The U.S. soccer team took their “home field” yesterday to chants of “Burro” and “Donkey” when each individual American player was announced. I guess that’s what can happen when you’re playing soccer against Mexico in front of 93,420 people in Southern California at the Rose Bowl.

The stands at the stadium were packed with Mexican-Americans and neighboring Mexicans who made the trek across the border to rock the stands and cheer their team to a comeback 4-2 win against the American team.

It was Mexico’s second straight Gold Cup win with half of the team’s offense coming from Pablo Barrera who managed to get two shots past U.S. goaltender Tim Howard. That first goal snapped Howard’s 351 minute shutout streak.

After Michael Bradley opened the scoring, the United States jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when Landon Donovan went in on a breakaway and nailed an 11-yard shot inside the left post at the 23rd minute. That goal was Donovan’s 13^th in the Gold Cup to lead all scorers in the tournament.

With a 2-0 lead in soccer, people may have started calling their bookies to collect but that wouldn’t be the case for this match. Over a short span, that lead deteriorated to a 2-2 tie then the rest was history.

The MVP of the tournament was Mexico’s Javier Hernandez who finished with seven goals, most in the tournament.

American coach Bob Bradley commented on the lack of “home field” advantage after the game:

“The support that Mexico has on a night like tonight makes it a home game for them. It’s something that we expected.”

Yep, and giving up four consecutive goals in that span of time on any field just isn’t gonna cut it either.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Justin Verlander continues his trek to a career-best season that now includes a no-hitter and career high in strikeouts in a game. Over his last six starts, the Tigers ace has compiled a 6-0 record and 0.72 ERA and that’s not including the no-hitter on May 7 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

After tossing that no-no against the Jays, the second of his career, the flamethrower went into the sixth inning in his next start before giving up a hit, but it didn’t end there. Staying consistent and making batters look handcuffed every time they stepped into the box, he took yet another no-no into the eighth against the division rival Cleveland Indians to earn a win to put Detroit into a tie for first place.

Last night against the Diamondbacks, Verlander again showed up with his best stuff, striking out a career-high 14 in a 6-0 win that moved his team into the top of the AL Central.

Verlander spent the night throwing heat well into the late innings (the radar gun showed 100MPH on a pitch in the eighth). When hitters would brace for the fastball, he offered one of his patented curveballs sending batters back to the dugout.

With the near flawless performance, J.V. increased his MLB best strikeout total to 124 and dropped his ERA to 2.38. Most impressive has been his consistent control. In the no-hitter on May 7 he didn’t walk a single batter and last night walked just one.

With six Yankees potentially starting the 2011 All-Star game in a few weeks, it will be interesting to see if Verlander (10-3) gets the call to start for the AL. Standing in his way may be New York Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia who also has 10 wins at this point of the season.

For the box score of the Tigers vs. Diamondbacks go to MLB.com.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Ricky Rubio will play in the NBA after all.

The 6ft, 4, 190 pound flashy guard is a no-look passer known for his dribbling and ball-handling ability and is expected to report to the Minnesota Timberwolves by next season. The Wolves actually drafted Rubio No. 5 overall in the 2009 NBA Draft and have been waiting patiently for him to jump the Atlantic to an NBA court.

According to sources, Rubio has remained playing in Europe since that draft due to there being a $6 million buyout attached to his contract in Barcelona, Spain. Regardless of that, shortly after the draft, Timberwolves GM David Kahn thought the 18-year-old Rubio was being pressured by his hometown media, fans and teammates to remain in Spain.

Rubio started playing pro ball in the Spanish League when he was just 14 years old. Another NBA player, Zaza Pachulia of the Atlanta Hawks accomplished a similar feat when he started on a Turkey pro team when he was 15 years old.

Rubio may be remembered by fans in the United States for his appearance in the Gold Medal game in the 2008 Olympics when his Spain team lost to the United States. L.A. Lakers star Pau Gasol and Rubio did leave that tournament with an Olympic Silver Medal.

Now that it’s been officially announced, you have to wonder how much pressure will remain on the youngster who is coming off a season where he actually lost his starting job and contributed just 6.5 point per game.

Minnesota finished in the cellar of the NBA with a 17-65 record only winning .207 of their games.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Flash grenades to the crotch can put a damper on your evening out rioting and that’s exactly what happened to this Vancouver Canucks fan whose junk took a direct hit from a flash grenade launched from a police weapon.

The rioting fan who took the shot square in the nuts actually made a better save than ‘ nucks goaltender Roberto Luongo made all night. Watch this video:

After the Canucks got blown out 4-0 by the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, thousands of pissed off fans swarmed the streets rioting, looting, burning and well, just basically being a bunch of drunk asshole sore losers like they were back in 1994.

On a lighter note, also coming in from Vancouver, this hot blond female fan Flashes Tits at Ben Eager while Ben was sitting in the penalty box (VIDEO)

It appears there’s more advantages of getting traded from Atlanta than getting to play into May in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Vancouver people rioted after the city’s NHL Canucks team lost to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals and there’s a reason we placed a year in the headline of this article. We wanted to assure that our readers didn’t confuse this year’s Vancouver fans riots with the riots in 1994 after the team lost a different bid for a Stanley Cup, that time losing to another American-based team, the New York Rangers.

While the riot in ’94 resulted in an estimated $1.1 million in damage to the downtown area and involved tens of thousands of people, riot police and tear gas, no estimate has been determined yet regarding this latest “party” by Canadian fans.

We hear how NHL fans are passionate, yes, but these Canucks’ fans once again showed they are violent and have total disregard for even some of their own after a loss.

The Vancouver Police Twitter account posted a few Tweets during the incident including:

“So sad watching our VPD cars on fire and how quickly people can turn from law abiding to law breaking”

And:

“VPD warning people to get out of downtown Vancouver as crowd control is about to escalate”

This scene in 2011 was reminiscent of the European soccer cities after wins or losses in the past. Those riots have prompted the sale of alcohol being altered during many matches there. Fires burned throughout the area, cars were overturned and stomped upon, fans clashed with riot police.

When Vancouver and NHL officials come out and make their cliche comment regarding “a few unruly fans” can ruin it for everyone. Watch the videos and decide for yourself if the definition of a few should mean the hundreds or even thousands of fans congregating in that riot area.

Like the Europeans, Canadians are known to drink heavy, including the players as shown here in a sports mugshot gallery that happens to contain a bunch of rowdy and (or) boozing players from around the league. Guys who beat up taxi drivers or can walk a straight line after blowing two or three times over the limit.

Yeah there have been riots in the United States as well but with our country having several sports each year with dozens of cities suffering losses, those incidents seem to have taken a back seat over the years…but not in Vancouver.

One thing these fans did get right was booing NHL Commish Gary Bettman the entire time he presented the Stanley Cup to the Bruins. Even in Winnipeg where the city was granted another NHL team, fans flocked to hear Bettman give a statement and booed him. Bettman, the man who runs the league that allowed the hijacking of the Atlanta Thrashers from fans in the South actually booed in that scenario!

Any other commissioner would have been considered a hero but Bettman’s track record is so poor over the years, fans continue to loathe the man in every opportunity.

The Vancouver people’s reaction to the loss is a classless move. But it comes from fans who watch what some have been calling a classless league. A league that allows the players to fight violently on the ice while calling it a “part of the game”.

A game that suspends one player for saying the words “sloppy seconds” but allows another to get away with violently slashing another player with his stick or attacking a man’s genitals from behind.

With this mentality, no wonder even Sponge Bob beat them out in TV ratings in the past.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Say what you want about outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban but if it’s negative, chances are someone will have an itinerary to debate you.

After the Mavs landed in Dallas and greeted the fans with the NBA Championship trophy, Mayor Dwaine Caraway made it known to Cuban that the city of Dallas is in a “budget crunch” but still would plan some sort of parade.

Cuban’s response?

“I told them…Terdema Ussery our president would plan the parade. I’ll pay for it because I don’t think it’s right for the city to have to pay for it. And let’s just have some fun.”

Expect it to be quite a celebration if the billionaire is footing the bill and planning it.

It’s been a long road to the championship for Cuban, Playoff MVP Dirk Nowitzki and Mavs fans. Up 2-0 in the NBA Finals against the Heat in 2006, the team choked and went home without the hardware and was nothing but a strong sparring partner for other NBA teams several years after that.

In addition to pulling out his checkbook and paying for and planning the parade, in an interview with NBATV, the owner hinted he may attempt to break tradition and come up with an alternative to presenting the players and staff with gaudy, diamond-studded rings.

“I might not get rings. Rings are old school. It’s time to take it to the next level.'”

Cuban, shown in his Twitter photo above, may have been quiet during the playoffs but it appears he’s ready to make a few loud statements now that he’s returned home to Dallas, hardware in hand.

More NBA: Oops! Macy’s ad selling Heat Championship attire – Sports Climax

Gorilla Leaps off Mavs Back onto LeBron – Sports Climax

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

In a world of social media and a drive to be the first out the gate with information or sales regarding sports teams and championships, Macy’s department store put out the ad below.

Someone should have told their ad department that “The Man Upstairs knows when it’s LeBron’s time” to win an NBA Championship and this year wasn’t the time.

Have to wonder if these items may sell out in Cleveland though where the fans are having a celebration since James will spend the summer title-less.

BTW the Dallas Mavericks won the series in six games 4-2 with the clinching game on Miami’s South Beach court last night.

Here’s that Macy’s ad:

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

If the current leaders on the American League All-Star ballot stand and these players take the field on July 12th, then the line-up will make a total mockery out of the All-Star voting procedures that are currently in place.

Now imagine if you flew to see the game at Chase Field in Arizona and the American league team takes the field with the following starters below.

This is a follow-up to an earlier story but most fans outside the Bronx were hoping things would change over the course of the voting.

Who wants to see an entire infield made up of one team?

BTW, voters are “limited” to 25 votes each performed on the MLB website. Keep in mind nothing stops people of opening up several email accounts and submitting an even more ridiculous number of votes than the “limited” 25.

It’s becoming a joke to say the least and these players may not be the ones the fans truly want to see. Expect a change of some sort next season if these five Yankees infielders start the game.

BTW Cano (.277) was the only projected Yankees infield starter hitting over .260 at the time of this article.

Kind of takes the “All-Star” out of it.

2011 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR BALLOTING (as of June 7)

CATCHER
Russell Martin, Yankees: 1,317,557
Joe Mauer, Twins: 829,073
Alex Avila, Tigers: 722,385
Carlos Santana, Indians: 588,407
Yorvit Torrealba, Rangers: 515,274

FIRST BASE
Mark Teixeira, Yankees: 1,333,445
Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox: 1,268,706
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers: 962,242
Mitch Moreland, Rangers: 453,354
Paul Konerko, White Sox: 370,897

SECOND BASE
Robinson Cano, Yankees: 1,930,762
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox: 963,996
Ian Kinsler, Rangers: 782,285
Orlando Cabrera, Indians: 577,746
Ben Zobrist, Rays: 518,942

THIRD BASE
Alex Rodriguez, Yankees: 1,515,188
Adrian Beltre, Rangers: 1,224,381
Evan Longoria, Rays: 939,549
Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox: 852,260
Maicer Izturis, Angels: 283,131

SHORTSTOP
Derek Jeter, Yankees: 1,454,795
Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians: 1,162,728
Elvis Andrus, Rangers: 831,061
Yunel Escobar, Blue Jays: 482,614
Jhonny Peralta, Tigers: 344,198

DESIGNATED HITTER
David Ortiz, Red Sox: 1,160,590
Michael Young, Rangers: 1,033,514
Jorge Posada, Yankees: 626,495
Travis Hafner, Indians: 575,407
Johnny Damon, Rays: 544,421

OUTFIELD
Jose Bautista, Blue Jays: 2,142,867
Curtis Granderson, Yankees: 1,725,654
Josh Hamilton, Rangers: 1,229,040
Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners: 970,622
Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox: 871,897
Nelson Cruz, Rangers: 768,115
Carl Crawford, Red Sox: 747,644
Nick Swisher, Yankees: 712,924
Grady Sizemore, Indians: 616,328
Brett Gardner, Yankees: 597,890
Jeff Francoeur, Royals: 573,420
Shin-Soo Choo, Indians: 524,758
J.D. Drew, Red Sox: 501,187
Matt Joyce, Rays: 497,847
Sam Fuld, Rays: 433,784

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

After another one-run loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, this one by a 3-2 score, the Chicago Cubs record fell to 23-34 and things are turning ugly in the locker room.

After starter Carlos Zambrano (5-2, 3.98 ERA) was yanked after pitching seven innings, the controversial pitcher who has starred in several physical confrontations in the dugout, took exception to the play of one of the team’s relievers and blew another gasket.

After hurling seven innings and allowing one run on five hits, Z was set up to earn the win; until relief pitcher Carlos Marmol took the mound and gave up a hit to Ryan Theriot that sent the game into extra innings and converted Zambrano’s effort to a “no decision”.

Although it was Albert Pujols who hit the game-winning, walk-off homerun off another reliever, Rodrigo Lopez, a visibly upset Z grabbed the media’s attention in the locker room and pulled no punches laying the blame on Marmol.

“The problem wasn’t Pujols,” Z said post game. “The problem was Theriot’s at-bat. We should know that Ryan Theriot is not a good fastball hitter.”

That shot was thrown at Marmol for dishing a slider to Theriot who took advantage and ripped a double to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The fact the listless Cubs were only able to muster up two runs over the first nine innings should have also been mentioned as well as… well the list is too long to go into right at the moment.

“This is embarrassing. Embarrassing for the team and the owners. Embarrassing for the fans. Embarrassing, that’s the word for this team. We stink.”

Yes the Cubs do stink and it looks like the anger management classes Zambrano attended  last year have possibly worn off over time. I always wondered how long those type of counseling courses lasted.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Just days after the NHL and Gary Bettman have been accused of turning their backs on Atlanta hockey fans and allowed a relocation sale of the Thrashers team to Winnipeg buyers the controversial commissioner took another kick in the nuts, this time in court.

Earlier in the year in a notice of application filed at the Ontario Superior Court, Labatt Brewing Company asked a judge to stop the NHL’s record seven-year $375 million sponsorship agreement with their competitor, the Molson Coors company.

In that document the company pulled no punches saying, “The NHL … in bad faith and in breach of their contractual obligations, went behind Labatt’s back to an agreement with the Molson Coors Respondents for the rights Labatt has held for almost 13 years.”

Last week, that court led by Judge Frank Newbould nixed that deal ending what Bettman expected to be the the most lucrative sponsorship deal in NHL history.

Hats off to Judge Newbould who stood up to a league that appears to make rules as they go along with issues like their so-called relocation policies and disciplinary policies against its players.

At the ruling Judge Newbould made this statement:

“In my view the NHL should not be entitled to profit from its breach of its agreement with Labatt. Labatt should be entitled to its bargain and to its unique marketing position resulting from the agreement to be the Canadian sponsor of the NHL for the next three years.”

There’s the first kick in the nuts to the sac of who many believe is the worst commissioner in sports and lets add a bitch slap for good measure.

“In my view, there should be an injunction preventing the NHL and Molson from proceeding with their agreement so far as the Canadian rights are concerned,” the judge added.

And there’s your head meeting the glass with a vicious check in the corner.

Anheuser-Busch who owns Budweiser is the parent company of Labatt and currently sponsors 22 of the 24 U.S.-based NHL teams. This company has been loyal to the NHL and Mr. Bettman but like many fans have asked over the years, “What does Mr. Bettman know about loyalty?”

Labatt made a statement following the court’s decision saying they are looking forward to a very productive relationship with the NHL through the 2013-14 season adding that “Budweiser and hockey are a natural fit.” Yeah, just like back-stabbing and fan desertion.

After deserting the Atlanta fans and attempting to bail on a loyal advertiser, the NHL grabbed our attention and we had to look no further to find our Bitch Slap of the Week recipient.

Oh and BTW, Molson owns the Montreal Canadians NHL team; that only adds fuel to what’s behind the NHL’s breach of contract.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC