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Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015
SPORTS | KANSAN.COM
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Lawrence Kansas City share a love of sports
On a cool October night in 2014, the streets of Lawrence were surprisingly calm. On Massachusetts Street, bars were filled with Kansas City Royals fans willing their team on to a victory in an electric Game 7 of the World Series.
Derek Skillett
@derek_skleitt
Although the Royals ended up losing that game, there was an undeniable feeling of passion in Lawrence that night. Fans cheered when the Royals began to score runs. They groaned when San Francisco Giants ace pitcher Madison Bumgarner trotted onto the field.
The fan response to the 2014 World Series proved that Lawrence is not only a stronghold of college sports but also a town that shows a large amount of support towards Kansas City's professional sports teams.
Amanda Pittman, a recent graduate from Archie, Mo., is a die-hard Royals fan that has supported the team throughout college. While attending the University she was a regular at the bar The Wagon Wheel.
"The Wheel has a great game day atmosphere and a lot of my friends went there," Pittman said. "It's fun to watch games around a lot of people who cheer for the same team."
Lawrence businesses like Johnny's Tavern West and Buffalo Wild Wings are also popular places to watch Kansas City professional teams play.
Jason Hoffman, general manager of Johnny's Tavern West, said the restaurant has become a popular place to watch Royals games, especially given the amount of success that the Royals have achieved this past season.
"We get more and more customers as the season goes on. More and more people hear about the first-place standings and like to come out and cheer along," Hoffman said. "[When] we have the Royals game on, people tend to stick around a little longer. It becomes a more game-day-like atmosphere."
"It's definitely a lot busier here than Mass Street was," Herrera said. "From opening day, we were packed with people coming in and watching the games."
Maria Herrera, manager of Buffalo Wild Wings, echoed these sentiments. Buffalo Wild Wings recently moved from its location on Massachusetts Street to a new spot on Iowa Street.
Both restaurants should also experience increased business as Lawrence residents become excited for the beginning of the new season for the Kansas City Chiefs, who look to be much improved after a 9-7 2014 campaign.
And then there's Sporting KC, Kansas City's Major League Soccer team, which also has a place in the heart of students and residents alike.
Red Lyon Tavern and Dempsey's Burger Pub are some of the most popular places in Lawrence to watch soccer matches.
"If there's a word to describe it, it's 'wild,'" said Bryan Love II, the manager of Red Lyon. "Almost every table is taken; every seat at the bar is taken; we are three-deep with people standing up. It's definitely electric. It's infectious."
From football to futbol baseball to college basketball, the sports season never really ends in Lawrence. And no matter what sport you love, there's a place in Lawrence to enjoy it.
THE BREW
U.S. set to take on Mexico in playoff for 2017 Confederations Cup
DAVID ZALUBOWSKI/ASSOCIATED PRESS Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, right, pursues forward Clint Dempsey, center, of the Seattle Sounders, in the MLS All-Star game on July 29.
MATT HOFFMANN
@MattHoffmannUDK
The U.S. Men's National Team is set to take on rival Mexico in a game on Oct. 9 that goes well beyond that of the typical rivalry. The contest will be a one-game playoff to determine CONCACAF's representative in the 2017 Confederations Cup.
And for both teams, it's as simple as this: On Oct. 9 win, and you're in.
While the U.S. has seemed the superior team as of late, a poor Gold Cup performance coupled with Mexico's extremely good luck at the same venue, sets the table for a potentially decisive match-up that could determine the ultimate balance of power in the region heading into 2018 World Cup qualifying round.
After a poor run of play during the 2015 Gold Cup, the fall matchup could also determine the fate of USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who could face the chopping block should his team fall, despite claims by U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gunati. In 2013 former U.S. manager Bob Bradley was fired after a poor Gold Cup campaign, ominously
dismissed after a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Mexico, which happens to be Klinsmann's next, and possibly last, opponent.
Jurgen's players were knocked out of the Gold Cup after a shocking 2-1 defeat by Jamaica. The U.S. also fell in the third place match to Panama on penalty kicks.
Even the earlier victories were too close for comfort. In the group stage, the U.S. only narrowly defeated Honduras and Haiti, which set the tone for the rest of the stale campaign.
may be in a worse position. The Mexican Soccer Federation fired head coach Miguel Herrera despite winning the 2015 Gold Cup and are now searching for a replacement just two months before the playoff match.
However, while the U.S. team isn't exactly sitting on a solid foundation, Mexico
Herrera allegedly struck a journalist prior to his dismissal, but Mexico's poor performance in the Gold Cup, regardless of the result, most likely was a factor.
Mexico defeated both Costa Rica and Panama due to possibly questionable referee decisions in the closing moments of the tournament, prompting the respective federations to call for a
corruption investigation.
Mexico penalty-taker Andres Guardado even considered missing his spot kick against Panama intentionally but ended up sending his team to the final with the conversion.
Despite the dubious calls in prior games, Mexico did defeat Jamaica in convincing fashion 3-1 to take the title, setting up a clash of CONCACAF's perennial giants in October.
The United States are 21-14-35 all time against Mexico, but are 3-0-2 in the last five head-to-head matches and 4-3-3 in the last ten matches. The Confederations Cup playoff is set at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, a venue that should provide a fairly even supporter base between the two teams. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. local time, or 8:30 p.m. CT. Fox Sports will presumably carry over the TV rights from the Gold Cup and televise the match in English, while Univision will have coverage in Spanish.
The Confederations Cup is scheduled to run from June 17 to July 2, 2017. Held in Russia, the cup serves as a warm-up for the 2018 World Cup and will feature many top contenders a year out from soccer's grandest stage.
TRIVIA
Question: Which top team did the U.S. defeat in the 2009 Confederations Cup?
Answer: Spain
FACT
missoccer.com
The Confederations Cup playoff is the first of its kind, pitting the 2013 Gold Cup champion. The United States against the 2015 champion, Mexico, for a berth in the 2017 Confederations Cup.
QUOTE
"We don't make judgements based on one thing. Progress is not linear for anyone. There are bumps along the way. This is clearly a bump... but that's the norm for everyone because you don't go through and win all your games."
U. S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati on Jurgen Klinsmann, SI.com
Important dates to remember this fall
September 1
Cross Country Bob
Timmons Duel
Classic
September 4-5
KU volleyball hosts first home tournament
September 5
Kansas football begins season vs. South Dakota State Time: 11. a.m.
September 7-8
Women's golf kicks off season in the Marilynn Smith-Sunflower Invitational
September 12-14
October 2
KU tennis kicks off season in the Midland Invitational
October 2
KU swimming starts season with intrasquad meet
October 9
Men's golf kicks off season in Rod Myers Invitational
September 12-13
KU soccer begins conference play against Texas. Time: 7 p.m.
Late Night in the Phog. Time: TBA
November 17
November 28
November 13
NCAA Midwest Regional Championships (Cross Country)
KU basketball takes on Michigan State in the Champions Classic: Time: 9 p.m.
November 4
Kansas football plays
K-State at home.
Time: TBA
December 4-5
KU basketball's first exhibition vs. Pittsburg State. Time: TBA
KU swimming hosts Jayhawk Open
SPORTS STAFF
@kansansports
Reds' late error sends Royals to 3-1 win
MARK SCHMETZER Associated Press
CINCINNATI — Ben Zobrist tied the game with a homer in the ninth inning, Jarrod Dyson scored the tie-breaking run from first base on pitcher Ryan Mattheus' throwing error and the Kansas City Royals went on to a 3-1, 13-inning victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.
Dyson led off the 13th with a single and scored when Matteus (1-4) threw a sacrifice bunt by Kris Medlen (1-0) down the right field line.
COLIN E. BRALEY/ASSOCIATED PRESS Kansas City Royals' Ben Zobrist is congratulated in the dugout after scoring against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on Sunday.
Greg Holland finished for his 27th save.
Zobrist stunned the crowd of 28,719 by leading off the ninth against Aroldis Chapman with his 10th homer of the season. Chapman had converted 56 consecutive save opportunities at home since blowing one against Houston on Sept. 7, 2012.
Lorenzo Cain followed with a single and stole second and third while Eric Hosmer was striking out. Cain was ruled safe on the rundown that started with Salvador Perez's grounder to second baseman
Brandon Phillips, but Cain was ruled out after a replay review that lasted just under 3 1-2 minutes.
Reds starter Raisel Iglesias allowed one runner past second base while scattering three hits and a walk with three strikeouts over seven innings. He extended his streak of consecutive scoreless innings to 12, dating to the first inning of his last start on Aug. 12 in San Diego.
Eugenio Suarez homered off Kansas City right-hander Edison Volquez with one out in the first, giving Cincinnati a 1-0 lead with his eighth home run of the season.
voiquez, who played for the Reds, allowed four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: Manager Ned Yost scratched INF Omar Infante from Kansas City's original starting lineup after Infante developed back spasms. Zobrist was moved from left field to second base and left fielder Dyson got the start in Infante's slot. Infante is day-to-day, Yost said.
Reds: LHP Sean Marshall is
still throwing off a mound every third day as he continues his comeback from shoulder problems, but he's mixing in breaking balls, manager Bryan Price said. "He still has some work ahead of him, but that's a good sign." he said.
UP NEXT
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Royals: RHP Jeremy Guthrie (8-7, 5.63) is 4-1 with a 2.30 ERA in eight career interleague starts going into his scheduled appearance on Wednesday at Cincinnati.
Reds: RHP Keyvius Sampson (2-1, 3.18) will take a two-start winning streak into his first career interleague appearance on Wednesday.
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