Leisure … more than a word, it's a lifestyle

Tough weather and tough luck lead to a 1-1 draw in Orlando City’s first ever nationally televised game against the Wilmington Hammerheads.  6,923 fans braved the nearly 30 mile per hour winds to see the third largest crowd of the season, one that surpassed Major League Soccer’s New England/Toronto match on Wednesday night.

Orlando City kicked off the match hesitant in their play due to severe winds but settled after the opening 10 minutes.  The Lions were also playing with an altered line-up as they were missing several key starters due to suspensions and visa issues.  This gave reserves Charlie Campbell, Wes Allen, and Dennis Chin a chance for playing time with the rest of the regular starters.  Allen’s time was unfortunately short-lived as he suffered a leg injury in the 36^th minute, opening up an opportunity for fellow reserve defender Kieron Bernard.

The Lions attacked hard but came up short trying to send the ball to Max Griffin and Devorn Jorsling.  The wind continued to cause havoc with City’s play style, knocking the ball around in unpredictable ways.  The two forwards demonstrated strong passion to score, but were continuously shut down by the wind and Wilmington defense.

The Lions appeared to be one touch shy of a goal as the offense became frustrated in their attack. Max Griffin, Devorn Jorsling, Kevin Molino, and Erik Ustruck all took shots on goal that flew just wide or soared barely over the crossbar.  Orlando and Wilmington battled back and forth for the remainder of the half and demonstrated aggressive play that resulted in a collection of fouls for each team.  The half concluded scoreless.

The Lions sprang to life to start the second half and really began to threaten the Hammerhead defense.  Celebration erupted in the 54^th minute as Orlando City forward Devorn Jorsling scored his first goal of the regular season (pictured above…click to enlarge).  Jorsling struck a powerful shot from about 25 yards outside the goal, capitalizing on the momentum from his two-goal performance in Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup match.

The Lions continued to ignite in their attack as they gained momentum from Jorsling’s spectacular goal.  Campbell, Yordany Alvarez, and Lawrence Olum controlled the midfield while Griffin and Jorsling worked together with them on the attack. In the 74^th minute, Orlando City substituted Max Griffin for Dennis Chin.  Chin’s fresh energy and enthusiasm created a new spark for the Orlando offense.

Unfortunately, the Hammerheads were not settling for a shutout as forward Andriy Budnyy scored a goal in the 84^th minute.  Luke Mulholland’s cross was deflected by Lion defender Kieron Bernard and into the air.  Budnyy received the ball in the 18-yard box and had barely enough time to set up for the shot as he blasted the ball through the legs of Orlando City defender Jack Traynor and the diving hands of Miguel Gallardo.  Both sides fought hard for a go-ahead goal, but could not find the final ball.  The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

“I think we played well but we got too comfortable with the lead at the end of the game,” said Charlie Campbell. “We had a couple mental lapses at the end and broke down defensively and I think that’s what cost us the goal and cost us the two points for that game. I’m disappointed that we lost the other point due to mental errors.  There’s always going to be adversity in the season and it’s how you overcome that adversity. It takes a whole team effort.”

Next up for the Lions is the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.  City travels to Charleston to face fellow USL PRO side Charleston Battery.  A win will advance the Lions to the final 16 of the Open Cup.  They will face FC Dallas in the third round.

Team                                                    1st          2nd        Final

Orlando City                                       0              1              1

Wilmington Hammerheads            0              1              1

Scoring Summary

54^th Minute – Orlando: Devorn Jorsling

84^th Minute – Wilmington: Andriy Budnyy (Luke Mulholland)

Orlando City Line-up

GK: Miguel Gallardo

D: Jack Traynor, Demar Stewart, Wes Allen (36’ – Kieron Bernard), Erik Ustruck

M: Yordany Alvarez, Lawerence Olum, Charlie Campbell, Kevin Molino

F: Devorn Jorsling, Max Griffin (74’ – Dennis Chin)

This Saturday’s match for Orlando City vs. the Wilmington Hammerheads is the club’s first ever nationally televised game. FOX Soccer Channel has chosen this game as the USL PRO Game of the Week and calling all the action will be the voice of USL, Kenn Tomasch, alongside USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor, who will provide color commentary.   Tomasch is a veteran of many USL broadcasts in previous years, and also serves as host of “USL Breakaway Magazine,” a monthly 30-minute highlight and feature show also seen on FOX Soccer.  The first episode of this season’s edition of Breakaway will precede the match broadcast.

Mellor has been a staff coach with the United States Soccer Federation since 1992 and was a professional goalkeeper for two decades, primarily in the English Premier League.  He manages the technical aspects of USL’s player development programs and combines, and assists USL teams in scouting, development and advancement of players.

The match itself promises to be an exciting one.  Orlando and Wilmington met just two weeks ago in Wilmington.  After falling behind 2-1 in the first half, Orlando City roared back with three second-half goals to earn a 4-2 victory.  Both teams won their U.S. Open Cup matches last night by a 4-0 scoreline.

There’s some bad news for Orlando though as the USL has handed down discipline for the physical altercation at midfield in last week’s match against Antigua Barracuda FC.  Two Orlando City players have been suspended for their role in the incident that started when City defender Rob Valentino was taken down from behind by Lawson Robinson.  Valentino popped up and confronted Robinson, only to take a punch.  Valentino retaliated, resulting in both teams rushing to defend their teammates.  Valentino and Lawson were sent off for the altercation, as were Akeem Thomas (Antigua) and a Barracudas assistant coach.

Further video review by the USL has discovered other players, mostly from the Barracudas, were involved.  The additional players have also been suspended and  because Antigua has not and will not play another match before City’s visit on June 24^th, the Caribbean side will be without several starters for the rematch series.

For City, the two suspended players are Rob Valentino and Jamie Watson.  Valentino’s suspension comes as a direct result of his red card.  Watson received a two match suspension for joining in the fracas.  He will miss the Wilmington match and the first match in Antigua but both players will be available for U.S. Open Cup matches as league suspensions have no effect on the tournament.

Below is the full list of suspensions for both teams and I’ve also added a video showing the action from the Antigua game:

Player                                  Team                    Suspension

Lawson Robinson              ANT                        6/24 vs. Orlando

George Dublin                   ANT                         6/24 vs. Orlando, 6/26 vs. Orlando

Quinton Griffith                  ANT                      6/24 vs. Orlando, 6/26 vs. Orlando

Carl Casey (coach)          ANT                         6/24 vs. Orlando, 6/26 vs. Orlando

Akeem Thomas                  ANT                        6/24 vs. Orlando, 6/26 vs. Orlando

Rob Valentino                     ORL                        6/18 vs. Wilmington

Jamie Watson                     ORL                        6/18 vs. Wilmington, 6/24 @ Antigua

Tickets for the match are still available, starting at just $12.  For more information or to order tickets, call 407-536-5368 or visit www.orlandocitysoccer.com today!

Orlando is home to three of the World’s most famous theme parks, with many wonderful and thrilling rides and attractions, but one of the smaller and oldest of the attractions has possibly unveiled the most thrilling ride of all. For over 50 years, Gatorland in South Orlando has been a family friendly, affordable natural attraction featuring thousands of alligators in an environment that is equal parts education and entertainment. That all changes on June 16, 2011 when they open their all-new Screamin’ Gator Zip Line Experience to the general public.

Florida Leisure were invited to have an early preview of this experience so we sent along our intrepid reporter, Colin Bowman, who sent in a great report and he says his heart is still pounding from the expeirence! Here’s his report:

Gator Zip Line Experience

by Colin Bowman

This 2½ hour experience begins with you meeting your guides for the trip, an orientation video with the hilarious and inept “Bubba” and “Cooter” and then time to truss you up in your safety gear. With all the harnesses on and your helmet you feel pretty good and invincible, a feeling that lasts right up until you arrive at the first tower and look up.

Tower one stands over six stories and has what feels like 100 stairs (it’s probably less, but believe me, counting steps was the last thing on my mind). If that fact takes your breath away, try and find it once you have actually climbed to the top. Your guide then informs you that the launch platform is over fifty feet above the ground and of course you are compelled to look down. He’s right … above the ground … concrete below and lots of people looking up at you, video cameras in hand … and you know what they want to have happen.. Having never ziplined before, it was a big test of intestinal fortitude to step off that platform and believe me I prayed that all these harnesses, which now seem extremely flimsy, are going to hold you in place as you travel almost 250ft at about fifteen miles per hour through the tree tops. Anyway, away we go …

And we land at tower two which is slightly bigger, standing at 56ft tall, but the launch platform is only 46ft off the ground. The line itself is only 265ft in length , so traveling at twenty miles per hour should be a doddle … except that this time you are going over a pool with about 30 alligators below you … oh joy … here we go again … backwards, because the cute little girl with the camera says she can get a better photo and of course you have to impress her … but stepping off a platform backwards wearing a piece of material and a couple of lanyards is an daunting experience for sure … whoosh … see you later gators …

This is getting easy … now for tower three. It stands at 65ft and has a launch platform 56ft off the ground. We will be traveling 230ft at over twenty five miles per hour. Wait a minute, that’s getting higher and faster … dammit … “Try running off this one,” says my guide … “Oops I can’t hear you,” I reply as I grab everything and use my trusty sit-down take off method … Then I hear drums … only to discover that it is actually my heart, because straight ahead I see an even bigger tower and with that I arrive at …

Tower four which looms over the park like King Kong. It stands over seventy five feet tall, the launch platform is sixty five feet off the ground and the line is 520ft long. This means I will be traveling at almost thirty miles per hour. Did I mention the breeding marsh below with 130 of the biggest alligators that you have ever seen plus one particularly angry crocodile. At this point, I also became aware of the fact that these towers rock and sway a lot in the wind. My mouth is also very dry and I am very grateful for the water provided at this station, although I am just praying that the contents of my bladder will remain there. “Don’t forget the photo op,” says my cheerful guide … I am just praying I am not going to become the latest YouTube sensation for all the wrong reasons … GERONIMO (I wish I had shouted something brave) …

And a few seconds later … touchdown … I feel like I have won the SuperBowl … one to go. “Just cross over the rickety bridge to get to the last zipline. “RICKETY BRIDGE?” How did I miss that? Bridges, why did it have to be bridges. I hate them. I hate rickety ones in the wind even more and being clipped to the safety line 31ft up in the air crossing this 150ft long bridge was not my idea of fun … even less when my companion decided it would be fun to start her crossing when I was halfway across and started bouncing … fortunately she weighs about the same as a bag of flour, so the effect wasn’t as great as she hoped … but still, the people below obviously thought it was funny. I am sure the smiles would’ve been wiped from their faces if I had used them as a landing mat.

Finally, after a nerve-wracking eternity I made it over to tower six (five is where the bridge starts). This is my favorite, side-by-side ziplines so you can drag race and attempt a measure of revenge on any companions who may have slighted you, by smoking them over the 340ft line traveling at speeds up to thirty miles per hour … or not!!!! Even though I did attempt to run off the platform, there was a definite stutter step at the end when I realized that is I didn’t reach the other side, I would be dangling over another lake chocked full of alligators … hopefully they haven’t mastered the art of acrobatic pyramids, but for some reason I couldn’t get Fantasia out of my head (the Disney movie, not the American Idol).

But I survived and this really was so much fun and should be added to your bucket list of things to do next time you vacation in Orlando and if you are fortunate enough to live here, what are you waiting for.

Known internationally as the “Alligator Capital of the World,” you can find out more about this experience and Gatorland in general at http://www.gatorland.com/ScreaminGator.php

Tuesday marks yet another first for the Orlando City history books as the club begins its first season of US Open Cup play against USASA Region II side ASC New Stars. The Lions are now a part of an American soccer tradition that dates back to 1914. The match will be played at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex.

City’s first opponent represents what makes the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup unique. ASC New Stars are an amateur team from the Houston area. They qualified for the tournament through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) regional tournament. Much like the FA Cup in England, the Open Cup allows all amateur and professional teams the opportunity to qualify for the tournament.

The New Stars come into the match as the champions of Region II of the USASA. They defeated fellow Houston area club Regals FC 2-1 in overtime in the Region II final over Memorial Day weekend. Regals FC also qualified for the tournament and stand to be Orlando City’s next opponent should both Regals and the Lions advance.

The Lions will bring a new look line-up into the match. Several players are being rested ahead of the Lions national television debut on Saturday. This opens up opportunities for local products Justin Fojo (Lake Mary) and Dennis Chin (Oviedo) to get their first starts of the season. Recent signing Charlie Campbell and reserve goalkeeper Sean Kelley will also be receiving their first starts of the season.

A victory in the match advances the Lions to the second round of the tournament. They will face the winner of the Charleston Battery/Regals FC match. If Charleston wins, the Lions will travel to Charleston. Regals will travel to Orlando should they emerge victorious. If the match is played in Orlando, it will take place at UCF.

Tickets for the match are $15 and are general admission. For more information, visit www.orlandocitysoccer.com or call 407-536-5368

Proposed Line-up (unofficial):

GK: Sean Kelley

DF: Mechack Jerome, Wes Allen, Kieron Bernard, Jack Traynor

MF: Kevin Molino, Charlie Campbell, Justin Fojo, Jamie Watson

FW: Devorn Jorsling, Dennis Chin

It’s time to dust off the Stetson and round up the family this weekend as it’s again time for the Silver Spurs Rodeo! The Silver Spurs Rodeo is an event where the country’s top cowboys and the most unpredictable livestock mix it up for some entertaining and often exhilarating action. Rodeo fans enjoy events such as bull riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding and barrel racing. There’s also some cowboy clowns to please the crowd.

The Silver Spurs Rodeo was founded by the Silver Spurs Riding Club in 1944 to promote good horsemanship and good fellowship in Osceola County. It has grown to become one of the most successful rodeos in the country, the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi and is ranked annually among the top 50 events sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Held for years in an outdoor arena, the Silver Spurs Rodeo has a new home — the high-tech Silver Spurs Arena, located at Osceola Heritage Park. The one-year-old multi-million dollar indoor facility is climate-controlled with the latest state-of-the-art, high-tech lighting and audio — the ultimate in rodeo watching comfort.

Kissimmee’s Cattle Country History
Most people who visit Kissimmee come to the area to visit Central Florida’s theme parks so they are more than a bit surprised to find that cattle ranches, rodeos and cowboys still continue to play such a big part in the area’s culture. All of these were around long before Mr. Disney came to town and changed the Central Florida landscape forever.

It was back in the 1500′s, when Spanish explorers landed on the coast of Florida with their ships loaded with everything they needed to tame a new territory, including cattle. They often found that crossing the watery swamps of Central Florida was a treacherous occupation and very often a few head of cattle wandered away as the travelers became bogged down. Despite these dangerous conditions the lost cattle managed to survived and even multiply. Moving forward some 200 years later, the area’s next settlers found the plains of the Kissimmee River Valley overrun with herds of wild cows. Stories are told of early residents in downtown Kissimmee fencing their yards to keep the wild cows out and while these animals undoubtedly caused some headaches for Osceola’s early pioneer families, the cattle also provided a valuable food source.

Today, that cowboy way of life still continues and every week local cowboys and cowgirls entertain themselves by competeing in action-packed, all-American events like bull riding, calf roping and barrel racing at the Kissimmee Sports Arena’s Friday Night Rodeo. Twice a year, however, the action is kicked into high gear at the Silver Spurs Rodeo where the country’s toughest cowboys go head-to-head with the country’s nastiest bulls and saddle broncs. The 127th PRCA Silver Spurs Rodeo bucks into action today and tomorrow, June 4-5 at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. It costs just $15 per person, plus kids 10 and under are free, and gains you entrance into one of the original extreme sports that will be sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

All of the traditional rodeo events at the official state rodeo of Florida will get underway on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Events such as bull riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, and barrel racing, along with crowd-pleasing cowboy clowns, will all take place during each performance.

You can lasso your tickets in advance by visiting www.silverspursrodeo.com or call (407)-67RODEO.

Information and Directions
The 120-acre Osceola Heritage Park, which includes the Silver Spurs Arena, Osceola County Stadium, the Exhibition Building, Outdoor Pavillion, KVLS Pavillion and University of Florida Extension Services has been developed as a showplace of facilities that honor and celebrates the Kissimmee-St. Cloud community and its agricultural and cattle ranching heritage.

The Silver Spurs Rodeo is located at the Silver Spurs Arena, 1875 Silver Spur Lane, Kissimmee. The Silver Spurs Arena is located within the Osceola Heritage Park off Highway 192 east of Kissimmee.

Space Shuttle Endeavour blasted off on the penultimate shuttle flight yesterday morning under the command of Mark Kelly, the husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The wounded congresswoman was at Kennedy Space Center and watched the launch in an undisclosed private location.

Endeavour is headed for the International Space Station for one final time before heading to retirement at a Los Angeles museum. The shuttle’s experienced, all-male crew will deliver and install a $2 billion particle physics experiment during the 16-day flight, as well as spare station parts.

This is also the next to last flight for the 30-year-old space shuttle fleet. It is the final flight for the shuttle Endeavour, NASA’s youngest orbiter, which has flown 116.4 million miles in 24 previous flights.

All being well and with Mark Kelly at the helm, Endeavour and its experienced crew of five Americans and an Italian, Pilot Gregory H. Johnson and Mission Specialists Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori will arrive at the International Space Station on Wednesday. They will deliver a $2 billion magnetic instrument that will seek out antimatter and dark energy in the universe.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators witnessed Endeavour’s last launch but it was a smaller turnout than the crowds that viewed the last shuttle launch in February. The early morning launch may have affected the turn out as Endeavour blasted off at 8:56 a.m. whereas February’s launch and last month’s failed attempt were in the afternoon.

Projections had put Monday’s crowd at 500,000, more than the number that saw shuttle Discovery’s final hurrah in February however Titusville Assistant Police Chief John Lau guessed the crowd at between 350,000 and 400,000.

Today is Earth Day and appropriately enough SeaWorld Orlando debuted its new killer whale show, “One Ocean” at 10.00 am this morning inside Shamu Stadium. The new show replaced the popular “Believe” show, which ran for five years, and judging from popular opinion among the audience, it seems that “One Ocean” is going to be just as big a hit if not bigger!

Both Jack Hanna (star of Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild & Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures) and Sea World President Terry Prather spoke at the opening ceremony about both the significance of Earth Day and the inspiring and educational message behind the show that both animals and humans are part of one world, with one ocean, and its future is in our hands to cherish and protect.

Just like any new Broadway production the show has a new set. The big TV screens from the former Believe show are still a part of the Shamu Stadium set but the iconic black and white Orca whale tail on the back of the 80 feet long by 30 feet tall 3-story set, has now developed a full color look and takes the form of an immense killer whale fluke. It incorporates the colors of the ocean’s spectrum… from cobalt blue, to aquamarine and even royal purple, while it reflects the vivid yellows and oranges of a sunrise over the sea. There are also dozens of hand-crafted, translucent animal figures adorning the towering set.

Another new and exciting part of the show are the fountains at the front of the stage. The show sports 35 different fountains that arch 50 feet across the pool and while Shamu plays with the fountains, guests get soaked by the chilly 53 to 56 degree water! Fun for some…

Completing the set is a fantastic new symphonic score that features three original songs intended to evoke a global stewardship message: “One Song,” “Side by Side,” and “We’re One.”

Today’s opening ceremony also featured a choir of nearly 600 people, young and old alike, dressed in colors from the show’s vibrant palette while Spencer Lee, an up and coming artist, who has made numerous TV appearances on shows like “Greek” and “Glee”, performed the show’s signature number, “One Song.”

The whales are the true stars of the show however, and “One Ocean” features spectacular whale behaviors, including thrilling high energy leaps and multiple whales performing simultaneously. The whales interact in new ways with their trainers, the audience, one another, and even the set itself. Particularly thoughtful is the fact that not only do the fountains provide such a dramatic effect for the show but they also serve as enrichment for the whales during play times throughout the day.

Overall the show promises to show SeaWorld guests how closely the human and animal worlds are connected. The message of caring and showing respect for the world we share is woven throughout the new show. More importantly it encourages guests to make a difference through their own everyday actions…and that’s a message we all need to hear more often. Here’s looking forward to a long and successful run for “One Ocean.”

There’s more pictures on www.Facebook.com/FloridaLeisure and featured below is a short video from the opening of “One Ocean” earlier today:

The newly remodeled Lego Imagination Center reopened on Tuesday so I went along to take a look at what the new store now looks like. The store is larger and features some new Disney Lego sculptures such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs seen below. (To see larger images simply click on the picture.)

There’s a large model of Maleficent in her dragon form on the east side of the store and a brave Lego man on horseback who seems ready for the fight while close by is the outside play area which has swapped sides from where it was before.

Facing the Downtown Disney lake  is a model of Buzz and Woody from Toy Story as they blast off.

Meanwhile inside the store it appears better laid out and much easier to get around. The only large sculpture to be found indoors now is the one you see below of Woody and there’s a brand new room where Lego classes will be taught and birthday parties can be held.

Of course, the wall of colored Lego is still available and this is always a big hit with kids wanting to build stuff.

And pictured above is Brickly the Sea Serpent who remains unchanged. There’s loads more photo’s on our Facebook page so click here to be taken to them… make sure you click “LIKE” to access all the photo’s. And finally, here’s some video of my trip…

Just announced over at Kennedy Space Center – When space shuttle Atlantis returns from its final mission in July, it’s coming home to stay at Kennedy Space Center, congressional sources said today.

Their confirmation came moments before NASA Administrator Charles Bolden was to make the announcement that the Visitors Center here will get to keep and display Atlantis for visitors and for the thousands of KSC workers who spent their careers launching the shuttles into orbit over the past three decades.

As expected, KSC won a nationwide sweepstakes to keep one of the three remaining active shuttles that have been the backbone of America’s space program since 1981. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Brevard County, had pushed hard to keep Atlantis, on which both he and Bolden flew into orbit in 1986, in his political backyard.

Bolden brought the good news to more than 300 NASA officials and area dignitaries gathered outside KSC’s orbiter maintenance facility for what was initially set up to be a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the first shuttle launch. The announcement was preceded by a 15-minute video about the shuttle, the most complex machine ever built, narrated by William Shatner, and congratulations from the six crew members aboard the International Space Station.

As regards the other shuttles,  Discovery is heading to the Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia and Endeavour is off to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Finally,  the prototype Enterprise, which never flew in space, goes to the Intrepid museum in New York City. Seems like a decent split to me and hopefully it’ll please most people.

30 years ago today Columbia and its crew of NASA astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen blasted off to begin three decades of shuttle missions with a first test flight that has been called the boldest ever. Columbia left earth at 7.00am on 12th April, 1981, to venture into space on a shake down mission and returned two days later.

NASA plans to announce retirement homes for Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour on the 30th anniversary of the first launch and we’ll have news of that late today.

After the fleet’s retirement, European and Japanese cargo ships will provide the International Space Station with supplies, but ISS crewmembers will have to fly there on Russian Soyuz capsules.

Over the decades, the reusable orbiters and their crews have deployed satellites, observatories and planetary probes. They delivered and repaired the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as crucial elements of the ISS. The shuttles united the rival Soviet and United States space programs in the years of construction of the ISS and after it was built.