Jon

Oh, it was definitely a flop. I don't think Kaita came within 6 inches. Nigeria had to feel great 45 minutes ago. Playing a poor Greek team and having the tie-breaker advantage over South Korea.

What on earth... Trying to kick people is often a bad idea. Nigeria just went from having a great chance to advance to being on shaky ground now that they're down to 10.

I don't know how the Nigerian player had the presence of mind to let that free kick go through. Also, I love the name Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

Bah. So much for this one. Nice first save by the keeper. But when is Messi going to find the back of the net?

EA Sports apparently put up 2010 college football uniforms (they've since taken it down). But you can check some of them out here: http://boards.sportslogos.net/index.php?showtopic=72540&st=260 Just note that some colors got messed up. Here's Northwestern's new home uniform, which was previously leaked a few months ago but never confirmed: A lot of things right, but I dislike having any black. However, it's about damn time we went back to Northwestern striping. And I'm glad we're finally kissing USC stripes goodbye. Of particular note, though, is that UCLA might be switching to navy. A poster on there supposedly confirmed with an NCAA '11 producer that they're switching from light blue. I don't like that move.

Izzo is staying at Michigan State.

A draw would've been nice. Brazil can't just sleepwalk for the next 2 weeks. By the way, I more strongly object to the wave than I do the vuvuzelas.

well, right now KU has given the local broadcast rights to hoops games to JTV (Jayhawk TV). It's part of ESPN plus. I believe we make a lot of money off it. I think it will take time for each school to really understand the impact of the FSN proposal (and any others out there). They have to understand it beyond the upfront figure.

Honestly, I have no idea, but if I was in your position, I'd be a little scared. It seems like the remaining schools in the conference are just signing everything over to Texas and FSN for a fixedyment with limited potential for any growth over the next 20 years (not that the conference will survive for that long). A successful television network in Kansas might work, but I don't know what rights FSN would have over that. Nor do I know what the odds are of a Kansas network in the state of Kansas bringing in much money.

The bolded is pretty significant.

US vs. Italy in 2006, which was also played on a Saturday, drew lower ratings than US vs. England this past weekend. I just can't find by how much. I haven't seen online viewership counted anywhere yet, both for ESPN3 and Univision.com.

I've seen a couple of references to there not being a penalty in this new agreement going forward, but I haven't seen it from a semi-reliable source.

These are seemingly the most accurate updated numbers I could find: So 16.8 million watched Saturday's match between the US and England.

It might only take a year until the other schools in the conference really start to rethink whether they'd have been better off taking their chances with a conference collapse.

Uhh... He also said that Nebraska and Colorado were wise to get out when they could. We'll see what kind of rules are put in place to prevent other schools from bolting, but I agree with him.

Joe Schad says that Texas Tech is that last holdout to formally commit to the conference, but that's expected today.

Man. Both of those balls in stoppage time need to be put on goal. Some great chances to put Portugal away.

Sadly, I'm on a call and can only watch this half.

New Zealand stuns Slovakia with less than a minute to go in stoppage time to equalize. What a fantastic desperation cross.

PBC is saying that the Big Ten believes that neither Texas nor A&M are out of play yet and that this isn't over.

Even when the conference is threatened (which hasn't happened yet)? The Big East isn't going to push Notre Dame out of the conference if they don't join in football, but they need a plan if/when the conference gets raided. Knowing how Notre Dame will act is an important part of that plan. I think they know how ND will react. Swarbrick has been in discussions with the BE during this whole thing. ND's 2 goals have been remaining independent and keeping the Big East afloat. But if the BE says "all or nothing," I think ND walks away pretty quickly. Whether that's to the Big Ten, the ACC, or what, I don't know. But the BE knows they don't get ND for football under any scenario, so keeping the ND brand for all other sports is worth it to them. Right, but how threatened will the Big East/Notre Dame non-revenue sports have to be before football independence no longer becomes the priority? There's a gray area in there where Notre Dame may be the final straw the Big East's collapse instead of move elsewhere simply as a reaction to it.

Primarily from subscription fees. Currently it's $0.70 per household within Big Ten states and $0.10 outside.

Even when the conference is threatened (which hasn't happened yet)? The Big East isn't going to push Notre Dame out of the conference if they don't join in football, but they need a plan if/when the conference gets raided. Knowing how Notre Dame will act is an important part of that plan.

I don't think it wastes it. The Nebraska and Colorado moves were necessary to put things in motion. If The Big 12 stays together, there really wasn't much more they could do to attract Notre Dame aside from going after 2 Big East schools. But that carries a big risk. They didn't want to be the ones to destabilize the eastern conferences alone. It required the SEC's help. This would just be phase 1. Phase 2 comes in a couple of years or so and Notre Dame shouldn't be less of a possibility then than it was a month ago. If anything, I think the discussions/negotiations the Big Ten has had with Notre Dame during this time will help set things up later. Are you assuming that ND football is worse or at least no better in the next 2-3 years? Neither. I think Big East rule stating that if 2 football schools leave the conference, then the league can split between football and non-football schools without penalty while still retaining revenues. As Frank the Tank alluded to, the conference is going to be on edge of other things around the country add to the likelihood that Big East schools are targets for other conferences. The implications for Notre Dame, particularly around non-revenue sports, aren't going away. And the longer expansion talk lasts, the more likely it is that the Big East is going to want to know where Notre Dame stands.