NFL is BACK 2011

Yeah, the lockout ended a while ago, and yes, there was a frenzied free-agent signing period where I covered all of it, except for not covering it at all. Anyway, let's get straight back to what is here to stay (for at least the next 10 years, until the CBA expires and we get to do this all over again). The NFL will play football games in 2011. There will be a Super Bowl in Indianapolis next February (hopefully a Super Bowl parade in that same city a couple days after). Nothing much has really stayed the same in the NFL landscape since the lockout ended (other than people still blowing the Patriots and Bill Belichick for every move that looks questionable on paper even though for every Randy Moss they traded for there was a Derrick Burgess that did nothing - that's still here). So, here are my rambling post-lockout, pre-season-preview thoughts on what should be a fun season.

= The Eagles are really nowhere near a "dream team" except for their glut of corners. Obviously pairing Nnamdi and Asante together is amazing. This will probably just lead to Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie getting thrown at all the time. This usually doesn't bode well (see: DeAngelo Hall, 2008, playing across from Nnamdi), and I have a sneaking suspicion that Joselio Hanson (who was dominant covering slot receivers in 2010) will get the nickel-corner role above DRC anyway. They might trade DRC, or in what would be an odder move, trade Asante. As for the rest of the Eagles (and I'll cover this more in the season preview), I'm not sure I like a lot of what they did. Cullen Jenkins was really overpaid for a guy who has missed 17 games over the last three seasons and really wasn't all that great in 2010 (at least compared to what he's being paid to produce). Jason Babin was a one hit wonder, but at least there's thought there because he will be reunited with D-Line coach Jim Washburn. Then on offense, this whole Maclin illness thing is weird. They need Maclin to be healthy to allow DeSean Jackson to be their exclusive deep-threat. I'm not sure where Steve Smith fits in either. It is telling that the Giants basically didn't try at all to resign him. Finally, I find it laughable that Vince Young is apparently adding to the "dream team" label. If they have to depend on VY, they aren't going anywhere.

= The two teams that I'm most confused about are Seattle and Minnesota, which is ironic given their close history over the past six years (Koren Robinson, Hutchinson, Burleson and now Sidney and T-Jack). Minnesota seemed to want to start rebuilding, but instead kept all their aging stars, but let the younger ones go (Edwards, Rice). They then got in McNabb (admittedly giving up little), but apparently are fine letting him throw to Berrian and Percy Harvin. They are really building a team that will go about 8-8, which is really pointless. The Seahawks, on the other hand, are seemingly unsure whether they want to draft their way to success or go the FA route (drafting works a lot better, almost always). They have a nice nucleus of young players, but they went out and got Tarvaris Jackson? I'm not a T-Jack hater the way some are, and I find him average to a little below average, but still he's no better than Matt Hasselbeck. Plus, the Seahawks invested quite a bit in Charlie Whitehurst. It's odd that they would have given up on him so quickly. I think I already know one of the playoff teams that won't be making it back in 2011.

= The Falcons had an interesting offseason. On one hand they signed Ray Edwards, which is a move I love. Ray Edwards hasn't proven that he can produce without another playing drawing more attention, like he got with Jared Allen. Luckily for him and the Falcons. He probably won't have to, as he'll have John Abraham who will command at least as much attention from opposing o-lines. On the other side of the trench, I'm surprised the Falcons decided to resign both Justin Blalock (RG - 6yrs) and Tyson Clabo (RT 5-yr), but let Harvey Dahl (the superior player - and in my opinion the best lineman the Falcons have) go. Clabo at least I can understand as he's a tackle, but why pick Blalock over Dahl. Odd choices for a team that is still about as loaded as any other.

= Now let's get to those Patriots. They are a good team, if not a great one, but that is barely any more true after their glut of FA and trade acquisitions. In my mind, Albert Haynesworth is the only one that will more likely than not pay off - and not in the sense that he's going to become the 2006-2008 Big Al again. Ochocinco is done, just like Moss was last year. He did nothing most of last year, and the Bengals were a lot better when he left the field. As for all their D-Line moves, what exactly is the rest of the NFL supposed to fear. Andre Carter and Shaun Ellis are both firmly in the downside of their careers and are both coming off their worst years in a long time. Mark Anderson has done nothing since his rookie season on a team that has a great track record of getting a lot out of its d-lineman (Chicago). Bill Belichick is a great coach, but he's not a magician. He's not suddenly going to wave his wand and turn these aging vets into great players again. And what I really don't understand is that the d-line already was filled with some nice young players. Haynesworth was a great move. The rest have me shrugging my shoulders and saying "So what?

= The Colts moves are interesting in that they acquired three former 1st round picks. Unlike the Pats, a majority of these players are still in their prime. These types of moves - getting Ernie Sims who was miscast in Philadelphia's defense, and Jamaal Anderson who can stop the run quite well but isn't great against the pass, something he doesn't really need to do in Indy - are the types of moves that the Patriots used to make. If even one pays off, it can really help their defense. I think Tommie Harris is done. Like his former teammate Mark Anderson, it says something when a d-lineman doesn't produce in Chicago. I've heard people call Ernie Sims a "bust" around the internet which astounds me, as before he got to Philly, he was hailed as by far the best draft pick in the Matt Millen era. Anderson also is not a good pass rusher, but he's quite adept at stuffing the run, something Indy badly needs.

= The New York teams had very similar FA periods. Both teams really did nothing. The Jets scrapped the heap of old veteran receivers (Burress, Mason) and let two younger receivers go (Braylon, Cotchery). They also missed out on Nnamdi. The Giants didn't sign anyone of note (other than David Baas - which isn't really of note). But what they did that makes me think they came out of the FA period ahead of the Jets is that they resigned their key guys. They got back Bradshaw and Jacobs. They resigned Barry Cofield and Rocky Bernard. They did lose Steve Smith, but they have two WRs ready to explode (Nicks - who already has - and Mario Manningham). The biggest loss might actually be Kevin Boss. Anyway, I think the Jets got worse. The Giants stayed about the same, and they were probably better than their record in 2010.

= The new QBs (apart from Tarvaris) are all in interesting situations. Kevin Kolb obviously is the highest profile because he probably has the best chance to make the playoffs. The o-line is the only below average unit on the Cards. Even with Breaston gone he has the receivers. The defense has playmakers. And of course, I would be remiss to mention that playing in the NFC West helps a lot. The Titans' move for Hasselbeck is curious. He''s basically washed up and was having a lousy year before a brief rennaissance in the postseason. Chris Johnson is threatening a hold-out and Jeff Fisher is gone. Not really a stable environment for a older QB on a new team.

= I love what the Saints did. The only starter they lost was Jonathan Goodwin, but they went out and found a nice stop=gap in Olin Kruetz. Either way, their o-line is good enough to handle the loss of one guy. They resigned almost every other major FA they had (Carl Nicks, Lance Moore, Pierre Thomas, Roman Harper, Anthony Hargrove). Then, they were smartly active in FA. Their 1-yr deal for Aubrayo Franklin was genius. He'll have to be motivated since he's up for a new contract after 2011. Shaun Rogers also provides even more beef up front. Finally, their signing of Darren Sproles was great. Sean Payton is the best person to use someone like Sproles. WIth Ingram in they shouldn't lose much of Reggie Bush's running, but they are replacing Bush's receiving with Sproles. He's a little less consistent, but Sproles is more explosive.

= Finally, while the FA period is fun and all, there is a reason why the two teams that met for the Super Bowl signed exactly one FA from another team that anyone has ever heard of (Steelers signing Cotchery). That's because FA is the most overrated thing in football. This isn't baseball, where players are generally good until about 32 or 33, and then start declining. Most football players that last to a second contract are generally done around 28 or 29, and then start declining. This is especially true of positions like RB, TE, DT, CB (of course, like in anything, there are exceptions). Nate Dunlevy, the brilliant Colts' blogger over at 18to88.com did a draft study, to see what teams are the best at drafting over the past 10 years (2001-2010 drafts). It was a cursory study that used the draft value chart to assign an expected value to each pick, and then the players career AV (added value - a nice stat to judge the ability of a player; the stat was created by pro-football-reference.com). The study revealed some obvious things (like the fact that the Colts, Steelers and Packers were the best drafting teams), but also revealed something telling. I helped out in the project collecting the draft info for each team and Nate asked me to write down both AV by a player for the team he was drafted by and future teams, to get a sense of what team did the best job of getting the most out of their drafted players. The Broncos were the worst team at getting the most out of their own players, and they get 66% of their players career AV. Anyway, here is what this has to do with FA. The WORST team in the NFL at getting value out of its drafted players get 66% of its draftees career value. Most teams are in the 70s and 80s. Basically what this is saying is that FAs rarely produce much after they leave their original team. In fact, most produce very little. Football teams are great at squeezing every last bit of value out of their own players. FA is more often than not a mistake. That's probably why the Steelers and Packers stayed clear. They know the way.

MLB Season Ramblings Ver. 1

So, while the hockey Stanley Cup Finals and NBA Finals go on concurrently on alternating nights, I'll take this time to do the only thing that makes sense: talk about the MLB Season that is about 2/5 of the way through.

= The Brewers are back!!!! Them forcing the Phillies to 7 in the NLCS was my second most daring prediction preseason (after the one to come later - the one that really made me look stupid, moreso than picking against the Packers in the title game and Super Bowl). My reason for picking them was that loaded offense and the addition of Zack Grienke and Shaun Marcum. Well, 2-3 on that one. Greinke has been a disappointment, but is getting stronger each start. Marcum is the big surprise. He has been amazing so far. Either way, the offense has been great, with both Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder putting up huge stats (not a surprise at all). Both have an OPS+ over 160. The Brewers, in my opinion, will pass the Cardinals for good come the all-star break.

= The other big prediction was the White Sox winning the world series. In my defense, they are 18-11 in their last 29 games, which is probably more close to their actual ability than their 11-22 record in the 33 before that. The White Sox aren't that far away from an Indians team that seems to have already fallen back to earth. I'm probably not going to see that prediction vindicated, but their offense has been better of late.

= The AL East is still really, really good. I think the Yankees are actually overachieving in a way. Sure, Texeira and A-Rod haven't had their usual great years, but A-Rod might never have those types of years again. He is 36. He's past his prime, and that's also why I think he might not reach Bonds' record. Their pitching is still relying on getting good production from Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon. Come on! That has a lower chance of lasting than Justin Bieber of staying relevant in 2020. The Red Sox are still my pick to win that division, and the Blue Jays are still lying around, just 4.5 games back. Should be fun.

= By the way, at what point does this Mariano Rivera thing end. The guy is 41, and you can make a case that his last 10 years were better than the first ten. I mean, over the last 9 years, he had one year with an ERA over 3, and then eight with an ERA under TWO!!! This is absolutely insane at this point. Fuck Jeter. Mariano is easily the greatest Yankee of this past generation of Yankee greatness.

= The two people that the Astros cast aside last year are both performing well. I guess the Phillies are trying to limit innings, because they've used Oswalt like he was 21, but he's still pitching great, with a 2.70 ERA, a 143 ERA+, and a higher than normal BABIP. His K rate is down, but Oswalt has been money for the Phillies, and has more than outpitched Cliff Lee this season. On the other side, Lance Berkman leads the fucking NL in SLG, OPS and OPS+ this season. Now, he's hurt, and his great start probably won't last anyway, but his resurgence has made me smile.

= What else has made me smile is that Albert Pujols has finally stopped being an automaton with the inability to play anything less than superhuman. Sure, he recently had back-to-back walk-off home runs, but he's still hitting below .280, and more than that he's OBP-ing .353 (his previous season low was .394). He's slugging .473 (previous low is .561). His OPS+ is 132, while his previous low is 151. Albert Pujols is still a very good to great player, but in my opinion, this is a harbinger of a slow decline for Pujols, something that honestly strengthens his "I never took steroids" stance.

= Derek Jeter has a 79 OPS+........................................................................................................... And that makes him the second worst major player on the team............................................ That is all. Actually, I will add this. If Derek Jeter gets a higher percentage of 1st ballot hall of fame votes than Mariano Rivera, the BBWAA should no longer vote for the hall of fame.

= The Diamondbacks make no sense. Their best hitter has an OPS+ of 126, but then again, only one of their regulars is worse than 100. They have only one starting pitcher with an ERA+ over 100 (Ian Kennedy, who is ironically much better at this point than Phil Hughes), but also have three bullpen guys above 240. I don't think they have the lasting power to keep up with the Giants, and the Rockies will make their annual run, but for a team that just four years ago had the best record in the NL and a host of young players, the Diamondbacks sudden rise seems a lot more real than the Padres last year.

= I love the Rangers. They make no sense. Nellie Cruz is having an off year. Josh Hamilton was hurt for 30 games. Mitch Moreland is their best hitter. That all said, they are #2 in batting, #4 in OBP and #2 in SLG in the AL. Then, they are #5 in pitching even though their best two pitchers are youngsters CJ Wilson and Matt Harrison. The Rangers are really a great organization, and remind me a lot of the Angels in the middle of the decade, with the team just good, even though everyone seems to be playing just okay to good.

= Then, there is that other team in Houston. To end this rambling baseball column, I'll talk about my team, the one who was recently sold to a guy who's debt envies the McCourts, and the team who just promoted a still too green Jordan Lyles probably just to sell tickets. The worst thing is I am sure that Hunter Pence will be traded midseason. He's been one of the most consistently good players in baseball. Did you know that Pence has the same career OPS+ as Robinson Cano, the man that the national media fellates daily. He's having a great year. Hunter Pence is the only reason to even think of the Astros at this point, and I'm really sure he'll be a Giant by August.


Baseball is just a grind, and there is still about 100 games to go for each team, which makes me love it all the more. So much is gone, so much is there to digest, and there is still so much left. It never ends, it's eternal, and that's why it is great.

Group Stage: First Round, Ramblings and Rankings

Rambling thoughts from the first round of games:

= Spain still looked like a top-5 team even in loss. In this new offensive world in football, teams will lose those games. Every now and then, the boys don’t finish what they usually would, and the pipes are unusually mean. That is all. It happened a year ago in the Confederations Cup last year, it happened again. Sure, there was probably some complacency also, but Spain is still ultra-talented and ultra-set going forward.

= This does set up one interesting thing: The top four teams are as of now, in my mind, Brazil, Spain, Netherlands and Germany. In a perfect world, those four could play each other in the semifinals. As it was, Netherlands and Brazil, assuming they both win their group, were set to play in the quarterfinals, but with Spain a likely group runner up, Spain is thrown into that same quarter. Yes, Spain would probably play Brazil in the round of 16, and then the winner would likely get the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. Talk about the real group of death (this is a lot like in 2006 when France, Spain and Brazil were in the same quarter, except in 2006 there were a lot more great teams out there).

= Big winner through one group game: Germany. The Germans already make it to the quarterfinals regardless of whatever happens, because you know, they’ve done it consecutively pre-Hitler and post. But the soccer Gods could not have been nicer. Unless Spain wins its group, here are the likely teams on Germany’s half: Argentina (Group B winner – this was written before I knew of Gonzalo Higuain’s hat-trick), one of the France, Mexico, Uruguay trio, one of the England, Slovenia, US trio, Japan, either Italy/Paraguay, Ivory Coast/Portugal and Switzerland. Yes, that’s right. The bottom half would likely contain Japan, Italy/Paraguay, Ivory Coast/Portugal and Switzerland. Germany is getting it much, much easier.

= Of course this all depends on those silly Swiss. They need to hold onto the group to create what would be the most lopsided knockout round in World Cup History (I’m guessing). Switzerland was actually the country that did this as well in 2006, when they won France’s group, sending France into the Spain/Brazil quarter. The Swiss have now not given up a goal in four straight World Cup Games, as they were knocked out of a goalless PK loss in 2006. Italy might be a more famously defensive team, but as Italy seemed to attack and attack some more in their opening game, the Swiss looked like the doorbolt the Azzurri usually are.

= There was a weird dichotomy in Switzerland beating Spain. After winning the French Open, Nadal was asked if he would make a wager with Federer for the game, and Nadal responded something to the effect of, “Why? Federer’s never made a bad move in his life, except for his choice of bride. Why would he take that offer?”. Who could blame Rafa for being cocky, but Federer’s influence evidently goes much further than we tought.

= I guess sooner or later I would have to address the two Elephants in the room.

= L’Affaire Vuvuzela: I actually don’t mind them anymore, which is why I hate that ESPN is supposedly muffling their sound in the broadcast. Of course, like most things at ESPN, it didn’t quite work, but even then, they are stripping the South African World Cup of its uniqueness. The games so far have been duds. The players have been duds. Lord knows the ball is a dud, so why try to ruin what seperates World Cup South Africa from the rest, their vuvuzelas. These vuvuzelas were used in last years Confederations Cup. FIFA knew what they were getting into. Also, I love the singing and drunken chanting as much as the next ‘lad’ but there is something oddly idyllic about the tooting of a colored water buffalo horn.

= The lack of goals: This is getting scary. There is really no real explanation. In my A-B-C’s of the World Cup, I said that ‘D’ was for ‘Defense?’ saying that is defense going to become a lost art. Obviously not. Now, there are a few games, like the Paraguay-Italy game, and definitely the Spain-Switzerland game, that did not feature so much great defense as just shoddy finishing, and were played quite wide open, but to think that only two teams have crossed the three goal limit is appaling. It may be the ball (I doubt it), it may be the altitude (possible, but it’s not like Altitide has never stopped anyone before (Broncos, Denver, from 1975-1998). To me, the best explanation is that it is a curious case best explained by randomness and a small sample size. People say that it is because “the teams just don’t want to lose, and are happy with a point”. If that’s the case, how do you explain the Champions League this very season, that had its highest scoring season in years. My guess is that the goals will even out over the next two group matches.

= The best player so far: Diego Forlan (again, written before Higuain’s hat-trick). Lionel Messi looked good, but not great in his opening match. Cristiano Ronaldo was his usual diving/flopping/choking self for his country, and Wayne Rooney was not on the field. (He was? Are you sure?) Forlan was great in Uruguay’s opening draw with France, and was the best player on the field yesterday. There is a long time left, but as of now, the Uruguayan is tops.

= Hopefully none of this sounds racist, but I am so tire of hearing about Africa. I get it. This is Africa’s first World Cup. I have fleeting memories of 2002, but I don’t think everyone gave two shits that that was Asia’s first World Cup. I get it, Africa’s impoverished. Well, then go play in Senegal, or Chad. South Africa is the richest African nation. If you want to play the poverty card, go all out. And finally, yes, I realize that just 20 years ago South Africa was in apartheid. Again, that is all very good. However, this has happened before. The World Cup was in Spain just 15 years after Franco’s tyrannical regime fell. Africa, honestly, doesn’t deserve any more coverage than any other place the World Cup might have possibly been.

= Kind of related to that last point but, doesn’t ESPN seem to be putting so much more effort in this time, and I love it. Somehow, international football is becoming all the rage in the US. Of course, people always watched the World Cup, but now people know the teams, the players, the rules of the game, etc. So, ESPN followed through on this groundswell by actually pimping out their World Cup coverage. They sent the guys over to South Africa this time (in 2006 they stayed in Bristol). They got actual soccer people (Martin Tyler, Efan Ekoku, Ian Darke, the Scottish guy who sounds so much like Andy Gray from the FIFA games) to call the games. They even got actual soccer players and coaches, including one old superstar (Ruud Gullit) to provide analysis in the hub in Jo-burg. However, I really have no idea why it took ESPN so long to come around to this. I taped some of the matches from the 2006 World Cup (so far, one of the best ones, and certainly the best of my lifetime), and while the games were better, the coverage as a whole was so, so, so, so much worse.

= This is also related to the South Africa thing, but I think only historically football nations should host the World Cup. Putting the World Cup in South Africa (or even the US in ’94 or Japan/Korea in ’02) is like putting the Super Bowl in Jacksonville. The Super Bowl should be limited to Miami, Tampa, San Diego, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Glendale. That is it. The World Cup should rotate between the following: Brazil, Argentina, USA (we are probably a top-20 team now, consistently), France, Spain, Germany, England, Italy. That’s it. Maybe throw in Holland, or maybe even Mexico. But South Africa? Russia? Australia? Greece? Sorry, lads, you don’t get the World Cup (of course, Australia is the favorite to get one of the 2018 or 2022 spots that FIFA is announcing at the end of the year). Those places have quality teams and traditions (so close, USA, so close to making this work). They have the right stadiums. Soccer stadiums need to be intimate and closed. Not necessarily domed, but closed in the make it a quaint, loud setting. These South Africa ones are way, way, way too open air. The German stadiums in ’06 blow Soccer City and the others out of the water.

= Let’s not get too excited about the referees being actually good for once. It is still early. I have no idea if the referees were good in the Group Stage of the 2006 World Cup. Other than the ref in the Italy-USA game, I don’t remember anything fishy in the Group Stage. Just like for the players, it is in the knockout round that the light shines brightest on them, and that is when they have to deliver. The fact that in the biggest game of the first round (Portugal-Cote D’Ivoire (not USA-England)), the referee was average and bought into Cristiano Ronaldo’s diving makes me really nervous.

= The biggest reason that the 2006 World Cup was better (again, so far), was that the teams were better. The only great team, on paper, in 2010 is Spain. Even the Brazilians, on paper, aren’t as great as most earlier Brazilian teams. The fact that the best team on paper lost is another story, but Spain is the only team that on talent alone could compete with some of the great 2006 teams. In 2006, France, Italy, Germany, Brazil and possibly even Portugal were better teams than all of the teams in the 2010 World Cup except for Spain and possibly Brazil. March Madness this year was the same thing. Sure, there were upsets galore, and Duke, a normal winner, won the tournament. But you could make a case that all of the last 12 Final Four teams from 07-09 (Florida, Georgetown, OSU, UCLA, Kansas, Memphis, UNC, UCLA, UNC, Michigan St, UCONN and Nova) were better than any of the four teams in the 2010 Final 4. A similar thing is going on the 2010 World Cup.

= Let’s get too unexcited about the fact that through one round of group games, the 2010 World Cup has been underwhelming. There have been more problems than goals scored. Obviously, lack of scoring ranks as the biggest problem, because it seems to be more of lack of trying to score (Spain certainly isn’t guilty of that), but so too is the ball, the over-blown media storm that is Africa, the lack of great players playing great (I’m looking at you, Ronaldo and Rooney), and of course, those damn vuvuzelas. I’m still enjoying the World Cup, because fuck, it is the World Cup, but I would be lying to say that the 2010 version has been as enjoyable so far as the 2006 version. Of course, there is a long, long way to go, and hopefully like Zidane, the 2010 World Cup gets better as it gets closer to the end.


Anyway, here is your 2010 FIFA World Cup Power 10, after the first round of Group Games.

1.) Germany – the fact that they always make it to the quarters is already putting them in the top-8, but they were the most dominant team of the opening round. Their 4-0 beat-down of a good Australian team was scary. Germany’s youngsters attacked much better than most thought.

2.) Brazil – They didn’t look all that great in beating North Korea, but after the end of the group stage, we could be saying that the real issue was the we all underrated the North Koreans. At least they won their game, and scored more than one goal.

3.) Spain – I can’t drop them too far. They utterly dominated the game. Sadly, this is the second time I have said such a thing in 12 months about Spain, but it is no less true this time. Play that game 10 times, Spain would win 9. It happens. They shouldn’t change a thing, except benching Sergio Busquets. Hopefully, Torres and Fabregas will be good to go.

4.) Holland – They very quietly dispatched a good Danish team 2-0, becoming one of just three teams to win a game by more than a goal so far. However, they didn’t look in true Holland form. It was as if Holland switched places with their bitter rival Germany.

5.) Argentina – (written before their 4-1 win over South Korea) They were oddly disappointing in the Nigeria-Argentina game. They never looked capable of losing, they never looked like the comfortable. In the end, they were kind of lucky to escape with the win. This team just smells QF Penalty-Kick loss.

6.) Ghana – Considering they were missing their best player, and they were playing a tournament dark horse, that was stunning. Ghana totally outplayed Serbia, and got rewarded with a clear penalty. Out of all the African teams, they were the one who did the best in 2006, so it really shouldn’t come to that much of a surprise that they could put up that performance.

7.) Uruguay – I know this is supposed to be based off only their first game, but I couldn’t help. Uruguay was great in their takedown of the hosts. The hosts are not easy to beat, ever. That was amazing. Also, now that Suarez and Forlan have been let loose, they have as much firepower as anyone not named Spain or Argentina (or Germany, I guess).

8.) Mexico – I was impressed and disappointed with them in their opener. They played well, outplayed South Africa, I thought, but also seemed to be a little lackadaisical. What I do know is that they had the hardest first game of anyone, against the hosts on opening night, and were the better team in the stadium.

9.) Switzerland – Hey, credit has to be given to a team that has gone five straight World Cup games without conceding a goal. They might never concede one again. Of course, their offense is generally not there, but they showed some offensive ability and conviction against Spain.

10.) Italy – Like Germany, they will most likely make the Quarters. However, unlike Germany, I doubt they get much further. Their age really showed in the Paraguay game. They started the game out playing better and more complete than any Italian team in recent memory. But the second that the clock reached thirty minutes, every Italian’s knees got heavy and tired. Their attack started to peter. Of course, their defense was as good as ever.

Enjoy round 2 of round 1!!

The Ramblings

Just got back from a 10 day three country whirlwind. First was 3 days in Spain, days that I lucked into getting alone, since I finally perfected the art of causing others to feel guilty for my plight. Then 3 more in London with my sister, and finally four in Greece. Being abroad, alienated in a world where no one knows what March Madness, and in a place where their were riots after both Real Madrid and Chelsea lost in successive weekends during my trips into their respective cities (Honestly, opposing teams should just pay me to travel to their opponent's city before a match) gave me an interesting perspective on things; namely: the difference between USA and Europe, why NYC is still the best city on the earth, and so much more.

  -  The most underrated sub-plot of walking around London: the absolutely amazing feeling of superiority. In Trafalgar Square, there are flags of each of the British "colonies" that still hold ties to the queen, like Australia, Canada, South Africa. Everytime I walked in the square, I thought to myself "every day some poor Briton probably wishes he could put the American Flag up there." Honestly, we were the crown jewel, and we won. Screw You, England. We beat your ass.

  -  On a similar note, being an Indian makes it even better. On the one hand, I come from a country that fought the greatest military force of all time, and whipped them. On the other hand, my people came from a place that decided not to pick up one gun and still beat the British. That's right. I am essentially a double-middle finger to the British Empire.

 -  On a similar note (I'm not done milking this British thing), London makes one fatal mistake. It tries to be both European and American. It tries to have the streets and plazas of Paris and Madrid, but also the bustling maw of New York. You can't do both, its impossible. And their confident arrogance that it works is probably worse than the confident arrogance New Yorkers have for their own city's superiority.

  -  Madrid, and Spain in general, is easily one of the best places to live. It is just so relaxed. Seemingly no one works, as hundreds of suit-clad businessmen gather around the local seafood bar for two hours in the middle of the day, without a care for their jobs. I guess that is why their Economy is going down the loo.

  -  Also, any country that not only doesn't serve dinner and solely serves tea until 9 PM, but looks down and glares at any tourist with the gall to ask for the "dinner menu", is a place I can live with.

  -  American Stadium tours should learn from Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu tour, where I got to go on the field, sit in the Real Madrid bench, visit the Real Madrid dressing room, see all of the trophies the team has collected and got to visit the presidential box as well as get a birds eye veiw from the very top of the stadium. Contrast that to the "tour" of Giants Stadium. First off, it doesn't exist, but even if it did, they would guard the inside of the stadium as if I was bringing the plague.

  -  I am never travelling without shaving completely and putting on skin whitener. In Madrid and London I was asked where I was coming from when walking by the "nothing to declare" area in customs. What was more hilarious, is when I said that I came from New York, they just let me go. I guess they were expecting me to say I was arriving from Pakistan.

  -  I hate to travel by the US airlines, specifically the farce that is American. Sure, the food was actually not cardboard this time, but their behind-the-seat video systems did not work for the entirety of the 7 hour flight from London to JFK. Really, American? Really. British Airways isn't great either, but at least the had the smarts to have the sole form of entertainment on their flights work.

  -  I have to give the European Immigration "EU Passports" only line a massive fail. Don't they know that flights between two EU countries (Madrid-London, London-Athens and the return) are 80% EU passengers. So, obviously, the non-EU passport line was much shorter, and went much quicker. I had to fend off laughter at their shortsightedness. Honestly, the EU was a terrible, terrible idea. Mostly because I miss the Euro.

  -  There was alot of coverage in the Euro papers about the impending EU financial crisis. My favorite part, the fact that Germany was essentially Europe's lender of cash. It's like World War I and II did not teach the Euros anything. Germany should never have that much power.

  -  Having to miss the best first-week of any March Madness tournament in recent memory was terrible. But it was effectively assuaged by seeing the carnage caused by Real Madrid's Champions League defeat one week, and Chelsea's the next. Those two clubs are essentially the Yankees, with the biggest checkbooks and the arrogance to boot. They were both embarrased, Chelsea doubly so since they lost to a team manageered by a former-Chelsea cast-off. Seeing Madrid and then London react like they had just been nuked was fun. There were literally parades of drunk twenty-somethings throwing bottles on the streets of London.

Now, for some American ramblings.

  -  Thank You Joe Mauer. Finally, there is a player who cares more about a community that loves him, and his own personal happiness than the negligible difference between 184 million and 220 million. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the Twins dole out that cash, and Mauer accepting. Mainly because it helps show that baseball might not be as broken as we think. Sure, the Yanks, Sawx, Mets and Cubs can still outspend everyone, but teams like the Orioles, Blue Jays, White Sox, Tigers, Rangers, Angels, Mariners, Dodgers, Giants, Astros, Cardinals, Reds, Phillies and Braves, and somehow Twins, can create the funds to save the true super-duper stars. Thank God for that.

  -  This March Madness weekend upcoming will be crazy. There is reason to believe that this will go down as the best March Madness since 2005. However, that one will be hard to top. Just for a refresher, 2005 featured three Elite Eight games that went to overtime, two buzzer beaters in the earlier rounds, the rise of West Virginia and a classic final between the two best teams. We won't get the final, since one of the two best teams is gone, but we have a shot for some good memories, as all the double-digit seeds look good enough to go to the Final Four.

  -  Cornell is scary good. They played two of the best defenses in the nation and carved them like butter. Cornell would easily be the best cinderalla ever (sorry, George Mason), if they were to make the Final Four, since Ivy League schools can't even give out full scholarships.

  -  Kansas was my pick to win it all, and this is the last time I ever trust them. I had them winning it all in 2007 too. Of course, they won the following year, so this might bode well for the 2011 Jayhawks. Either way, how can you not love Northern Iowa? Seriously, Ali Farokmanesh? That name has to made up.

  -  The seeding matchups are so, so weird. There is a 9-5 game, an 11-2 game, a 10-3 game, and two 6-2 games. In fact, there is only one matchup where the seeding has held through, the Duke-Purdue matchup. Contrast that with last years snorefest, where 6 of the 8 matchups were with the seeds holding through.

  -  As a quasi-Volunteer fan, I am feeling absolutely giddy. I still cannot believe that Northern Iowa can actually miss the final four, and MSU is missing its best player. Of course, I felt this way in 2007, where Memphis awaited in the Elite Eight (a team Tennessee beat, as they always do), when the Vols ran into...... Ohio State. However, that OSU team had Greg Oden, and won by one point. I am scared how amazingly confident I am that Tennessee can actually make the Final Four.

  -  Kentucky cannot win. I cannot believe. I believe in God, and therefore, Kentucky cannot win. Seriously, they are frauds. Their coach has been to the Final Four twice, and each year their season was eventually wiped out for shady recruiting. Then, after having a 38-2 year wiped off the record books in Memphis for admitting a player who cheated on his SAT's, Coach Calipari walks cleanly to Kentucky and steals Memphis' recruiting class at the eleventh hour? Really? That underhand crap is going to be rewarded? I just cannot believe it. If anything, they are the least deserving team. Coach Calipari is the new Coach K, and Kentucky must go down and go down hard, and nothing would be sweeter than an Ivy League school with 0 scholarship players, and four seniors knocking off the Wildcats.

  -  The Big East can suck it. At least the SEC backs up its undisputed claim to being the best conference, winning the last 4 Titles. The Big East last won a National Championship in 2004, and hasn't even had a finalist, let alone a champion since. Since 2004, the SEC (Florida, twice), Big 10 (Illionois, OSU and MSU), ACC (UNC, twice), Pac-10 (UCLA), Big 12 (Kansas) have all sent teams to the Championship Game. Shit, even the Conference USA has sent a team to the final game in Memphis. The Big East has got to get its act together. I really don't think it is any better than the Big 10.

  -  This upcoming weekend is going to be crazy. It is the second best weekend in the USA Sport's calendar, coming just behind the Divisional Weekend in the NFL Playoffs (ahhh, NFL, what a lovely thought. Come Back Soon!!), and I will live-blog Friday's games, where Tennessee will try to avenge the 2007 game, Saint Mary's will try to beat a team still trying to recover from the whole "one teammate murdering another" story, the giant killer trying to beat the best tournament team year in year out, and a Hummell-less Purdue team trying to do America a service and knock out Duke. Should be fun.

I'll be back tomorrow with something Decadium-related.

Ramblings

Random thoughts (mainly football) from thy head.

• Now that he's not my state's leader: Fuck You, Jon Corzine. Thank the Lord that that schmuck is no longer running New Jersey. Chris Christie seems like an ignorant fat poon, but at least he's not Corzine
• I hate the Yankees, but I am kind of happy that they won. For one, did we really need the Phillies to get another title, and also, because I like the world better when Red Sox fans shut up, and now they will. At least Yankee fans know how to deal with success
• This is why magazines will eventually run out of business. Sports Illustrated is a magazine I cannot live without. It prints on Tuesday. The cover story is about how great the World Series is. I get it today, and the series is already over. Just a waste of ink.
• I want Josh McDaniels to give America (and especially me) the finger. I don't think enough is being said about Denver. No one in America picked them to be any good. NO ONE. He's 6-1. If I were him, I would run around nude, screaming "Fuck You, Peter King" at the top of my lungs while miming jizzing on King's face.
• Brett Favre is an idiot. He really expected the Packer fans to cheer him?? Your Benedict Arnold. You are the best example of sports traitorism ever. Packer fans will move on. They will win more Super Bowls, you will not.
• I hope to God Favre gets hurt again. Not seriously hurt, becuase wishing and hoping that is evil, but hurt enough to affect his play. I miss the Favre that needlessly threw up punts for guys to intercept.
• Texans fans are really annoying. They are taunting the shit out of Colts fans on the Colts blog I frequent (stampedeblue). It is hilarious. Its like they finally grew pubic hair, and decide that they want to fight Burt Reynolds. Quiet down, boys. We are 13-1 lifetime against you.
• Being a Colts/Raiders mormon is interesting. Watching Peyton Manning and then JaMarcus Russell is the NFL QB equivalent of having sex with Kate Beckinsale and then fucking Rosie O'Donnell. But only if O'Donnell was eating a ham sandwhich.
• College Football is rigged. No one cares that Florida is suspending their LB for one game after he openly tried to gouge out an opponents eyes. I'm pretty sure Tim Tebow could mass murder the whole staff at Magic Kingdom and he would only get a one-play suspension.
• Is it weird that I really want the Cowboys to make the playoffs for the sole reason to see Romo choke again? I mean, it can't be a choke if he doesn't even make it.
• Is it weird that my team is 7-0, has the best combination of offense and defense in the NFL, has a QB that is playing at a level only seen on Madden and I still hate the Pats more than ever? Seriously, I need help to combat this. I hate them too much. I honestly want to assassinate Bill Belichick (in my mind, of course).
• I'm pretty sure that you just look at Tom Cable and make out that he is a serial woman abuser. I mean, look at him. He looks like he knows what the inside of a cell looks like.
• Now there are reports that Anthony Gonzalez might have a torn PCL. He has not played since Week 1, since he injured it and it was initally called a sprain. Now, all I know about a PCL is how to spell it, but I'm pretty sure I can make out if it is torn or not.
• Why does Hedeki Matsui need a translator? He has lived here for seven years now, and is surrounded by people who speak English all the time. Honestly, and I thought Japanese people were smart.
• Why would I rather be with Lynette Scavo on Desperate Housewives than any of the other three when she is at face value the least attractive. I mean, Eva Longoria is what makes Tony Parker easily the best basketball player, and Teri Hatcher defines MILF, and Marcia Cross is a redhead (and they are WILD), but fucking Felicity Huffman just does it for me.
• Speaking of redheads (or in this case former redheads), Alyson Hannigan just continues to get better looking as time goes on. I would not mind sticking my flute in her pussy, if you know what I mean.
• Back to football, becuase I am coming across a little to perverse, how much longer can Cedric Benson keep this up. I mean, the guy is Cedric Benson. He's awful. He is. I just know it.
• Speaking of which, how much longer can Steve Slaton continue to suck. My fantasy teams have been ruined by him and Joseph Addai. Thanks alot, fellas. Steve Slaton can go off the deep end and dissapear for 10 weeks, and I think I would not even notice his loss. Why? because I got Ryan Fucking Moats, that's why!
• Is there any coach/qb combo more underrated than Reid/McNabb. They have been doing it for 10 years now. That is impressive, especially when you consider that Andy Reid eats timeouts (literally, as in he glazes them with BBQ sauce and chomps those timeouts down) and McNabb has been throwing to random hoodrats for the past decade.
• If I said that when Carolina met Arizona at the start of the year, and one QB would throw 5 picks and fumble and that man would not be Jake Delhomme, how quickly do you think people would laugh at me.
• Why does being an NFL coach look like such a cool job? Honestly, after Chuck Norris and the Dos Equis guy, Mike Tomlin and Sean Payton are easily the most interesting, coolest men in the world.
• I really cannot wait for the tell-all Pats book that will come out in 15 or so years. I just can't wait to hear the truth about Spygate, and the more underrated VoiceConnectionCommunicationGate (where in Foxboro the coach-QB communication would mysteriously backfire during crucial downs).
• Speaking of tell-all books, Andre Agassi did not shock anyone with the meth thing. I mean, if you look at his hair from the early 90's, you just know he was hiding needles underneath that wig.
• Am I the only one who would ever think that Tom Brady picked the wrong girl, and that Bridget Moynahan is better looking than Gisele??? Also, it is a little emasculating when you are a three time super bowl winner and a guy that gets tons of money from Stetson cologne commercials and you are still the poorer person in the relationship. By far.
• Jon Gruden. Please never coach again. You are brilliant on MNF, and make it the first truly entertaining broadcast since ESPN Sunday Night Football had the Joe Theismann, Mike Patrick and Paul Maguire threesome. They were brilliantly stupid and hilariously dumb.
• Dan Snyder really needs his own mustache and flag. At least then he would look as tyrannical as he is.
• Football will never work in Jacksonville. Never. Cut your losses and leave, but don't go to LA. LA does not give a shit about sports. Go to Portland. This is my realignment. Portland goes into NFC West. Rams goes to AFC South.
• I never want a college football playoff. If we had one, I would not give two shits about the regular season. And also, if there was a playoffs, what would all the Tebow/Meyer-dick-sucking refs do for money?
• I do, however want a college basketball playoff. College basketball season is almost upon us. Thank god, becuase I am so sick of only having one college sport to barely follow.
• Last one, predictions for MLB 2010: Matsui leaves the Yankees replaced by Matt Holliday. CC Sabathia crosses the 400 lb platuea. Red Sox reclaim the division. Texas Rangers make playoffs. Astros shock world and make playoffs. Dodgers play Red Sox in WS. Manny gets confused and tries to play for both teams after tearing up when he sees Papi. Dodgers win series and Torre gives a teary speech, which when translated into normal not Torre-Classy speech is roughly the equivalent of "Fuck You George Steinbrenner and your Band of Mercenaries"

Picks tomorrow.