I understand everything you said. And if you re-read my last post, I jump on to your bandwagon about sports. And my example was close to home, since my daughter is a "casualty" of the young people sports machine that exists in today's society. BUT...
The reason I took umbrage to your post is that your counter-argument to a dearth of MLS(Pro) goals was a plethora of goals in a U10 league. And I say...no correlation. And then you come in with an entirely different post later and tell me I missed the point of the first one. Good thing you're not a lawyer!
11.28.2006
How About Typing Shallower
Michael Irwin is in trouble and has been fired by ESPN.
Chicago objects to The Nativity Story sponsoring a Christmas celebration!
The two are similar in that the PC culture has gone nuts. Irwin is no Mel Gibson and the Chicago party is called "Christkindlmarket." Can we just calm down here?
Chicago objects to The Nativity Story sponsoring a Christmas celebration!
The two are similar in that the PC culture has gone nuts. Irwin is no Mel Gibson and the Chicago party is called "Christkindlmarket." Can we just calm down here?
Perhaps I Should Type Slower...
Thew must be purposefully antagonistic, because he ain't this dense.
Sports in America is a continuum from the first kick or hit to the last. To say that the youth game is the same as the pro game is silly, but to say that players at the top of the U10 game play in a certain way that changes by the time they are at U21 or in the MLS is not.
The Little League World Series pits the best baseball players in middle school against each other. Those games are played with certain characteristics that are different the when the Yankees and Sox square off. But you can trace the evolution of the game as the kids age. Whether it is ability (pitching improves) or equipment (aluminum to wood bats), you can see the game grow with the players.
I have two data points on the soccer continuum: the high scoring youth games and the low scoring pro games. What I am looking for is the point in between; the points where the game changes in character. A tadpole and a frog are different, but you can trace the development of the tadpole as it becomes a frog and see how the characteristics change on the way.
It is clear soccer's characteristics change as its players age...and not for the better (I think we can agree). I am just trying to identify and correct the problem.
Sports in America is a continuum from the first kick or hit to the last. To say that the youth game is the same as the pro game is silly, but to say that players at the top of the U10 game play in a certain way that changes by the time they are at U21 or in the MLS is not.
The Little League World Series pits the best baseball players in middle school against each other. Those games are played with certain characteristics that are different the when the Yankees and Sox square off. But you can trace the evolution of the game as the kids age. Whether it is ability (pitching improves) or equipment (aluminum to wood bats), you can see the game grow with the players.
I have two data points on the soccer continuum: the high scoring youth games and the low scoring pro games. What I am looking for is the point in between; the points where the game changes in character. A tadpole and a frog are different, but you can trace the development of the tadpole as it becomes a frog and see how the characteristics change on the way.
It is clear soccer's characteristics change as its players age...and not for the better (I think we can agree). I am just trying to identify and correct the problem.
Perhaps you're speaking Swahili?
A direct quote from your post...
"SoccerBlog is lamenting the lack of coverage...and complains about the drought of goals. But not all soccer in America is 'goal challenged.'"
My son's team....yadda yadda yadda..."Who says goal scoring is not part of soccer?".
You are comparing the draught of goals in MLS with the plethora of goals on your son's U10 team. Did I miss that point?
I am merely saying that comparing an abundance of goals on a U10 team to the lack of scoring in MLS is a silly comparison. If I missed the point, then you need to 'splain it again, Lucy. Because you then go on a rant about how many kids are dropping out of sports from 6th to 9th grade, and how do things change that leads to this, a real social policy diatribe. You were talking about goal scoring versus NOT goal scoring! Your blog on social policy and the youth sports climate is RIGHT ON, and I take no issue with it. But that was not what you were talking about, you were talking about "well, even though there is a dearth of goals in the MLS, there is a cornacoppia of scoring on my U10 team!" Get your arguments straight dood...
Now, about your social policy post, I can give you a HUGE reason why kids are dropping out. Sports aren't fun for the kids. You should see the crazed screaming psycho sports parents stalking the sidelines during games, even for 10 year olds. They scream at the kids, coach the kids, yell at the kids, howl at the other parents (how many fights?); it's pathetic, but that is the sports climate we have fostered in this country. WIN WIN WIN. BE A PRO, MAKE A TON OF MONEY! GET A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP! We make it a job, when it should just be fun for the kids, serious later. There is so much pressure on the kids these days to win and perform and get better, we forget how much fun they really WANT it to be. So we, as parents, take the joy out of the game, and the kids lose interest. Having a daughter who decided to give up soccer after years of scoring goals and being an all star and making the "A" level travelling team, I know this closely. The coach making comments about her weight as she hit her teenage years (little 13 year old poundage gain), playing favorites, the pressure, the cliques, all turned her off to the game she so loved since she was little. Now she's an alternate band loving ("Death Cab for Cutie"???) eye piercing wanting artsy fartsy young lady who loves nothing more than to just chill in front of the TV or window shopping at Sephora. Almost like a rebellion against the mainstream...and her father. :)
THAT, I agree with Tilam on. Perhaps I missed his point, or perhaps he needs to explain it better.
Oh, and for the record, in little league, I only had ONE hit that season. So "swinging the bat" for me is, in reality, stretching it a bit.
ROFL!
"SoccerBlog is lamenting the lack of coverage...and complains about the drought of goals. But not all soccer in America is 'goal challenged.'"
My son's team....yadda yadda yadda..."Who says goal scoring is not part of soccer?".
You are comparing the draught of goals in MLS with the plethora of goals on your son's U10 team. Did I miss that point?
I am merely saying that comparing an abundance of goals on a U10 team to the lack of scoring in MLS is a silly comparison. If I missed the point, then you need to 'splain it again, Lucy. Because you then go on a rant about how many kids are dropping out of sports from 6th to 9th grade, and how do things change that leads to this, a real social policy diatribe. You were talking about goal scoring versus NOT goal scoring! Your blog on social policy and the youth sports climate is RIGHT ON, and I take no issue with it. But that was not what you were talking about, you were talking about "well, even though there is a dearth of goals in the MLS, there is a cornacoppia of scoring on my U10 team!" Get your arguments straight dood...
Now, about your social policy post, I can give you a HUGE reason why kids are dropping out. Sports aren't fun for the kids. You should see the crazed screaming psycho sports parents stalking the sidelines during games, even for 10 year olds. They scream at the kids, coach the kids, yell at the kids, howl at the other parents (how many fights?); it's pathetic, but that is the sports climate we have fostered in this country. WIN WIN WIN. BE A PRO, MAKE A TON OF MONEY! GET A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP! We make it a job, when it should just be fun for the kids, serious later. There is so much pressure on the kids these days to win and perform and get better, we forget how much fun they really WANT it to be. So we, as parents, take the joy out of the game, and the kids lose interest. Having a daughter who decided to give up soccer after years of scoring goals and being an all star and making the "A" level travelling team, I know this closely. The coach making comments about her weight as she hit her teenage years (little 13 year old poundage gain), playing favorites, the pressure, the cliques, all turned her off to the game she so loved since she was little. Now she's an alternate band loving ("Death Cab for Cutie"???) eye piercing wanting artsy fartsy young lady who loves nothing more than to just chill in front of the TV or window shopping at Sephora. Almost like a rebellion against the mainstream...and her father. :)
THAT, I agree with Tilam on. Perhaps I missed his point, or perhaps he needs to explain it better.
Oh, and for the record, in little league, I only had ONE hit that season. So "swinging the bat" for me is, in reality, stretching it a bit.
ROFL!
Biting Off More then You Can Thew
As usual, in an effort to go for the jugular, Thew misses the point…and then everything else.
My question as to the MLS is “does something happen to the character of the game as the kids get older?” Here is a statistic: 70% of kids in sports in America drop out from participating in sports programs from 6th through 9th grade. This is across all sports.
As a licensed coach in youth soccer, I can say this is a HUGE concern for our league: to wit, how do we keep kids engaged. Now I would suggest that much of that dropout is multi-sport athletes focusing on one sport. But I would also propose that they are FORCED to focus on one sport because the demands of youth sports are very different now then they were when Thew and I were kicking a soccer ball or swinging a bat. Further, if that is the case, how do we as soccer coaches get the kids to pick OUR sport.
But there are a multitude of factors involved here and Thew is wrong when he says “it doesn’t matter what happens with a bunch of 6th graders…”. It most certainly does. The youth sports shape the character of professional sports to a great degree. From the simplest things like safety to more complicated concepts like sportsmanship, what you learn when you are young shapes the way you act and play as an adult…for better or worse.
As for diving and flopping, I would say that that is more of a problem with European leagues then in the MLS and is akin to asking “what about the fact that very few U10s speak Italian!” It is clear that kids will go up and adapt advantageous rules, but I digress.
My point is the beautiful game is evident in the youth leagues, so how can we continue to encourage the players, as they age, not to lose that desire to dent the twine.
My question as to the MLS is “does something happen to the character of the game as the kids get older?” Here is a statistic: 70% of kids in sports in America drop out from participating in sports programs from 6th through 9th grade. This is across all sports.
As a licensed coach in youth soccer, I can say this is a HUGE concern for our league: to wit, how do we keep kids engaged. Now I would suggest that much of that dropout is multi-sport athletes focusing on one sport. But I would also propose that they are FORCED to focus on one sport because the demands of youth sports are very different now then they were when Thew and I were kicking a soccer ball or swinging a bat. Further, if that is the case, how do we as soccer coaches get the kids to pick OUR sport.
But there are a multitude of factors involved here and Thew is wrong when he says “it doesn’t matter what happens with a bunch of 6th graders…”. It most certainly does. The youth sports shape the character of professional sports to a great degree. From the simplest things like safety to more complicated concepts like sportsmanship, what you learn when you are young shapes the way you act and play as an adult…for better or worse.
As for diving and flopping, I would say that that is more of a problem with European leagues then in the MLS and is akin to asking “what about the fact that very few U10s speak Italian!” It is clear that kids will go up and adapt advantageous rules, but I digress.
My point is the beautiful game is evident in the youth leagues, so how can we continue to encourage the players, as they age, not to lose that desire to dent the twine.
11.27.2006
Hall of Fame and Q-back Wannabes...
So there is some noteworthy stuff to chat about today...
Michael Vick gave the entire Georgia Dome the finger after being booed while walking off the field after the Falcon's 4th straight loss (to the Saints). Of course he apologized for it, and I'm sure it was borne of a great deal of frustration, but let's be honest - VICK SUX! Okay, maybe not "SUX", but he isn't an NFL quarterback, when are people going to realize that? I bitch about Michael Vick almost as much as I laugh at Michelle Wie; the guy is a phenomenal athlete with blazing speed, but he's NOT a quarterback. Now, it's important to mention that his receivers have hands of stone, but still, he is NOT the solution to Atlanta's future, regardless of how much marketing and fan appeal he has. But now we are seeing the issue - when the pressure is on, and Vick tries to be a quarterback of the traditional type. bad things happen...
Oh Ben Roethlisberger, how far have you fallen my friend...
HERE is a discussion that will prove interesting, not only between TILAM and I, but around water coolers and board rooms across the country...the MLB Hall of Fame candidates have been announced. And you guessed it, Big Mac is on the list. Mark McGwire is one of the higher profile players up for consideration, but certainly one of the most controversial...there are a TON of players who should get serious consideration, but I'm not convinced there are more than a few "oh yeah, this guy should be in the hall". Cal Ripken, Jr, is a sure bet imo. Same for Tony Gwynn, a consummate hitter if there ever was one despite his doughboy frame (e tu John Kruk?). But I see no real sure fire players from among the list after those two. Big Mac should be evaluated on his merits (which are pretty good) and NOT on the steroid rumors (hey, I did a cycle of Andro and put on 10 pounds with serious exercise and diet) even though I'd give it 60% chance that he probably did them. Other people who are going to get serious consideration are: Lee Smith, Jim Rice, Dave Parker, Jack Morris, Don Mattingly, Goose Gossage, Steve Garvey, and Orel Hershiser, some of whom are not on their first ballot, btw. I don't see anyone else from the list getting inducted. TILAM?
USC whooped up on Notre Dame. It was a great game but I don't think it was as close as the score would indicate, even though they won by 20 points. :)
Well, I guess there's nothing else in the world worth noting...Thew out.
Michael Vick gave the entire Georgia Dome the finger after being booed while walking off the field after the Falcon's 4th straight loss (to the Saints). Of course he apologized for it, and I'm sure it was borne of a great deal of frustration, but let's be honest - VICK SUX! Okay, maybe not "SUX", but he isn't an NFL quarterback, when are people going to realize that? I bitch about Michael Vick almost as much as I laugh at Michelle Wie; the guy is a phenomenal athlete with blazing speed, but he's NOT a quarterback. Now, it's important to mention that his receivers have hands of stone, but still, he is NOT the solution to Atlanta's future, regardless of how much marketing and fan appeal he has. But now we are seeing the issue - when the pressure is on, and Vick tries to be a quarterback of the traditional type. bad things happen...
Oh Ben Roethlisberger, how far have you fallen my friend...
HERE is a discussion that will prove interesting, not only between TILAM and I, but around water coolers and board rooms across the country...the MLB Hall of Fame candidates have been announced. And you guessed it, Big Mac is on the list. Mark McGwire is one of the higher profile players up for consideration, but certainly one of the most controversial...there are a TON of players who should get serious consideration, but I'm not convinced there are more than a few "oh yeah, this guy should be in the hall". Cal Ripken, Jr, is a sure bet imo. Same for Tony Gwynn, a consummate hitter if there ever was one despite his doughboy frame (e tu John Kruk?). But I see no real sure fire players from among the list after those two. Big Mac should be evaluated on his merits (which are pretty good) and NOT on the steroid rumors (hey, I did a cycle of Andro and put on 10 pounds with serious exercise and diet) even though I'd give it 60% chance that he probably did them. Other people who are going to get serious consideration are: Lee Smith, Jim Rice, Dave Parker, Jack Morris, Don Mattingly, Goose Gossage, Steve Garvey, and Orel Hershiser, some of whom are not on their first ballot, btw. I don't see anyone else from the list getting inducted. TILAM?
USC whooped up on Notre Dame. It was a great game but I don't think it was as close as the score would indicate, even though they won by 20 points. :)
Well, I guess there's nothing else in the world worth noting...Thew out.
11.23.2006
He's BAAAAAACK
Thew is back after a short hiatus dealing with a cross country move.
Lemme tell ya, there is NOTHING between Tulsa, OK and Bakersfield, CA, but road, tumbleweeds, mountains, and dirt. And that includes any of the little broke down welfare wannabe towns along the way. It is one of THE most boring drives you'll ever do, but it's also one of the most interesting at the same time, seeing rock formations and the interesting landscapes. But frankly, strap on your iPod, set the cruise control, and watch the miles go by...
So, back to spew my rantings as I know you've been waiting for, dear readers...
Puskas has pass away, the soccer world has indeed lost one it's very best.
Milton Friedman is now in that great classroom in the sky as well - truly one of the most forward and influential thinkers of this past century.
Okay, enuf of that drivel...
Soccer in America - I take issue with Tilam's account of soccer goals in a U10 league compared to the MLS. Big deal. Now, I know the son in question, and he's a natural athlete that one, but a 10 year old team scoring goals in droves is HARDLY the counter-argument to a dearth of goals in MLS, and quite frankly, many of the other premier leagues around the world. I hardly see the comparison. Are you saying "well, they score a bunch of goals when they are kids, why aren't they scoring goals when they're adults?". *boggle* Unfortunately, it doesn't matter what happens with a bunch of 6th graders, what matters is that the MLS title game was a BORING 1-1 draw with a little bit of excitement in PK's. THAT is the issue here, THAT is the problem we need to fix. Drawing upon a comparison to 10 year olds simply doesn't compute with me, sorry Tilam. Also, let me ask THIS question in response to what I think your point is..."the U10 kids don't dive and flop around like a fish out of water, yet they do in all the pro leagues, what's THAT about?". Go ahead, start the flaming...
Aside from that, nice season, give your son my congratulations.
In "what has she done DIFFERENT lately?" department, Michelle Wie shot an 81 in a men's event in Japan. When will this end, I wonder...
Tiger won his 7th Grand Slam of golf. This guy is pure scary...
So Larry Coker was fired as the coach of the Miami Hurricanes. It's about damm time. He was a shitty coach who took a great program and turned it into the laughing stock of Florida. His national title was accomplished with OTHER players than his recruits. He recruited idiots to play but couldn't get them to perform on the field, they were too busy getting into trouble with the law off the field. Fights, guns, etc - I don't even thing the 'Canes are SNIFFING the top 25 in the AP poll. This is a quality lesson in "just because you recruit athletes to play it doesn't mean you're going to win if you recruit assholes".
NFL
Is there a hotter quarterback than Tony Romo of the Cowboys?
Has ANYONE learned the lesson of "winning and playing well will keep T.O.'s mouth shut!" yet?
Does anyone doubt Phillip Rivers anymore in San Diego?
NBA
Is there anyone who really gives a shit about the NBA?
MLB
So the Sawx won the lottery to speak with Matsuszaka. Was it more important to spend the money to keep him from the Yankees? Or was it important to land a pitcher? Also, so he lit up the Japanese league, how do you think he's going to do in the MLB? When the hitters and scouts chart him and figure him out, what do you think is going to happen? Light him up like a Chrismas tree. That is my prediction.
Soriano to the Cubbies...is it only me who says "Wood and Prior are NOT the tandem of the future, get some PITCHING!"
So Justine Morneau wins the MVP over DJ. I don't have a significant problem with this result, because frankly, Morneau is a great player who finished with a great season. But I'd have still given the nod to Jeter, whose history of quality play should have, imo, weighed a bit more in the judges mind. One quality season isn't enough, I hope Morneau proves this a valid choice in the years to come.
That's about it, I'll have more dirt to throw at Tilam soon enough.
Lemme tell ya, there is NOTHING between Tulsa, OK and Bakersfield, CA, but road, tumbleweeds, mountains, and dirt. And that includes any of the little broke down welfare wannabe towns along the way. It is one of THE most boring drives you'll ever do, but it's also one of the most interesting at the same time, seeing rock formations and the interesting landscapes. But frankly, strap on your iPod, set the cruise control, and watch the miles go by...
So, back to spew my rantings as I know you've been waiting for, dear readers...
Puskas has pass away, the soccer world has indeed lost one it's very best.
Milton Friedman is now in that great classroom in the sky as well - truly one of the most forward and influential thinkers of this past century.
Okay, enuf of that drivel...
Soccer in America - I take issue with Tilam's account of soccer goals in a U10 league compared to the MLS. Big deal. Now, I know the son in question, and he's a natural athlete that one, but a 10 year old team scoring goals in droves is HARDLY the counter-argument to a dearth of goals in MLS, and quite frankly, many of the other premier leagues around the world. I hardly see the comparison. Are you saying "well, they score a bunch of goals when they are kids, why aren't they scoring goals when they're adults?". *boggle* Unfortunately, it doesn't matter what happens with a bunch of 6th graders, what matters is that the MLS title game was a BORING 1-1 draw with a little bit of excitement in PK's. THAT is the issue here, THAT is the problem we need to fix. Drawing upon a comparison to 10 year olds simply doesn't compute with me, sorry Tilam. Also, let me ask THIS question in response to what I think your point is..."the U10 kids don't dive and flop around like a fish out of water, yet they do in all the pro leagues, what's THAT about?". Go ahead, start the flaming...
Aside from that, nice season, give your son my congratulations.
In "what has she done DIFFERENT lately?" department, Michelle Wie shot an 81 in a men's event in Japan. When will this end, I wonder...
Tiger won his 7th Grand Slam of golf. This guy is pure scary...
So Larry Coker was fired as the coach of the Miami Hurricanes. It's about damm time. He was a shitty coach who took a great program and turned it into the laughing stock of Florida. His national title was accomplished with OTHER players than his recruits. He recruited idiots to play but couldn't get them to perform on the field, they were too busy getting into trouble with the law off the field. Fights, guns, etc - I don't even thing the 'Canes are SNIFFING the top 25 in the AP poll. This is a quality lesson in "just because you recruit athletes to play it doesn't mean you're going to win if you recruit assholes".
NFL
Is there a hotter quarterback than Tony Romo of the Cowboys?
Has ANYONE learned the lesson of "winning and playing well will keep T.O.'s mouth shut!" yet?
Does anyone doubt Phillip Rivers anymore in San Diego?
NBA
Is there anyone who really gives a shit about the NBA?
MLB
So the Sawx won the lottery to speak with Matsuszaka. Was it more important to spend the money to keep him from the Yankees? Or was it important to land a pitcher? Also, so he lit up the Japanese league, how do you think he's going to do in the MLB? When the hitters and scouts chart him and figure him out, what do you think is going to happen? Light him up like a Chrismas tree. That is my prediction.
Soriano to the Cubbies...is it only me who says "Wood and Prior are NOT the tandem of the future, get some PITCHING!"
So Justine Morneau wins the MVP over DJ. I don't have a significant problem with this result, because frankly, Morneau is a great player who finished with a great season. But I'd have still given the nod to Jeter, whose history of quality play should have, imo, weighed a bit more in the judges mind. One quality season isn't enough, I hope Morneau proves this a valid choice in the years to come.
That's about it, I'll have more dirt to throw at Tilam soon enough.
11.17.2006
The Galloping Major
Ferenc Puskas has died. He was one of the true greats of international soccer with a per game goals scored average greater then Pele.
From ESPN: "Puskas starred in two of the most famous games in European soccer history -- scoring twice in Hungary's stunning 6-3 upset over England at Wembley Stadium in 1953, and scoring four goals in Real Madrid's 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1960 European Cup final." As a side note Di Stefano scored a hat trick in the Real-Eintracht game. In 1999, he was voted the 6th best soccer player of the 20th century, though I think he was arguably better then that.
The game has changed since Puskas' time with the mid-field and defenses more dominant then ever. Those fans who bristle at a 1-0 or 1-1 game will appreciate the striker oriented mentality that dominated the international game in the 50s and 60s when Puskas, Di Stefano and Pele reigned supreme. And scores of 6-3 and 7-3 were far more common.
The world of soccer lost a true superstar.
From ESPN: "Puskas starred in two of the most famous games in European soccer history -- scoring twice in Hungary's stunning 6-3 upset over England at Wembley Stadium in 1953, and scoring four goals in Real Madrid's 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1960 European Cup final." As a side note Di Stefano scored a hat trick in the Real-Eintracht game. In 1999, he was voted the 6th best soccer player of the 20th century, though I think he was arguably better then that.
The game has changed since Puskas' time with the mid-field and defenses more dominant then ever. Those fans who bristle at a 1-0 or 1-1 game will appreciate the striker oriented mentality that dominated the international game in the 50s and 60s when Puskas, Di Stefano and Pele reigned supreme. And scores of 6-3 and 7-3 were far more common.
The world of soccer lost a true superstar.
11.16.2006
Uncle Miltie
I will do a post on the Congressional elections, soon, but I interrupt politics to talk economics.
Milton Friedman passed away last night. Friedman had a direct influence in my life. As the founder of the Chicago School of Economics, he was the driving force in the replacement of Keynesian economics as the prevailing economic theory with monetarism. He won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1976 while at the University of Chicago.
As a Economic major from the University of Chicago, I spent 4 years being indoctrinated by a host of Friedman disciples...it was the greatest learning experience of my life.
UPDATE: I am doing Mr. Friedman a huge disservice by implying that he was simply an economist. His book, "Free to Chose," describes a moral and political system as much as an economic system. Milton Friedman was one of the great thinkers of our time. (See Joe's Dartblog for an interview on Libertarianism.)
Milton Friedman passed away last night. Friedman had a direct influence in my life. As the founder of the Chicago School of Economics, he was the driving force in the replacement of Keynesian economics as the prevailing economic theory with monetarism. He won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1976 while at the University of Chicago.
As a Economic major from the University of Chicago, I spent 4 years being indoctrinated by a host of Friedman disciples...it was the greatest learning experience of my life.
UPDATE: I am doing Mr. Friedman a huge disservice by implying that he was simply an economist. His book, "Free to Chose," describes a moral and political system as much as an economic system. Milton Friedman was one of the great thinkers of our time. (See Joe's Dartblog for an interview on Libertarianism.)
11.13.2006
Soccer in America...A Chance to Brag
It seems I have been demoted from SoccerBlog since my "comment" to one of Shourin's posts is taking its sweet time getting up on the site. Nonetheless, SoccerBlog is lamenting the lack of coverage of the MLS title game (1 - 1 tie, Houston in PKs over the Revolution) and complains about the drought of goals. But not all soccer in America is "goal challenged."
My U10 Boys team finished with an impressive 6-1-1 record this past fall season. I was very happy with the level of play and was also lucky to have some great filler kids. By filler, I mean that most coaches move with a small group of players anchored by their son/daughter. In this case, my son and about 5 friends formed the core of this team. As they are older this year then last (when the same core group went 4-3-1), they did have some advantages, but any advantages can be quickly lost if the kids you get from the draft to round out your team are not very good. This year, they were nearly all very good.
Like many coaches' sons, mine played a critical role. He is a goal scorer...that is what he does. In our 8 games, we outscored opponents 37-15 and HE outscored them 19-15. Our average game was a 4.6 - 1.9 victory and our one loss was a 3-1 loss against a weaker team. (We hit the post 5 times!) My son scored 3 hat tricks and had a 4 goal game in the last game of the season. I would also note that the goal is 12x6, not the regulation goal.
Who says goal scoring is not part of soccer!
Now, I will say that our defense this year was much stronger then last, but it was anchored by two talented, younger players with whom I rotated in an older player to fill. We did have one very weak player (though his problem is a lack of focus rather then a lack of ability), but I had enough depth to cover. Finally, we did have some very good goalkeepers.
I would point out that defense at a young age is "easier" then offense. In fact as a former striker and attacking midfielder, I can tell you that an inferior defender can still screw up an opposing offense if he/she plays conservatively. What happens to these players as they grow up???
My U10 Boys team finished with an impressive 6-1-1 record this past fall season. I was very happy with the level of play and was also lucky to have some great filler kids. By filler, I mean that most coaches move with a small group of players anchored by their son/daughter. In this case, my son and about 5 friends formed the core of this team. As they are older this year then last (when the same core group went 4-3-1), they did have some advantages, but any advantages can be quickly lost if the kids you get from the draft to round out your team are not very good. This year, they were nearly all very good.
Like many coaches' sons, mine played a critical role. He is a goal scorer...that is what he does. In our 8 games, we outscored opponents 37-15 and HE outscored them 19-15. Our average game was a 4.6 - 1.9 victory and our one loss was a 3-1 loss against a weaker team. (We hit the post 5 times!) My son scored 3 hat tricks and had a 4 goal game in the last game of the season. I would also note that the goal is 12x6, not the regulation goal.
Who says goal scoring is not part of soccer!
Now, I will say that our defense this year was much stronger then last, but it was anchored by two talented, younger players with whom I rotated in an older player to fill. We did have one very weak player (though his problem is a lack of focus rather then a lack of ability), but I had enough depth to cover. Finally, we did have some very good goalkeepers.
I would point out that defense at a young age is "easier" then offense. In fact as a former striker and attacking midfielder, I can tell you that an inferior defender can still screw up an opposing offense if he/she plays conservatively. What happens to these players as they grow up???
11.08.2006
Twofer!
Rumsfeld resigns and Shadegg is running for the Minority Whip post. I'll take that as a twofer within 6 hours of my post below.
Time to get cocky.
UPDATE: And Pence is running for Minority Leader! Ha!
Time to get cocky.
UPDATE: And Pence is running for Minority Leader! Ha!
Foreign Affairs
So I said I was a single issue voter: who is best suited to protect this country. Whether the rest of the country felt that strongly on the this issue or not, the party who I believe is less able to manage WWIV is now in charge as we are left with a Democratic House and (most likely) a Democratic Senate. What now?
Well, first off, we are not going to immediately withdraw. I do think that enough Democratic Congressmen and women will act rationally enough to prevent the John Kerrys of the Congress from getting their way. I do think there will be more forceful action to get the Iraqi government to act on its own. Maliki's government has been a little too cozy with Sadr and some other unsavory folks, but he can afford to do that if the American's have got his back. (As I stated previously, I do think that it will get worse for the Iraq people before it gets better.) We now have the opportunity for a good cop/bad cop approach and say, "Maliki, you had better make progress or else."
As an aside, I think the realistic worse case is that Iraq breaks up into three regions; the Kurdish north, the Shiite south and the Sunni middle. How bad would that be? I am not sure (I think it actually depends on how much trouble the KURDS want to make with Turkey and Iran). I do not think there will be "civil war" for all of Iraq.
I also see no change in policy toward Iran and North Korea.
The fundamental reason is that the Democrats did not win, the Republicans lost. The Democrats have no defined agenda, so they will be free to muddle along for two years and try and consolidate their victory in 2008. I simply do not see ANYONE in the Democratic leadership willing to stand up and take ownership and responsibility for action, in particular on foreign affairs.
More thoughts later...
Well, first off, we are not going to immediately withdraw. I do think that enough Democratic Congressmen and women will act rationally enough to prevent the John Kerrys of the Congress from getting their way. I do think there will be more forceful action to get the Iraqi government to act on its own. Maliki's government has been a little too cozy with Sadr and some other unsavory folks, but he can afford to do that if the American's have got his back. (As I stated previously, I do think that it will get worse for the Iraq people before it gets better.) We now have the opportunity for a good cop/bad cop approach and say, "Maliki, you had better make progress or else."
As an aside, I think the realistic worse case is that Iraq breaks up into three regions; the Kurdish north, the Shiite south and the Sunni middle. How bad would that be? I am not sure (I think it actually depends on how much trouble the KURDS want to make with Turkey and Iran). I do not think there will be "civil war" for all of Iraq.
I also see no change in policy toward Iran and North Korea.
The fundamental reason is that the Democrats did not win, the Republicans lost. The Democrats have no defined agenda, so they will be free to muddle along for two years and try and consolidate their victory in 2008. I simply do not see ANYONE in the Democratic leadership willing to stand up and take ownership and responsibility for action, in particular on foreign affairs.
More thoughts later...
Election 2006 Post-Mortem
Shocking…Election Day turned out about as predicted by the various pundits.
So, here are my thoughts as to winners; losers and what to watch for:
Winners:
Moderate Democrats. While Lieberman in CT is the media favorite, moderate Democrats made inroads in the Midwest and South and were able to take seats from Republicans.
Fossilized Liberals: Rangel, Conyers, Dingell are names the country will start to hear again. If VA and MT senate races go to the Democrats, we will have Reid and Kennedy in the Senate. This might be akin to waking up the next morning and finding out that the beautiful women you slept with last night…ain’t…so…beautiful.
Small Government Republicans. Pence, Shadegg and others have been pounding on Republican leadership to cut spending to no avail. I suspect you will see more of these guys in the House Minority leadership. THANK GOD!
Newt Gingrich. Architect of the 1994 Takeover, his 2008 stock just went waaaaay up. But did it go up enough to overcome the residual baggage from the Government shutdown?
Property Rights. Anti-Kelo initiatives passed overwhelmingly.
Losers:
President Bush. He has managed to piss off everyone for different reasons. And SecDef Rumsfeld is the next Iraq casualty.
Gays. I would argue that the BIGGEST loser was the gay community. Same-sex marriage bans continue to be enacted by popular vote. Other than Arizona, gays lost.
Activist Courts. Popular votes sent a strong message to the Courts: STOP IT. Kelo lost (US Supreme Court), gay rights lost (NJ and MA supreme court) and affirmative action lost in MI. The common theme is that these were reactions to activist courts imposing their will on the people. And the people struck back.
Fossilized Republicans. Hassert, Lewis, Young in the House, Stevens in the Senate. Your gravy train was good while it lasted, but it’s over.
McCain, Romney. The two 2008 Republican presidential front runners took a bit of a shot. McCain because he is clearly “part of the problem” that got the Republicans in this mess. Romney’s successor, Kerry Healey, was ROUTED in MA by Deval Patrick…some legacy.
The Iraqis. The terrorists stepped up the campaign to kill American in October and influence the elections. Despite the fact that this is a typical 6th year swing, they will take encouragement from the results and the Iraqis will bear the brunt of this.
Thew?
UPDATE: That was fast. Rumsfeld is out.
So, here are my thoughts as to winners; losers and what to watch for:
Winners:
Moderate Democrats. While Lieberman in CT is the media favorite, moderate Democrats made inroads in the Midwest and South and were able to take seats from Republicans.
Fossilized Liberals: Rangel, Conyers, Dingell are names the country will start to hear again. If VA and MT senate races go to the Democrats, we will have Reid and Kennedy in the Senate. This might be akin to waking up the next morning and finding out that the beautiful women you slept with last night…ain’t…so…beautiful.
Small Government Republicans. Pence, Shadegg and others have been pounding on Republican leadership to cut spending to no avail. I suspect you will see more of these guys in the House Minority leadership. THANK GOD!
Newt Gingrich. Architect of the 1994 Takeover, his 2008 stock just went waaaaay up. But did it go up enough to overcome the residual baggage from the Government shutdown?
Property Rights. Anti-Kelo initiatives passed overwhelmingly.
Losers:
President Bush. He has managed to piss off everyone for different reasons. And SecDef Rumsfeld is the next Iraq casualty.
Gays. I would argue that the BIGGEST loser was the gay community. Same-sex marriage bans continue to be enacted by popular vote. Other than Arizona, gays lost.
Activist Courts. Popular votes sent a strong message to the Courts: STOP IT. Kelo lost (US Supreme Court), gay rights lost (NJ and MA supreme court) and affirmative action lost in MI. The common theme is that these were reactions to activist courts imposing their will on the people. And the people struck back.
Fossilized Republicans. Hassert, Lewis, Young in the House, Stevens in the Senate. Your gravy train was good while it lasted, but it’s over.
McCain, Romney. The two 2008 Republican presidential front runners took a bit of a shot. McCain because he is clearly “part of the problem” that got the Republicans in this mess. Romney’s successor, Kerry Healey, was ROUTED in MA by Deval Patrick…some legacy.
The Iraqis. The terrorists stepped up the campaign to kill American in October and influence the elections. Despite the fact that this is a typical 6th year swing, they will take encouragement from the results and the Iraqis will bear the brunt of this.
Thew?
UPDATE: That was fast. Rumsfeld is out.
11.07.2006
Election 2006 Part V
Okay, Election Day is upon us. First off…VOTE. As many of you know, I am a victim of taxation without representation…I am a Massachusetts Republican. I actually consider myself a Libertarian more then a Republican, but there really is not a category for a middle American voter.
I am an issues voter, usually focused on low taxes; free trade and other “free economy” policies. Of course, in the last few elections, I have voted based on the candidates’ stance on the War of Terror. (See Orson Scott Card.) I don’t think Iraq is going badly RELATIVE to other wars and RELATIVE to the alternative of withdrawal. Further, I am not sure that there is an obvious answer to what it will take to win beyond “time.”
But, we have not had a successful attack on US soil since 2001. While I am more then happy to give bi-partisan credit for the efforts immediately after September 11th, my concern is that the Democrats have lost their will to win. Forgetting how we got here, we have no alternative, but to see it through. On this issue, the Democrats, led by its loudest voices (Kerry, Kennedy, Dean, Reid) are very clear where they stand: cut and run.
I am hopeful, if the Democrats take the Congress that grown-ups will start asserting leadership, but I am far more concerned that the Left will take the results as a confirmation that the US wants to bail on Iraq and retreat to its borders. That will be a mistake, and very probably a tragic one.
The terrorists have spoken...vote Democrat.
I am an issues voter, usually focused on low taxes; free trade and other “free economy” policies. Of course, in the last few elections, I have voted based on the candidates’ stance on the War of Terror. (See Orson Scott Card.) I don’t think Iraq is going badly RELATIVE to other wars and RELATIVE to the alternative of withdrawal. Further, I am not sure that there is an obvious answer to what it will take to win beyond “time.”
But, we have not had a successful attack on US soil since 2001. While I am more then happy to give bi-partisan credit for the efforts immediately after September 11th, my concern is that the Democrats have lost their will to win. Forgetting how we got here, we have no alternative, but to see it through. On this issue, the Democrats, led by its loudest voices (Kerry, Kennedy, Dean, Reid) are very clear where they stand: cut and run.
I am hopeful, if the Democrats take the Congress that grown-ups will start asserting leadership, but I am far more concerned that the Left will take the results as a confirmation that the US wants to bail on Iraq and retreat to its borders. That will be a mistake, and very probably a tragic one.
The terrorists have spoken...vote Democrat.
11.03.2006
Election 2006 Part IV
In 2000 (Gore, FL) and 2004 (Kerry, OH), the issue of voter fraud came up. The Democrats scream the loudest about the disenfranchisement of their constituencies, primarily the black vote. Unfortunately, many steps have been taken to try and correct this - most notably in the form of voter ID requirements. Oddly, not have passed because of the universal opposition...of the Democratic Party.
John Fund is very worried that we will not know the winners next Tuesday. Now comes word of indictments against ACORN for voter fraud.
Voter fraud is more common then the Legacy Media reports. It looks like it affected the Presidential vote in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2004 (making WI a Blue, not Red state) and the Washington state Governors race in 2004 also (giving the Democrat a victory). Notice the pattern? The perpetrators of fraud: Democratic operatives. There is a reason that the Democrats do not want voter ID laws - it would put a damper on coercive and fraudulent voting practices in the major cities. It is far better to contest an election in front of sympathetic, Democrat appointed judges.
There is vote tampering on both sides, but the only party that has been involved with wide-spread, systemic fraud on the state-wide or national level in the last 10 years are the Democrats.
John Fund is very worried that we will not know the winners next Tuesday. Now comes word of indictments against ACORN for voter fraud.
Voter fraud is more common then the Legacy Media reports. It looks like it affected the Presidential vote in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2004 (making WI a Blue, not Red state) and the Washington state Governors race in 2004 also (giving the Democrat a victory). Notice the pattern? The perpetrators of fraud: Democratic operatives. There is a reason that the Democrats do not want voter ID laws - it would put a damper on coercive and fraudulent voting practices in the major cities. It is far better to contest an election in front of sympathetic, Democrat appointed judges.
There is vote tampering on both sides, but the only party that has been involved with wide-spread, systemic fraud on the state-wide or national level in the last 10 years are the Democrats.
Quiz Answer
Okay, this is an educated guess, but I am going to say the House of Representatives.
The only reason is that moral turpitude of that magnitude can only remian quiet if you are powerful.
How did I do?
The only reason is that moral turpitude of that magnitude can only remian quiet if you are powerful.
How did I do?
11.02.2006
An old Quiz
Can you imagine working at the following Company? It has a little over 500 employees with the following statistics:
*29 have been accused of spousal abuse
*7 have been arrested for fraud
*19 have been accused of writing bad checks
*117 have bankrupted at least two businesses
*3 have been arrested for assault
*71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
*14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
*8 have been arrested for shoplifting
*21 are current defendants in lawsuits
*In 1998 alone, 84 were stopped for drunk driving
Can you guess which organization this is? Answer following Tilam's educated guess...
*29 have been accused of spousal abuse
*7 have been arrested for fraud
*19 have been accused of writing bad checks
*117 have bankrupted at least two businesses
*3 have been arrested for assault
*71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
*14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
*8 have been arrested for shoplifting
*21 are current defendants in lawsuits
*In 1998 alone, 84 were stopped for drunk driving
Can you guess which organization this is? Answer following Tilam's educated guess...
Election 2006 Part III
Kerry has finally issued one of those political non-apologies ("I am sorry if I was misinterpreted"). When will a politician just say, "I was wrong"?
The Right is still a little frosted at how this was handled. From IBD: "Kerry's gaffe revealed something important about the man and his party. The coverage, likewise, showed influential newspapers rooting for this story to die." See also Patterico's report on the New York Times' flat out misrepresentations.
Jim Geraghty gets taken to task. I suggest that Jim does not take Donald personally…I think you just got a glimpse of the Angry Right. There is a substantial number of members in the Angry Right, but my sense is that they differ from the Angry Left in that what stirs them up is the lack of an aggressive defense against their perception (mostly correct) that the playing field of public debate is stacked against them. So Rush get lambasted for what he supposedly meant, not what he said , while Kerry gets off for what he said he meant, not what he said. Follow that? On the other hand, the Angry Left is much more offensive (in both senses of the word).
Jim's commenter takes the attitude of Mario Loyola of NRO…put the Dems on the spot. Make them take a stand. Quite frankly, in 2006 I agree. The Democrats have made it a campaign mantra NOT to take a stand on anything but being anti-Bush. And Republicans have generally accepted that because they do not want to be perceived as being pro-Bush given the President’s weak poll numbers.
But the Republicans need to get the Democrats on the record: Do you agree with Senator Kerry? Do you favor immediate withdrawal? Do you favor immediate repeal of the Bush tax cuts? Do you favor addressing illegal immigrant in a manner that does not reward law breakers? Do you want to eliminate pork?
I would guess that many conservatives think the Conservative Establishment lacks the backbone to focus on the issues that have kept this country safe and the economy humming along. And sometimes being angry is a good thing.
The Right is still a little frosted at how this was handled. From IBD: "Kerry's gaffe revealed something important about the man and his party. The coverage, likewise, showed influential newspapers rooting for this story to die." See also Patterico's report on the New York Times' flat out misrepresentations.
Jim Geraghty gets taken to task. I suggest that Jim does not take Donald personally…I think you just got a glimpse of the Angry Right. There is a substantial number of members in the Angry Right, but my sense is that they differ from the Angry Left in that what stirs them up is the lack of an aggressive defense against their perception (mostly correct) that the playing field of public debate is stacked against them. So Rush get lambasted for what he supposedly meant, not what he said , while Kerry gets off for what he said he meant, not what he said. Follow that? On the other hand, the Angry Left is much more offensive (in both senses of the word).
Jim's commenter takes the attitude of Mario Loyola of NRO…put the Dems on the spot. Make them take a stand. Quite frankly, in 2006 I agree. The Democrats have made it a campaign mantra NOT to take a stand on anything but being anti-Bush. And Republicans have generally accepted that because they do not want to be perceived as being pro-Bush given the President’s weak poll numbers.
But the Republicans need to get the Democrats on the record: Do you agree with Senator Kerry? Do you favor immediate withdrawal? Do you favor immediate repeal of the Bush tax cuts? Do you favor addressing illegal immigrant in a manner that does not reward law breakers? Do you want to eliminate pork?
I would guess that many conservatives think the Conservative Establishment lacks the backbone to focus on the issues that have kept this country safe and the economy humming along. And sometimes being angry is a good thing.
11.01.2006
These people want to be our LEADERS?
Clearing, John Kerry is exhibiting Dan Quayle disease. For those of you who don't remember Danny-boy, he is the unmitigated MORON who apparently never checked what his speechwriters put on paper, and if he did, he wasn't smart enough to know the facts. This is a man who congratulated our first moon landing crew by identifying one of the men as "buzz lukins" instead of "buzz aldrin". Now, some of you might remember who Mr Lukins is, but for those of you who don't, he's a convicted CHILD MOLESTER who is serving a hefty prison sentence. Frikkin MORONS.
Kerry is trying to take his dig at the president, but as is the case all too often in politics, is SO INTENT on delivering his barb that he misfires. I agree with Tilam's suggestion as to the message he was trying to put forth, and I also agree that no matter how well the Dems are situated for next week, they seem really focused on completely fubar'ing it.
Of course, since he's an athletic man, Kerry believed that the best defense is a good offense, and so in his apology he takes all the Republicans to task, slamming them for insinuating his comment was an attack on the citizens and armed forces of the US...blah blah blah. Idiot. The White House is hilariously whacking him verbally, and they should - "look guys, are these the types of leaders you want moving this country forward?" If I were the Pres, I'd be pissing my pants laughing at him. Talk about serving up cheese for the White House to slam one over the wall. Oh, and maybe I missed it, but Kerry has NOT completely clarified what he really wanted to say, at least in the stuff I've read. Maybe a simple "hey guys, I meant to state this as a criticism of the President, but it came out as this, and I screwed it up, and I'm sorry." Never a dull moment with those guys...
It nice to see someone BESIDES Teddy Kennedy being a complete ass, though.
Comments and musings from the world of sports (as I tend to do):
NFL
- Pats/Colts this weekend. I might actually watch a game from start to finish on Sunday.
- Shawn Merriman is blaming a "tainted legal supplement" for his positive steroid test. PUHLEEZE. Think of a new excuse, will ya? Nandralone just doesn't worm it's way into a pill, sorry buddy.
- Speaking of the Chargers, they sure have a ton of guys who are getting to know the police this season: Steve Foley was convicted on 2 counts of DUI (a double minor in hockey) and shot THREE TIMES by a police officer who felt threatened, Terrance Kiel was arrested on FIVE felony drug counts in Sept (he only missed ONE GAME), Markus Curry was released after being arrested on domestic violence chargers (hehe, get it?), and Foley and Shaun Phillips were each arrested for scuffling with San Diego police in two separate incidents one week apart. And in my bigot comment of the week "hmm, they are all black, does that say anything to us?".
MLB
- Sheff, what the frikk are you doing? Gary Sheffield is making noise in the Yankee clubhouse, stating that he wants a 3 year deal if they are going to make him play first base, and that if the Yankees trade him he's going to be a dick to the new club. Boy, THAT's gonna get you a phat contract... Sorry Sheff, but with Abreu in the lineup, you're a benchwarmer. Don't make it any worse by becoming Terrell Owens.
- The Rocket is already starting his "will I play or will I retire" dance, but amazingly enough, Andy Pettite is following his lead. Talk about paying TOO much attention to your teacher.
NBA
- another season of (and I LOVE THIS) "who gives a shit about the NBA?".
- WAIT - we bid a fond farewell to Red Auerbach, who passed last week. Ever a character and a winner, we will miss him. I bet he's smoking a HUGE stogie in the great hoops gym in the sky, smiling as ever.
NHL
- The Flyers are getting dissed BIG TIME. No one wants to be their next GM, that's hilarious! Well, they suck so far this year, but still, it's the FLYERS! Talk about becoming a red-headed stepchild in the eyes of NHL executives.
- Speaking of sucking, a glarin gquestion is "will the Atlanta Thrashers wake up and smell the coffee of mediocrity like they've done each of the past 3 years, or is this a legitimate SE powerhouse?" Time will tell, but they are certainly playing quality (and as a former resident of Hotlanta, exciting) hockey. But we've seen the fast horse out of the gate before, followed by a miserable middle of the season, followed by some quality hockey at the end. So the jury is still out - but you heard it first hear, Carolina and Atlanta will finish 1-2 in the Southeast, and both will make the playoffs. WRITE IT DOWN.
- Another young hotshot named Staal is in the NHL - that is a hockey family that SHOULD someday be mentioned in the same chapter as the HOWE's and MILLER's and SUTTER's. All the kids (Eric, Jordan, and the other one who's name I forget) are quality players with a wealth of talent.
- Speaking of the Penguins, will they have the cash and intestinal fortitude to keep their money kids - Crosby, Fleury, Malkin, and now Staal - for the long term? That is a great nucleus around which to build a hockey team. Going to be interesting to see how this plays out in the next couple of years.
PGA
- Paddy Harrington (who's a great guy if there ever was one) won the Euro Order of Merit after Sergio (no last name needed) gaffed on the final hole with a bogey, allowing the Irishman to tie for second and win the title. Maybe someone should have told Sergio that Harrington was from the US and it was match play...
- On that note, condolences to Paul Casey, who developed food poisoning before the tournament and lost his Order of Merit lead by gamely playing sick all week but ultimately losing out on the title. NO truth to the rumors that Harrington cooked a meal for Casey the evening before the tournament began. :)
- Jason Zuback won the Long Drive championship for a record fifth time with a clout of 369 yards. A far cry from the days of 400+ yard winning spanks during his 4 year reign from '96-'99. Let's hear it for drug testing in the LDA!!
- Vijay Singh was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame (along with Larry Nelson, Henry Picard, Marilynn Smith, and Mark McCormack (of IMG fame)). Once again I ask the question - WHY? By the way, it takes 65% majority to get in, but since no one got over 50% in his election year, he got in because he was the highest and he got over 50% (a clause in the election process). What the hell is THAT? 65% is 65%, if he doesn't get the requirement, he SHOULDN'T be in. Not to mention that he's a dick and I don't like him.
Holey Canoli's, that's enough for now! Thew out...
Kerry is trying to take his dig at the president, but as is the case all too often in politics, is SO INTENT on delivering his barb that he misfires. I agree with Tilam's suggestion as to the message he was trying to put forth, and I also agree that no matter how well the Dems are situated for next week, they seem really focused on completely fubar'ing it.
Of course, since he's an athletic man, Kerry believed that the best defense is a good offense, and so in his apology he takes all the Republicans to task, slamming them for insinuating his comment was an attack on the citizens and armed forces of the US...blah blah blah. Idiot. The White House is hilariously whacking him verbally, and they should - "look guys, are these the types of leaders you want moving this country forward?" If I were the Pres, I'd be pissing my pants laughing at him. Talk about serving up cheese for the White House to slam one over the wall. Oh, and maybe I missed it, but Kerry has NOT completely clarified what he really wanted to say, at least in the stuff I've read. Maybe a simple "hey guys, I meant to state this as a criticism of the President, but it came out as this, and I screwed it up, and I'm sorry." Never a dull moment with those guys...
It nice to see someone BESIDES Teddy Kennedy being a complete ass, though.
Comments and musings from the world of sports (as I tend to do):
NFL
- Pats/Colts this weekend. I might actually watch a game from start to finish on Sunday.
- Shawn Merriman is blaming a "tainted legal supplement" for his positive steroid test. PUHLEEZE. Think of a new excuse, will ya? Nandralone just doesn't worm it's way into a pill, sorry buddy.
- Speaking of the Chargers, they sure have a ton of guys who are getting to know the police this season: Steve Foley was convicted on 2 counts of DUI (a double minor in hockey) and shot THREE TIMES by a police officer who felt threatened, Terrance Kiel was arrested on FIVE felony drug counts in Sept (he only missed ONE GAME), Markus Curry was released after being arrested on domestic violence chargers (hehe, get it?), and Foley and Shaun Phillips were each arrested for scuffling with San Diego police in two separate incidents one week apart. And in my bigot comment of the week "hmm, they are all black, does that say anything to us?".
MLB
- Sheff, what the frikk are you doing? Gary Sheffield is making noise in the Yankee clubhouse, stating that he wants a 3 year deal if they are going to make him play first base, and that if the Yankees trade him he's going to be a dick to the new club. Boy, THAT's gonna get you a phat contract... Sorry Sheff, but with Abreu in the lineup, you're a benchwarmer. Don't make it any worse by becoming Terrell Owens.
- The Rocket is already starting his "will I play or will I retire" dance, but amazingly enough, Andy Pettite is following his lead. Talk about paying TOO much attention to your teacher.
NBA
- another season of (and I LOVE THIS) "who gives a shit about the NBA?".
- WAIT - we bid a fond farewell to Red Auerbach, who passed last week. Ever a character and a winner, we will miss him. I bet he's smoking a HUGE stogie in the great hoops gym in the sky, smiling as ever.
NHL
- The Flyers are getting dissed BIG TIME. No one wants to be their next GM, that's hilarious! Well, they suck so far this year, but still, it's the FLYERS! Talk about becoming a red-headed stepchild in the eyes of NHL executives.
- Speaking of sucking, a glarin gquestion is "will the Atlanta Thrashers wake up and smell the coffee of mediocrity like they've done each of the past 3 years, or is this a legitimate SE powerhouse?" Time will tell, but they are certainly playing quality (and as a former resident of Hotlanta, exciting) hockey. But we've seen the fast horse out of the gate before, followed by a miserable middle of the season, followed by some quality hockey at the end. So the jury is still out - but you heard it first hear, Carolina and Atlanta will finish 1-2 in the Southeast, and both will make the playoffs. WRITE IT DOWN.
- Another young hotshot named Staal is in the NHL - that is a hockey family that SHOULD someday be mentioned in the same chapter as the HOWE's and MILLER's and SUTTER's. All the kids (Eric, Jordan, and the other one who's name I forget) are quality players with a wealth of talent.
- Speaking of the Penguins, will they have the cash and intestinal fortitude to keep their money kids - Crosby, Fleury, Malkin, and now Staal - for the long term? That is a great nucleus around which to build a hockey team. Going to be interesting to see how this plays out in the next couple of years.
PGA
- Paddy Harrington (who's a great guy if there ever was one) won the Euro Order of Merit after Sergio (no last name needed) gaffed on the final hole with a bogey, allowing the Irishman to tie for second and win the title. Maybe someone should have told Sergio that Harrington was from the US and it was match play...
- On that note, condolences to Paul Casey, who developed food poisoning before the tournament and lost his Order of Merit lead by gamely playing sick all week but ultimately losing out on the title. NO truth to the rumors that Harrington cooked a meal for Casey the evening before the tournament began. :)
- Jason Zuback won the Long Drive championship for a record fifth time with a clout of 369 yards. A far cry from the days of 400+ yard winning spanks during his 4 year reign from '96-'99. Let's hear it for drug testing in the LDA!!
- Vijay Singh was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame (along with Larry Nelson, Henry Picard, Marilynn Smith, and Mark McCormack (of IMG fame)). Once again I ask the question - WHY? By the way, it takes 65% majority to get in, but since no one got over 50% in his election year, he got in because he was the highest and he got over 50% (a clause in the election process). What the hell is THAT? 65% is 65%, if he doesn't get the requirement, he SHOULDN'T be in. Not to mention that he's a dick and I don't like him.
Holey Canoli's, that's enough for now! Thew out...
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