A Royal Question

> Royals men’s soccer a mystery in coming season

Davie Wong
Sports Editor

 

I safe to say that last year’s
performance by the Douglas College
Royals’ men’s soccer team was somewhat
bittersweet. Coming into the playoffs
with a .500-win percentage, and then
earning a berth at the CCAA National
Championships was the sweet part.
Coming in 7th out of 8th was the bitter
part.

Since the departure of several
large players at the end of the 2015-2016
season, the Royals have struggled to
find an identity. However, they did find
themselves a star in Race Williams, who
captured the PACWEST Rookie of the

The cult of

 
 
  

> Boxing versus MMA and

why it confuses me

Jillian McMullen
Staff Writer

Wee the so-called “fight of the

century” now over and the
winner determined, both athletes and
enthusiasts alike are left to reflect. Was
the event satisfying, or did it disappoint?
For those of us entirely removed from the
fighting community, on the other hand,
it is a time to reflect on the situation as a
whole.

How did one fighter’s debut boxing
match become the most important fight
of this century? How is it that heading to
work on August 25 took me twice as long,
and, having finally arrived, I was forced to
listen to theories and strategies on what
could or should have happened? Why
were men especially so deeply affected?

Swarms of people crowded into
sports bars small and large, with
customers spilling into sidewalks
and bumping into each other, while
those lucky enough to get a clear view
of a big screen went wild. They were

 

Year award for the Royals. This year, the
situation is a bit strange.

Other than Williams, the Royals
find themselves with almost a completely
new roster. While exciting, the move is
also frightening. A completely new roster
could mean a rough first year for many
of the new Royals, while they adjust to
PACWEST levels of competition. With
the season slated to start on September
6, many are excited to see the new Royals
roster in action, as the team has been very
diligent about keeping their training out
of the spotlight.

That being said, it’s safe to say that
the Royals will probably be a top three
team in the PACWEST, likely finishing
third once again. The undisputed

favourites for the league would have

to be the VIU Mariners. With Victor
Blasco finding his pre-season legs

off a devastating injury last year, and
PACWEST’s Player of the Year Shun
Tasako leading the team, VIU is expected
to be a dominant force.

Of course, there is also the reigning
PACWEST Champions and CCAA Bronze
medalists, the Capilano Blues, though
the offseason has been tough to the
Blues. Their leading player, Kristian
Yli-Hietanen, has moved on with his
career, taking his talents to the UBC
Thunderbirds. But even without Kristian
the team is expected to be a powerhouse.
Only time will tell how vital he was to
their efforts.

 

screaming and gia
calling out
instructions o
insults, each
exclamation
becoming
more and
more like a
ritualistic
chant.
Watching _-
this, from
that removed
position
from the
community
of “the
fighting arts,”
I couldn't
help but
notice how
these men were seemingly collectively
entranced by the glisten of sweat beading
down their champion of choice. There’s
something deeply homoerotic about
thousands of men watching other men

 

beat each other up, as if watching a

fellow man grapple with and ultimately

overcome another were some sort of

testament of their own masculine virility.
The end satisfaction of this particular

event troubles me: Was Mayweather’s

Photo via Douglas College Student Services on Flickr

Langara and Quest are expected to
struggle once again, meaning the Royals
are a solid second-third place team,
unless they find themselves struggling.
It’s unlikely it will come to that while
Robby Toor and Paul Bahia are still the
heads of the program.

The Royals have the potential to be
league contenders, though they also have
the potential to be league bottom feeders.
It will be a brutal schedule to start the
season, as a flurry of games will see the
Royals play the first quarter of their
season by the end of this week. Come
next week, the Royals’ position among
teams in the PACWEST should become
much more clear.

illustration by Cara Seccafien

win over McGregor satisfying for boxing
fans as atestament to his skill, or as an
example of his dominance? And what
does it say about the mentality of fighting
fans either way?