11/21/24
June 23, 2006
World Cup Confidence Pool: has completed the group stages. Half the teams are gone. Mr Frisby has lead - a position he has made his own, by a slim margin, most of the way so far. Check the standings.
As the tournament progresses, quality will out. I have moved from 32nd to 6th in a week. However I had Ukraine and Ivory Coast as dark horses to make the quarters - so perhaps this won't last. And good to see the FIFA rankings where they belong.
posted by owlhouse at 05:03 PM on June 23, 2006
Ukraine is playing Switzerland in the first round. They're still a good dark horse. A lot better than Iran and Tunisia.
posted by qbert72 at 05:08 PM on June 23, 2006
And to think I once was in the lead.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 08:07 PM on June 23, 2006
Let's go Ecuador! Let's go Portugal!
posted by MrFrisby at 08:21 PM on June 23, 2006
Let's fuck everyone!
posted by Samsonov14 at 09:55 PM on June 23, 2006
Well, this is depressing. I am mathematically eliminated from winning the pool already (based on the remaining teams and playoff matchups now and in the future).
posted by grum@work at 10:49 PM on June 23, 2006
And you're number 11...
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 04:46 AM on June 24, 2006
Resolutely mid-table for me. Cote d'Ivoire and the Czechs have let me down badly.
posted by afx237vi at 08:27 AM on June 24, 2006
I'm lurking, ready to make a late run. Or, more likely, ready to lethargically hang about where I am now. In the meantime, I bumped into an awesome world cup site. Click a game... click the spinning ball... watch the goal. I would have made a front page post out of it, but I stole the link from MeFi.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:02 AM on June 24, 2006
Especially nice, because it updates quickly. Germany's two goals are already on the site and it's only just halftime in the game.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:08 AM on June 24, 2006
And to continue this conversation with myself, the Mexico own goal to make it 1-1 in today's game was up on the site within 60 seconds.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 02:17 PM on June 24, 2006
Sorry, Mr. B - I was out watching the matches at the Mexican pizza joint on the corner. That site is amazing.
posted by chicobangs at 05:16 PM on June 24, 2006
Shall I stick it out front, or do all the football folk find the locker room? I know the locker's cloaking device seems to keep the "soccor SUX!!!11" asshats out, but I don't know how it works on everyone else.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 05:59 PM on June 24, 2006
Germany made Sweden look like Latvia. I think that makes England Luxembourg, but the math is complicated.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 07:27 PM on June 24, 2006
Don't mention Latvia - I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 07:32 PM on June 24, 2006
And Mexico made Argentina look like Angola. Or something. I think a very ordinary team will win this World Cup. Which gives England hope.
posted by owlhouse at 08:24 PM on June 24, 2006
Ak! I'm in 2nd place. Samsonov, get up! You're sitting in my chair.
posted by MrFrisby at 08:53 PM on June 24, 2006
Goddamn you fritsy! What are you doing in second place? Stupid sammy.
posted by NoMich at 01:11 AM on June 25, 2006
Shit. I haven't moved up any since I went to bed. I'm determined to finish in the top 20 after scraping bottom the first two sets of games.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 09:48 AM on June 25, 2006
MrB, great find on the link and I think most footie fans will make their way here. Love seeing that winner from Maximiliano yesterday...Shaaaaaa...what a f*cking goal.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 09:52 AM on June 25, 2006
Incredible goal, yes. Thanks to Mr B for allowing me to see it so quickly.
posted by qbert72 at 10:33 AM on June 25, 2006
And can any more be said about Argentina than the three subs they put on yesterday? Aimar, Tevez, Messi. For chrissakes.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 01:51 PM on June 25, 2006
Not as nice as Mr. B's link because: 1. In German 2. Slower than Death 3. Virtual but I present you with this [via]
posted by yerfatma at 02:38 PM on June 25, 2006
I've decided if I can remain even with billsaythis I can call myself successful. After all, he seems to know a lot more about this stuff then me.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:43 AM on June 26, 2006
Im sitting pretty in 42nd place (out of 46, geez). Seems I really "srcewed the pooch" in this tourny. My only redemption is my 32, 31, and 30th pics are still in it. As long as I finish ahead of the FIFA rankings Ill be happy. Thank you Lord for small victories
posted by Folkways at 10:01 AM on June 26, 2006
At least I'm still have a chance to beat both the FIFA and ELO ratings. (I was beating ELO before this morning at least).
posted by trox at 04:03 PM on June 26, 2006
So, if the FIFA Rankings come in last, and I'm second-to-last, I get the fool's gold, right? I mean, I'm not sucking this bad just to lose the cherished Costanza to some nameless, faceless futbol entity who's not even a member! /flops on ground, grabs ankle in pain, screams.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 05:57 PM on June 26, 2006
/throws up arms in protest, looks at ref to plead case of not touching T_B_H, despite cleat marks on his ankle. "He had it coming."
posted by grum@work at 07:56 PM on June 26, 2006
/Gives Grum three yellow cards.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 07:10 AM on June 27, 2006
Yellow + yellow = red Red + yellow = ? Purple? Salmon?
posted by grum@work at 11:13 AM on June 27, 2006
Oh grum, you have really disappointed me. I guess you must have skipped art class. The primary colors are: Red, Yellow, and Blue. Red + Yellow = Orange Red + Blue = Purple Yellow + Blue = Green I know, it's confusing since the settings on your monitor are red, blue, and green.
posted by MrFrisby at 11:23 AM on June 27, 2006
I know, it's confusing since the settings on your monitor are red, blue, and green. That's because your monitor is mixing light, not paint. Red + Green = Yellow Red + Blue = Magenta Blue + Green = Cyan Red + Green + Blue = White This is called the "additive color system," while MrFrisby's is the "subtractive color system." I'm not sure which system soccer uses, but if they use the additive system, then a yellow card is a red card plus a green card. Which means you are out of the game, but you can stay in the country.
posted by BullpenPro at 12:03 PM on June 27, 2006
But Mr Frisby, your equations are valid for subtractive colour systems (like mixing paint) whereas grum's monitor is an additive colour system. Bullpenpro is so much cleverer. Drat.
posted by Amateur at 12:10 PM on June 27, 2006
Ah, thanks guys. I always wondered why there was a difference. That explains why I was having a problem customizing colors.
posted by MrFrisby at 12:24 PM on June 27, 2006
Oh, and sorry for doubting you grum. /removes the golden grum@work statue out of trash can, places it back on mantle.
posted by MrFrisby at 01:13 PM on June 27, 2006
Well, it seems that knowledge of international football will out come hell or hight water. I can't even keep ahead of the FIFA rankings.
posted by ursus_comiter at 01:37 PM on June 27, 2006
My knowledge, that is. Which is to say, nil.
posted by ursus_comiter at 01:42 PM on June 27, 2006
sammy, nice work bud.
posted by garfield at 02:04 PM on June 27, 2006
Yeah nice work, Sammy. At least I have a job, loser.
posted by 86 at 02:13 PM on June 27, 2006
then a yellow card is a red card plus a green card Seems to be the system the Mexican national team used to stock their squad.
posted by yerfatma at 02:37 PM on June 27, 2006
I thought that I was keeping even with some important gambling company, then I looked harder and saw its only TLNY. Damn.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 02:42 PM on June 27, 2006
I got 6 of the final 8 teams right and I'm back on top. France is my new Ecuador.
posted by MrFrisby at 05:21 PM on June 27, 2006
Now I dislike France more than ever. Back to 2nd.
posted by Samsonov14 at 01:05 AM on June 28, 2006
That Henry grabbing his face after getting a (mild) elbow to the _chest_ took the cake, Samso. The foul was a good call. But the yellow card should have gone to Henry for simulation. Too bad the foul also led to the winning goal. That made me root for Spain. Made me lose a lot of respect for Henry. I thought he was too good for that.
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:31 AM on June 28, 2006
Agreed WC. There have been a number of questionable cards, and a number of obvious dives throughout this trournament, though, so this wasn't really all that shocking.
posted by Samsonov14 at 10:09 AM on June 28, 2006
I am seriously looking over my shoulder. I couldn't sleep at all last night. "snip!" Yikes.
posted by tselson at 10:34 AM on June 28, 2006
That's frightnin', tselson. Try to appease yourself with cool thoughts. You are still in the top one-third of the standings -- Lorena Bobbit is the cut off point for that. Oh, crap. Sorry.
posted by BullpenPro at 12:10 PM on June 28, 2006
Meanwhile, after a poor showing in the World Cup, the US National team finds their welcome home parade downsized a little.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 02:59 PM on June 28, 2006
If Ukraine keeps going I crush you all! Crush like babooshkas chew perogies. ha ha ha Lorena Bobbit is a cock puppet.
posted by rumple at 03:00 PM on June 28, 2006
MrB, that's one hand more than what the team did to the American footie community, Dempsey and Conrad excepted. Has anyone noticed the furor over Reyna's retirement? Thud.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 06:55 PM on June 28, 2006
Has anyone noticed the furor over Reyna's retirement? He of the one shot on goal in the whole stinkin' tournament? Pfft.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 08:36 PM on June 28, 2006
mrB, classic link, lol. that guy had more oomph, verve, brio, courage, bravado, innovation and joie de jeu in those two hands than most of the US players had in their bodies.
posted by worldcup2002 at 09:19 AM on June 29, 2006
YYM I had six of the eight quarterfinalists but didn't really consider group play carefully enough, selecting all four teams in the USA's group in the top half. I made the picks at a bad time of day, shall we say? Keeping up with me is a nice goal and shouldn't be too hard because I'm much more enthusiastic than truly knowledgable.
posted by billsaysthis at 07:27 PM on June 30, 2006
selecting all four teams in the USA's group in the top half. Yeah that can't end up good. However, I think you're just making excuses since a clueless person is right behind you in the standings.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 07:33 PM on June 30, 2006
I would love to see the SpoFi collective beat the British Odds.
posted by Samsonov14 at 07:34 PM on June 30, 2006
I would also love to see Webster beat Gary Coleman. But maybe that's just me.
posted by Samsonov14 at 07:37 PM on June 30, 2006
Fuck. Bullpen wins.
posted by Samsonov14 at 07:47 PM on June 30, 2006
I think you're just making excuses since a clueless person is right behind you in the standings. No, I'm pointing to evidence on why I'm not a good marker to judge your results by.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:52 PM on June 30, 2006
You got greeedy, Fritsy.
posted by NoMich at 12:23 AM on July 01, 2006
I think you're just making excuses since a clueless person is right behind you in the standings. No, I'm pointing to evidence on why I'm not a good marker to judge your results by. I was just kidding. But now I have to find someone else to compare my results to.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:52 AM on July 01, 2006
According to my calculations (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), BullpenPro has a 1 in 4 shot of winning the pool. If Italy and Germany win, we will tie with 4195 points but he will win the tie breaker having placed Italy higher. Any other combination and I win.
posted by MrFrisby at 06:54 PM on July 05, 2006
I have the same calculations as you, MrFrisby. So most likely a hockey freak will edge a baseball freak in a fooball pool. Not only that, but the hockey freak admitted to using Excel's RAND() (a piss poor random number generator, mind you) for more than a few of his choices. The Costanza race has been set for a long time. The FIFA Rankings tried hard, but they couldn't quite cut it.
posted by qbert72 at 07:28 PM on July 05, 2006
My goal is to crack the top 20 but I still have a burning question... Who is The Afro Mafia???
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 08:15 PM on July 05, 2006
Who is Lorena Bobbitt? I know who she is. You know what I mean
posted by qbert72 at 08:50 PM on July 05, 2006
Who is The Afro Mafia??? It's you.
posted by NoMich at 10:30 PM on July 05, 2006
I left my run on the rails far too late, dammit.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 04:07 AM on July 06, 2006
Vegas is good.
posted by bperk at 08:25 AM on July 06, 2006
It's you. No...
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 09:10 AM on July 06, 2006
Yahoo Image Search result on 'The Afro Mafia': 
posted by NoMich at 10:00 AM on July 06, 2006
At least I'm beating the FIFA rankings.