12/21/24
June 14, 2010
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
Omg. Are the words "Thomas Kahlenberg shot on target" going to live in infamy or what?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:48 AM on June 14, 2010
I'd be the last to condemn the World Cup as a failure at this early stage, but so far my observations have focused on: too few people, too little attacking football, too many soft bookings and far FAR too much horn.
posted by JJ at 10:42 AM on June 14, 2010
Compared to the start of the 06 tournament it's a little anaemic so far, for sure. Netherlands-Denmark was tiresome and I'm expecting Italy-Paraguay to be more of the same this afternoon.
Hopefully we'll all be blown away by the awesome quality in the knock out rounds.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:49 AM on June 14, 2010
Did anyone else see those Japanese fans in those...uh...sorta like shmoo suits?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 11:55 AM on June 14, 2010
Nah, that was just you. I keep telling you to stop smoking that stuff, but do you listen? DO YOU LISTEN?!
posted by JJ at 12:48 PM on June 14, 2010
You call them schmoos. The BBC said they were dressed as "giant skittles" (not the fruit candy).
I thought they looked like giant sperm.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:50 PM on June 14, 2010
Ohhhh, skittles like bowling pins? Now I get it. Er, I don't get why they were dressed as giant bowling pins, but...
posted by lil_brown_bat at 12:55 PM on June 14, 2010
Ashley Madison offers $25M to name new Jets/Giants stadium Will teams be encouraged to cheat ? Flashback to 2006: Pink Taco's owners make $30M bid to name Arizona Cardinals stadium
posted by tommybiden at 01:16 PM on June 14, 2010
Poor Cameroon. They had a couple of beautiful chances at the end of their game with Japan to tie it up, but alas, nothing doing.
posted by NoMich at 01:28 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by Mr Bismarck at 01:56 PM on June 14, 2010
The Blight of the Bumblebees.
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:57 PM on June 14, 2010
Yes, we should be upset if the NFL allows a pro-adultery site naming rights to a stadium, but not upset when they continue to allow any number of wifebeaters and drunk drivers on the field every week.
(not directed as the poster of those links, but rather people who don't see the forest for the trees)
posted by wfrazerjr at 02:07 PM on June 14, 2010
btw, I'm chuffed that the US channels, specifically ESPN/ABC, have realized they need actual quality in the booth and the studio, and have raised the quality of commentators by hiring people like Martin Tyler, Ruud Gullit, and the like. Not just good commentators, but people with knowledge of the game and its history, people who've played and coached at the highest level. (The English accent and usage of "proper" football terms don't hurt either.) Really excellent coverage so far by ESPN. FSC had to up their game, even though they only get to do previews and highlights. Best part: No more Max Bretos.
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:17 PM on June 14, 2010
The shame of the early run has been that we didn't hear enough from Gullit or the routinely excellent Roberto Martinez because they found it hard to get a word in on the Alexei Lalas show.
Alexei is lucky the stadiums are filled with bees, making him on the second most annoying thing about the world cup so far.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 02:35 PM on June 14, 2010
Yeah, Lalas should shut up. Empty vessels...
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:53 PM on June 14, 2010
PARAGUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
posted by worldcup2002 at 03:09 PM on June 14, 2010
Oooooh. Things take a turn for the interesting in Group F.
posted by holden at 03:10 PM on June 14, 2010
Beautiful goal. Beautiful goal.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:12 PM on June 14, 2010
CFL pre-season kicked off this weekend!!! The new turf at Commonwealth Stadium (first game ever played on this particular surface apparently) looked amazing.
With no televised games, here are the results for those that care:
Hamilton 10 at Toronto 13
Montreal 10 at Winnipeg 34
BC 19 at Saskatchewan 17
Calgary 23 at Edmonton 21
posted by Spitztengle at 03:19 PM on June 14, 2010
btw, I'm chuffed that the US channels, specifically ESPN/ABC, have realized they need actual quality in the booth and the studio, and have raised the quality of commentators by hiring people like Martin Tyler, Ruud Gullit, and the like.
Glad to see Steve McManaman is still rocking his fabulous hair. Glad to see also that in the lead-up to the US-England match, he called Mike Tirico (who was talking up Altidore) on the fact that a player who did not impress with Hull might not exactly have the English quaking in their boots. While there are obviously exceptions, it is not typically the way with American announcers that they will call out the incorrect or spurious assertions of their colleagues.
posted by holden at 03:24 PM on June 14, 2010
Yeah, with the exception of John Harkes, I think ESPN's coverage has been great. The camera work & replays have been fantastic.
posted by yerfatma at 03:42 PM on June 14, 2010
I'm hoping someone on the internet has already whipped up an animated .gif of De Rossi's pathetic untouched dive from the first half.
I know other teams exaggerate contact (or fabricate it, in this case) on the field, but Italy seems to be the best/worst at it.
posted by grum@work at 03:50 PM on June 14, 2010
Stealing Home: The game of Loonies! (in the U.S.A. to be known as Dolla Dolla Bill, Ya'll ! ) : Loonies! is a hitter's game. What the batter does dictates whether you'll be adding money to the cap, or putting loonies into your pocket. For my National Leaguers out there, enjoy holding the cap when the pitcher's at the dish. I know, as if you needed another reason to hate the Senior Circuit.
posted by tommybiden at 03:50 PM on June 14, 2010
Alexei Lalas: Great player Alexei Lalas: Mediocre club exec Alexei Lalas: Terrible TV commentator
See the trend? I'd hate to be his next boss.
posted by billsaysthis at 05:04 PM on June 14, 2010
Here is the .gif!
which reminds me of this one, that was titled "Italy".
posted by grum@work at 10:02 PM on June 14, 2010
Never mind diving penalties, they ought to send shirleys who dive like that off and make them exchange their shorts for tutus.
Anyone else agree that might curtail the "soccer flop"?
posted by cixelsyd at 10:31 PM on June 14, 2010
De Rossi's dive was made worse by the fact he collected a free goal later in the match. If that's your future captain, you can have him.
posted by yerfatma at 08:01 AM on June 15, 2010
Well, we can't lose again today.