3)  Chi (7-3)   Atl (7-4)   Atl (7-5)   Det (8-5)

AFC
   Week 4      Week 10    Week 11     Week 12     Week 13     Week 14
1. Hou (3-1)   Hou (6-3)  NE  (7-3)   Hou (8-3)   NE  (9-3)   Hou (10-3)
2. Buf (3-1)   NE  (6-3)  Hou (7-3)   NE  (8-3)   Bal (9-3)   Bal (10-3)
3. Bal (3-1)   Bal (6-3)  Bal (7-3)   Bal (8-3)   Hou (9-3)   NE  (10-3)
4. SD  (3-1)   Oak (5-4)  Oak (6-4)   Oak (7-4)   Den (7-5)   Den (8-5)
5. Ten (3-1)   Cin (6-3)  Pit (7-3)   Pit (8-3)   Pit (9-3)   Pit (10-3)
6. NE  (3-1)   Pit (6-3)  Cin (6-4)   Cin (7-4)   Cin (7-5)   NYJ (8-5)

The NFC saw Chicago drop out after they became the latest victims to Tim Tebow and the Broncos (a 59-yard kick to tie and a 51-yard kick to win in OT!) while Detroit and Atlanta won. The Falcons beat the Lions back in Week 7 so take the 5th seed. The 49ers still have a better conference record than New Orleans, but their loss to Arizona has to be troubling. The Giants take over the East after their stunning comeback win over the hapless Cowboys.

The AFC sees the New York's other team take over the last spot after Cincinnati lost to Houston, who themselves move back to the top as New England's win was over an NFC team, giving the Texans the best conference record. Baltimore grabs the second bye based on the common games tiebreaker, as the Ravens have beaten Pittsburgh twice, the Jets, and Indianapolis, while the Patriots have beaten the Jets twice and Indy, but lost to the Steelers. The common games tiebreaker requires a minimum of 4, so I believe this is correct at this point.

Out of 12 playoff teams, 10 have either 10-3 or 8-5 records.

I'm out of the country for the next two weeks so the playoff picture might be a bit delayed, in the meantime, check out the NFL's much fancier page.

Best,

Sean

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The Post-Lockout NBA Road Trip

The NBA has ended its lockout and released an updated schedule. Fans can't wait for the season to start, but with all those games in such a short time, I expect the quality of basketball to be rather low as players get tired from all that travel and back-to-back games. There is a winner from the compressed schedule though, namely the basketball road tripper. With more games in less time, it is far easier to plan a 30-stadium jaunt. So that's what I did. Starting on Christmas, you can see all 30 stadiums in 53 days, finishing up with a Clippers tilt in mid-February. I suspect with a little extra work, you can find an even shorter trip, but I like this trip as there are no ridiculous drives and some big ticket matchups.

Dec 25 Chicago at LA Lakers
Dec 26 New Orleans at Phoenix
Dec 28 LA Clippers at San Antonio
Dec 29 San Antonio at Houston
Dec 30 Toronto at Dallas
Dec 31 Phoenix at Oklahoma City
Jan 03 Sacramento at Memphis
Jan 06 Cleveland at Minneapolis
Jan 07 Charlotte at Indiana
Jan 09 Detroit at Chicago
Jan 10 Dallas at Detroit
Jan 11 Sacramento at Toronto
Jan 13 Chicago at Boston
Jan 14 Philadelphia at Washington
Jan 16 Orlando at New York
Jan 18 San Antonio at Orlando
Jan 19 LA Lakers at Miami
Jan 21 Cleveland at Atlanta
Jan 23 San Antonio at New Orleans
Jan 24 New York at Charlotte
Jan 25 New Jersey at Philadelphia
Jan 29 Toronto at New Jersey
Jan 31 Boston at Cleveland
Feb 01 Miami at Milwaukee
Feb 03 LA Lakers at Denver
Feb 04 LA Lakers at Utah
Feb 08 Houston at Portland
Feb 11 Phoenix at Sacramento
Feb 12 Houston at Golden State
Feb 15 Washington at LA Clippers

Obviously this is not a journey that I will be taking, but as usual, it was fun to put together.

Best,

Sean

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NHL Realignment and Road Trips

The NHL announced its realignment plan for next year and it is mildly disappointing for road trippers. There will be four conferences aligned geographically, two with eight teams and two with seven. There is no more east/west separation, rather teams will play their interconference rivals 5 or 6 times and each other team twice, once at home and once away. The first two playoff rounds will be contested within each conference, with the semifinals seeded based on regular season records.

The Leafs are in a 7-team conference that includes their current Northeast Division foes plus Florida and Tampa Bay. They will play three home and three road games against these teams (36 games) plus one home and away against the rest of the league (46 games). Compare that to the situation now, where they play 24 divisional, 40 conference, and 18 non-conference games and you can see that the new alignment reduces the variety in opponents.

For road trip planning, this makes things slightly harder since I am more interested in seeing the Leafs against non-divisional teams on the road. This season I had 29 chances; next season this number will be reduced to 23. Essentially half the road games against each of the 10 teams in the Southeast and Atlantic Divisions are being replaced by an additional four games against Florida and Tampa Bay and 6 games against Western teams. The Leafs will visit every rink in the league now, which is an improvement, but overall there is going to be less chance to see them.

Overall, the league will see 45% of the schedule composed of interconference matchups, compared to 78% now, so in one sense there is more variety, but this is somewhat misleading as there are far fewer teams in a conference.

I am disappointed that the playoffs will be conference based as again, there is less variety. I think the top 4 teams in each conference should be seeded 1-16 and play from there, but of course, this could result in a lot more travel, so it will not change. The good news is that Toronto is in a smaller conference so they have a slightly better chance of making the playoffs then under the current system, but that will change when the league expands to Quebec.

The most interesting aspect will be the elimination of the east and west, which will increase the odds that the two best teams will meet in the finals, as long as they don't come from the same conference. Whatever the case, I am looking forward to the schedule being released and planning my next NHL roadtrip.

Best,

Sean

Update: The NHLPA ixnayed the realignment, citing travel concerns and the unfair playoffs. Good on them - they've been pushovers for far too long. Just move Winnipeg and one of Detroit/Columbus/Nashville and be done with it until we get teams in Quebec and Seattle!

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NFL Playoff Picture - Week 13

The stretch run is underway:

NFC
   Week 4      Week 10    Week 11     Week 12     Week 13
1. GB  (4-0)   GB  (9-0)  GB  (10-0)  GB  (11-0)  GB  (12-0)
2. Was (3-1)   SF  (8-1)  SF  (9-1)   SF  (9-2)   SF  (10-2)
3. SF  (3-1)   NO  (6-3)  NO  (7-3)   NO  (8-3)   NO  (9-3)
4. TB  (3-1)   NYG (6-3)  Dal (6-4)   Dal (7-4)   Dal (7-5)
5. Det (4-0)   Det (6-3)  Det (7-3)   Chi (7-4)   Chi (7-5)
6. NYG (3-1)   Chi (6-3)  Chi (7-3)   Atl (7-4)   Atl (7-5)

AFC
   Week 4      Week 10    Week 11     Week 12     Week 13
1. Hou (3-1)   Hou (6-3)  NE  (7-3)   Hou (8-3)   NE  (9-3)
2. Buf (3-1)   NE  (6-3)  Hou (7-3)   NE  (8-3)   Bal (9-3)
3. Bal (3-1)   Bal (6-3)  Bal (7-3)   Bal (8-3)   Hou (9-3)
4. SD  (3-1)   Oak (5-4)  Oak (6-4)   Oak (7-4)   Den (7-5)
5. Ten (3-1)   Cin (6-3)  Pit (7-3)   Pit (8-3)   Pit (9-3)
6. NE  (3-1)   Pit (6-3)  Cin (6-4)   Cin (7-4)   Cin (7-5)

The NFC saw the top 3 teams win while the next 3 all lost, so no changes. The Giants are the only team at 6-6, their game against Dallas next Sunday has huge implications.

In the AFC, Houston's win was over an NFC team, so they dropped back to third as the Pats have the better strength of victory and Baltimore beat the Texans already. Tebow has the Broncos in the playoffs following Oakland's loss. These two split the season series, so Denver gets the nod based on their better divisional record. There are four 7-5 teams vying for that final wild card spot, one per division. Cincy takes it right now based on their 6-4 conference record, but Tennessee is at 5-4 while the Jets and Raiders are at 5-5, so it could go to any of them depending on how the final four weeks play out.

Best,

Sean

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Kashiwa Reysol 3 at Urawa Reds 1 - December 3, 2011

One of the things I enjoy seeing is championships in pro leagues, because they are so rare and memorable, not to mention historic. I've been at a Stanley Cup winning game (Devils in '95), World Series championship (Diamondbacks in '01) and the Yakult Swallows' Japan Series win in '97. I've also seen some minor league championships such as the Memorial Cup Final in 1990, one of the greatest junior hockey games ever played.

These matches are relatively easy to see because they occur in championship series so you just have to show up, pay the exorbitant ticket price, and regardless, one team will eventually take the title. The situation is a bit different in soccer. League titles can be decided before the season is over, or you can have multiple teams in contention on the last day of the season, so you have to be in the right stadium at the right time.

Such was the case in the J League this year, with 3 teams in contention on the final matchday. Kashiwa Reysol had a 1-point lead on defending champions Nagoya Grampus, while Gamba Osaka was just 2 points back. Fortunately for me, Kashiwa was visiting the Urawa Reds in Saitama, close enough for me to venture up on Saturday afternoon to see if they could hold on for the crown.

Saitama Stadium 2002

Opened in 2001 for the 2002 World Cup, Saitama Stadium 2002 is one of the largest football-only venues in Asia. It hosted 4 matches in that World Cup, including England's 1-1 draw with Sweden and Brazil's semifinal win over Turkey.

The stadium is located about a mile north of Urawa-Misono station (which commemorates the World Cup with the mural above), which itself is a 45-minute ride from the center of Tokyo, on trains that get very, very crowded. There are shuttle buses from the station, but I prefer to walk along the footpath as there are concession stands along the way and you can appreciate the size of the stadium as you approach. There are also meter markings along the way so you know how far you have left. I don't think you save much time with bus anyway, as the lineups to board were huge.

Outside the stadium is a large plaza with a number of food trucks serving a wide variety of Japanese and western food. There are also a sizable number of plastic tables on which to eat, so you can relax to enjoy your meal. I highly recommend you arrive early and choose one or two of these culinary choices as it is going to be far better than the food you get inside. My favourite was the yakitori spot below, called Nihonichi, which served a good variety at 100 yen a stick.

Tickets here are reasonably priced for Reds games, with the best seats going for just 4,500 yen and the unreserved seats just 2,000 yen. The stadium is divided into four quadrants (A, B, C, D) that are colour-coded, with A and C along the sides and B and D used for the end zones.

You can enter the lower concourse via any gate and walk around, as long as you are not wearing the visiting kit. I recommend you do this as there are a number of displays that recall those heady days of the World Cup. I worked at this stadium for those games and it was rather nostalgic to see the memorabilia still on show.

In order to reach the upper deck, you have to enter the specific gate on your ticket and walk up several flights of stairs. The ticket also includes which specific aisle to use, which is important as there are limited walkways in the seating bowl, which makes getting out after the game a real hassle.

The home fans occupy the lower deck in the north end of the stadium, while the visitors are confined to a small area on the south side. Even then, fans of both squads were interspersed in the other sections, I was surrounded by yellow-clad Kashiwa supporters on one side, while Red rooters were on the other.

As this is a football-only venue, the seats down below are close to the action and make for a good investment, if you can get them. Even the upper deck seats are good, although I was at one end, which was not the best. There is plenty of leg room here, and no problem seeing the field with the upper deck rather steep.

The stadium is one of the most attractive in Japan, which is used to seeing functional but boring arenas. Here, the upper deck seats taper from the center to the end zones and are covered by curving roofs, while the end zones are open. This allows views of the surrounding countryside from the upper deck, although there isn't much to see.

From a distance, the stadium reminds me of Miller Park in Milwaukee with its roof open, but it is just an illusion, the two roofs do not approach each other at any time.

Overall, Saitama Stadium is a great venue to watch soccer. The proximity of the seats allow the supporters to be part of the game, and the unique architecture and souvenirs from 2002 make it a special place for students of the game. The only problem here is the access - it is far from the city, far from the station, and there are not enough walkways or washrooms. Keep that in mind if you ever decide to pay a visit here.

The Teams

The Urawa Red Diamonds are one of the best-supported teams in Asia, averaging over 40,000 fans per game over the past few seasons. Winners of the League and Emperor's Cup in 2006, the Reds were the fourth Japanese club to achieve Asian glory, taking the AFC Champions League title in 2007. Lately though, they've fallen into disarry, and they lay 15th out of 18 teams this season. They were technically in danger of being relegated if they lost, but they needed the 16th-place team to win by 13 goals if they lost by 1, so it was unlikely. Their fans are famous for their boisterous displays and provide terrific atmosphere in this large stadium.

Kashiwa Reysol were the champions of J2 last season, earning automatic promotion back to the top league. This season they had been near the top of the league since the beginning, along with 3 other clubs. After 23 rounds, Kashiwa lay fourth, behind Gamba, Nagoya, and Yokohama F. Marinos. But an 8-1-1 record from there put Reysol in first with just one match day to go. It is unheard of for a promoted team to challenge for the league title but that was just what Reysol had done; in a season where no squad dominated, they were the most consistent, with 22 wins and 3 draws from their 33 games. Both Nagoya and Gamba had better goal differential, so Reysol needed a win to ensure the crown, a draw would not be enough.

The Game

The morning started with heavy rain, but by game time, it had cleared, though the field was still slippery. As I took my seat, I could feel the tension in the air; the Reysol faithful were nervous being so close to their first league title. Although Urawa were not the powerful side from years gone by, they had their home fans urging them on. I expected a good game and was not disappointed.

It was clear early on that Kashiwa were the better team as they attacked continuously, only to have their shots go wide or over the net. It wasn't until the 29th minute when Jorge Wagner took a corner kick that was first saved by a defender, then booted off the post. The ball bounced out to Wagner who was running in from the corner untouched. He blasted a shot that would have missed but it bounced off the leg of keeper Nobuhiro Kato and through his legs to make it 1-0 Reysol.

Nine minutes later, another Kashiwa corner fell to defender Wataru Hashimoto, who tapped the ball over his head with his back facing the net. Kato was caught well off the line and Hashimoto had his first goal of the season and it looked like Reysol were well on their way, up 2-0.

The second half saw Kashiwa look tentative early on, and Urawa took advantage when an innocent-looking cross found the head of Yosuke Kashiwagi, who put the ball in the upper right corner of the net to cut the Reysol lead in half.

At this point, the stadium found an extra level of tension. Nagoya had scored in their match which meant that if Urawa could manage another tally, Reysol would lose the title. The Reds pressed and had a couple of good chances, but it was their keeper Kato who would be the story yet again. Off yet another Kashiwa corner, the ball bounced out to Akimi Barada, who softly lobbed it towards net from 35 yards. The ball bounced just in front of Kato, who mishandled it and watched it cross the line to give Reysol the insurance they needed. The fans around me erupted knowing that the title was theirs. Highlights of all the goals can be seen here. Interesting that two of them were the direct result of goaltender gaffes.

The rest of the game was mere prelude to the postgame party. There were no chances on either end as the teams played out the last few minutes with Reysol knowing they were about to be crowned 2011 J League Champions.

The Celebration

When the final whistle blew, the Reysol players collapsed in exhaustion on the field while the substitutes raced over to commence the group hug. Manager Nelsinho Baptista was given the traditional do-age (pronounced doh-a-ge), where the coach is tossed in the air three times.

The players then went to their supporters and bowed in appreciation. When it was time for the trophy presentation, they gathered around a small sign declaring them champions, and were presented with the championship plate, which they held up to the crowd (below). I was on the wrong side of the stadium to get a good picture, but you can see it is not a big trophy by any means.

The players returned to the front of their supporters section and a different group of players raised the plate to raucous cheers. Then it was over. The players filed off and that was it. The whole thing took maybe 15 minutes and was rather anti-climatic compared to the championships in North America.

Notes

After Kashiwa cleared the field, the Reds players came out for a final goodbye. Team president Mitsuo Hashimoto spoke and I was shocked at the hatred the fans had for him. The booing was loud and incessant, lasting from the moment he appeared until the stopped speaking. Check out this video for the evidence.

On the way back to the station, the Kashiwa fans were quiet, talking about their team's chances in the upcoming Club World Cup tournament or next years AFC Champions League. There were no drunken louts screaming, no fights, no riots, just happy fans basking in a hard-fought championship. On the train home, you wouldn't have guessed that their team had just completed a historic season, they all sat quietly and studied their smartphones.

That's one difference between fandom here and there. In Japan, the fans give it all inside the stadium, screaming and yelling for hours, but once the game is over, they revert to their normal, quiet selves. Back home, fans cheer long after the game is over, usually getting smashed in the process, and often smashing other things. I have always complained about the lack of real emotion exhibited here at sporting events, but as sports in the States has become consumed by hype, I find that I now prefer the self-control exhibited by fans here. I'm all for having a good time but too often it comes with a heavy price, with damages to a city's reputation taking far longer to repair than damages to a few shop windows. I'm sure there's a happy medium here, but not sure how it can bee achieved.

Update: Minutes after I posted this, I read about 13 fans being injured rushing the field after Oklahoma State's Big 12 championship win. I hate college football for so many reasons, and this episode just adds to the list. It also illustrates my point - hype drives college football now, so fans think it is actually meaningful to win a championship in a conference that features 3 or 4 competitive teams, so much so that they rush the field and tear down goalposts without regards for the safety of others. Is there no perspective left in American sports?

Next Up

I'm flying to France shortly for a 2-week roadtrip that doesn't involve sports. I'll be back in Japan for the new year and planning all my 2012 trips. Check back then for an exciting announcement about me going to see more Maple Leaf road games.

Best,

Sean

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Flying and Fort Worth

My 4-day trip to Texas has come and gone and not surprisingly, it was rather too short. Still, I managed to see 5 pro games, including a Toronto win, and part of an amateur affair as well, so it was time well spent. But I did a few things other than sports.

Flying to DFW via DTW

First I want to talk about flying, which is a topic I have touched on in the past. Aviation consistently receives a bad rap in the U.S. but all of my flights this trip were completely without incident. I flew via Detroit both times as it was the least expensive option given my late booking and I was concerned about delays causing me to miss the connecting flight. But it was as smooth as could be, the airports were clean and security lines moved quickly despite it being Thanksgiving, and I found the Delta flight attendants friendly and professional. I also found my fellow passengers seemed to be experienced travelers, which makes things a bit easier on everybody. There is nothing more frustrating than watching someone hold up the boarding process as they try to stuff an oversized suitcase into the overhead bin. All in all, a good trip and evidence that the US airlines and airports are not the dinosaurs they are often made out to be.

Fort Worth

The second topic is the less famous city in the DFW area, Fort Worth. It is the 16th-largest city in the US, but is overshadowed by Dallas and Arlington, home of the four major league sports teams. On my previous trip here, I toured only Dallas, seeing the 6th Floor Museum and Reunion Tower. I did catch an independent league ballgame in Fort Worth but no tourist attractions.

So I made sure to stop by Fort Worth this time. The jet lag still had me up early, so I first stopped at the Fort Worth Botanical Garden. It was open early on Black Friday and offers a large garden center that you can wander around for free. Given that it was late fall, there wasn't much in bloom, but it was a quiet getaway with fresh air, something I don't get in Tokyo very often.

There's also a Japanese garden that I did not check out, as well as a small conservatory for $1. I just spent an hour outside enjoying the relative peace (there is a highway that runs just south of the garden and you can hear the drone of traffic as you approach).

A rose garden lies at one end of the garden center, but again there were few fully formed flowers due to the season. Still, a nice way to start the day and well worth a visit if you are in town.

After lunch at In-N-Out (yes, they have expanded to Texas!) I went over to the Kimbell Art Museum to check out the Caravaggio exhibition.

This exhibition was the reason I was visiting this area in the first place. It was initially shown at the National Gallery in Ottawa, and my parents told me about it after they went to see it. I would have liked to have seen it but was unable to make it home during its limited run. When I found out it would also be in Fort Worth, I checked the hockey and football schedules and saw the Leafs would be in town the day after Thanksgiving, and presto, a sports road trip was born.

Woman Addressing the Public: Project for a Monument by Miro

Photography was not allowed in the exhibition itself, but it was fantastic, with paintings arranged by topic over 8 rooms. A free audio guide was distributed and really added to the presentation.

There is also a permanent collection in which you can take pictures, below is an early Monet, "The Cape de la Hève at Low Tide".

The Great Divide

Finally, I think this photo summarizes America in 2011. In a Walmart parking lot, you are encouraged to help keep prices low, while the biggest and most expensive stadium in the land sits just across the street.

Best,

Sean

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Austin Toros 101 at Texas Legends 96 - November 26, 2011

After a 30-minute drive from Dallas, I found myself next to Dr Pepper Ballpark, home of the Frisco RoughRiders of the AA Texas League. Of course, I wasn't there for a baseball game, but the season opener in the NBDL, the minor league of the NBA as the Texas Legends play in Dr Pepper Arena, just next door to the ballpark.

Dr Pepper Arena

The Dr Pepper Arena is a multi-purpose facility located in Frisco, a city in the northern reaches of the DFW Metroplex. The venue was built in 2003 and also hosts the Texas Tornado of the NAHL, a junior A circuit.

Like other stadiums that combine hockey and basketball, the court lies in the middle of the rink area, but the open spaces between the basket and end boards are not filled with seats, rather the Legends put a few attractions, such as a climbing pole (below) and a mini basketball court in what is known as the Kidtastic Fun Zone. It makes a game here much more entertaining for the kids and is a smart marketing move. There are no end zone seats behind the Fun Zone, so it doesn't block anything, not that many would want to sit there anyway.

Tickets were $28 for the sidelines, $18 for the corners, and $10 for the real bad seats near the fun zone. I had no trouble sitting where I wanted with the stadium about half full. It should be noted that the Legends' website listed prices $3 cheaper but this seems to be out of date.

There is one food court hidden behind a wall at the far end of the stadium. Two concession stands are here, one with typical arena fare, the other with baked goods and canned soda. Nothing of interest for me, but I did have an RC Cola (only products from the Dr Pepper Snapple group are sold here) and RC is tough to find in Japan.

The arena also houses the Dallas Stars practice facility, team offices, and a team/equipment store. The rink is also used for local tournaments (more on that below) and there was a tribute to GM Joe Nieuwendyk, who was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame, in front of the team store.

Essentially, the Legends are the arena's secondary tenants, as the place was not designed for basketball. So it isn't a great venue for fans of the game, but it works well anyway, mainly because of the thought put into it by the franchise. Minor leagues are known for instability and I'm hoping that the Legends can lead the way in making the NBDL a more stable league, resulting in many more roadtrips in the years to come.

Texas Legends

This is the second NBDL game I have witnessed with the first being the Colorado 14ers back in 2009. The 14ers won the championship that year and were bought soon after by Dallas Mavericks president Donnie Nelson, who moved the franchise to Frisco and renamed them the Texas Legends. After skipping a season, the Legends began play last year with Nancy Lieberman as their coach. She was the first female to coach a professional men's basketball team, leading them to a 24-26 record and a playoff spot. This year she moved to the front office so the Legends honoured her before the game with the banner below.

The Legends are what I would hope to see from every NBDL franchise. They have ties to the local NBA team, they are run by people with lots of basketball experience, and they reach out to their fans. The ceremony to honour Lieberman featured Donnie Nelson and his father Don, as well as new coach Del Harris and Lieberman, all basketball royalty. The younger Nelson gave a great speech lauding the fans and presenting a blueprint for the season and the future of the franchise. It was very classy and gave me hope that the league will grow to become a true feeder system for the NBA.

The Game

Austin (affiliated with the San Antonio Spurs and wearing white) beat Texas 101-96. I don't remember how this happened because I found myself fighting to stay awake as the jet lag was finally catching up to me. It was a fast-paced game with lots of scoring early on, and there were several lead changes throughout the night.

The 4th quarter began with the Legends up by 3 but Austin started on an 11-0 run to take control. Texas slowly clawed their way back and took a 1-point lead with 4:30 to go. That was their last gasp as the Toros replied with a 12-3 run over the next 2:30 and that was all she wrote for the Legends.

In the end, poor free throw shooting (13-24) hurt the home team, who had outplayed the Toros on the boards and in the turnover department as well. It seemed like a good game, but my brain was in the shutdown mode for most of it, so I can't add much more.

The player I most noticed was 6-11 center Jamal Sampson, who was drafted in 2002 (one slot behind Matt Barnes) and is a cousin of Ralph Sampson. Jamal has a bit of NBA experience but had played in Asia for the past couple of seasons before the Legends drafted him this fall. That's him signing autographs after the game.

Notes

After the game, the fans were allowed out on the floor to get autographs and photos with the players and cheerleaders. I always enjoy this sort of activity and it seemed like everyone was having a good time, including Legends' coach Del Harris.

The NBA and its players reached a tentative agreement that was announced that day, which may make the NBDL more relevant depending on how things develop in terms of player promotion and demotions. I'd like to see this league function more like the AHL, where players are known to their fans and call-ups and send downs are common.

This was the second of three games I had planned to see, but with the jet lag hitting hard and then spending time on the floor afterwards, I decided to hang out in the rink next door and watch some hockey. The Dallas Stars hold a number of youth tournaments and Thanksgiving weekend saw the 10th Annual Fall Round-Up take place. I saw the Bantam Gold final featuring a team from Calgary taking on a team from California, who won by a score of 5-3. Not quite the tripleheader I had envisioned but then again, I don't think I would have lasted through another basketball game.

Next Up

I'm back in Japan and going to a J League game this weekend in which league leaders Kashiwa visit Urawa Reds with a chance to clinch the championship. Later this month, I'm off to France for two weeks at year-end, which will include a single game in the Championnat National but no other sports. December will be a quiet month for this blog, but check back in early 2012 for news on a hockey trip planned for February.

Best,

Sean

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