The GWU men’s basketball team looks as if it might actually be good this year. That in itself might merit a post, because ye gods were the last few years rough. In addition to a new team and a revamped Smitty Cent, it appears the GW athletic department is trying to inject some spirit into the University. It’s much needed. As a member of the Colonial Brass pep band for my entire four years at GW, I was witness to the most fair-weathered crowd ever. Even worse, though, was the fact that the athletic department didn’t do anything to change that.
Site of the Battle for the Orange Line
This is why I have to applaud them for this piece of stunning glory. Sure it’s a marketing ploy to sell tickets. But it’s also an attempt at creating a rivalry in town. Assuming this is a home-and-away series, we could see the beginning of the best hoops rivalry in the DMV area. (Note: the DC-metro area has enough good teams to have something like Philly’s Big 5. If GTown and UMD would get off of their high horses, we could easily have one of the best and most competitive hotbeds of college hoops in the nation with GW, GMU, GT, UMD and AU)
So in an effort to help support a new rivalry and to have a little harmless fun with our friends down the orange line, we’ll be posting little bits in the days leading to the battle about why FoBo is vastly superior to Fairfax (and GW is better than GMU). Chime in in the comments and let’s make this a game to remember!
Plenty of sports happening this upcoming week/this weekend in the DC area.
Basketball:
The Kenner League started Thursday, July 30th, and continues until the championship game on Monday, August 17th. The schedule looks packed — three to four games a day until the finals on the 14th. All the games are played in Georgetown’s McDonough Arena, so if you want to get an early start on watching local college hoopers show up. FoBo’s players (GW) tend to play on Hoop Magic or Beyond Belief, but will not be participating in the Kenner League this year. There hasn’t been an official release on this yet, but a coach did confirm with me. Word on the street, however, is that the Colonials have been playing pick up games with local teams to stay in shape this summer.
If summer league hoops aren’t your thing, the GW Hatchet has an article up about notable opponents in the upcoming season’s schedule. The GW Women’s team will be starting a series with Rutgers, will play Tennessee at Rutgers, and are forgoing the Thanksgiving Classic to participate in the Junkanoo Jam, a tournament on Grand Bahama Island. What. The mens team will in fact be playing Oregon State, coached by First Lady Michelle Obama’s brother, so if you only trek out to Smitty once next season, that’d be the game to star watch.
Tennis:
If you can’t get enough grunting after the Kastles‘ championship victory, have no fear: the Legg Mason Tennis Classic arrives on Saturday, August 1 and continues for nine days at irritatingly early times (3 pm weekday games). For a slideshow of adorable children and horrific Andy Roddick faces, or to buy tickets, check out the website. Be sure to note: this is nowhere near Foggy Bottom and is in fact at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park.
Soccer:
Just a reminder, the finals for Street Soccer USA are happening all weekend at Kastles Stadium!
The U.S. World Cup of Street Soccer started today in Kastles Stadium (11th & H Streets, NW), including the DC team, the DC Knights. If you haven’t picked up this week’s Street Sense, there’s a really great double page spread on the event and how it helps people (I recommend the man in front of the L St. Trader Joe’s, or the FoBo Metro). Basically, teams of homeless men & women get to compete and travel (the Homeless World Cup is in Milan this year). Street Soccer is both helpful and fun for the participants and the volunteers, providing a sports-based community for a marginalized population. It’s a pretty sweet idea for social change, and you can watch games streaming live online here: Street Soccer USA. Games will be going on through Sunday, and the DC Knights play tonight at 5:40, schedule here.
How does this tie into FoBo? There’s supposed to be an event supporting Street Soccer USA in the new Spot Lounge (1214 18th St., NW) tonight. When I get more concrete info I’ll post it here, but the place looks pretty swank. 8pm – 10 pm, $20 suggested donation, more info here.
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