The International Soccer Tournament to be held at the Silverdome will feature world class football teams from Argentina, Hungary and Mexico to play a championship match at the Pontiac Silverdome.
Event Promoter Pius Oleh, President of AmeriSoccer USA, LLC has been working with the international teams and the Pontiac Silverdome operators for more than one year to plan this match to bring professional soccer to Metro Detroit. Soccer is fast becoming one of the most popular sports in the United States and is the most widely watched spectator sport in the world.

This International Soccer Tournament will feature four international teams to compete in Detroit. The soccer teams are: River Plate of Argentina; UNAM Pumas of Mexico; Ferencvarosi FC and Vasas FC of Hungary. The teams will fly to Detroit for this special match tournament from European matches.

“We are very excited to bring world class soccer tournament play to Metro Detroit,” said AmeriSoccer President Pius Oleh. “As a passionate fan of this world game of football, I am confident the many amateur soccer fans in Southeastern Michigan will want to see this match in-person and we have already received great interest from many soccer clubs and local schools.” Mr. Oleh is the only registered FIFA Match Agent in the State of Michigan and one of 17 in the United States.

The tournament schedule begins with the teams arriving on February 2 and playing warm-up and practice games at the Silverdome on February 3. The official game schedule is Saturday, February 4, 2012, Game 1, UNAM Pumas FC, Mexico vs. Vasas FC Hungary at 2 p.m. Game 2, River Plate FC Argentina vs. Ferencvarosi FC Hungary 6 p.m. Monday evening a championship match will follow a consolation match to be held at 6 p.m. with Invitational Tournament Championship game at 8 p.m.

Some 40,000 soccer fans from Metro Detroit and surrounding areas are expected to attend. Tickets for each day of the match are $30 general admission. A two-day ticket is also available for a $50. Tickets available online at Silverdomevents.com or by calling the box office at 248-338-2500. Group discounts available on block ticket purchases.
SOURCE AmeriSoccer USA, LLC

This is not old news to me that there are plenty of people that aren’t fond of Nickelback (an understatement).  Me? I’m on the fence.  They have some good songs like “Never Again,” “Side of a bullet” and “Figured You Out.”  However, I’ll definitely say that their recent work has been uneven, especially their most recent album Dark Horse (way too poppy), which was produced by Mutt Lange.  However, I’m not the one that’s circulating the petition to replace them.

The first issue that I have with this ridiculous notion is that it’s ludicrous.  Considering the timetable that would be involved with replacing them and the money involved to pay their replacement, it’s not doable.  As of this date, there are about two weeks until the game.  There would be simply too many details involved with ironing out contracts in time to make a replacement possible.

Second, any replacement would not be in a possible to increase their asking price.  Why wouldn’t they? There’s the business component to show business.  At the end of the day, musicians, while they’re in it to express themselves, are also interested in getting paid. Believe me, it would not be cheap to replace Nickelback.

I just don’t get the outrage.  If you want to get pissed off, be angry with excessive bank fees.  Be upset with our ineffective government.  Be upset at the loss of real political dialogue.  Hell, just be thankful for your blessings.  At the end of the day, being upset about Nickelback playing the Lions’ Thanksgiving half-time show isn’t worth it.

Author: José A. Rodríguez

From inside the tunnel, I could see the sea of humanity―people cheering and waving their white towels.  As I looked around me, I could see me and 70 other people holding onto part of an oversized American flag and we all had the same purpose: we were bringing out the flag for the Tigers’ baseball game.

It was by pure chance that I was asked if I wanted to participate.  For me, it was a no-brainer.  I was able to bring the flag out for The Star Spangled Banner, unfurl it, make it wave during the anthem and bring it back in.  As the child of immigrants, carrying the symbol of what my parents came here for was the biggest honor.

The man that gave us instruction before the game (I was one of the people that missed rehearsal) explained that normally military people bring out the flag.  He told us what to do and gave the most important instruction: when you hold the flag taut, stop for about five or ten seconds and just soak it all in.  How many people can say that they have had 40,000 thousand people wave at them?

As I waited what seemed like an eternity, I had to do everything possible to calm the nerves.  As I looked out of the tunnel, it reminded of the fighters in Warrior coming out for their fights.  No lie―I was starting to hop up and down like a fighter.  One of my friends had to say something.  He told me with a chuckle, “Man, you look like you’re getting ready to fight.”

I was around the middle of the bottom side of the flag.  As a result, I barely noticed the order to start walking out.  I saw people starting to move and followed.  After all, I didn’t come to the practice, so I followed the advice to do what my neighbor did.  My teasing friend stood across from me.

The first few steps onto the field were magical.  How many people can say that they’ve stood on a ballpark’s field? For a brief second, I remember my childhood dreams of playing pro ball.  This was the closest that I’ve come to that and it was magical.  The first few steps onto the grass was even more amazing.  A couple of more steps was left before I helped to unfurl the flag.

Just like my wedding, the final moment was like a big blur.  Since I had to walk backwards as I unfurled the flag, I had a hard enough time doing my job without having to fall on my face in front of 40,000 people.

Walking back through the tunnel was a happy letdown.  The game—the reason that we were there—was starting.  We each grabbed a part of the flag and walked as a team.  We were united in the rare experience that not many people share.  I don’t think that there was a single person that didn’t view it as a huge opportunity and honor.  Certainly not me.

Author: José A. Rodríguez
Image: Renée Rodríguez
Video: Tony Anderanin

Author: Aaron Lisker
Image: Paula Anderanin

If the place you work at has retirement benefits, you are going to be encouraged to invest in the company’s 401k plan.  If you have baby boomers or people over 40 in your workplace, they are going to constantly be talking about their 401k and their portfolios and will avidly watch CNBC because they have it all figured out.

They have it figured out and they encourage you to join their legal gambling in a form of a retirement plan.  It is called financial advising or retirement planning because that makes it sound like what it isn’t, which is an educated bet on who you invested your money with growing into a nice amount that allows you to enjoy retirement.

Gambling in casinos, on the horses, the lottery, bingo, 401k’s, IRA’s and the stock market are legal I believe in just about every state.  But you know what isn’t legal in just about every state? Sports gambling, office pools, and gambling fantasy sports leagues.
Gambling on sports is only legal in Las Vegas.  It can, also, be done offshore through the Internet.

Now, the business professors, stockbrokers, and financial advisors of the world are, sometimes, elegant in their appearance and manner of talking.  The people that are sports bookies and experts might have nicknames like Jimmy The Greek or Big Pussy. Some high rolling sports gamblers might be balding with ponytails or might dress like they are characters out of the ’80’s TV show Dallas.

The sports gambling industry might not look classy and it isn’t.  But, if you went to college, then you probably knew the pretty boy that got all the girls and acted like he knew everything, but was really just talking out of his ass.  This same guy most likely wound up being a stockbroker, financial adviser or otherwise working in the banking or financial industries.

After the banking bailout, giant stock market plunges, and maybe looking at your own 401K and IRA, it is tough to act like a know-it-all.

But why is it that financial investing is legal, while sports gambling, fantasy and office pools for money are not? Some morbid people have celebrity death pools.  An even more morbid thought is if you are in one of those pool types you might have just made more money on Amy Winehouse’s death, then what your 401k has this year.

Last year, a homeless man won ESPN’s fantasy challenge.  He won a $3,500 Best Buy gift card on ESPN.com for having the best fantasy football team in the world.  I am willing to bet that is more than his 401K made last year.

However, I’d rather trust the people with business degrees with my money instead of investing in something like Ball State minus 7½ versus Akron, or fantasy/office pools. But, if one gamble is legal, then, they all should be legal.  CNBC and ESPN are both watched for the same reasons.  Hoping a scrub on the bench doesn’t hit a three pointer at the buzzer to ruin your bet on the basketball game shouldn’t be considered worse than investing in Chinese penny stocks.

If you are going to invest your money or bet on anything, be careful and know the possible consequences.  After all, no bet is a safe bet.

Author: Aaron Lisker

The Lions want to call their defensive line the Silver Crush, but the Silver Crush might be an automatic first down for their opponents.

Ndamukong Suh’s grabbing the head of Cincinnati Bengal quarterback Andy Dalton and slamming him to the ground resulted in a $25,000 fine of the second year defensive tackle and a firestorm of criticism.  But let us not forget, the Lions drafted Nick Fairley, another defensive tackle, in the first round back out of Auburn.

If it is not bad enough already that Suh has already gained a reputation for perceived cheap shots on quarterbacks, the Lions have another defensive tackle in waiting with the same reputation that Fairley hasn’t been heard from much this preseason because he injured his foot early on and might be out of all training camp.  Last season at Auburn, Fairley was the driving force on a dominant Auburn defense that won the National Championship.  But, that didn’t come without controversy.

Just watch this youtube video showing clips of cheap shots Fairley made on Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray.  He slams him into the ground on one, then another Fairley spears Murray’s knee with his helmet. All this resulted in a brawl between the two squads.

Suh’s hit on Dalton last week nearly resulted in a brawl.  So, now the Lions have gone double impact with the defensive tackles with bad reputations.  It is safe to say the Lions have the most feared defensive line in football with Suh, Fairley, three time Pro Bowler Kyle Vanden Bosch, Cliff Avril, and Corey Williams backing up.

But with Suh and Fairley performing pro wrestling body slams on quarterbacks, possibly getting penalties for it, the Lions might have the best and worst defensive line at the same time.  The best offensive play an opposing team can run against the Lions is let their quarterback get beat up and draw a roughing the passer penalty.

The two teams with the worst reputations for roughing the passer last year were the blitz happy Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers—the two teams in the last year’s Super Bowl.  So, on the field penalties, fines and suspensions might come the Lions way.

I doubt every time the Lions sack the quarterback a flag will be thrown, but penalties, fines and suspensions are coming.  However, based on the results of Packers and Steelers last year, it might just be the cost of doing business, if you want a feared defense that shuts opponents down.

Author: José A. Rodríguez
Images: Rome Randolph

Not even blustery rain on last Friday night could keep away a public hungry for their fix of Tigers baseball.  The Tigers, currently 70-58 and in first place in the American League.

However, it wasn’t just Tigers baseball that drew the fans into Comerica Park, but, also,  ¡Fiesta Tigres!.  In its sixth year, the celebration honors the contributions of Latino players to the game of baseball.  This was an excellent combination of Latino culture and the sport that has traditionally been regarded as “America’s favorite pastime.”

Prior to the game, I had the chance to check out the The Xochiquetzal Folkloric Ballet from Saginaw.  It was refreshing to be wrapped up in the songs and dances that I have experienced so many times before.  Hearing “El Jarabe Tapatío”and “El Son de la Negra” in the background accompanying the dancers was something very familiar to me.  I thought that it was great to have the public get exposed to that music, as well as the stylings of Marichi Cora and Tumbao Bravo.

As our photographer and I checked out the rest of the festivities, we made our way to the press box, where we had a really great view of what was going on in the field.  We were able to see the various countries’ (including Venezuela, Dominican Republic and, Puerto Rico) flags presented on the field.  Afterward, 1984 American League MVP and Cy Young winner Guillermo “Willie” Hernandez was honored on the field, as he was surrounded by the current crop of Latino Tigers.  I thought that it was a very special moment to see the current generation paying homage to one of the people that helped make their careers possible.

As I had the opportunity to look out onto the field from the press box, I thought to myself of how our beautiful Latino cultures came together with the game of baseball.  When I was watching the ground crew preparing the field, it made me think about the preparation and ritual that goes into the game that has inspired countless movies and brought together generations of parents with their children.  While I don’t really watch much baseball anymore, I couldn’t help but think back to the countless summer games of baseball that I played and it all made me smile.

I think that for me, I came away with something unique.  I was able to even further appreciate Latino cultures (besides my own) plus I was able to reconnect with something that seemed so distant (the magic of baseball).

If you missed out on this year’s ¡Fiesta Tigres!, then keep your eyes and ears open for news on next year’s event.  To be able to observe the marriage of Latino culture with one of the most American of symbols is a beautiful thing.  Observing this marriage of cultures is something to behold and something that you have to experience for yourself.

Author: Aaron Lisker

Dan Hardy and Chris Lytle spent almost the entire three rounds of their fight trading  some kicks and throwing some major bombs.  Their fight’s end during the last minute  through a guillotine choke came as a surprise.

Lytle announced at the weigh-in, prior to the fight, that this would be his last career fight. He was 41-18-4 over the course of his MMA career and 13-1 as a boxer.  All the more impressive, Lytle is a full time Indianapolis fireman, in addition to being a very seasoned professional fighter.  This is something I don’t think Denis Leary could have worked into Rescue Me.

This marks the fourth straight loss for the Mohawk sporting, punk rock Englishmen, Dan Hardy.  He connected on a lot of punches, but he didn’t count on Lytle’s chin.  However, prior to shooting on Lytle toward the end, where he was choked out, Hardy might have otherwise been ahead on the judges’ scorecards.

Hardy shot in Lytle about halfway through the second round and nearly was choked out by guillotine.  This was the only time the fight went to the ground prior to the end.  He might have chose to take the fight to the ground a second time knowing he couldn’t knock out the Lytle.

When I learned a tough guy like Lytle is an Indianapolis fire fighter, it put my mind at ease because I live three miles or so outside the Indianapolis border in Carmel, Indiana. Sometimes, the Indianapolis Fire Department is called in to help the Carmel Fire Department.  Lytle says he wants to run for state representative in 2012. I might be hearing more of him in the future.

The WEC completely merged with the UFC last December, which allowed many WEC fighters to compete in the UFC for the first time.  Thought to be a lesser promotion, the stigma was proven wrong Sunday night in UFC on Versus.  Former WEC fighters Ben Henderson and Donald Cerrone both won their fights impressively.

Cerrone TKOed Charles Oliveira, who was 14-1 coming into the fight.  Ben Henderson won by unanimous decision over Jim Miler, who was 20-2 overall and 8-2 in the UFC, while riding a seven fight winning streak coming into the fight.

Henderson was able to counter Miller’s Jiu-Jitsu—some by wrestling, but most impressively by punching at Miller, who was using both his arms and all of his energy trying to submit Henderson, leaving him defenseless to Henderson’s punches.

Last week at UFC, Rashad Evans TKOed veteran, Tito Oritz, to setup a superfight at UFC 135 for the light heavyweight title at 205lbs against Jon “Bones” Jones.  Other than maybe Anderson Silva vs. George St. Pierre, I can’t think of a fight MMA fans rather see more than Jones vs. Evans.  It might be so good that it would need a trilogy like Ali vs. Frazier.

Crime would skyrocket, professed Ray Lewis, if the NFL lockout wasn’t resolved and the season was cancelled.  I, personally, wouldn’t have turned my Sundays into crime sprees like the Baltimore Raven superstar linebacker foresaw, but Preview postthere definitely would have been a void in my life had the lockout not been resolved.

Sundays in the fall is a religious day for me.  That is the day the Good Lord created for me, and people like me, to watch NFL football all day.  I can’t wait to wake up Sunday morning to watch the pregames shows, then the 1PM games, followed by the 4PM games, and capping the day with the Sunday night game.

I have multiple webpages open that track my fantasy football teams and the scores of all the NFL games.  Just last year, I added the NFL Redzone to my cable bill—best $8 a month I have ever spent.  It gives you live look-ins of every game with no commercials.  They show whichever game has a team with the ball in the red zone, which is between 20 yard and end zone.  Also, they break in live to whatever game has a big play such as a touchdown, turnover or momentum shift.

The Red Zone channel is so exciting you don’t even want to get up and use the bathroom if you have to.  Not sure if Scott Hanson, studio host of the Red Zone, ever uses the bathrooms.  They switch games every few minutes, sometimes seconds, and I suspect that he is hooked up to a catheter under the desk he sits at.

There are many people like me.  Ray Lewis wouldn’t be predicting anarchy Sundays without football if there weren’t.  People like this are the ones you see in sports bars watching all the games around the country.  People, also, show up to bars with their laptops and use the bar’s wi-fi to monitor their fantasy teams.

Would crime actually pickup on Sundays or in general with no NFL games? I used to live in Detroit and Cleveland.  In those two cities, both teams are usually eliminated from playoff contention way before the end of the season.  If crime has picked up in Cleveland and Detroit after both the Browns and Lions made it clear they couldn’t make the playoffs, then, right there lies evidence for a Ray Lewis case study.

I know I will be watching or listening to football games all Sunday, so I plan ahead and try to exercise, cleanup around the house, or run errands—all while monitoring the games on TV, my smartphone or listening on Sirius radio.  If the lockout cancelled the season, I would still be exercising, cleaning the house, and running errands, but doing so with my full attention.  I would probably find other things to do also, but wouldn’t look forward to them as much as NFL games.

When you were only able to get the one game the local network TV stations on Sundays, it would be boring compared to now.  The ways of being able to watch every game, accompanied by live scoring on fantasy football web pages, just makes NFL Sundays ultra fun.

The NFL owners and NFL Players Association have signed a long-term deal, so the only thing cancelling football on Sunday’s anytime soon is Harold Camping’s October 21st rapture prediction coming true.  Football Sundays are great for the crime rate—the sanity of hardcore fans like me, and electric companies making money by supplying electricity to watch football on TV.

Author: Aaron Lisker

Osgood retires with a final record of 401-216-66, a career save percentage of .905 and 3 Stanley Cup rings. The rings along make him a strong candidate for the NHL Hall of Fame, but let’s not forget about the overall record. Chris Osgood has won 401 games in his NHL career, which is an impressive stat no matter which goaltender we are mentioning.

Statistics aside, Osgood has become a fan favorite of the beloved Detroit Red Wings—a homegrown goaltender drafted by the team that grew up before our eyes, while under the tutelage of some great coaches over the years. Osgood is as much a part of Detroit as other notable athletes, such as __________.

However, his career has not always been pretty. Osgood will be remembered for his early career struggles, including many notable soft goals, as well as his tearful interview with the media following them. Much like Detroit and the entire state of Michigan, in fact, Osgood fought, clawed and worked, until he had not only endeared himself to fans, but also make quite the name for himself as a dependable starting goaltender in the NHL. Osgood has brought the Cup to Detroit on more than one occasion, engrained himself into the community, and even fought all-star goaltender Patrick Roy in a memorable game against, then, hated rivals the Colorado Avalanche.

The point I am making is that Chris Osgood may not have been born and raised in Detroit, but he is every bit a part of its fighting spirit, and its desire for greatness. Many times he was never given his due, written off as undersized, inconsistent and mentally fragile. But ask any Detroiter and they will tell you, Chris Osgood is not only a sure bet hall of famer, but, also, one of Detroit’s favorite citizens. He deserves to be in the hall of fame, his numbers and career stats reflect that, but his heart and soul make it a necessity. As Osgood embodies everything we wish for in an athlete: humility, excellent work ethic, talented, but, most of all, rich in that elusive characteristic that cannot be coached…heart.

Author: Doug Stanley

I first heard of the Pakistani Englishmen boxer Amir Khan when he was guest on the Adam Carolla Show podcast in February.  Soon after that, HBO started continually replaying what was possibly the best boxing match of 2010.  It was a fight between Khan and hard throwing Argentine, Marcos Maidana.  In that fight Khan wasn’t just content to land some punches and run away, but stood toe to toe with Maidana to prove his toughness.  Khan might have momentarily been knocked out on his feet, but he fought through it somehow and won a unanimous decision.

In the fifth round of Saturday night’s fight, Khan caught Judah with an uppercut that landed on the beltline and maybe have grazed below the belt—sending Judah down to the canvas.  The referee didn’t count it as a low blow, but as a knockdown.  He was either confused or bewildered and let the referee count to ten, thus ending the fight.  Judah tried to play it off, as though he thought it was an illegal punch below the belt and looked for a standing eight count or a possible five minute reprieve.  Regardless, by this point, the fight was well in hand for Khan.

Both men made the 140 pound weight limit, but it was obvious by the fight time that Khan was the bigger, stronger of the two.  He, also, made his quickness evident throughout the fight.

This might be the end for Zab Judah’s career, which is unfortunate.  The 33 year old fighter was in supreme condition.  He hired Victor Conte, as nutrition consultant, and former lightweight star, Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, as his trainer.  Conte was owner/operator of BALCO, a company that supplied human growth hormone to many athletes, most notably and allegedly, to all-time home run king Barry Bonds.  He did a prison sentence and now claims to be straight as a nutrition and supplements consultant.

None of that helped Judah because he had no answer for the flurry of punches coming his way.  Compubox reported he only landed 10 power punches in the five rounds the fight lasted.

For the 24 year old Khan, now 27-1, he has proven that he has a solid enough chin and is skilled to fight anyone.  Matter of fact, top welterweight Timothy Bradley turned down the fight that Judah took.  Some people speculate that he turned it down because he is in line to fight Floyd Mayweather, Jr., after Mayweather’s fight with Victor Ortiz.  Losing to Khan might nix that big payday with Mayweather.

So Khan must beat a few other light-welterweight contenders and, then, he may also have a super fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on the horizon.  Khan is trained by Freddie Roach, who is also Manny Pacquiao’s trainer, so a Khan/Pacquiao fight looks out of the question.

Maybe if Khan makes his way up to challenge Mayweather, Jr. in the near future and loses, then it will, finally, convince Mayweather, Jr. and Pacquiao to fight each other.  More like convince Mayweather to fight Pacquiao.  Not sure if there will be a boxing version of Six Degrees of Amir Khan, but Khan is going to be a big name in the sport for years to come as Mayweather and Pacquiao reach the end of their primes.

Author: Aaron Lisker