What to do this holiday weekend

The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated by labor unions in New York City in the 1880s with a grand parade in honor of the working class. Now most people just think of it as a day off work and a chance for a last end-of-summer family outing.

As the heat wave continues here in SoCal beach activities are definitely on the agenda this weekend. The 28th annual Malibu Chili Cook-Off and Carnival kicks off tonight and goes through Monday.

Also at the beach this weekend is the Supergirl Jam which takes place Sunday in Venice. There will be live-streaming of the competition at http://thewb.com/supergirl and we’ll provide highlights of the event later.

Other Options:

Tennis: If you’re a tennis fan but can’t make it to Flushing Meadows this weekend, you can catch U.S. Open third and fourth round action on The Tennis Channel, ESPN, and CBS.  Check the TV schedule for listings.

Golf: NBC airs the Deutsche Bank Golf Championship on Sunday and Monday.

Football: College football fans have a plethora of choices this weekend. The NCAA season kicks off the 2009 season so if you want to trade the beach for the gridiron, ESPN will present no less than 28 games on their networks.

There’s a full slate of games on Saturday so no matter where you live or who you root for you should be able to find something Must-see games include Navy at Ohio State (12:00 ESPN), Missouri vs. Illinois (3:30 ESPN),  BYU vs. Oklahoma (7:00 ESPN), and Maryland at California (10:00 ESPN2). If you’re still in the mood for football on Monday check out the Miami vs. Florida State game (10:00 ESPN).

Also, my annual neighborhood block party is this Sunday evening featuring a halfpipe at the top of the cul de sac and a bicycle parade. Good times.

Charlize Theron provides soccer opportunities to deserving kids

I’m a huge fan of Charlize Theron so was delighted to learn that she’s a celeb who gives back. As a native of South Africa, it makes sense  that her charitable efforts focus on the youth of her struggling but extraordinary country.

The Charlize Theron African Outreach Project and the LAFC Chelsea Soccer Club have joined forces to give kids living in underserved communities – in Southern California and Umkhanyakude District of the KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa – more opportunities to play competitive soccer.

This new collaboration will be made official during the upcoming match on July 21, between two of the world’s top international teams – Chelsea FC and Inter Milan. These soccer powerhouses, who have not competed in the United States for fifteen years, will face off in front an expected 90,000 fans at the historic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, and will be televised world-wide on ESPN. Net proceeds from this spectacular match will benefit LAFC Chelsea, one of America’s most successful and prominent youth soccer clubs.

The fundraising event will help continue LAFC Chelsea’s mission to give economically challenged youth living in Southern California real opportunities to play competitive soccer as a means to keeping them in school through graduation. Money raised will also allow LAFC Chelsea to help expand its reach, building a viable youth soccer club in a rural community of South Africa in cooperation with Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP).

“LAFC Chelsea has always been focused on leading economically challenged young people to brighter futures and a better life through the universal sport of soccer,” says Don Sheppard, President of LAFC Chelsea. “When I learned about Charlize’s incredible plan to give sustainable opportunities to young South Africans who are at enormous risk, I knew that LAFC Chelsea was in position to help.”

With World Cup 2010 on African soil for the very first time, CTAOP wants to put a spotlight on the urgent need to provide sustainable health, education and recreational resources to remote areas where HIV/AIDS rates are unacceptably high. As part of CTAOP’s plan, LAFC Chelsea has made a three-year commitment to help build a community-wide soccer program for the schools in the Umkhanyakude District. This includes uniforms, cleats, balls and equipment, along with professional training for local coaches, referees and administrators. The soccer league training will also include life-saving health education administered through a CTAOP-funded mobile health program.

“Our goal is to help truly create a safer, healthier and better life for the young people in South Africa, especially those living in remote areas, and to ensure that the resources we bring are self sustaining. The three year commitment is so incredible and key to being sure that the program will be around for many years to come,” says Charlize Theron. “I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to Don and LAFC Chelsea for their commitment to help us give these beautiful, young people a recreational outlet that is sorely lacking from their lives.”

Tickets: Never before has Southern California seen over 40 World Cup players and 6 National Team Captains all taking the field at the Rose Bowl. Individual ticket prices are $35, $55, $75, and $100. To buy individual tickets, just go to www.lafcsoccer.com or call TicketMaster at 800-745-3000. For group tickets, VIP tickets, or luxury boxes, call 1-818-952-LAFC.

Women’s Football: Sunday Breakers Wrap (May 17, 2009)

Last night the Southern California Breakers hosted the Tucson Monsoon at the Capistrano Valley High School field. This was the second meeting for the two teams with the last match ending up with a 14-13 victory for the Monsoon. This was just last Saturday in Tucson. Now, the Monsoon would bring their 4-0 record to Southern California to face the 2-2 Breakers. Here’s how it went down:

First Quarter: The Monsoon were the first to start on offense but could not capitalize. The Breakers started their first drive on the Monsoon 45. With 11:14 showing on the clock, during the Breakers second offensive play, Vanessa Santiallan (28) ran 45 yards for a touchdown. The point after attempt was no good and the score was 6-0. Without wasting time, Santiallan ran in for another TD with 9:03 on the clock. Elaine Iba (81) made a key block to enable the score. The first point after attempt was good but called back due to a penalty. The second attempt was also good and the score was now 13-0, Breakers. The Breakers struck gold again at 6:35 on the clock when Monique Boone (39) caught a pass for a touchdown. The point after kick by Joy Barry (22) was good and the score was now 20-0. The first quarter excitement for the Breakers continued when Barry intercepted a pass with 3:09 on the clock. The drive and quarter ended with a completion to Iba with 0:02 left in Q1 on the Monsoon 1 yard line.

Second Quarter: The Breakers waste no time and score with 14:50 on the clock via a QB keeper by Shawna Murphy (18). A bad snap foiled the point after try although Barry made an effort to run it in. The score was now 26-0. The remainder of the quarter had the two teams going back and forth on possessions. With 3:02 on the clock, the Breakers fumbled and allowed the Monsoon to start on the So Cal 13. With 0:56 left in the half, the Monsoon socred but failed to make the point after. The score was now 26-6. The Breakers got the ball back and ran out the clock into halftime.

Third Quarter: The Breakers start on offense after the half on the Monsoon 45. Michelle Jacot (25) made the return to give the team this favorable starting point. The team couldn’t capitalize and gave the Monsoon possession back at 13:09. Later in the 3rd, the Breakers fumble with 8:12 on the clock. The Monsoon are unable to cash in and the quarter continues with back and forth possessions. The Breakers fumbled again with 1:46 left on the clock but the Monsoon again fail to take advantage of the opportunity.

Fourth Quarter: Boone recovers a fumble for the Breakers with 11:50 on the clock but the team can’t convert. There is more back and forth before the Breakers strike again. Santillan runs in a TD with 8:51 showing on the clock but the point after is no good. The score is now 32-6. With 3:41 showing on the clock the Breakers fumble again but the Monsoon is unable to convert. The Breakers get the ball back at 1:49 remaining and run out the clock. The final score is 32-6.

Coach Manny told me during the game that he felt that it was important not to run up the score on the opposing team. He explained that Vincent Smith, head coach for the Monsoon, had the chance to score at the end of the previous week’s game but didn’t. When I told him that I had heard of another final score in the IWFL earlier that day that ended up 77-7 he was quite disappointed. “This is what makes players quit”, he told me. Indeed, although it may feel good to score over and over it does not help the other team’s morale. I’ve heard others say that they need to score as much as possible in order to assure a playoff spot at the end. If there are similar records then points decide. Basically, you have league morale on one hand and winning your division on the other. Which should prevail?

At any rate, you can listen to the broadcast of this game here which includes my halftime interviews with Becky Leetch and Vanessa Santillan. In addition, today at 3:00 PM PST is Women’s Football Talk where I’ll be on to give my game recap.

The next Breakers game is in Los Angeles against the Amazons next Saturday, May 23.

Another Pretty Tough book – “Playing with the Boys”

Playing with the Boys by Liz Tigelaar

New girl Lucy is desperate for friends. She tries out for Beachwood High soccer, but despite her amazingly accurate kick, fails to make the team. When the Coach points out that varsity football is looking for a new kicker, Lucy is skeptical. Football? Isn’t that a boys’ game?

But on the gridiron Lucy discovers that she feels strong—in control for the first time since her mother died. She loves football. She actually wants to play! (She also wants to hang out with super-cute quarterback Ryan Conner. But that’s just icing on the cake.)

Too bad no one else wants her on the team. Not the boys’ coach, not her teammates, and especially not her overprotective dad. Will Lucy cave in to the pressure? Or will she prove she’s pretty tough after all?

Publisher: Razorbill
ISBN: 978-1-59514-112-5
Ages: Young Adult
Format: Paperback novel/256 pages

Playing With The Boys at Amazon

Reviews for Playing with the Boys:
A great story! This book encourages young women to unleash the potential to play one of the best sports on earth. As a female football player, I hope more young women see that they aren’t limited to just being one of the girls.  Jamie Flynt – Alabama Renegades

Another slam dunk for Liz Tigelaar. “Playing with the Boys” is a great example of how chick lit meets sports lit with stellar results.  – Taylor M.

… a thoroughly enjoyable novel. – the Book Muncher

Pretty Tough novels are like receiving two scoops of ice cream for the price of one – books filled to the brim with high school drama and a sporty back story millions of athletes hunger for. – Keri Mikulski, author of Screwball

Big Ben’s little sis preparing for her big game

In 2006, high school student Carlee Roethlisberger, Big Ben’s little sister, made her way down to the field to stand with the Super Bowl’s winning quarterback and celebrate the moment.

It’s tough for Carlee not to be there this time around as her brother tries to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a second Super Bowl title in four years. While Ben is playing quarterback against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in Tampa, Fla., Carlee will be practicing at Oklahoma City’s Ford Center for No. 2 Oklahoma’s big game the following day against No. 13 Tennessee. Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt makes her first attempt to win her 1,000th career victory.

Carlee, a sophomore forward for the Sooners, grew up honing her game against Ben, who is seven years her senior. As the children of a former Georgia Tech quarterback and a Northwest Missouri State basketball player, they’d go after each other at football and basketball— and soccer, and Frisbee and board games. Even games the two of them just made up.

“There was always a competition going on, and a friendly competition—kind of,” Carlee said. “He let me know he won. Definitely it was competitive growing up.”

All of that helped get Carlee where she is today, in an important role as one of the first players off coach Sherri Coale’s bench. She’s averaging about five points and two rebounds, but provides even more as a reliable energy boost off the bench behind All-American center Courtney Paris and her twin sister, Ashley.

This Sunday won’t’ be the first time Carlee is unable to see a big game for her brother, who she still lists in the Sooners’ media guide as being her hero. She’s got a service on her cell phone that allows her to check NFL scores, and her parents also keep her up to date with text messages.

And there’s already a plan in place for Sunday: Team captain Carolyn Winchester is going to TiVo the game.

“Hopefully by the time we get back, we can fast-forward through the commercials, watch the first half and make it to where we can watch before it gets to the end before we find out the final score,” Carlee said.

It won’t be the same as when Carlee got to celebrate at Ford Field in Detroit three years ago, but Carlee and her teammates might be able to provide a substitute. In their last season with the Paris twins on campus, the Sooners have made it no secret that anything less than the school’s second Final Four appearance would be a disappointment.

“Even though I can’t make it to his bright and shining moment this year,” Carlee said, “hopefully we have an opportunity where he can make it to mine.”

Good luck Carlee!!

Running a football pool

Now we’re not suggesting that you actually bet on the Superbowl game this Sunday, but football pools can make watching the game a lot more fun. There are a variety of ways to set up the pool and to pick winners but we’ll tell you how the simplest and most common game is played.

Square Football Pool – Create a 10 x 10 grid with a place for numbers along both the top and left sides of the page. The top row of numbers will represent one team and the side row will represent the other team. The numbers are not actually placed on the top and side, however, until the grid has been filled with the contestants’ names or initials.

You can sell the squares for any amount you wish. If the price is $1.00 per square this puts $100 in the pool. You can also wager pieces of candy, gum, or other novelty prizes.

Once all the squares have been selected, randomly pick numbers from 0-9 and assign them to one team’s rows. Now do the same for the other team. These numbers represent the last number in the score of each team. In other words, if the score at the end of the game (or quarter if you’re breaking it up) is Steelers 17 – Cardinals 14, then the winning square is the one with a Steelers number of 7 and a Cardinals number of 4. Since no one knows what numbers each square will represent, the odds are the same for everyone. You can divide the winnings and award funds at the end of each quarter, at the half or just at the end of the game. So good luck and enjoy.

There are plenty of websites that offer software or online versions of football pools but it’s just as easy to do it the old fashioned way and draw it on on a piece of paper. If you need a template, click here.

FYI: Most states in the U.S. regard this as a form of entertainment as long as 100 percent of the funds in the pool are paid back out to the contestants though (this is the fine print)so we strongly suggest you check your local laws before participating.

How to throw a legit Superbowl party 2/1

Superbowl Sunday (Sun. Feb. 1) is the most anticipated Sunday of the year. Superbowl is also a great excuse to throw a party. And no, NFL football and the Superbowl are not just for guys.

The key to a successful party is a winning game plan (sorry, just had to make that analogy). If you haven’t already sent invites, go for the fast easy method and send out themed evites.

Next most important item for a Superbowl party is a television set. Big HDTV is the best way to go, but as long as there is a decent sized screen, you’re set. Tivo (or DVR) is also preferred so you can rewind to go back to key points in the game, and re-watch the best commercials.

Pre-game: Create a good game watching atmosphere. Deck out the house with pennants and other things game-related. Team colors for the Arizona Cardinals are red and gold and the Pittsburgh Steelers are black and gold so incorporating the color scheme shouldn’t be too hard.

Read more

Turkey day and football

November 27, 2008 – When it comes to Thanksgiving weekend lots of people think football (after feast and family of course).  To be sure, there are a lot of high-stakes late-season college battles and numerous high-school homecoming games around the nation.

If you need some tips for getting into the game (whether watching or playing), be sure to review our Football Basics and Football Lingo.  By now, we’re sure you know that football is definitely not just for guys so don’t miss out on a second of fun.

Enjoy your day and be sure to make time to tell the people you love how thankful you are that they’re in your life.

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

Do real men wear pink?

November 18, 2008 – The latest shock tactic in sports gear has been unveiled by Nike: the pink soccer cleat – for men!

So what guy is brave enough to put in a shocking pink performance? A guy very sure of himself – who’s fast as a whippet and capable of scoring a hat-trick every game. Or is the pink thing for guys not a big deal anymore? I feel like the shock value may be passe.

See what reaction the cleats have caused among Europe’s finest male players — including Rio Ferdinand, Cesc Fabregas, Gabby Agbonlahor and Theo Walcott — in the latest Nike video viral.

The hue is technically called Mercurial Rosa but make no mistake, it’s pink. Don’t know how many guys will go for the cleats but I can think of more than a few girls who might check them out – they’re pretty cool!

Tennessee Valley Tigers No Stranger to Football

August 21, 2008 - The Independent Women’s Football League (IWFL) has announced the newest team in the league, the Tennessee Valley Tigers.

Located in Huntsville, Alabama, the Tigers will play their first season in the spring of 2009. However, these ladies are no strangers to football. Many of them have played on other women’s football teams; some for over 8 years! These women are excited to play new teams and enjoy old rivalries.

Look out! The Clarksville Fox, located in Clarsksville, Tennessee is made of women who have played against the Huntsville-based team before. And there’s no love loss between these two teams. The Kentucky Nightmare is another new team made of women the Tigers have played. With old frenemies and a new league, the TN Valley Tigers hope to continue the tradition of women’s football in the South.

You can visit the Tigers’ website at www.tigersiwfl.com for more information. Please support your local women’s football team – from Canada to Miami, Maine to California, this sport is taking over!

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