HTWD Recap: Real Madrid Knocks Out Bayern Munich

I certainly didn't see this coming.

I was confident that Real Madrid would be able to advance to the UEFA Champions League final, but I did not expect them to demolish Bayern Munich. A 4-0 drubbing (5-0 agg) is an incredible result against a team that looked virtually unbeatable, until today. Madrid made Bayern look like a weak La Liga side.

Although the only stat the Madrid got dominated on was possession, they controlled pretty much everything else. At home, Bayern looked surprisingly nervous. They never seemed to get into the game, and by the 30th minute, it was pretty much over.

Let's see if they can get "La Decima" this season, or if Atletico/Chelsea will have something to say about that...

Highlights:

Join the Team!

Photo via the thehippietriathlete

As you guys may or may not know, the amount of blogging I've been doing in 2014 has been pretty pathetic. Simply put, I haven't had much time to write as much as I'd like, and that bothers me. I have so many things I'd like to write about, but so little time to do so.

That's where you guys come in.

I'm looking for a few more people who are willing to blog/write with me on here. I feel that if we get enough of a team going, this site can continue to grow. Unfortunately, I'm a broke college student, so I won't be able to pay anyone, but I will give you the ability to write on here to gain some valuable experience in sports journalism.

If you are interested in writing with me on this blog, then feel free to contact me. You can either: send me an e-mail (jjsanchez92@yahoo.com), tweet/DM my personal account (@JJSanchez92), or tweet/DM our twitter account (@HTWDSports).

Hope to see some of you join the blog. Together, we can improve our writing skills and hopefully get some more experience in the sports media world!!!

- J.J.

HTWD Report: David Moyes Sacked

Photo via the reddevil

Well, it's official. David Moyes' time at Manchester United is up, with ESPN and the club themselves confirming the rumors.

Moyes' stint was short lived, as he only served 9 months of an initial 6 year contract. Under him, United will not win any trophies this season, and are well off the pace for a Champions League spot next season.

Many fans and pundits that were accustomed to the winning ways of Sir Alex Ferguson just could not fathom how this season was going for the Red Devils. With 1 transfer window and less than a season of tactical ideas to work with, Moyes failed to get the results that everyone expected out of one of the best clubs in the world.

In my opinion, sacking him this early is a bit ridiculous. I don't agree with any manager or coach getting fired before their maiden season is over. Moyes' was given little time to turn Manchester into his squad, not just SAF's with a few changes. Fergie left a team that was on the decline last year. The only reason they won the league was due to an incredible season by Robin van Persie. They've had problems with their back four and a midfield that has struggled to create chemistry. Fixing this mess was going to take time, and Moyes' simply wasn't given enough.

Was it his fault for not producing better results? Yes. 7th in the table is not good enough, even with an aging side. They should still be fighting for a UCL spot, not for a Europa League place. But, he also should have been given a pass. Transitional years are tough, and don't always yield positive results. 3 seasons is a more optimal time frame, as that would have given him some time to implement the team and style that he would want to run at the club. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

Now, it seems that Ryan Giggs will take over as interim coach as the Glazer's search for a new manager. Although this new manager will likely be considered an upgrade to what Moyes did in his stint, he will still have to get the unfair comparisons to Sir Alex. How he'll be able to manage that pressure in a "win now" world will be interesting.

The Masters: Five To Thrive

The weekly "Five To Thrive" column continues this week in the first major event of the year, the Masters Championship.

After what seemed liked forever since the PGA Championship, we have finally returned to a major championship! Now, the season really begins. Even without Tiger, we should still be set for a wonderful Masters tournament. With lots of drama going on in the weeks before Augusta, it will be interesting to see who will put on the green jacket on Sunday evening. Here are the top 5 golfers you should keep an eye on this week:

5. Sergio Garcia  - El Nino still doesn't think he has what it takes to win a major. I disagree. The Masters may not be the place where he breaks through, but I still think he will give a strong showing, especially considering the form he's in. And, if he's hanging around on Sunday afternoon, you just never know what could happen. Vamos Sergio!

4. Adam Scott - The defending champ just had to be on the list. Even though he blew an oppurtunity at Bay Hill to cement his status as a favorite, he's still the number 2 player in the world. I don't think Adam will repeat his 2013 victory, but he will definitely put in a valiant effort.

3. Matt Kuchar - Although Mr. Consistency couldn't close it out yesterday at the Shell Houston, I feel that he will still be a contender here. He might not win it, but a top 10 is almost assured for Matt. He's just too good.

2. Phil Mickelson - Phil has been showing some signs of life lately, but he's still not the Phil we all know and love. The way I see it, that will all change this week. For some players, Augusta is the medicine that they need. I think we will see Lefty in the hunt this week.

1. Rory McIlroy - Ahh, Rory. I know he's had his troubles in this tournament (2011, 2012, 2013 come to mind), but this year he seems different. Even though he couldn't close it out at the Honda, I think he's ready to win a major again. I expect Mr. McIlroy to be wearing the green jacket on Sunday.

Well, there you have it. These are my 5 players to thrive at The Masters. Let us know your 5 in the comments, or tweet at us @HTWDSports!

Amateur Analysis: USMNT Release 2014 Away Kits

Earlier this morning, the United States Soccer Federation finally announced the design and look of the away kit that the USMNT will be sporting in Brazil this summer.

To contrast the fairly bland, almost pure white home kits that were released last month, the USSF went bold. A lighter blue combined with white in the middle and red on the bottom of the shirt has definitely caused mixed reaction and debate. Check out the kit yourself in this photo:

In my opinion, these aren't that great. The blue isn't the navy blue we see on our flag, and quite frankly, it looks more like a training top than a shirt you'd see in the heat of battle. I'm sure they'll grow on me eventually, but I'm pretty disappointed. I thought the best kits they've had so far were the ones from the 2010 World Cup. Last year's Centennial Crest kit and all navy away kit weren't too shabby, either. 

Take a look at what some USMNT fans from the Twitter universe had to say about the new jerseys:

So the USMNT away kits are an April Fool's joke, right? Because that is France's blue...
— Kelly Hackenbrack (@kmhackenbrack) April 1, 2014

The #USMNT World Cup kits are a disaster
— Tyler Franz (@FranzSolo) April 1, 2014

Actually like the new #USMNT away kits, eye popping
— Wein (@nickweinstein27) April 1, 2014

The USMNT world cup kits look sickk
— Arnela (@ArnelaCordic) April 1, 2014

What are your thoughts on the new shirt? Let us know in the comments, or tweet at us @HTWDSports