The 411 on the week of 4/21

[updated time for the pick-up game on Wednesday]

Kind of an odd week for events. The outdoor game is Friday, the indoor one Saturday -- right after practice. Also for consideration....with the outdoor game Friday, who would still be willing to stay for the after-game social (around 9 p.m.)?

Outdoor pick-up game (this is not hosted by the Train Wrecks)
Where: MLK & Derby (Berkeley)
When: Wednesday, April 23 Time: 7 p.m.

Outdoor Game
Where: Gabe West @ Inter (1st in the table, 4-1-2 )
When: Friday, April 25 Time: 7 p.m. After-game host: Alex

Practice
Where: Atlantic fields (if available, otherwise go to Alameda Point)
When: Saturday, April 26 Time: 3 p.m.

Indoor Rec. Division Game
Where: The Bladium @ CosaNostra
When: Saturday, April 26 Time: 5 p.m.

Participation for official games and Saturday practice can be captured in the poll to the right. You can also leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Wuttke channels Lombardi: Train Wrecks rally for victory

"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." Vince Lombardi said that. I'm not sure what Thomas said at halftime of yesterday's Train Wrecks 5-2 victory, but it must have been Lombardi-esque.


After a somewhat dismal first half, the 'Wrecks were down two goals to one. However in an inspired fathering at half-time the team rallied for a convincing and comfortable final score. Amy got things started in the second half from the spot. Then the flood gates opened. Gustavo provided a nice cross to Wendy to get on the board another time, and even Blair got in on the assist action, giving up a ball for Diego to latch on to and put in to the net.

For good measure, Robert finished things off with an exclamation point, perhaps at the behest great sideline encouragement from Pedro (suspended), Don, and Kevin. Or perhaps from the desire to set the stage for enjoying Oreste's after-game ceviche and Blair-hosted refreshments.

note: This coming week's Train Wreck indoor and outdoor games are not on their usual days. The outdoor team plays this Friday, and the indoor team on Saturday. Posts with details to follow soon.

No poll this week for moment of the match. When you're channeling Vince Lombardi, there are no other moments.

Comments? Leave 'em.

Directory assistance

Many professional club names include a geographic clue as to where they might be located. Manchester City plays predictably in Manchester City. Sparta Praha, well you'd guess Prague, right. Pachuca, in....wow, you're getting the hang of this, Pachuca.

But there are plenty clubs, some perhaps less popular that don't offer these clues. For instance, Botafogo of the Brazilian top flight, or Boavista of the Portugal BWINLiga -- what cities do they play in? Or even if they do offer a clue, only an experienced geographer could make sense of it. I certainly couldn't point to Catania, Italy, or Azogues, Ecuador.

But there is some help. Footiemap.com, offers a nice interactive map to help you sort out football clubs and their geography in many countries (no Argentina unfortunately). Click on the club links to get to their home pages.

Sumo Ballbusted | Samurai Bear busted

The indoor team had a reversal of fortune from last weeks loss which culminated in an 8-6 victory over the Sumo Ballbusters. The Train Wrecks never fell behind, and despite being pressured early in the second half, timely goals kept the visitors from ever catching up.

After the game several Train Wrecks (some of them still sweaty from the indoor game) were spotted at the Blair's premiere of Season of the Samurai. It was a great show and showing as the room was packed for the entertainment, not only for the documentary itself, but also for the unique insight Blair was able to provide outside the hour and a half of edited tape.

Perhaps the most interesting point in the movie, in relation to Blair's contribution to the Train Wrecks, is that he in fact is not an athlete (according to Will Cromartie). Hmmm...we never would have guessed.

No soccer shortage in sight

Outdoor pick-up game (this is not hosted by the Train Wrecks)
Where: MLK & Derby (Berkeley)
When: Wednesday, April 16 Time: 6 p.m.

Indoor Rec. Division Game
Where: The Bladium vs. Sumo Ballbusters
When: Friday, April 18 Time: 6 p.m.

Practice
Where: Atlantic fields (if available, otherwise go to Alameda Point)
When: Saturday, April 19 Time: 3 p.m.

Outdoor Game
Where: Booker T. Anderson vs Goal Diggers (11th in the table, 1-4-0 as of 4/6)
When: Sunday, April 20 Time: 3 p.m. After-game host: Blair

Participation for official games and Saturday practice can be captured in the poll to the right. You can also leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Debut of the Samurai Blair

Come and support our very own Burea (Spider-Blair in Japanese) as he debuts his role for friends in the documentary about a traveling minor-league baseball team -- the Japan Samurai Bears.

Blair has reserved a space to project the film at MIG (near University and Fourth St. in Berkeley), and he's going to serve pizza and refreshments. The movie starts promptly at 7:30 p.m., so arrive early if you want food.

Blair does warn that there is LOTS and LOTS of profanity in the movie, which won't be any surprise for many of you, particularly for the defensive unit players that patrol the nets in front of him.

To get a taste, check out the profanity laced trailer.

All tongue-tied

Outdoor
A nice day. A relatively full squad. Some pretty solid play. A 2-1 lead early in the second half thanks to goals by Pedro (nice header by the way) and Diego (rumblin' bumblin' stumblin' across the goal line). It had all the makings of well deserved win over a benchmark opponent.


Somehow, however, that unravelled by way of some dubious events that, in the end, gave benefit to Meerkat FC culminating in an at the death penalty to equalize 2-2. A not-so-forgiving referee, the crossbar (twice), and ball that couldn't get it's swerve on (see Wendy's free kick) were all contributors to the conspiracy.

The tie puts the TrainWrecks at 11 points with 3 wins, a loss, and 2 draws.

Indoor
In last Tuesday's indoor game the TrainWrecks couldn't quite catch up to S.O.S. going down 6-4.

Spots available: step up to D2 or D1 indoor

Are you able to one-up Zlatan and Christian? Looking to step up your indoor game?

The Bladium has spots available on Coed D1 and a Coed D2 teams for the Spring season. Email Luis if you're interested.

Disaster preparedness: Quakes and Fire

I just realized the home opener for the San Jose Earthquakes is this Saturday against Cuauhtémoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire. Are people going to the game in lieu of practice?

Meer-ly one game this weekend

Indoor Rec. Division Game
(No game this Friday)

Practice (open to outdoor and indoor players)
Where: Atlantic fields
When: Saturday, April 12, 2008
Time: 3 p.m.

Outdoor Game
Where: Gabe Fields (West) vs. Meerkat FC (4th in the table, 3-2-0)
When: Sunday, April 13, 2008
Time: 1 p.m.

Participation for events can be captured in the poll to the right. You can also leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Quick recap

Train Wrecks did the following last week:

Claimed an indoor victory over PK Ibuprofin, 9-4, last Friday.
Beat Piranha's 5-0 in Sunday's outdoor game.
Lost to the S.O.S., 6-4, in a mid-week indoor game.

How's that for quick?

Kid's play

So I've been hearing that the change of direction videos are nice, but that perhaps some of the 'Wrecks may need something with a greater degree of difficulty to also hone their advanced skills. For those of you willing to try...follow along:

Starting the weekend off with Ibuprofin, and perhaps ending with it as well

Indoor Rec. Division Game
Where: The Bladium vs. PK Ibuprofin
When: Friday, April 4, 2008
Time: 10:30 p.m. (slumber party to follow)

Practice
Where: Atlantic fields
When: Saturday, April 5, 2008
Time: 3 p.m.

Outdoor Game
Where: Gabe Fields (East) @ Pirahnas (12th in the table, 0-4-0)
When: Sunday, April 6, 2008
Time: 1 p.m.

Participation for events can be captured in the poll to the right. You can also leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Hook turn and fall down is more like it

Just fyi -- this doesn't work so well in a livingroom filled with furniture and a 6'0 aging white male trying to play the 1-2 with his cat.