Toronto Lynx Media Day Scrimmage and Lunch...Wednesday May 7, 2003.
by Rocket Robin
at Etobicoke Centennial Park on one of the fields surrounding the stadium at 11:00am. The stadium was being used for a district high school track meet.
I was the only 'media' guy there at 10:30 but attendance only picked up to maybe a dozen.
Rogers Sports sent a two-camera crew group of five although it turned out two(?) of them were from The Score. It's Called Futbol magazine had a photographer. CP24/CITY TV sent John Gallagher and a videoguy. Rob Lynch who writes for a-league.com fan site brought his boots for the media game. OMNI (channel 47 CFMT) television's Alex Franco arrived later.
So this afternoon I'd expect to see video on CFMT/OMNI's Portuguese newscast at 5:00pm with an English language interview with coach Peter Pinizzotto, The Score's World Sports Report at 5:30pm talk with a few players. CITY Pulse News at 6:00pm with John Gallagher saying the Lynx are Toronto's best kept secret, bragging that he played 'a little varsity soccer' then as the goaltender ducking as about eight balls are blasted into the net at the same time. Funnier was his plea before they recorded that scene. "Please don't hit me, DON'T HIT ME". The Score does a skit where their guy on the player's bench begs Pinizzotto to put him in the game and he finally runs out onto an empty field.
I did an interview with newcomer Nick Blicharski and CPSL veteran Sam Borgh which I'll have to transcribe and type up. I'll let you know when that's ready.
Oh the 2003 Official Program was part of this week's media package. Looks impressive. Team photo looks like it has three 'blinkers'. Joe Mattachione was one of them and was disappointed. I'd think they'd take half dozen shots and pick the one with the least number of blinkers. Many were squinting into the sun.
There was a intersquard gray vs yellow game of 10 on 9 players on maybe a three quarters field which was still wet from the rain in the last few days. Robbie Aristodemo scored for the grays, Nick Bilicharski for the yellows, somebody for the grays, Ali Ngon for the grays, Robbie Aristodemo again after being switched to the yellow team and Ali Ngon again for the grays. The coach would sometimes freeze frame the game to get the players into position for a corner kick. Watch for a trick maneuver during an upcoming game! Overhead it appeared the same plane approached for a landing over Centennial Hill at least 20 times...maybe it's a flight school.
Daniel Takhee, Shawn Faria, and #7 and Uruguayan player on a tryout did not take part in the game as they are recovering from injuries and instead did some running and flexing rehab on the sidelines.
Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
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