Mr. Muddle's Befuddled Universe

WOLVES DOMINATE KNIGHTS 48-16 in Preseason Opener

Fans were wowed Saturday night as the San Jose Wolves dominated with a 48 – 16 win over the Ogden Knights in its inaugural preseason game. This game marks the return of indoor/arena football to the Bay Area and brings bay area fans hope that the Wolves domination continues into the season, something that they have sorely missed.

“Preseason games are unheard of at this level and we are happy to have been able to show bay area fans what they can expect this coming season, as an expansion franchise starting strong was important. We gave the fans a great show.” commented General Manager, Bennie King “We have built a team that can compete at the highest levels and are looking forward to a record season”

Ticketed attendance was significantly above expectations for a preseason game despite the fact that it was scheduled on the same day and time of a local NHL match. The Wolves next scheduled game is the Saturday March 20th Regular season opener against the Alaska Arctic Predators.

via www.sanjosewolves.com

It was a great game! The whole Muddle family was there, plus numerous friends and coworkers. We all had a wonderful time!!! :-)

If you live in vicinity of the Cow Palace, you're an old Sabercats fan, you love football, or you just fancy a good time, then you really should make an effort to come to the Wolves home games. You'll have a great time. 

San Jose Wolves kick off at Cow Palace Sat 6 MAR 2010

Arena football returns to San Jose!

Opening game is at Home in the Cow Palace on
Saturday MAR 6, 2010 (Kick-Off time @ 7:45pm PST)
San Jose Wolves vs Ogden, Utah Knights
American Indoor Football Association

Arena football returns to San Jose, CA, Yeah!

Wolves on the Hunt

SF Legacy at San Jose 23 FEB 2006

Hard Fought Game Expected!

The San Jose Spiders will host their local NWBL rivals, the San Francisco Legacy, Thursday night at 7pm (23 Feb. 2006). The game will be held at De Anza College.

The Legacy is much improved (see final roster below), and they hope to avenge their loss in the first meeting between the two teams. Whatever the outcome, the game should be exciting.

The teams in the NWBL this year are very evenly matched, and it has resulted in some great games. If you are in the Bay area I encourage you to come.

Jerry Rice came to the last Spiders game. He even threw tee shirts into the crowd. I stood right behind Jerry Rice in the Ticket line. He was really sweet to everyone who talked to him. No wonder everyone adores him. All those touchdowns may have had something to do with it too.

Who knows who might come to the next NWBL game. Maybe even Elvis will be in the building.

S.F. Legacy Roster
Num	Name	Pos	Height	College
3	Baskins, Megan	G	5-5	St Mary`s College
52	Jones, Myiesha	C	6-4	San Jose State Univ.
11	Russell , Toni	G	5-3	University of San Francisco
42	Jones , Dana	F	5-10	Univ. of Southern Miss
20	Hunter, Tyesia	G	5-10	Holy Names University
15	Hernandez , Alicia	G	5-9	Cal Poly Pomona
48	Bonner, Kandis	F	6-1	Miles College
21	Carter, Ameisha	F	6-2	Louisana Tech University
7	Glover, Erica	G	5-4	Akron University

Today's Playlist: 17 FEB 2006

Dave Clark Five:	``Doctor Rhythm'' (B-Side, 03/1967)
Liquid Blue:	``Rhythm of Love'' (Supernova, 2005)
Juniper:	``Don't Shut Me Out'' (Escape, 2005)

Lisa Potter of Juniper is pictured above.

Last weekend I saw two of the finest basketball games I could have ever hoped to see. Both games were played in the Bay Area by Bay Area NWBL teams. The expansion San Francisco Legacy (directions) and the San Jose Spiders (in its second year).

On Saturday, 11 Feb. 2006 I went up to San Francisco State University to see the San Francisco Legacy  play the San Diego Siege. This was one of the closest games I've ever seen. These two teams played to a tie so many times, I finally lost track of how many times it was, but it was a bunch. And we didn't know until the final seconds that the game was going into overtime.

The sad thing was the Siege had a deeper bench, and in the overtime the Legacy just didn't have any wind left, so the Siege ended up winning 91-84. But it was really heartening to see the Legacy show so much improvement after their first game. It shows that this San Francisco team is a made up of a gutsy bunch of gals.

On Sunday, 12 Feb. 2006 I saw another close game. This one was between the Siege and the San Jose Spiders (directions). This game wasn't decided until the last 0.1 second. Yes, you read that correctly. The game wasn't decided until the last one tenth of a second. Because of a totally fluky call by an official, the Siege would get one last shot at the basket with only one tenth of a second  remaining on the clock. Fortunately the ball went wide, and the the outcome of the game, wasn't reversed by an official.

But what does all this have to do with the playlist of the day?

Well, I was in the grocery store today, and the Dave Clark Five popped up on my MP3 player singing ``Doctor Rhythm'', and I thought to myself, man, that would be a good theme song for the NWBL players. Then I started thinking about the down sides. (1) It probably wasn't too cool having a women's basketball league theme song being sung by a male group. (2) The song could use a little updating. After all it was the b-side to a March 1967 top ten hit by the DC5.

I'm sure there are lots of potential song contenders, and I'd love to hear about them, but I came up with two possibilities right off: ``Don't Shut Me Out'' (Escape, 2005) by  Juniper, and ``Rhythm of Love'' (Supernova, 2005) by Liquid Blue.

I thought ``Don't Shut Me Out'' was appropriate for some of it's lyrics, and it's chorus.

``There’s something I need to say
There’s something you need to hear
...So,don't shut me out!

On the other hand, I thought ``Rhythm of Love'' was a nice update to ``Doctor Rhythm'' concept.

Oh well, the NWBL isn't having a contest to pick a theme song. But NWBL games are pretty informal, if you would like to sing your song at one of their games, I'd bet a Susan B that they'd give your suggestion a serious listen.

Well, Juniper and Liquid Blue are great dance groups, and if you've been reading this blog long, you know what we all have to do, when it's dance time: It's time to fill the dishwasher!

I'll see you after my Cascade is wet, or at the next NWBL game.

Liquid Blue is pictured above.

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Former Spiders: Erica Glover and Andrea Garner

It was a pleasure to see two former San Jose Spider players at the Spider home opener with the San Francisco Legacy last Saturday night. Pictured above on the left is Erica Glover (G, #7, 5'8", Akron). On the right is Andrea Garner (C, #40, 6'5", Penn. State).

Daryl Harrison, Owner SFLegacy, said, ``Hi,'' as I walked by. He told me he visits his befuddled universe, who would have guessed! He invited me to come up to Oakland this Friday to Children's Hospital with some of the Legacy players. He said I'd have a chance to meet some nice kids, hang out with some swell ladies, and take some photos. That was an offer I couldn't refuse.

Below (left) Coach Charles Davis gives the team notes before the team photo is taken (my unofficial team photo is on the right).

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NWBL holds opening games

In the 2006 NWBL opening game on Saturday Feb. 4, the San Jose Spiders demonstrated consistent play in all phases of the game, plus a deep bench. This proved too much for the San Francisco Legacy, an expansion team, new to the league this year.

The Spiders lead throughout the game, and pulled away during the second half. The final score was 89-61.

Spiders forward Brittney Jackson led the scoring with 22 points on 9 of 16 shooting, including 4 of 7 from three-point range. Spider guard Caity Matter finished with 17 points on 8 of 13 shooting. Spider forward Lindsey Yamasaki's defensive play appeared to frustrate San Francisco all night.

Dana Jones led the Legacy with 15 points. Andrea Garner of the Legacy was injured, but she isn't expected to miss any games.

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Don't forget the NWBL game Saturday!

If you live in the San Francisco Bay area, don't forget about the 2006 NWBL season opener between the San Jose Spiders and the Legacy from San Francisco, Saturday 4 January 2006 at 7pm. The game is being held at San Jose's home court at De Anza College (21250 Stevens Creek Road). You can get ticket info here.

I know people want professional women's basketball in the Bay Area, but we won't be able to keep it, if we don't go out to the games! And the best way to have a viable women's team in San Jose is to also have a viable team in San Francisco, so we can develop a local rivalry.

See you at the game!

Remember, if you don't come, we'll be talking about you.

A little bit of the Spider legacy moves to San Fran

At dinner tonight Mrs. Muddle and I were talking about the new rosters for the 2006 San Jose Spiders and the San Francisco Legacy. We commented on the fact that there's no one on the Spiders this year from last year's team. On the other hand the S.F. Legacy has four former Spider players: Amisha Carter, Erica Glover, Andrea Garner, and Tyesia Hunter.

Amisha used to play so well even though she was hurt. Erica was always an inspiration to watch. Andrea played well as a starter at the beginning of the season, then she got hurt just when her game was getting really great. She was a solid back up, and always a sentimental favorite, after that. And Tyesia was someone you could count on to come off the bench and keep the rally going.

Mrs. Muddle and I decided that maybe we would root for both the Spiders and the Legacy this year. I mean, once you're part of the Muddle family, you're always part of the Muddle family. And we couldn't possibly root against four of our very fine daughters.

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NWBL: Spiders & Legacy announce teams

I have been anxiously waiting for the NWBL teams to announce their complete player rosters. I have been particularly interested in the San Jose Spider and San Francisco Legacy rosters, because I am hoping for a heated local rivalry.

The rosters have now been announced, and there are some big, big surprises! I'll talk more about it on Wednesday, but for now you can check out the roster list below (or you can go to the NWBL website).

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NWBL March Madness in January

Saint Who?: No candy hearts where we're going!

I get the impression sometimes that some women start making their Valentine’s Day plans right after the New Year’s ruckus settles down.

Thank goodness Mrs. Muddle was never that way!

For the Muddle family, January is the month when we turned our attention to basketball; of course, occasionally Super Bowl Sunday does become a temporary distraction.

It wasn’t always that way, I suppose. It probably wouldn't have happened without the Magic of Earvin Johnson and Anne Donovan. But from 1979 on, Mrs. Muddle and I have been big college and women's basketball fans.

That's why we were so sad when the ABL died, and San Jose lost the Lasers.

It's also why Mrs. Muddle and I were so delighted last year, when San Jose got a new professional women's basketball team, the San Jose Spiders of the NWBL.

New Excitement!!

This year local women's basketball will be even more exciting. We can look forward to an exciting local rivalry.

San Francisco now has its own NWBL team, the San Francisco Legacy. They've got some players that look pretty good; for example, Tasheika Allen,  Toni Russell, and Alicia Hernandez.

The San Jose Spiders also have so good looking players this year, too, including Lindsay Yamasaki (Stanford) and Jessica Kellogg (SJSU).

To add to the excitement the first NWBL game this year is between the S.J. Spiders and the S.F. Legacy on Saturday, February 4, 2006. The opening game will be played at De Anza College. You can find ticket information here or here.

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