It's Here!

[trilingual]

RE: REFLECTIONS IN A CUP - Reading the tea leaves

 

Gosh, what's not to like about soccer? Fast moving, played by great looking guys with thunder thighs and great asses, in cute unpadded shorts. . .

 

As for the "but the scores are low" moaners: Explain baseball's popularity, then, especially considering that it's slow-moving. Or hockey's, which is basically soccer played on ice. Join the world, guys, and enjoy!!!

 

Back to the thrilling Brazil-Japan game, currently tied 1-1. . .

[trilingual]

RE: REFLECTIONS IN A CUP - Reading the tea leaves

 

And just a few minutes later it's 3-1 for Brazil! With some brilliant playing!

[+ deej]

RE: REFLECTIONS IN A CUP - Reading the tea leaves

 

>Explain baseball's popularity, then,

 

Beer. }(

 

>especially considering that it's slow-moving.

 

A few years ago, one of my clients had the senior staff from their European, Asian, and LatAm offices in for a week of meetings. As a team building event, they took everyone to a baseball game (representing something typically American).

 

The next day, everyone was raving about how exciting it was. I had to check the news to find out why: the score was something like 17-12. It was one of those games where there's something exciting going on with every at-bat. It was a Cubs game. :+

 

I didn't have the heart to tell them they didn't see a typical game.

[Guest ReturnOfS]

I saw the US lose to Ghana. Oh well

 

I bet that we'd kick their asses in REAL American football though! }( LOL

[+ ArVaGuy]

Damn The French!!!

 

France beat Brazil 1-0 today.

 

Oh well, at least Portugal beat England 3-1.

 

 

 

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c262/cpapa8162/World%20Cup%202006/DamntheFrench.jpg

[trilingual]

RE: Damn The French!!!

 

Even though Brazil lost, the game today was a pretty even match and thrilling to watch. Luck, of course, always has a role in a game, and this time it ran in France's favor as far as making goals. But Brazil played fast, hard and aggressively, and by any but the most perfectionist lights has nothing to be ashamed of about this game. The French team's playing was every bit as exciting this time as Brazil's, and there were endless heart-stopping attempts at scoring by Brazil that were only foiled at the last minute. The eye-candy quotient of both teams was high, too. Who could ask for anything more? The semi-final and final games should be terrific, too. This year, all the teams to make this level are exceptionally good; any one could be a champion. And non-believers to the contrary, it is one beautiful game!

[Guest]

RE: Damn The French!!!

 

>France beat Brazil 1-0 today.

>

>Oh well, at least Portugal beat England 3-1.

>

Actually, Portugal beat England 0-0. It's sad to see people getting excited over a game won by penalty kicks (I found out by watching BBC America's news). One goal in two whole games. What an utterly meaningless sport. They should either enlargen the goal area, or skip the main games and just have a penalty kick contest. Or better yet, just draw straws. "3-1": what balderdash. At least BBC America was honest and said "Portugal-England: 0-0 (Portugal wins 3-1 penalty kicks)." (Of course, I don't know how they usually report soccer scores--pehaps it was just sour grapes)

[trilingual]

RE: Damn The French!!!

 

Oh, some grapes were definitely sour! But so far nobody seems to have come up with a better solution to a tied game in the finals. But I do get tired of the moaning about low scoring. Americans tolerate the same thing in baseball, which is also slow-moving, and in hockey, which is basically football on ice.

[jivau3930]

I guess I got the expanded version. I watched the hard-assed guys run around for 90 minutes (two 45 minute halves) NOT 60 minutes. Sorry Tri - just had to correct you in public!!

[+ ArVaGuy]

I would have preferred to see an Italy - Brazil match up but now I will have no divided loyalties. Viva Italia!!

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991632.stm

[trilingual]

>Sorry Tri - just had to correct you in public!!

 

Correction graciously accepted. You're right -- the two halves of the game are 45 minutes.

[VaHawk]

Just END IT soon??? God, what a bore to the majority of Americans!

 

Now regale me with all the tired old arguments about feet and futbol vs football, ugly Americans, camaraderie and all the other tired old bs.

 

Thank God, it only comes every four years, like the Olympics.

 

Outside of the Olympics, is there any sporting event or for that matter any event in any venue, that is as divisive to global family as this flag waving, brow-beating, violent, hatred spewing fiasco??

[jackhammer91406]

RE: REFLECTIONS IN A CUP - Reading the tea leaves

 

A few observations now that the Cup is finished.

 

At the start of the final game today, I noticed that all of the Italian players sang joyously as their national anthem was played. Only one of the members of the French team sang his anthem. It doesn't signify anything I suppose, but I did note it.

 

Second, what a terrible way to exit the world stage and finish a career. Zidane, instead of being remembered as the great player he has been, will forever be remembered for a very cheap foul and what has to be one of the worst example of sportsmanship I have ever seen. People will counter that he was tired and lost his cool, but that's not enough of a reason to take such a cheap shot.

 

In spite of that , I loved the sportsmanship evidenced throughout the games and really look forward to my next Cup.

[Samai139]

Way ahead of you--see my post of June 10th. But I'm glad someone else caught his error.

Bravo ITALIA---they may not be the BEST team, but they came through when it counted and shame on Zidane--not the way to "retire."

[trilingual]

Ah, Hawk checks in from his alternate universe on Planet TrailerPark IV. Here on Planet Earth, the World Cup and the Olympics are occasions for feelilng good and for different peoples to come together. Anyone who's ever attended one in person understands the feelings of camaraderie and funat these events. Yes, there's national pride, too, but it rarely gets in the way of everyone having a good time.

 

This was a great World Cup as far as I'm concerned. Good games, well-matched teams and the best made it to the top. Only one can win, of course, but the level of play was excellent and there were lots of thrills as well as eye candy. But now its over and Hawk can grump away back on TP IV!

[VaHawk]

Ah, tri checks in from his alternate universe Planet Cheap Big Brazil Dick to post a reply, one which as usual, would be valid if not for the stereotyped slurs.

 

I haven't seen anything in your post that disputes the point I made. So now that you have done your usual, you can slurp away back to TP CBBD!

[Guest alanm]

Anyone who's ever attended one in

>person understands the feelings of camaraderie and funat these

>events. Yes, there's national pride, too, but it rarely gets

>in the way of everyone having a good time.

 

Absolutely true. I did not get to attend any of the matches, but was staying in Amsterdam for most of the first week of play. The sports bars were always full with four or five large screen plasma TV allowing people to wander around and not miss a moment. The Netherlands won on the first Sunday afternoon. The entire city was one big party that night, specially in Vondelpark.

 

Thanks to all the people here who posted positively about the World Cup. You helped keep my enthusiasm high. I watched about 75% of the matches on TV, a much higher rate than previous years.

 

I can not wait for 2010.

[Funseeker 22]

Loved the whole event but so sorry to see Zidane make such a bad judgement decision that will be forever remembered in future soccer events. Even the French Press ripped him a new one.

[Guest]

>This was a great World Cup as far as I'm concerned.

 

Game after game "won" on 0-0 or 1-1 scores. It's the most pathetic thing on the planet. The adjectives absurd and ridiculous also come to mind. The current game is preposterous. Any imbecile can see that they need to make the goals bigger. Anybody who finds the current game interesting has been hit in the head too often by soccer cleats or balls. I apologize for being so blunt, but there's nothing on this planet I find more meaningless than the scores in this World Cup.

[Samai139]

If you are into looking at football (soccer) players and other athletes, you might want to check out:

http://www.nakedsportsmen.com

[Guest]

I realize I was a little harsh in my statement there, but yesterday's newspaper stated that the French team "dominated the entire game." Of course, I didn't watch the game, but if that statement's true, it certainly underscores something seriously wrong with the scoring system of this game.