WORLD CUP NEWS

Hockey OOOUUT…Football IN….

Flag Football to become Canada’s New National Sports.

Following weeks of meetings featuring the likes of Bob and Doug Mackenzie, Geddy Lee, and the entire Canadian Government, Flag Football has become the new national Sport of Canada. “You know, Hockey is so Passé,” said Bob Mackenzie. “I can’t think of a better sport to drink beer to at this point than Flag Football.

“Besides, you know, there is like no goalie, you know and that is more scoring to toast to with a beer.

The reason for this change in National attitude, we are sure has something to do with the success of the Canadian teams at this past weekend World Cup Qualifier held in Montreal.

On the men’s side the Maroons Captured the goal medal and the qualifying points routing fellow countrymen Bar Du Gouffre 33-12.

But perhaps more interesting and certainly more monumental was Canada’s Ontario All-Stars knocking off 6-time defending World Champion Mexico in the women’s semifinal, 24-17. The All-Stars lost to cross-town rivals Fleur De Lys in the finals, 13-6. But a let down was perhaps inevitable after the shocker in the semis. In fact that was only Team Mexico’s 2^nd loss in the past 3-years.

“That was a huge win for us”, said Canadian captain Shelly Molson. “That team just never loses. It took a monster team effort from all of us to get that win. This win is more than just one game it is titanic step forward for women’s flag football in Canada.

What would an upset be without some controversy?  The 55 x 110 field in Canada is much bigger than the “standard” playing field.

“So we run a bit more”, said Molson. “It just means we have to be in better shape and run a lot harder and faster. Playing on a field that big really shows who is in shape and can go the distance.”

Going the distance is just what both all the Canadian teams have in mind, as they set their sights on the 2007 Flag Football World Cup in Panama City Florida.

“That is our goal every waking moment”, said Maroons team Captain John Le Fever. “We made it last year and the whole event was awesome. The games are fantastic; the weather is great, even better when you consider that the Canadian teams that don’t make it will be freezing their butts off back in Montreal. Simply put it is why we play the game.

“This year our goal is not only to make the party, but to be holding the trophy when it is done.”

One team that looks like it will have a hard time even getting to see the trophy is Team USA, who went a disappointing 1-2 at the Montreal Qualifier.

“We are going though a tough phase”, said Team USA captain Jim Zimolka. “We have lost a lot of players over the last couple of years and have yet to really find any new guys to step up and take their place.”

Team USA is usually a favorite not only to play in Panama City, but to win it all. This season all that has changed. “We are going to be underdogs this year that’s for sure”, said Zimolka. “We look putrid up there, and if we don’t start playing better soon, it could get embarrassing for all of us.”

The soon Zimolka is referring to is the next World Cup Qualifier in Mexico where they are slated to play the defending World Champs.

“Team Mexico is a great, great team. To play them on their home field, with their crowd roaring away….well….it needs to be a wake up call for all of us.”

For the Canadians, they have already earned their wakeup call on Panama City Beach for Mimosas in early 2007. Who will be the next to qualify?

Who knows, that’s what makes these qualifiers so interesting. Simply because everybody knows that the reward is paradise.
Results/Photos
 

Pre-Show Party           

Costa Rica is a long way from Panama City, Florida. It is 2,354 miles away to be exact. But for one brief weekend, the 2 beach front communities shared a common bond. Let’s call it the Pre-show party, as that was the case when the Flag Football World Cup Qualifier was held in San Jose, Costa Rica, June 24 and 25.

Under the new World Cup guidelines all teams may register and play in the annual riot that is World Cup week in Panama City, Florida. This season that Spring Break/MTV Party/Flag Football World Cup Championship will take place March 22-26, 2007. These qualifiers are now played for points which will help to determine the seeds at the event.

The big winner on the field that weekend was Team Combo, a mixed team of Americans and Costa Ricans, who won the 4-man title by beating  Sabrissa, an all Costa Rican Squad by a final of 18-14.

 The field this past weekend boasted only 4 teams, which is only fitting for a country of a little more than four million people. The event was held round robin style and Team Combo rolled through the field with a 4-0 record to take the qualifying points.

However the big winner that weekend was ALL INVOLVED as they got a taste of the party that Magical Mikes tour service throws at World Cup Events. Mike threw one of his infamous beach parties “Fiesta Style”. To judge from the smiles and amount of aspirin consumed on the flight back, it was a great time had by all.

But alas, I would be remiss to mention that all teams were treated to the luxury that is Magical Mikes All-Female staff who accompanies guests to virtually every event. It seems the highlight was the White Water rafting trip that rumor has it, turned into a wet T-Shirt contest by default. Yeah, this was a tough weekend for the flag football crowd. I bet it was a real tough one to take.

Don’t forget this is just one of the many opening acts, before the big headliner blowout party coming to Panama City this coming March. Don’t forget to pack the aspirin!!!!!!
Results/Photos
 

May26th,2006
Fitchburg,MA-World Cup Qualifier-Here we Go!!

Alliance Holds Strong

Captures Title at New England Qualifier

Tunnels falling into the ocean. Tunnels falling onto cars. Traffic, traffic and more traffic. A 15-year construction project that brought a city to a standstill and is now closed again. These are the things most people think of these days when you talk about the Boston area. Fortunately I am not going to talk about those things in this article. Rather, we are going to talk about an Alliance. An alliance so strong it survived last second charge after last second charge to win it all. The flag football team, Alliance survived a late charge by the Silverbacks to win a 20-19 thriller at the World Cup Qualifier held over Memorial Day Weekend in Fitchburg, MA.

To be sure this was a game that will have the flag football circuit buzzing for months to come. It was also huge in the sense that it kicked off the new era of qualifying for the Flag Football World Cup, to be held in Panama City Florida in March of 2007. Historically, you needed to win one of the qualifying events to make it to the Mecca that is Panama City. This year, the World Cup is open to all teams, and the qualifiers are played for points that will determine seeding for the event.

“It was time for a change, said IFF President, Jim Zimolka. “We wanted as many teams as possible to play down in Panama City, but we still wanted the qualifiers to mean something. As such all the qualifiers will help to determine seeding for the World Cup.

It is a win-win situation. More teams can come to the party, but to be well-seeded, you need to play well at the qualifiers.”

To be certain, that is exactly what the Alliance did. Trailing with 20-seconds left to play, the alliance hit for a long touchdown strike. Rather than electing to kick the extra point to tie the game the Silverbacks went for two.

On the sidelines the Silverback coaches were chanting, “Balls win games. Forget the OT, we win now. Balls win games!”

Well in this case, balls might have cost them the game as the 2-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful and the Alliance held on to win 20-19.

It was later reported on a local news station that this was the most exciting flag football game EVER held in New England.

“It was unbelievable”, said local fan Mike Sherry. “That game was just sick. Every play meant something. I have been watching flag football for a long time, and I have never seen a game like that. To go for the 2 right there like that, I was speechless.”

In other action over the weekend, a smaller group of the Alliance won the 4-man tournament routing the Cinderella story Light Sports Pub by a final score of 26-13.

The Light Sports Pub stirred up some excitement of their own over the weekend. In just their 1^st ever event, the put out a strong showing, rolling all the way to the semi-finals and upsetting local league champions, Up Rage 13-6.  They are certainly a team to be reckoned with in events to come.

In youth play, the Soldiers of Hartford, Connecticut won captured the title, beating the Londonderry All-Stars 13-7.

Results/Photos
 

April 5th,2006
Londonderry, NH- IFFF removes Qualification Status to participate in the World Cup.
Due to the large amount of teams that want to participate in the World Cup but don't live near a regional Qualifier, the IFFF will allow teams to participate at the 8th Annual World Cup  Extravaganza with out qualifying. It will still be strongly recommended that all teams participate in a World Cup Regional Tournament, so teams can familiarize themselves with rules, style of play and playoff formula. Teams participating in World Cup Qualifiers will receive prizes  and points. Teams with the highest points will choose first on the bracket seeding at the World Cup Event.

Teams will still be required to reserve all reservations through the official Travel Agency Magical Mike Tours, and will be required to stay at the Host Resort Edgewater Beach Resort.