Spain's Team

They all play in Spain, save for one. Pepe Reina plays with Liverpool. Out of the 23 players on the team 15 of them either play for Real Madrid or Barcelona. It's actually pretty remarkable. Germany comes close with 8 players teaming up on Bayern Munich.

The team they are playing today has players scattered all around the world on other teams. Eight of them do play in Holland, but of those only two team up together on Ajax. They actually have more players playing together over on Bayern Munich (4).

So for me, todays game will be interesting in that we have once side full of Spaniards playing in Spain on the same two teams against a Dutch team who have players who have only really come together for the World Cup.

My current addiction to EA's FIFA 10 has shown me that a team that plays longer together and is more familiar with each other wins. At least this year that seems to be the case. Spain and Germany have figured that out it seems. I'm guessing I don't need a video game to tell me that, but it did help me notice it.

I don't expect today's game to be a high scoring affair. However... If it is, say, a 3-2 game? Holland (or Netherlands, whichever you prefer) will win. Low scoring and Barcelona/Real win.

We shall see. It should be a great end to a great World Cup!

Germany gets 3rd

Bastian Schweinsteiger played as well as anyone at this WC. Diego Forlan was one of my favorite players. His goal in the game yesterday where he froze Germany's keeper, Butt, was one of the best of the tournament.

Go Away LeBron

The following is part of Paul Jackson's excellent article about 10 Cent Beer Night in Cleveland.

"Any rumination on Cleveland's fortunes in the '70s must include the woeful state of the Cuyahoga River, which ran a winding course through downtown. In 1952, it caught fire for the ninth time. Years and years of absorbing liberal amounts of industrial waste had turned the Cuyahoga into something more than just a waterway. The fetid river burned with Stygian fury, destroying $1.5 million in property. Despite the significance of the incident, it didn't attract much national news coverage. But in 1969, when the Cuyahoga caught fire again, flames reached five stories in height and burned for almost a half-hour. Still, they did little more than scorch a rail bridge, and the damage cost just $50,000 to repair. In Cleveland, this was viewed as improvement. Between '52 and '69, however, the national attitude toward flammable bodies of water had changed."

Cleveland once became the 5th largest city in the nation. These days it is ranked around 45. They have not won a professional sports title since 1964. A history written in loss. "The drive"... "The shot".

Cleveland has been taking a beating in the press as of late. Not in a overt call to arms way, but in a subvert sick and evil way. Comments about the city followed by chuckles.

LeBron James has created a something I've not ever seen in sports. From him playing locally for his whole life to this fiasco he is calling "The Decision". It reeks of someone who cannot win on the playing field so he brings the hype. It is something akin to what an aging superstar does at the end of their career. He just doesn't have the fire in the belly to win anything. From a teammate having "relations" with his mother to him tanking a game in the playoffs. This bum is a bum.

At this point I find myself wondering if he can prevent himself from becoming a villain. What could he possibly say tonight to prove to his hometown fans otherwise? If he wanted to stay in Cleveland he would have done what Jordan did for Chicago; just fax a letter to team owners stating... "I'm back".

It's lose and lose for James. Stay in Cleveland and never win (which I don't think he can on his own) or move away and attach himself to better players and win playing second fiddle. The whole thing drives me nuts.

I'm not an NBA fan by any means, but Ohio is in a tizzy about this whole thing. Conversations at work are all about it, local news, national news, all my precious WC commentary brushed aside. My message to LeBron?

Take your documentary filming crew somewhere else. And ESPN? Shove it up your ass.

If there is one thing I've learnt about Cleveland... If you scorn them you will never, ever be welcome back. The folks up there have been through more then any other place in this great country. Jordan made a choice not to ever return to Kinston, NC. Fortunately for you, if you leave, the folks in Cleveland will make that choice for you.

This whole thing is impossible to avoid from where I am now. The Cleveland sports fan is really something special. I've learned that. Boy, have I learned that. From the quiet person that breaks out the old school "Brownie Fairy" shirt to the bombastic "this is our year" fan. If you ever meet one... sit down with them and talk to them. They have earned that. From all I have learned about these leagues and only a select few winning year in and year out... just talk to them. It's a special thing.

Lebron? While you may just be one of the most physically gifted athletes in the world... you are just another small part in the epic story of a Cleveland sports fan. I hope you know that.

More more more

Need... more... soccer.

As far as I can tell, the Fox Soccer Channel is not in HD, which is too bad.

Looks like more then a few teams from overseas are getting ready for their seasons by taking on some MLS teams.

- Friday, July 16: Celtic v Man United, ESPN2, 7pm
- Saturday, July 17: San Jose Earthquakes v Tottenham Hotspur, ESPN, 4pm
- Wednesday, July 21: Celtic v Sporting, Fox Soccer Channel and FoxSoccer.tv, 8pm
- Wednesday, July 21: Philadelphia Union v Man United, ESPN3.com, 7:30pm
- Thursday, July 22: NY Red Bulls v Spurs, New York Football Challenge Tournament, Fox Soccer Channel and FoxSoccer.tv, 8.30pm
- Friday, July 23: Man City v Sporting Lisbon, Fox Soccer Channel and FoxSoccer.tv, 8.30pm,
- Sunday, July 25: New York Football Challenge 3rd place match, Fox Soccer Channel + FoxSoccer.tv, 1pm
- Sunday, July 25: New York Football Challenge Final, Fox Soccer Channel + FoxSoccer.tv, 3:30pm
- Sunday, July 25: Kansas City Wizards v Man United, Fox Soccer Channel, 6pm
- Wednesday, July 28: MLS All-Stars v Man United, ESPN3.com and ESPN2, 8.30pm
- Saturday, August 7: LA Galaxy v Real Madrid, Fox Soccer Channel, 10.30pm
- Sunday, August 8: Community Shield, Chelsea v Man United, Fox Soccer Channel, 10am

Northampton Town

The Cobblers. Northampton Town Cobblers are 15 miles south of where my mother was born (Kettering, England). I've been playing a bit of the FIFA 10 and I was happy to find three leagues in England represented. The Cobblers were in the third league last year (which, I think this year is going to be the nPower League), which would be kinda similar to Double A minor league baseball here in the US. I say "kinda" because the more I look at the info page on the Cobblers the more I start to think; "Does everyone in England play soccer?". Even a third tier team like the Cobblers have a Reserve team (guys the stay in shape playing other reserves), a youth team, a ladies team, the Northampton Town Girls under 12 Player Development Squad, a multidisabled team, and finally... a fan team.

Their stadium; Sixfields is beautiful. It's as good as any University stadium I've seen in the US. It seats about five thousand. Smaller then the Columbus Crew stadium, but somehow... more elegant.

It's hard to wrap my head around all this really. With all the soccer hullaballu going on around the WC, it's exciting to think about planning a trip to England this fall to watch me some Cobbler football. Heck, they may even throw a 'random American fan day' for me, if they can fit it in. They have events for everything else. Click HERE to find out everything you want to know about Cobbler Football.

So, back to FIFA 10 (PS3 version). Excellent, excellent game. Been playing a lot this July 4th weekend. There is so much in this sports game, it's hard to beat. Live leagues; meaning they will compare what you do to what 'really' happened. In real time. You can create a pro player. Make your own tournaments. There are more teams and leagues then any game I've ever seen. It is mind boggling. It makes Madden look silly.

I'm up to playing on the second lowest difficulty. I created a league of 32 strong teams to pit against my Northampton Town. I'm toiling around against the likes of Roma, Chelsea, Barcelona.

My last bit of message here is about the bigger picture in regards to English Football... It's not going anywhere. Calm down. It is so woven into the fabric of your culture. While you may not be the best team year in year out. You will always have a great team to pull for for a long, long time. The very existence of Northampton proves that.

Not to be Forgotten

The Suarez hand ball to save the game for Uruguay. Hero and cheat wrapped together all in one.

So We Are Set

Should I have capitalized every word there? Yes I Should Have.

Germany v. Spain

XXXxxx v. Uruguay

The final teams ready to play next week. Only one with a WC championship history.

Germany appears to be the strongest side. Uruguay, the weakest. What a thing it would be to see Spain v. Uruguay in the final, but low... it probably shall not be. Spain had to play a painful game verse Paraguay today. Let's us not forget how well Paraguay played this WC. Well done.

Please forgive me here; But will it be the 17th century all over again? Will the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie be re-staked this year?

It just may be.

Germany.

Brazil Goes Down!

Brasil goes down!