soccer10k

The next time the Cubs will be .500 is when they are 0-0 in 2007. And that's technically even .500.

I'm surprised Tavarez didn't try to run all the way home on that one considering Pierre was throwing the ball. He probably would have beat the throw.

Haven't seen this before.

2 OUTS!!!!!!!!! Neifi's strikeout counts double.

Me too. I'm thinking there will be little if any changes until someone higher on the food chain fires Hendry. Jimbo has lost all sense of reality---he's stuck in a corner ruled by his own ego, unable to accept that his plain is a grade A failure. He's not changing anything. Me 3. These people have an odd way of running a team. Count me in with this as well. I still don't see Dusty being fired. The best I can hope for is for no extension but I don't think that Hendry realizes that Dusty isn't the right person for this job.

Hopefully Dempster. The Cubs get the victory and help my prediction that they will score less than 15 runs this week.

This thread is on fire right now.

Getting close to 100000 total posts in Game Threads.

I never get tired of listening to Pink Floyd.

17 to 1 in favor of Zeppelin. No surprise here.

Gotta be Megadeth.

mmm...beer. Good idea.

I can't bring myself to pull for France so I'm going for Italy. It should be a great game as both are very talented defensively.

Yeah, and the very vet. ref who accidentally allowed the guy to have 3 yellows retired after the mistake, a mistake that really didn't effect the outcome of the game, but this jerk is still around. It doesn't matter if it affects the outcome of the game or not. Allowing a player to continue to be on the field after receiving two yellow cards is a big time mistake. Maybe the USA ties Italy anyway if those two red cards aren't handed out. Fact is, nobody knows what would have happened in that match. Giving a player three yellow cards in one game is just as bad, if not worse than the two red cards because there is no debate. He got two yellows and should have been out of the match. While I don't agree with the calls, I can see how Mastroeni's tackle could have been misinterpreted and been red card worthy as was Pope's second yellow card. Again, I don't agree with the cards, but I see how they could happen. Three yellows to one player in one game is completely uncalled for. That's why FIFA made that decision.

Good call by the referee on the penalty kick. France has looked better but Portugal has had their chances and just need to capitalize. Hopefully the second half will be just as entertaining as the first.

Eh. Klinsmann isn't a great coach. Better than Arena? Yes. But he did what he was expected to do - get Germany to the World Cup finals. Sure they looked good, but they couldn't take a minute off because they were playing at home. Anything less than being in the final 4 would have been a huge disappointment. It's not exactly shocking to bring a team like Germany to the semifinals especially considering they were playing at home. I'm not saying Klinsmann isn't a good coach, I'm just saying that he isn't necessarily the savior for US soccer. Considering how pedestrian a team Germany looked coming in, I'd say Klinsi did a heck of a job getting them that far. They played in a weak group and were expected to win their group. Then in the round of 16, they were going to play somebody from Group B, which was also a weak group. Anything less than a quarterfinal berth would have been a huge disappointment. Then you factor in that they are playing at home and you are expected to go further. Beating Italy would have been spectacular and would have made a statement for Klinsmann as a coach. But that didn't happen.

I had trouble following it. I didn't even understand what he was talking about. He basically said that this isn't a good deal unless the Bulls get somebody to score 15ppg to replace Tyson Chandler.

So then you can have two offensively challenged players on the court at the same time? I realize that Oden isn't as bad as Wallace but he's been built up much more for his defensive ability than offensive. Oden definately needs to put in a ton of work in that part of his game. Not saying that Oden can't play offense and will never be good offensively, but he does need to show a huge improvement to be a star in the NBA. How much have you seen Oden play? The way you are talking, I'm assuming you've scouted him pretty extensively. Yes I have seen Oden play a couple times and have read about him as well. The guy is seven feet tall and should be absolutely dominant at the high school level seeing as he usually posts up just a few feet from the basket and was being guarded by guys 6 inches shorter than him. Again, I'm not saying that he won't be a great NBA player, but annointing him as the next great star in the NBA is foolish. From what I've read in scouting reports, his post moves are lacking - but I think some time at OSU (even with the wrist injury, he should get a few good months) will help him there. Either way, I'd prefer to draft him over Kevin Durant and Joakim Noah. I agree that you have to draft him if you have the chance to like the Bulls might next year, but annointing him as a surefire NBA star is wrong.

So then you can have two offensively challenged players on the court at the same time? I realize that Oden isn't as bad as Wallace but he's been built up much more for his defensive ability than offensive. Oden definately needs to put in a ton of work in that part of his game. Not saying that Oden can't play offense and will never be good offensively, but he does need to show a huge improvement to be a star in the NBA. How much have you seen Oden play? The way you are talking, I'm assuming you've scouted him pretty extensively. Yes I have seen Oden play a couple times and have read about him as well. The guy is seven feet tall and should be absolutely dominant at the high school level seeing as he usually posts up just a few feet from the basket and was being guarded by guys 6 inches shorter than him. Again, I'm not saying that he won't be a great NBA player, but annointing him as the next great star in the NBA is foolish.

I've said it before but here goes again. One positive in signing Zito is that his ERA is likely to decrease coming from the AL to the NL. I'm not saying he's going to be great but one must factor that in as well. I don't know if he'll be worth it for the money he's going to command.

Highly unlikely.

So then you can have two offensively challenged players on the court at the same time? I realize that Oden isn't as bad as Wallace but he's been built up much more for his defensive ability than offensive. Oden definately needs to put in a ton of work in that part of his game. Not saying that Oden can't play offense and will never be good offensively, but he does need to show a huge improvement to be a star in the NBA.

Eh. Klinsmann isn't a great coach. Better than Arena? Yes. But he did what he was expected to do - get Germany to the World Cup finals. Sure they looked good, but they couldn't take a minute off because they were playing at home. Anything less than being in the final 4 would have been a huge disappointment. It's not exactly shocking to bring a team like Germany to the semifinals especially considering they were playing at home. I'm not saying Klinsmann isn't a good coach, I'm just saying that he isn't necessarily the savior for US soccer.

Brazil's offense hasn't looked very good the whole tournament so it isn't just France shutting them down. Ghana took it to Brazil as well but got unlucky with the goals. The only goal Italy has given up has been the own goal against the USA and has the best defense in the tournament. Say what you want about the Italians and the flopping but the fact is that they are unbelievable defensively and shut down an explosive German team today. I'm not saying that Italy would beat France if they played but I definately think they could. It surely wouldn't be a one-sided affair.

Italy flat out shut down the German offense. There is no other way to put it. Klose did absolutely nothing today and I'm sure it was because the Italians made it a point to shut him down. Another impressive defensive performance by Italy. On that note, early in the first half Marcelo Balboa questioned the Italy defense and said they looked shaky. Are you kidding me? Of all the teams that he could have picked to question their defense, Balboa picks Italy. Unbelievable. Fire him now ESPN. Please.