America: Day of Redemption

GELFAND’S WORLD OF SPORTS-Saturday, June 6 is a big number on the calendar. It is the 61st anniversary of D-Day. It's also the day that American Pharoah could win the Triple Crown by winning the Belmont Stakes (locally Channel 4 at 3:50 PM). But for some of us, it's also the day that represents possible redemption for the USA in international soccer. It's filled with meaning, as it is the chance for the American Women's soccer team to come back from their dramatic loss in the 2011 World Cup championship game. 

Japan won, and they have every right to be proud of their achievement. The USA started that tournament ranked first, and didn't really play up to that expectation. Still, the final game went to overtime and then a penalty goal shootout, which is about as close as soccer can be at the championship level. 

The US team is filled with big name stars, not the least of which is goal keeper Hope Solo. The last time she played for the World Cup, she was getting over a horrendous injury, but managed a serviceable performance for somebody generally considered to be among the top goal keepers in the world. If she and her husband can stay out of trouble, and if she can play up to her previous standard, that is a plus for the Red, White, and Blue. 

The USA has players who are household words in the soccer world, including Abby Wambach, Christie Rampone, and Carli Lloyd. One former UCLA player by the name of Sydney Leroux will be in her first World Cup, having participated in the most recent (and gold medal winning) Olympic team. 

Rampone is the last remaining member of the1999 championship team. That 1999 final was the one that many of us still remember. It was played in the Rose Bowl in stifling heat and had an exhausting overtime, leading to a dramatic 5-4 penalty kick finale. 

We should also remember that the USA has been a pioneer and perennial power in women's soccer, having won the first Women's World Cup back in 1991, and never having finished below 3rd place. 

You may wonder why I'm concentrating on this glorious part of the game, rather than dwelling on the depressing and still developing FIFA scandal. Well, I don't think that the goings on between soccer federation officials and corrupt corporations have much to do with our players. These are two very different things, and when the tournament starts on Saturday, we will have the right to forget about Sepp Blatter, and just root for our team. 

In its opening round, the USA begins by playing the 10th ranked team, Australia, followed by 5th ranked Sweden and finishing with 33rd ranked Nigeria. 

By the way, the USA is currently ranked 2nd in the world, right behind 1st ranked Germany. These rankings don't mean a lot once the tournament starts, but they give you a feel for the overall strength and depth of the various squads. 

The Fox network will be carrying some of the games. Actually, the corporation will show all of the games, but only 16 of them will be on broadcast television, and that list, strangely enough, does not include the USA's opening game (Monday, June 8, 4:30 PM) against Australia. For that one, you will have to go to the Fox1 sports channel. Our local Channel 11 will broadcast the next game (and probably the toughest of the opening round) against Sweden, on June 12 (5 PM). 

The USA team is tied with Germany for most all time championships, with two apiece. The USA team and its myriad fans are not going to be happy with any finish less than the top.

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Summer theater is coming on, and some of it is even indoors 

Down here in San Pedro, there is a local theater company that develops actors out of children as young as 7, and fills the bulk of its roles using local high school and college talent. The Troupe will be doing Shakespeare the weekend of June 12. Yes, it will be a Midsummer Night's Dream for all of us. 

Also, the Little Fish theater company is doing Noel Coward's Private Lives. This company will be doing a series of productions over the next few months, including Henry IV Part 1. 

The TE San Pedro Rep company is currently featuring both Vaclav Havel's Vanek Trilogy and  Steve Martin's play The Underpants. I'll be following up on these and other shows as the season progresses. 

I put all three of these companies together because they are the core of an artistic renaissance that is concentrated over not much more than half a block adjacent to 7th Street. Will San Pedro become its own theater district analogous to North Hollywood? 

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And there's another company that has been building its own history. The other night, I was walking through Point Fermin Park in San Pedro, the seaside location with a century old lighthouse, steep cliffs, and the bandshell that has been made famous by Shakespeare by the Sea.  

There was a small group of players, a director, and an assistant director, all working on The Tempest. Longtime company member David Graham was rehearsing the role of Prospero, certainly one of the more memorable characters in this or any play. 

Director Stephanie Coltrin and assistant director Cylan Brown would interrupt every now and then, and you could see the performance evolving and taking shape over the course of this mere half hour that I was watching. It will be interesting to see how this play and its companion piece As You Like It will play out, beginning June 18. Shakespeare by the Sea is outdoors and always free to attend. 

(Bob Gelfand writes on culture and politics for CityWatch. He can be reached at [email protected])  

-cw

 

 

 

CityWatch

Vol 13 Issue 46

Pub: June 5, 2015