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Wit and Wisdom Updates Over the Last Month on CoachPounds.com! You're Welcome!

 

Monday, July 12, 2010

Sporty Quick Hitty Goodness Part 2!!!

Soccer

Well, the world cup is over and my predictions weren't too far off.  The real problem is what I am going to watch in the morning and early afternoons now?  I guess I have to start working on football stuff and be productive.  Or, watch old football games on the Big Ten Network or the NFL Network.  We'll see what happens.  Spain deserved to win it all, even though they knocked out my 2 favorite European teams in their final 2 games.  I am already excited about the new Premier League season to start.  COYB! (That stands for "Come On You Blues" which is a rally cry for Everton, just like IMWT which stands for "In Moyes We Trust" because he is the best coach in the entire league)  I am in the market for a Bundesliga side because I need to be more involved in German soccer because that is my European nation of choice.  The obvious for me would be Nuremberg, seeing as that was the main city that The Lovely Mrs. Coach Pounds and I stayed in while we were in Germany 4 years ago.  I will keep you updated on that.

Golf

Tiger Woods is upset that certain questions about his personal life are coming up during press conferences.  Now everyone that feels sorry for Tiger, please raise your hand...anyone...oh...Maybe you shouldn't have tried to become the next Wilt Chamberlain while married and marketing yourself as a family man.  Maybe that will work.

Baseball

I am watching the Home Run Derby right now and it reminds me that this is the only day of the year that I miss the steroid era.  The home run derby was so much more entertaining when everyone was all juiced up.  I watched the 1998 Home Run Derby on the greatness of the MLB Network the other day and it was comical.  Anyway, that is all beside the point.  The slump for Your Texas Rangers came one series earlier than I expected.  How bad was this series against the Orioles?  Please note the following:

  • The Orioles are the worst team in baseball, even after winning their last 4 games. They are so bad that the 4 games that they have won against the Rangers this past week accounts for 14% of their wins for the entire season or 1/7 of their win total.
  • The Orioles hadn't won a road series, much less swept a road series, this entire season until this past week.  Not only that...
  • The Orioles haven't swept a 4 games road series since July of 1995.  I was 15 years old the last time the Orioles swept a team on the road in a 4 game series.

I like the trade for Cliff Lee.  The Rangers have no chance of signing him next season because the Yankees want him, but they were able to rent him for the end of this season without touching any of their biggest minor league prospects.  It is hard to see Smoak go, but there are multiple descent to good offensive first basemen available every off season, and who knows, maybe Chris Davis will get things figured out this time around.  What I hate about the trade is the stupid Ranger fan.  I was at the game on Saturday, in the greatness of the All You Can Eat Seats...thank you Chuck Morgan, and the Orioles hit some good pitches that Lee made and they BOOED THE FIRST ACE THIS TEAM HAS HAD SINCE NOLAN RYAN!  They booed him.  Idiots!  The guy throws a complete game in less than 100 pitches with the whole world watching him, the offense scores one stinking run off of an error and wild pitch the entire game, and these morons that are more concerned about participating in "The Wave" than actively watching a baseball game boo Cliff Lee.  Amazing.  The spare to fair Rangers fan continues to wear me out.  I know this is a football town, but at least watch a game on TV in St. Louis so you can know the proper way to be a baseball fan.  If you can't do that, please stay home!

Hockey

So Mike Modano joins the long list of athletes that have a stellar career and can't figure out when to hang 'em up.  So sad.

Football

So Michael Vick is in trouble again because he had to keep it real.  I don't want to get into that or anything else concerning this sport because I am about to explode if I don't get to this next topic off my chest...

Basketball

No I am not going to talk about LeBron, or the Cavs Owner's reaction, or the Heat, or how it is predicted that the city of Cleveland will have a $20 to $40 million negative economic impact due to him leaving, or that Wade is somehow getting less money than LeBron and Bosh even though Bosh is extremely over-rated, or how Jesse Jackson just had to show his ignorance on this whole LeBron deal by likening him to a freed slave, or how LeBron Fatheads are now $17.41 in honor of the year the Benedict Arnold was born (thanks to Coach Ketcham for pointing that out to me, he is nothing if not historical).  I am here to once again, talk about how stupid the Mavericks are.  Huge shock there.  So the Mavs keep Brendan Haywood by severely overpaying him.  I am ok with that.  Haywood was a pretty good player since he was acquired by the Mavs, and hopefully this means we have seen the last of Dampier in a Mavericks uniform because he is a constant reminder of how we valued him over a future back to back League MVP point guard.  The one thing that Cuban does right is overpay to get what he wants.  What puzzles me is the report, that the Mavericks admit to, that they are still in trade negotiations with the Wolves for Al Jefferson.  So you are going to get 2 centers that will not accept a back-up role and expect everything to work out ok?  I understand that you probably think this is a good idea that if this happens the Mavs will be able to better match up with the size of the Lakers, but should that be the perspective of a team that lost in the 1st round?  If the Mavs lost in 6 or 7 games to the Lakers in the Western Conference Championship series, then I understand this attempt, but they lost convincingly to the Spurs in the first round, who lost convincingly to the Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals, who lost to the Lakers in 6 game in the Western Conference Finals only because they used a defense that was illegal in the NBA a few years ago to steal 2 games.  That does not sound like a team that is one big man away from taking domination away from the Lakers in the Western Conference.  They are a big man, a consistent 3 point shooter, a defensive shutdown player, a slasher who makes +80% of his free throws, a true backup for Dirk, and a starting point guard that isn't getting membership offers from AARP away from taking domination away from the Lakers.  The one thing this team seemed to have going for it was team chemistry.  Go ahead and throw that out the door if this trade happens.  The fact that the Mavericks are even exploring this proves that the window is shut on a championship for this team and now the goal of this team is obviously to win 50+ games every season and pat ourselves on the back after a disappointing playoff exit and then try to grab some more straws during the offseason or trade deadline.  In the words of a filthy character in the Austin Powers movies, "It's a vicious cycle." 

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Sporty Quick Hitty Goodness!!!

Wow!  If you were watching the USA beat Algeria in the 91st minute of the final game of group play yesterday, you know what I am talking about.  If you don't know what I am talking about, here are a few hints:

I could watch 100 of these.  I was alone at my house with The Wife and the kid back in the bedroom and I am not afraid to admit it, I squealed like a girl.  I was trying to remember the last time that I had a "I remember exactly where I was when..." that was sports related.  I think it was when the Stars won the Stanley Cup, I was at a friend's house in Flower Mound.  In other words, I was due.  Thank you Landon Donovan!

I love that there is relevent sports watching every morning for a whole month!  Usually it is just catch up on news or highlights from the previous night, but with the World Cup going on, there is live sports that I care about on every morning.  This is how every summer day should be.  The Rangers need to plan some morning games next summer so I can have something to entertain me while I feed my daughter a bottle of fake milk.

The NBA Draft is tonight and I have not paid attention to one second of it.  With the way that the Mavericks draft, it will only make me angry, so I am going to stay away from it.  I am going to try and avoid all Mavericks related results as long as I can.  We will see how long this lasts.

I know that everyone is big on the Rangers right now and there is no bigger fan than me, but if you know me well, you know that I am THE authority on all things Texas Rangers Pessimism.  So here we go, don't go crazy over this win streak.  There is no reason to get fired up over a win streak that includes any team from Milwaukee, a team that just fired its manager, a team that has rumors swirling all around it about selling off its best players, and a team who's last winning season was 1992.  I WAS 12 YEARS OLD!!!  Plus, Smoak, Borbon, and Hamilton can't keep this offense up and Dustin Nippert is now in the starting rotation.  There is very little chance that the Rangers will be able to deal for anyone at the trade deadline as Tom Hicks continues to be my kryptonite.

This has been a tough year for Nike.  Let's start with next year's NBA Finals.  Nike was so sure that there was going to be a Kobe-LeBron show down that they ramped up the puppets that didn't look or sound anything like the actual players.  After heavy promotion and pub, the Cavs tanked and Nike was stuck with a bunch of worthless ads that involed puppets.  Then their "bell-cow" Tiger Woods goes through all his stuff and Nike has so much invested in him that they are just about the only sponsor that stayed with him.  During football season they hung their hats on LaDanian Tomlinson (ineffective) and Troy Polamalu (injured) with very little success.  This basketball season once again did not feature LeBron in the finals, so there is another wasted playoff promotion.  So they hitched their wagon to their highest profile soccer athletes for the World Cup.  They came up with a great marketing campaign and a great commercial that can be played all at once or cut up into pieces.  If you haven't seen it, here it is:

Now I know that many of you are not the avid soccer fan that I am so let me take you through this athlete by athlete and show you that Nike is still in a slump.

1.) Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) - maybe the best finisher on the planet broke his arm a week before the World Cup began

2.) Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) - captianed the Italians to the World Cup Championship 4 years ago and also captained the Italians to finishing last in the weakest group in the entire World Cup this year

3.) Wayne Rooney (England) - the best player that England has to offer can't buy a goal in a World Cup game

4.) Franck Ribery (France) - in trouble for having sex with an under-age prostitute while his family decides to leave him and France, who played Italy in the World Cup Final 4 years ago, also don't make it out of group play

5.) Ronaldinho (Brazil) - argueably the best player in the world going into the World Cup 4 years ago didn't even get selected by Brazil's coach as one of the 23 best in his own nation, he watches the World Cup from home just like I do

6.) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - probably doing the best out of this entire group, but has quickly become the most hated player in all of the world for his stupid, unnecessary step overs that force people to tire of him quickly

Poor Nike.  I bet they miss the days of Jordan, Griffey, etc.  If they want to get another sure fire bet, I am available.  I think you all can agree, I am on a hot streak right now.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Live NBA Game 7 Blog!!!

8:00 - Well I already feel sorry for the Celtics.  If there is any wonder as to who is going to win this game, it was decided when the starting lineups were announced...Rasheed Wallace is starting.

8:03 - More bad news for the Celtics, they just had a camera shot with Jordan Farmar in the background looking locked in and focused.

8:04 - As soon as this BP commercial came on, my baby daughter started crying uncontrollably from the other room.  Is there anything this company can't screw up?

8:06 - Another point for the Lakers...Phil Jackson did not need to look at notecards for his pregame speech, he's done this a few times before.  Doc Rivers was cheating worse than the freshmen I used to teach.

8:08 - Everytime Artest shoots the ball, I am reminded of intermural basketball at UNT.  Once a game I would try a 3 pointer from straight on and I missed every one but one.  All my teammates and anyone who came to see us play would yell "NO" or shrug like I was an incurable disease.

8:10 - I wonder if everytime that Kobe high fives Pau Gasol if he whispers, "Always remember, I brought you into this world, I can take you out of it."  I would if I was him.

8:12 - Did Kobe just take a swing at Rondo and Rondo was called for the foul?

8:13 - I love how ABC serves the deaf community.  The announcer makes the point that Pierce did not attempt a free throw last game, and ABC is nice enough to throw up a graphic right after that point was made that Pierce did not attempt a free throw in the last game.  No need for close captioning tonight!

8:15 - Everytime they show the Staples Center, I wonder where all of the Clippers banners are.  Then I remember.  I doubt they even thought to make room for Clippers banners when they designed the building.

8:17 - For those of you who are saying right now, "Hey, those cars in the Autotrader.com commercial are driving through that guy's arteries." I feel that I need to inform you that you are mistaken.  Arteries take blood AWAY from the heart.  It is the veins that take blood to the heart.  You're welcome.

8:20 - I am convinced that Artest throwing up a ridiculous shot and the Lakers getting an offensive rebound is a set play.

8:22 - Nate Robinson = the random white kid on the end of the bench during March Madness that overcheers every little positive thing that happens for his team.

8:24 - Mark Jackson is out of control right now.  He just said that Kendrick Perkins said, "That's what I'm talking about.  I am here to cheer!"  If Perkins has ever thought "I am here to cheer" then I just lost a tremendous amount of respect for him.

8:26 - I can die now.  The words "Great American Friday" and the "World Cup" were used together on the same graphic.  Cue the bald eagle flying in the background.

8:28 - Adam Morrison was a first round draft pick!  Why does he always look homeless?  If your mustache does not meet your chin hair, do not try to force the gotee.  Trust me on this.

8:32 - Glen "Big Baby" Davis.  The most obvious draft pick the Mavericks should have taken EVER!  How well has Nick Fazekas played for the Mavs since they drafted him in 2007 with the 34th pick?  Donnie was probably right to get him instead of a guy named "Big Baby" who went with the very next pick.  In a couple of years you should make another mistake and not draft Dejuan Blair so he can kill you with the Spurs for years to come and pick up a good French point guard that wasn't on anyone else's radar...oh...wait...that was last year...can't wait for the 2010 NBA Mavs Disaster...I mean...Draft.

8:30 - If your name is Sasha, you should not be allowed to argue a call made by an official.  It should be an automatic technical foul if he does anything other than saying, "Sasha Likey!"

8:43 - Could someone please get Ellen Pompeo a cheeseburger?

8:44 - Third Artest ridiculous shot with an offensive rebound!  This is no coinsidence.  Phil Jackson is amazing.

8:46 - Garnett just tried to kill Jack Nicholson's son/friend/annoying human being.  I would not have minded.

8:48 - For the first time all game, the ridiculous Artest shot did not end up in an offensive rebound.  COME ON OTHER 4 GUYS ON THE COURT, WAKE UP!!!

8:50 - In 60 seconds or less, name the last interesting M. Night Shyamalan movie that did not involve the great Mel Gibson...go ahead...we are all waiting...

8:51 - Please notice that Nick Fazekas was not prominately promoted through the NBA Draft commercial.  That is not because he wasn't available for an interview.

8:52 - I would love to live blog watching the movie Grown Ups.  It has potential to be GOLD.  Sandler continues to recapture the Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore glory days.  Kevin James only has fat jokes.  Chris Rock only tells black jokes.  Rob Schneider has never been and never will be anything remotely close to funny.  David Spade's career died with Chris Farley (a moment of silence please).  At least there is the greatness of Salma Hayek.

8:58 - The most annoying thing about this NBA Finals series?  No not Nate Robinson...no not Rasheed Wallace...no not the kid that got clobbered by Garnett...it is Derek Fisher face.  Anytime he gets called for a foul, it is the face that he makes.  Drives me insane.

9:00 - Worst GMC commercial ever.  If I EVER ask any of you to set up a basketball goal in the middle of a field so we can shoot a ball into it from a crop duster, please stop being my friend.  Sure I won't understand it at the time, but trust me, it is for my own good.

9:02 - If Slovenia beat the US tomorrow and Ernie Els wins the US Open, would that go down as the worst "All American Friday" ever?  Did Drago kill Apollo on an "All American Friday?"  That's the only thing I can see trumping that.

9:05 - That should tell you how crazy Ron Artest is, Rasheed Wallace had to come over and talk sense into him.

9:06 - This game is weird already and it is still the 2nd quarter.  Boston is up by 5 and it seems like the Lakers are dominating the game.  I don't get it.  All I know is this needs to be an amazing game to make up for the sorry playoffs that the NBA delivered us this year.  Not one intriguing series to this point and not one good game in the finals yet.

9:08 - Bench shot for the Lakers shows a lot of players interested in the game and Adam Morrison looking at the mustard stain on his tie.  Awesome.

9:08 - Who let the overgrown Celtics mascot on the court?  Oh wait...that's Brian Scalabrine.  Doc Rivers came to his senses in just one possesion and got him out of there.  Now he can go back to protecting his Lucky Charms.

9:11 - Halftime - Celtics up 40-34.  I have no handle whatsoever on this game and it is half way done.  I do know this, I can't wait to hear yet another sports commentary on Kobe Bryant's legacy.

9:17 - Cuba Gooding Jr. needs to watch this halftime show.  He will look exactly like Michael Wilbon in about 10 years.

9:18 - Your Texas Rangers just swept the Marlins in Miami with the Astros and Pirates up next on the schedule.  I'm so glad it isn't August so I can feel good about this team.  Don't worry though, the let down is coming, it always does.

9:22 - I am so happy that the great Tim Howard became a household name in this country over night.  He has been so great for such a long time and now he gets some of the recognition he deserves.  He is the #1 reason that I have been an Everton fan the last 4 years.

9:32 - Halftime of mindless gibberish is over.  They should just play a squirrel water skiing during the whole halftime.  I would have gotten about the same out of it.

9:34 - I encourage ABC to have more close ups on Bynum.  He looks like an overgrown Tracy Morgan and he makes me laugh.  It took me a couple of seasons, but I finally got on board with "30 Rock."  Funny stuff.

9:36 - I wonder how long it took Scalabrine to get his warm ups back on.  He is not used to taking them off.

9:37 - The number 1 movie in America is "The Karate Kid" remake?  No wonder Hollywood is going broke.  Somewhere Ralph Macchio is rolling in his grave...I mean, he's dead right?

9:40 - 9:20 left in the 3rd quarter and Kobe only has 8 points.  Not good if you are a Laker fan.

9:42 - With the Celtics up 13 Paul Pierce has his fake injury of the game going on right now.  Looks like he has chosen his shoulder for this game.  I can't wait to hear the announcers gush over him when he comes back in the game.  "A true champion plays through pain, Paul Pierce is that kind of champion."  I just threw up in my mouth a little while I was typing that.

9:45 - That Pierce injury held him out 3 minutes.  What a warrior.  Uh oh...there's the vomit again.

9:47 - Uh oh.  Nice little run by the Lakers here with very little help from Kobe.  I really hope this means that this game is going to be interesting.

9:50 - Wipeout.  Proof that there is nothing more entertaining that watching someone else get hit in the nuts.

9:52 - Jeff Van Gundy just pointed out that Lamar Odum is lazy.  If that is shocking news, here is some more for you.  BP is bad.  I am white.  Hey everybody, we landed on the moon!

9:54 - Derek Fisher is headed back to the locker room to have his face worked on due to foul calls.  Mom always told you that if you keep making that face, it is going to stay that way.

9:59 - Scalabrine again?!?!?  Announcers are funny.  Mark Jackson just said that putting him in was a good decision and then he runs out the shot clock by dribbling and Jackson calls it a silly play.  Time to put your warm ups back on Scalabrine.  Good luck, we appreciate your courage.

10:05 - I can't believe that there is 11:20 to go in Game 7 of the NBA Finals and the score is 57-55.  This is the product that the NBA wants to market so badly?

10:07 - What is the police department of Los Angeles more afraid of?  What Ron Artest will do if the Lakers lose this game or what Ron Artest will do if the Lakers win this game?

10:09 - Kobe just handed the ball to Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen in He's Got Game, he will always be Jesus to me) and then took a blocking foul.  Conspiracy against Phil?

10:15 - Wow.  Kobe is getting desperate now.  He doesn't have faith that he can make a shot so he forces a foul so he can shoot free throws.  I guess it worked, 1 point game.

10:18 - My fingers don't believe me while I am telling them to type this...What a great play by Artest!

10:22 - Even though the score is 62 to 61 with 6:29 left, I am still not confident that either team gets to 70 in this game.  This is horrible!

10:23 - A note to Doc Rivers from me, Coach Pounds: Hi, you don't know me but I know what your team is doing right now and it looked like you needed some help so here you go.  It is crunch time right now so you need to start guarding the guy with the annoying "I have never fouled anyone in my lifetime" face.  He has hit a lot of big shots in his time when left unguarded.  Yes, #24 is still your main priority, but he needs to be your second.  Trust me on this.  Your friend, Coach Pounds.  P.S - Don't even think about putting that goofy red head back in the game, you probably will not live long in Boston if you do, no matter what Mark Jackson tells you.

10:28 - And the Lakers have the lead for the first time since the beginning of the 2nd quarter.  The Celtics need to score badly.

10:29 - Kobe.  Wow.  He hasn't done much all game, but you had to know that was coming.

10:33 - The Celtics are starting to shut down while the Lakers are hitting their stride.  This does not look good for Boston fans.

10:34 - 4:34 left in the game and a team finally hit 70.  Wow.  All of a sudden the Celtics still can't score and the Lakers can do no wrong.

10:37 - Are the Lakers in this half the first team all year to ball-fake the Celtics?  They aren't even good ball-fakes and the Celtics jump 5 miles in the air every time.

10:40 - Just when I was ready to give the game to the Lakers, Ron Artest does something stupid.  He might be the Celtics only chance.

10:42 - I know the Celtics need offense right now, but why is Rasheed Wallace in the game?  He is almost to the Scalabrine zone.

10:45 - Well I guess fouling out is a good way to get Rasheed out of the game.  Kobe hits a free throw, and it is over.  The first team to 80 won.  How ridiculous is that for a game 7?  This has been the worst NBA postseason that I can remember.

10:50 - Ah yes, and now we have come to the most unbareable part about basketball games, the 100's of timeouts at the end of the game for no real reason.  It should be just like football, 3 timeouts a half for each team and that's it, not 20 per minute.

10:54 - And the Lakers win their 16th NBA Championship.  Kobe, now pretending to be Jordan, stands on the scorer's table and holds up his hand for a 5.  He is great, no question of that, but he is not Jordan great.  Only Michael Jordan and Mel Gibson are Jordan great.

10:57 - Fittingly, Ron Artest gets the first TV interview.  In a post season of boredom, you have that to top everything off.  The NBA, It's Fantastic!  Good night from Denton, TX and congratulations to the Lakers and all of the Lakers fans no matter if you are real fans, or just bandwagonners.

Monday, June 14, 2010

College Football Realignment!!!

I know that it would be every sport realigning, but the only one that matters is the one that brings in the most money...that's football.  This has always been a fascinating subject to me and all of these rumors and talks have got me fired up especially since we are dealing with the Texas Longhorns.  It is amazing that programs like Nebraska and Colorado can leave a conference and no one really cares, but if Texas leaves it will bring at least 3 schools with it and up to 5 schools.

I would love for Texas to be a part of the Pac 10, but I doubt it happens.  Remember when the SWC was falling apart.  The SEC, the Big 8, and the Pac 10 all wanted Texas.  What did Texas do?  Created a new conference that absorbed the Big 8 and competed against the other two.  It was a very successful league for everyone envolved.  Then the Big 10 created the Big 10 Network.  This changed everything because Indiana received twice as much money from TV rights last year as Texas did.  So Nebraska leaves to be a part of that, and frankly, no one can blame them.  They are more of a Big 10 school anyways and they will be more competitive there than they will be against schools that pull from Texas in recruiting.  Then Colorado panics because they don't want to be left in the cold and they bolt for the Pac 10.  Once again, I completely understand.  They fit in better with the west coast plus there was the threat of Baylor taking their place if Texas demanded it as part of a move to the Pac 10.  Now the Pac 10 can have a network that will appeal to the Denver market and I am sure that it will be wildly successful.

That leaves us with the rest of the Big 12.  What to do now?  Here is the deal, Texas is an industry all to itself.  They know that if they join the Big 10, Pac 10, or SEC they will bring many viewers to whatever network they are a part of and be a driving force for that conference, yet they will have to split every cent with the rest of the schools in the conference.  Now if they start their own conference and launch their own network that is "All Texas, All the Time," they get to keep the money.  Here's what I see happening:

The Big 16!!!

Texas can make this happen.  How does this sound to you:

South Division: Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, TCU, Houston, Baylor, oklahoma, oklahoma State

North Divison: Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Utah, BYU, Boise State, Colorado State, Air Force

Once again the South Division will be much stronger than the North Division, but we should all be used to that.  Texas could control this conference in a way that there can be a Big 16 Network that everyone will split, and each school can have their own network as well in which Texas' will be the most successful and not have to "share the wealth."

Who says no to this scenario?  Rivalries stay together.  Schools that deserve to be in a conference with an automatic BCS bid, get to be in one.  The TV markets include all of Texas, all of Oklahoma, all of Kansas, all of Missouri, all of Utah, and a large part of Colorado.  The Big 16's reach will be as large as the Pac 10 and larger than the reach of the Big 12.  Conference championship games can be played in Jerryworld, Reliant, Alamodome, Invesco, Arrowhead, and even an expanded Rice-Eccles stadium.  Everyone is happy, especially Texas because they get their network.  What might happen is that something like this gets lined up, and then that is enough leverage for Texas to use against the Pac 10 so they can join the Pac 10 and have their own network.  We shall see.

Either way, I don't see this conference having the staying power it needs to last forever either, but it can do exactly what the Big 12 did and that is change the game in a way that the other conferences have to find new ways to make more money to attract teams like Texas and oklahoma.

If you question any of this, you obviously have forgotten everything that Wu-Tang taught you.  Cash Rules Everything Around Me, C.R.E.A.M. get the money, dolla dolla bills y'all!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

World Cup Preview!!!

It is a little known fact that I love soccer and have been pretty obsessed with it since going to the World Cup in Germany 4 years ago.  Since then I have expanded my love and expertise on "The Beautiful Game" and I am ready to share with you my thoughts and predictions for this upcoming World Cup.  So here we go!

Group A

No group is more up for grabs than this one.  That is what happens when the host country is not all that strong and they headline the group.

1.) Uruguay - Was very steady in the qualification for the world cup and will be very difficult to defend.

2.) South Africa - A host country has made it to the Round of 16 every World Cup.  These fans could be the rowdiest in the history of the World Cup so I have to give RSA a spot.  Plus the Everton great Steven Pinnear will certainly be able to carry this team to the next stage.

3.) France - Talented but very old.

4.) Mexico - I can't buy into the hype.  The only way that this team is consistently good is when they are playing at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and I just looked it up, that is not in South Africa.

Group B

This one has a sure first place team and a mad scramble for the 2nd spot.

1.) Argentina - It helps to have the greatest player in the world on your team.  Messi is amazing and probably could single handedly get Argentina out of this group.

2.) Nigeria - They have a type of home field advantage plus they have great talent up top.  They have had a hard time putting it all together in major competitions like this one, but I think this could be a special year for Nigeria.

3.) South Korea - Very fast and could easily jump up into the 2nd spot.  Hosting the World Cup 8 years ago really helped this team to grow into what it has become.

4.) Greece - This team is confusing.  On paper, they don't look very good, but they qualified for this by knocking out a solid Ukraine team and won the Euro Cup 6 years ago as the best team in Europe.  I am counting on the not very good team to show up.  Plus, their country is bankrupt, that can't be good for soccer.

Group C

Too bad the US doesn't have its best athletes on the field for the World Cup.  They all play football, baseball, and basketball.  LeBron would be an amazing midfielder!

1.) England - Even though they lost their captian in Rio Ferdinand, they have plenty of experienced guys playing at a very high level.  The fact that no English team made the Champions League semis may turn out to be a good thing because the experienced players on this team got to have a little break before the cup.

2.) Slovenia - The eastern European teams have really developed into powers in Europe.  The fact that the Czech Republic didn't qualify even though they have a top 2 goalie in the world says how stacked this area of the world has become.

3.) USA - They have an amazing goal keeper (Howard) and a good set up guy (Donovan) but that is about it.  The American defense is very shaky when they play their very best.  The top 2 teams in this group have way too much offense for the US.

4.) Algeria - Not much going for this team other than it is playing on its home continent.  But in reality, that is a stretch considering it is on the other side of the Sahara.

Group D

A big injury brings a lot of uncertianty to this group.

1.) Germany - The loss of Ballack on a dirty play in the FA Cup final hurts Germany severely.  He was the heart and soul of this team 4 years ago and he is going to be impossible to replace even though this team is loaded.  This one injury may have knocked them out of contention of winning this tournament.

2.) Serbia - Another eastern European team that is really good and talented all over the field.

3.) Australia - They have more talent than they have ever had before (especially with Everton great Tim Cahill) but that still isn't good enough to make it out of this group.

4.) Ghana - They do have home continent advantage, but injuries have set this team back.  If they had Essien then they could push Germany for the top spot, but that won't happen after his cup ending injury.

Group E

Another group with a clear champion and then a struggle for the 2nd spot.

1.) Netherlands - Robben's injury is scary for this team because he may be the best set up guy in the world, but even if he misses the group stage this team will advance and he could be fresh for a run at the Cup starting in the round of 16.

2.) Japan - Very fast team with a lot of skill in all positions of the field.  Will struggle against taller teams on the defensive end, but will be able to counter with a lot of speed.

3.) Cameroon - Great team that could push Japan for the 2nd spot.  I just don't think they can match Japan's organization even if they do have home continent advantage.

4.) Denmark - A shock to qualify for the tournament with great Euorpean teams like Russia and Czech Republic on the outside looking in, they have accomplished all they can accomplish just by qualifying.

Group F

The holders try to go for 2 in a row in a year where, once again, not many people are paying attention to them.

1.) Italy - Great team that was a bit of a shock to win the cup 4 years ago.  They could easily fly under the radar again and end up in the final.

2.) Slovakia - I really think that the eastern European teams doing well in this World Cup could be the story of the tournament.

3.) Paraguay - Good team, but is very hard to watch with all of the diving and clutching their leg anytime they get sneezed on.  This is a common trait for South American teams, but Paraguay may be the absolute worst.

4.) New Zealand - They looked completely overmatched in the Confederations Cup last year in South Africa and I think that trend will continue in this year's World Cup.

Group G

Injuries have down-graded this "Group of Death" to a "Group of Life Support."

1.) Brazil - No team will have more talent on the field than Brazil.  If you don't believe me, remember this time 4 years ago when everyone was going crazy over Ronaldinho?  This team is so good that he couldn't even make it on the roster of this team.  Plus having the #1 goalie in the world helps too.

2.) Portugal - Last year's greatest player in the world will be able to carry this team into the Round of 16.  Anything that Ronaldo can do after that would further solidify his status as a soccer wonder boy.

3.) Ivory Coast - I know that there is still hope for Drogba to play in the Cup with a broken arm, but don't count on it.  If he is out, this team is out.  It would be hard for any team to lose the most dangerous player in the world.

4.) North Korea - They can't even set up their lineup correctly.  Read here for the story.

Group H

This group depends on what Spain team shows up.

1.) Spain - If the Spanish team that blew through Euro 2008 shows up to South Africa, then they could and should win it all.  If the team that is known for failing at major competitions, including losing to the US in the Confederations Cup a year ago shows up, they might not make it out of this group.

2.) Chile - What a story this could be.  After the problems this country had with a major earthquake, it would be great if they could qualify for the Round of 16.  I am pulling for them to make it since Haiti is not in the World Cup.

3.) Honduras - Good team, but no real super star to push them over the top.

4.) Switzerland - Couldn't do very much when they hosted the UEFA Cup 2 years ago, I don't see them fareing much better on foreign soil.

Round of 16

Uruguay over Nigeria

England over Serbia

Netherlands over Slovakia

Brazil over Chile

Argentina over South Africa

Slovenia over Germany (UPSET SPECIAL!!!)

Italy over Japan

Spain over Portugal

Quarterfinals

England over Uruguay

Brazil over Netherlands

Argentina over Slovenia

Spain over Italy

Semifinals

Brazil over England

Spain over Argentina

3rd Place Game

England over Argentina

Final

Brazil over Spain 

Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day Quick Hitty Goodness (with hyperlinks)!

What is wrong with Major League Baseball?  Why wouldn't you schedule for all 30 of your teams to play a game on Memorial Day?  Why would I buy the Texas Rangers' Memorial Day cap if they don't play on Memorial Day?  This is where it starts.  First we don't have all 30 baseball teams playing on Memorial Day, the next thing you know, a communist sport like lacrosse becomes our national past time.  Thanks a lot baseball.

The past 2 days I have had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch.  I have forgotten how great that sandwich is.  Why can't you order this sandwich at Subway?  It's the perfect food.  Well almost perfect.

Only 4 more days of school and only 4 more days of teaching freshman world geography.  I really would have liked to have gone to work today so we could hurry up and get the year over with.  That doesn't mean that I didn't really enjoy my nap today.  I am really looking forward to my new class, my new classroom, and a new football season.  Just like everyone, I am looking forward to my couple of months off...oh wait...most of you don't get a couple of months off in the summer for no real reason whatsoever.  Sorry about that.

Give me the Lakers over the Celtics in the NBA Finals.  Lakers' home court advantage + Kobe's killer instinct + Phil = Another Lakers Championship.  I just hope that it is an entertaining series.  For the most part, the NBA post season has been rather boring.

The baseball road trip had to be adjusted due to we will probably be moving during the original plan.  Luckily, I am a master at planning road trips and a new one has been thought up.  Minneapolis and Omaha, here we come!

I know that we aren't the greatest parents in the world, but it is always good to know that we are far from the worst!

I love baseball!  The number one reason is probably because you never know what you are going to get from one day to the next.  Maybe Scioscia had a little talk with his team after the first walk off.  Not sure.

Well, that's pretty much it.  Have a great day!