Mexico is emerging as one of the best

The excitement and success continues for the Mexican national soccer team after the team won its sixth Gold Cup title last weekend in Pasadena against the United States.

Today the team learned that FIFA has ranked Mexico No. 9 in the world.

The news is a significant accomplishment for Mexico because the achievement proves the dominance and incredible talent the Mexican national soccer team has developed.

Led by its raising superstar Javier "El Chicharito" Hernandez, who is becoming a world-class soccer player, Mexico has positioned themselves as one of the best soccer clubs in the world.

What that means is that Mexico is now ranked amongst the best teams who have won World Cups such as Spain, Brazil, Italy and Argentina.

The achievement of being one of the top 10 teams in the world shows how the Mexicans have made a jump from being a decent team to a hungry, young team full of amazing talent and stars playing in Europe like Hernandez with Manchester United and Giovanni Dos Santos, who is playing in Spain.

As long as the Mexicans continue to progress and develop its young stars than there is no doubt the chances for them to win its first World Cup in 2014 in Brazil is more than possible.

The Mexican national soccer team already has its world-class player, a outstanding cast of players surrounding Hernandez and a energetic coach who enjoys giving each guy a chance to use their talents to help the team win.

What Mexico needs, to be a dominate team and have a chance to win a World Cup in 2014, is another world-class player.

The closes player who comes to that is Dos Santos. The goal he made in the Gold Cup final against the Untied States was one of the ages and his skills resembled ones like the great, Lionel Messi, who is considered to be the greatest soccer player of today.

Dos Santos has came a long way since his first run with Mexico in the 2010 World Cup and he is only getting better.

If Mexico can have two deadly world-class strikers up front than who knows where this team can go and be come in 2014.

The team is excellent on defense and the defense is awesome at creating a chance for the midfielders to dribble the ball up front and create a lot of opportunities for the strikers.

Andres Guardado, Efrain Juarez, Pablo Barrera, and Aldo de Nigris are the other supporting cast members who are players becoming their own on the team and who are only going to get better and grow confidence after their performance in this year's Gold Cup.

Mexico has proven its dominates with the endless amount of ball possession it has in all of its games and the endless pouring of goals it gives its opponents, who later beg for mercy.

The recent achievement the Mexicans received from FIFA is only the beginning and once the 2014 World Cup comes--the world will witness the maturity and amazing talents the Mexicans have developed.

Youths play to become world star players

The U-17 World Cup is halfway to crowning a champion.

The second leg of the tournament is being played and potential champions are claiming their chips and are rolling for the cup.

Japan, Brazil, Germany, and the host, Mexico, are several countries with the best chances of claiming the title this summer.

Japan has been impressive as it wont its group and defeated Argentina, Jamaica and tied France. In its first match of the second round, Japan destroyed New Zealand, 6-0, as it now faces Brazil in the quarter-finals.

Brazil has always been a country with world-class soccer players and the young players representing its U-17 team is living up to the statement. Brazil defeated Denmark, Australia and Ecuador in the first match of the second round.

Germany, which is hosting the Women's World Cup, has been making some noise in the U-17 World Cup as the team went undefeated in its group and faces the United State June 30 in the first match of the second round.

Mexico also went undefeated in its group and faces Panama June 30. Mexico has been riding lots of momentum as the team is coming off a terrific match against Holland as the Mexicans won the match, 3-2, in the final seconds.

The four teams are on a collision course as the semi-finals roll around next week and the U-17 World Cup is heating up as it continues to go under the radar in the United States.

The future of soccer is playing each other in Mexico as young hopefuls of becoming world class players try to make a name for themselves.

Sports Lockdown - June 28

Gold Cup finals, Copa America, Women's World Cup, U-17 World Cup, Dodgers, MLB, NBA draft and tennis.

An unforgettable experience

When the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup released its schedule for the tournament, I saw the final was going to be played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

I knew I had to go to the match if the Mexican national soccer team made it to the final.

As I followed the Mexican soccer team closely throughout the tournament, beating Cuba and El Salvador 5-0 and beating Costa Rica 4-1 in grouping, I knew Mexico was going to advance all the way to the final.

As the semi-finals came and I saw Mexico was going to take on Honduras and the U.S. was going to take on Panama. I knew Mexico was going to face the U.S. in the final.

At that moment everything came full circle and the ultimate fan experience I could ever have was becoming a reality.

The two countries have so much respect for each other but when it comes down to it--they both hate each other when it comes to seeing who is better in soccer.

The match was set up perfect: Mexico was favorites in the match, they were playing in Los Angeles where Mexico had the most supporters, Mexico never beat the U.S.'s "A-team" on U.S. soil and all of my favorite Mexican soccer players were playing in the match.

I do not know where to begin to say how I felt being at the match in person to witness history live.

But ...

A fight almost broke out in front of me between a American supporter and a Mexican supporter after another Mexican supporter threw a beer at a group of American supporters following a goal by the U.S.

I was six rows from the sideline and my favorite soccer players were less than 15 feet from me.

Mexico made one of the most incredible comebacks in its international soccer history, as they scored four unanswered goals following two straight goals from the U.S. to win the match 4-2.

I was feet away from the Gold Cup after Mexico ran around the field hoisting its sixth Gold Cup trophy.

The experience I had at the match was amazing and I believe it is one of my all-time memorable memories of my life.

The feeling of being Mexican is pleasant and being able to see the performance of the Mexican soccer team come back and defeat the Americans, in a sport that U.S. has dominated Mexico in, was brilliant and I was proud of the team, the country and myself because I felt the win was a sign of how hope is never lost and anything is possible.

The match was truly a dream come true for me.

I told my friend who went with me to the game, "This match might be the closes thing to the FiFA World Cup that we will ever get to experience."

Sports Lockdown - June 22

The decision and year of the Miami Heat: 2010-2011

Summer time is only fitting for South Beach Miami to have another aspect of life to glee about, the addition of Lebron James and Chris bosh to the Miami heat and Dwayne Wade.

The frenzy that was the summer of Lebron James, every station, and every news brief had something to say about Lebron.

James kept his decision a mystery as the public and media salivated like Pavlov’s dog.

Every viable team possible sought the talents of this young phenom, who put Cleveland basketball on the map. Owners and General managers from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and Cleveland pitched their cases to entice James to join their team.

A young man with unlimited opportunities chose the path he wanted, not what we wanted.
Most wanted to see him stay in his hometown Cleveland, and watch him grow into a superstar and prove his comparison to Michael Jordan.

Others wanted James to join their squad and the glamor of their part of the nation, to win championships in the largest markets. Everyone saw dollar signs when they saw the potential of James joining their team.

But James chose the unthinkable; leaving his hometown and city he was worshiped, to join trusted friends in a place worth living.

This brings Miami to the picture.

A phenomenal athlete and star, in Dwayne Wade, who has already won a NBA championship, would be able to stay in Miami and create a dynamic trio.

Pat Riley, president of the Miami heat has a reputation for creating star bloated teams.
Riley coached the “Showtime Lakers” of the 80's with hall of farmers Erving Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy.

Winning championships and dominating the western conference during the era, this new Miami Heat team had the opportunity to achieve the same in the eastern conference.

Magic Johnson a 6'8 point guard who was magical in setting up his teammates and finishing games would be the model for James to be the playmaker for the rest of the team.

Chris Bosh would be a versatile go to post player that could add 20 points and 10 rebounds a night.

Dwayne Wade would pick up any slack that was left in the chain of this unproven, yet already crowned dynasty.

The 2010-2011 regular season started slow, and finished strong as the Miami Heat finished second in the conference behind the young and talented Chicago Bulls. Led by Derrick Rose, the two teams had their showdown in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Heat were blown out of the first game in Chicago, yet James found his stroke and was clutch down the stretch to be propel the heat to their destiny, the NBA Finals in their first year.

Dirk Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks past the Championship Lakers, and young Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA Finals to square off against the Heat in a rematch of the 2006 finals.

The Miami Heat fell short in six games, losing the series at home 4-2, and sending Lebron James into yet another off-season to work harder and come back an even better player. At 26, James had been criticized before for the aspects of his game that he has yet to perfect.

James was disparaged for his inability to make a clutch free throw, or knockdown an open three pointer, or the inability to have a post move. Yet each year he worked on his game in the off-season and corrected his shortcomings.

We now look forward with eager eyes, ready to cheer, “I told you so” regardless of which side we are on.

Lebron did his part in creating hype for the NBA this year, and brought in plenty of revenue through media coverage and advertisement during a time of great financial loss for the association.

In a song off of his Blueprint 3 album longtime friend of James Jay- Z stated, “I went from the favorite to the most hated, but would you rather be underpaid or overrated?”

These words seem near and dear to James and there is a silver lining in all of this.

Do what makes you happy, not what others wish for you to do. Be bold enough as an individual to take the road less traveled and do not be fearful of any doubters or haters. Make your haters your motivators.

Regardless of the stance you take or the opinions you have there is one thing that is certain.

The Miami Heat has a young trio of superstars with six years left to put together any missing pieces to the puzzle of an NBA championship team or dare say, dynasty.

Sports Lockdown - June 3

Check out the Sports Lockdown show for the week of June 3.

RCC infielder Nic Cuckovich drafted by Royals

Nic Cuckovich was selected by the Kansas City Royals during round seventeen of the 2011 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.

The sophomore from Victoria, British Columbia in Canada was the lone Tiger selected by an MLB club and the highest of three players selected from the Orange Empire Conference.

According to Tigers coach Dennis Rogers, Cuckovich was going to attend the University of Hawaii next year but instead will report to Arizona to join the Royals rookie league team.

Although he projects as a third baseman in the pros, Cuckovich spent most of 2011 teaming with David Kiriakos in the Tigers' middle infield. Together the two were one of the best middle infield tandems in the conference this season.

Cuckovich batted .286 with one home run, 15 RBI and an impressive .831 OPS this season for RCC despite being hindered by a hand injury for part of the year.

NBA legend hangs up the jersey

Shaquille O'Neal has called it quits.

Many believed he was done a season ago but the Boston Celtics gave him one more season which turned out to be a mess, but the big fella is walking away from the game with a smile.

He announced on his Twitter account June 1 in a video that he is letting his fans know first that he is retiring from the NBA.

The news spread wild throughout the social media community as NBA legends, fans and friends of O'Neal shared their thoughts about him.

The Los Angeles Lakers quickly announced they are going to retire O'Neal's No. 34 Lakers jersey sometime in the future.

Laker fans admire and applaud O'Neal for the three NBA championships he brought to Los Angeles along with Kobe Bryant.

Before O'Neal signed with the Lakers in the summer of 1996, he spent four seasons with the Orland Magic. Following his eight seasons with Lakers, O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004 where he helped the Heat win its first NBA championship.

Following a short run with the Heat, O'Neal spent a few years jumping around teams which include the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Celtics.

O'Neal has accomplished a lot in his 19-season NBA career as he is a four-time champion, three-time finals MVP, Rookie-of-the-Year and many more honorable achievements.

(Cutline -- Superman: Shaquille O'Neal told his fans on Twitter he is retiring from the NBA after spending 19-years in the league and winning four championships. Javier Cabrera / Sports Lockdown)