Euro 2012: Ukraine-France, Sweden-England square off on Friday

The second round of Euro 2012 group play concludes Friday with co-host Ukraine (three points) taking on France (one point) at noon and Sweden (zero points) playing England (one point) at 2:45 in Group D action. Both games are on ESPN2.

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Montreal Canadians

Will Bolton move turn promising Ream into pivotal player for USA?

The first few months of the Jurgen Klinsmann era certainly had its ups and downs, but that should be expected. When a new coach is brought in, he needs time to see what he has to work with, to implement his philosophies, and to see what works and what doesn?t, and as impatient as some are to see instant results, that process is still very much in its infancy for Klinsmann.

But after ending 2011 with an away win against 2010 World Cup foe Slovenia, there is positive momentum, and with 2014 World Cup qualifying and a slate of friendlies that?s already set to include matches against Brazil and Italy, two ties that are sure to attract a lot of football betting, we?re going to learn a lot this year about where things are headed and who?s in Klinsmann?s plans for now and for the future.

The likes of Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, and Tim Howard will remain automatic selections for the foreseeable future, and for good reason. But there are several places that aren?t as solidified, which means there is an opportunity for a number of players to step up and state their case.

There are some who haven?t yet had an opportunity to establish themselves but have the talent and potential to, and there are others who?ve been in and out of the national team picture but still have time on their side to get back in the fold and stay there.

Among that bunch is New York Red Bulls defender Tim Ream, who picked up six caps in 2011, the last of which came in the 1-0 defeat to Ecuador in October. The 24-year-old had his struggles in national team action, but he still has the potential to be a key player for the U.S. sooner rather than later. Ream is expected to sign for English Premier League side Bolton sometime before the end of the January transfer window, and such a move will prove massive for his national team prospects for the short and long-term future.

It?s a giant leap to go from MLS to the Premier League, but the move itself should be a significant boost for Ream?s confidence, and if he takes full advantage of this opportunity of a lifetime, he could soon cement his place as a key player for his country. And there?s a real chance he could make an immediate impact for Bolton, who currently sit in the relegation places. Bolton have the worst defensive record in the Premier League, having allowed 46 goals in 21 games, and they just sold their star defender, Gary Cahill, to Chelsea, so Owen Coyle could throw Ream right into the fire.

Ream may have only two MLS seasons under his belt, and he?s far from the finished product, so there may be concerns that it?s too early for him to move to a top European league. But at 24, the time is right, and he will become better, tougher, and more polished, and if he can hold his own in England, especially in a tense relegation scrap, it certainly bodes well for his prospects to hold his own with the national team as well.

West Virginia Chaos

Win Totals: Bettors Throwing Notre Dame for a Loss

How is the betting public viewing Brian Kelly's third season at Notre Dame? If early wagering on win totals is a judge, bettors think Kelly and his Fighting Irish will be in for a long 2012. The offshore sportsbook 5Dimes...

Central Conference

Norfolk Admirals fans seem to handle soul-crushing betrayal quite well

Being a minor league sports fan must be like living in "Dark City": The very fabric of your team is altered on a daily basis, with pieces moved up and down from the pro level; then, in the offseason, the entire roster changes like The Strangers resetting the cityscape.

I always imagined cheering for a minor league championship team to be a bittersweet experience. First, because the team's objectives for success, as well as your passions and loyalty, are always going to be secondary to the goals of the parent club. Second, because minor league sports aren't built for dynasties; they exist to graduate players to the bigs, or allow marginal talents a chance to shine before their next opportunity. The team holding the trophy at the end of one season isn't going to be the opening night roster in the next.

All of this is the agreed upon plight for the minor league fan.

Yet what happened in Norfolk this week is just ? wow.

If you haven't heard, the Norfolk Admirals, the Tampa Bay Lightning's affiliate, were one of the most dominant teams in the history of the American Hockey League: The Calder Cup champions, the Admirals went 43-3 in their last 46 games, a streak that included a pro hockey record 28 straight victories to end the regular season. In the Eastern Conference Final and the Calder Cup Final, the Admirals never trailed in sweeping both series.

And they drank. A lot.

On Wednesday, they held a parade in downtown Norfolk, Va., for their loyal fans. "None of us will ever forget this day or this year. You've opened up your community to us," said Coach Jon Cooper.

On Thursday, that community found out that Cooper, his coaches, most of hockey operations and the entire roster that dominated the AHL this season would no longer be Admirals in Fall 2012. And the fans, by and large, are actually OK with it.

In a move that had been rumored but buried by the team during its streak, the Lightning on Thursday shifted its minor league affiliation from Norfolk to Syracuse, NY, as the Syracuse Crunch switched from the Anaheim Ducks to the Bolts as a parent club.

"We are delighted to be partnering with a first class organization run by an outstanding management team in Steve Yzerman and Julien BriseBois," said Crunch Owner Howard Dolgon.

From the Virginian-Pilot:

Lightning assistant general manager Julien BriseBois, who also served as Admirals general manager, sought to quell speculation about the move while the team went through the playoffs and, afterward, to allow the club to enjoy the celebration. Still, while it was playing through May and June, he was working with Syracuse owner Howard Dolgon to solidify the agreement.

The move is being made for geographical reasons, BriseBois said. "We have no problem with the city, with the arena, with ownership of the Admirals," he said. "I think (the travel) makes a huge difference in the wear and tear on the players. A good night's sleep on a regular basis is important."

Geographically, it makes sense. While Norfolk is closer to Tampa Bay than Syracuse is, it's also farther away from the AHL's cities in the Northeast.

So in typical AHL fashion, the Crunch's former parent team ? the Anaheim Ducks ? are expected to be the Norfolk Admirals feeder. So long Jon Cooper; hello Trent Yawney, who coached the Admirals from 2000-05.

Yawney coached the Admirals when they were an affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, who ended that relationship in 2008 when they moved their AHL affiliation to the Rockford Ice Hogs ? again, for geographic reasons. "They have treated the Blackhawks organization with class and dignity and it was a pleasure having our team in Norfolk," said then-Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon of the Admirals and their fans.

So perhaps this is why Admirals fans are dealing with this loss so well ? all of it has happened before, and will happen again. Some Admirals fans, like Ken Peacock on Vulture's Row, are just happy there's still hockey in Norfolk:

So what about hockey in Norfolk? There is nothing to worry about right now. Admiral's owner Ken Young assures us that we will have hockey in Norfolk in October.�"One thing the fans have said that they are worried about is that they won't have AHL hockey here," Young said. "That won't happen. There will be an AHL team here." This quote was backed up with a press release from the Admirals that stated�the Admirals were aware of reports that the Tampa Bay Lightning have signed an affiliation agreement with the Syracuse Crunch. They also reassured us that there will still be AHL hockey at Scope next season.

As Peacock said: This was the "worst kept secret" about the Admirals.

But that doesn't change the fact that this isn't just some random team packing the U-Haul and moving north ? this is one of the greatest teams in the history of the AHL. The fumes from their 10 pickup truck parade in Norfolk hadn't dissipated by the time the Syracuse announcement was made. It won't be playoff hero Dustin Tokarski standing in the goal crease as the Calder Cup banner is raised next season; it'll be Crunch goalie Jeff Deslauriers, who played as much a part in winning that Cup as I did.

Wouldn't you be the slightest bit bitter? Not Admirals fans, for the most part. A few snippets from the Pilot comments section:

That comment from our friend "OmniVisual" has to be one of the most well-adjusted, optimistic comments from a fan we've ever read. It's borderline romanticism ? there will never be another 2011-12 Norfolk Admirals, so let them slip this mortal coil to the Valhalla of Syracuse and hit the reset button back in Virginia.

Or it's completely delusional. Such is life for the minor league hockey fan.

Hey, no matter where the roster is, they'll always have this:

Middlesbrough

MLS Talk Podcast : This Week in US Soccer, June 14, 2012

Virginia Legacy

Shane Doan has no idea why he was given a Skittles hockey stick (VIDEO)

"It is a real hockey stick, and it's covered in Skittles. That's the extent of it."

As you may have heard, Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes was recently given a hockey stick covered in Skittles, as the candy brand said it wanted to "reward him for a great season since he's such a big fan."

As you'll see in the following video, "big fan" is a debatable label, as Doan doesn't seem to have any idea why he was chosen to receive a quasi-edible twig:

From the Coyotes:

"The reason I got the stick I'm not totally sure on. I enjoy Skittles. They're, I mean, they taste very good. But I'm not an avid consumer of Skittles. My kids enjoy Skittles. That was probably bigger for me, as my kids like going to the movies and kids like eating Skittles at the movies. So I thought it'd be pretty cool for them, to show them a stick made of them. Which is unique, and something I never thought I'd be holding a stick made, top to bottom, full of Skittles."

So say we all. Doan did say he was pleased the stick was made of tropical flavors, which are the best flavors of Skittles. He also said it's a functioning piece of hockey gear, which means there's a chance you could take out some Chiclets with a Skittles stick.

Virginia Legacy

Rick Nash to Flyers held up by James van Riemsdyk? Denials from Philly, Columbus

James van Riemsdyk is mentioned in trade rumors about as often as Ilya Bryzgalov is referred to as "eccentric."

The latest JVR tease: That he would be part of a Philadelphia Flyers' package for Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets this summer ? if only he were healthy.

Howard Eskin of SportsRadio WIP and NBC 10 in Philadelphia ? a conversation starter, if not always an accurate source ? reported on Sunday night that van Riemsdyk is "delaying having surgery torn labrum" and that a "possible" trade for Nash can't happen until JVR is 100-percent healthy. But the real point of contention:

That van Riemsdyk is "delaying having surgery" to hold up the trade.

Here come the denials.

On Monday morning, the Philadelphia Flyers and a source from the Columbus Blue Jackets offered their denials on the matter to Sarah Baicker of CSN Philly and Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:

So ? smells a little bogus with that foot news, no?

JVR signed a 6-year deal worth $4.25 million annually last August, before having what could kindly be called a "challenging" 2011-12 season, with both a concussion and a broken foot muddying the second half of the campaign. Still, with 24 points in 43 games, including 11 goals, van Riemsdyk posted his best points per game average (0.56) in his 3-year NHL career.

His age (23), talent and long-term deal made his an attractive target at the deadline and would seemingly make him a cornerstone if the Flyers went after Nash. Joe Yerdon of NBC sees a package that would include Sergei Bobrovsky and picks.

We'd love to see Scott Howson arch and eyebrow, glare at Holmgren and say, "Couturier or no Nash, sir." You know, just for the drama of it all.

Cleveland City Stars FC