Randall Simon's Sausages

50 Questions LeBron Should Answer But Won't

2010-07-08T10:28:00.011-04:00

So with "The Decision" looming like an asteroid ready to strike the earth, LeBron James tweeted this morning that he wanted fans to tweet him questions that he will answer tonight. This is what LeBron James said:

Good Morning! It's your chance to ask me a question about my decision, use #lebrondecision to submit and I'll answer them tonight.

Of course, we're not going to see any difficult questions. This is just another layer to the PR stunt and farce this has become. With all signs pointing towards LeBron signing with Miami as of the moment, you can expect to see plenty of "interesting questions" from real people. Really lame questions like - How much do you want to win a championship? What's your favorite part of Miami? Do you still love Akron?

In truth, there are a lot of smart, clever people out there with questions that LeBron should answer. After a quick run through Twitter this morning, we've gathered up the 50 questions that LeBron needs to address tonight (with a lot of swearing FYI), but won't. As always, these are real Tweets from real people.

YoderBros
@KingJames #lebrondecision So is Jim Gray going to help you wipe the blood off the knife you stab in Ohio's back?

SkinnyNwordSwag

#lebrondecision Did you know Adam Morrison got more rings than you

SidDiamond

“@KingJames: #lebrondecision - why are you such an asshole and exactly how fixed is the NBA?

joshfliegel

@KingJames Are you leaving your kids in Cleveland like how Wade is leaving his in Chicago?#lebrondecision #badparenting

SwagSupermarket

Why didn't you consider going to the MN Timberwolves? #lebrondecision

_Bpowell_
#lebrondecision what since of pride/accomplishment do u feel u can gain from leaving cleveland?

MikeAmmo

@KingJames Will you change your name to @ServantJames if you go to Miami? #lebrondecision

WesleyOnline

@KingJames How does holding a 1 hour television special announcing your decision not make you look like a complete douche? #lebrondecision

vincethepolack

@KingJames Dear LeBron, Wondering if you'll use a condom when you fuck Cleveland tonight. Sources say we prefer ribbed. #LeBronDecisio

nAn0_LC

@KingJames #lebrondecision r u prepared for ur role as court jester in miami??? Since Wade is already King there???

dougsfc97

Was it your goal to lead every casual or non-NBA fan to want to root desperately for you to never win a title?#Lebrondecision

Pimpton23

@KingJames U promised that U were going 2 deliver a title(s) 2 CLE and U wouldn't stop until you did. Why did you lie to us? #lebrondecision

JimmyTraina
Why'd you confiscate video of you getting dunked on last year? RT @KingJames Ask me a question about my decision & I'll answer them tonight.

bladesoffunny
As King of Akron, are you worried about a mutiny tonight? RT @KingJames It's your chance to ask me a question about my #lebrondecision

Lega_c

#LebronDecision How you feel about your moms getting knocked down by Delonte West?

Brian_Bassett

#LebronDecision Why do you feel that you are the only free agent in history that deserves his own ESPN variety show to tell us the news

StayFresh365

#lebrondecision you know Moe Williams gonna commit suicide if you leave Cleveland right?

kmhatgas

RT @kevinmccauley: @KingJames How do you feel about winning the gold medal at the 2010 Attention Whore Olympics? #lebrondecision

timmybennett

RT @hartzerp: @KingJames if the moon were made of spare ribs would you eat it? I sure would#lebrondecision

3rdsworld

#lebrondecision Have you and Brett Favre ever considered doing a sex tape during the offseason to help build ratings for ESPN?

Pimpton23

@KingJames You talk about loyalty all the time and dedication. Why preach what you choose not to follow yourself? #lebrondecision

SpeakoftheDevs

#lebrondecision If train A leaves Akron at 3 traveling 65mph & train B leaves Greenwich at 4 traveling 70mph, why are you a dick? @KingJames

keithp41

@kingjames How will you handle being as hated as Art Modell in your hometown if you leave the Cavs?#lebrondecision

whymelawd

Is you entire family annoying and entitled or just you? #lebrondecision

lakerhead09
@KingJames #lebrondecision CAN YOU SHOUT ME OUT TONIGHT PLEASE ITS MY BIRTHDAY MY LIFE WOULD BE COMPLETE SHOUT OUT LEX BERNARD

bladesoffunny

Are u worried Kovalchuk signs tonight and upstages "The Decision"? RT @KingJames It's your chance to ask me a question about #lebrondecision

timmygotsoulcom

#lebrondecision Who Cares?

ReggieHayze

@kingjames #lebrondecision Wendy's chicken nuggets or McDonald's nuggets

bradley4toz

@KingJames, now that you've ruined my interest in prof. sports, what should I do with my spare time?#lebrondecision

thekidcanada

Have you crossed over from regular villainy to cartoon super-villainy? #lebrondecision

samisara
@KingJames do u think u could reply all ur fans tweets? If yes you r really amazing!!! #lebrondecision

sportspickle
What happened to you? #lebrondecision RT @KingJames It's your chance to ask me a question about my decision, use #lebrondecision to submit

meechone

Go fuck yourself? RT @KingJames: It's your chance to ask me a question about my decision, use #lebrondecision

HARRYMAYES975

@KingJames: Will the Cleveland Steamer dump on his "hometown" on live television tonight#lebrondecision??

GregVince

@KingJames Do you believe the US should intervene if Iran develops a nuke? #lebrondecision

LaLaLaMandy5
Should I stop at this stop sign or roll on thru#lebrondecision

alsephus

#lebrondecision best whiteboy in the NBA right now?

echalom

#lebrondecision @KingJames did you think about retiring to play minor league baseball?

CampusSocialite

@KingJames Do you understand the cowardly aspect to joining the Heat? #Lebrondecision

thebookpolice

Is it safe? #lebrondecision

tejen25

@KingJames Have you considered the WNBA?#lebrondecision #LAMonarchs

dumbstupidhead

Was Miami decision motivated by desire to duck responsibility for playoff choke jobs? 3 max players, blame is spread, right? #lebrondecision

robby305
@KingJames #lebrondecision Xbox or Playstation?

thejpiga

are you afraid of what Drew Carey will do to you if you don't stay in clevand? #lebrondecision

adamOsterman

#lebrondecision could you plug all star baseball voting for joey votto tonight please?

DHSpeedwag o n Did you see all the fanfare for the Durant extension yesterday? No? Oh that's because he's not a self absorbed rich prick.#lebrondecision

TrishTheDish_TM

@KingJames Do you feel that athletes are overly celebrated by fans and do you think some athletes take advantage of that? #lebrondecision

MegAmeti
@KingJames #lebrondecision Look King Bron Kong, you need to handle this Empire the Knicks building. We got gallo chandler amare

Zonozi

What would you do for a Klondike bar?? @KingJames#lebrondecision

BlackAcesBlog

who the fuck are you again? i haven't been paying attention. #lebrondecision

Cirque de LeBron - A Circus Fit for a King

2010-07-06T23:34:00.017-04:00

Originally, this was going to be a piece focusing on a series of possible outcomes for Decision LeBron Thursday night at 9 on ESPN, written with tongue firmly in cheek. We were going to laugh together, imagining LeBron sitting at a table with baseball caps of each of the potential suitors, like he was a high school recruit. We would chuckle, imagining Stuart Scott as Ryan Seacrest, keeping us hooked until 9:59 PM as he and a panel of NBA experts fawned over LeBron. We would shudder at the sight of James wooing the likes of Mikhail Prokhorov and Dan Gilbert over romantic candlelit dinners as if he were the Bachelor. But, then something struck me, and stopped me dead in my tracks. It was a tweet Tuesday night from the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Brian Windhorst, a man who maybe knows LeBron better than anyone in the media:

@PDcavsinsider Suddenly it is clear to me. LeBron has changed. A new website. Starting Twitter. This announcement. This isn't the guy I know.

Of course, Windhorst is referring to the announcement that James will be creating his own hour-long special on ESPN Thursday night with the sole purpose of announcing his free agency decision. But, that sentiment, that LeBron has suddenly become a different person, has literally been a chilling thought that has slowly sunk in since Tuesday night. Suddenly, LeBron James, the most recognizable athlete in the country, needs a website and a Twitter account to communicate with the masses? Ohio isn't big enough for the King's special, but neither is Bristol, CT...so, he has to host it in the most preppy suburb in the country - Greenwich, CT? A suburb of...New York City? The most famous athlete in the world today needs to become more famous? Something doesn't feel right about this. Clearly, LeBron James is dead and King James has been born in all his royal glory.

LeBron can't just announce his free agency decision like every other free agent in the history of sports, that's not fit for a King. He needs to have Stuart Scott and Jim Gray blow smoke up his a$$ (as if he hasn't been told how great he is since he was 12 years old) for an entire hour. And please, let's not be naive and pretend that this is about raising some money for charity. If LeBron gave two drops in a bucket about charity, he could write a check this second for $10 million and give it to any charity he wanted with no press conferences, no ESPN. No, this "special" is about one thing - inflating LeBron's ever-growing ego. As readers know, I have as little respect for Brett Favre as any other athlete on the planet; but even the Old Man wouldn't stoop to this level to garner attention for himself.

We haven't even factored in what decision the King is even going to make tomorrow night. But, really, we don't need to, because this entire circus has damaged the "brand of LeBron" perhaps irreparably. Think about this farce of a production Thursday night. Is there any scenario where the King doesn't come off as a selfish, self-absorbed egomaniac? Let's say he returns to Cleveland. What's the point of creating an hour special from just outside New York City to celebrate your loyalty to Cleveland, Akron, and the state of Ohio? It makes it seem as if Cleveland isn't big enough for the "brand of LeBron." Like Cleveland should just feel fortunate they are worthy of LeBron for another season, or two, or three, or six. If LeBron were staying, wouldn't it make more sense to humbly announce that you were resigning with the Cavs like Kevin Durant just did with the Thunder? Wouldn't it make sense to not completely put yourself on a pedestal above your teammates and organization? But of course, doing that wouldn't be fit for a King.

Instead, let's imagine LeBron does leave Cleveland on national television. Could you imagine a bigger insult to an entire fan base? Has a professional athlete ever hogged an entire hour of national tv just to break up with his current team? Wouldn't that just be driving a stake through the heart of one of the most downtrodden fan bases in the country? Wouldn't that be the most embarrassing event in your hometown's long sports history... a history you've claimed to be acutely aware of throughout your career? Wouldn't the hometown boy turning his back on everything he's known, without delivering his promised championship, be worse than the Browns being stolen? Wouldn't that be a death knell for a fragile Cleveland economy? If LeBron went through with that, Cleveland fans would have a right to hate LeBron James with a fury felt by no other single person in the world of sports. Don't worry though, I'm sure Jim Gray will be there to soften the blow and remind you all the proceeds of the commercials have gone to charity and that LeBron is still committed to the community of Akron. After all, a historic announcement like this has to be made in a style that's fit for a king.

There will be time enough to analyze the winners and losers the day after, to determine if LeBron made the right choice with his free agency decision. We'll be able to predict how many titles he'll win on his potentially new team. Economists can forecast if LeBron will grow his kingdom enough to become the first billionaire athlete, his true motivation behind tomorrow's decision. Years from now, sports fans across the nation will remember where they were when they were glued to ESPN, like the mindless peasants that sports fans have been forced to become, bowing to the feet of athletes like King James and entities like ESPN.

But sadly, fans may also remember July 8, 2010 as the day a small portion of what makes sports special died. We'll remember the day where the collective success of the team was cast aside for the fame of the individual. We'll remember the beginning of an era where athletes don't just nickname themselves as kings, but actually believe they are royalty, meant to rule over the common masses with a stroke of their mighty hand. See, King James might think he's doing a favor for his followers by flooding his ego with the eyes of millions of viewers on him and the fate of entire cities resting on his every word. But, what he'll really accomplish tomorrow night, no matter where he decides to rest his heavy crown, will be the permanent severing of the connection between fan and athlete. If only, it were fit for a King.

Special Comment: Fool-adelphia

2010-07-06T20:19:00.008-04:00

Yesterday it was announced that Michael Vick will not be charged or implicated in any way with the shooting outside his birthday party in Virginia Beach, Virginia back on 25 June. To many this is a finding that they will cast aside with a shrug of their shoulders and either turn the page or flip the channel, never to think about it again. However, in the past 6 months, which has been dominated by the discretions of such athletes as Tiger Woods, Ben Roethlisberger, Dez Bryant, and most recently, JaMarcus "Sizz-urp" Russell, Vick's mere presence in the periphery of the shooting just casts another light on the attitude and utter ignorance exemplified by today's athletes.

Back in April we presented you with a hard-hitting, two-part installment of the RSS Roundtable (I and II) which focused on athlete conduct and the ever diminishing prominence of athletes as role-models. This story has more to do with the role-model aspect but the fact that as visible as these people are - nightly topics on SportsCenter, the rise of social media, in the sports pages or all over the internet - one would think they would be little more conscious about what they are doing in their lives. The TMZ-nature of today's press would lead one to think more deliberately and clearly before they were to go out somewhere late at night or who you hang out with... or who walks in the door at your party. It seems that, even after a nearly 2 year sentence in federal prison, Michael Vick has not learned this lesson.

He alreay is on thin ice with Don Goodell in regards to conduct and for him to put himself in a position to be involved in anything that would come under scrutiny of the NFL offices is dumbfounding. Why was he hanging around people with guns? Why was a co-defendant in his own trial there? Why did Vick put himself in a position for something like this to happen? To me it is just amazing that Vick would even do this. Vick even gave conflicting reports about the timeline of that evening. It casts doubt on the sincerity with which he has spoke with to elementary students and others while on his reclamation project since being released from prison. The Eagles are paying him millions of dollars to play backup QB for them and were one of the few teams to offer him a chance back in the league when many wouldn't. For him to do this not only makes him look foolish but the Eagles organization as well.

Vick stated that if he didn't get caught, he would have kept up his dog fighting ways. One would think that would mean that you don't associate yourself with the same types of people who led you into this realm and possibly encouraged it. To find that the co-defendant was in attendance at his birthday party shows, to me at least, that Vick has not had the necessary "Eureka!" moment to truly turn things around. He may be clear legal wise, but I wouldn't be too sure if Goodell felt the same way and the Eagles may not either.

Step into the commissioner's shoes, or even Vick's probation officer. Vick's co-defendant (btw Vick can't associate with his co-defendants) was shot at a nightclub that hosted Vick's 30th birthday party and Vick gave conflicting reports about the timeline of the evening's events. Granted, Vick has been cleared of any involvement in the actual shooting and it appears that the two didn't "interact" during the party. But think, does that sound like an enviornment Vick should be surrounded by considering his past?

What do the next 6 months of 2010 have in store in regards to athletes in sports? I'm not sure, but don't get too comfortable. I have a feeling the precipitous fall of character in sports has begun and it only has one way to go - Down!

NBA Free Agency Update 7/6

2010-07-05T17:02:00.007-04:00

Free agency is sorta kinda officially underway (free agents can't sign until 7/8). Already, some teams have made their moves with terrible signings, some teams have convinced their stars to stay home, but all of the big fish are still left in the pond... even that LeBron guy. So what do we make of the Summer of 2010 so far? Y2 and I will go back and forth and analyze the deals, rumors, and possibilities of NBA free agency!

3 Stars Who Stayed Put

1) Paul Pierce - Boston - 4 yrs $61 Million

Y2: Pierce, the Celtic captain, reupping with Boston was the biggest slam dunk of the offseason feeding frenzy. For a player who has matured into one of the great Celtics in their rich history, Pierce deserves saluted for recognizing his historical importance with this franchise. Would Bird or McHale or Cowens or Havlicek left the Celtics to sign with the Nets for more money? Of course not. Pierce knows this team has one more run left in them and that his resigning with the Celtics cements his legacy as one of the greats.

2) Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas - 4 yrs $80 Million

Y1: Nowitzki, like Pierce, gave his team somewhat of a discount to stay in Dallas. Dirk was really never going to leave and at his age (32), it was unlikely that a marriage with the Nets or Knciks to rebuild around an old star would work. And, let's face it, a Nowitzki-Wade/Lebron marriage was never happening. So, Dirk will continue to be loved in Dallas... and continue to not win a title.

3) Joe Johnson - Atlanta - 6 yrs $119 Million

-Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. On both parts! Atlanta gave a max deal and tied their franchise to a guy that was 17/57 and averaged 10 points per game in the 4 game sweep at the hands of Orlando. You know, the one where the Hawks lost by 25 points per game!!! The one where Joe Johnson bashed the fans of Atlanta while his team was playing like dogs! The Joe Johnson Hawks have clearly maxed out and extending the marriage for 6 years will only drive the both of them further to mediocrity. Johnson would have been much better served joining Amare, Bosh, or heck even Amir Johnson than going back to Atlanta for more playoff beatdowns.

3 Worst Deals

1) Amir Johnson - Tornto - 5 yrs $34 Million

Give the Toronto Raptors credit for being so determined... determined to be the big losers in the Summer of 2010. They've already got a head case on the books in Hedo Turkoglu for years to come. They may let Chris Bosh walk away for nothing. And now, the Raptors sign... Amir Johnson? A player who has averaged 4 PPG and 4 RPG in his illustrious 5 year career. While Johnson has decent athleticism, he is not a player worthy of such a commitment. He's had his chances (playing at least 60 games his last 3 years), but hasn't made a noticeable impact for either Detroit or Toronto. This type of signing is typical of the desperate nature some teams feel this time of year.

2) Darko Milicic - Minnesota - 4 yrs $20 Million

-Darko! How did one of the most infamous draft picks of our lifetime just get a $20 Million contract? Oh, that's right... David Kahn is still the GM of the Timberwolves. Apparently, he finally found a team in Minnesota where he felt at home and let him blossom into a star. Oh, what numbers did he produce for the 15-67 TWolves? 8.3 PPG and 5.5 RPG in 24 games and 18 starts. Don't worry, that's way above his career average of 5.6/4.1. Shrewd signing Kahn, shrewd.

3) Drew Gooden & John Salmons - Milwaukee - 5 yrs $32 Million & 5 yrs $39 Million

-Some will support what the Bucks have done, locking up two solid players to play alongside Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut. But, for a young team with real potential, it would have been nice to see them follow the OKC model of patience building around young talent. Instead, they reached for the lowest-hanging fruit, resigning Salmons, and giving Drew Gooden the opportunity to play for his 45th team. Not exactly the way to break into the Eastern conference elite.

3 Headscratchers

1) Richard Jefferson Leaves The Spurs... and $15 Million

-Richard Jefferson might be the greatest poker player the world has ever known, walking away from $15 millioin and the Spurs. Sure, his agent probably told him it was a great idea to cash in before the next collective bargaining agreement, but would any GM commit to RJ for any length of time after his game regressed so clearly this past season? Wait, this is the NBA, where teams give money away to fledgling talent.

2) The Suns Build Around... Channing Frye and Hakim Warrick?

-The Suns evidently could not reach an agreement with Amare Stoudemire - so they went to Plan B. Channing Frye (already on the Suns bench and nothing more than a 3 point specialist) and Hakim Warrick. Yes, I loved Warrick at Syracuse and he would be a good energy guy off the bench. But, he's never going to be Amare Stoudemire. Good luck Alvin Gentry, you'll need it.

3) Chris Bosh Being Chris Bosh

-By far the most confusing player in this entire drama is Chris Bosh and his impending divorce with the Raptors. First, Toronto makes waves that they won't help Bosh leave by participating in a sign-and-trade. Next, Bosh pins his free agency to the coattails of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, basically insisting he'll follow them like a lapdog wherever they want. But, when reports surface today that the Raptors will relent and unite Bosh with James in Cleveland via a trade, "sources" intimate Bosh doesn't want to play in Cleveland.

Can someone please make up Chris Bosh's mind? He wants to play with a contender, but he wants a max deal, which he can only get through a sign-and-trade. He wants to play with LeBron, then he wants to play with Wade, then he wants to play with both. Never has a player inflated his own standing as a "superstar" so completely without any on-court achievements. Sure, Bosh is a nice player, but is he as good as Pau Gasol? I don't think he is. And with this diva act he's pulling this offseason (refusing to communicate with Toronto, wishing to play with another big man who can do the "dirty work", perhaps milking his decision for a documentary) it really makes me wonder if the team who doesn't end up with Chris Bosh might be the big winner in all of this hoopla.

Star Watch

*Amare Stoudemire

-The best fit for Amare was always going to be New York, where he signed a 5 year deal for $100 Million range. Umm... not exactly the guy that you tanked two years to get. Yipes. Now the pressure is really on the Knicks to find another piece to pair with Amare. Amare thinks that if he doesn't get LBJ this Summer that he'll get Carmelo Anthony and Tony Parker next Summer? Well Knicks fans, there's always the Summer of 2015 when John Wall becomes a free agent!

*Dwyane Wade

-Wade was thought to be the one sure bet amongst the big 3 targets. But, his flirtation with his hometwon Bulls may throw a monkey wrench into Pat Riley's plans for a troika of stars in South Beach. Expect Wade to be tempted by joining the Bulls with Bosh, but its more likely he stays loyal to Riles and tries to recruit players to add to Miami's 2 man roster.

*Chris Bosh

-Y2 is right, Chris Bosh is starting to annoy me. His constant twittering and pandering to the media is getting on my nerves (and evidently that of Toronto). Evidently, he's making a movie/documentary about the whole free agency process too, great. He seems more concerned with making a name for himself off the court than anything else. He wants to ride the coattails of Wade and LeBron to fame and championships. Bosh has shown up with Wade more than a few times (they share the same agent, although maybe he just finds Wade by coincidence during these meetings with teams) so it looks like that he'll join up with him in either Chicago or Miami. Right now, I would lean towards Chicago as the destination for both.

*LeBron James

-LeBron has heard all of the suitors come and go like it was some bizzare cross of the Bachelor and a series of congressional hearings. Two teams seem to have played themselves out, the Clippers because they're the Clippers, and the Knicks, with or without Amare. That leaves the Nets, Bulls, Heat, and Cavs. By all accounts, the Cavs Family Guy-style cartoon pitch hit close to the King's heart. But, with every passing day, all of Ohio grows more and more nervous. A quick decision would seem to favor sticking with the Cavs. But, it seems James is going to be deliberate as always, waiting to get a sense of where Bosh and Wade will land to make a decision. One thing is for sure, the Cavs could follow James around for the next week with planted fans and signs, but it won't make the King's decision for him. If anything, it comes off as desperate and tacky. Watch where James goes this next week. If he leaves Cleveland, I mean physically leaves the city, then he's gone. Maybe Dan Gilbert should just build a fence around all of NE Ohio. But, the sense that LeBron is trying to recruit Bosh to Cleveland might be the most convincing sign yet as to where LeBron will go.

Joey Votto IS An All-Star And Colin Cowherd Again Proves His Idiocy

2010-07-05T10:57:00.013-04:00

Yesterday at noon was the straw that broke the camel's back in regards to the present-day selection of "All-Star" teams. The fan vote needs to be stopped because, like 90% of people who vote in the governmental elections, they don't know, as Jim Mora once said, "diddly-poo." This is just not me being a fanatical Reds fan but Joey Votto deserved to be on the team and as a starter, however, he got jipped by the voters.

For years now, the starting 1B spot on the All-Star team has been hard to come by. You have to out vote Pujols, Howard, Fielder, and others. If the teams were selected by you know, on-field performance, which truly makes someone an All-Star, than Votto would be starting on the 13th at 1B. He is Top 5 in the NL in BA, HR, RBI, OBP, SLG, and OPS. Not to mention he is in the midst of a 41-game streak of reaching base safely. However, based on the fan vote, Pujols gets the start... and Votto is completely left out because Adrian Gonzalez and Ryan Howard got the other 1B spots. Therefore, Votto is left off and now has to be voted in by the fans along with 4 other players. I'm not going to hold my breath. Look at the numbers and tell me who the real All-Star is:

Player AVG/HR/RBI - OBP/SLG/AB per HR

Votto: .312/19/57 - .412/.572/15

Pujols: .305/20/60 - .413/.567/14.9

Howard: .293/15/59 - .349/.502/21.13

Gonzalez: .291/16/51 - .386/.517/19.73

Clearly, Votto is the 1st or 2nd most deserving of the 4 players - not only due to the stats, but what he has meant to his team this year. Oh, and the Reds currently lead the Cardinals by 1.5 games in the NL Central. The MLB All-Star game is just a microcosm of how flawed fan voting has been. How many years does Yao Ming get voted to start at C for the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game or Tracy McGrady when he played for the Rockets? The All-Star teams should not be based on fan voting - they show they can't be trusted to stay informed and choose based on merit and achievement rather than name and prestige.

Colin Cowherd: You freaking dumb@$$. You believe that Joey Votto does not deserve to make the team because:

A. Nobody outside of Ohio knows who he is.

B. He doesn't have the name recognition of Pujols, therefore he is not a true All-Star.

C. He doesn't rank high on Google Trends.

The name recognition thing is just incredulous and is just another example of why Cowherd is a blowhard. If that is the case Colin, then how does your name recognition compared to Mike and Mike? Dan Patrick? Jim Rome? You are at least 4th in the rankings based on those 3 and probably lower because I'm sure your show has turned many listeners off of ESPN Radio to listen to some real sports talk. Sadly, compared to you, Jim Rome IS real sports talk.

PHE-NO-ME-NAL! Cowherd's last point is laughable. Since he does not rank high on Google Trends, he is not an All-Star worthy player?? Using that logic, Colin, you aren't a popular sports talk host. I see the 1812 Overture ranks higher than you as does "rent a friend." How does that make you feel Colin? People would rather search a discreet escort service than your name on Google. Of course, to most of them, a good, stiff rod in the @$$ is probably more comfortable than listening to your sham of a radio show.

The All-Star Game is where people become recognizable! It's where deserving players from places like Cincinnati and Milwaukee get their moment to show the nation how good they are outside their fanbase. With Cowherd's logic, you would never get to be a breakthrough star unless you played in Boston, New York, or LA. Votto deserves to make the team. I will vote for him and so should you: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com.

Till next time, be careful out there.

World Cup Semifinal Predictions

2010-07-05T00:28:00.008-04:00

4 teams remain in the 2010 World Cup, but only 1 can be etched into the history books forever as champion. One matchup features 2 of the soccer world's biggest powers in a rematch of the Euro 2008 Final (Spain v Germany) while the other features two teams that have had their day at or near the top of world soccer looking to reach a surprising final (Uruguay v Netherlands). Let's break it down and see who'll play in Soccer City July 11 for the World Cup!

Semifinal #1

Netherlands v Uruguay

All time WC record: 2nd Meeting (Series 1-0 Netherlands W 1974 Group Stage)

Netherlands WC History: 3rd Final 4 appearance, 2 final appearances, 0 wins

Netherlands Player to Watch: Midfielder Wesley Sneijder scored 2 goals against Brazil to take his tally to 4 for the tournament

Uruguay WC History: 2 time champions ('30, '50), 4th SF appearance
Uruguay Player to Watch: Without Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan will have to do the creating and finishing for Uruguay to advance

Breakdown:

-Luis Suarez's handball on the line against Ghana may have saved their tournament and cost them a shot at the final at the same time. Suarez is a huge loss for Uruguay - he's been perhaps the most valuable player for any team at this World Cup thus far. Also, captain and center back Diego Lugano might be an injury concern after having to leave the QF early on. So, Uruguay are faced with a major injury crisis. I will expect them to respond with a gameplan similar to how they played France in the opening game of the tournament. Defend. Defend. Defend. Uruguay will pack the back, crowd out Van Persie and Sneijder, and hope to frustrate the Dutch. Maybe they'll get a goal on the counter, but they're just as likely to be happy going to penalties 0-0.

For the Dutch, that means they will have to be extra creative in the final third. I don't know if they have that ability - frankly, their play has been fairly predictable in attack. Sneijder found little room to work against Brazil and scored his two goals rather fortuitously from set pieces. Then with Arjen Robben, the left footer playing on the right wing, constantly cutting inside the Dutch have little width and crowd the middle of the pitch. That would play right into a compact Uruguay defense. I think we'll see a game very similar to Spain v Paraguay in the quarters with the Netherlands dominating possession and territory. They may scrap a goal somewhere along the line, but I could see this going all the way to penalties also.

PICK: Netherlands 1 Uruguay 0

Semifinal #2

Germany v Spain
All time WC record: 4th Meeting (Germany leads series 2-0-1) Germany W 1966 Group Stage, 1982 2nd Round, Draw 1994 Group Stage
Germany WC History: 3 time champions ('54, '74, '90), 12th Final 4 appearance and 3rd straight semifinal
Germany Player to Watch: Striker Miroslav Klose needs 1 goal to tie Ronaldo for the most World Cup goals of all-time
Spain WC History: 2nd SF Appearnce (1950), most WC victories without a title
Spain Player to Watch: David Villa is the tourney's top scorer with 5 goals but watch the Barcelona central defense pairing of Puyol and Pique and how they handle the robust German attack
Breakdown:
-This will be a classic game. Finally Spain will be able to play against a side that just doesn't bunker down in defense and will find some room to operate. Vicente del Bosque came out this week in support of struggling star striker Fernando Torres , so I would expect to see him start again - especially considering he got the winning goal in the Euro 2008 Final against Germany (although I would expect him to be subbed early in the 2nd half if he's ineffective again). Spain has been the master of the 1-0 win thus far in the knockout rounds, but it will certainly take more than one goal to beat Germany Wednesday. Unlike against Argentina, Germany won't be able to dominate Spain's midfield and unlike Messi, Tevez, and Higuain in the quarters - Spain's attackers are excellent at spacing and finding gaps, especially with Villa coming in from the left. Spain should be happy to find a little more freedom to attack, but it could leave them open at the back.

However, Germany are playing so well at the moment that it's hard to see them lose, even missing young stud Thomas Muller. They should keep the same 4-2-3-1 formation with Piotr Trochowski or maybe Cacau filling in on the right wing for the suspended wunderkind. I wouldn't expect Germany to dominate Spain like England or Argentina, but they should have plenty of chances on the counterattack once again - especially on the left hand side with how much Sergio Ramos likes to get forward. Against Argentina, every goal came from the attacking left hand side! Germany's width might really expose Spain's crowded midfield (none of Busquets, Alonso, Xavi, or Iniesta are true wide midfielders) and that would really show up on the counterattack. I'm hoping for a classic and giving the slight edge to Germany because of the mojo they have going. Plus, I had Spain winning pre tournament, so really, I'll be right now either way - now that's Prognostication 101!
PICK: Germany 3 Spain 2 ET

World Cup Quarterfinal Recap

2010-07-04T16:11:00.010-04:00

Time for our World Cup roundup. The quarterfinals certainly presented us with games worthy of falling into World Cup lore. The Netherlands shocked Brazil. Spain snuck by Paraguay. Uruguay crushed the hopes of Africa. And, Germany made the World Cup dreams of Argentina and Diego Maradona go up in smoke!

1) Biggest Winner - Europe

-All of the talk coming into the quarterfinals was South American domination. 4 of the 5 teams reached the quarterfinals with Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay all looking to book places in the semis. It was a record number of South American teams... and a record low of European teams - just 3! Holland, Germany, and Spain. And, all of them were victorious. South American teams were only 1-3 in the QF round while Europe was a perfect 3-0. Holland was able to come back to beat Brazil in a stunner (detailed here), Spain fought like mad to break through Paraguay in a 1-0 victory, and most impressively Germany destroyed Argentina 4-0. Now, with Germany meeting Spain we'll have at least one European finalist and most likely another with the Netherlands battling Uruguay without Luis Suarez. A European team has never won a World Cup off European soil, but it's looking very likely to happen in 2010.

2) Standout Performer - A New German Golden Age

3) Highlight - German Domination

-It's almost impossible to single out one German player in their rout of Maradona's Argentina. While it's not refreshing to see Germany in a major semifinal again (their 3rd straight in a WC plus the Euro 2008 final), it is refreshing to see this German team play soccer. The young stars like Ozil, Muller, and Khedira have only lifted up the magnificent Miroslav Klose (now 1 goal shy of tying Ronaldo's all-time goal scoring record in the WC), Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Lahm, and the other veterans of the decade. As of now, they have to be considered the favorite of the Final 4 with the way they hammered Argentina 4-0. As we said before the tournament,
"Another World Cup. Another underappreciated German side. Another likely long tournament. Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and Germany playing well in the World Cup. It always happens!"
Maybe some brilliant sociologist can study just why Germany always play so well, but for now, let's enjoy the brilliance of their play. The counterattacking displays against England and Argentina has been some of the simplest and best soccer I've ever seen. This team is a joy to watch. It's more of a joy with Legos and in German commentary...

4) Biggest Loser - Brazil

-Dunga's Brazil was the favorite going into the quarterfinals. In our QF preview, we discussed the tactical advantage that Brazil had against Holland. But, they never actually took advantage of that advantage! Maicon rarely got forward, Kaka was in and out of the game, and the rock solid defense gave up two weak goals to Wesley Sneijder (who was well marked in open play). But, the worst part of Brazil's loss was that they lost their cool - symbolized by Felipe Melo's stamp on the infuriating Arjen Robben. It was a game they could and should have won. With the 2014 Cup heading to Brazil, expect Dunga to be out as manager ***UPDATE: he was just fired*** and the soul of Brazilian football to be brought back from the iron grip of the defensive style that was supposed to win tournaments. Well, at least if they lose in 2014, they'll lose beautifully!

5) Best Game - Uruguay 1 Ghana 1 - Uruguay 4-3 on PKs

-This was a very even game that featured a lot of chances and a lot of drama. Ghana and Uruguay needed extra time to settle things and once Luis Suarez punched the ball off his own line in the last minute of extra time the game went from pretty good to the stuff of legends. The Hand of Suarez saved Uruguay because Asamoah Gyan's PK went off the bar. Uruguay survived and won on penalties to go to their first semifinal since 1970. It really has to be seen to be believed...

6) Biggest Surprise - Uruguay Remains South America's Hope?

-Who would have thunk it? Heading into the tournament, you would have been given 500-1 odds on Uruguay being the last remaining South American team. Of course, Brazil was the big surprise, but it also seemed like people fell in love with Maradona the showman and ignored his team squashing little people on their way to the quarters. They were always going to be destroyed by an equally talented German team as Zonal Marking writes:

Argentina are out in the way many expected with Maradona as manager. Early on in this tournament he seemed to be proving his doubters wrong by playing a solid team that worked well together, but everything fell apart in dramatic circumstances here today. No organisation in defence, not enough numbers in midfield, no cohesion in attack. This defeat will take a long, long time for Argentina to get over.

Paraguay was always an underdog to beat Spain and did well to only lose 1-0... although, if Cardozo's penalty would have gone in it could have been a different story. Alas, Uruguay is the last team standing and will face a huge challenge without their supremo goal scorer Suarez against Holland. It will take a defensive performance ala their 0-0 opener against France and a little bit of luck for them to stunningly make the final. But hey, who had them going this far?

7) Extra Time - Heartbreak Hotel

-Ghana's loss to Uruguay - with all of Africa rooting them on - was one of the most painful losses that I've ever seen. World Cups and Olympics and events of the same ilk are unique in that you aren't just representing your team or a fan base, but your country. In this case, Ghana was the hope of a continent. And, they were cruelly denied by a handball on the line in the dying minutes, a winning penalty off the crossbar, and a penalty shootout loss. Asamoah Gyan, the hero against the USA and the shining light of the African teams, was inconsolable after the game because of his missed penalty at the end of extra time. I can't think of a more shattering defeat. Now, Scott Norwood's plight doesn't seem so bad (sorry Bills fans). Seriously though, the visible anguish of the Ghanian team ripped out the viewers' hearts and it was a heartbreaking loss that few of us American sports fans can even imagine.

Brazil v Netherlands Instant Analysis

2010-07-02T13:03:00.006-04:00

As Martin Tyler said, it was the result of the tournament. Holland upset Brazil and the millions around the world watching the World Cup were sent into shock. The 2-1 victory puts the Dutch into great position to reach the Final. If you had either Uruguay, Ghana, or the Netherlands in the Final - kudos to you... I sure didn't! But how did the Netherlands pull out the victory? Let's instantly analyze!

*Brazil Fell Apart

-After a strong start on a brilliant goal from Robinho, Brazil pushed for a second. The key moment was a huge Maarten Stekelenburg save off of a brilliant passage of play and a wicked Kaka shot in the 31st minute. After that moment, Brazil's push for a second goal never quite had the same impact. Then, in the second half, Brazil capitulated. The Dutch were never amazing in open play - but their first goal came after a missed punch from Julio Cesar and the second came off of a flicked header at a corner. Those are 2 goals that you simply cannot allow at the World Cup level. Brazil was simply shocking in the second half and fell apart - clearly seen with Felipe Melo's stamp on Arjen Robben that effectively ended the game.

*Dunga Will Bear The Blame

-Brazilians despise the way that their team played under Dunga. After a QF exit, he's likely gone and another coach will come in to restore the samba legacy. But, I don't think Dunga will get a fair shake. He crafted the team in his image and had the best backline in the competition, two competent defensive midfielders, and a potent strikeforce. However, his players simply didn't execute today. Maicon didn't get forward enough, Kaka never got a foothold in the game, and the defenders and goalkeeper were caught out on the two goals.

*Holland Is Into The Semis... And They Still Haven't Played Their Best!

-The Dutch were industrious today - which is a nice way of saying they didn't offer much going forward in open play. Robben was hemmed in. Sneijder was marshalled by the two central midfielders (aside from the 2 goals off set pieces of course) and as Efan Ekoku said - Mark Van Bommel must have had to kick the referee to get a yellow card. Sometimes in these tournaments though that is crucial - to get a result and advance without playing your absolute best...

*Holland's Most Important Quality Is Resiliency

-This isn't a Dutch team of Total Football and Johann Cruyff. This is a hard working, gritty, resilient team with Dirk Kuyt, Mark Van Bommel, Nigel De Jong, and today Andre Ooijer stepping in to defense. It wasn't brilliant passing movements that got the winning goals today - just a hopeful ball into the box, and a clever flick from Kuyt to Sneijder. This Dutch team has a real chance to deliver its first World Cup back home because of their resiliency and resourcefulness. It's not a quality we're used to seeing from the Netherlands, but it has served them very well so far.

World Cup Quarterfinal Predictions

2010-07-01T10:13:00.011-04:00

2 days without the World Cup have seemed like an eternity. Having to watch Skip Bayless talk about LeBron James instead of the world's biggest spectacle is a fate worse than death. Thankfully though, the quarterfinals of the World Cup return tomorrow with 2 games and 2 more on Saturday including a couple massive encounters. So, who will win the quarterfinal games and get one step closer to immortality? Let's find out!

Netherlands v Brazil

All time WC record: 4th Meeting (Series Tied at 1-1-1) Holland W 1974 2nd Round, Brazil W 1994 QF, Brazil advanced on penalites after 1-1 draw in 1998 SF

Netherlands WC History: 5th QF appearance, 2 final appearances, 0 wins

Netherlands Player to Watch: Arjen Robben started his first match against Slovakia in their R16 match and scored a goal

Brazil WC History: 5 time champions ('58, '62, '70, '94, '02), 14th QF appearance

Brazil Player to Watch: Maicon has had a storming tournament from his RB position and could cause the Dutch defense problems

Breakdown:

-If both teams play up to their potential, this will be the game of the tournament. We finally saw Brazil take off a bit of the shackles in their 3-0 win over Chile while the Dutch were just ok in beating Slovakia 2-0. However, the Oranje have shown some flashes of brilliance while not playing 90 minutes of Total Football just yet. Brazil's unique system (broken down brilliantly by Zonal Marking, one of my new fav sites for the World Cup) takes perfect advantage of the grit in defense and midfield while showcasing the abilities of Kaka, Robinho, and Fabiano. While Dunga gets a lot of crap from Brazilian fans, he shows his coaching genius with this unusual staggered system. Two key figures will be Robinho (up front on the left) and Arjen Robben (on the right wing) both cutting in from their inverted winger positions towards the middle and looking for shooting opportunities. But, I think Dunga's system will win the day for a few reasons - 1) Maicon and Dani Alves will eat Giovanni van Bronckhorst for lunch on the Dutch left, 2) Gilberto Silva and whoever his midfield partner will be will nullify Wesley Snejider, and 3) LB Michel Bastos getting forward will hurt Arjen Robben's offense. All in all, it will be a fascinating contest, but Brazil will pull it out.

PICK: Brazil 3 Holland 2

Ghana v Uruguay

All time WC record: 1st Meeting

Ghana WC History: 2nd World Cup, 1st QF Appearance

Ghana Player to Watch: Striker Asamoah Gyan has scored 3 goals including the matchwinner against the USA

Uruguay WC History: 2 time champions ('30, '50), 6th QF appearance

Uruguay Player to Watch: The strikeforce of Diego Forlan (2 goals) and Luis Suarez (3 goals) has been the best front pairing in the tournament

Breakdown:

-This game is the most unpredictable of the quarterfinals. Let's be real, nobody expected either of these teams to be in the quarters, let alone playing each other for a trip to the semifinals. While Uruguay's strike partnership has been massive, their defense led by CB and captain Diego Lugano has been outstanding as well. Asamoah Gyan might struggle to find holes against the Uruguay D like he did against Carlos Bocanegra and Jay DeMerit. But, Ghana has the intangibles with them in this match - playing in the massive Soccer City stadium with all of Africa behind them. It won't be about tactics or talent here, but heart and determination and in that department, Ghana is unmatched.

PICK: Ghana 2 Uruguay 1 ET

Argentina v Germany

All time WC record: 5th meeting (Series Tied at 1-1-2) '66 Draw, they traded victories in the 1986 (ARG) and 1990 (GER) finals and met at the same stage in '06 where Germany advanced via PKs after a 1-1 draw.

Argentina WC History: 2 time champions ('78, '86), 6th QF appearance

Argentina Player to Watch: While he hasn't scored goals, Lionel Messi has been brilliant in setting up his teammates leading the tournament with 4 assist

Germany WC History: 3 time champions ('54, '74, '90), 15th QF appearance - 7th straight in current tournament format

Germany Player to Watch: Central attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil has been the breakout star of the tournament and has to like the site of Argentina's aging defense

Breakdown:

-This is simply a must-see game. Their '06 encounter ended in penalties and pugilism and already the verbal barbs are being traded back and forth. These two teams have been the darlings of the tournaments with Germany's youth movement and Argentina's freewheeling style under Diego Maradona. But, here lies Maradona's first true test - don't tell me Greece, Nigeria, South Korea, or Mexico were challenges for a side of such prodigious attacking talent. Germany can match Argentina talent for talent. Higuain for Klose. Tevez for Muller. And, dare I say, Messi for Ozil. The major difference in this game will be Argentina's defense not being able to keep up with the young German speedsters. Ozil's runs will open space for Podolski and Muller and their overall speed is as big of a mismatch here as against England - and we saw how that turned out.

PICK: Germany 3 Argentina 1

Paraguay v Spain

All time WC record: 3rd meeting (Spain leads 1-0-1) A scoreless draw in 1998 and a 3-1 Spain win in the 2002 Group Stage. Interestingly, Spain CB Carlos Puyol has the only Paraguayan goal against Spain in the World Cup.

Paraguay WC History: 1st QF Appearance

Paraguay Player to Watch: Defender Paulo da Silva has been key to a defense that has only allowed 1 goal in 4 games

Spain WC History: 6th QF Appearnce, 1 SF Appearance (1950)

Spain Player to Watch: David Villa is the tourney's joint leading scorer with Gonzalo Higuain and Robert Vittek on 4 goals

Breakdown:

-Paraguay will likely sit back and try to get the game through 120 minutes and advance through penalties like they did against Japan. The South Americans will do their best Portugal impression and try to slow down, frustrate, and fence in the Spanish attack. It's a strategy that has worked for Paraguay (337 consecutive scoreless minutes), but they haven't seen a side like Spain. La Furia Roja (I love that nickname) have yet to play their best, and let's face it, an average performance should be enough to get through here. The interesting dilemma for Spain is what to do with Fernando Torres. He's been ineffective thus far in the front man role with David Villa cutting in from the left and scoring goals at will. I would expect Vincente Del Bosque to give him every chance to break through and get the mojo going against Paraguay after his injury layoff. Spain will pass and possess the ball in Paraguay's half for most of the game. How quickly Spain get on the board will tell us how high the scoreline gets. Paraguay holds on for 40 minutes, and then the Spanish Aramada strikes.

PICK: Spain 3 Paraguay 0

Who Really is LeBron James?

2010-06-30T21:52:00.011-04:00

The sports world now waits with bated breath as the hour approaches midnight on July 1st. NBA free agency begins, and perhaps the biggest free agent in the history of sports, LeBron James, is opening himself up to all suitors. We've heard the rumors, stories, and predictions as to where the King will reign this upcoming season. With all of the questions surrounding his impending free agency, it's impossible to know where he'll ultimately call home. But, wherever he does land will answer the most intriguing question of all, who really is LeBron James?

Is LeBron a hometown savior?

-If the answer is yes, Lebron will stay in Cleveland with a maximum contract for the maximum length in order to work towards retiring as a Cavalier. All along, Cleveland fans have pinned their hope on Flight #23 ending the championship drought that has hung over their city for over 40 years. And while LeBron certainly has become a citywide, statewide, and nationwide icon without delivering that championship, staying in Cleveland and winning that elusive title would make him an eternally divine figure in the history of Cleveland sports. The importance of being the savior for his hometown fan base can't be underestimated, no matter how many max slots teams like Miami and Chicago have. No championship would mean more to the King, or any fan base in the country, than a Cavs championship.

Is LeBron a puppet for other interests?

-If the answer is yes, Cavs fans should kiss goodbye to LeBron. The reason Cavs fans can feel uncertain over the King deserting his team is the influence of his other "team". Just minutes after being eliminated from this year's playoffs, LeBron already seemed more in tune with his cast of thousands advising him than his Cavs team that had just been upset. This crew of agents, businessmen, cronies, and the elusive, but influential World Wide Wes (seen above holding insane Ron Artest at Malice in the Palace) will certainly have an influence over LeBron's decision. If reports are to be believed, World Wide Wes has the ear of LeBron and is pushing him towards a bigger market, specifically Chicago. Meanwhile, his childhood friend and business partner Maverick Carter was rumored to be pushing LeBron to L.A. and the Clippers. So, who will ultimately make this decision? Will LeBron be tempted by these outside sources of influence to shun his hometown team for supposedly greener pastures? If so, he may only be accepting an apple from a serpent.

Is LeBron not afraid to walk in the shadows of greatness?

-If the answer is yes, then LeBron James will sign with the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have the young talent in Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah that the Cavs do not. They have the ability to sign another elite player (Bosh, Boozer, Amare, Joe Johnson), which Cleveland does not. There's one thing that would be held over LeBron's head the moment he walked through the door in Chicago.

That's right, Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player who's ever lived. From his entrance into the NBA, to his choice of #23, LeBron has seemed to embrace the inevitable comparisons with MJ. But, playing in a building where his statue waits outside its doors? Living up to that comparison each and every night? Knowing that anything short of 6 championships would be viewed as a failure? That might be a crown too heavy for even the self-described King to wear.

Is LeBron a businessman first, a basketball player second?

-If the answer to this question is yes, LeBron will be calling the greater New York area his home. Much has been made about LeBron James's interest in becoming the first billionaire athlete (although with Tiger's wife about to rake in $750 million in a divorce settlement that might be debateable). LeBron not only counts other pro athletes amongst his friends, but also rap mogul/Nets part-owner Jay-Z (who along with LeBron have referred to themselves as the "Two Kings") and investor Warren Buffett. There's some doubt that LeBron's first priority is basketball, instead of building the brand of LeBron. If LeBron's priority is his business, he'll sign with the biggest market (the Knicks) or the owner who can build his brand worldwide, the Nets and Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov. However, each of these options will only prove LeBron is not about the championships, because these teams won't be competing for titles anytime soon, with or without the King.

Is LeBron just a prima donna attention hog?

-If the answer to this question is yes, then we won't find out LeBron's ultimate destination anytime soon. The King has truly boarded on Brett Favre territory in the last several weeks with all of the stories leaked and the sources reporting his every whim. Some say it's because LeBron never got to feel the joy of being recruited in college. I say it may be because some people just like being the center of attention. At least LeBron and his "team" had the good sense and the decency to the people of Ohio to not go on a jet-setting tour of the country. The odds are though, that this saga will not be ending soon after we hit midnight on July 1st. This means LeBron will be front and center of the sports universe long into the summer months, which might make the King and his court of jesters happier than anything.

Is LeBron a fraud?

-If the answer to this question is yes, then the fans of Cleveland and Ohio will make LeBron James the most hated sports figure in the entire state. For those living in their ivory towers in New York and Los Angeles, it seems like an easy decision to leave podunk Cleveland, OH for the bright lights and big city of a larger metropolitan market. The thing about LeBron though, is that he's aware of his city's history, his city's plight, and the affect his departure would have on his city. LeBron must know that if he were to leave, he would be more hated in Cleveland than Art Modell, the man who moved the Cleveland Browns! There's no way the fans of Cleveland could ever forgive their hometown son "quitting" on his team in the playoffs, and then leaving the city entirely.

This is the comforting thought Cavs fans will adhere to when they sleep at night in this time of uncertainty. Only someone who was born-and-raised in Ohio would understand the pain losing a once-in-a-lifetime figure like LeBron James would inflict on a community, not just in terms of sports, but in terms of its general health. If LeBron leaves Cleveland, not only are their hopes for a championship dashed, but millions of dollars will be lost for the franchise and city. But...and this is a big but. LeBron has always opined about his loyalty to one city...Akron. That's his hometown. That's the place he has a deep, spiritual connection to, not Cleveland. And as far as anyone knows, LeBron can be just as loyal to Akron from Chicago or Miami than he can be from Cleveland. That's the thought that may keep all of Cleveland awake at night.

Is he a winner?

-This is the one remaining question that won't be answered by LeBron's free agency decision. So far, the answer is a resounding no, LeBron is not a winner. Individual awards, MVP's, endorsements, and all of the other perks that come with being a global icon are fantastic and certainly fit for a King. But, only one thing will determine his legacy...winning championships. Currently, LeBron's total wins in the Finals is the same as you and me...none. If LeBron doesn't make the right decision at this career crossroads, then he may never win a championship, a fate that would place his career among the all-time failures in the history of sports. If LeBron does make the right choice, and does fulfill his potential to be one of the greatest champions in history, he will be placed in the Pantheon of sports history. Maybe the answer to this question isn't that important to the King, as long as he can reign over a worldwide kingdom. Whatever the answer to these questions, we'll know soon enough, because LeBron James is on the clock.

Those are our thoughts on LeBron's historic free agency, what are yours? Where will LeBron land when the dust settles? Keep up with RSS for all your LeBron analysis, along with our continuing coverage of the World Cup. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter too @RSS_Sports. Until then, it's bye for now!

World Cup Round of 16 Recap

2010-06-29T10:50:00.009-04:00

Time for our World Cup roundup. The 8 games of the Round of 16 brought us a couple classic encounters, a couple bizarre decisions, and some of the world's stars beginning to shine. So, let's break it all down from the Round of 16 at the World Cup.

1) Biggest Winner - Ghana

-The African team that was left for dead before the tournament started and missing star midfielder Michael Essien now remains as Africa's hope. Cote D'Ivoire is no more. Nigeria is no more. Cameroon is no more. While Ghana has been the most successful African nation on the world scene in recent years (2006 QF, 2009 U-20 World Champion), not a lot of people gave them a chance in this tournament because of their tough group and injury problems. However, the sometimes maligned Asamoah Gyan has been huge up front and they've shown heart the size of the continent to push through to the quarterfinals. There, they meet another Cinderella, Uruguay, but they'll be playing in Soccer City with all of Africa behind them. Ghana has enough fight, defense (with John and Jonathan Mensah), and speed to give any team trouble... it'll be interesting to see how far they carry the African flag.

2) Standout Performer - Luis Suarez

3) Highlight - Luis Suarez - The Real Last AirBender!... God those commercials are terrible...

-Perhaps no player has done more for himself at the World Cup than Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez. Would you believe that Suarez scored more goals this year at Ajax in Holland (49) than Lionel Messi (47)?! With Messi's remarkable season, it's amazing that Suarez could fly so far under the radar coming into the World Cup. Then again, Dutch club football is a far cry from what it used to be... but 49 flippin goals!! We said before the tourney that Uruguay would go as far as Suarez and Diego Forlan would take them and they look like they're only just getting started. With Forlan conducting the orchestra, Suarez has been the pure goalscorer. His two against Korea sent Uruguay into the quarters for the first time since 1966. Suarez's second, the matchwinner, was a real thing of beauty...

4)Biggest Loser - FIFA

-FIFA has morphed into some combination of Major League Baseball, the Nixon Presidency, and BP with 1) their refusal to implement technology into the game, 2) commitment to secrecy and stamping out controversy, and 3) terrible PR moves and general incompetency. The governing body of the world's most popular sport has been atrocious and thankfully the world is finally taking notice. The terrible refereeing decisions that cost England and Mexico can pressure FIFA into installing goalline technology at the very least. But the attitude that bans replays in stadiums, turns a blind eye toward cheating and diving, and hides information better than Kim Jong-Il is what is most troubling about FIFA. Let's hope some common sense and decency infects FIFA before 2014 comes around so we don't have to put up with this garbage anymore.

5) Best Game - Ghana 2 USA 1 ET

-You can check out our full thoughts on USA soccer here. This game was clearly the most competitive and intense of the R16 (and no, I'm not counting that goalless snoozer between PAR/JPN). The USA had their chances, but couldn't get that second goal to get the win. Asamoah Gyan split the defense and beat Tim Howard rather too easily for Ghana in the first minutes of extra time. Heartache at home, but it was a deserved win for Ghana in the most dramatic of games.

6) Biggest Statement - Brazil Is Back

-It was a highly anticipated encounter between the top two South American qualifiers in the Round of 16 - Brazil v Chile. Through the group stage Chile had played more of the samba style that we were used to from the Brazilians. However, Brazil showed their true colors in a 3-0 demolition of Chile, even showing that the bag of tricks isn't completely empty. This team has such a good match of flair and steel that it's hard to see anybody beating them now.

7) Extra Time - 10 More Awards For The Round of 16!

*Best Coaching Job - Bert Van Marwijk (Holland)

-Van Marwijk made an important adjustment for the Dutch team - he didn't rest them in Game 3 of the group stage like in the '06 World Cup and Euro 2008. In those tournaments, the Dutch went out in the KO stage even though they played amazing football in their group games. In South Africa, the Dutch haven't played at their absolute best, but Van Marwijk has his team playing better and better. Brazil should be wary of Agent Orange in the quarters, especially with a fit Arjen Robben.

*Worst Coaching Job - Fabio Capello (England)

-Capello is getting ripped all across England for his archaic tactics, puzzling lineup choices, and inability to get England to play one minute of inspired soccer in the World Cup. Sadly for Capello, the genius of 6 months ago is now a victim of the hype and praise England threw on him before the tournament. In truth, he's as much of a victim of the English media and unrealistic hype machine more than anything. At least England's loss looks better in Legos!

*D'Oh Moment - Bob Bradley Starts Ricardo Clark

-The biggest single coaching mistake though was from Bob Bradley and his selection of Ricardo Clark in the midfield against Ghana. Clark's turnover led to the Ghanian first goal and Bradley acknowledged his mistake to the world by pulling Clark after 30 minutes. D'oh!

*Best Young Player - Mesut Ozil

-Of all of the great young players to shine, Ozil pulling the strings for Germany may be the player of the tournament so far. His timely runs, deadeye passes, and pure pace have lit up the competiton. Germany have mixed youth and experience well in the World Cup and Ozil is the main reason why.

*Biggest Surprise - Paraguay & Uruguay

-Yes, everyone expected Argentina and Brazil to represent South America in the quarterfinals... but these two? Their exceptional performances led to group wins over favorites France and Italy. Their longterm outlook for beyond the QF round isn't great, but they have shined so far. And hey, at least one American can locate one of these two countries on a map...

*Biggest Disappointment - USA

-England can take up permanent residence in this category, but given the chance that lay ahead of the USA and the way they played the first 30 minutes against Ghana, they are the most disappointed team heading home from South Africa.

*Sorry To See You Go - Chile

-The unlucky 5th South American team played so well and brought life to a tournament that has featured a few sides (cough, Portugal, cough) just playing to get through 90 minutes at 0-0. Chile always attacked and had some success trying to play the beautiful game, especially with their blazing winger Alexis Sanchez.

*I Told You So - The Goals Have Come

-Through the first stretch of games, World Cup scoring was at an all-time low. People were blaming the Jabulani, the altitude, the vuvuzelas, and everything in between. But, as we said, as players have figured out the ball and the altitude and needed to open up play, the goals have come aplenty. Hey, I have to remember when I'm right every now and then to make up for all of those terrible predictions!

*Biggest Mirage - Diego Maradona's Coaching Genius

-This isn't the popular opinion at the moment, but I just have a feeling that Maradona will be exposed against Germany as a paper tiger on the sidelines. Look at who he's played so far - Nigeria, South Korea, Greece, and Mexico. 2 teams that were willing to attack (KOR/MEX) and get sliced up by Argentina's amazing frontline and 2 teams (NIG/GRE) that sat back and just let Argentina pile up shot after shot while offering minimal counterattack threat. Neither will be the case against a storming German side. This game will be the truest test of Maradona's so-called coaching ability.

*Overrated Story of the World Cup - Vuvuzela Madness

-Vuvuwho? After watching 50+ matches, I've almost stopped hearing them completely. Almost...

USA Soccer World Cup Review

2010-06-28T12:50:00.005-04:00

With the USA exiting the World Cup it's time for us to use our combined Yoder power to reflect on the 2010 World Cup and its impact on American soccer. There were some great moments and some great disappointments, but in the big picture, what does the South African experience mean for the future of US Soccer and the sport's popularity here at home?

How Successful Was This World Cup For The USA?

Mr. Yoder I: I'd say it was a 5 out of 10. On one hand, winning the group for the first time since the first World Cup in 1930 is quite an achievement (especially considering that France, Italy, England, and Portugal didn't this year). Getting a draw against England is quite an achievement. The thrill of Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria is an unmatched moment in US Soccer history. But, the USA never put together a great 90 minute game. We'll also look back on 2010 as the biggest missed opportunity at a World Cup. Ghana and Uruguay are good teams, but we might never have a better opportunity to reach a World Cup semifinal. Maybe it's good that the USA is disappointed, but there's too much of a sense that there was a lot left behind in South Africa.

Mr. Yoder II: I agree with the sentiment that the exit in the round of 16 leaves an empty feeling in the pit of your stomach. But, I don't think it is either an abject success or failure. Think of all this team has been through in the last year. A shock run to the final of the Confederations Cup, the loss of Charlie Davies, being drawn in an easy group, meeting those expectations by winning the group, then the disappointment of missing a golden chance at the semis. At best, you'd have to say it was a mixed bag for Team USA.

Should Bob Bradley Stay As Head Coach?

Y2: I say he should go. He's put in a good stint as national team coach, taking the team to heights they haven't seen before. But, there were still too many lineup mistakes (playing Ricardo Clark against Ghana, not starting Benny Feilhaber once) and you have to place some of the blame for the continuallly sluggish starts on the coach. It's time for Team USA to go get a high-profile manager to take us to the next level.

Y1: I think you've won me over. Very rarely these days does a head coach stay on for two World Cup cycles. Bradley pulled a lot of the right strings, but at the World Cup level you can't afford any "my bads" like the Clark start over Maurice Edu against Ghana. Bradley had a great run after the Bruce Arena failure, but it is time for US Soccer to write Jurgen Klinsmann a blank check or go after another world class coach to go to that next level.

Who Was the Standout Performer?

Y1: As much credit as Landon Donovan gets for his goals, the standout performer for me was the coach's son Michael Bradley. Bradley was the most consistent player throughout the 4 games and played very well in the center of midfield. He got that tying goal against Slovenia and his 2 way capabilities mean he should be a fixture in the lineup come 2014. Playing every game with Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany also means he should get a lot of seasoning in the Bundesliga and keep improving his already stout game.

Y2: I totally agree. Bradley is the type of player who is still young enough (22 years old) to be a fixture on the USMNT for years to come. While players like Donovan and Dempsey are more fancied, they disappeared too often and didn't have a consistent impact throughout any of the 4 games. GK Tim Howard also picked a bad time to have his worst performance of the tourney against Ghana. Bradley meanwhile, should get looks from more prestigous European clubs for his two-way midfield play. By the time 2014 rolls around, expect Bradley to be the focal point of the team.

Where Do We Need The Most Improvement?

Y2: Obviously the biggest room for improvement is at our weakest positions, striker and defender. Each of the goals given up by the U.S. in the WC could have been snuffed out by better defense, expecially in the center of the pitch. And, we're going on almost a decade without a goal at the WC from a striker. Maybe Charlie Davies could have helped, but we'll never know. Until a consistent threat in front of goal develops (paging Jozy Altidore) the U.S. will be held back.

Y1: I think those are clearly our weakest positions on the field, but I think the underlying problem is our lack of technical ability as footballers. As hopeful future coach Jurgen Klinsmann pointed out after the Ghana game on ABC - the first touch is the most valuable in soccer and it was consistently poor from the USA. Maybe it takes more experience from our top players in better leagues, maybe it takes decades to hone the craft from youngsters playing the game, who knows. But, in the end, it's a lack of footballing skill that holds us back.

What's The Current Outlook for 2014?

Y1: The outlook is partly cloudy. 2009 and 2010 should provide hope for the USA that we can compete and beat some of the world's best nations (W v Spain, Egypt, draw v England, up 2-0 against Brazil). However, as you said, the USA had their easiest group at this year's World Cup and only made it to the last 16 losing to Ghana. What if we're drawn with Spain, Ghana, and Chile in 2014? There's no guarantee players like Donovan and Dempsey will be at top level in 4 years and it will take some of our young players reaching their ceilings as players and a lot of pieces falling into place to surpass the results from the past 2 years in Brazil 2014.

Y2: Unfortunately I think the US still has a long way to go to reach the ultimate goal, winning a world cup. The decline of some of our more influential players makes this the most important transition in our team's history if we're going to a new coach because there are young players ready to contribute, but they need more sophisticated coaching and need to play in the best leagues in the world. I think the short-term success should open some doors for some of our players, but guys like Bradley, Altidore, Donovan, and Dempsey have to continue being trailblazers for success abroad at the highest level to take the national team as a whole to the next level.

Has Soccer Made It?

Y2: As i said, for soccer to truly "make it" we have to win a World Cup and MLS has to break into the top 10 of leagues worldwide. But, after the gripping drama of the last two summers, I think soccer is in a better place now in this country than ever before. You should see ratings for the WC continue at record levels even with the U.S. being KO'd. But, it all depends on how U.S. soccer and MLS take advantage of new soccer fans. Can we convince our young athletes to go for soccer instead of football/basketball? Can MLS draw more fans and better talent than they have been? Can our best players break in with clubs like Manchester United or Real Madrid? The answers to those questions hold the key to soccer's long-term viability in the U.S.

Y1: I think soccer had made it even before this World Cup started. Think about it, more soccer matches are shown on TV than almost any other sport. At the flick of a button we can check out the local MLS game, EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Champions League, or international games around the world. But, this World Cup has brought the sport what it really needed - the full backing of ESPN and a landmark, exciting moment (Donovan vs Algeria). With the American sports media juggernaut pumping out soccer around the clock and replaying highlights of that goal, the sport is reaching across the country like never before. You're right that MLS needs to seize on the World Cup bounce... but would you believe it if I told you average attendance this year is over 16,000 per game? With the success of the 2010 World Cup, we'll pay more attention to our players overseas, World Cup Qualifying, the EPL, the Champions League, Euro 2012, and everything in between. Soccer has certainly made it in the USA and it will continue growing in anticipation of 2014.

2010: The Year of Huh?! in Baseball

2010-06-27T18:08:00.011-04:00

I have to say that 2010 has been one of the most unusual years for Major League Baseball. From the perfect games, no hitters, records and some odd firsts, MLB surely has been intriguing for a Reds-aholic like myself to watch. Here are some oddities that have occurred so far in this young season:

1. 4 No Hitters & 2 Perfect Games.

-If you have lived under a rock for the start of this season, think you could name the pitchers who have achieved these feats? I'll spot you 1 in Halladay, but who would have thought of the other 3. Tim Lincecum? Nope. Johan Santana? Try again. Cliff Lee? So sad, too bad, bye bye. Try Ubaldo Jimenez, Dallas Braden, and Edwin Jackson. Heading into the season you would have asked - who? Only Jimenez and Halladay have kept up the run of success since their achievements. Jackson has yet to pitch again since his weekend no-no, but after 149 pitches I think he'll get some deserved rest. Incidentally, since Braden's perefecto on May 9 he has yet to record a win and has lost 5 of those 8 contests. There have been an increasing number of perfect games thrown in past seasons but 4 in a span of 9-10 weeks? It seems like a weird statistical anomaly, doesn't it...

2. Power outage

...until, you look behind the numbers. Not until this weekend did a batter achieve 20 HR's until Toronto's Jose Bautista blast on Saturday. Say what?!! Not until June 26 did a batter hit 20 HRs? I remember the days of McGwire, Sosa and Bonds all having 30+ by this point in the season easily. The cause of this? I'd lie if I said the stringent drug policy didn't have something to do with it. The evidence speaks for itself. The most home runs hit since Bond's record season of 2001 has been 58 blasts by Ryan Howard of Philadelphia. The average power numbers have hovered around 40-50 homers for the top sluggers of the post-steroidal era. Baseball has returned to a scene of normalcy and the end of the super-human jacked up era is upon us. For a fan like me, the long ball is nice to see but the game seems to be back to its purest and truest form.

To me, the rise of pitching and the declining of power numbers tend to point to one thing as I pointed out in relation to hitting - drug testing. It would be wrong to not find some relation with 1) the decline of power numbers, 2) the rise of no-hitters and perfect games, 3) the involvement of the Mitchell Report, 4) Juiced and 5) better drug testing. Players who in the past may have entertained the thought of using some steriods or PEDs have stopped that train of thought. Players are staying away from anything that could trigger that positive test, and for a moderate purist like myself, this is good to see.

****Y1 here. As the math guy at RSS I thought I would insert some more numbers to take a look at the rise of perfect games & no-nos the past few years and back up Brother Yohey's claims. I promise it'll be the most fun you've had on a sports blog in the past 3 minutes!

There has been a slight rise of no-nos since the stricter drug policy was enforced in 2006. 7 no-hitters from 2000-2005 and 11 from 2006-2010. But the rise in perfect games is more fascinating...

PERFECT GAMES

-20 in history: 3 in the past year (Halladay & Braden 5/10, Buehrle 7/09) and 2 in the past 2 months... and think this is without the Armando Galarraga saga! The previous time standard for 3 perfect games was just under 4 years from Jim Bunning 6/64 to Catfish Hunter 5/68. The standard for 4 perfect games aside from this recent stretch of games is 8 years from Dennis Martinez 7/91 to David Cone 7/98!

With just some quick math we can see how insane the rise in perfect games is this season. 20 perfect games over the course of 140ish years means an average of about 1 every 7 years (sure you can be more exact with expansion, more games played, etc, but this is a sports blog not Harvard and it's 1:00 AM). With 30 teams playing 162 games, that's 4,860 games in a season. That boils down to roughly 1 perfect game out of every 34,020 (30 x 162 x 7). So if 1 of those 4,860 games is perfect that means there's about a 14.28 % chance of a perfect game happening in any given year. Seeing three happen in a calendar year means multiplying that 14% chance together three times... (.1428)^3 = .29% chance of seeing that happen! Basically, what has happened the past calendar year has a 3 in 1000 chance of taking place.

Just for fun, let's play a competent MLB Commish and give Galarraga his perfect game. That would be 3 perfect games in approximately a month. So we've cut our 4,860 games pool down to 810 games pitched in a month to draw the perfect game. Doing the same math we find the odds of 3 perfect games in a month to be 0.00001.3487... or 1 in 100,000 - once every 16,667 seasons! Simply amazing!****

A a few quick hits on some other oddities:

-First place Cincinnati Reds: Who would've thought a team who has enjoyed 10 straight losing seasons would be 1/2 game on top of the perennial NL Central powerhouse St. Louis? Honestly not me but after watching nearly every game, I can see why. A starting staff led by rookie Mike Leake, Bronson Arroyo and Johnny Cueto have put up great numbers so far this season and the bullpen, led by shoe-in All-Star Arthur Rhodes, have put together some nice numbers. The offense? Only the top in the NL statistically, led by Votto, Gomes, Rolen and Brandon Phillips. They are a great group to watch night in and night out.

-Trade market: It will be interesting to see the movement of players this season. Once thought the jewel of the trade market, now Cliff Lee may not be going anywhere with the resurgent play of the Mariners. That would be a big hit to a team close to contention wanting to add a piece. Who will be the first team to bite? Should be interesting to see as we may not see the traditional buyers and sellers at work this time of year.

-Carlos Zambrano being Carlos Zambrano: Never before have I see a more prima donna player in the majors than Big Z. The Cubs have a lot of money invested in him, but his antics have to be getting old to his teammates, Cubbie management, as well as fans (right Y2?). Coupled with that, does Piniella like it when a player is a bigger hot head than himself??

So after a long absence from RSS I have returned and levied my MLB thoughts on the world. It should definetly be interesting to see how things pan out over the next few weeks before the All-Star break. Make sure to check back around the break to see the mid-season awards and fearless predictions from yours truly, the Irrational and Insane Brother Yohey. Be careful out there!!

World Cup Roundup Plus Group Stage Winners & Losers

2010-06-24T22:00:00.007-04:00

Time for our World Cup roundup. The last couple days saw the group stage come to a close with a couple surprises, one big name heading on, and one big name heading home. So, what do we make as we transition to the knockout rounds? Let's check out the roundup for Days 14 and 15 from South Africa and examine the winners and losers from the group stage!

1) Biggest Winner - Spain

-A week ago, Spain was coming off of a hugely disappointing defeat to Switzerland and were teetering on the edge of exiting the competition. Spain were a shadow of the sublime offensive unit that we saw at Euro 2008 and leading up to the World Cup and folks questioned whether or not their World Cup curse was back. However, reports of the sinking of the Spanish Armada were greatly exaggerated this time around. A tough 2-0 win over Honduras followed and then today a 2-1 win over Chile got them through and more importantly to the top of the group. Granted, we still haven't seen Spain at their best, but they did the job to avoid Brazil in the Round of 16 and have a relatively easy path to the semis. This could be a time where we see Spain gradually improve and play their best soccer later in the tournament - and that would be great news for the Furia Roja.

2) Standout Performer - David Villa

-David Villa (above) is the forgotten man in the Spanish side. Xavi and the amazing midfield get a lot of attention and so does Liverpool's Fernando Torres. Heck, Villa doesn't even play for Spanish giants Real Madrid or Barcelona, but Valencia. Well, at least he didn't... he just signed for Barcelona for oodles of millions of dollars. But in their first 3 games, Villa has been the best player on the field by a long shot for Spain. His finishing from all over the field has been superb (except for the penalty spot), his movement has been on point, and most importantly he has gotten crucial goals when needed. There are a lot of stars and breakout players at this tournament, Villa might just be both.

3)Biggest Loser - Italy

4) Best Game - Slovakia 3 Italy 2

-The Italians needed to beat Slovakia to advance to the Round of 16. Even if you know nothing about soccer, you know that a country like Italy should beat a country like Slovakia. If you know just a little bit about the World Cup and remember Italy as the defending champions and can't locate Slovakia on a map then you really know that Italy should beat Slovakia. If you're a student of the beautiful game then you know Italy never loses World Cup games to Slovakia with a spot in the last 16 on the line. But, that is the beauty of the 2010 World Cup - the form book and the history book have been thrown out the window. Slovakia took it straight to Italy from the beginning and held on in a frantic finish to pull out a win in a 3-2 classic. Check out the highlights...

5) Biggest Surprise - Asia

-Australia (yes I know it is its own continent, but it's in the Asian federation for some reason) was probably the most fancied Asian team heading into the tournament. But, it's been the two powers of the Far East - Japan and South Korea - that have proved to be two of the Cinderella stories of the tournament. Never before had either team won a game off home soil in the World Cup, and yet now both countries find themselves in the knockout round. South Korea has played much better attacking football than anyone anticipated and Japan has taken their chances with clinical percision, like Keisuke Honda for instance. While they might not do a lot of damage going forward, advancing outside of Asia is a huge step in the right direction.

6) Highlight - David Villa: Goal of the Tournament Part II

-David Villa has done it again! His first goal against Honduras is a candidate for Goal of the Tournament, but he may have topped himself with this 45 yard one time effort against Chile! He may be on his way to the golden boot and ball in this year's tournament...

7) Extra Time - 5 Winners & Losers of the Group Stage

5 Winners

1) South America

-Today's loss from Chile was the first of the tournament for South American teams! 5 South American teams came to South Africa and 5 of them remain in the KO round. They have an unbelievable combined record of 10-4-1 through the group stage! And, most of them will be favored to advance to the QF round. In fact, the only thing stopping all 5 from being favored to advance to the last 8 is that the top two teams from qualifying, Brazil and Chile, play each other in a mouthwatering last 16 game.

2) Landon Donovan

-The US #10 has been the star of two huge games - his goal against Slovenia boosted American spirits and led to a draw, and of course everybody in the country rejoiced when he put in the rebound against Algeria to advance. Donovan is the face of US Soccer, and it's only fitting that he be the one to play a key role in securing a spot in the last 16.

3) ESPN

-The self-proclaimed worldwide leader in sports have finally put their massive amount of resources into a World Cup and been rewarded with massive ratings and top class coverage throughout the tournament. With the disaster of '06 and Dave O'Brien and Marcelo Balboa, ESPN made the move to import scores of announcers and analysts for the 2010 World Cup. The results have been nothing short of the best work ESPN has ever done. The game and studio coverage has been outstanding and insightful, especially the work of...

4) Ian Darke

-While Martin Tyler has done his job as the best play-by-play man in the world, his British counterpart Ian Darke has been the media darling of the 2010 WC thus far. Darke's more excitable style seems to be a great fit with the US Soccer audience, yet he also lets the game tell the story like the great British announcers. Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the World Cup has been Darke's journey with the US National team through their heroic draw with Slovenia to Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria. You can tell Darke has fallen in love with the team and he's almost become our home announcer. His call of the Donovan goal has been compared to Al Michaels and the Miracle on Ice even! That may be a bit of a stretch, but it still gives you chills!

5) Soccer In The USA

-But, above all, the sport of soccer is the big winner. With record TV ratings and a thrilling US victory, you get the sense that the sport has seen a big jump thanks to this year's World Cup. Yes, there is always a World Cup bounce, but never before quite this big. Never before have we had such excitement in the general population and so many people talking about the World Cup. Hopefully, the excitement will be sustained after the tournament as well. Of course, soccer isn't going to replace the NFL anytime soon, but soccer has definitely made it in the USA.

5 Losers

1) France

-An easy choice for #1. The manager can't manage. The players didn't want to practice. And now, they're going home deservedly early. They were such a disgraceful act that police had to escort them away from their own fans when they landed back home in France. Sacre bleu!

2) Europe

-Besides France, the rest of Europe didn't fair so fondly. Only 6 out of the 13 UEFA teams in the tournament successfully made the knockout round. In addition to France, fellow 2006 finalist Italy failed to make it (first time in history). England and Spain both failed to impress at times in the group stage while advancing and sleeper teams like Serbia went home early as well. While continents like Asia and South America have shined away from home, you have to wonder whether or not a European team will break the duck and ever win away from the continent.

3) Africa

-Meanwhile, this year's host continent didn't fair well either. Only Ghana was able to advance past the group stage. Teams like Cote D'Ivoire, Cameroon, and Nigeria had golden chances to get through but failed to do so because they couldn't keep their composure in front of goal. It was a disappointing tournament for African teams on the field, but host nation South Africa has put on quite the party and shown the world that Africa can host the world's largest events.

4) Diving & Refereeing

-Hopefully FIFA takes note of the ridiculous amount of diving and cheating going on at this year's tournament. From failed penalty calls to failed red card calls, it has been a bad tournament for diving and refereeing. If FIFA wants to really improve the beautiful game they'll add a panel to punish divers for cheating and be more upfront with blown calls that have an impact on games.

5) Kim Jong-Il

-Maybe it wasn't a good idea to pick that Portugal/North Korea game to stream back live to the communist state. Oh well, there's always his remarkable golf game to appease the North Korean sports fans.

John Isner v Nicolas Mahut Wimbledon Live Blog - Thursday @ 9:30 AM

2010-06-24T00:43:00.078-04:00

Well, it would take a special series of circumstances for us to do a live blog of a 1st Round Wimbledon match between two guys that nobody had ever heard of 24 hours ago. However, this is kinda sorta a special series of circumstances. It's time for a Yoders' Live Blog of the finish (knock on wood) of this historic match as coverage picks up at 9:30 AM. It could go 1o minutes, 10 games, 10 hours, or 10 days... but we'll be there to cover the action... at least until I need a nap. Check with us as we pick up the most insane sporting event that any human being alive has ever seen at 59-59 in the 5th set! Refresh your page every few minutes for updates throughout the match!

11:59 - As if we couldn't have one more bizarre moment, the crowd is booing the photo op at the scoreboard. The grace and class of these two men is only outdone by their sheer will and determination on the court the past 3 days. 70-68 in the fifth set in perhaps the most remarkable sports event any of us have ever seen. Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of the Isner-Mahut live blog of the last 20 games of this epic. We'll see you further on up the road!

11:56 - Final match time is 11'5'' It looks like both are receiving some sort of gift bag. Only in England I suppose. Isner gives props to the crowd that soaks it up, Isner is all class here talking about the honor of playing in this match with Mahut. Mahut is speechless as the crowd gives him a deserved applause. Mahut talks about the moment being painful but the amazing feeling of playing in the match and calls Isner a champion. In his words it's the greatest match in the greatest tournament ever.

11:50 - The ovation continues to get louder for these two warriors. The final score reads 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68. And just like that, an innocent first round match at Wimbledon will forever go down in the history books. Now the All England Club is presenting both players and the umpire with a memento. They better put a plaque there, rename the court, or at least have them buried at Court 18.

11:48 - AND IT'S OVER!!! ISNER WITH A BACKHAND WINNER DOWN THE LINE!!! 70-68 in the final set as both players embrace at the net. Isner has his hands on his head as he can't believe that it's finally over! Mahut is devastated sitting in his chair - what a shame that somebody had to lose this insane game of tennis.

11:47 - MY GOD! MATCH POINT FOR ISNER AT 69-68!!! What pressure! What a moment!!

11:46 - Mishit from Mahut and Isner is two points away from winning the most epic duel in tennis history. But, Mahut's great serve and volley knots us up at 30-30. Slovakia puts in a third against Italy that should say arivaderchi to the defending champs.

11:44 - 2-1 Slovakia as Italy has pulled a goal back, as of now they need 1 more goal to advance. Isner again just misses a shot along the line. 0-15.

11:41 - Can Isner's serve bail him out again? Service winner. 30-30. Service winner 40-30. Mahut's return goes into the net. Game Isner. 69-68. I think the 2014 World Cup might begin before this match ends. We're now at the 11 hour mark. 11 hours these two guys have been playing tennis against each other.

11:40 - Here we go. 0-30 Mahut on Isner's serve at 68-68. The biggest chance in about 16 hours to break serve. Ace Isner.

11:37 - Isner gets a point off the net. The crowd comes alive as it's 0-15 in the 136th game.

11:35 - Game Isner.

11:31 - 67-66 Isner. Here's the stats for that '39 Cricket Match which is the longest game in sports history. Thankfully, it was the last ever timeless test. You're guess is as good as mine as to what it means - by the way, Italy on its way out as they trail Slovakia 2-0, right now it's them and Paraguay going through but a 1-0 win from NZ sends them instead of the Slovaks. Oh, and Mahut holds at love for the 1,567th time. 67-67.

11:27 - 66-66. Gilbert's advice is to focus on your serve and to keep taking care of it and winning one point at a time. PMac argues that these guys just don't return well. After almost 100 games without a break of serve, I would call that expert analysis.

11:25 - Game Isner. I'm convinced that these guys are some sort of zombie robots. That makes the most logical sense at this point, right? Maybe this tennis match will keep going and distract the attention of the world to clear the way for the ultimate Martian invasion that is now sure to come.

11:23 - At least we're 33 hours short of the longest sporting event of all-time, a 1939 cricket match between England and South Africa that took 13 days and ended when the England team had a boat to catch. This is the territory we are entering folks.

11:20 - A real chance for Isner at 0-15 in the 130th game but his passing shot lands just wide. 15-15 on our way to 65-65. Should have been 0-30. And a jumping smash from Mahut makes it 40-15.

11:18 - Elsewhere Italy still trailing 1-0 and Par/NZ tied at love. Excuse me if I switch my soccer and tennis terminology, it's one of those days... 65-64 Isner. Highlights of the Queen's visit - who wants to bet that Prince Charles takes over before this game ends?

11:15 - Well. At least Isner got to 15 that game. 64-64. Gilbert talking about hating this ending quickly today. Quick for these two would be at 81-81. Neither player has been close to breaking serve besides the deuce in the first game today at 59-59. We've played almost an entire set already today people.

11:13 - PMac is feelign the break right here. That's like feeling a Cubs World Series victory.

11:11 - 64-63 Isner as Tsonga wins 10-8 in the 5th, what in God's name is he thinking?

11:09 - The 165th straight game in which serve has been held - and it's at love again. 63-63. Yes, these two men have played 165 straight games without a break of serve. What happens if this match never ends? Do they both get a Wimbledon title? Does tournament tennis just halt? Does the United Nations ban tennis for the sake of humanity?

11:07 - Game Isner, at this point we've nearly tripled the longest 5th set in history. Tsonga and Dolgopolov are currently at 9-8 in the 5th set. I wonder if they're going to try to break the record. Isner's coach talks about staying patiently aggressive. I think Job had less patience than these two guys. 63-62.

11:04 - Combine two great servers with two poor returners and you end up with this madness. There have been international wars that have been shorter than this tennis match.

11:02 - Seriously folks, we have had 2 breaks of serve in 168 games. Meanwhile, Mahut is up 30-0 on his serve. At this point, these guys are just serving aces and holding serve on muscle memory. 62-62. We've played 6 games today in just about 20 minutes. At this rate, we will be at 122-122 at the end of the day. My actual over under is 113-113, I mean, they can't keep up this pace, can they?

11:00 - Pam Shriver is trying to set a record for most times a broadcaster complains about her seat. Isner charges towards the net but misses a volley. 15-0 Isner. PMac is right that Isner needs to be more aggressive.

10:58 - Game Isner. 62-61. I need a bathroom break.

10:57 - Isner 61. Mahut 61. Storm: "These two have no quit in them." You think? Actually, I think Mahut is ready to throw in the towel - he's a Frenchman after all. Seriously though, it's like Isner saves energy on Mahut's serve just so he can rocket his own serve. Isner has to spend some energy on Mahut's serve or else he will never break. 15-15

10:54 - A mistake from Mahut and Isner smashes at the net to go up 0-15... 15-15 on a Mahut ace. 30-15 on, you guessed it, a Mahut ace! Hannah Storm: "We better settle in here." That's why they pay her the big bucks - although I guess I shouldn't say anything or else I'll be suspended by ESPN.

10:51 - And now Isner holds at love on another ace. 61-60. Anybody thinking that this is ending in like 10 or 15 minutes is completely out of their minds. I'm telling you - they played 119 games yesterday and there were 3 GAMES THAT HAD BREAK POINT CHANCES!! We've crossed over from sports to Stephen King land.

10:50 - By the way, we're tied at 220 winners a piece as Isner goes to 30-0 up in the 121st game.

10:48 - Mahut rips a forehand to take a 15-0 lead on his serve. By the way, we could have ran the last 3 Indy 500s in the time it has taken to play this game. I also have the lame joke count with Shriver taking the early lead with "that's the best backhand I've seen at 60-59" as Mahut holds at love. 60-60.

10:46 - Isner's 100th ace gets him out of jail as Mahut goes long on the next point's return. 60-59 Isner. I feel like I'm watching a World War I siege.

10:44 - Isner's inside-out forehand goes into the net. 40-30 in the 119th game. Next point sees the same thing happen and we're at Deuce.

10:43 - Isner's 99th ace gets him a 30-15 lead. He looks spent already. Maybe he's just trying to draw Mahut into a false sense of confidence.

10:42 - Here we go!! Finally!! 59 games all in the final set and Isner double faults to kick us off. Ruh roh.

10:41 - We're about ready to go. By the way, I love the enthusiasm that Brad Gilbert has for this match and the sport - he's a great balance with Patrick McEnroe. Pam Shriver is giving us the play by play of Mahut rubbing his stomach - that's investigative reporting at its best folks!

10:39 - Has anyone noticed that John Isner is 6'9''? He's like the Randy Johnson of tennis. I predict that he'll serve 348 aces today. Still 1-0 Slovakia over Italy and 0-0 between PAR and NZ.

10:37 - Great. This is just what we need. A Dick Enberg montage. Didn't he retire at the NCAA tournament? At least it's not Rick Reilly.

10:34 - A huge ovation for Isner and Mahut. These guys look refreshed... too refreshed. I'm thinking that these two are actually clones. They've gotta be, right? What if Federer is a robot and we've just been fooled this whole time. Would that be bigger than the steroids scandal?

10:32 - These guys are building suspense like a Springsteen concert. They seriously need entrance music - can you imagine these two coming out to Eye of the Tiger, or at least Ric Flair's music? That would be sick.

10:28 - Isner serves first as we're awaiting the players' entrance. Amazingly, Mahut has had to hold serve 55 times in a row with the match on the line. I pray that I'll be able to take a bathroom break within the first 6 hours today.

10:24 - GOOOOOOOOLLLLLL!!!! SLOVAKIA 1 Italy 0! Whoa! De Rossi gives it away and a great finish from Vittek puts the defending champs in huge trouble. If results hold Paraguay and Slovakia go through.

10:18 - By the way, I'm not sure what basis McEnroe and Gilbert are using to say this game will be over quick - they played 118 games yesterday and had a break point in 3 GAMES!!! 3 out of 118!!! That means we're due for another break chance at 79-79. I think the apocalypse will hit before this game ends.

10:16 - Why do I think we'll see Skip Bayless hanging on the railing at Court 18 today just desperate to get on TV? And why do I think Rob Parker will be right behind him? Maybe Skip Bayless would be better than having to put up with the snarkiness of Hannah Storm yesterday.

10:13 - No score in each World Cup game. New Zealand is dressed as the All Blacks today. I'm anticipating one of them spear tackling someone with the ball, picking it up, running and diving into the goal and grounding the ball for a dramatic try.

10:11 - Both analysts predict a quick end within 5 games to today's game. Please if there is a God just don't let it go another 118.

10:09 - Great, Pam Shriver has been let back into her seat in the stadium and at the same time smugly tells us about her doubles victories at Wimbledon, at least it's not "Australia-hot" today, thanks Pam.

10:07 - I love that this match is finishing on the quaint Court 18... if it finishes.

10:05 - 5 minutes later and we're still seeing footage of the Queen leaving Wimbledon. The ESPN crew is fawning over her like MSNBC fawns over President Obama. I think Hannah Storm has a thrill running up her leg. Conveniently she is leaving before Mahut and Isner start up... maybe she knows something?

9:59 - The Queen is at Wimbledon for the first time since 1977??? My God, someone make sure Reggie Jackson isn't in the crowd!

9:56 - While the anthems play in the WC games, we'll make sure to keep an eye what happens in the Group F encounters where any combo of the 4 teams can advance to the next round. I really hope Italy goes down - why is it so easy to hate Italian soccer? At least Mahut hasn't given up like the French soccer team.... yet.

9:50 - The entire Guardian live blog is a must read to see what happens when a sportswriter starts to lose his mind. Again, I'm really starting to question this. Elsewhere on the family of networks is Doug Gottlieb's NBA draft preview, Andy Murray about ready to advance, and World Cup Pregames. WAIT! MY GOD! NO SKIP BAYLESS!!! I wondered what made this week feel like a piece of heaven on earth, now I know.

9:45 - Here's a quote from Xan Brooks' live blog yesterday from the UK Guardian. This was from 4:05 - keep in mind that Mahut and Isner still had 5 hours of tennis to play!!

The Isner-Mahut battle is a bizarre mix of the gripping and the deadly dull. It's tennis's equivalent of Waiting For Godot, in which two lowly journeymen comedians are forced to remain on an outside court until hell freezes over and the sun falls from the sky. Isner and Mahut are dying a thousand deaths out there on Court 18 and yet nobody cares, because they're watching the football. So the players stand out on their baseline and belt aces past each-other in a fifth set that has already crawled past two hours. They are now tied at 18-games apiece.

On and on they go. Soon they will sprout beards and their hair will grow down their backs, and their tennis whites will yellow and then rot off their bodies. And still they will stand out there on Court 18, belting aces and listening as the umpire calls the score. Finally, I suppose, one of them will die.

Maybe this live blog wasn't a great decision.

9:39 - Josh Elliot just used the word apoplectic - somebody shoot me.

9:36 - Sage Steele tells us the match will resume "shortly" - I guess considering the length of this match that is an accurate description. Pam Shriver shown interviewing Nicolas Mahut - I wonder if James Blake is lurking in the crowd with a crowbar...

9:30 - The dulcet tones of Cliff DRYSdale welcome us to... Maria Sharapova? Apparently... Isner and Mahut take the court at 10:30 AM - not 9:30 AM! Fantastic. Thanks ESPN. Unreal. How do you promote the start of a match at 9:30 AM and then say surprise it starts at 10:30 AM - enjoy an hour of random tennis before the match you really want to see begins. Really a bad job by ESPN here - you have to make it clear what time the match you're promoting starts! Grrrr - I'm angry. Well, I could wait for an hour, or we could channel surf and try and make fun of people! I'm here and you're here, so we might as well roll with it!

9:27 - Nothing like building up to the conclusion (?) of this game by seeing a replay of the NBA Draft combine. Thank God, I can't believe I missed this the first time. Look at those wonderful sky blue ESPNU polos. Well, at least Billy King found some sort of employment.

9:25: Good morning and welcome to our live Wimbledon coverage of the most fascinating game of sports I can ever remember. Sure, it's not the greatest tennis match ever, but the sheer length and test of wills makes it beyond belief. Look at the records they have set:

Time: 10 Hours!! Previous: 6'33''

Games: 163 and going!! Previous: 112

193 Combined Aces - Isner 96 Mahut 95

881 points

435 winners

Oh, and they would have broken both of those records in just the 5th set alone which has lasted 118 games!!! It's not just that Mahut and Isner have broken the record, it's that they have demolished it so far beyond belief that we are now in some sort of Twilight Zone. These guys have gone 1.5 times longer than any previous tennis match in history. Translate that to other sports and you begin to realize just what is happening here...

NFL: 1972 AFC Playoffs Chiefs v Dolphins - 82 minutes 40 seconds, 2 OT -> IsnerMahut World would have this game at 123 minutes - over 4 overtimes!!

NHL: 1936 Detroit v Montreal - 176 minutes 30 seconds, 6 OT -> IsnerMahut World would have this game at 264 minutes - 10 overtimes!!

MLB: 1984 Chicago v Milwaukee - 25 innings -> IsnerMahut World would have this game at 37.5 innings!!

Oh, wait, and these guys aren't even done yet!!! This could go for another 118 games today!!! And, that's what makes this match so unbelievable - nobody alive has ever seen anything like this before, and we probably will never see anything like this again.

The USA Advances!... and World Cup Day 13 Roundup & Picks

2010-06-23T22:14:00.007-04:00

Time for our daily World Cup roundup. Today was one of the most memorable sports days that I can remember and one of the main reasons was the amazing USA victory against Algeria. With all hope appearing to be lost, Landon Donovan rescued American hope. But, that wasn't the only thing that happened today at the World Cup as Groups C and D reached their conclusion.

1) Biggest Winner - USA! USA! USA! USA!

2) Best Game - USA 1 Algeria 0

-YYYYYEEEEESSSSSS!!!!

YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!

That was my reaction and probably the reaction of millions of other Americans around the country when THIS happened...

What an unbelievable moment and what an unbelievable game! The USA needed to beat Algeria with England defeating Slovenia 1-0 to win the group and advance into the last 16. For 90+ minutes, the USA team had hit the post, been robbed by the officials again, and come close on countless occasions. For all the world, it looked like that the soccer gods were against us yet again and we would fail on the big stage yet again. Soccer in the US would go dormant for another 4 years and a golden generation would wave goodbye to their chance to do something special.

Then, one of the most exciting moments of the sports year and the history of US Soccer happened in the 91st minute. Just when all hope looked lost, Tim Howard made a key save and a Herculean throw to find Donovan in space and the rest is history. The sheer joy in that moment is what sports is all about. This team showed such heart and desire throughout the three games so far that seeing them bow out after a disheartening and unlucky draw would have been a cruel twist of fate. But, our boys came through and now there is a pathway to the semifinals (v Ghana, v Uru/Kor) and what could be a defining moment for the sport in the USA. What a game, what a moment, and what a time to be an American! Wow, I'm getting goosebumps just typing this - how bout a lil Lee Greenwood baby!

3) Standout Performer - Landon Donovan

-This was Donovan's goal and Donovan's day. In truth, he wasn't much of a factor throughout the game, but he showed up with the play that sent the USA through to the knockout round. Donovan is the poster boy for US Soccer and it's only fitting that he be the one to score one of the most memorable goals in US history. Donovan started the play latching onto Tim Howard's beautiful throw, took a great first touch, followed up Dempsey's block and sent it in. The tears in Donovan's eyes after the game told you just how much that goal and that win meant to him and US soccer. Nobody in the red, white, and blue deserved that moment more than the American #10.

4)Biggest Loser - Serbia

-The Cinderella/darkhorse/under the radar team du jour coming into the tournament was Serbia. They had a difficult but not unconquerable group, veteran talent and experience, and enough defense to make a long run in the tournament. Heck, they even beat Group D winner Germany! And, they would have made it to the last 16 if they had not choked against Australia. They were level through 69 minutes and had several chances to hit the front in that time, but Serbia ended up allowing 2 quick goals and bowing out of the competition. With Serbia and Slovenia both exiting the World Cup from favorable positions, it won't go down as a banner day for Eastern European soccer.

5) Biggest Surprise -England's Hero is... Jermain Defoe?

-With all of the focus stateside on the American triumph, England's ability to win in a must-win game has been overlooked. Without their 1-0 win today over Slovenia, they would be headed back towards London in disgrace. And, it was a goal from surprise starter Jermain Defoe that won the game and saved England's World Cup. Defoe was one of the last guys you would expect on the England roster to step into the starting lineup and be able to take the Three Lions into the next phase with Capello's preference for Emile Heskey to partner Wayne Rooney. Defoe was left out of the 2006 World Cup and never seemed to fit into Fabio Capello's team structure this time around - nevertheless it was the Tottenham striker that was the man today and it will be interesting to see if he features in the team going forward.

6) Highlight - From Way Downtown!

-German wunderkind Mesut Ozil (one of our breakout players to watch, which I will certainly take the credit for) scored one of the great long-range goals of the tournament thus far with a splendid strike and a clutch goal to send Germany to the top of Group D and a matchup with England in the last 16!

Not to be outdone though is Aussie Brett Holman with this wicked one hopper that put away the Serbs!

7) Extra Time - What A Moment!

-Today's USA game is what sports is all about. Across the country Tweets, Facebook messages, IMs, texts, e-mails, phone calls, and everything in-between was going nuts over Landon Donovan's goal. Even some of the most diehard soccer haters were watching on the edge of their seat and hoping that the USA could pull out a victory. Donovan's goal was that moment that we love so much about sports. The moment when the dream comes true and frustration and disappointment instantly transform into joy and achievement.

I'll say this - it is not our greatest soccer moment, we've reached the WC quarterfinals before, but it might be the most significant moment and the greatest goal in US Soccer history because of the pure excitement. Having the team fight through such adversity and come so close to getting the breakthrough built the suspense to an unbearable level. Winning the game in such a dramatic way shows folks that soccer IS an exciting sport and it does contain surprises and unforgettable moments like the NFL and other sports. Sure, it's not going to make soccer the #1 sport here at home, but mark down June 23, 2010 as a huge day in the history of US Soccer.

Thursday Preview

Group F - 10:00 ET

Slovakia (1 PTS) v Italy (2 PTS)

-Of course the logical choice is to choose Italy to win big. However, the logical choice was also to pick Italy to win big over Paraguay and New Zealand. Yet, here they sit in a wide open Group F needing a win to move on to the knockout round. Slovakia is also in a must-win situation, but they have disappointed thus far in the tournament and you wouldn't expect them to really threaten the Azzuri. In spite of things going against them, Italy must simply get through this group - if not, them and France should be banned from the next World Cup.

PICK: Italy 2 Slovakia 0

Paraguay (4 PTS) v New Zealand (2 PTS)
-Paraguay should continue South America's unbeaten run against a plucky New Zealand team that has punched far above their weight in the tournament thus far. Who knows, perhaps a draw could see the Kiwis through, or they might even shock the world and get a win to move on (and top the group perhaps?) It has been an incredible story for them to even get this far, but Paraguay is quietly playing some world class soccer and should get the win to top Group F.
PICK: Paraguay 2 New Zealand 1
Moving On - 1) Paraguay 2) Italy

Group E - 2:30 ET

Cameroon (0 PTS) v Holland (6 PTS)

-With Holland in and Cameroon out this game has zero significance except for the Dutch to experiment with a couple things and Cameroon to maintain some pride. It's an impossible game to predict. Oh... a prediction you ask? I'm going to say 59-59, why not, right?

PICK: Cameroon 59 Holland 59

Denmark (3 PTS) v Japan (3 PTS)

-The scenario here is clear - a win or tie from Japan sees them through and only a Danish win sees them through. Japan has a clear edge here and can sit back and defend and perhaps strike on a counterattack (a strategy that worked against Cameroon). However, I believe that Denmark is simply the better team and will get the result they require.

PICK: Denmark 1 Japan 0

Moving On - 1) Holland 2) Denmark

2010 NBA Draft Preview

2010-06-23T18:09:00.007-04:00

With the world, and ourselves, focusing so much on the World Cup, it's hard to realize there are other things happening in sports. But, one of RSS's favorite events is coming up tomorrow night...the NBA Draft. It's not just the crazy outfits, the crazier picks, or the craziest of terms coined by the likes of Jay Bilas and Mark Jones, but there's just something about drafts that piques our interest. So, here is your abbreviated draft preview to tell you who the stars, steals, and busts will be in the Class of 2010.

3 Stars

(1) John Wall-G-Kentucky

-In a draft class devoid of a lot of deep talent, Wall is a clear star and should be the 1st pick by the Wizards without much thought. Combining the outright speed and ability to lead the break of Derrick Rose with the strength and rebounding of Jason Kidd, Wall could be on a fast-track to superstardom in a league that favors point guards more than ever. At worst, Wall will be a very good starter, at best, an MVP candidate. He's the sure bet for Rookie of the Year.

(2) Evan Turner-G/F-Ohio State

-After John Wall, the next sure thing is Ohio State's do-it-all man, Evan Turner. Turner can play 3 positions (PG, SG, SF) and has the all-around skills to be a very capable player for many years. While I don't think his ceiling is as high as Wall, he will be a near All-Star caliber talent for either Philadelphia or New Jersey. Many compare Turner to Brandon Roy, but I see Turner as a poor man's Paul Pierce, who can create his own shot just by going at his own pace. There's no way Turner slips past #3 with his deeply developed skill set.

(3) DeMarcus Cousins-C-Kentucky

-The hardest call in the draft by far is the enigmatic big man DeMarcus Cousins. Many times during his freshman year, he looked like a man amongst boys with his ability to dominate the paint as a scorer, rebounder, and defender. But, the problem is that most of the time, Cousins had a propensity to act like a boy who had taken his ball and gone home. If, and it's a big if, Cousins ends up on a team where he can mature, he'll develop into an elite two-way big man in a league without many great post players. If he doesn't mature, we're looking at Eddy Curry 2.0. But, in draft speak he does have a higher floor than PF Derrick Favors and a higher ceiling than SF Wes Johnson, so he's worth the gamble.

3 Steals

(1) Damion James-F-Texas

-James is a player I've been high on for several years coming out of a Texas program that has begun to produce quality NBA players. In this thin of a draft class, any serviceable NBA player drafted outside the lottery would be like...well, hitting the lottery. James has improved every year at Texas as a rebounder, and now as a spot-up shooter. Some contender will be pleased to have a finished product, ready to contribute at the end of Round 1.

(2) Jordan Crawford-G-Xavier

-Crawford is a rare player who's had two coming out moments as an underclassman. The first was his not-so-secret dunk over LeBron James in a pickup game. Then, he burst onto the scene in this year's NCAA Tournament with his breakout performance against Kansas St. in their double OT thriller. While Crawford probably won't be a starter, he's a combo guard who can provide instant offense off the bench. Plus, having him here gives an excuse to play these Gus Johnson highlights!

(3) Eric Bledsoe-G-Kentucky

-The Ringo Starr of this past year's Kentucky hoard of freshmen, Bledsoe was always playing in the shadow of the more heralded John Wall. But, Bledsoe has many of the same talents as Wall (speed, ability to lead the break, good defender) and already has a better jump shot than his college teammate. For a player coming from the same school at the same position, Bledsoe might turn out to be just as good as John Wall, even though he's being picked much later.

3 Busts

(1) Ed Davis-C-North Carolina

-You might sense a theme with our picks for the busts of the draft, underdeveloped big men. The first on our list is Ed Davis of UNC. Davis was touted as a potential Top 5 pick heading into this season and was expected to shoulder the load this year for the Tar Heels. Instead, Davis averaged a pedestrian 13 PPG and 10 RPG as the main focus of the Carolina offense. As usual, some team in the top half of the 1st round will see potential with Davis because of his height and a small sniff of skill. But, here's betting the only thing Davis will see next year is the NBDL.

(2) Daniel Orton-C-Kentucky

-Speaking of NBDL, here's the next rookie big man to go the way of Hasheem Thabeet, Kosta Koufos, and B.J. Mullens. Of course, many thought young men would stop making stupid decisions to leave college early for the NBA Draft once the age limit was put in place. But for the likes of those mentioned above and Kentucky Fr Daniel Orton, the allure is too much to pass up apparently. Then again, some NBA GM will look at Orton's gaudy stats (3 PPG, 3 RPG, two games with over 10+ points, no games with 10+ rebounds) and won't be able to resist. If Orton had stayed at UK for just one more season, he would have had a chance to succeed at the next level. Now, he'll see a court in Tel Aviv before he sees meaningful minutes in the NBA.

(3) Xavier Henry-G-Kansas

-Our last selection may be a bit harsh, but color me unimpressed with Xavier Henry's freshmen season at Kansas. Henry was the prized recruit from last year's college season other than John Wall, but had much less of an impact at Kansas. As usual, Henry's game could use another year of seasoning. But, with his decision to come out after his freshman year, he might have dropped his ceiling from All-Star, to just very good. It might be a bit harsh to call him a bust, because I don't think he'll be an NBDL failure, but I don't think he'll turn out to be the All-Star talent many thought he would become.

3 Wild Cards

(1) Chris Paul

-As always on draft night, we have to expect the unexpected. The biggest chip currently on the table is Hornets PG Chris Paul. Paul has said he's open to a trade, but the Hornets are saying their committed to building around him. Normally, the potential trade of an All-Star PG would be buzzworthy on its own, but with the news that World Wide Wes is encouraging suitors of LeBron to trade for Chris Paul, suddenly the situation goes to DEFCON 4. Of course, if World Wide Wes told NBA GMs to watch the Insler/Mahut 5th set on a continuous loop, they'd do it if they thought it could get them LeBron. The two most likely teams to trade for Paul are the Knicks and Nets, who would both move land and sea to capture LeBron, which leads us to the Draft's next wild card...

(2) Crazy Russian Nets Owner

-Ah yes, Mikhail Prokhorov, the heliskiing Russian tycoon who is entering his 1st NBA Draft as owner of the Nets. With the best odds going into the lottery, Prokhorov must have been disappointed that his mere presence wasn't enough to force the ping pong balls to bounce his way. And with this being a 2-5 player draft, depending on who you believe, Prokhorov is at a difficult spot at #3. So, does he stay where he's at and take the best player available, give up and move back, or trade the pick in the hopes of securing a big name to lure LeBron? Will he randomly show up in the crowd? Will he make his picks while kickboxing or doing backflips while water skiing? That's the thing...nobody knows what to expect.

(3) David Kahn and the TWolves

-With all that being said though, no single entity is as unpredictable heading into Thursday night's draft as TWolves GM David Kahn. As Hubie Brown might analyze the situation: "You're David Kahn, alright. Now, last year, you did something no one thought possible by making the dumbest, most shocking set of picks in the history of the draft, alright...not only did you take a point guard who won't leave Spain to play for you, you then followed that up by drafting another point guard, ok?"

Seriously though, who knows what Kahn might do at the 4th pick. Scenarios are in place which span the gambit from trading either Kevin Love or Al Jefferson, to trading up, to staying put and taking DeMarcus Cousins or Derrick Favors, which would make sense for Kahn to draft a player at his team's one position of strength. Maybe he'll try to trade with the Pacers and attempt to get Larry Bird to come out of retirement. Maybe he'll draft another PG? Maybe he just will forget to make the pick! Whatever he does, you can bet it will be met with a heavy dose of skepticism.

That's it for our 2010 NBA Draft Preview. Join us for our thoughts on how things shaked out later in the week as well as our continuing World Cup coverage. Until then, it's bye for now!

World Cup Roundup - Day 11 & 12

2010-06-22T19:43:00.006-04:00

Time for our daily World Cup roundup. Today we'll take a look at the games from Monday which saw Spain, Chile, and especially Portugal get huge wins. And then from today, we'll analyze the finishing up of Groups A and B and see who will advance tomorrow from Groups C and D with the United States facing a must win game against Algeria. Let's roll!

1) Biggest Winner - Uruguay

-First, it was fantastic to see Uruguay and Mexico play a proper game today knowing that a draw would send both teams through. Thankfully, both teams attacked with menace and Uruguay ended up getting the goal, the win, and first place in Group A. Luis Suarez scored off of a brilliant cross to open up his campaign at the World Cup and the dynamism that he presents with Diego Forlan is dangerous to the rest of the field. Uruguay face South Korea in the Round of 16 and will be big favorites to make the quarterfinals for the first time since 1970. If this team continues to fire on all cylinders, they are a darkhorse contender to make the semifinals.

2) Standout Performer - South Africa

-The South African team was heroic in their victory over France today. Heading into the final round of Group A play it looked impossible for either RSA or France to advance to the knockout stages. However, 2 goals in the first half against 10 men and a Uruguay lead over Mexico had the miracle talk floating around the world. Alas, it was not meant to be, but in their victory today Bafana Bafana showed heart, determination, and desire (a lot more than what the French can say). So, while they become the first host country to get knocked out in the group phase, South Africa should still be proud of their victory today, their unbelievable fans (yes, even the vuvuzelas), and the way they've made the country and the continent proud with a marvelous tournament thus far.

3)Biggest Loser - Nigeria

4) Best Game - Nigeria 2 South Korea 2

-Marvelous if you're not a fan of the Super Eagles. Coming into today's game, they needed a win against South Korea and an Argentina win to advance. Of course, the silly sending off and 2-1 loss to Greece put themselves in this situation, but it still seemed possible. While Argentina took the lead against Greece, Nigeria found themselves trailing 2-1 to South Korea in the second half when Yakubu had perhaps the worst miss in World Cup history...

Only a couple minutes later, Yakubu somewhat made up for his miss with a successful spot kick to tie the score at 2. But, a missed chip from Obafemi Martins 10 minutes from the end proved to be the last chance for the Super Eagles. After so many missed chances and close calls, Nigeria may be the team most kicking themselves for not making it to the knockout round.

5) Biggest Surprise -Portugal Come Out To Play

-Umm... I probably should have deleted that Tweet that predicted Portugal not being able to break down the mighty wall of North Korea. Shockingly, a team that was held scoreless by the Cape Verde Islands put up 7 goals in a World Cup game. Yes, it was North Korea - but Portugal had shown no signs of scoring against Cote D'Ivoire and was one of the most disappointing teams in the tournament runup. Like France, they have a lot of individual ability, but struggle to put it together. Hold off on putting any money on the Portugese though until you see how they perform against Brazil this week.

6) Highlight - David Villa: Goal of the Tournament

-David Villa's first goal against Honduras is the frontrunner thus far for the goal of the tournament. Villa's mazing run through multiple defenders and clinical finish sparked Spain to a crucial win in Group H.

7) Extra Time - Stop The Cheating & Diving!

-One of our favorite sites, EPL Talk, had a great article here about how the constant diving, simulation, cheating, and embellishment is stopping American sports fans from becoming soccer fans. Many people love the games but hate the constant cheating and acting from players. While Ronaldo may be one of the worst divers, at seems that at least once per game someone falls down clutching their face after being touched in the arm, or acts like their leg was shot with a cannonball after being knicked by a ladybug. It's pathetic and it needs to stop because it is an embarrassment to the sport.

Here's our suggestion to stop the cheating and diving - FIFA must set up a panel to review each game and hand out suspensions to people deemed guilty of diving, simulation, or clear embellishment. With the speed and space of the game, it is almost impossible to determine what exactly happens on the field at the time (see Kaka's sending off). Therefore, punishment must come via video review after the games and severe enforcement of cheating and diving must happen. The NBA and MLS have a similar disciplinary process where players can be suspended following games after looking at video. FIFA and international soccer must do something similar after this tournament is over to prevent this pollution of the beautiful game going forward.

Wednesday Preview

Group C - 10:00 ET

USA (2 PTS) v Algeria (1 PTS)

-With Robbie Findley suspended, who will play up front with Jozy Altidore? Edson Buddle looks the most likely, but if the US can't get a breakthrough early on I would expect Bob Bradley to not hesitate to make changes. Algeria has not looked close to scoring yet in this tournament, but the US would be smart to sit back and defend early on to not go down a goal early on yet again. The US should let the game come to them and be patient with Algeria. It is a game they should and will win to advance to the next round.

PICK: USA 2 Algeria 0

England (2 PTS) v Slovenia (4 PTS)
-Can England turn it on? I just don't know. Like France, England have some of the most talented footballers in the world, but the whole of the national team is never equal to the sum of its parts. With John Terry having a go at Fabio Capello in the media, the team is going through some turmoil in the dressing room. With England, the negative mojo affects them like no other country. It's hard to imagine them flipping the switch when under so much pressure. Slovenia will defend and get the draw to advance.
PICK: England 1 Slovenia 1
Moving On - 1) USA 2) Slovenia

Group D - 2:30 ET

Ghana (4 PTS) v Germany (3 PTS)

-The Group of Depth has come through as each team still has a chance to make it through. Ghana sit in the catbird seat currently, but they face an angry Germany side that didn't show up against Serbia. Ghana is Africa's last hope to make the knockout stages and they need at least a tie to advance. Ghana has the heart to get the job done, but Germany has everything else.

PICK: Germany 2 Ghana 1

Serbia (3 PTS) v Australia (1 PTS)

-A tough one to pick. Serbia will advance with a win, while even a tie might not be enough. Australia must win to have any hope of advancing. Serbia has to be favored in this situation and with Australia being afflicted with red cards they will be missing key players. Serbia will be riding high after defeating Germany and should get another win tomorrow.

PICK: Serbia 2 Australia 0

Moving On - 1) Germany 2) Serbia

5 Thoughts On The US Open

2010-06-21T12:54:00.009-04:00

With the US Open in the history books, here's 5 thoughts from the tournament that saw a lot of stars come close, a lot of bogeys made, and one wee little Irishman standing tall at Pebble Beach.

1) The US Open Is Not Made For Primetime TV

-A big deal was made out of this golf tournament being shown in primetime on the East coast. With some of the stars in the mix, it promised to be an exciting, enthralling TV event for NBC and golf. Unfortunately, this is the US Open - where the only thrills are who makes the least amount of bogeys coming home. The Masters or the PGA would be much better in primetime, at least those tournaments have, hello, birdies! That was perhaps the least exciting, least dramatic final round to a major in recent memory. Blah. If you don't believe me, look at these numbers of the leading contenders:

*McDowell (E) - Final Round 74, 3 bogeys 0 birdies on Back 9

*Havret (+1) - Final Round 72, 2 bogeys 0 birdies on Back 9

*Els (+2) - Final Round 73, +5 on final 10 holes including 40 on Back 9

*Mickelson (+3) - Final Round 73, 3 bogeys 0 birdies on Back 9

*Woods (+3) - Final Round 75, 2 bogeys 1 birdie on Back 9

*Johnson (+5) - Final Round 82, 0 birdies, 6 bogeys, 1 double, 1 triple

Combined, the final 3 groups tallied 17 bogeys, 2 birdies, and 1 double bogey on the Back 9 Sunday. +17! The winner of the tournament shot a Back 9 39 to lift the trophy... and he was down by 3 coming into the day!! I hope the USGA is happy that they got the tournament they wanted on Sunday - a bogeyfest where a player is merely left standing amidst the carnage.

2) Tiger Woods Isn't Back

-El Tigre "sucked the air out of the golf course" with a 66 on Saturday according to NBC. Well, the only thing sucking on Sunday was Woods' play (insert cheap prostitute joke here). Thankfully for Tiger, Dustin Johnson's evaporation hid another final round disappointment. Like I've said throughout this whole process, it's not so much Tiger's troubles off the course, but his loss to YE Yang in last year's PGA that may slow down his assault on Jack's record. Tiger just doesn't look like he has it when trying to win a major since that massive upset. Watching NBC's Sunday coverage was pathetic, with Mark Rolfing and others still thinking this was 2000 and not 2010. Maybe Gregory Havret intimidated Tiger yesterday causing him to 3 putt 1, hit it in the ocean on 6, or the junk on 10... these days that doesn't sound so ridiculous.

3) Dustin Johnson's Choke Was One of The Worst Ever

-His final round 82 was the worst score by a 54 hole leader in the US Open in 99 years!! That's not the sort of history that you want to be making in a major. The shocking thing is that Johnson looked on track to becoming the next big thing - he's improved on the money list each year, won at Pebble the last 2 years, and could break through to the big time with a major win leading by 3 entering the day. But the swiftness of his choke was stunning - a triple on 2 after two duffed chips, a lost drive and double on 3, and a bogey after finding the hazard on 4. I don't care how much of a "flatliner" he is, Johnson will need something special to recover from such a huge choke.

4) Phil Mickelson May Never Win a US Open

-Again, Lefty finished in the Top 5 of a US Open for the 7th time. But, let's face it, Phil just doesn't have the type of game you need to win a US Open. Look at some of the recent winners - Michael Campbell, Jim Furyk, Lucas Glover, Graeme McDowell - not exactly the flashiest players in the world. The US Open requires hitting fairways and greens and making pars, which aren't exactly the strength of Phil's game. Mickelson has trouble with his putting in US Opens as well, which I think shows the pressure he puts on himself to win the tournament. He'll always be close, but the US Open might elude Phil Mickelson for the rest of his career.

5) Graeme McDowell Was A Deserved Winner

-However, when all is said and done, the story should focus on a deserved winner - Graeme McDowell. Perhaps just the 3rd best golfer from Northern Ireland (Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke), McDowell emerged as the last man standing like other unfancied winners this decade. McDowell only had 1 previous Top 10 in a major prior to this week and this is his first PGA Tour win (he only had 5 previous European Tour wins as well). Isn't it amazing that Euro studs like Garcia, Westwood, Casey, Poulter, and others can't get the job done - but Graeme McDowell can?!

McDowell is only 30, and he has some pedigree as an All-American at UAB as well as a 2008 Ryder Cup appearance, so maybe he isn't a one shot wonder. What struck me about McDowell was that he was the only player that didn't melt under the pressure. Yes, he made bogeys coming in while shooting a Back 9 39, but the moment wasn't too big for him. The defining moment and lasting memory from this tournament was McDowell cooly talking to the camera all the way up 18, wishing a Happy Father's Day after his drive and noting his dad in the crowd, openly talking about nerves on the way to the green and even pumping himself up yelling "Come On!" knowing that a 2 putt would win him the title. It was that determination and coolness under pressure that led McDowell to a career changing victory.

World Cup Roundup - Day 9 & 10

2010-06-21T10:14:00.006-04:00

Time for our daily World Cup roundup. Today we'll take a look at what we missed over the second weekend of the tournament which included a couple shocking results, our first knockout round qualifiers, African sorrow, and umm, some pleasantries exchanged between the French coach and Le Sulk. If you're curious as to what the L'Equipe cover says, it's not pretty.

1) Biggest Winner - South America

-South American teams are still undefeated at the World Cup through 9 games. The quintet of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay are a combined 7-2-0 in the tournament thus far. Amazingly, each country finds itself in great position to advance to the knockout round - it's akin to Big East dominance of the NCAA tournament. Take a look at the results thus far:

*Brazil - 6 points, 2-0, already qualified for KO round

*Argentina - 6 points, 2-0, qualification a near certainty

*Uruguay - 4 points, 1-1-0, likely in already

*Paraguay - 4 points, 1-1-0, need draw against NZ

*Chile - 3 points, currently 0-0 against Swiss but are a man up

All of these teams are also currently in first place in their groups as well. South America is dominating the African World Cup. Just imagine what can happen in 2014 when the tournament travels to Brazil!

2) Standout Performer - Mark Paston

-The New Zealand goalkeeper was outstanding against Italy in preserving a 1-1 draw against the Azurri. The All Whites pulled off perhaps the most surprising result of the tournament in getting a point against the defending world champs. In truth, all of New Zealand were standout performers as they didn't try to sink in and play too negatively against Italy. Now, they have a real chance of progressing into the knockout round with a result against Paraguay.

3)Biggest Loser - Africa

-As much as everyone is rooting for the African teams to do well, it's not happening. Take a look at how each nation has fared...

*Cameroon - first team officially eliminated with 0-0-2 record

*South Africa - face elimination with 0-1-1 record

*Nigeria - 0 points from 2 games, but still an outside chance of advancing

*Algeria - 1 point from 2 games with 0 goals scored

*Cote D'Ivoire - 1 point from 2 games and .006% chance of advancing due to 7-0 Portugal win this morning

*Ghana - 4 points and Group D leaders, but must tie or beat Germany to secure advancing

Cameroon and Cote D'Ivoire have been the most disappointing of the African nations. Cameroon should have probably won both of their games thus far and lost to both Denmark and Japan. Ivory Coast were uninspiring against Portugal and were ran over by Brazil. Also, there was the embarrassing act of Kader Kaita, which got Kaka sent off. I think Ghana and Nigeria both face an uphill struggle trying to qualify for the next round, hopefully one of them makes it.

4) Best Game - Denmark 2 Cameroon 1

-It was one of the most open and dramatic games of the World Cup. Denmark became one of the few teams to reverse a deficit into a victory, but Cameroon will rue the several blown chances against not just Denmark, but in their first game against Japan as well. Cameroon is out while Denmark will still need to beat Japan to advance.

5) Biggest Douchebags - French National Team

-When you have to defend Raymond Domenech, you know that somebody has screwed up big time. Yes, the coach is an idiot, clueless, inept, or whatever word you want to use to describe the lack of ability from the French manager. But, that gives no excuse for what the French players have done. First, Nicolas Anelka was justly sent home after speaking out against Domenech, and then the entire team refused to practice yesterday! Now, officials from the FFF are resigning and the nation is ashamed of the petulant behavior. It's one thing to play poorly on the field, but this sort of childish behavior makes a mockery of the sport, the World Cup, and embarrasses a nation - yes, even France.

6) Highlight - Rommedahl Match Winner

-Dennis Rommedahl's goal for Denmark was one of the better individual efforts of the World Cup. He takes the ball on the wing, cuts back inside, and slots it perfectly to the far post to give Denmark the win.

7) Extra Time - Group Scenarios

*Group C - Slovenia (4 pts) will advance with a win or draw against England. The USA (2 pts) advance with a win or a draw & England draw as long as they stay ahead on goals scored (currently +2). England (2 pts) must win to advance. Algeria (1 pts) is still alive and must beat the USA and have England draw or lose.

*Group D - Ghana (4 pts) will advance with a win, draw, or even a loss and a narrow Australia victory over Serbia. Germany (3 pts) are assured of advancing with a win, or a draw and Serbia loss or tie. Serbia (3 pts) advances with a win, draw & Ghana win, or a draw and a Germany win by more than 1 goal. Australia (1 pts) must win and have Ghana defeat Germany.

*Group E - Holland (6 pts) is in. Cameroon (o pts) is out. So, it comes down to Denmark and Japan, both on 3 points. Currently, Japan has a +0 goal difference while Denmark is -1. Therefore, Japan advances with a win or draw against the Danes, while Denmark must beat Japan to advance.

*Group F - Paraguay (4 pts) is in the drivers seat and needs a win, draw, or a narrow loss and Italy loss to get in. New Zealand (2 pts) must either beat Paraguay, or hope for a draw & Italian draw while scoring more goals than the Azurri or a draw & Italy defeat. Italy (2 pts) will advance with a win against Slovakia, or a draw and NZ loss/tie with less goals. ***Italy and NZ have the same number of goals scored and allowed, and if that remains the same after the final phase of group matches we could be drawing lots to see who goes on!*** Slovakia (1 pts) must beat Italy and hope for a New Zealand loss or tie.

*Group G - Brazil (6 pts) is in. North Korea (0 pts) is out. Based on their 7-0 victory today, Portugal (4 pts) is almost assured of advancing unless Cote D'Ivoire (1 pts) beats North Korea by 8 or 9 goals.

Tuesday Preview

Group A - 10:00 ET

France (1 PTS) v South Africa (1 PTS)

-One of these teams must win by at least 3 or 4 goals to begin to think about advancing. With all of the turmoil in the French team, I can't see them playing well. South Africa will look to at least give the home fans something positive to remember from the 2010 World Cup.

PICK: RSA 1 France 0

Uruguay (4 PTS) v Mexico (4 PTS)
-Uruguay is in pole position due to their superior goal differential. The draw that both teams seek will see Uruguay get 1st in the group and avoid Argentina in the next round. Will Mexico sacrifice sure qualification to push for a win and avoid Argentina? I doubt it. I would expect both teams to play defensive and we'll see a wink wink 0-0 draw that sends them both through.
PICK: Uruguay 0 Mexico 0
Moving On - 1) Uruguay 2) Mexico

Group B - 2:30 ET

Argentina (6 PTS) v Greece (3 PTS)

-Only a shock defeat here would see Argentina not secure first in the group. Greece was fortunate to get a sending off from Nigeria to get their win - otherwise, they were on their way out. Argentina should continue to roll on comfortably, which means Greece will exit the competition.

PICK: Argentina 2 Greece 0

South Korea (3 PTS) v Nigeria (0 PTS)

-Even on 0 pts, Nigeria still has a chance to go on with an Argentina victory and a win over South Korea. If those necessary results play out, Nigeria will advance on goal difference. They just need a little bit of luck against South Korea that they didn't get in the first 2 games. My head tells me that South Korea will at least get a draw that will likely see them advance, but my heart tells me that one African team has to find a way to advance.

PICK: Nigeria 2 South Korea 1

Moving On - 1) Argentina 2) Nigeria

Lakers vs Blackhawks Tale of The Tape

2010-06-20T18:55:00.013-04:00

With the World Cup going on and the US Open finishing up today, let's take a brief look at the end of the NBA & NHL Playoffs by comparing the two champions - the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Blackhawks, and see how they stack up with each other to see who is the supreme summer champ. Both teams had great seasons, but which one is the best of the best? Let's find out in the tale of the tape!

City

Lakers - Los Angeles

Blackhawks - Chicago

Edge: Blackhawks, hey, I'm a midwestern guy

Jersey

Lakers -

Blackhawks -

Edge: Blackhawks, hockey sweaters are just better

Mascot

Lakers - Umm... Jack Nicholson?

Blackhawks - Tommy Hawk

Edge: Blackhawks, Tommy Hawk is much less cartoonish

Last Previous Title

Lakers - 2009

Blackhawks - 1961

Edge: Lakers, they won 10 titles in between 1961 and 2009!

Iconic Player

Lakers - Magic Johnson

Blackhawks - Bobby Hull

Edge: Blackhawks, based solely on The Magic Show

Leader/MVP

Lakers - Kobe Bryant

Blackhawks - Jonathan Toews

Edge: Lakers, even though Kobe went 6-24 in Game 7 and Toews has the muttonchop edge

Unlikely Hero

Lakers - Ron Artest

Blackhawks - Dustin Byfuglein

Edge: Lakers, both made huge shots/goals throughout the playoffs, but Artest gets the edge for the most memorable postgame interview in recent memory...

Coach

Lakers - Phil Jackson

Blackhawks - Joel Quenneville

Edge: Lakers, although Quenneville has aged better

Defining Moment

Lakers - Ron Artest Clinching 3 in Game 7

Blackhawks - Patrick Kane OT Goal in Game 6

Edge: Blackhawks, on the most awkward title winning moment ever

Fans

Lakers - Jack & Hollywood

Blackhawks - Bill Murray & ... Jim Belushi?

Edge: Lakers, but at least the Chicago crowd doesn't need a billion dollar escrow account for botched plastic surgeries

Song

Lakers - I Love LA

Blackhawks - Chelsea Dagger

Edge: Blackhawks, da da da da da da da da da da da da da

Dynastybility

Lakers - 2 in a row, 3 straight Finals appearances

Blackhawks - 1 in a row, best young roster in NHL

Edge: Lakers, especially once LeBron James signs with them for the veteran minimum

Trophy

Lakers - Larry O'Brien Trophy

Blackhawks - Stanley Cup

Edge: Blackhawks, I bet you didn't even know the Finals trophy had a name!

In the words of the great Nick Bakay, when you break things down scientifically, the advantage goes to... the Blackhawks with a 7-6 victory in this best of 13 championship showdown. We'll be back tomorrow morning with our continuing World Cup thoughts, bye for now!

World Cup Roundup - Day 8

2010-06-18T16:29:00.004-04:00

Time for our daily World Cup roundup. Day 8 featured one pulsating draw, one upset, and one snoozefest draw. But, the common theme throughout the day was controversy. So, let's play the Feud!

1) Biggest Winner - Group C Drama

-Well, you would have been taking on some serious odds if you'd bet on Slovenia being two points ahead of Group C with one game remaining, but that's exactly the scenario in play. After a heart-stopping draw with the U.S. and a stale draw between England and Algeria, Slovenia controls its own destiny, which is quite the achievement for the smallest of the 32 nations in this year's World Cup. Meanwhile, the seemingly automatic qualification of England and the U.S. into the next round now rests on both teams winning their final matches against Slovenia and Algeria respectively. While U.S. fans and the English media might be battling stomach ulcers until then, you couldn't ask for much more drama when next Wednesday comes around.

2) Standout Performer - Vladimir Stojkovic

-Stojkovic, the Serbian goalie was facing Lukas Podolski over a penalty kick in the 60th minute. Serbia, with many thanks to a dubious sending off of Miroslav Klose, was clinging to a 1-0 lead. Stojkovic guessed right, saved the penalty, and has Serbia right back in position to advance into the knockout stages. Here's the highlights of the game, including the crucial save.

3)Biggest Loser - England

-Aside from the horrible officiating we saw today (more on that later), the biggest losers by far are the English. Many pundits, not just those usual delirious folks in the British media, thought this could be the year the English go back to the Promised Land. We even thought their array of talent and a wide-open draw might be enough to get England deep into the knockout stages. But, after a disappointing draw with the Americans, things got much worse today with another draw against heavy underdogs Algeria. The sad thing is though, not one player for England looked as if he was their to win the World Cup. Each player seemed to be wandering aimlessly, perhaps carrying the burden of their homeland with each step on the pitch. Now, the burden falls on Fabio Capello, who must bring out the natural talent on the side (players like Rooney, Lampard, and Gerrard especially) against Slovenia in order to advance with a victory.

4) Best Game - USA 2 Slovenia 2

-Finally, a back-and-forth slugfest worthy of World Cup action. All credit to Slovenia for striking quickly and exploiting a rusty Gooch on their first two goals. But, the U.S. fought back with what Landon Donovan called "the American spirit", which saw them get back into the game with a goal first from Donovan, then a late equalizer from Michael Bradley. Perhaps the lack of fear in attack from both sides could do well to inspire other nations in this World Cup to go for the victory and not be afraid to lose.

5) Biggest Regret - Klose's Red Card

-We know the officiating today was horrible, but still German striker Miroslav Klose must be kicking himself for his needless challenges that saw him sent off early on against Serbia. The Germans impressed more than any other team after one game, but after two their qualification in the knockout round is all but secure. And while Serbia could have easily punished 10-men Germany even more than 1-0, the Germans wouldn't be in the position they are if Klose had adapted his game to the card-happy official.

6) Highlight - Edu's Goal that Wasn't

-Nobody, not even Sherlock Holmes can see what the official from Mali, Koman Coulibaly, was looking at when he whistled a foul on what should have been the 3rd U.S. goal. Hopefully, this disallowed goal won't be the difference in the U.S. missing out on advancing to the next round. But, if so, this might go down in the annals of U.S. soccer history as the most infamous moment.

7) Extra Time - FIFA Does What It Knows Best...Terrible Officiating

-For some reason, I feel as if FIFA head honcho Sepp Blatter and Bud Selig are soul mates, because both know how not to handle controversy. Uncle Bud's exploits on issues from steroids to replay have been well documented in this space, but not he has some competition. As if the "Handball of God" that saw France steal qualification away from Ireland, with no reaction from FIFA, was enough, now FIFA is circling the wagons around embattled ref Koman Coulibaly. Not only is Coulibaly staying silent over what, if any foul he saw to disallow Maurice Edu's goal, FIFA is giving him the protection to do so. This doesn't even begin to discuss the horrid referee job done by first-timer Alberto Mallenco in the Serbia/Germany game.

It makes you wonder why an organization so blatantly washes its hands over referee errors that swing the most important games in the world. If FIFA isn't going to do anything to help their officials by installing instant replay or adding officials to the touch lines, the least they could do is have some transparency over what Coulibaly saw. What are they trying to hide exactly? Instead, the world wonders if they can trust the decisions being made on the pitch the rest of the tournament.

Saturday Preview

Group E

Netherlands (3 PTS) v Japan (3 PTS)

-The Japanese victory against Cameroon was one of the shock moments of the early group stages, but they'll find it even harder to take 3 more points against Holland. The Dutch showed their attacking depth and versatility even without Robben, and they won't be slowed down by a weak defensive team here either. Expect the Dutch to seal their place into the knockout stages.

PICK: Netherlands 2 Japan 0

Group D

Ghana (3 PTS) v Australia (0 PTS)

-With the victory today by Serbia, this group has gotten quite interesting. If the Aussies can somehow pull out a victory against Ghana, all 4 teams will be on 3 points going in to the final round of group play. But, we don't see that happening. After getting destroyed by Germany and losing their captain Tim Cahill, the Socceroos will be once again hard-pressed to find any success against what might be Africa's best hope. Expect the young Black Stars to walk to victory.

PICK: Ghana 2 Australia 0

Group E

Cameroon (0 PTS) v Denmark (0 PTS)

-One hope for Africa we thought might perform better was Cameroon, but they fell in a surprise defeat to Japan. Meanwhile, Denmark played well in spurts against the Dutch, but lost 2-0. It's hard to see either team taking much from this game based on their first performances. But, with the pressures of playing on home soil, and the dissension amongst some of the players, we're taking the Danes in a tight one.

PICK: Denmark 1 Cameroon 0

World Cup Roundup - Day 7

2010-06-17T20:51:00.005-04:00

Time for our daily World Cup roundup. Day 7 featured Argentina with a Grade A performance, a rush of blood to the head from Nigeria (love that phrase), and El Tri getting the best of Les Blues in what seems to be a massive upset... if it was 1990 and not 2010. So, without further adieu, let's laissez les bon temps rouler!

1) Biggest Winner - Mexico

-I can't believe I'm saying this, but I was actually cheering for Mexico today! As an American it seems just wrong to root for El Tri. It's like a Yankees fan cheering for the Red Sox in the World Series or an Ohio State fan rooting for Michigan in the Rose Bowl. But, I couldn't help myself from sending good vibes towards the Mexicans today. Their mix of youth and experience, their open and quick passing style, and a disdain for the French all led to me getting a little excited when Chicharito opened the scoring with a perfectly timed pass from Rafa Marquez.

This was Mexico's first ever win against a European team in the World Cup, and I think it shows another step from the CONCACAF region where Mexico doesn't just play with a big country like France, but beats them soundly. With a win against Uruguay, El Tri can get out of Group A with the #1 seed, draw one of South Korea/Greece/Nigeria, and be favored to get to the quarterfinals.

2) Standout Performer - Gonzalo Higuain

-Yesterday we featured another striker when Diego Forlan rocketed to the top of the goal scoring charts with his 2 goals against South Africa. And now the World Cup has been shaken to the core by Gonzalo Higuain's hat trick today! I guess that Jabulani ain't all it's cracked up to be. He scored two with his head and one on a rebound off of a Lionel Messi shot. Higuain was right where he needed to be and benefitted from a great team effort around him. With this Argentine succes, maybe Diego Maradona is crazy... crazy like a fox, oh second thought, no he still is crazy.

3)Biggest Loser - Raymond Domenech

-Speaking of managers... there's not much left to say when it comes to piling on the clueless Inspector Clouseau - Raymond Domenech. When you've lost Zinedine Zidane, you've lost France. Also, when your captain is referring to you as a small nation and... hello... you are FRANCE... you know you've hit rock bottom. Oh, and I haven't taken French since 8th grade, but I'm sure this isn't a glowing review.

4) Best Game - Argentina 4 South Korea 1

-It was hard to watch Greece just eat away at Nigeria and get a less than deserved 2-1 win. Mexico's win over France was satisfying but not necessarily a spectacle. Argentina won 4-1, but the game was probably the most enjoyable of the tournament thus far. Both teams played an open style, and South Korea had a chance to tie in the second half before Higuain completed his hat trick. See, we told you the goals would come!

5) Biggest Regret - Sani Kaita's Kick Out

-It's a shame that Nigeria's hopes of advancing out of the group stages basically disappeared in about 2 seconds. One bit of reaction and overaction from Sani Kaita sent Nigeria down to 10 men with a 1-0 lead. The Super Eagles looked the best team for the first half hour and were on their way to an easy win. Then, Kaita lost his head and Greece managed 2 goals to win. It would be nice to have some leeway in situations like this and just give out a yellow card - you see the instant regret and sadness from Kaita... but I guess you don't want players going Bruce Lee on each other either.

6) Highlight - Higauin's Hat Trick

-Argentina scored 4 today and Gonzalo Higauin got the first hat trick of the 2010 World Cup and vaulted himself to the top of the Golden Boot race. But, the prettiest goal was indeed the last, set up by wonderful movement and passing by Messi and Aguero. Simply brilliant!

7) Extra Time - Quick Hits

*Group A Scenarios - Uruguay and Mexico (4 PTS) are in with a tie with South Africa and France at 1 point. RSA is actually in the best position to pull off a miracle with a -2 goal difference and France at -3. Basically, France needs to make up 5 goals on either Uruguay or Mexico to advance and RSA needs a similar result. It ain't happening - Mexico and Uruguay will go through. If their game ends in a tie, Uruguay will get 1st place in Group A with a +3 GD.

*Group B Scenarios - Argentina is a cinch with 6 pts and miles ahead on goal difference - each of the other three remaining teams are still alive. Greece (3 PTS, -1 GD) plays Argentina and is unlikely to even beat a B squad. South Korea (3 PTS, -1 GD) plays Nigeria (0 PTS, -2 GD). If South Korea wins or draws, they're likely in even if Greece matches their result based on goals scored and head to head. But if Nigeria wins - things get crazy. Nigeria would advance with a win and Greece loss via a superior goal differential. Even with today's crazy events, they're still in an ok position.

*The commentary and analysis was excellent again today from ESPN, one of their strongest efforts as a network in recent memory. I'm particularly enjoying the 4th string team of Derek Rae and Robbie Mustoe, who did a great job with Nigeria and Greece today. They're a couple of the ESPN regulars, but they prove they belong with the hired guns brought in.

*On the other hand though, what is up with the insane amounts of slo-mo replays from the world feed? I mean, some of them are cool when they are actually on the field. But, do they really need several slo-mos of fans in the stands, coaches, vuvuzelas, and everything in between?

*With Nigeria and South Africa both looking on their way out, the African hope falls to Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire to get at least one team to the knockout rounds.

*We had the French jerseys pegged 31st in our Jersey Power Rankings and they showed why today, what was up with those black x's duct taped on the jerseys? Yipes.

Friday Preview

Group D

Germany (3 PTS) v Serbia (0 PTS)

-Germany was the star of the opening round of games as they waxed Australia 4-0. Serbia was one of the disappointments in falling 1-0 to Ghana. We'll see similar results tomorrow - Serbia will be harder to break down than Australia, but Germany played so well that you would expect nothing less than a win tomorrow.

PICK: Germany 2 Serbia 0

Group C

USA (1 PTS) v Slovenia (3 PTS)

-This isn't a must-win game for the USA as much as it is a must not lose game. With Tim Howard healthy, I would expect a solid defensive effort against a team that didn't look like doing much against Algeria. Going forward, I'd like to see us string some more passes through the midfield and involve Dempsey and Donovan more in the attack. The US should be able to use their athleticism to scratch a goal somewhere and play solid defense throughout.

PICK: USA 1 Slovenia 0

England (1 PTS) v Algeria (0 PTS)

-England. Big.

PICK: England 3 Algeria 0

Celtics vs Lakers Game 7 Preview

2010-06-17T09:35:00.009-04:00

It's the two most magical words in sport - Game 7. And, when it involves the Celtics and the Lakers, it makes it that much more special. You can bet that Bird and Magic will be watching tonight. Tonight is the night that a champion will be crowned after a classic back and forth series. It seems like so long since we had a decisive Game 7 in the NBA Finals that was actually compelling (and no, I'm not counting the '05 Pistons v Spurs thrillorama). In fact, this is only the 3rd Game 7 in the NBA Finals in the last 2 decades. While anything can happen in Game 7, the Lakers have a clear advantage heading into the decisive game, and here's why.

*The Black Mamba

-Having the best player on the court in Game 7 is always a big advantage. And, in Kobe Bryant, the Lakers certainly have the likely series MVP - win or lose. Kobe shared the ball effectively in Game 6, only taking 19 shots and getting 11 rebounds. I wouldn't expect to see bizarro refuse to shoot Kobe that we saw in a Game 7 in Phoenix years ago, or one as passive as Game 6 (even though the team benefitted) - I'd expect the Black Mamba.

*Momentum

-Let's be real - LA mutilated Boston in Game 6. The C's shot 33% in Game 6 after shooting 56% in Game 5. The Lakers played faster than Boston, passed better, and played with more intensity. That's usually a winning combination. Plus, Artest, Gasol, and Odom combined for 40 points and 29 rebounds. With a key injury for the Celtics (more on that in a bit), the Lakers have clear momentum.

*No Perks

-The injury to Kendrick Perkins is key. He's one of the few guys on the Celtics that can provide defense and toughness on the inside. Losing him may improve the team offensively... until you see that Wallace, Davis, and the corpse of Shelden Williams combined for 0, yes 0 POINTS IN GAME 6!! Ouch.

*Home Court

-Finally, the Lakers have homecourt advantage. The crowd in Game 6 was unlike any LA crowd that I've ever heard, and they will come strong again tonight. This won't be your typical LA wanting to be seen by the cameras crowd - this crowd will actually cheer and boo for the entire 48 minutes. In the NBA, homecourt means a lot more than any other sport, that's why it will help the Lakers immensely.

Now, the Celtics do have a few things going for them, but I don't think that those factors match up to the ones above... but I have to cover my bases, don't I?

1) They Got Their Shots In Game 6 - The C's had a series high 84 shots, but they only made 28. They haven't shot below 43% in any other game this series, so maybe their terrible shooting in Game 6 was more of an aberration than a prelude to Game 7.

2) Veteran Leadership - Boston won't panic in this situation. It was one bad game, and yes they lose a big part of their defense... but, Rasheed can give a different dynamic to the starting lineup and will be the only player on the floor that has played in a Finals Game 7. Umm... maybe that's not such of a big advantage.

3) Sense of Urgency/Backs Against The Wall/Underdog Mentality... - This could be the last chance for an aging Big 3. With the blowout loss in Game 6, maybe we'll see some relaxation on the part of LA and a rallying of the troops for Boston. It seems like the predictions change every game, but the pundits are clearly swinging the pendulum back towards LA. While it seems like Paul Pierce has called every game a must-win game so far in these playoffs, this one actually really is! Unless David Stern sees the ratings success and declares the series a best of 17.

4) History -

The Celtics are 4-0 all-time in Game 7 vs the Lakers. It would be something if we saw a replay of 1969 - where Don Nelson's miraculous jumper gave the Celtics and Bill Russell a Game 7 victory in Los Angeles... but, I don't think Bill Russell, Bird, Parrish, and McHale, or even Don Nelson are walking through that door folks.

With all that being said, I'm going with the Lakers and Kobe Bryant winning tonight to cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats with his 5th title and the 11th for Phil Jackson. Yuck. I feel slimy writing that. Let's hope the RSS jinx is in full effect and the Celtics get the upset.

World Cup Roundup - Day 6

2010-06-16T16:24:00.007-04:00

Time for our daily World Cup roundup. Day 6 saw the first HUGE upset of the tournament, and the second round of group fixtures start with Bafana Bafana looking ready to bow out. We saw certain bloggers (like us) try to erase our pre-tournament predictions and start over and some teams gain new life. So, what were the most memorable moments from Day 6 at the 2010 World Cup?

1) Biggest Winner - Chile

-For a team who hadn't won a World Cup match since 1962, the Chileans didn't play with any lack of confidence or flair in dismantling Honduras 1-0, a scoreline which certainly flattered Honduras. Although the Hondurans were considered one of the minnows of the tournament, Chile were perhaps more relentless on the attack (especially through the dangerous Alexis Sanchez) than any other team that has played in the tournament, save Germany. Let's not forget, Chile topped the CONMEBOL for much of the process, until they were nipped by Brazil at the end. And, with Spain's struggles, it's Chile who could be the surprise candidate to advance deep into this World Cup.

2) Standout Performer - Diego Forlan

-Forlan has now rocketed to the top of the Golden Boot standings with his two goal brace against the host South Africans this afternoon. As Ally McCoist said time and again on the ESPN telecast, Forlan was head and shoulders above the rest of the players on the pitch with his skill and composure. Forlan even helped start the movement that netted the 3rd goal of the game at the death. For a player who's international form hasn't always matched his club form, it was nice to see Forlan stand up and be counted today. With his strike partner Luiz Sanchez helping to lead the attack, don't be surprised if Uruguay finishes first in Group A on their way to a deep run...as we predicted (fingers crossed).

3)Biggest Loser - Spain

-For months and months, Spain was an unbeatable freight train running over every international competitor in their path. They'd lost once at the Confederations Cup last summer, but that was their only defeat since 2006! They coasted to the Euro 2008 Championship and looked poised to do the same at this year's World Cup. Now, after an opening 1-0 defeat to the Swiss, Spain are in the position of reliving their checkered past of choking on the biggest stage. One can imagine fans and media in Spain already driving around trying to find a cliff to jump off of. Even more problematic though are the fitness questions surrounding key players Fernando Torres and Andres Iniesta. If Spain is serious about winning their first World Cup, they need to first get healthy, and second dominate Honduras in their next fixture. No team before has ever won the World Cup after losing their first match.

4) Best Game - Switzerland 1 Spain 0

-Sure, it wasn't necessarily the Beautiful Game that all true soccer fans would love to see. Even though Switzerland insisted on "parking the bus", Spain had no lack of scoring chances in the 2nd half after the Swiss opener. Also, the Swiss provided just enough chances on the counter to keep things interesting, the score could have just as easily 2-0 as 1-1. It was the type of thrilling, nail-biting affair that shows casual soccer fans that a 1-0 game can be just as exciting as a 4-3 goal fest, especially when it involves one of the two top favorites being upset in their first game. Here's the winning goal from Gelson Fernandes that may have already turned this World Cup on its ear.

5) Most Regrettable Pre-Tournament Prediction - Spain Winning It All

-Ok, this might be an instant overreaction (something readers will know I am not fond of) but, did anyone look at Spain today and see a potential World Cup winner, let alone a favorite to finish first in their group. It will take a massive turnaround, and potentially two convincing wins over Chile and Honduras, for Spain to qualify 1st in the group and avoid a 2nd round matchup with Brazil. Now, it would be foolish to write off the Spaniards after only one match, however, those who picked them to win it all at the start of the World Cup are certainly feeling foolish today.

6) Highlight - Fantastic Save

-Although matters looked bleak for Honduras for much of their match against Chile, their keeper Noel Valladeras made the save of the tournament thus far on a point blank header by Chile D Waldo Ponce. Without Valladeras's effort in goal today, the result could have been much more lopsided.

7) Extra Time - Bye Bye Bafana Bafana

-With their 3-0 defeat to Uruguay and the loss of red-carded GK Itumeleng Khune, it seems South Africa have a near impossible task to advance out of the group stage. They'll have to hope for a draw tomorrow between Mex/Fra and then a win without their top GK against France. Sadly, it appears this might be the first time in World Cup history that the host nation doesn't advance out of the group stage. And, vuvuzelas aside, it would be a shame for such a passionate home fan base to not see their boys advance into the knockout round. But, it seems their 83rd place FIFA ranking may be too much to overcome.

Thursday Preview

Group B

Argentina (3 PTS) v South Korea (3 PTS)

-Perhaps a bit of a surprise that this game would feature the two teams at the top of the table in Group B, but both played very well in dispatching Nigeria and Greece respectively. However, only one of these teams is facing a steep rise in competition, and that's the Koreans. While they were able to attack against Greece without threat of a counterpunch, that won't be the case against Diego Maradona and his array of attackers. Expect one-way traffic for most of this contest.

PICK: Argentina 3 South Korea 1

Nigeria (0 PTS) v Greece (0 PTS)

-These two sides were among the most disappointing in the first round of group stage matches, so both will be eager to get back on the pitch. The question is, how much offensive quality can either of these sides produce? The odds surely favor Nigeria creating more chances going forward than a Greek side who looked as if they were playing in cement against S. Korea.

PICK: Nigeria 1 Greece 0

Group A

France (1 PTS) v Mexico (1 PTS)

-With Uruguay's dispatching of South Africa, this game becomes even more important for El Tri, who've already drawn with the hosts. They will be coming in to this game knowing they must win if they hope to advance. Meanwhile, France is as usual surrounded by chaos and infighting, but are somehow in position to be in the catbird seat with a good performance. An early Mexican goal could really open this game up, which is what we see unfolding. Expect this to be the game of the tournament thus far, with Mexico pulling out a winner late.

PICK: Mexico 2 France 1