Not wanting to go Solo, Army captain Hopes for a date
July 19th, 2011 | Army Soccer | Posted by Chris Kelly
If you haven’t been following all the invites from the Marine Corps, it’s becoming a bit of a trend to ask out a celebrity on YouTube. Now the Army is getting into it.
Meet U.S. Army Capt. Nassar Jabour. He would like U.S. Women’s National Team goalie Hope Solo to join him in Vienna, Austria for his officer’s ball in January. The video itself is a bit out-dated because it was filmed before the U.S. lost to Japan on Sunday, but he wishes the team luck before the biggest game of their careers.
No word on whether Solo has accepted or even heard about his invitation. Since the Women’s World Cup began, there’s been an onslaught of reports about Solo’s dating status, but hopefully Capt. Jabour will hear something soon.
Naval Academy coach recalls leading U.S. women to victory in 1991 World Cup
July 15th, 2011 | Navy Soccer | Posted by Jon Anderson
When the women’s U.S. Soccer Team arrived for the World Cup playoffs, they were quickly dismissed. Everyone knew who the real contenders were. The Americans didn’t have a chance.
But every time Carin Gabarra walked out on the field, she didn’t fret the naysayers. She knew better.
“We always expected to win. As a group, we never had doubt in each other,” she says. And they were right.
She remembers it like was yesterday, but it was 20 years ago when the U.S. team won the very first World Cup championship against Norway before a crowd of 65,000 at Guangzhou’s Tianhe Stadium in 1991. The Chinese media declared her and two of two fellow forwards “The Three-Edge Sword.” Gabarra was named the team’s most valuable player and would go on help the team take the gold at the 1996 Olympics.
Both victories, she says, “pale in comparison to the bond I have still with my teammates and the U.S. soccer program.”
That program is back in the limelight as the U.S. women’s team faces Japan on Sunday, the last obstacle to claiming the World Cup title in Germany.
Described as soccer’s World Series and Super Bowl rolled into one, the World Cup is held every four years.
Since their first victory in 1991, the U.S. women won again in 1999 and are tied with Germany for most World Cup titles.
Gabarra has been the head coach of the women’s soccer team at the Naval Academy since 1993, helping transform the lady Midshipmen from a club team to a Division I squad that’s enjoyed 16 consecutive winning seasons. She’s also member of the U.S. Olympic and National Soccer Halls of Fame. But Gabarra says she remains close to the national team and its current roster of young world champion hopefuls.
“I know almost all of the U.S. players, and still feel a part of the team and program. There is an identity that never goes away,” she says. But not unlike 20 years ago, the team’s prospects for the title have been widely dismissed this year after an early loss to Mexico jeopardized their chances to even compete in the World Cup this year. Follow-on losses have only amplified those concerns. Even head coach Pia Sunhage has described their journey as a “bumpy road.”
Gabarra’s says her advice to the team as they head out to the field to face Japan would simple: Don’t fret the naysayers. You know better.
“Believe in the team, and the work each has put into the team and program,” she says. “We have always been the best, because of the ability to play for something greater than oneself. Every player who has ever been a part of the team believes in them now, and we all know they are the best in the world.”
Gabarra in action during one of the 1991 World Cup games. She earned the Golden Ball award, which is awarded to the tournament's top player.
After Action Classic: Independence Day 2004
July 3rd, 2010 | Army chess Iraq Soccer volleyball | Posted by Gina Cavallaro
Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division, "Big Red One," go against the Iraqi police at a July 4, 2004, volleyball game in Bayji, Iraq. (Photo by Gina Cavallaro)
A little blast from the past here — FOB Summerall in Bayji, Iraq on July 4, 2004. It was hot as hell. The wind was blowing, but it didn’t cool anyone down because it was hot wind filled with sand, which later stuck to all the food at the barbecue.
The devilish weather didn’t keep the scheduled sports activities from taking place, though. For a while, I watched the Iraqi police with their high-waisted athletic pants and knee socks play enthusiastically against soldiers from 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, the boys and girls from the Big Red One.
But the sun was baking my head so I stepped into the nearest shelter and saw two soldiers smoking cigarettes while quietly playing chess with a handmade set.
The pieces were made of all the little tools of the mechanics’ trade like castle nuts, hex bolts and spacers and the board was a piece of plywood edged in duct tape, marked off with a Sharpie and stained into little chess board squares (see pictures).
Soldiers with 1-7 Field Artillery play a quiet game of chess on Independence Day at FOB Summerall, Bayji, Iraq, 2004. (Photo by Gina Cavallaro)
Check out the chess pieces
The Iraqis easily beat the Americans in soccer, but I didn’t take any pictures of that rout.
That night I found myself at FOB Danger in Tikrit where a song co-written and being performed by an Iraqi poet and the 1st Infantry Division chaplain was interrupted by the cracking sounds of a firefight on the other side of the wall. Some people turned around to look, pretty much unconcerned, and the little concert kept going.
A fireworks display on a bluff over looking the Tigris River was beautiful and patriotic, at least for the American GIs, but, safety standards for such activities apparently being more lax in a war zone, didn’t keep a tree from catching fire and causing a giant ball of flames. I wondered if the Iraqis in surrounding towns thought it was just another battle.
On the way out to an idling Humvee that would take me back to my hooch up the road at Summerall, I overheard the division commander and one of his brigade commanders making a joke about “a burning bush on the Tigris.”
A fun-filled day of sports and fire.
And that’s a wrap.
World Cup fever hits RAF Mildenhall
June 28th, 2010 | Soccer | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Air Force graphic/Staff Sgt. Austin May
Yanks and Blokes alike have reason to be bummed this Monday morning after two very disappointing results for the U.S. and England over the weekend. The Americans blew a golden opportunity to advance to the quarterfinals for only the second time since 1930 and the English got trashed by their chief rival, the Germans.
The epicenter for the pain may be a U.S. base in England. Tech Sgt. Kevin Wallace, who is stationed at RAF Mildenhall, wrote this last week about what it’s like to live in England during the World Cup so we wanted to turn the floor to him. After Action always encourages reader submissions. Enjoy.
Don’t toot your own horn (or someone else’s)
June 25th, 2010 | Soccer | Posted by Sean Smyth
Lots of people are unhappy with the constant horn blowing going on at the World Cup.
The devices, called vuvuzelas, are a constant soundtrack during the soccer championships. Players seem to hate them, despite the penchant for fans to continually blow ‘em.
German police say a U.S. Army civilian crossed the line — threatening his horn-blowing neighbors with an ax during Thursday’s Cameroon-Netherlands match because he was so annoyed with the noise.
For the entire story, click here.
Colbert: Gen. Petraeus defeats Algeria
June 24th, 2010 | Soccer | Posted by Mike Hoffman
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| US Defeats Algeria | ||||
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Stephen Colbert links yesterday’s two major news events on his show. Come to think of it, I wonder if Gen. David Petreaus, a soccer fan, was able to catch yesterday’s thriller. I’m guessing his schedule might not have allowed him to slink out to a bar down the street from the White House.
Ooh-Rah USA!
June 24th, 2010 | Afghanistan Soccer | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Landon Donovan celebrates after his goal against Algeria lifts the U.S. to the Round of 16. (AP photo)
A Marine lance corporal fighting in Helmand province fired off a message to the U.S. National Team after Landon Donovan’s strike in the 91st minute of yesterday’s World Cup match. Lance Cpl. Nate Bickel didn’t know if it would reach the team, but it did and many players posted the link to it on their Twitter feeds. Here it is:
Name: Lcpl Nate Bickel
Subject: Group C Champions
Message: So we aren’t sure who to send this to but my unit here in Helmand Province, Afghanistan wanted you to know the Kilo Company 3d Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment couldn’t be more proud of the U.S. National Team and were excited every time we can hear about the games since we don’t have the luxury of TV here. Keep fighting!
Cheering on the blokes
June 24th, 2010 | Afghanistan Soccer | Posted by Mike Hoffman
The English side has had a rough go of it so far during this World Cup, with players sleeping with other players’ ex-wives, the former captain speaking out against the coach, and then, of course, the embarrassing draw to the Yanks. Despite it all, though, the English snuck out of Group C and advanced to the Round of 16 after beating Slovenia 1-0 yesterday. Of course, the U.S. shocked everyone and won the group. Bollocks!!!!!
Before the World Cup kicked off their fellow countrymen in uniform taped this inspirational message and sent it off to Rooney and Co.
Watching the World Cup on the job, Afghanistan style
June 23rd, 2010 | Afghanistan Army Soccer | Posted by Phil Creed
Landon Donovan scores the game-winner past Algeria goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Maj. Roy Nickerson and a group of soldiers at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan did their best to watch today’s epic U.S.-Algeria World Cup match on TV. But as you might expect, the realities of war zone life did not make it easy.
In the end, Nickerson, a member of the 101st Airborne, was able to witness Landon Donovan’s game-winning goal. Sort of. Read his description of the scene at Bagram and you’ll understand:
Tonight I was not able to partake in most of the festivities surrounding the US-Algeria World Cup Soccer match. “Festivities” at our location essentially equates to a near-beer and dozens of folks who hardly know anything about soccer sitting around a small television screen waiting for the US to score a goal. All-important meetings caused my absence for about 90% of the game.
My duties led me to the operations center floor. The place looks like a bad set depicting NASA Mission Control in a low-budget action flick. But fortunately, one of the larger television screens was airing the game in its final minutes. Now, the operations center hums with quiet conversations because should it get too loud, you get a speech from a guy whose job it is to give angry speeches about the importance of being quiet and not being loud … and he’s loud about it. I’ve heard this speech many times and it’s annoying, so I’m quiet along with the other folks that work there.
The game was tied at zero and as the time ticked on, more and more folks became engaged. Then suddenly, it was announced that some maintenance would have to occur so the all-important screen showing the game was turned off. Finally, after waiting an excruciatingly long time, the game turned back on and we watched as Landon Donavan scored the winning goal. Of course, we missed it live and were watching the replay, but at the time, we didn’t know. Remember — it’s still darned quiet. That is unless you count the one surprisingly effeminate yelp that leapt from my mouth in a group of many, many steely-eyed warriors. It was hard to play that one off. I most certainly lost some “cool points.” Actually, I probably went into cool debt, but it was worth it.
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
NATO forces in Afghanistan love them some World Cup
June 18th, 2010 | Soccer | Posted by Phil Creed
These Dutch soldiers are all dressed up to watch the Netherlands' World Cup match on June 14. They are stationed at a camp in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. Smoke 'em if you got 'em. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)
German soldiers are glued to the TV watching their team play Serbia at the World Cup on June 18 in Kunduz, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)