11/05/24
June 17, 2010
SportsFilter: The Thursday 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.
First round of the US Open today. International competition without bees and feigned injuries with people who can put the ball in the hole every once in a while.
posted by mjkredliner at 09:27 AM on June 17, 2010
I've just been asked in a mail for my US Open predictions. Excuse the copy and paste (and colloquialism):
Poulter to shank one right into the blowhole of a passing whale. Donald to shoot 66 on the final day to leap from 25th to 9th and then go on and on about his top ten finish and how he's "getting closer" to winning one. Westwood to look good the whole way then do a Tom McKean and get boxed in towards the finish. Tiger to break some sort of swearing record. Goose to finish well because he's too stupid to get frustrated with the tight, hard and fast course conditions. McIlroy to miss the cut (don't know why, but maybe because of the tight, hard and fast course conditions). Old whisky fingers (Watson) to shoot a couple of half decent scores to get himself into the final two rounds then wish he hadn't when he sees where they put the pins. The 7th to become the first hole in major golf to play at less than 100 yards. Casey to miss the cut. Big Phil for the win after 5 career second place finishes in the US Open, fuelling rabid discussion of the possibility of a Grand Slam. Harrington to realise that his knee surgery is still affecting his swing. Barnes and Dusty Bin (Dustin Johnson) finishing in the top ten. Endless replays of Watson's chip in at 17 every time he is shown in this week's coverage. Other than that, I haven't really thought about it.
posted by JJ at 10:26 AM on June 17, 2010
Today's matches have started to supply some goals to this World Cup, mostly courtesy of Gonzalo Higuain.
posted by boredom_08 at 12:42 PM on June 17, 2010
mostly courtesy of Gonzalo Higuain.
and those, mostly courtesy of Messi and company, esp. Messi-Tevez, a partnership which is starting to look very tasty indeed.
posted by etagloh at 01:18 PM on June 17, 2010
Forlan had a couple for himself yesterday too.
And what a stupid thing to do, Keita. That's always going to be a red card. Probably cost your side all three points.
posted by trox at 01:19 PM on June 17, 2010
John MacLean is New Jersey Devils' new head coach
posted by tommybiden at 01:36 PM on June 17, 2010
and those, mostly courtesy of Messi and company, esp. Messi-Tevez, a partnership which is starting to look very tasty indeed.
With the backup pairing of Messi-Aguero, which resulted in a goal within two minutes of Aguero's introduction.
posted by boredom_08 at 01:42 PM on June 17, 2010
Probably cost your side all three points.
And just about any chance at making it out of the first round.
posted by yerfatma at 02:11 PM on June 17, 2010
Oh Sprint/ESPN MobileTV! Why on earth are you showing the US Open 1st round instead of France/Mexico?
posted by kokaku at 02:36 PM on June 17, 2010
Zut alors.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 04:17 PM on June 17, 2010
How is that not an offside on Mexico's first goal?
posted by cjets at 04:25 PM on June 17, 2010
Irish eyes are smiling today.
posted by ursus_comiter at 04:44 PM on June 17, 2010
How is that not an offside on Mexico's first goal?
There wasn't much in it, but he was onside. The Pizza Hut in central Dublin is shipping out 700 freebies tonight, having promised 350 per goal against France.
Now here's the puzzle: Mexico and Uruguay can play out a draw to close out the first round and guarantee themselves qualification, but goal difference probably pits Mexico against Argentina in the second round, as opposed to Greece or South Korea. (They won't know for sure, as they play first.) You have to assume that the mindset of El Tri will be 'nick one if you can, take a point if you can't'.
posted by etagloh at 05:17 PM on June 17, 2010
If Argentina beat Greece (expected), then Nigeria can qualify if they beat South Korea by two goals (not unexpected if they can keep 11 on the park).
Oh, the permutations!
posted by owlhouse at 05:57 PM on June 17, 2010
If Argentina beat Greece (expected),
Yeah, I realized pretty much right after I wrote it that was a bit overblown.
posted by yerfatma at 06:14 PM on June 17, 2010
France played like they just didn't care- except for Malouda. Any idiot could see that.
posted by JButton at 07:02 PM on June 17, 2010
Malouda, of course, was the only player not in the side against Uruguay, which tells me something right there, JButton. I have had a nagging suspicion since the hand of cheater goal that Les Blues were more likely to repeat the headbutt than advance out of group. Even if the other game has a winner, I think South Africa have more to play for and will get a result.
posted by billsaysthis at 07:21 PM on June 17, 2010
posted by geekyguy at 08:13 PM on June 17, 2010
If Argentina beat Greece (expected), then Nigeria can qualify if they beat South Korea by two goals (not unexpected if they can keep 11 on the park).
Does Nigeria even need to win by 2? If they win by 1, all three will have 3 points, with Nigeria and South Korea at -1 and Greece at -(more than 1), and Nigeria will have the head-to-head win over Korea. Or, is there another tiebreaker that comes into play first?
posted by bender at 07:55 AM on June 18, 2010
Goals scored comes before head to head, I believe.
posted by owlhouse at 03:24 PM on June 18, 2010
Goals scored comes before head to head, I believe.
Isn't it goal differential, then goals scored, then head-to-head, then best-of-seven arm-wrestling.
posted by grum@work at 11:08 PM on June 18, 2010
Then they have a coin toss. If the coin lands on its side, they have a play off game.
posted by owlhouse at 08:00 PM on June 19, 2010
A guide for those of you with dual monitors and streaming the World Cup online. Tells you how to keep the flash window at full screen while using your other monitor. Requires a hex editor (includes link to free one) and change two values. Pretty simple really.