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Atletico returns to European final to shed jinx

By WTOP Staff

PAUL LOGOTHETIS
AP Sports Writer

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Atletico Madrid’s only previous European Cup final appearance branded the club with the nickname that has come to encapsulate its penchant for misfortune.

Beating Real Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday may finally put that moniker to rest.

Atletico was on the cusp of winning the European Cup on its first appearance in the final in 1974, leading Bayern Munich 1-0 in extra time after Luis Aragones curled home in the 114th-minute at Heysel Stadium.

The Spanish club was clinging on until defender Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck stepped up to smash home a powerful right-footed equalizer from outside the area in the 120th-minute.

Without penalties to decide the champion, a replay was scheduled just two days later in Brussels. But having experienced the title slipping from its grasp in such fashion proved too much for Atletico, and it lost 4-0 to a team featuring Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Mueller.

Following the defeat, team President Vicente Calderon termed Atletico “the jinxed ones” or “pupas.”

“We practically had the trophy in our hands,” said Atletico goalkeeper Miguel Reina, father of Spain international Pepe, reminiscing of what could have been before Schwarzenbeck’s low shot beat him.

The loss seems to have had a long-lasting effect on the club.

“Atletico’s history may have been different with that title, which was the first for Bayern,” said former striker Jose Eulogio Garate, who played in that final 40 years ago.

Atletico’s history is filled with success and clouded by unnecessary turmoil and disorder.

Such is Atletico’s knack for dramatics that the team hymn includes the phrase: “What a Way to Suffer.”

One of the most famous advertising campaigns in Spain featured a young child looking up at his father to ask “Daddy, why do we support Atleti?” The father looks off in thought before the phrase “It’s hard to explain” takes over the screen.

During its Spanish league title winning run this season, Atletico did the near unthinkable — it did not stumble or implode as might have been expected.

Instead, coach Diego Simeone’s team showed the verve of a champion and a knack for coming through when it counted to secure a fourth major trophy since 2009/10 — following two Europa League titles and a Copa del Rey.

“The club is growing. We’re pushing forward, building a stronger team, getting better — despite the economic differences in this league,” said Simeone, who has also relied on one of the top qualities of the 1974 team — strength on the counterattack.

Atletico won the Intercontinental Cup after losing to Bayern, and it has an impressive trophy haul overall: 10 Spanish league titles, 10 Copa del Reys, one Cup Winners Cup, two Europa Leagues and two European Super Cups.

“It’s been seven or eight years now that ‘pupas’ doesn’t follow us anymore,” Atletico President Enrique Cerezo said after the club secured its first league title since 1996 last Saturday. “When Calderon labeled the team that, it certainly was at that time. Maybe now they should call us ‘the good luck ones.'”

That could be difficult as Atletico almost seems to embrace the nickname at times, like when it celebrated the 40th anniversary of its lone European Cup final defeat last week.

“Atletico does represent something different, something special,” said Spanish coach Javier Irureta, who played against Bayern. “Usually they only organize homages for champions, not for the losers.

“But the club is like that.”

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Associated Press Writer Jorge Sainz contributed to this report.

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Follow Paul Logothetis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PaulLogoAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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