soccer10k

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.

Nope: I would love to know who called and what they said. Wow, that doesn't sound like Ozzie at all.

Astros 1 Cubs -3

Has to be Liriano.

Um, what big man doesn't have holes in their game? Very talented Big Men are a rarity, then trying to find one with an offensive and defensive game is almost near impossible. Big Ben is a game changer on the defensive end, and that addresses a huge need for the Bulls. Yes, he doesn't provide the post offense the Bulls are desiring, but the offseason is young and if reports are correct, Chandler will be shipped soon for that additional help. Having a guy that's never scored more than 10 ppg in a season (last year at 7.3) and has never shot better than 50% from the free throw line (last year at 41.6%) is a big time weakness. So is every other overpaid big man in this FA crop. Why spend a few million dollars less for a far inferior play? I realize that centers are overpaid. And I'm not trying to say that Ben Wallace wasn't worth the money. I'm just saying that Ben Wallace isn't the savior that he's being built up to be. Is he a good player? Yes. But is he a superstar? No. That's my main point.

Um, what big man doesn't have holes in their game? Very talented Big Men are a rarity, then trying to find one with an offensive and defensive game is almost near impossible. Big Ben is a game changer on the defensive end, and that addresses a huge need for the Bulls. Yes, he doesn't provide the post offense the Bulls are desiring, but the offseason is young and if reports are correct, Chandler will be shipped soon for that additional help. Having a guy that's never scored more than 10 ppg in a season (last year at 7.3) and has never shot better than 50% from the free throw line (last year at 41.6%) is a big time weakness.

Notre Dame's 1st 2 games were Pittsburgh and Michigan. Pittsburgh's first game was against Notre Dame and Michigan's second game was against Notre Dame. After those first two victories Notre Dame was sitting at #10 in the AP poll and #12 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The damage had been done, so to speak, after Notre Dame's first two games. Pittsburgh couldn't exactly schedule anybody else before that and Michigan only had one game. Do you want those teams to play preseason games so we know how good they are before they play Notre Dame? Because that's the only way to know how good your opponents in the first couple weeks are. The fact is that voters place their votes based on how highly an opponent is ranked at the time of game and completely ignore how the opponent played the rest of the season. Notre Dame received props for beating Michigan and that victory was constantly brought up even though Michigan turned out to be a mediocre team. Notre Dame's ranking should have been reflected by Pittsburgh and Michigan sucking, but it's not. Now with the teams in the later weeks, you make an excellent point but for the first couple weeks you can't know how good your opponent is going to be. And this works both ways. If Team B isn't ranked at the beginning of the year and Team A beats them, Team A probably doesn't get much mention for the victory. But if Team B rattles off victory after victory and ends the year 9-2 or 10-2, then Team A's ranking should increase (assuming they have a good record as well) later in the year because of this victory as well.

Don't forget his awesome free throw shooting. Yeah, and his rebounding and defense too. Obviously the Bulls didn't sign him for the hope that he would put up 20-25 ppg. I'm just pointing out that the guy has a couple big time weaknesses. *shrugs* Worked pretty good for the Pistons on that Championship run. I didn't see anyone complaining about Ben's scoring back then. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a good sign for the Bulls. I think it will definately help the Bulls. But I'm not sure it's going to put them over the top and I don't think it's as big of a move as some people might think. But like I said, it will help the Bulls.

I liked it but I feel it got more pub than it should have because he was bleeding. It made him look more heroic.

Don't forget his awesome free throw shooting. Yeah, and his rebounding and defense too. Obviously the Bulls didn't sign him for the hope that he would put up 20-25 ppg. I'm just pointing out that the guy has a couple big time weaknesses.

Don't forget his awesome free throw shooting.

Cobs lose. Woot.

At least Corey didn't take a walk. He would have just been clogging the bases and you know that's not good.

Losing tends to do that, especially when we had several chances early on and did nothing with them. There were a decent number of posts at the beginning because Marmol was pitching, but I see your point.