If I Was King of Sports: World Cup NIT

I have been thinking about this for six years, but there should be a NIT version for international soccer. The best teams that did not make the World Cup would go. For my tournament, I would have 64 teams compete in a knockout tournament. Each round would be one-leg (though if I was running it, I might have the first round be a home-and-home so each country would have the chance to host at least one game). European, Asian, and African teams could play each other as early as the first round as long as they did not play each other in the final round of World Cup Qualifying, because they each have a lot of teams. I would not have teams from North America, South America, or Oceania play each other until the second round. Each confederation would get one automatic qualifier, with the OFC getting two until it gets a full spot in the World Cup. The automatic qualifiers would be who came the closest to making the World Cup from each confederation without getting in. With Europe having four teams eliminated in the same round, it would be the highest ranking of the four going into the final round. The rest of the teams would be chosen from the top FIFA rankings based off the March rankings of a World Cup year. Automatic Qualifiers AFC (Asia)- Syria CAF (Africa)- Congo (DR) COMNEBOL (South America)- Chile CONCACAF (North America)- Honduras OFC (Oceania)- New Zealand and Solomon Islands UEFA (Europe)- Italy Tournament (Automatic qualifiers in CAPS) Bracket I (16) SOLOMON ISLANDS vs. (1) CHILE (9) Slovenia vs. (8) Cape Verde (12) Trinidad & Tobago vs. (5) Bulgaria (13) United Arab Emirates vs. (4) CONGO (DR) (11) Uzbekistan vs. (6) Jamaica (14) El Salvador vs. (3) Paraguay (10) Cote D'Ivoire vs. (7) Hungary (15) Lebanon vs. (2) Slovakia Bracket IV (16) Cyprus vs. (1) Netherlands (9) China vs. (8) Norway (12) South Africa vs. (5) Greece (13) Luxembourg vs. (4) Ukraine (11) Macedonia vs. (6) Montenegro (14) Iraq vs. (3) Serbia (10) Mali vs. (7) Burkina Faso (15) Armenia vs. (2) Northern Ireland Bracket III (16) Belarus vs. (1) Wales (9) Ecuador vs. (8) Albania (12) Zambia vs. (5) Czech Republic (13) Curacao vs. (4) Romania (11) SYRIA vs. (6) Bolivia (14) Haiti vs. (3) Scotland (10) Finland vs. (7) Ghana (15) Congo vs. (2) United States Bracket II (16) NEW ZEALAND vs. (1) ITALY (9) HONDURAS vs. (8) Algeria (12) Uganda vs. (5) Bosnia and Herzegovina (13) Benin vs. (4) Turkey (11) Palestine vs. (6) Venezuela (14) Estonia vs. (3) Ireland (10) Guinea vs. (7) Cameroon (15) Canada vs. (2) Austria

If I Was King of Sports- Reno 8

by Matt Groom 3/5/18 Two years ago bd Global tried the Vegas 16 tournament as an alternate for the collegeinsider.com (CIT) and College Basketball Invitational (CBI) tournaments (wikipedia.com) for NCAA Division I teams to play that were not invited to the main tournament or the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). In my opinion it was a great idea. Sixteen teams would meet in one spot and play a tournament throughout the entire weekend a week before the NCAA had its championship game. It did not work, however. These organizers could not even fill out a full bracket of sixteen teams. It ultimately had to be cut to eight teams, and the tournament only lasted one year. I think this idea would be better suited for division II of the NCAA. These colleges do not have as much money to pay for the constant traveling from site to site, and it will allow the NCAA to reward more teams for great seasons. Plus there is no secondary tournament in Division II, so there is no competition. If I was in charge, I would have a tournament for Division II. Since it is division II and these schools do not have as much fan support, I would put the tournament in a smaller location. I think Reno is the perfect place for it. I would have eight teams play at the Reno Events Center in downtown Reno. The teams I would have would be the top team from each of the eight regions that did not make the NCAA Division II tournament. The top two ranked teams would be put in opposite sides of the bracket. Where the other six teams would be located would be by random draw. I think that would add some fun to the tournament. If the NCAA would want to expand it to 16 teams, then I would take the top two teams in each region, and teams in the same region would not play each other in the first round. My tournament Teams In Atlantic-Indiana (PA) (22-7) (81) Central- Northwestern Oklahoma (20-6) (NR) East- Daeman (21-7) (133) Midwest- Southern Indiana (17-10) (66) South-Benedict (16-9) (126) Southeast- Augusta (16-12) (138) South Central- Tarleton St. (14-10) (28) West- Chico St. (18-7) (91) (NR) Benedict vs. (1) Tarleton St. (NR) Daemen vs. (NR) Indiana (PA) (NR) Northwestern Oklahoma vs. (NR) Augusta (NR) Chico St. vs. (2) Southern Indiana If the tournament expanded to 16 the extra teams would be... Atlantic- Kutztown Central- Central Oklahoma East- New Haven Midwest- Indianapolis South- Benedict Southeast- Barton South Central- Angelo St. West- Western Washington

If I Was King Of Sports- 209 basketball tournament #4

by Matt Groom If I was king of sports, I would like to have a basketball tournament for the high schools in the 209 area code. Though I would like to have it as a post-season tournament, I think it would actually work better as a summer league tournament. Seeing priority of teams: 1) Section champions 2) Section runners-up 3) League champions 4) Combination of record and maxpreps.com rankings. I would have 64 teams in the main tournament. In the first round, they would be divided into eight pods of eight teams each. The top eight teams by my seeding priority would host in the first three rounds. I would have a losers bracket as well as a winners bracket. Each pod would run like a preseason high school tournament where each team is guaranteed three games. In the next three rounds, they would be held at neutral sites. Where teams would go would depend on how they finished in their respective pods. Pod winners- Stockton Arena (Stockton, CA) 2nd place- University of Pacific (Stockton, CA) 3rd place- Stanislaus State University (Turlock, CA) 4th place- UC-Merced (Merced, CA) 5th place- Delta College (Stockton, CA) 6th place- Modesto Junior College (Modesto, CA) 7th place- Merced College (Merced, CA) 8th place- Columbia College- (Sonora, CA) There would be no enrollment-based divisions in this tournament. Teams in the same league would not be in the same pod. In a realignment year (like this will be), the rule will be based off the new leagues, not the old. I would try not to have the old league alignments, either, but that will not always be possible. Here is what my 2018 tournament would look like if I was King of Sports Note: If a team has two league names next to it, the old league will be listed first and the new league will be listed second) Pod A @ Central Catholic (Modesto) (8) Turlock Christian Eagles (CCAA) vs. (1) Central Catholic Raiders-Modesto (VOL) (5) Livingston Wolves (WAC-TVL) vs. (4) West Wolfpack-Tracy (TCAL) (6) Orestimba Warriors-Newman (SL) vs. (3) Gregori Jaguars-Modesto (MMC-CCAL) (7) Mountain House Mustangs (TVL-WAC) vs. (2) El Capitan Gauchos-Merced (CCC) Pod H @ Lincoln (Stockton) (8) Hilmar Yellowjackets (TVL) vs. (1) Lincoln Trojans-Stockton (TCAL) (5) Turlock Bulldogs (CCC-CCAL) vs. (4) Stockton Christian Eagles (MVL) (6) Kimball Jaguars-Tracy (VOL) vs. (3) Jim Elliot Christian Eagles-Lodi (CCAA) (7) Lathrop Spartans (VOL-WAC) vs. (2) Liberty Ranch Hawks-Galt (SVC) Pod E @ Ripon Christian (8) Linden Lions (MLL-SDL) vs. (1) Ripon Cristian Knights (TVL) (5) Holt Academy Bobcats-Stockton (MVL) vs. (4) Summerville Bears-Toulumne City (MLL) (6) Manteca Buffaloes (VOL) vs. (3) Tracy Bulldogs (TCAL) (7) Chavez Titans-Stockton (SJAA) vs. (2) Patterson Tigers (WAC-CCC) Pod D @ St. Mary's (Stockton) (8) Central Valley Hawks-Ceres (WAC-CCC) vs. (1) St. Mary's Rams-Stockton (TCAL) (5) Venture Academy Mustangs-Stockton (CCAA) vs. (4) Stagg Delta Kings- Stockton (SJAA) (6) Ceres Bulldogs (WAC) vs. (3) Weston Ranch Cougars-Stockton (VOL) (7) Bret Harte Bullfrogs-Angels Camp (MLL) vs. (2) Hughes Academy Titans-Stockton (MVL) Pod F @ Beyer (Modesto) (8) Lodi Flames (TCAL) vs. (1) Beyer Patriots-Modesto (MMC-WAC) (5) Sierra Timberwolves-Manteca (VOL) vs. (4) Enochs Eagles-Modesto (MMC-CCAL) (6) Riverbank Bruins (TVL) vs. (3) Calaveras-San Andreas (MLL) (7) Atwater Falcons (CCC) vs. (2) Mariposa Grizzlies (SL) Pod C @ Argonaut (Jackson) (8) Waterford Wildcats (SL) vs. (1) Argonaut Mustangs-Jackson (MLL) (5) Modesto Panthers (MMC-CCAL) vs. (4) Merced Bears (CCC) (6) Lodi Academy Titans (MVL) vs. (3) Los Banos Tigers (WAC) (7) Oakdale Mustangs (VOL) vs. (2) Bear Creek Bruins-Stockton (SJAA) Pod G @ Sonora (8) Johansen Vikings-Modesto (MMC-WAC) vs. (1) Sonora Wildcats (MLL) (5) Tioga Timberwolves-Groveland (MVL) vs. (4) Hughson Huskies (TVL) (6) Le Grand Bulldogs (SL) vs. (3) Golden Valley Cougars-Merced (CCC) (7) Franklin Yellowjackets-Stockton (SJAA) vs. (2) Brookside Christian Knights-Stockton (CCAA) Pod B @ Modesto Christian (8) Amador Buffaloes-Sutter Creek (MLL) vs. (1) Modesto Christian Crusaders (MMC-TCAL) (5) Denair Coyotes (SL) vs. (4) Big Valley Lions-Modesto (CCAA) (6) Edison Vikings-Stockton (SJAA) vs. (3) Pitman Pride-Turlock (CCC-CCAL) (7) Buhach Colony-Atwater (CCC) vs. (2) Ripon Indians (TVL) Non-advancing pods, in order to include as many teams as possible, I would have two non-advancing pods. In these pods, the top two teams that did not qualify for the main tournament would host. The teams would just have their guaranteed three games. I would design this part like a true "S-curve". Teams from the same league could play as early as the first round. Pod I @ Millennium (Tracy) (8) Stone Ridge Christian-Merced (CCAA) vs. (1) Millennium-Tracy (CCAA) (5) Dos Palos (WSL) vs. (4) Sierra Ridge/Rite of Passage-San Andreas (CCAA) (6) Tokay-Lodi (TCAL) vs. (3) Galt (SVC) (7) Escalon (TVL) vs. (2) Downey-Modesto (MMC-CCAL) Pod J @ Delhi (8) Davis-Modesto (MMC-WAC) vs. (1) Delhi (SL) (5) Humphreys Charter-Stockton (MVL) vs. (4) Gustine (SL) (6) East Union-Manteca (VOL) vs. (3) Pacheco-Los Banos (WAC) (7) McNair-Stockton (SJAA) vs. (2) Delta Charter-Tracy (MVL) Pod K Central Valley Christian @ Don Pedro