“storybook” tag's highlights of related matches, posts & more...
USA men's hockey's Olympic medal dreams end in shootout loss to Czech Republic
Looking back on the 2018 Winter Olympics, the legacy for this iteration of the U.S.men's hockey team will be remembered in two words: Missed opportunities.A 3-2 shootout loss to the Czech Republic in Tuesday's quarterfinals sealed the fate of the Americans, who failed to reach the medal round at the Olympics for the first time since 2008.And although U.S.medal aspirations were fuzzy without NHL players on the roster, a tournament marred by inconsistency qualifies as an abject disappointment, if only because Team USA was capable of delivering much more.Their final game in Pyeongchang was emblematic of that.Riding the high of a five-goal outburst 24 hours earlier, the U.S.set the tone against the Czechs when Ryan Donato continued his storybook tournament with the game's first goal 6:20 in — his Olympic-leading fifth goal.But Team USA squandered what should have been easy momentum, falling into penalty trouble and taking their foot off the gas.The Czech Republic, a perfect 3-0 in group play, is a mature and even-keeled group.Adept at playing together and on larger international ice, they baited the Americans into a trap and dominated possession during the second period and parts of the third.A Tomas Kundratek goal, the second by a Czechs defenseman, made it 2-1 in the second.And if not for Jim Slater's unlikely goal with the U.S.shorthanded for a third time in the period, the Czechs might've run away with the game.The U.S.also failed to capitalize on their five power plays, including a slashing penalty called with 1:20 left in regulation, giving them 40 seconds of 4-on-3 power play in overtime."We couldn't put it together.We looked scrambled in that key moment," captain Brian Gionta said on NBC.If not for starting goalie Ryan Zapolski, the U.S.surely would have lost in regulation.He kept them in it most of the game, stopping 26 of 28 shots, and was equally stellar in the shootout.The lone slip-up came in the second round, when Petr Koukal beat him, joining Czech shootout lore.The American shooters couldn't muster a single goal on Pavel Francouz, who saw minimal work in regulation with just 20 shots against.The U.S.had averaged 32 for the tournament.MORE: Wishful thinking: How the 2018 Olympics might've looked with NHL players The Czechs advance to face either Norway or the Olympic Athletes from Russia in the semifinals, guaranteeing they'll at least have a shot at bronze.That should have been the Americans' fate.The 23-man roster, composed by the late general manager Jim Johansson, was inherently flawed but still included 15 players with NHL experience that should have challenged other nations missing their best players, too.In the end, a premature elimination for the Americans is about what could be expected.They managed only two wins in Pyeongchang — both against Slovakia.It turned out the three collegiates on the team were Team USA's greatest asset.
Michael Jordan & the STOLEN BALL | The NBA STORYTELL
Michael Jordan and the Stolen Ball is an NBA championship Story full of twists and turns hero's and villains. The NBA is Full of great debates. But most involve icons vs icons, Storybook Franchises vs Legendary Teams. But the NBA is much deeper than that. Like this case here. A classic NBA Finals moment involving the great Michael Jordan, but his adversary here is not an all star or a future Hall of Famer, It's the Lowly Randy Brown. And what we explore here is who deserves this moment and this ball. FROM: THE BEST BASKETBALL CHANNEL ON THIS WHOLE DARN THING: Whose Ball Is it Anyway
![Seattle Sounders @ San Jose Earthquakes - 15/10/11 - [Week 31 - Highlights]](/img/aHR0cHM6Ly9pLnl0aW1nLmNvbS92aS94WkxFbXN4UWpRRS9tcWRlZmF1bHQuanBn/)
Seattle Sounders @ San Jose Earthquakes - 15/10/11 - [Week 31 - Highlights]
SEATTLE — On a night in desperate need of a storybook ending, the Seattle Sounders were more than happy to oblige. A massive crowd of 64,140 — the third largest standalone crowd in MLS history — at CenturyLink Field came to pay tribute to the Sounders' retiring goalkeeper Kasey Keller and were treated to a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes. The home side overcame a plucky San Jose side and a 24th-minute strike from Chris Wondolowski, getting goals Sammy Ochoa and Fredy Montero in the 82nd minute and 87th minute, respectively. With his 15th goal on the season, Wondolowski, the 2010 Golden Boot winner, drew level with D.C. United's Dwayne De Rosario for the lead in this year's scoring race. As if following a script, the comeback would not have been possible if not for the heroics of Keller. The 41-year-old goalkeeper made seven saves, none of which were bigger than a multi-save sequence in the 65th minute. Early on, though, it seemed as if it would be a bittersweet evening for the Sounders and their fans. The Quakes, eliminated from playoff contention several weeks ago, pushed the tempo and created several chances for themselves. Wondolowski gave the Earthquakes the lead in the 24th minute when he ran in alone, collecting Rafael Baca's perfect through pass and beating Keller with a well-placed shot in the lower left corner. After the goal, the Quakes continued to push for more, only to be thwarted by Keller. The Sounders keeper dove to his right to deny Wondolowski on a low skillful header in the 43rd minute. And Wondolowski looked to have a second on a freekick in the 61st minute, but the goal was called back for the freekick's being taken too quickly. Meanwhile, the Sounders still could not find the energy needed to get back in the game. They failed to create many full chances or even half chances until a few events saw the momentum shift. First, talismanic midfielder Mauro Rosales came on in the 64th minute to make his first appearance in nearly a month, and then Keller pulled off his series of acrobatic saves in the 65th. After Patrick Ianni's poor pass, Keller was forced to come well off his line in order to beat the Quakes' Khari Stephenson to the ball. Wondolowski then pounced on the loose ball and fired a shot from the left side which Keller staved off with a diving save. He then made a final block on Simon Dawkins' follow-up before the defense finally cleared the danger.