Yearly Archives: 2024

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USA Team Captain, Ian Hueter, Moving to New Club this Summer

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USA National Team Captain, Ian Hueter, will have a new club starting next season. Hueter, 26, who has been with TSV Bayern Dormagen since he was 10 years old recently signed a two year contract with ASV Hamm-Westfalen. Both clubs are in the Handball Bundesliga 2nd Division (HBL 2), but Hamm is currently in 3rd place and in a tight battle for promotion to the HBL. Here are some quotes from German news sources:

Ian Hueter:

  • On leaving Dormagen: “It wasn’t an easy decision. After all, TSV is something like a family for me. Until the end of the season I will give TSV my full commitment. I hope to be playing again soon and to contribute to our big goal of staying in the league,” (Hueter is currently injured with a pulled hamstring)
  • On potentially playing in the HBL next season if ASV Hamm is promoted: “That is, of course, a goal of mine. ASV is welcome to win all games, just not against Dormagen.”

TSV General Manager, Björn Barthel: “The fact that Ian is looking for a new challenge outside of Dormagen at the age of 26 is a shame for us as a club, but it is certainly understandable. We would like to thank him for his many years and hope that together we can avoid relegation so that we can say goodbye to Ian with a good feeling.”

ASV General Manager, Guido Heerstraß: “With Ian we are getting one of the top center backs in the 2nd Handball Bundesliga with leadership qualities,”

In 2021, I interviewed Ian and Patrick Hueter and one of the questions I asked was regarding the prospects of either of them playing in the HBL. Here’s that interview queued up to that discussion

Sources: TSV Bayern Dormagen, ASV Hamm-Westfalen, HBL

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USA Handball Talk (Episode 9): Barstool Takes on Handball

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:07 — 29.9MB)

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Last Wednesday (31 Jan 2024), Barstool Sports put out the welcome mat for the US Handball Union in their Chicago facility. Several athletes including former national athletes, Ty Reed, Alex Recker and Michael King, referee, Josh Forsthoefel and USA Handball Talk co-host, JD Orr were on hand to demonstrate, play and talk handball with the Barstool Crew.

It was a far cry from the 2020 dust-up which started when Barstool guest, former NFL QB, Jay Cutler, talked about the U.S. winning a gold medal at the Olympics. This claim and others led to outrage within the world-wide handball community… but, also some good publicity for the sport.

Last Wednesday was some more great promotion for handball and if you watch the Stool Stream on YouTube you’ll see and hear a lot of great dialogue with Barstool as they learn more about the sport. And, while the court was too small and narrow for a full handball experience, the Barstool crew also got a real taste for handball and how it’s harder than it looks.

On the podcast we discuss how the demonstration came about, some behind the scenes interaction and how the dialogue with Barstool might continue. Here are some links from the Barstool handball demonstration and initial controversy that erupted in 2020:

  • “Stool Stream” video of the entire handball demonstration: Link
  • Barstool highlight reel: Link
  • Additional behind the scenes content: Link (starts at 11:29)
  • Xavier O’Callaghan interview with Barstool (14 Feb 2002)l: Link
  • “Pardon My Take” Spouts more Nonsense and USA Men’s Coach Calls for a Challenge match (7 Feb 2020): Link
  • Is the USA Team Handball CEO Take the Side of Jay Cutler and Pardon My Take? (24 Feb 2020): Link

Participants

  • *JD Orr – Columbus Armada
  • Josh Forsthoefel – Columbus Armada
  • Alex Recker – Columbus Armada
  • Jacob Roberts – Kentucky Stags
  • Cooper Black – Miami (Ohio)
  • Ryan Peterson – Milwaukee United
  • Ahmed ElHady ElSayed – NYAC
  • Mike King – NYAC
  • Charlie Harper – Ohio State
  • Bob Wise – Ohio State
  • Matt Bolger – Pickerington Pandas
  • Ross Miner – unaffiliated

Watch on YouTube or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page

If you have any suggestions for future topics, a title for our podcast or have some intro music you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the Team Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link

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USA Handball Talk (Episode 8) The British are Coming. The British are Coming

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:04 — 26.9MB)

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Stephen Neilson, the Chair of British Handball joins the podcast to discuss the Great Britain – Kosovo Euro 2026 Qualification match played in Derby, England on 13 January.

We take a deep dive into what was probably the best ever handball match atmosphere and presentation in a “non-traditional” handball nation. We discuss the crowd, venue, organization, logistics, finances and British Handball’s future plans to stage matches like that again.

Watch on YouTube or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page

If you have any suggestions for future topics, a title for our podcast or have some intro music you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the Team Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great handball discussion goi

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USA Handball Talk (Episode 7): The Standard is the Standard

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:48 — 29.0MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

On this week’s episode we discuss what standards USA Team Handball athletes, administrators and board members are required or perhaps, should be obliged to follow. What’s appropriate in one’s private life and what’s appropriate in an official capacity? And, is it possible to entirely separate the two in a world where one’s thoughts and actions are amplified by social media? Here’s a rundown of the show and some links to the topics we discussed.

  • Pittsburgh Steeler’s Head Coach, Mike Tomlin’s “The Standard is the Standard” philosophy: Link
  • San Antonio Spurs Head Coach, Gregg Poppovich on standing during the national anthem: Link
  • USA Team Handball’s Code of Conduct Policy: Link (Note: I think there was once a separate, more athlete specific code that had to be signed as part of team selection, but I could be wrong.)
  • Towards the end we discuss a potpourri of topics to include:
    • Discussing handball outside our handball sphere and the “shade” often thrown our way
    • Relatives never really fully understanding what handball we play
    • My discussion with CalHeat’s Martin Bilello on youth handball challenges
    • The need to define objectives and establish metrics for handball initiatives… so one can then better assess what consitutes success or failure

Watch on YouTube or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page

If you have any suggestions for future topics, a title for our podcast or have some intro music you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the Team Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link

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USA Handball Talk (Episode 6): Far, Far, Faraway Island

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:54 — 13.0MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

On this week’s episode we discuss two handball miracles: The remarkable showing of the Faroe Islands (population 52K) at the European Championships and the great handball atmosphere at the Great Britain-Kosovo Euro 2026 qualification match in Derby, England. Here’s a rundown of the show and some links to the topics we discussed.

  • Faroe Island’s Men’s National Team (Wikipedia): Link
  • John’s “Iceland Strategy” commentaries: (Part 1; Part 2)
  • (Un)Informed Handball Hour podcast on the Faroe Islands: Link
  • John’s commentary that compares the Faroe Island’s challenges with the current US team (which is sort of like a geographically dispersed Faroe Islands): Link
  • The Final Season (a movie about Norway, Iowa’s baseball team): Link
  • Jóhan Hansen: Right Wing from the the Faroe Islands that now plays Denmark: Link
  • ehfTV video of the Great Britain – Kosovo match: Link
  • Daily Oklahoman article about Chris Havlicek trying out for handball mentions the USA – Brazil match and the USA women playing Iceland in 1996: Link
  • Article on the USA – Drammen match that was part of the USA Men’s training camp in Norway: Link
Watch on YouTube or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page

If you have any suggestions for future topics, a title for our podcast or have some intro music you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the Team Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link

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USA Handball Talk (Episode 5): Handball Tryout… or Try Out Handball?

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:46 — 29.3MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

On this week’s episode we discuss handball tryouts and the complications that result from two very different cohorts: Stateside and and Overseas athletes. The catalyst for the discussion was this USA Team Handball Tweet and the reply it elicited from former USA Jr National Team athlete, Aaron Hamm:

Here’s a summary of the topics we discussed:

  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for handball. For what it’s worth my most recent Google search has the USA Team Handball website ranking 3rd for “team handball and 12th for “handball”
  • Here’s a 3 part series that John wrote in 2019 on handball dual citizens:
    • Part 1:  What is a handball American Expat and Philosophically, What is an American?:  Link
    • Part 2:  Understanding this 51st state and its handball demographics: Link
    • Part 3: Can a small, but determined handball nation be competitive against larger nations? Can they win a title?: Link (Note: this commentary contains some discussion on the Faroe Islands)
  • USA Team Handball Facebook post on the recently conducted tryout in Los Angeles: Link
  • The MLB “all comers” tryout scene from the movie, The Rookie: LInk
  • JD’s Jr National Team tryout and John’s Olympic Festival tryout in 1987
  • The lack of an intermediate stepping stone between clubs and the national team and how the good deals from the IHF might unintentionally be hindering such a development
  • How the U.S. handball development “pyramid” is actually a “tower”

And, here’s a couple of bonus commentaries on youth development

  • A commentary on the Tower/Pyramid: Link
  • Analysis of 2017 Youth and Jr teams (you’ll see some familiar names and some names that have moved on…): Link

Watch or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page

If you have any suggestions for future topics, a title for our podcast or have some intro music you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the Team Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link

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2024 Men’s European Handball Championships (Streaming and Information Links)

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The 2024 EHF Men’s European Handball Championship will start this Wednesday, 10 January and will conclude on Sunday, 28 January. Here is some information on streaming, how to follow the tournament, and who the sports betting sites have favored to win the tournament and premliminary groups.

Streaming / TV

Your options for watching the 2024 EHF Euro will vary depending on where you live. Some nations will be able to watch all the matches on ehfTV while other nations will have all or some of the matches available on a TV Channel and/or streaming service to which the rights have been sold. This EHF article outlines how to watch in each nation: Link

  • Nations without a TV Contract: ehfTV: Link
    • Register with ehfTV:  Link  (ehfTV is a free platform, but does require a simple one-time registration)
  • USA: This EHF article indicates that matches in the U.S. will be on beIN Sport US. However, the beIN Sports channel guide currently doesn’t list any handball matches on its schedule. Additionally, for the 2022 Euro, the contract was also with beIN Sport, but ehfTV was not geo-blocked in the U.S. (We’ll soon find out if that will hold for 2024 as well. Regardless, I will update this post with the latest information.)
  • Canada: The EHF article indicates that matches in Canada will be on DAZN. I don’t know if ehfTV will be geo-blocked in Canada or not.
  • VPN: A Virtual Private Network (VPN) may be an aternative option. For more information on how to use VPN check this article out: Link
  • Spam Sites: You’ve surely seen the multitude of social media postings inviting you to watch the match on their “free” service. (These folks are relentless with their spamming) Don’t even bother with these sites. They typically will ask you to download a video player on your computer. Trust me… you don’t want that app on your computer and in all likelihood they won’t even have the match. Go with the provider in your country or VPN.

How to Follow the Competition

  • Competition Wikipedia Page: Link (For simple, easy to find schedule, results and standings Wikipedia is the place to go)
  • EHF Competition Page: Link (Official Stats and match summaries)
  • Links to social media, Twitch channe and the official EHF App: Link
  • Uninformed Handball Hour Podcast: Link

Wagering Information

  • Draftkings European Championships Odds: Link
  • Bet365 European Championships Odds: Link
  • Futures Odds (Bet Rivers): Link (To win before the tournament start)
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USA Handball Talk (Episode 4): New Year… and Same Old Handball

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:41 — 28.9MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

It’s a New Year and the more things change… the more they stay the same. Here’s a rundown of the topics discussed:

  • The upcoming Men’s European Championships and the record setting crowd planned for the opening matches in Düsseldorf. It was Andy Schmid who was not a fan of handball in football stadiums: Link
  • How Ohio State’s starting QB’s transferring to Syracuse might correlate contextually to the U.S. Women’s national team (News article on the topic: Link)
  • The USA Team Handball Board Meeting Minutes drop: Link
    • The minutes from September reference a dialogue with the Handball Development Center in Dallas: “Mr. Branick had started to establish a dialogue with the Texas project leadership to determine how a partnership may evolve and impact the efforts to develop the women’s National team.
  • Why handball promotion is important and the USA Team Handball Working Group that will address ways to better promote Handball during the 2024 Olympics
  • The podcast with Joey Williams of Detroit where we discussed handball promotion: Link
  • The possibility of a handball demonstration in conjunction with the NBA All Star Game in Indianapolis
  • The EHF promotion process and the video that was shared in real time:
  • The Samala Cup played this past December and John’s view that it’s high time to rethink the concept of the “weekend tournament.” (Tentatively, the topic for our next podcast)

Watch or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page

If you have any suggestions for future topics, a title for our podcast or have some intro music you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the Team Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link