By Joe Snyder
It was 32 years ago in 1994 that the United States hosted its first World Cup Soccer championships and the sport was just about in its infancy in this nation, while it dominated a large majority of the rest of the world, at that time.
It was in the beginnings of being well known, but numerous Americans were still too used to American football, basketball and baseball. It was, though, becoming one of the fastest participation sports for youth, with the aid of the late Brazilian soccer legend Pele, who led Brazil to being a world power during the 1950’s, 1960’s and into the 1970’s, who came to help introduce the sport on a wilder scale that helped formed the American Youth Soccer Organization in Torrance in 1964. A few years later, it got into the high schools, with the help of the legendary South Torrance coach Roger Bryant who guided the Spartans to several CIF-Southern Section titles and even a few national rankings during the late 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s. West Torrance also had some of its dynasties during that period.
In that year, the United States made it to the round-of-16 before being nudged out by eventual champion Brazil 1-0 on July 4.
That World Cup helped more Americans know the sport, leading to the founding of Major League Soccer and, over the past few years, getting in with women with the Women’s Soccer League. The Los Angeles Galaxy, who play at the Dignity Health Center on the Cal State Dominguez Hills campus in Carson, were one of the first teams and they saw a lot of success, winning several championships that included the likes of Landon Donavan, who many feel that was the best American soccer player ever. For a while, there was Chivas U.S.A. which folded about 12 years ago and, later, replaced by Los Angeles Football Club.
In the women’s pro soccer, there is Angel City, which was in existence for a few seasons but making very good developments.
For the first time in World Cup Soccer history, which began in 1930, multiple nations are hosting it in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Even today, a large majority of soccer fans follow Mexico, but there was a very good turnout of those following the U.S.A. with a sellout crowd at SoFi (temporarily Los Angeles Stadium during the World Cup) and various other spots throughout the L.A. area. Both the United States and Mexico were impressive in their openers. Last Thursday in Mexico City, Mexico opened the Cup by shutting out South Africa 2-0. On Friday, the U.S.A. showed why they are capable of contending for its first ever World Cup championship by dominating Paraguay 4-1 at L.A. Stadium. The U.S.A. will have pool play against Australia on Friday at noon in Seattle and Turkey next Thursday at 7 p.m. at L.A. Stadium in Inglewood. From there, it’s a round of 32, round of 16, quarterfinals and finals that will be on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
To afford tickets, one has to be in the elite class with minimum regular games beginning at about $1,500. In the finals, tickets are expected to start at about $11,000 to approximately $2.3 million.
It will be more than five weeks of excitement.
New York fans got their turn at a major pro sports championship as the Knicks captured their first National Basketball Association since 1973 crown by rallying for a 94-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs last Saturday in San Antonio. There were wild celebrations in New York but also by Knicks fans in the L.A. area, as well.
Fifty-three years ago, the average cost of house in the L.A. area was around $50,000. Average apartment rent was around $125 per month and the average cost of a car was about $3,000. Richard Nixon (1913-94) was President of the United States but in his midst of the infamous Watergate scandal. He would resign in August 1974 and be replaced by his Vice President, Gerald Ford. Most of the things we use today, from that time, we never dreamed would be here in our life time, such as smart phones, which are now one of the top necessities of life, or even the worldwide Internet.
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Americans edge Nationals in softball classic
It was a see-saw battle but the American All-Star team rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to outlast the National squad 7-6 in the South Bay All-Star Softball Classic on June 8 at Torrance High.
The Nationals held a 6-5 lead entering the bottom of the seventh but Kendra Mara (Redondo) reached first base on a throwing error. Mara went on to score the tying run on a sacrifice fly hit by South Torrance’s Camilia Callai. With two out, Haniyyah doubled and scored the winning run on a base hit from Kati Barret (South Torrance).
The Americans also had a strong pitching performance from Redondo’s McKenzie Jamroy with two scoreless innings.
The Nationals held a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth but the Americans scored three runs without a hit, including an RBI (run batted in) ground out from Ava Marinag (West Torrance).
In the bottom of the sixth, the Americans took a 5-3 lead on a two-run double from Jamroy.
In the top of the seventh, the Nationals came back with a one-run lead behind a run-scoring sacrifice fly by West Torrance’s Raleigh Chung and another from Rrayo Tekes (Rolling Hills Estates Chadwick).
Wilmington Banning’s Aeritt Gonzalez pitched two innings with three strikeouts and added a triple with a run scored.
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North boys’ volleyball lands three on all-South Bay
North Torrance High’s boys’ volleyball team, which tied Palos Verdes for the Pioneer League championship this past season, had three players on the Daily Breeze all-South Bay team.
One player made it on second-team and two on third-team. Making second-team was senior libero Cole Aratani. Third-teamers included seniors, outside hitter Patrick Chifor and setter Christopher Nguyen.
The Saxons lost in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division III playoffs to host Crescenta Valley, 25-18, 25-15, 25-21. North went 17-12 overall and 7-1 in league.
Palos Verdes, the other league co-champion, made it to the Division III semifinals before losing in five sets to eventual champion Bellflower St. John Bosco.
No local player made first-team, which was dominated by powerful Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, which won its second consecutive CIF-Southern Section and CIF-State championships with wins over rival Los Angeles Loyola and Walnut Creek Northgate, in order. Also, for the second straight season, the Mustangs were ranked No. 1 in the United States by top prep sports publications. Another school with players on first team was Redondo, which shared the Bay League championship with Mira Costa and made the CIF-Southern Section Division I and Southern California Division I semifinals.
Local players on second-team were senior middle blocker Spencer Filoges (Torrance Bishop Montgomery), junior middle blocker Noah Sutton (South Torrance) and senior setter Andrew Tsao (Bishop Montgomery).
Mira Costa swept Player and Coach of the Year. Mateo Fuerbringer, probably the top-ranked junior in the nation, was Player of the Year. Coach of the Year was Greg Snyder. The Mustangs had three other players on first-team including senior middle blocker Wyatt Davis, junior libero Dane Del Riego and senior setter Jake Newman. Redondo had junior opposite hitter J.R. Boice and senior outside hitter Cash Essert make first-team. The other player on first-team was senior middle blocker Cash Khoey from Palos Verdes.
Making all-South Bay boys’ tennis on the singles were junior Zane Montiel (Bishop Montgomery), senior Seyun Kim (Torrance) and senior Dylan DeVera (Bishop Montgomery).
Local doubles included freshman Ryan Quach and junior Geo Kim (Torrance), juniors Arvin Pila and Malachi Wroten (Bishop Montgomery), and seniors Luke Kim and Tioma Senzski (South Torrance).
The Knights won the Del Rey League and the Tartars were Pioneer League champions.
Players of the Year were Rolling Hills Estates doubles senior team of Eddie Feuer and Colin Bringas. El Segundo head coach Bonnie Maye was Coach of the Year.
