Die Macht » a place where you can impose your will on opposing teams

Those under a certain age might not realize that once upon a time, many of the big fall stakes in New York were the sports championship-defining events. And then the Breeders Cup was born, and everything changed.This is not a knock on the Breeders Cup. Its a great event, even with its few flaws. But it is to say no racing circuit in America sacrificed more for the benefit of the Breeders Cup than the New York Racing Association, and no circuit has seen so many of its major races so devalued as a result.Its not even remotely close. On either count.Well before the Breeders Cup existed, New Yorks Jockey Club Gold Cup was for decades the de facto Breeders Cup Classic. The same was true of the Beldame, which was the forerunner to the Breeders Cup Distaff; the Champagne, which was as comparably title-defining as the Breeders Cup Juvenile, more so than any other fall 2-year-old stakes of the time; and the Frizette was the same before the advent of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies.That is why it is painful for people who well remember what these big fall stakes events at Belmont Park once were to see what has become of them. Saturdays Jockey Club Gold Cup, Champagne, and Frizette each drew fields of only six. And last Saturdays Beldame lured a field of only seven. That in itself wouldnt be bad if they were the right six or seven horses in each race. But with other tracks running their big Breeders Cup preps in the same time frame, getting the right six or seven in one stakes this time of year just cant happen.The Champagne did attract an interesting field, and it is possible a couple of its entrants might go on to be title contenders, but the Frizette drew a less inspiring field. More troubling were the fields the Beldame and Gold Cup lured. Not a single entrant in either one of those once mighty events can be considered a prime contender for a divisional Eclipse Award, let alone Horse of the Year honors.So what can be done about the alarming decline of major fall racing in New York? It seems to me there are three courses of action:** One thing is to do nothing. Just recognize that things never stay the same, and accept that New York racing in the fall will never again be what it once was. Personally, I think this would be tragic, allowing stakes of this magnitude to wither without event attempting to restore them.** Another path would be to be pro-active, and stop allowing New Yorks best fall stakes races to be subservient to a Breeders Cup that doesnt appear to care much about New York racing.The last time the Breeders Cup was held in New York was in 2005, when it was run at Belmont Park. And the earliest the Breeders Cup could return to New York is 2019, because after it is run this year at Santa Anita, it is promised to Del Mar in 2017, and to Churchill Downs in 2018. This will be the sixth Breeders Cup at Santa Anita alone since there was a Breeders Cup in New York. The 2018 Cup will be the fourth at Churchill Downs alone since a New York Breeders Cup.This is just plain wrong, and there is plenty of blame to go around. Unpredictable and untenable management situations at the NYRA had a lot to do with it, as did heavy-handed state government oversight, and simple inertia. The desire on the part of a past Breeders Cup administration to make Santa Anita the permanent host site was a major factor, too.Whatever, two unmistakable, and not coincidental, outcomes of this freeze out have been the marginalization of New Yorks fall stakes program, and how Belmont Park itself seems an unpopular prep locale for bigger events run elsewhere because of the unique configuration of the track.Belmonts main track is 1-1/2 miles in circumference, the largest in the nation. And that means the Beldame, Champagne, and Frizette are run around one turn, and the Gold Cup is run around 1-1/2 turns with an awkward starting gate placement. Horsemen have demonstrated that despite the history and prestige of the big New York fall stakes, when it comes to two turn Breeders Cup races, true two turn preps at tracks other than Belmont are simply more appealing.This has eroded participation in these New York events, and will continue to do so the longer Belmont Park goes without a Breeders Cup.A way to be pro-active in protecting Belmonts big fall stakes would, in the absence of the hope the Breeders Cup will ever return to New York, require the bold decision of no longer casting these races in as Breeders Cup preps, and finding a way to make them stand alone events they once were.Whether that means putting them in direct competition with the Breeders Cup (which, admittedly, would make them consolation prizes in the initial years), or, say, moving them to Thanksgiving weekend at Aqueduct along with the Cigar Mile and afford horses who competed in the Breeders Cup another opportunity to make or enhance their championship credentials, taking races like the Gold Cup out of subservient roles might revitalize them.** The third, and far more preferable option would be to get the Breeders Cup back to Belmont as soon as possible. I understand that you can get crappy weather in the Northeast in late October and early November. I understand that you never have to roll the weather dice when Santa Anita is the host. I also understand that Santa Anita is a tremendous site for the Breeders Cup, and they do a tremendous job with it every time they host it. I love that track.But the Breeders Cup was intended at its origin to be a moveable event, so fans in various corners of the country would have the opportunity to enjoy the spectacle, and so that, over time, there would be no home court advantage for horsemen based in a specific geographical area. A Breeders Cup at Belmont Park would instantly make the Gold Cup, Beldame and other stakes THE most desirable preps that year. And I suspect it would have a positive carryover effect as well, re-emphasizing to new eyes how great these fall stakes races in New York were, and still might be. Buy Nike Shox . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Nike Air Max Plus TN Ultra Womens Shoes Pink White . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. http://www.niketnshoesaustralia.com/nike-tn-shoes-australia/mens-nike-tns.html . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Nike Tn Shoes For Sale . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. Nike Air Max TN Plus Ultra Black Red . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. Round 7 was a see-sawing affair that saw two sets of back to back games. The top of the table Sydney Kings and Perth Wildcats split their games while the New Zealand Breakers and Illawarra Hawks also split theirs.Home court advantage was a big factor this week as five of the six games fell to the home side; Adelaide were the only side not to deliver in front of their home crowd.Melbourne finally returned to the winners list with the return of star guard Chris Goulding, as well as welcoming in new import, Casper Ware.Unfortunately, the action wasnt exactly edge of your seat material as only one out of the six games was decided by single figures.So who and what stood out the most during round 7?Hot StartsJumping out of the blocks and getting a quick start against your opponent is crucial in games of basketball. It puts the opposition squarely behind the eight ball and can force them to throw away the game plan in the hopes of getting back into the game.Every side that won the opening quarter this round won the game.Brisbane stunned Adelaide, hitting more threes in the opening quarter than Adelaide did for the entire game. New Zealand flew out of the blocks and scored the opening 12 points against Illawarra in their opening game; a deficit that was to great too overcome.Welcome ReturnChris Goulding finally pulled on the United jersey again and it couldnt have come at a better time for his side. United had lost five straight since Goulding went down with his ankle injury against the Brisbane Bullets in round 3. Squaring off against the Cairns Taipans and hoping to get off the bottom of the ladder, Goulding was firing on all cylinders.Finishing the game with 30 points and an incredible 8/12 from beyond the arc, equalling the United record for made threes in a game. Hitting big shot after big shot and carrying his side over the line.Problems at HomeHome court is supposed to be your fortress, a place where you can impose your will on opposing teams.ddddddddddddUnfortunately for Adelaide, their stadium has effectively become a home away from home for opposing teams.Adelaide have now lost their last four games and more importantly their last two games have been at home. To add some salt into the wounds, theyve lost both games by double digits.The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one, Adelaide need to recognize that they have a major problem on their hands.Johnny FlameWith 7:19 left on the game clock in the fourth quarter and the Kings down by 15 points, they were screaming for answers; thats when Brad Newley caught fire and morphed into Johnny Flame.In the space of 2 minutes and 44 seconds, Newley hit four three pointers and brought the Kings to within 4 points.Running around screens and hitting from all around the arc, Newley was simply unstoppable; ultimately finishing with 34 points and hitting 7/10 from deep. Sadly for the Kings, it wasnt enough as the Wildcats ran away with the contest.BlowoutsRound 7 saw the biggest average winning margin of any round so far this season, eclipsing the round four average of 12.6. With only the one game decided by single digits, the average margin of victory over the weekend ended up a whopping; 15.5 points.Illawarra helped this margin with their 31 point decimation of New Zealand in the final game of the round. So far this season there have been two games decided by over 30 points and Illawarra are responsible for both.There have been 42 games during the 2016/17 NBL season with the average margin of victory sitting at 10.47 points. Whilst the competition has been hotter than ever, the games are unfortunately reflecting a more one-sided affair. ' ' '