Who Really is LeBron James?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!!!!

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

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!