The Gaffer

Michigan Bucks Head Coach
Dan Fitzgerald is entering his fourth season leading the team in 2009. Since taking over, he has led the Bucks to their most successful three-year span in the Premier Development League. Along with two Great Lakes Division titles (2007-2008), he has led the Bucks to back-to-back PDL Championship matches (2006-2007, winning in 2006) and the 2008 PDL Regular Season Championship. The easy going manager is also 2nd on the Bucks All-Time wins list with 41, just 12 victories behind Steve Burns. Fish was nice enough to have a chat with the 14 Point this weekend:

How have you been keeping busy since July?
My full time job has kept me very busy and I have spent a lot of quality time with my family.

What does a Buck’s coach do during the in the offseason?
I watch a lot of college soccer games, talk to college coaches about their players and work at recruiting players for the summer, something I've done a lot of this year with all the seniors we had on our team in 2008.

You've coached the team through their most successful three year span in Bucks league history, but the last two seasons have ended in disappointment. Which was harder to take?
I like to think about the positives rather than the disappointments. In 2007 we lost the PDL championship on the road in PKs to a very good Laredo team. In 2008 we had the best regular season record in the PDL. I am very proud of the players and their accomplishments both years.

While the Bucks have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup every year you've been at the helm, the team has been knocked out in the 1st round the last two years. Is it a goal of yours to get the Bucks back to cup success in addition to league success in '09?
We hope to have continued success in the U.S. Open Cup in 2009. It is first of all a competition that is very difficult to qualify for. With the team's past success in the Open Cup no USL or MLS pro team is going to look past us. Yes, success in the Open Cup and in the league are very important to me and to the Bucks organization.

Other than the 2006 Championship win, what is your most memorable game as Bucks coach?
There have been a lot of them. I think the 2007 game on Memorial Day vs. Indiana Invaders in South Bend stands out. We needed to tie or win to qualify for the Open Cup and Indiana put out an excellent team that night. We found ourselves down 2-0 at the start of the second half. We showed unbelievable heart and character and scored 3 straight goals before conceding one. It ended 3-3 and we qualified. This game was played at a blistering pace and had excitement, intensity and 6 fantastic goals.

You're currently 2nd on the Bucks Coach's All Time Wins list, 12 behind Steve Burns. Do you keep that in the back of your mind going into the 2009 season?
I wasn’t aware of this and to be honest these type of records don’t mean anything to me. My 7 years as both an assistant and head coach with the Michigan Bucks have been a great experience. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach so much quality and be part of the best organization in the PDL.

For the first time maybe ever, all teams in the Bucks division will play a balanced schedule (playing everyone twice). Your thoughts?
The schedule could not be more fair than it is this year. I am excited for the season and can’t wait for it to start.

Thanks Fish!

Say Goodbye, and Good Luck!

For most sports fans in the Metro-Detroit area, including myself, we hear and see constantly all of the different draft projections for our Detroit Lions. Who will they take? Will it be Matt Stafford from Georgia, or Andre Smith from Alabama? Or will they do what the Lions do best and draft "some guy" who will never pan out.

In the meantime, another draft is going on. A draft that falls much closer to the hearts of the soccer enthusiasts in the area. That would be the MLS Super Draft. Each year the Michigan Bucks progress players through the ranks and they move on to the MLS level. It is always difficult for myself and the rest of the staff to try and find players that can move in and take over. However players from all over the country realize the type of talent that plays here, and understand that this is the best place to play if they want that shot at MLS. I look forward to watching the Super Draft today(coverage on ESPN 2) to see how many of the Michigan Bucks players will get that chance to showcase their talents on MLS teams next season. It is always tough to say goodbye, but it is nice to say good luck as they depart on to their next venture.

On a more random note, I am a huge fantasy sports guy. I enjoy playing fantasy football the most, but I recently discovered this game on the front page of ESPN.com. It is called Streak for Cash. Basically the object is to pick 27 winners in a row, and you win a million bucks. Well it sounded simple, until I kept losing after 5 wins. They have all sorts of games that you can pick winners for, including soccer matches. So for some of my soccer picks I have enlisted the help of Bucks Soccer guru, Jeff Crandall. Now, I haven't kept track of the picks Jeff has given me, but more times then not, my streak goes back to zero after his selection. The game is easy to play, and I encourage all sports fans to give it a try. However if you win the million bucks, remember that I should get some sort of finders fee.

Another thing that I can't get over right now is the weather outside. I can't remember the last time it was this cold outside. We finally hit zero degrees today. In fact, in my college town of Big Rapids this morning, they reported a temperature of -22 degrees. I can't encourage everyone enough to stay inside if you don't have to go outside. And if you are going outside, just consider giving yourself some extra time on the roads. It took me over an hour to get to work this morning because of all of the black ice. I found this video on YouTube, I could swear that someone taped my drive in this morning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pV7uKn6S4Y

Have a nice weekend everyone, and stay warm.
Kyle Karns
President of Operations

Brad's Turn

Well folks it looks like we're in for a few days of blistering cold. Do you know why I love the cold? I love it because only then does my '96 Ford Exploder(not a typo) decide that it no longer wants to work anymore. This is the second year in a row now that my car, which seems to sense when the coldest few days of the year are going to be...makes the executive decision that it will no longer be working. The best part is I do not know jack, didley, or squat about making automotive repairs so I will be left hoping for the best.

You know once I found out yesterday I kind of felt like Clark W. Griswold from Christmas Vacation. Do you remember one of the last scenes where Clark receives his Christmas bonus and then throws around a few colorful words out of frustration because things were not going his way. Yay, that was pretty much me yesterday. Although I have to admit, I think I was more articualte and creative than Clark was. And PS - If any of you are one of those who have never seen Christmas Vacation, do yourself a favor and go buy it. Best money you ever spent.

Switching gears now to the wide world of soccer. The office has been quiet lately. Not a creature has been stirring yet this year. Everyone has been working hard and following through with thier commitment to team excellence. We are however very proud to acknowledge three Bucks as who were named First Team Academic All Americans.

Congratulations to Mike Holody, Doug DeMartin and Piotr Nowak!

These men have excelled on the field and in the classroom. . We are very proud to have them as part of our team and while moving forward hope they continue thier success in whatever they pursue.

Quick reminder: boys and girls soccer camps are coming up quickly. So if you've not yet signed up and are still interested please let us know. The dates are Februrary 16-20 and April 6-10 from 9 AM- 3 PM at Ultimate Soccer.

For more information go to Bucks Soccer Camps.

That's all for now. I hope everyone is enjoying the New Year and having fun.

B Jak's Picks of the Week
PHI 34 AZ 27
PIT 24 BAL 13
PHI AZ Coin Flip: Take Heads
PISTONS 95 PACERS 91

Contemplating US Soccer in 2009

I must admit, I'm a die-hard US Men's National Team fan. The type of fan that used to sit in front of his computer watching a match tracker update me every 5 minutes during on a game that wasn't televised. Thankfully pretty much every USMNT match now is televised by ESPN or FSC or some Spanish channel, even the friendlies like the one coming up on January 24 against Sweden in LA. Neither team is really bringing a strong roster as the match isn't on a FIFA approved international date. With that said its the first match of the year and the only warm up before "La Guerra Fria" or "The Cold War", the US-Mexico World Cup Qualifying match to be played February 11 at Columbus Crew Stadium. I'll be attending that match, but ahead of that, I'm excited to see some of the new and young faces called into the National Team get a chance to impress Bob Bradley before he picks the roster for Mexico.

Notably on the roster for the Sweden game are 5 players from the Bucks MLS affiliate team, the Columbus Crew, 4 of whom were up here in May 2007 to play us in an exhibition (the Crew won 3-0). They are Eddie Gaven (who scored the first goal that night), Chad Marshall, Robbie Rogers and Will Hesmer. Crew midfielder Brian Carroll was also called up. Gaven, Marshall and Carroll all have a few appearances for the national team but for Robbie Rogers and Will Hesmer will look to gain their first cap against the Henrik Larsson led Sweden team.

A few weeks later the US will take on Mexico with all their top guns back. This is a very special match between the two best nations in CONCACAF and bitter rivals to boot. The US currently has a home undefeated streak against Mexico which dates back almost 10 years, with the last home loss coming on March 13, 1999 in San Diego, a 2-1 result. Since 1999, the US is 9-4-2 in all matches vs. Mexico. At home they are 8-1-2. While recent history bodes well, no game, even if it's a friendly makes me quite as nervous as when we play Mexico. I hate losing to Mexico...

So with that, I'm listing my Top 5 US-Mexico match memories:

#5- September 3, 2005; Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, OH; US 2, Mexico 0: Two 2nd half goals in the span of 5 minutes from Steve Ralston and DaMarcus Beasley were enough to clinch US qualification to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. This match is also memorable for Oguchi Onyewu's bossing of Jared Borgetti all over the park that night, leading to this very special stare down:#4 November 2, 1997; Azteca Stadium; Mexico City, Mexico; Mexico 0, US 0: Although not the most exhilarating of games this match is important for a few reasons. First, the US earned their first ever point in Azteca Stadium during World Cup Qualifying. Secondly, they did it a man down after Jeff Agoos was sent off in the 32nd minute for an elbow to the head of Pavel Pardo. That only adds to the allure of this match. The US would go on to qualify for the 1998 World Cup a week later with a 3-0 win over Canada in Vancouver.

#3 February 28, 2001; Crew Stadium; Columbus, OH; US 2, Mexico 0: La Guerra Fria original...When the US drew Mexico at home in February, the Federation knew they had to take advantage of the opportunity to make our neighbors to the south as uncomfortable as possible. Early on things didn't look so good as US captain Claudio Reyna and star striker Brian McBride both went off injured in the 1st half. The two players that subbed in for them Clint Mathis and Josh Wolff went on to connect for the first US goal in the 47th minute, with Wolff setting Earnie Stewart up for the second in the 87th minute.

#2 June 24, 2007; Soldier Field; Chicago, IL; US 2, Mexico 1; Trailing 1-0 at halftime in front of a pro-Mexican crowd in the Gold Cup Championship, the US rebounded first with a Landon Donovan penalty kick in the 62nd minute and then with the 2007 Goal of the Year, a Benny Feilhaber one-time volley from the top of the 18 into the opposite side netting. This was also special because it was the 2nd time the US had beaten the Hugo Sanchez led Mexican team in 2007.

#1 June 17, 2002; Jeonju World Cup Stadium; Jeonju, South Korea; US 2, Mexico 0; The only match that really matters in the grand scheme of things because it was played at the World Cup. The US took the lead early with Brian McBride linking up with Claudio Reyna and Josh Wolff after a quick restart down the right flank. Absorbing a lot of pressure and with great goalkeeping from Brad Friedel the US was able to keep Mexico off the scoreboard. In the 65th minute on a counterattack winger Eddie Lewis swung a cross to Landon Donovan who put the match away and put the US in the final 8 of the World Cup.

Of course this list could be different depending on the person, however I'll just say I'm not wrong.

Have a good one,

-Jeff

Happy New Year!

What to Expect
I know it has been a little while since I have posted on here so please let me start by wishing all of you a Happy New Year and I hope you had a safe holiday season.

As we say goodbye to 2008, we could possibly be saying goodbye to the most amazing year in sports history. When you look back on some of the events that took place, starting with " The Catch" by David Tyree in the Super Bowl. Then we all remember (whether your a golf fan or not) Tiger Woods winning yet another Major, on a knee that had tendons that looked like shredded cheese. And of course, probably the most prolific event of 2008 were the Summer Olympics. One man, Michael Phelps changed the lives of many people, as they stayed awake into the wee-hours of the night or early morning to watch him break world records and make history. The viewing ratings sky rocketed compared to previous Olympics and gained a new generation of fans.

Of course we even had some highlights here locally. Once again Hockeytown erupted as Red Wing fans got to celebrate another Stanley Cup victory. Detroit also hosted the Women's National Soccer team against China down at Ford Field. The first national level event in Michigan since the World Cup in 1994.

However on the flip side, with the good comes the bad as well.
Thankfully as we say goodbye to 2008 we can say farewell to our 0-16 Detroit Lions. No more Matt Millen, or Rod Marinelli.

We can say adios to the last place Detroit Tigers. After spending oodles of cash on the big names in the offseason, only to fall below the Kansas City Royals and to the foes across the lake in Cleveland.

All in all, 2008 was a fun year in sports. Depending on who some of your favorite teams are, it may have been a better year for some. Personally I am looking forward to the new year, and what it might bring for the Michigan Bucks.

We are looking forward to annoucning our schedule soon, and we are working on filling out our roster as well. We have a lot of new things that we are going to introduce this year, and I can't wait to give you more details. So once again, goodbye 2008, and hello 2009.

Happy New Year everyone.

Kyle Karns
President of Operations