My colleague, John Ryan, gave you an insightful look at US team handball's latest failures. (see "Atlanta DITC: USA Pan-American Championship Hosting was Withdrawn Due to Lack of PATHF Response" article below)

As is always the case in such instances, seeking the truth – or merely looking for answers – can often times lead to more questions and… raised eyebrows.

I found Dr. Gutekunst's willingness to answer questions quite refreshing. However, I must admit, I was also surprised by what I read. Some of my questions, while rethorical in nature, undoubtedly point to the current and devastating mess that team handball finds itself in.

Here is what's eating me:

1. Who empowered the DITC to propose/approve the organizing of the PANAM Championships, in absence of a US Team Handball Federation?
2. I found the Dominican Republic's ability to host a tournament vis-a-vis the US inability to do so — humiliating. What does that say about the organizers and their ability to deliver?
3. How can Mr. Gutekunst speak about the MNT, when in fact there is no MNT? At least not anymore than the DC Diplomats have a team.
4. Having Condoleeza Rice's name associtated with visas, PANAM, team handball is tacky. There are no visa issues! The Cuban National Soccer Team was on US soil just a month ago, with more than half defecting in and around the Tampa Bay area. Black helicopters, anyone?

Another notable item is how the same names always come up whenever there is a US team handball debacle… I wrote on this topic before. Let me remind everyone that I do believe that those involved in team handball do have our sport's best interest at heart. Unfortunately, these same individuals have proven over the years that they are unable to get the job done!

Please! This is not meant as an insult. It is a factual observation – based on results and track records.
The current business environment – coupled with a lack of jurisdiction of our sport – helped foster this "mob mentality". A mentality of sole proprietorship of a sport that had no chance. It wouldn't be fair (nor prudent) to point out the GUILTY/RESPONSIBLE parties. You see, they are all opportunists, looking for freebies, pseudo power and a quick $$$. It's the American way, after all!

Mercifully, I too am looking forward to the USOC's decision on a new team handball federation/NGB. The new federation will certainly have its work cut out.

In the meantime, and if you care to look over your shoulder, you may see that the [link=/docs/HNM18.pdf]the British are coming[/link]!

I've mentioned to our US readers that I am often flooded with emails containing some very tough questions. For the most part I have tried to answer those questions individually. It was certainly easier and more… personal. If and when I was unaable to provide an answer, I would often seek it from those in the know.

This Thanksgiving, for your reading pleasure, I thought I'd go back into my mailbag and post some of the questions and my answers, for everyone to read. I shall refrain from naming the source of the questions, however I will name the geographical location of that inquiring mind.

Q1: Why is the USOC so secretive when it comes to releasing team handball information. (Idaho)
A1: I too thought that they were secretive. I am now convinced that they do not have the personnel to handle the necessary communication to an ever-so-dwindling US team handball community. The easiest way to get answers is to contact those in charge, directly. That will not assure you of an answer but it will allow you to open the lines of communications directly to the source(s). At times, THN has done a good job getting some "one on one" interviews with key US Team Handball political players. While some of their answers were fluff, THN has always been able to, at the very least, get those principals to go on record on certain topics.

Q2: WNT has a great website but nobody posts the juicy stuff in there? Like, why is Dawn Allinger the head coach? What happened with Christian? (New Jersey)
Q2: There are two answers to your questions. The first one, the official one, confirmed by everyone involved with the WNT program is that there was time for a change and Dawn was the logical choice. The unofficial one, however, plays out like a daytime soap opera. It has everything from backstabbing, to personal dislikes, to power trips and egos… My guess (and it is a guess) is that the truth is somewhere in the middle. It matters very little how and why it happened. Let's hope that the WNT can get some positive results in the upcoming qualifiers. All will be forgotten. (note: I replied to this email before the WNT's failed qualifying event in whatever third world country they played in…)

Q3: The Nationals this year (note: Delaware) were not as good as they were last year in Houston. I see the same people organizing the event. I was told that here is no USAT H F. Can you explain? (Illinois)
Q3: Not sure why you felt that last month's Nationals were worse than those of 2006. If you are referring to competition, I would agree. Less teams means less talent. Notable absentees such as the Condors (Men) and ATH (Men) had a lot to do with it. The fact that the MNT was in Chile fighting for a spot at the 08 Olympics had a lot to do with the watered down level of competition as well. On the other hand I believe that West Point, NYTHC, Miami and Chicago had more than provided some great handball matches. On the women's side, where it was all Chicago (and their Eastern European contingent), it would have made very little difference. You may want to clarify what particular area of the Delaware Nationals was not as good as last year's. To answer your question re: the organizers I will have to tell you what they told me: they are all volunteers and are doing it for free and for the love of the game. If next year you would like to be part of teh org. committee, drop them an email and pray that you wil be included.

Q4: I do not have time to practice handball but I like to play at tournaments. Which tournament are better? (Utah))
Q4: Your best bet is to check with your nearast team handball club in your area. In your particular case Salt Lake Warriors. Ideally, you would want to attend the same tournaments they do. It will be alot easier for you to get playing time, especially if you are willing to travel. In terms of tournaments, I have attended a few and I think that for the most part, they all do an adequate job hosting them. My personal favorites are Miami, West Point, Chicago and Atlanta. They all feature no more than 4 teams. One game a day each on Friday evenings, Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings). Each one features IHF rules matches (2 X 30 minutes halves), regular size courts, good officiating and extraordinary facilities. I would also like to include Chapel Hill (UNC) on that list, as they run both women's and men's tournaments every six months. The only difference is that they often play 2 X 25 minutes halves to accommodate around 10 particpant teams.

I will dig up some more q&a for you.

In the meantime, don't hate. I always love hearing from those of you who can spell. Keep those question, comments and complaints coming at bogdan@teamhandballnews.com.

Happy Turkey Day!

If it's good enough for soccer, it has to be good enough for handball…

http://www.thenextamericanrevolution.org/

Initially, this article was a comment I posted as feedback to another, authored by [link=http://teamhandballnews.com/comment-n359.html]Michael Chamberlain[/link]. Without a doubt, after reading it again, it is best suited as a blog entry.

It's hard not to get frustrated. This is no different than government politics. Everyone runs on a certain platform, trying to make a difference. Once they reach the top they turn dumb. In government politics you have to deal with special interest groups and the corruption associated with becoming someone's b**ch… In team handball, other than meaningless perks and a few paid international trips, sprinkled with some virtual power (nothing to lead or control), I just don't see it.

Sarcasm and personal opinion aside, how can something so bad and inefficient last for so long? I know apathy is at the root of why nothing has changed. Au contraire, matters have gone South instead.

In the end we are all responsible. The fact that we get frustrated and give up, fosters more of the same. It is time that others speak up and start developing, even if it is one high school at a time.

The development of this sport should be treated like a business. Those who have been at the helm of team handball over these past tumultuous years have, I have no doubt, had the best interests of this great sport in mind. Unfortunately, they've failed. This is nothing personal. Their failures do not make them bad people. Inept? Maybe.

Hurdle was right (and he still is, whenever he crawls from under his rock)! He called it like it was and, in the process burned a lot of bridges. Hey! TRUTH ALWAYS upsets those who HIDE IT. Hurdle did what had to be done, at the right time but in the wrong place and to the wrong people…
Never one to win you over with diplomacy, he did tell the US team handball community what they did not want to hear. He often antagonized and that was used against him. Rightfully so, I might add. Two years later, his blunt and tactless statements still ring true.

And yet, developing handball should not be a popularity contest. It is a business. Should be run as such. With goals, plans, responsibilities and, most importantly, accountability.

If you are in this business to just play handball or to further your own personal agenda, say so. It's OK to be a leech and an egomaniac. Besides, you will not be alone. Admit it and move on. You will sleep better at night.

In the end, there will be room for everyone, in this vast world of team handball… Just take a side. Burn a few bridges. Get to know your friends. Avoid your detractors. Most of us are still young enough and full of energy with plenty of enthusiasm left, to see that team handball still has a chance in the USA.

This is not about the new ATHA (of which I am a part of) or its quest to earn the NGB certification but it may as well be. Detractors will see to it to make it so…

Some (and you all know who you are…) are still looking for a free ride. Others are genuinely frustrated with the persistent status quo. Still, a small faction is out there trying to figure out new ways to fool everyone yet again. And the rest, I am happy to say, have joined the ATHA.

To each his/her own. There are options available. All you have to do is pick! That's the easy part. The hardship begins as soon as you will have to hold yourself accountable.

Don't be shy. Fire back at me… If you can spell and reason, I'd love to read what you have to say.

… not a peep from anyone "in-the-US-Team-Handball-know" regarding who (if anyone?) would be representing the United States of America at the IHF Congress about to start in Madrid in less than 10 days (April 27-29)… Should anyone like to take a “stab” at this, I’ll throw in a free t-shirt!

Oh yes, one more thing. Yesterday, I was the lucky recipient of en email informing me that the team I brought to the 2007 Nationals, (Houston Stars) was no longer eligible to receive back its performance bond.

Fifty dollars! Gone… Just like that!

Here is a copy of the email authored by Jan O'Shea and approved by the US Team Handball Competition Committee:

"Bogdan, because your team did not have numbers on the front of their jerseys as required by the rules of the tournament (IHF rules as well), the Competition Committee determined that you would not receive your performance bond back. This has been a rule now for several years and it is one that the Committee considers a major performance bond item."

What??? A major performance bond item? You mean like, uh… James Bond?

Let me get this right. I just spent two full months coercing, bribing, heck… even begging my players to participate to the 2007 Nationals Competition (announced on short notice and held over the Easter Weekend Holiday). Never mind the endless hours spent emailing, making lodging and airfare reservations, changing business and personal schedules and spending money none of us had! And, never mind the fact that I volunteered to update – LIVE on the web, mind you – the 2007 Nationals tournament scores, stats and standings, using my personal internet connection, on my personal spare time and laptop. All of this, set up on a folding table I had to personally find and drag around the Delaware Fieldhouse complex, despite prior written requests to the Competition Committee for a THN MEDIA courtesy table.

Oh… to hell with it.

Shame on me! Really. Shame on me, for going above and beyond what most gravy trainers would! I deserve what I got! I stand guilty as charged. Let’s be honest. My team, my players did not have those damn little numbers on their jerseys. And yes, I am also guilty as charged because I failed to read the fine print and disregard the IHF rules.

Did I just type IHF? Oh yes, I did!

You know, the International Handball Federation. The same federation which so happens to clearly state in its rules that, among others, the legal handball court size for adults is 40 meters +/- 1 by 20 meter +/-1) and that a full adult game should last 60 minutes (2 x 30 minutes halves) with 1 timeout per half, per team… I could go on and on… but you get the gist.

The moral of this story (ok, rant!), is this.

Beware of the USA Team Handball Competition Committee. It is comprised of a detailed and experienced former team handball players, coaches and international team handball veterans. This Committee has an intrinsic understanding of what it takes for a US team handball Nationals tournament to be successful: i.e. it SEES and GETS the big picture. Which is exactly why the Competition Committee is so exigent. Style over substance IS how they roll!

Take it from me folks.

Next time you pay four hundred of your hard earned dollars to cover the cost of your team’s jerseys, remember: it’s the small numbers that count!

Lights went down on yet another USATH Nationals.

I think I wrote last year that the more these Nationals change the more they stay the same.

The U of D did the best they could with what they had. “Beggers can't be choosers,” I thought.

The Field House, an airplane-hangar-looking sports venue, right outside the University of Delaware campus, housed two illegal sized handball courts. One was right at 35 meters long, the other… oh, who’s counting.

The third court was set up in another UD sports building (Bob Carpenter something…), adjacent to the Field House. It hosted mostly Men’s Division games and a few Women’s matches.

The amenities were adequate. An unfair comparison. Having spent the previous three USATH Nationals at the George R Brown Convention Center in Houston, not too many venues out there could live up to the quality and convenience of the GRB.

Many familiar faces were there. Lifelong volunteers such as Jan, Jim, Mike, Dawn, Robert and even Cathy were omnipresent, ensuring that the tournament lived up to its billing.

A total of only 24 teams, in three divisions, participated this year. A huge drop off from year's past. No Condors, ATH, LATH, Santa Clarita, Salt Lake and so on. Yes. It was Easter weekend and the MNT was fighting off Chile and Venezuela down in South America. Was the low turnout justified? Some thought so while others actually believed so.

I will not rehash the way the divisions played out. Most of you know the scores and were able to get updates from the tournament.

Instead I will give you snapshots of what stood out, good or bad, as told by various participants.

– Surprise team of the tournament: Army Black – They went to Europe over Spring Break on a tour through Germany. Still, most could not explain the team's amazing run and eventual silver medal. This team deserved everything they earned.
– Best overall performance: The Chicago Inter Club. Three divisions, three medals. Two Gold and a Bronze.
– Most deserving of a Gold Medal: NYCTHC… always in the shadow of the NYAC (Garden City), the NYCTHC confirmed their great form by winning it all in the Elite Division. By far the most consistent team of the tournament.
– Best athlete performance: Chicago Inter Women’s goalie, Nataliya Mitrjuk. Former world everything…
– Most annoying thing at the tournament: It’s a tie – Robert Sewell’s ipod boombox and Jim Thom’s micro managing of all score sheets and rosters… :)
– Biggest disappointment: Miami Sharks. Injuries, sent last year’s silver medalists spiraling down to a frustrating 6th place finish.
– Neatest thing: LiveSports webcasting of the Miami Sharks and Chicago Inter games.
– Most uplifting moment at the tournament: News that the US MNT won their first match against Venezuela.
– Biggest letdown: News that the US MNT lost their final and decisive match against Chile.
– Most frustrating thing about the Nationals: Trying to figure out where the Annual Meeting was held. A large number of players were unable to attend it because details regarding its location and time were either sketchy, changed or simply unavailable. Why couldn’t the LOC make a banner, advising everyone interested of the time, location and directions to the Annual Meeting, is beyond me. Maybe I’m wrong but it would have been the productive and fair thing to do. Accusations of conspiracy, lack of transparency, collusion and overall lack of communication, would then, be unmerited.

Speaking of communication…

I was able to land a few exclusive interviews.

Vlad Grama – Houston Stars palyer and former member of the US MNT.
Laszlo Jurak – NYAC coach and legendary USTH icon.
Dawn Allinger Lewis – former and current WNT player and head coach.

I will be posting the interviews as soon as I sort them out.

I am also considering a podcast review show (either solo. with John Ryan or Bjoern Brembs) to discuss the 2007 US Nationals. The podcast show will include discussions about the current situation of our WNT and MNT. As most of you are aware, both squads failed to qualify to the PAN AM games for the first time… ever? We'll dig in and try to find out who should be held accountable for these failures and what needs to be done in order to ensure that the US Team Handball programs can’t sink any lower….

As always, stay tuned!