***A tie can be a good thing, even when you lose the lead with just over ten minutes to go. If you don't believe me, look at the US - S. Korea game from the other night. The U.S. held on for a point despite being thoroughly outplayed and facing a hostile crowd.*****
***One more US note...do you think Goalie Brad Friedel is having murderous thoughts about Jeff Agoos about now? While diehard American soccer fans are probably building altars to worship Friedel (what a save on the PK!!), Agoos has been the one seriously weak link for the Americans so far. A good defender should be big, fast, and smart...Agoos certainly isn't either of the first two. He is allegedly in the lineup for his intelligence and savvy, but he has been jittery and woefully inconsistent in the first two matches. Since I'm sure Bruce Arena is reading this column, let me lobby for Pablo Mastroeni to take Agoos's place. He is tough and was very strong in the win over Portugal****
*** Defending champs France went home with less of a fight than they gave the Germans in WWII. Picked by many to repeat as champions, they failed to score a goal. Let me join the rest of the world in a resounding chorus of "HA!!"****
****So far, this tourney has been unkind to the favorites. Besides France, Argentina, Portugal, and Italy are all in serious danger of failing to qualify for the second round. This is like the NFL, parity is running rampant***
**** A couple of notes on goal celebrations: the seven handspring performance by the Nigerian striker was topnotch. Who cares that they aren't going through to the next round, that will keep him on highlight shows for years! I also appreciate the South Korean team mock speed skating after the equalizer versus the US. It is amazing that anyone can take the Winter Olympics that seriously.****
**** Anyone who doubts that a 1-0 game can be thrilling should have caught the England-Argentina game last week. The intensity was stellar throughout and I couldn't take my eyes off of it for fear I would miss something. I do find it a little ridiculous that David Beckham is being hailed as a hero and all of the journalists are talking about how he redeemed himself by making that penalty kick. He was a non-factor for most of the match and his PK went right down the middle!! If the goalie had stayed put, there would have been all sorts of media calling for his head. Funny how things work out.****
****I have seen two very bad matches so far...South Africa - Slovenia was a little painful. I was drunk at the time, but no one seemed into the game...not the announcers, the crowd, the refs, or even some of the players. If that was the only soccer match you caught, I don't blame you for hating the sport. Today's Germany - Cameroon match was bad for a different reason. Both teams really needed the points to advance, but instead the referee chose to be the star. He handed out yellow cards right and left, many for very minor infractions. Germany prevailed 2-0, but now will be missing a few of their players for the next round. An overeager ref may have seriously damaged their chances to advance.****
****I am really looking forward to channel-flipping between the two "Group of Death" matches tonight: England v. Nigeria and Sweden v. Argentina. Nigeria is already out (though they would have likely won a few of the weaker groups). I'm rooting hard for England, I'm a huge Michael Owen fan, and I think it would be fun if Sweden goes through as well. In addition to the US (obviously) and England, I'm rooting hard for Mexico, Costa Rica, Japan, Senegal, and Denmark. I'm actively rooting against favorites Argentina, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Brazil. If you are stuck without a rooting interest, feel free to use mine.****
6-8-02 - OGR
6-6-02 -Thursday Thoughts
6-5-02 - World Cup Bandwagon Jumping
6-4-02 - Mayer, Comfortable
6-3-02 - Mayer, City Love
5-30-02 - Thursday Thoughts
5-29-02 - Memorial Day Weekend
5-23-02 - Thursday Random Thoughts
5-20-02 - NBA Lottery
5-19-02 - Reader's mail
5-18-02 - New Cow Theory
5-17-02 - Graduation
5-16-02 - More Ramblings
5-10-02 - Marriage, Ugh
5-9-02 - Thursday Ramblings
5-8-02 - Inflatable Goats
5-7-02 - Temporary Fan Status
5-6-02 - Dinner Party
5-5-02 - Reader Mail
ARCHIVES
1) "Haligh, Haligh, a Lie Haligh" - Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst of Omaha's burgeoning music scene)
2) "The World Exploded in Love" - Bob Schneider
3) "Hate to Say I told you So" - The Hives
4) "Electric Relaxation" - Tribe Called Quest
5) "Warning" - Incubus
6) "Improvise" - Jurassic 5
7) "Natalie Portman" - Ozma
8) "When the Stars Go Blue" - Bono & The Corrs
9) "Let's Get it On" - Marvin Gaye
10) "Tired of Sex" - Weezer
McGwire
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Bret Boone (thanks Simos)
Brady Anderson
