More on the World Cup

[RS-Infested]

Played catcher my from the time I was about 10 through my freshman year of college at Florida Atlantic.

I knew you were the catcher....

[Rom]

Played catcher my from the time I was about 10 through my freshman year of college at Florida Atlantic.

I knew you were the catcher....

Unnecessary roughness... 


7 inch penalty?





pfffff lolol.

[RSshruew]

Right now I mainly watch hockey, some soccer, and fewer football and that's about it.

There was a time, up until about 7~8 years ago I could tell you every prospect of every baseball team down to their A-league teams.  (And Rom, I was a pitcher and a catcher when I played...). 

For the most part, Joe Morgan turned me off of baseball.  There was a time I used to listen to sports radio in the morning/evening drives and Joe Morgan's steroid denials for Barry Bonds etc really just turned me off the whole thing.  I'll look at the standings every once in a while, but I couldnt even tell you the starting 9 on the Sox these days.

For both NFL and soccer, I got into those sports based on video games (Madden and Fifa).   Though, I haven't watched NFL much as I dont like the players on the Bears nor the head coach. 

I have never liked the NBA.  I've been to a few Bulls games when people had extra tickets and it's been pretty boring.

I'm not into high scoring games.  I like the tension of a good 2-1 game.  Even in baseball, I'd prefer to watch a no-hitter than as 16-12 slugfest.

So much of what I get into about sports has nothing to do with the actual game.  I love the crazy complexity of the NHL cba and have read it through a few times.  I like the promotion/relegation systems in soccer. 

[RSshruew]

Also, if you havent seen this before, the official theme song of all sports everywhere:

http://www.break.com/usercontent/2007/10/Tim-And-Eric-Sports-390442

[RS-Bocephus]

Yeah, I used to be a walking baseball reference at one point too and attended something like 60 Marlins games a season.

Kids have a way of changing things.  Now, I'm lucky to make it to three games a year (I gave up my seats the season after my first boy was born) and probably only watch three a week in a good week.

And most of the announcers in all the sports that I watch annoy the shit out of me.  If they're not boring me with commentary aimed at the new/casual fan (I know that sounds awful), they're talking out of their asses while trying to sound intelligent/important or are just plain wrong.  And soccer is the worst by a landslide. 

When Dave O'Brien was hired by ESPN to call the 2006 World Cup, I could barely stand it.  He had never called a soccer match of any level before 2006 and only had a crash course and handful of matches under his belt by the time the WC started.  It was absolutely horrendous.   And I really like him on baseball (he was the original Marlins play-by-play man).  Luckily, the tournament was in Germany, the matches were on around 9:00 Eastern, and I watched the two weekday games at a sports bar near my office that was pretty rowdy so the commentary was basically inaudible.  I often watch US soccer matches on Univision when they're available since many are only available to me in English on Fox Soccer Channel (standard definition) and I hate JP Dellecamera.  At least ESPN is showing a lot more of the matches and have finally hired people who know what they're talking about.

[RS-Zouo]

To be fair I think commentary on most sports is pretty bad.

I get no joy from listening to the english commentators and often turn off the sound and play some good music.


Speaking of England.. Arsenal are in the shit right now. Fabregas, Clichy and Nasri out. I am interested to see who Arsenal bring in. We are well known for bringing in young stars and turning them world class.. but that takes time and we have not won a thing in what.. six years.. but consistently in the top 4 and always in the quarters/semi's of all major tournaments.

If Wenger has another unsuccessful season I can see him being shown the door. Which would be a shame because he is one of the finer coaches in the game.

C'est la vie..

I got FM2011 and won everything in my first season so maybe I should get the job. 

[RS-Bocephus]

Is Cesc officially gone?  I've not been paying super close attention but did notice yesterday's news on Clichy & Nasri to Man CIty.  The $32M that I read about for Nasri should get a nice player or three in return, no? 

It's to bad he's (Nasri) out... I really like him and get to see a fair amount of the Arsenal matches.  He seems to be a very complete player - plenty of skill & creativity but also does a real good job tracking back on defense and stopping counters before they really get started.

Also, I just noticed that the reports have Gervinho from the Ivory Coast/Lille all but done.  Don't really know him but those guys from Ivory Coast seem to do pretty well over there.

[RS-Zouo]

Nothing is a done deal yet, but! Nasri and Clichy have to go due to the contracts running out and I would be very surprised if Cesc stayed. Also due to Wengers planning of the team, I disbelieve he would accept player for player transfers unless it was someone of a particularly high caliber.

What I do like is the fact that Real Madrid have put in an offer for Cesc at around £45Million.. the people that have been applying pressure to Cesc at Barca will be pissed because all of the dirty tactics they used to get him on the cheap did not work.. and they thought they could get away with it being the only horse in the race.

It is highly unlikely that he would ever go to Real Madrid as he is a born and bread Catalan.. and I believe they are just causing mischief and trying to get Barca to spend more :)..

In an interview recently Wenger said he will hold out for as long as possible to confirm anything but he has been very busy on the phone.. so we will see.. I just hope to god we don't spend £15m on Alex Chamberlain an unproven rookie at the top level.. would be a waste.

Yeah Gervinho could be a good signing but ideally Eden Hazard would of been a better one. Looks like he won't be leaving Lille just yet though.

It is all a case of waiting I just hope we spend well this season. With the likes of Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool spending big bucks over the last few years. We are going to suffer if we do not do something drastic soon.

Dropping down to 4th in the last few games of the season was ridiculous and means we now have to qualify for the
Champions League.

Nasri is good but not solid.. end of last season he tailed out and was not as consistent with his performances.. still a good player though and a shame to lose him.


Tick, tick, tick... http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12874_7015558,00.html