Euro Recap

I know that most of my readers are not Soccer fans, so this post on the European Cup Final between Germany and Spain may not be the most anticipated posting, but read on as you know the 411 I bring will be unique.

First of all these Country v Country matchups are great.  Nothing really compares, unless, perhaps, your personal sports team is in a final.

And for those who find soccer boring, I got to tell you, the fact that scoring is so difficult, and that a brief slip can end in a loss or a tie does ratchet up the tension.  Take today’s matchup.

Spain (Fernando Torres in an incredibly deft maneuver) went ahead 1-0 in the 33rd minute.  And while Spain dominated play, they could not put the game away with a second goal.  So for the final 20 or so minutes, then tension was high as you always knew the Germans were only a Spanish mistake away from tying the game.

Nevertheless, Spain, to my utmost respect, kept the pressure on and forced the action on the Germans as opposed to playing 11 men in the box in a boring defensive stance.

Germany, surprisingly, never looked like they were going to win, which, to my happiness, they did not.

Why my happiness?  Well, this brings us to tonight’s poll question: Other than Germans, who roots for the Germans?  Seriously?  Maybe Brazilians when Argentina plays Germany.  And maybe Argentineans when Brazil plays Germany, but other than that?  Suggestions welcome.

This is the fourth major sports Final (and Final Four) that probably gave me more joy considering who the loser was.

1) In football, I wanted to Pats to not go undefeated or make the Super Bowl, but considering their perfect season was ruined by Eli Manning, makes their reaching the final actually a better outcome.

2) In the NCAAs, I was happy, sort of, to see UCLA lose in the Final Four AGAIN.  Even though I would have preferred them losing to Texas A&M.

3) In NBA Basketball, never root for the Lakers, but watching their pathetic performance against Boston was rewarding.

4) And now seeing Spain gain redemption against the Germans in Austria, was the fourth Final in a row that went my way.

Now I must begrudgingly admit that whether you like or dislike the Germans, you have to be impressed with their soccer team history.  There have been 18 World Cups and the Germans have won 3 and made 6 finals.  There have been 13 Euro Cups, and the Germans have won 3 and made 6 finals.  For those of you counting at home, that is 12 finals in 31 tournaments – almost 40%.  FORTY PERCENT.

Coupled with their 100% record in starting World Wars, this is unparalleled.

Michael Ballack.  Is Germany’s captain the Jim Kelly of European Football?  Here are the finals that Ballack has been in:

2 Champions’ League Finals

1 World Cup Final

1 European Cup Final

And he has left with four second place finishes.  His Chelsea club also finished second this year to Manchester United in the English Premier League.  Guy cannot win a title.

Finally, I will miss German wing Bastjian Schweinsteiger — he looks like the perfect Aryan villain, but his name means something like “Works with Pigs” and that is just too good.  Irrelevant, but good.

NBA Draft Review

Seeing that my Wimbledon prediction was correct — I said Ivanovic over Sharapova, and sure enough Ana made it to the 3rd round, and Maria only to the second.  Now, to make it worth our while, I would have to find another Slavic babe to support, and I cannot be bothered since my readers are clamouring for the NBA Draft Review.

I have been reading all day in the service or you, the loyal reader, and what have I found, the experts don’t agree.  Love-Mayo trade benefits Minnesota.  No, Love-Mayo trade beefits the Grizz.  Rose surely over Beasley as Rose is a winner.  Beasley over Rose as Rose is too quiet and you always go for size.

So I figured, why the heck am I studying these opinions, especially since you are more interested in my unique take, versus a preview of something we will not know for 4 years.

So here goes.  Of course, should I read anything going forward, I will be certain to update this post.

First a few observations:

1. Jay Bilas is too nice of a guy.  He likes everyone and they all ‘have a place in the league.’  Hey Jay, basketball is the most competitive sport from a draft perspective.  On average, like 3 guys make an impact, and a lot of first round picks don’t make it.  Take this year, after Mayo, there were ???  Can you imagine this in the NFL draft where a fifth round pick has a good chance of making the team. (Oh, and how many guys can possibly be ‘long, but need to improve their shooting.’
2. Draftees are also considered to have ‘length, a good motor and lots of upside.’  At least two of these are valuable in Porn stars too, and I woujld not want Ron Jeremy playing the 4.  Maybe the 12, but not the 4.
3. The other thing I like is when a player is traded for cash. They never say how much.  What if it were like a few 12 packs of Bud? 

(1) Derrick Rose – Bulls – PG Memphis – HT: 6′3 WT: 205 – SI GRADE: 10	Player Profile
I like this pick.  He showed me more in the NCAAs than anyone else.
		(2) Michael Beasley – Heat – PF Kansas State – HT: 6′10 WT: 235 – SI GRADE: 10	Player Profile
What up with the ‘bad guy’ complex such that the Heat were supposedly not interested.  Um, and OJ Mayo has no baggage.  Speaking of….
		(3) O.J. Mayo – Timberwolves – PG/SG USC – HT: 6′5 WT: 200 – SI GRADE: 9 – traded to Grizzlies	Player Profile
OJ goes to Memphis, which I think is a win for them.  He has more ability compared with Love — see below.
		(4) Russell Westbrook – SuperSonics – PG/SG UCLA – HT: 6′3 WT: 189 – SI GRADE: 9	Player Profile
OK, my soon to be OK Sonics take the first ‘upside’ guy.  That always worries me when it is all upside after 2 years on college.  He did not start at point and has no offensive game, but if he can defend…. Don’t you get more at #4?  To my point, the NBA dsraft is T-H-I-N!
		(5) Kevin Love – Grizzlies – C UCLA – HT: 6′10 WT: 271 – SI GRADE: 9 – traded to Timberwolves	Player Profile
Love goes 5th and is traded to Minnesota.  He is undersized and under athletic but fundamentally sound.  The only guy who has ever had ‘fundamentally sound’ used as a compliment was Tim Duncan, and he was NOT described as too short, too slow or unathletic.  But hey, bring back the long outlet pass and I am happy.
		(6) Danilo Gallinari – Knicks – SF Italy – HT: 6′9 WT: 209 – SI GRADE: 9	Player Profile
Best Italian speaking player drafted since Kobe Bryant!
		(7) Eric Gordon – Clippers – SG Indiana – HT: 6′4 WT: 215 – SI GRADE: 9	Player Profile
He is actually only 6′ 2″, can only shoot (cannot pass or handle the ball), already appears fat at 19 years of age, and will be playing for the Clippers.  No math necessary.
		(8) Joe Alexander – Bucks – SF West Virginia – HT: 6′8 WT: 230 – SI GRADE: 8	Player Profile
I like Joe Alexander but not sure how he is 8th best player.  he does speak Chinese which would have helped with Yi Jianlian, but then Yi was traded to Jersey.  Maybe Richard Jefferson needs a guide to Szechuan v Hunan.
		(9) D.J. Augustin – Bobcats – PG Texas – HT: 6′0 WT: 180 – SI GRADE: 8	Player Profile
I love small guys, as I am one, but DJ was worked by Rose in the NCAAs, so think what Deron and CP3 will do to him.  Charlotte, and MJ, are the worst talent evaluators — Adam Morrison anyone?
		(10) Brook Lopez – Nets – PF/C Stanford – HT: 7′0 WT: 260 – SI GRADE: 9	Player Profile
Stanford twins — these are like the Collins twins with better afros.
		(11) Jerryd Bayless – Pacers – PG/SG Arizona – HT: 6′3 WT: 199 – SI GRADE: 9 – traded to Trail Blazers	Player Profile
I like this pick.  Why?  No idea — never saw him play, but think he has lots of ‘upside’
		(12) Jason Thompson – Kings – PF/C Rider – HT: 6′11 WT: 250 – SI GRADE: 4	Player Profile
Rider?  Um, Rider?  Sure, lots of all-stars come from nothing programs.  Hey, take him in the second.
		(13) Brandon Rush – Trail Blazers – SG/SF Kansas – HT: 6′6 WT: 210 – SI GRADE: 7 – traded to Pacers	Player Profile
Will be playing with his brother Kareem in Indiana, which is fine until Kareem gets cut, then what will Brandon do?
		(14) Anthony Randolph – Warriors – SF/PF LSU – HT: 6′11 WT: 220 – SI GRADE: 9	Player Profile
Biggest Upside of the draft, which is perfect for a team that has made the playoffs once in fifteen years, and drafted other upside guys like Patrick Bryant, and Brandaon Wright.  And they only wasted a 14, not a 2, like those wasted on other Upside guys from LSU like Tyrus Thomas and Stromile Swift.
		(15) Robin Lopez – Suns – PF/C Stanford – HT: 7′0 WT: 255 – SI GRADE: 7	Player Profile
I like the Suns, but their time is over.  Sideshow Bob’s hair will be fun to watch though.
		(16) Marreese Speights – 76ers – PF/C Florida – HT: 6′10 WT: 245 – SI GRADE: 6	Player Profile
Another upside guy.
		(17) Roy Hibbert – Raptors – C Georgetown – HT: 7′2 WT: 275 – SI GRADE: 6	Player Profile
OK, here is a change — not an upside guy.  7′ 2″, slow and cannot rebound.  Should be great!   At least Toronto is under no illusions.
.		(18) JaVale McGee – Wizards – PF/C Nevada – HT: 7′0 WT: 237 – SI GRADE: 6	Player Profile
His mom is Pam McGee, who played on the USC Trojans that won the women’s NCAAs with Cherly Miller, so he will be the first NBA player whose mom was better; kind of like Reggie Miller was the first to have a sister who was better.
		(19) J.J. Hickson – Cavaliers – PF North Carolina State – HT: 6′9 WT: 242 – SI GRADE: 6	Player Profile
Freshman.  One year at NC State — recipe for success.
		(20) Alexis Ajinca – Bobcats – C France – HT: 7′0 WT: 220 – SI GRADE: 6	Player Profile
He average like 5 points and 5 rebounds in France.  Are you f’ing kidding.  This is the worse overseas pick since the Sonics took Mohammed Sene, who average 3 points and 3 rebounds in the Belgian league.
		(21) Ryan Anderson – Nets – SG/SF California – HT: 6′10 WT: 240 – SI GRADE: 4	Player Profile
Best pick of the draft.  Can take the 4 outside.  Can post up the 3.  Long, Tons of Upside
		(22) Courtney Lee – Magic – SG Western Kentucky – HT: 6′5 WT: 200 – SI GRADE: 5	Player Profile
Never look down on a Hilltopper.
		(23) Kosta Koufos – Jazz – PF/C Ohio State – HT: 7′0 WT: 265 – SI GRADE: 7	Player Profile
He sucked in college and is unathletic.  Kevin Love will dominate him. Heck, Courtney Love would dominate him.
		(24) Serge Ibaka – SuperSonics – PF Congo – HT: 6′10 WT: 220 – SI GRADE: 6	Player Profile
They have drafted Sene, originally from Africa, this guy from Congo, Petro (from France via Africa, and RObert Swift, from Bakersfield, Califonia – what with the Centers from the Dark Continent?
		(25) Nicolas Batum – Rockets – SF France – HT: 6′9 WT: 210 – SI GRADE: 7 – traded to Trail Blazers	Player Profile
French and traded for Darrell Arthur — mistake
		(26) George Hill – Spurs – SG Indiana U./Purdue U.-Indianapolis – HT: 6′2 WT: 180 -	Player Profile
IUPUI (note the true college name to the right)?  That alone makes this a joke.  MVP of the Summit Conference?  Even more of a joke.
		(27) Darrell Arthur – Trail Blazers – PF Kansas – HT: 6′9 WT: 225 – SI GRADE: 8 – traded to Grizzlies	Player Profile
I just like it because he was dissed and traded 3 times on draft night.  Will probably be rookie of the year.
		(28) Donte Greene – Grizzlies – SF/PF Syracuse – HT: 6′11 WT: 226 – SI GRADE: 7 – traded to Rockets	Player Profile
Next Carmelo — or not
		(29) D.J. White – Pistons – PF Indiana – HT: 6′9 WT: 251 – SI GRADE: 5 – traded to SuperSonics	Player Profile
Actually, good pick as he is solid and this was late.
		(30) J.R. Giddens – Celtics – SG New Mexico – HT: 6′5 WT: 205 – SI GRADE: 5

 OK, supposedly this guy has off court issues.  But more important to me is that he played at NEW MEXICO?  I would be more concerned about On Court Issues!

For the Second Round I just make some observations, since with the exception of Gilbert Arenas – first pick in second round — high schoolers — Monta Ellis — and Intl Players – Manu — this round does not matter.

Joey Dorsey — the next Ben Wallace — love players who totally scare me to look at

Mario Chalmers — if he does not hit that shot, he does not even get drafted

Luke Richard Mbah a Moute — best Cameroonian Prince ever drafted

Devon Hardin — TOTALLY underrated from Cal — steal of the draft

Omer Asik — I think he was MVP of the Turkish league

Mike Taylor — first draft pick from the NBDL because he was kicked off the team at Iowa State.  Iowa State?  Not exactly the rules of Andover there, so what exactly did he do

Sausha Kaun — will make more money playing in Russia — need I say more

I could go on, but I doubt you have read even this far!  Tune in again in three years to see how I did.

The Only Wimbledon Preview You Will Need

Ana Ivanovic

or

Maria Sharapova

Personally, I am going with the 6′ 1″ Serb (current resident of Switzerland), as I find her FAR superior (at tennis of course).

There were some other sports stories, but they are so lame they only warrant brief mention:

1) The NBA draft is coming and likely #2 pick (if not #1) Michael Beasley turns out to be 6′ 7″, not 6′ 10″.  What?  Look, I know that all stats from height to weight to speed to strength are exaggerated, but 3″.  That is a stretch — no pun intended.

Needless to say, I would like to use such creative accounting in my personal life — but Sarbanes Oxley and other unwritten rules prevent me from exaggerating financies or length so greatly.

Maybe next time I go fishing.

2) Shaq “freestyling” and dissing Kobe with tasteful lyrics like “Kobe, how does my a$$ taste.”  To be honest, their feud is silly and who cares.

3) Don Imus, upon finding out that Pacman Jones is black, states that this explains all the arrests.  Of course, Imus is surprised that people think the user of the phrase “nappy headed ho’s” meant anything racist by this. In fact, he amazingly contends that because Pacman is black he is being targeted.

This is so preposterous, even more so than Pacman stating his disappointment in Imus and that he will pray for him.

Um guys, did you not realize that both of you are victims of your track record.  Imus, you always say racist offensive things so that is how all you say will be taken.  Pacman, you have been arrested 6 times, so you are not doing your profession, race, family, etc any favors.

Now SHUT IT!

Cesc will be the name of my next Son

If the title does not make any sense, then you are obviously not a soccer fan a Spain fan, or an Arsenal fan.

Anyway, Cesc was the latest hero in the Euro 2008 Tournament.  I got to tell you, these international competitions are great, and it is really a shame that the US does not really participate in them (other than the Olympics – kind of — and our more often than not drubbing in the World Cup).

Euro 2008 has had some amazing matches, most of which involved Turkey — scoring 3 times in the final 15 minutes to stun the Czechs 3-2; scoring in the 121st minute (extra time of overtime) to tie Croatia and then win on penalties.

We can only hope they are able to beat the Germans on Wednesday, although that might be unlikely as Turkey will be missing 4 starters due to injuries and yellow cards.  This would be like the Yankees winning the ALCS without Jeter, A-Rod (regular season A-Rod), Rivera and Cabrera.  I am afraid the German may have a walk to the Final, unless Allah is on the Turks side.

Speaking of Allah, this final 4 is pretty distinct; you have

The Fascists (Germany)

The Communists (Russia)

The Muslims (Turkey)

The Catholics (Spain)

Makes your choice easy.  Personally, I want Spain, but not for Christian reasons; I just like the flare with which they play.

Semi Finals are Wednesday and Thursday, and the final is Sunday.  Check it out if you can as it is a lot more interesting when National Pride is on the line, and not something as small as Kevin Garnett’s v Kobe Bryant’s legacy.  And there will not be an anti-climactic 131-92 blow out.

Yes MSG says watch Euro2008!

The Blowout

131-92

In the deciding game of an NBA Finals? 

I delay like a day in getting out this blog, and I am inundated with emails from obnoxious Boston fans asking where my posting is.  None of these guys realize how we have turned since the Sox 2004 Title.  Spygate and Belicheck ruined the Patriots for us, and while we like KG, Pierce and Ray, and do NOT like Kobe, don’t push it. 

Take the following.  I used to work with this homegrown Boston kid who went to Harvard.  Basically, I tutored him in consulting and got him into HBS (twice blessed as he arrogantly put it).  So he goes back to Beantown and forgets how to use a phone or type on a computer.  Nevertheless, I call to congratulate him on the Sox 2004 title, even though he treated us West Coasters like Bill Buckner.  He needed to learn manners from Big Papi.

Anyway, this guy continues his radio silence until last night when he accuses me of being a Kobe guy.  Um I am from the Bay Area; it is in my DNA to hate all LA teams, especially those fronted by admittedly all world hoopsters who are prima donnas and who should be playing in Charlotte.

Well, to my Beantown reader, here are my thoughts, but before I get to this, a couple other items that I thought were pretty interesting.

1) So Tiger is going to have reconstructive ACL surgery and miss the rest of the 2008 Golf Season.  Not even mentioning how amazing his US Open victory now seems, I wonder if anyone wants to do the study on all the financial losses the tournaments and networks will take with a Tigerless PGA Tour.  “Ogilvy and Karlsson in Sudden Death at the British — catch it Sunday!”  Of course, maybe Phil will use this opportunity to win an asterisk’d major.

Oh, and by the way, Tiger played 6 events this year, won 4, for a total of $5.8M in prize money.

2) And I loved this Kevin Garnett idea from a recent Bill Simmons Mail Bag

Ben(New Jersey): Sports Guy! I’ve been a fan for years but I’ve never written in before. I’m a senior in high school and my friends and I love to play a game called KG that. It’s when you take something ordinary and go crazy over it. For example, we went out for Chinese last Friday and after one of my friends ordered his beef and broccoli i told him he should KG it when it comes. When the waiter brought out his beef, he got up on his chair and started pounding his chest screaming “THATS HOW YOU ORDER CHINESE” he then ran around high fiving random people while pounding his chest and screaming. We ended up getting kicked out, but I’d say it was worth it. Whats the funniest situation you could see where you could KG something?

I will now try to KG the rest of this column.

WHY DID THE LAKERS LOSE (from Mark Kreidel of Fox)?

Kobe Bryant scored his fourth field goal at 5:30 of the first quarter. He didn’t score another until 7:09 of the third. In other words, Michael Jordan’s rep is safe, even in Los Angeles, for another year.  

The Lakers didn’t record an offensive rebound until Sasha Vujacic grabbed the first at 11:11 of the fourth quarter. By then the score was 91-62. 

The Celtics had 18 steals to the Lakers’ four. 

The Lakers didn’t block a shot.

And YesMSG would add:

• When I heard the starting lineup of the Lakers, and heard Gasol, Odom and Radmanovich, I thought a) That is 2 small forwards and a 2 guard playing the 3, 4 and 5; b) that is 20 feet, 8 inches of SOFT
• Lamar Odom is the A Rod of the NBA — padding his stats with nice moves and extra effort in the second half
• Kobe did not care.  He was going through the motions by the early 2nd quarter

This will be interesting for Lakers next year.  I was one of those who figured the Gasol trade meant the title, but now I am wondering if they have the right chemistry and supporting cast.  Vujacic and Radmanovich are spotty.  Gasol is a 3 or 4 at best.  Odom is an enigma, and Turiaf and Walton were exposed.  Maybe Farmar will be an OK back up, but Fisher is getting old.  And Kobe gets on everyone’s nerves I think.

I know, I know, Bynum is coming back.  And while I commend Mitch Kupchak for not trading a potential Pivot for an over-the-hill J Kidd, I am not convinced he is the second coming of Kareem, much less Tyson Chandler.

And any thought that he changes the 2008 Finals is ludicrous.  A 20 year old with no big game experience (IE Not Magic Johnson) is not going to single handedly change the face of a finals.

However, the Lakers are in good shape, as are the Celts, since both conferences are facing declining teams.

In the West

-Houston: Yao and McGrady — need I say more

-Phoenix: Too old and Shaq too (take your pick) old, slow, fat, unmotivated

-Warriors: To gimmicky

-Utah: Unless Deron WIlliams becomes the ultimate go to guy, and he might, they have no go to guy.  Boozer? Nyah.

-San Antonio: Too old, even if Ginobili returns to form

-Portland: Too young still, but with the Sonics moving, will enjoy watching Oden (who is actually Too Old )

-New Orleans: OK, they might be the real deal.  If Peja can hit from the outside, and if David West is the real deal, they will combine with CP3 for a potentially dominant team. But let’s see.

In the East

-Detroit is retooling

-NJ is too young and still pays Vinsanity too much

-Philly still developing

-Cleveland: LBJ could do it, but he could use at least one NBDL all star to team with

-Atlanta: only if they channel all their home playoff success into an 83 game season

Anyway, that is my take, and now will spend the summer looking for more sarcastic topics to share.

Thoughts on Javon and NASCAR

Obviously, my trip to Brazil has affected me as I have no ability to write long entries on a single topic.  Admitting this potential failing, I will comment on a couple of items.

1) Now I am glad that Javon Walker is going to be OK but in case you had not heard, he was beaten and robbed in Las Vegas, and left unconscious on the side of the road.  A few thoughts for Javon.

a) You amazingly signed a $55M contract with the Raiders ($16M guaranteed) despite having missed have of the last season and another entire season in the last three years due to knee injuries.  Why are you out alone in Vegas?  Why aren’t you chilling in Bermuda in a high end resort where your chances of getting beat up are limited?

b) You were reportedly robbed of $3K in cash and $100K (ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND) in jewelry.  I can understand the $3K in cash, but WTF are you doing wearing $100K in jewelry on the streets of Vegas?  Sure. lots of Vegas wives wear that kind of Bling, but not out at night alone.

c) You reportedly were spraying champagne into the crowd outside a night club.  Um, do we need to draw more attention to ourselves?  I figure someone in the crowd had the following conversation?

“Hey, who is spraying $15,000 worth of champagne into the crowd?”

“Someone rich.  Hey, I think that is Javon Walker of the Raiders.”

“Javon — he signed for $55M.”

“Look at the size of those diamond studded earrings.  They would look good on my Pit Bull’s collar.”

Nuff said.

d) Javon, weren’t you with Darrent Williams in Denver, at a night club, and spraying champagne, the night he was shot and killed?  Didn’t he die in your arms?

I may be jumping the gun before we know all the facts, but I am only a blogger; regardless, this may have been a random act of violence, but keep a lower profile and hire body guards.

2) The NASCAR discrimination trial.  Deadspin does a much better job or recounting the case than I do, and some of the verbiage is offensive even to my ears, but this is unbelievable.

I grew up in a race car family, but we always appreciated cars that turned left AND right as well as drivers and fans that had entire sets of teeth.  Now I know that NASCAR has changed and that the drivers are no longer dentally challenged, but it appears that even if the drivers have changed (not sure about the fans), the officials have not.

When you read the excerpts, you actually want Mauricia Grant to get the entire $225M.  Officials exposing themselves, using racial epithets and exceedingly puerile and callous humor.  The amazing things are:

a) The officials actually thought this was funny — not even a four year old would find funny.

b) The officials thought it was OK

c) The officials ACTUALLY think this stuff

d) NASCAR has an official named David Duke.  Not the White Nationalist I linked too, but still.  That is like the Bundestag hiring a (not THE) Heinrich Himmler as PR Director.

Makes Max Mosely’s (F1 President) Nazi Fantasies rather tame by comparison — that was just hookers and dress up.

Anyway, I cannot think of a way to tackle such a subject and add in some humor, but since Deadspin did it for me, click here to gasp and laugh.

 

Enjoy the NBA Finals. 

Best Sport Highlight of the Day

So I am watching Game 5 of the NBA Finals.  This should be the sporting event of the day as a pretty competitive game and the Celts can clinch their 17th title.  And of course, you have the sub plots of whether Kobe is MJ or not, and if Pau Gasol is the softest European since the French in WWII.  But it is not.

Neither is the Professional Tiger Tour and the US Open.  Sure, Tiger on one knee and needing to birdie 18 to force a playoff is compelling.   But golf is not a sport, and really, who cares.

No, the best sporting event of the day was in the Euro2008 Soccer Cup.  I am fortunate that I have a 2.5 year old who has to nap, which sometimes causes me to view sporting events I normally would not.   Anyway, I turn on the game with 20 minutes to go and the Czechs are beating the Turks 2-0.  Winner goes through to the next round, loser goes home. 

Normally, a 2 goal lead with only 20 minutes to go is insurmountable in soccer, but Turkey gets a goal with 15 minutes to go, cutting the lead to 1 and making it rather exciting.  We reach the 86th minutes and it seems that it is over, but on a simple cross from the Turks, Czech goalie, Pete Cech (some consider the best goalie in the world) mishandles it and the Turks equalize.

Now we are looking at penalty kicks since the points, and goal differential will be equal between the two teams.  However, penalties are capricious, so Turkey takes it into its own hands by scoring a massive goal and a bullet from outside the area.

Result: Turk through to second round, Czech back to Prague.

You don’t have to  be a soccer fan to appreciate NATIONS playhing each other, and scoring twice in 2 minutes (3 times in 14 minutes) outweighs a game 5 when you can always have a game 6 or 7, or any golf tournament Tiger withstanding.

Thanks and good night!

PS – Lakers win but not convincingly

Quick Hits

I have a lot to catch up on.  McCain-Obama can wait.

Remember my article on athletes blowing their money.  If not, search below under the Sports heading.  Anyway, Evander Holyfield, the boxer, has earned like $250 million in the ring.  Well, three marriages, 11 (ELEVEN!) children and a home whose specifics are as follows: 109 rooms, including 17 bathrooms, 3 kitchens, and a bowling alley, with upkeep well over $100K per month – might be in financial trouble.

Makes the $60M that Kenny Anderson reportedly blew a mere pittance.

This follows on another article about pro athletes losing money in scams.  Hey, here is some financial advice, if you sign a guaranteed contract for anything north of $10M, invest in Charles Schwab and CDs, then you will not lose it all.

On to basketball.  I am still absorbing the Celts comeback, and the fact that I will not see it until tonight on ESPN Classic.  I was watching the first half of the third quarter and with the lead still at 18-20, figured it was over.  Oops.

Refs and the NBA

I was going to write that no one, NO ONE, on the Lakers can stop KG down low, but as long as he insists on playing 20 feet from the hoop, Boston is vulnerable, but that is too obvious a story line.

So let’s go with the Donaghy game fixing scandal.  My guess is that there is some truth to what he says, but regardless, the NBA is the only league where this could actually gain credence.  Just off the top of my head, let’s compare poorly officiated games in the major sports leagues, including college.

NFL — SB XL was poorly officiated and the Seahawks suffered, but no one thinks it was to get Pittsburgh the fifth ring.  And if accused sex offender Jerramy Stevens could have held onto the ball, the Hawks would have won. 

Other than that game, as a Niner fan, I have to go back to the phantom defensive holding and PI calls against Lott and Wright, respectively, against the Redskins in the NFC title game.  Fortunately, the Theismanns were worked by the Raiders in the Super Bowl.

Baseball — Umpring can be bad – see Atl v Marlins in 1997 with Livan Hernandez getting a strike zone the width of the Panama Canal, but that was just poor umpiring.  Before that, you have to go back to Don Denkinger’s crap call in the 85 series that cost the Cards a title.  Again, Denkinger was incompetent, not corrupt.

Hockey — OK, maybe not a major sport, but Brett Hull’s OT goal for Dallas with foot clearly in the crease did cost the city of Buffalo a shot at the title.  But figure this was the officials being tired from like 3 OTs.

College Hoop — Biggest blown plays were by players — Fred Brown passing to Worthy; Chris Webber calling timeout.

College Football — 1990 Colorado getting a fifth down to beat Missouri and then goes on to win National Title.

So no real conspiracy theory in any of the sports, just incompetence.

However, different story in the NBA where it seems to be accepted that the home team always gets more calls, etc.  Plus recent history includes:

- Lakers getting 27 fourth quarter free throws versus 9 for Sacto in game 6 of Western Conference Finals in 2002.  This had epic repercussions because if Sacto wins and goes on to win title, Chris Webber is vindicated, and Shaq and Kobe are underachievers.  I always thought their legacy as a dynasty was somewhat suspect as this game and the utter collapse by Portland resulted in two of their three titles.  The Bulls never seemed so ‘lucky.’

- Donaghy officiated the game 3 between San Antonio and Phoenix last year that highly favored San Antonio.

- Boston’s 38-10 free throw advantage in Game 2 this year.

- Miami winning the title because as one long time Bill Simmon’s reader wrote at the time — “I just passed gas on my couch, and Dwyane Wade got to shoot two free throws.”

I could go on, and I have not even hit the 90s — non-call on Jordan pushing off on Russell in Utah-Bulls II — but the fact that it is so easy to recall NBA games affected by the refereeing and the tendency to think that this story might be (partially) true does discredit the league.

Worse than Spygate perhaps, unless you are one of the Pats victims.

Back in the USofA

So just got back from Brazil and seems that some stuff has happened.  I see that the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup, Boston won game one of the NBA Finals (and a lot of writers are saying, NOW, that Boston is too strong inside for LA.  Um, LA has Kobe, let’s wait until the end of game 2 before anointing champions).  I have not even looked at Baseball.

Oh, and Barack Obama finally got the Democratic nomination.  Which brings to mind one question — why is Delegate math so complicated that a few weeks ago, the Pundits were saying it was virtually impossible for him to get enough delegates for the nomination, so there would have to be a SuperDelegate negotiation?  Then, in the end, he gets enough delegates.  Look, I have an Engineering Degree and an MBA, meaning that I have studied Calculus, Differential Equations, Discounted Cash Flows, etc, and I don’t get it at all.  Isn’t your nomination too complicated if it is not some basic variation of “Get Votes – Win Delegates.”

Anyway, that is not why I am writing.  I am writing because the potentially most competitive soccer tournament in the world is currently going on — EURO 2008.  More competitive than the World Cup?  Yes, because the World Cup has to admit weak sisters like Australia, USA and even some of the poorer nations from Asia.  Euro has no such cupcakes.

So today Germany beats Poland for like the 50th straight time.  But, but, but….Germany’s best players are Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose — BORN IN POLAND.  Whatever.

Look, the USA and Canada and the UK would not have Olympic Track Teams if not for naturalized citizens, but at least the first two countries are historically open to immigrants?  Germany?  Forget WWII (invaded Poland for those of you who are not history buffs), but what about Turks who have lived in Germany for generations?  They do not get citizenship for being born there, etc.  So your family can contribute to the Teutonic Economic Engine for ages but you cannot vote.  However, if you can kick a ball, you are in.

And on a final ironic note — one of the goals was set up by Mario Gomez — from one of those old famous German families — The Gomez’.  Right behind Mengele, Himmler, and Goebbels in the German history books.