So much has happened in the last week, so let's get a rundown.
In the World Cup, we have moved on to the knockout round of 16, with many of these games already complete. Team USA has gone down in history as the most hyped World Cup team in the USA, but we will not see any more of the new countrywide heroes. Landon Donovan's heart-stopping (as well as game-stopping) goal in additional time will go down in everyone's personal history book as a "where was I when that happened?" moment. As for me, I was in a golf clubhouse. Of course, by now I am hooked on World Cup, and so I cancelled everything to watch the next match versus Ghana. The result: the USA lost, and I was sheathed in sweat and on my knees on the floor. However, they sure impressed me, and in 2014 I will be nowhere else when the USA plays but glued to the screen. Meanwhile, Germany squished the pompous English team, not to my surprise. The English think they are much better than they really are, and my hat is off to Germany for showing the world. Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay are on to the quarterfinals in a South American dominated field. The Netherlands have impressed me the most, and they are my dark horse to win, and coincidentally who I am cheering for to win.
Unfortunately for the world, England has something to blame their loss on to cover up their embarrassment. A goal was not seen by referees who were out of position, which would have tied the game 2-2. Instead, the English ended up getting slaughtered 4-1. A missed offsides call by the referees in the Argentina-Mexico game that would have disallowed the first Argentinean goal resulted in a confrontation between sides in the next match. This got everyone into a "we need replay" frenzy, which I was a part of. So, FIFA responded by saying that they just won't show controversial calls on stadium jumbotrons. What a bunch of idiots. They are too lazy to really do anything, and they'll just cover it up instead of making it right. Sounds like the police in a mafia movie to me. Install goal-line replay and get with the millennium. By the way, an interesting point: no hoop-la was made to install replay into soccer when the USA was cheated out of TWO goals in TWO games. And then, suddenly, when the English were on the short end of the stick, the news has been all over it like Tiger Woods on his women.
Do all the international countries hate us that much?
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
U.S.Open Goes European
Graeme McDowell can finally rest in peace. He can covet his new US Open trophy like Donald Trump his money after winning the Open with a score of level par. The Open at Pebble Beach this year was the toughest I have seen any golf course play EVER. The announcers seemed to be repeating "this one is tricky," or, "this one is nearly impossible." Every putt was fast, every approach shot was lucky to make it on the green, and every chip and putt were lucky to get close to the hole. An even par winner was three shots higher than Lucas Glover's -3 on the daunting Bethpage Black Course. However, I loved the difficulty.
This golf course embarrassed each and every pro player that played it on one day or another. I was watching the tournament thinking, "that is what I look like out there!" Especially on the final day, I was thinking as the ambitious golfer that I am, "I could do better than these guys!" Indeed, it was a final round meltdown for everyone, especially Dustin Johnson. I picked him to win, but instead he shot a +12 82, absolutely atrocious for anyone, and especially the 54 hole leader! The only calm ones were Graeme McDowell and Gregory Havret, who finished 1 and 2, respectively. They both managed the course and took their medicine with bogeys, not double and triple bogeys. They hit fairways and missed the ball in the right places, while Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, and Phil Mickelson did not. Graeme McDowell seems ready for anything that comes his way, and has brought the US Open trophy safely to Europe for the first time in 40 years.
This golf course embarrassed each and every pro player that played it on one day or another. I was watching the tournament thinking, "that is what I look like out there!" Especially on the final day, I was thinking as the ambitious golfer that I am, "I could do better than these guys!" Indeed, it was a final round meltdown for everyone, especially Dustin Johnson. I picked him to win, but instead he shot a +12 82, absolutely atrocious for anyone, and especially the 54 hole leader! The only calm ones were Graeme McDowell and Gregory Havret, who finished 1 and 2, respectively. They both managed the course and took their medicine with bogeys, not double and triple bogeys. They hit fairways and missed the ball in the right places, while Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, and Phil Mickelson did not. Graeme McDowell seems ready for anything that comes his way, and has brought the US Open trophy safely to Europe for the first time in 40 years.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The 2010 FIFA World Annoyance
Almost finished with the second matchup in each World Cup grouping, the 2010 FIFA World Cup has established one thing: its noise. Host country South Africa is making a big impression on the world, and not with their football team. The long horn, called a vuvuzela, is annoying players, coaches, and fans watching at home. It is causing such an uproar, literally and figuratively, that it is overshadowing the amazing football going on. I'll get to that later. As for my opinion on the vuvuzelas, I like them. It is part of the host country's traditions, and we should embrace them, no matter how annoying. I even like the noise, as it makes the fans heard. This way, stadiums don't sound empty, and fans can influence the game rather than just sitting silently in their seat. I was watching the Marlins vs. Rays baseball game the other night, and i heard the familiar swarm of bees on my TV. The Marlins stadium was giving out these vuvuzelas to make their infamously-sparse crowd more of a factor. It turns out that it caused an error in lineup cards that possibly contributed to the Marlins losing, but I really liked the idea of turning up the noise at an always-empty stadium.
Meanwhile, football is actually being played during all of this raucous. Team USA was lucky to draw with England after an easy save bounced off the goalie's hands right into the net. In the next game against Slovenia, they went down 2-0 by halftime, but in the second half scored three goals, but only two of them counted. The referee from Mali, a country in western Africa, called a foul disallowing the goal by the US, and when questioned by all, had no explanation for it. I was expecting to see the wad of money fall out of his pocket later, but the team wasn't that lucky, although the ref will not do another World Cup game.
Brazil looks as good as they were made out to be, but Spain, Italy, and France have been disappointments. Italy drew again today against huge underdog New Zealand. Spain lost 1-0 in it's first match, shocking the football world. And lastly, and possibly the biggest disappointment, is France. After two losses and no goals scored, the team has sent one player home for cussing at the coach, and after the trainer and coach fought today, the remaining players went back to the bus and refused to train or practice.
So, until the end, let's enjoy this World Cup, or as most think, the World Annoyance.
Meanwhile, football is actually being played during all of this raucous. Team USA was lucky to draw with England after an easy save bounced off the goalie's hands right into the net. In the next game against Slovenia, they went down 2-0 by halftime, but in the second half scored three goals, but only two of them counted. The referee from Mali, a country in western Africa, called a foul disallowing the goal by the US, and when questioned by all, had no explanation for it. I was expecting to see the wad of money fall out of his pocket later, but the team wasn't that lucky, although the ref will not do another World Cup game.
Brazil looks as good as they were made out to be, but Spain, Italy, and France have been disappointments. Italy drew again today against huge underdog New Zealand. Spain lost 1-0 in it's first match, shocking the football world. And lastly, and possibly the biggest disappointment, is France. After two losses and no goals scored, the team has sent one player home for cussing at the coach, and after the trainer and coach fought today, the remaining players went back to the bus and refused to train or practice.
So, until the end, let's enjoy this World Cup, or as most think, the World Annoyance.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Guess Who's Back?
Well, first of all, I am. With traveling and the internet out in two places, it has been impossible for me to blog for the past week. I apologize for this.
But as for my story, Tiger Woods is back. With his third round 66 (-5), he has shown that the old Tiger is back and hopefully for good. With heroic putts and approach shots, he really showed that his game and swing are almost back to normal. I surely expected no one to post a good score today, and especially not Tiger after he was +2 after 3 holes. However, he showed the resiliency and determination of the old Tiger we are used to and posted his incredible round with a 31 on the back 9 of Pebble Beach.
As for the greens, they look awful, bumpy, and discolored. However, they are as fast and in as good a condition as ever, and the players are adamant that they are not nearly as bad as they look. They are keeping scores close to par, and are giving anyone with a good stretch of holes a chance at the championship. This is what I love to see in tournaments, especially the US and British Opens: difficult scoring, with everyone having a chance to win. Anyone who complains that it is or looks too hard, just remember that it is supposed to be this way.
Who do I think will win? Dustin Johnson has my vote, winning at Pebble Beach during the Pro-Am the last two years, and three years ago finishing T-7. He has the calmness and accuracy to hold on to a lead and shoot a smooth even par on the final day. Plus, his caddie is from the area and has tons of local knowledge of the course. Graeme McDowell is a hot player as well, winning at the Ryder Cup venue this year in Wales, and he knows how to hit the knock-down shots needed to run the balls up on to the fast and furious greens. However, he doesn't have enough experience to be my favorite to win. As for Tiger, if he does something as spectacular as what we saw today, he will win. I think, though, he will hang around even or +1 and finish in the top 5. Phil Mickelson will have to make a major move that I just don't see him doing.
But as for my story, Tiger Woods is back. With his third round 66 (-5), he has shown that the old Tiger is back and hopefully for good. With heroic putts and approach shots, he really showed that his game and swing are almost back to normal. I surely expected no one to post a good score today, and especially not Tiger after he was +2 after 3 holes. However, he showed the resiliency and determination of the old Tiger we are used to and posted his incredible round with a 31 on the back 9 of Pebble Beach.
As for the greens, they look awful, bumpy, and discolored. However, they are as fast and in as good a condition as ever, and the players are adamant that they are not nearly as bad as they look. They are keeping scores close to par, and are giving anyone with a good stretch of holes a chance at the championship. This is what I love to see in tournaments, especially the US and British Opens: difficult scoring, with everyone having a chance to win. Anyone who complains that it is or looks too hard, just remember that it is supposed to be this way.
Who do I think will win? Dustin Johnson has my vote, winning at Pebble Beach during the Pro-Am the last two years, and three years ago finishing T-7. He has the calmness and accuracy to hold on to a lead and shoot a smooth even par on the final day. Plus, his caddie is from the area and has tons of local knowledge of the course. Graeme McDowell is a hot player as well, winning at the Ryder Cup venue this year in Wales, and he knows how to hit the knock-down shots needed to run the balls up on to the fast and furious greens. However, he doesn't have enough experience to be my favorite to win. As for Tiger, if he does something as spectacular as what we saw today, he will win. I think, though, he will hang around even or +1 and finish in the top 5. Phil Mickelson will have to make a major move that I just don't see him doing.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Champions
The Chicago Blackhawks are Stanley Cup Champions for the first time in 49 years. Last night, they closed the series out with a thrilling 4-3 OT win against the Flyers of Philadelphia. After the Blackhawks took a 3-2 lead, it seemed they had all the momentum, but in the third period they seemed to begin to play defensively. This allowed the Flyers back in the game, as the puck spent almost all of the third period in Chicago's defensive zone. Despite Antti Niemi's unbelievable saves, the Flyers still were able to get a goal out of the multitude of shots taken. During the intermission, I remarked that Chicago had better start playing hockey again or the series would be headed back to Chicago. Sure enough, the Flyers came out and almost scored (not to mention give me a heart attack) on a turnover by the Blackhawks. Then, the game began to even, with puck movement from zone to zone by both, and Patrick Kane was able to slip one past Leighton, and the Blackhawks could finally celebrate around Niemi. Jonathan Toews, who again won almost all of his faceoffs last night, won the Conn Smythe Trophy for Playoff MVP, and Antti Niemi won the respect of any hockey critic, making countless unbelievable saves throughout their run. As for me, I got to see these champions work against Nashville, and trust me, they earned the Stanley Cup.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Man vs. Machine
Recently, the Detroit Tigers' Armando Gallaraga got robbed of a perfect game. This would have marked 3 perfect games in one month, when previous to this season, no more than one perfect game had occurred in one season. However, for Gallaraga, it wasn't all bad. After he handled the situation unbelievably well, presenting the lineup card to umpire Jim Joyce the next game (not without tears from Joyce), he was presented a Corvette for his sportsmanship in handling the situation. And, of course, the blown call revived the need for Commissioner Selig's best friend: replay.
Replay was introduced to baseball through replays only on controversial home runs last season, and was used sparingly. However, when it was used, it seemed to cause a lengthy delay with the umpires all going to look at a replay it seemed in the next town over. They did eventually make the right call, every time. Now, baseball critics are calling for extended usage of this thing we call replay. Here is what I think they should do:
Replay should be instated for only the 9th inning and beyond. In situations that can decide the game in these innings, it will be very good to have for a close play. Even though a blown call in the 7th could decide the game just as easily, it will again ease the MLB into expanded replay use. Also, replay officials should be located in an air-conditioned booth with high-definition tv's, and should have a time limit of 2 minutes to make the call. They should then proceed to announce the call themselves on the loudspeaker.
From here, the MLB could decide how to expand without making the umpires into robots, or simply putting them in a booth. In my closing remark about replay, how does tennis have such a good replay system? In a matter of seconds after a challenge is called, the automated replay of the ball's arc will show on the screen, mark where the ball lands, and flip up the ruling. Why can't all replay systems be like this? College football is closest to this, with their booth officials making the right call 91% of the time, and with a time limit of 2 minutes.
As for you, Commissioner, the key to replay is not a matter of man being overtaken by machine, but rather man being complimented by machine. If you can understand that, I'm sure we will have extended replay in baseball next year.
Replay was introduced to baseball through replays only on controversial home runs last season, and was used sparingly. However, when it was used, it seemed to cause a lengthy delay with the umpires all going to look at a replay it seemed in the next town over. They did eventually make the right call, every time. Now, baseball critics are calling for extended usage of this thing we call replay. Here is what I think they should do:
Replay should be instated for only the 9th inning and beyond. In situations that can decide the game in these innings, it will be very good to have for a close play. Even though a blown call in the 7th could decide the game just as easily, it will again ease the MLB into expanded replay use. Also, replay officials should be located in an air-conditioned booth with high-definition tv's, and should have a time limit of 2 minutes to make the call. They should then proceed to announce the call themselves on the loudspeaker.
From here, the MLB could decide how to expand without making the umpires into robots, or simply putting them in a booth. In my closing remark about replay, how does tennis have such a good replay system? In a matter of seconds after a challenge is called, the automated replay of the ball's arc will show on the screen, mark where the ball lands, and flip up the ruling. Why can't all replay systems be like this? College football is closest to this, with their booth officials making the right call 91% of the time, and with a time limit of 2 minutes.
As for you, Commissioner, the key to replay is not a matter of man being overtaken by machine, but rather man being complimented by machine. If you can understand that, I'm sure we will have extended replay in baseball next year.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Finals Preview
The NBA Finals start tonight between the two teams most familiar with championships. The Lakers and Celtics again renew their rivalry, except this time with the Lakers coming in more confident than in 2008. Kobe Bryant has addressed the media with one simple message- he's here to win. For the Celtics, the message is to keep it up. They have beaten the Heat, Cavaliers, and Magic to get here, and have won each in an impressive fashion. Here are my keys to the series:
For the Lakers, it's the play of the big guys. Andrew Bynum needs to play like he is 100% and keep his presence in the paint to counter the countless big men of the Celtics. If Gasol, Bynum, and Odom can contain Garnett, Davis, Perkins, and Wallace, they will easily win the series. However, if the Celtics have big games in the paint, it could get ugly for the Lakers.
For the Celtics, someone will need to step up as the obvious leader of the team. For the last two series, it has been Rajon Rondo, but I think it's Ray Allen or Paul Pierce that needs to have a breakout series.
As for the media, I was horrified when I realized that again it was the Lakers and Celtics playing for a championship. I remembered that week leading up to the series in 2008 where any and every media group exhausted the storied meetings throughout history. However, I was quite pleased that the media focused more on the 2010 series rather than the history that they bored me with hour after hour in '08.
For the Lakers, it's the play of the big guys. Andrew Bynum needs to play like he is 100% and keep his presence in the paint to counter the countless big men of the Celtics. If Gasol, Bynum, and Odom can contain Garnett, Davis, Perkins, and Wallace, they will easily win the series. However, if the Celtics have big games in the paint, it could get ugly for the Lakers.
For the Celtics, someone will need to step up as the obvious leader of the team. For the last two series, it has been Rajon Rondo, but I think it's Ray Allen or Paul Pierce that needs to have a breakout series.
As for the media, I was horrified when I realized that again it was the Lakers and Celtics playing for a championship. I remembered that week leading up to the series in 2008 where any and every media group exhausted the storied meetings throughout history. However, I was quite pleased that the media focused more on the 2010 series rather than the history that they bored me with hour after hour in '08.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
French Tennis
Remember that commercial that illustrates how anything French is better (maid vs. french maid; toast vs. french toast;etc.)? Well, it seems to hold true even in tennis. The French Open has advanced to the semifinal round in both men's and women's play, and let's just say there have been some surprises so far.
1. Venus Williams' outfit- tennis skirt or what you wear to bed? Everyone is complaining about the skirt, but I think everyone is really complaining about the person wearing it. I mean, come on, if Maria Sharapova had worn that, would anyone be complaining?
2. Justine Henin- beat Sharapova and then lost to Stosur. She had her 24 match win streak broken, which is pretty darn good, especially considering she retired in the middle of that streak.
3. Roger Federer's quarterfinal exit- courtesy of Robin Soderling. He showed that his awful record against Federer didn't matter, as he knocked out the defending champion in a rematch of last year's final.
4. All American Exit- even Venus and Serena. The US men rarely challenge at Roland Garros, and it was the same this year as even highest American seed Andy Roddick did not do well at all. Meanwhile, Venus and Serena were ousted before the semifinals again. Apparently, we Americans like to wait until Wimbledon and the US Open to show up.
5. Newbie women's final- no woman in the semifinals has won a grand slam title (French, Wimbledon, US, Australian). ESPN commented that chances are, we will have a new French Open winner. Well, yes, in fact the chance is 100%. Good observation.
Well, it seems even tennis can't escape the wacky happenings of the sporting world in 2010.
1. Venus Williams' outfit- tennis skirt or what you wear to bed? Everyone is complaining about the skirt, but I think everyone is really complaining about the person wearing it. I mean, come on, if Maria Sharapova had worn that, would anyone be complaining?
2. Justine Henin- beat Sharapova and then lost to Stosur. She had her 24 match win streak broken, which is pretty darn good, especially considering she retired in the middle of that streak.
3. Roger Federer's quarterfinal exit- courtesy of Robin Soderling. He showed that his awful record against Federer didn't matter, as he knocked out the defending champion in a rematch of last year's final.
4. All American Exit- even Venus and Serena. The US men rarely challenge at Roland Garros, and it was the same this year as even highest American seed Andy Roddick did not do well at all. Meanwhile, Venus and Serena were ousted before the semifinals again. Apparently, we Americans like to wait until Wimbledon and the US Open to show up.
5. Newbie women's final- no woman in the semifinals has won a grand slam title (French, Wimbledon, US, Australian). ESPN commented that chances are, we will have a new French Open winner. Well, yes, in fact the chance is 100%. Good observation.
Well, it seems even tennis can't escape the wacky happenings of the sporting world in 2010.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Unexpected Twists
If I said to you during Spring Training this year...
-Ubaldo Jiminez will be 10-1, have thrown a no-hitter, and have an ERA of 0.78
-Jason Heyward will propel the Braves from last place to first place in the NL East
-There will be 2 perfect games, one of them thrown by Dallas Braden
-The Padres will lead the NL West, the A's the AL West, and the Reds the NL Central
-The Rays will have the best record in baseball, considered by most to have the best team in baseball
... would you have believed me?
I didn't think so. In a crazy April and May we have seen about everything we could see in baseball. I could go on and on about the crazy statistics and facts about this upside-down, interesting, year in baseball. For instance, the Phillies held the Marlins to 1 run in a 3 game series! Kendry Morales of the Angels broke his leg celebrating a walk-off home run! The Reds scored 27 runs in two games, and were the first in the NL to 30 wins!
All in all, this has been quite an exciting year, with a ton of ups and downs, and we haven't even gotten to the All-Star Break yet! Gentlemen, keep up the good work!
-Ubaldo Jiminez will be 10-1, have thrown a no-hitter, and have an ERA of 0.78
-Jason Heyward will propel the Braves from last place to first place in the NL East
-There will be 2 perfect games, one of them thrown by Dallas Braden
-The Padres will lead the NL West, the A's the AL West, and the Reds the NL Central
-The Rays will have the best record in baseball, considered by most to have the best team in baseball
... would you have believed me?
I didn't think so. In a crazy April and May we have seen about everything we could see in baseball. I could go on and on about the crazy statistics and facts about this upside-down, interesting, year in baseball. For instance, the Phillies held the Marlins to 1 run in a 3 game series! Kendry Morales of the Angels broke his leg celebrating a walk-off home run! The Reds scored 27 runs in two games, and were the first in the NL to 30 wins!
All in all, this has been quite an exciting year, with a ton of ups and downs, and we haven't even gotten to the All-Star Break yet! Gentlemen, keep up the good work!
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