This has been a no news week as far as I concerned. Not much has been worthy of individual posts, so here is a flotsam and jetsam dump of various points of interest.
You know it is a slow news week when the three major stories of one day involve three different members of the palin family. Sarah claims she can beat Barack Obama in 2012. I like the prospect, but am not yet sold on the reality. Bristol is doing well on Dancing with the Stars and it is just killing progressives. Willow used a homophobic term on her Facebook page. Have any of her critics ever seen a typical internet flame war between teenager/ Compared to most, Willow sounded like a miffed Veggie Tales character.
Charles Rangel shed some crocodile tears while begging for mercy, claiming he may not live much longer. What a tawdry, blatantly manipulative move. It is further evidence of his low character. My advice--if he really is on his last leg, expel him from the House so he can spend his final days in blissful retirement away from our tax dollars.
If we could just racially profile like the Israelis do, we would not have to debate full body scanners or pat downs. But as long as we value political correctness over national security, we cannot whine much about what happens to our junk before boarding a plane. Sorry to depart from many of my civil libertarian brethren there. If it makes you feel any better, I only feel that way in general principle. I am confident these safety measures violate the Fourth Amendment.
jim DeMint is a gentleman, but I hope he does not make amends with Lisa Murkowski. not that he has any to make. Politics is a tough game, Princess Lisa. Deal with it.
There are journalists in the united Kingdom who sole job is to be a “royal watcher.” I thought there could not possibly be a more uselessly offensive career than a sports agent, but I was wrong. Royal watchers take the cake. How can they sleep at night knowing the oxygen they suck up could go to someone more important/
Speaking of sports agents, Dan Uggla’s landed him a spot as the new 2nd baseman for my beloved Atlanta Braves. The Florida Marlins could not afford to keep the power hitting, gold Glove winning, All Star. Or any other decent player, for that matter. Yet the team has been tweeting the arrival of its new players like they are all All Stars. Kind of pitiful, really. But I am happy to have Uggla as a Brave. The team’s power really petered out there at the end.
I cannot think of anything else interesting.
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
San Francisco Giants Win World Series
I was rooting for the Texas Rangers, but I have to acknowledge the San Francisco Giants were the better team.*Sniff* No more baseball until April....
Saturday, October 23, 2010
San Francisco Giants Win National League Championship
I confess this will be a short lived alliance. All I wanted was for a certain team from Pennsylvania to not make it to the World Series. My wish was rated. I have never heard a crowd of 60K+ go so quiet, so fast, as when Ryan Howard struck out lookig to end the game. I do enjoy watching the teams celebrate, no matter who they are. Baseball is such a great game.
The World Series match up is the Texas Rangers v. San Francisco Giants. We have a red state v. blue state, George W. Bush v. Nancy Pelosi contest brewing. I would be pulling for Texas regardless of politics, since they have never been to the World Series, but the cultural implications are fun to note.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Texas Rangers Earn First World Series Trip
That is right, New York Yankees. A $206,333,389 payroll will not buy you a trip to the World Series! It is almost enough salve to make up for Bobby Cox forced to retire without the Atlanta Braves earning a better shot at a world championship. Almost.How about Josh Hamilton for a redemption story? From hopeless drug addict to ALCS MVP. Read about how God lead him out of addiction here.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Ahmadinejad Attacks Paul the Octopus
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the famed eight legged world Cup prognosticator of spreading Western propaganda and superstition. He also said Paul the Octopus is a symbol of Western Decay and decadence.
I checked twice to make sure this article was not from The Onion before i posted. it is from The Telegraph.
It takes a special kid of crazy to think that having a little fun with an octopus randomly picking soccer teams to win is black magic or some such. Even if Paul did make better predictions than Alexi Lalas.
Should we have Paul predict the outcome of the Israeli bombing of Iranian nuclear sites next?
I checked twice to make sure this article was not from The Onion before i posted. it is from The Telegraph.
It takes a special kid of crazy to think that having a little fun with an octopus randomly picking soccer teams to win is black magic or some such. Even if Paul did make better predictions than Alexi Lalas.
Should we have Paul predict the outcome of the Israeli bombing of Iranian nuclear sites next?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Larissa Riquelme
Larissa Riquelme is a model from Paraguay who promised to run naked through the streets of the capitol, Asuncion, if the national team wo the World Cup. The team did not win in spite of the compelling motivation. It is difficult to believe the North Korean team got sent to the slave mines while these guys can go about their business. Do they not care about the consequences of their great failure?
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Gooooaaaallllll!!!!!
There wasa comment on my Six Reasons Americans Do Not Like Soccer to the effect of soccer is boring to watch, but fun to play. I am in no shape to give the game a real whirl, but the comment did prompt me to search for some way i could give the game a try online.
I found this game.
It is a simple game in which you can play an exhibition match from a bird’s eye view. You may choose from the 32 national teams which qualified for the 2010 World Cup, the time of the halves, and skill level. The direction arrows control your player. For passing, you press “A.” For shooting, press “S.” The computer automatically switches the player you control to the one closest to the ball.
While it is certainly not a very deep game, I have had fun with it . I can verify soccer is indeed more fun to play than watch. I am letting my personal prejudices get in the way, of course. There has been an added satisfaction to beating up on France and North Korea that I do not get from defeating, say, Mexico. The fact Mexico’s goalie has my number has nothing to do with it, either.
A few observations:
1. Shooting from an angle increase your chances of scoring. The goalie has an uncanny ability to dive in the correct direction when you take a shot straight at the goal.
2. Passing is frustrating because you do not get a large enough view of the field to see where the rest of your team is. The computer rarely has them in convenient spots.
3. Learn to zig zag down the field. The other team can steal the ball simply by crossing your path. Trust me, it gets irritating. On the hardest skill level, you will be more concerned with keeping the ball than actually scoring with it.
4. It may be my imagination, but the opposing team seems to get a second wind after the half. The majority of the scoring against me ha come I the second half. Could be dumb luck, but watch out for it. These foreign teams must determine they are not going to lose to the Americans.
If anyone has another game similar to this one to suggest, feel free to leaveacommet. If something out there has a little more strategy involved, I would like to try it.
I found this game.
It is a simple game in which you can play an exhibition match from a bird’s eye view. You may choose from the 32 national teams which qualified for the 2010 World Cup, the time of the halves, and skill level. The direction arrows control your player. For passing, you press “A.” For shooting, press “S.” The computer automatically switches the player you control to the one closest to the ball.
While it is certainly not a very deep game, I have had fun with it . I can verify soccer is indeed more fun to play than watch. I am letting my personal prejudices get in the way, of course. There has been an added satisfaction to beating up on France and North Korea that I do not get from defeating, say, Mexico. The fact Mexico’s goalie has my number has nothing to do with it, either.
A few observations:
1. Shooting from an angle increase your chances of scoring. The goalie has an uncanny ability to dive in the correct direction when you take a shot straight at the goal.
2. Passing is frustrating because you do not get a large enough view of the field to see where the rest of your team is. The computer rarely has them in convenient spots.
3. Learn to zig zag down the field. The other team can steal the ball simply by crossing your path. Trust me, it gets irritating. On the hardest skill level, you will be more concerned with keeping the ball than actually scoring with it.
4. It may be my imagination, but the opposing team seems to get a second wind after the half. The majority of the scoring against me ha come I the second half. Could be dumb luck, but watch out for it. These foreign teams must determine they are not going to lose to the Americans.
If anyone has another game similar to this one to suggest, feel free to leaveacommet. If something out there has a little more strategy involved, I would like to try it.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
George Steinbrenner (1930-2010)
The New York Yankees owner who lead the team to eleven pennants and seven world championships died of a massive heart attack this morning. He certainly made baseball interesting over the years.
It is poetic for him to pass away the day of the MLB All Star game.
Godspeed, Mr. Steinrenner.
It is poetic for him to pass away the day of the MLB All Star game.
Godspeed, Mr. Steinrenner.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Six Reasons Americans Do Not Like Soccer
I have kept an eye out for essays attempting to explain why the United States does not like soccer. They have been popping up on a regular basis since the American team was eliminated from the World Cup. Most essays have drawn the conclusion Americans hate losing to smaller countries if the author is being kind or that racist Americans do not like sports which the best players are foreigners of various shads of brown.
Both assessments are unfair. Granted, like George Patton told is men, Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser, there are better reasons for the American distaste for soccer. Observers appear too eaten up with political correctness or a blameAmerica first attitude to look at the issues honestly.
To begin with, it is unfair to single out the United States as the only country where soccer is not popular. India and Pakistan are far more interested in cricket. Russia is as into hockey as Canada. Basketball and ping pong attract more enthusiasm in China than does soccer. Even in parts of soccer crazed Latin America, the sport competes with baseball for hearts and minds. Soccer is ot exactly the worldwide phenomenon it is advertised to be.
Let us break down specific reasons why soccer is not popular in the united states.
First, it is socialist sport. Teams run back and forth for up to six miles a game, often with no one ever scoring. Soccer is a sport that rewards its players for nothing. The Spanish player who won the game against Germany earlier this week had not scored a goal since October 2009. How the heck was he even on the team? Apparently, it is that collectivist spirit that everyone contributes even when they do not. Oh, and the roving bands of hooligans destroy private property in a riot when it does not work out for them.
Teams can advance I the World Cup because of scoreless draws? That is just not natural. I blame the metric system, which is, of course, a communist plot.
Second, soccer is pot-colonial. There are two points here: tiny, third world countries gain victories over larger, wealthier nations, then go home to celebrate the victory as revenge for 200 years of oppression or countries like France import foreign soccer players from former colonies in order to build up their teams. Whichever the case, the united states does not relate.
Third, soccer is a sissy sport. So called “soccer moms” let their kids play it because it is a no contact sport where the score is rarely even kept for the youngest players and everyone gets a trophy. No one ha to feel like a loser because even if score was kept, it was probably atie game anyone. Americans think tie games are like kissing your sister on the lips. You are smooching a girl, but still…
In America, we want there to be a definite winner so badly, we like concepts such as sudden death overtime.
Woe be to anyone who does make contact with another player. He will collapse with pain as though he has been shot with a high powered rifle and roll on the ground in agony for…what? the chance to get hauled off on a stretcher in dramatic fashion or the bonus injury minutes that might be tacked unto the game? Why are those bonus minutes so magical? It reminds me of those kids I school who would make no effort in their regular work, then beg to eat a fried dog turd for extra credit. There is some magic in getting that elusive bonus.
Fourth, soccer is a defensive sport. One team scores and then plays keep away therest of the game. We have difficult time grasping exactly why a player will pass the ball to a certain teammate who is no where near the goal. In our minds, a player constantly tries to score when he has the ball. If he cannot score, he is trying. to pass the ball to someone who can. The object is to rack up as many points as possible.
Yes, there are some American sports in which running out the clock is a strategy. It is generally considered unpartisan-like behavior. We certainly do not hug every player on the team, the coaches, and the guy who mows the grass during every substitution in order to run the clock out.
Fifth, I do not think Americans readily understand a good kick can send soccer ball hurtling at 75 miles per hour towards someone’s head. It I easier to visualize what happens when a 280 lb defensive lineman knocks a quarterback down or a batter gets an 85 mph pitch right in the knee.
Finally, American do not get the penalty system. Yellow cards, red cards, what earns a penalty kick. It is difficult to keep track pg, particularly since there appears to be national bias in officiating.
Anyone else have insight?
Both assessments are unfair. Granted, like George Patton told is men, Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser, there are better reasons for the American distaste for soccer. Observers appear too eaten up with political correctness or a blameAmerica first attitude to look at the issues honestly.
To begin with, it is unfair to single out the United States as the only country where soccer is not popular. India and Pakistan are far more interested in cricket. Russia is as into hockey as Canada. Basketball and ping pong attract more enthusiasm in China than does soccer. Even in parts of soccer crazed Latin America, the sport competes with baseball for hearts and minds. Soccer is ot exactly the worldwide phenomenon it is advertised to be.
Let us break down specific reasons why soccer is not popular in the united states.
First, it is socialist sport. Teams run back and forth for up to six miles a game, often with no one ever scoring. Soccer is a sport that rewards its players for nothing. The Spanish player who won the game against Germany earlier this week had not scored a goal since October 2009. How the heck was he even on the team? Apparently, it is that collectivist spirit that everyone contributes even when they do not. Oh, and the roving bands of hooligans destroy private property in a riot when it does not work out for them.
Teams can advance I the World Cup because of scoreless draws? That is just not natural. I blame the metric system, which is, of course, a communist plot.
Second, soccer is pot-colonial. There are two points here: tiny, third world countries gain victories over larger, wealthier nations, then go home to celebrate the victory as revenge for 200 years of oppression or countries like France import foreign soccer players from former colonies in order to build up their teams. Whichever the case, the united states does not relate.
Third, soccer is a sissy sport. So called “soccer moms” let their kids play it because it is a no contact sport where the score is rarely even kept for the youngest players and everyone gets a trophy. No one ha to feel like a loser because even if score was kept, it was probably atie game anyone. Americans think tie games are like kissing your sister on the lips. You are smooching a girl, but still…
In America, we want there to be a definite winner so badly, we like concepts such as sudden death overtime.
Woe be to anyone who does make contact with another player. He will collapse with pain as though he has been shot with a high powered rifle and roll on the ground in agony for…what? the chance to get hauled off on a stretcher in dramatic fashion or the bonus injury minutes that might be tacked unto the game? Why are those bonus minutes so magical? It reminds me of those kids I school who would make no effort in their regular work, then beg to eat a fried dog turd for extra credit. There is some magic in getting that elusive bonus.
Fourth, soccer is a defensive sport. One team scores and then plays keep away therest of the game. We have difficult time grasping exactly why a player will pass the ball to a certain teammate who is no where near the goal. In our minds, a player constantly tries to score when he has the ball. If he cannot score, he is trying. to pass the ball to someone who can. The object is to rack up as many points as possible.
Yes, there are some American sports in which running out the clock is a strategy. It is generally considered unpartisan-like behavior. We certainly do not hug every player on the team, the coaches, and the guy who mows the grass during every substitution in order to run the clock out.
Fifth, I do not think Americans readily understand a good kick can send soccer ball hurtling at 75 miles per hour towards someone’s head. It I easier to visualize what happens when a 280 lb defensive lineman knocks a quarterback down or a batter gets an 85 mph pitch right in the knee.
Finally, American do not get the penalty system. Yellow cards, red cards, what earns a penalty kick. It is difficult to keep track pg, particularly since there appears to be national bias in officiating.
Anyone else have insight?
Friday, July 9, 2010
The LeBron James Obsession
I am not a basketball fan, so could someone explain to me what the leBron James fuss is all about?
Rom what I can tell, he was the star free agent available. He has spurned his hometown of Cleveland and at least $ 150 million in order to more likely win a championship in Miami. That sort of thin happens in professional sports quite often. Deion Sanders spent most of his career seeking out teams intwo sports that were likely to win it all.
What is so special about LeBron James that not only did the whole country speculate over his decision, he had a prime tie special in order to announce it?
Talk about ego. I do not see how so many sports media outlets can talk bout his selfless act of sacrificing money to molay for Miami at the same time he is insisting all eyes be on him, baby? Especially since up until a day ago, they were salivating over the scandals regarding James being sued by someone claiming to be his father and a former teammate allegedly sleeping with his mother?
Just to show some will tie anything into politics, there is speculation James took a pay cut out of fear taxes are going to be raised to confiscatory levels to manage Barack Obama’s spending spree. While I cannot say that is not a valid concern, it isstrage to tie tax policy in with the biggest sports story of the day.
I guess we do not have more important things to think about these days.
Rom what I can tell, he was the star free agent available. He has spurned his hometown of Cleveland and at least $ 150 million in order to more likely win a championship in Miami. That sort of thin happens in professional sports quite often. Deion Sanders spent most of his career seeking out teams intwo sports that were likely to win it all.
What is so special about LeBron James that not only did the whole country speculate over his decision, he had a prime tie special in order to announce it?
Talk about ego. I do not see how so many sports media outlets can talk bout his selfless act of sacrificing money to molay for Miami at the same time he is insisting all eyes be on him, baby? Especially since up until a day ago, they were salivating over the scandals regarding James being sued by someone claiming to be his father and a former teammate allegedly sleeping with his mother?
Just to show some will tie anything into politics, there is speculation James took a pay cut out of fear taxes are going to be raised to confiscatory levels to manage Barack Obama’s spending spree. While I cannot say that is not a valid concern, it isstrage to tie tax policy in with the biggest sports story of the day.
I guess we do not have more important things to think about these days.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
PETA Wants Paul the Octopus Freed
PETA is demanding Paul the Octopus, who has shot to worldwidefame by predicting World Cup winners, freed after hisslave labor services::BERLIN (AFP) – An octopus in Germany who has shot to fame by correctly predicting the outcome of the country’s World Cup matches should be set free, an animal rights group said on Friday.It is probably a moot point now that paul failed in his prediction that Germany would defeat Spain. He is on the verge of becoming calamari, I suspect.
“Paul has forecast that Germany will beat Argentina. In order that Paul too can celebrate on Saturday, and not just football fans, PETA Germany … is now asking for him to be set free.”
But I am also sure PETA has a point. After all that soft living in his comfy aquarium, Paul is bound to flourish in the harsh ocean, fending for himself and dodging larger predators. What could go wrong?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
My Gamecocks Win the College World Series
Congratulations to my alma mater, the University of South Carolina, for their win over UCLA.GO COCKS!!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
USA Advances to Second Round of the World Cup
As a top seeded team, no less.Landon Donovan scored the winning goal ofa rebound in the first minute of injury time to defeat Algeria 1-0 and nearly give me a coronary.
Seriously, I love our team, but they have got to get it together earlier in the game. my heart cannot take this last minute heroics. Especially when the referees are biased against Americans actually winning a game or three.
USA Advances to Second Round of the World Cup
As a top seeded team, no less.Landon Donovan scored the winning goal ofa rebound in the first minute of injury time to defeat Algeria 1-0 and nearly give me a coronary.
Seriously, I love our team, but they have got to get it together earlier in the game. my heart cannot take this last minute heroics. Especially when the referees are biased against Americans actually winning a game or three.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Olympic Mascots...From Hell
Meet Wenlock and Mandeville, mascots for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and the main characters in your nightmares for the next few nights. Yikes! These two look like something Rod Serling would have come up with to teach Burgess Meredith a life lesson.
Olympic Mascots...From Hell
Meet Wenlock and Mandeville, mascots for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and the main characters in your nightmares for the next few nights. Yikes! These two look like something Rod Serling would have come up with to teach Burgess Meredith a life lesson.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Tim Tebow Smeared as Racist by Boston Radio Host
Progressives have previously targeted the devoutly Christian, Heisman Trophy winning quarterback earlier this year when he appeared in a couple pro-life Super Bowl commercials with his mother. His mother was advised to abort Tebow because of medication she was taking at the time. She obviously refused and the Denver Broncos’ newest quarterback is doin quite well.
That would be enough to raise the ire of progressives who apparently believe abortion should be the first option in just about any pregnancy, but Tebow has been a target of much ridicule beyond that, mostly because of his devotion to Christ. He tries to leavea moral life overtly following Christ’s commands. That is completely unacceptable to today’s progressives.
But this comment takes thecake. Fred “Toucher” Toettche said Tebow's draft party was "lily-white" and looked like a Nazi rally. Such a comment is not only completely uncalled for, but totally illogical. There is absolutely nothing about Tebow that even hints at his being a racist. This is the typical, unreasoned progressive attack--if all else fails, call him a racist.
It is a terribly sad comment that is what our culture has degraded to. A fine person who happens to hold moral beliefs is subject to ridicule and false accusations having nothing to do with those beliefs. I am sorry to say it is only going to get worse for Tebow.
That would be enough to raise the ire of progressives who apparently believe abortion should be the first option in just about any pregnancy, but Tebow has been a target of much ridicule beyond that, mostly because of his devotion to Christ. He tries to leavea moral life overtly following Christ’s commands. That is completely unacceptable to today’s progressives.
But this comment takes thecake. Fred “Toucher” Toettche said Tebow's draft party was "lily-white" and looked like a Nazi rally. Such a comment is not only completely uncalled for, but totally illogical. There is absolutely nothing about Tebow that even hints at his being a racist. This is the typical, unreasoned progressive attack--if all else fails, call him a racist.
It is a terribly sad comment that is what our culture has degraded to. A fine person who happens to hold moral beliefs is subject to ridicule and false accusations having nothing to do with those beliefs. I am sorry to say it is only going to get worse for Tebow.
Tim Tebow Smeared as Racist by Boston Radio Host
Progressives have previously targeted the devoutly Christian, Heisman Trophy winning quarterback earlier this year when he appeared in a couple pro-life Super Bowl commercials with his mother. His mother was advised to abort Tebow because of medication she was taking at the time. She obviously refused and the Denver Broncos’ newest quarterback is doin quite well.
That would be enough to raise the ire of progressives who apparently believe abortion should be the first option in just about any pregnancy, but Tebow has been a target of much ridicule beyond that, mostly because of his devotion to Christ. He tries to leavea moral life overtly following Christ’s commands. That is completely unacceptable to today’s progressives.
But this comment takes thecake. Fred “Toucher” Toettche said Tebow's draft party was "lily-white" and looked like a Nazi rally. Such a comment is not only completely uncalled for, but totally illogical. There is absolutely nothing about Tebow that even hints at his being a racist. This is the typical, unreasoned progressive attack--if all else fails, call him a racist.
It is a terribly sad comment that is what our culture has degraded to. A fine person who happens to hold moral beliefs is subject to ridicule and false accusations having nothing to do with those beliefs. I am sorry to say it is only going to get worse for Tebow.
That would be enough to raise the ire of progressives who apparently believe abortion should be the first option in just about any pregnancy, but Tebow has been a target of much ridicule beyond that, mostly because of his devotion to Christ. He tries to leavea moral life overtly following Christ’s commands. That is completely unacceptable to today’s progressives.
But this comment takes thecake. Fred “Toucher” Toettche said Tebow's draft party was "lily-white" and looked like a Nazi rally. Such a comment is not only completely uncalled for, but totally illogical. There is absolutely nothing about Tebow that even hints at his being a racist. This is the typical, unreasoned progressive attack--if all else fails, call him a racist.
It is a terribly sad comment that is what our culture has degraded to. A fine person who happens to hold moral beliefs is subject to ridicule and false accusations having nothing to do with those beliefs. I am sorry to say it is only going to get worse for Tebow.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
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