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DEL.ICIO.USThe agony of withdrawal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It ought to be the second half of the second game of the day from Germany, but instead the only thing flopping on the telly is coming out of the Braves bullpen. Ken Ray had his rude awakening just now, courtesy of Jason Giambi, and we’re in extra innings.
Now it’s Scott Proctor’s turn. Marcus Giles a solo shot? Say whaaaaaat?
Short-lived. A-Rod does it to Sosa. Seen this movie before. Ends the same way.
Off the Ball talking baseball during the World Cup? Sacrilege! This is because she is going through severe, severe withdrawal today, and probably will again on Thursday, since the World Cup is taking a couple of days off before the quarterfinals. How dare them!
This is cruel. This is mean. This is agony!
At least it is during worktime hours, where Off the Ball has no excuse not to get something constructive accomplished. Part of that duty today is to monitor the daytime events at Yankee Stadium, where the Braves actually won last night. She calls it the Miracle on 161st Street.
Actually, it’s a miracle Off the Ball didn’t call in sick today to catch up on World Cup games on tape she’s missed. Still haven’t seen the Maxi Rodriguez goal for the Argies vs. Mexico, nor the second half of Italy-Australia. So she’ll rev up the VHS and see what all the fuss is about.
Three days later, and the floperooski by Italy’s Fabio Grosso is still inflaming global ire. Except in Italy. And did you know that “Grosso” is Italian for “fat?” As in, Fat Fabio Flops Furiously. But being the amoral soul that she is, Off the Ball didn’t protest, since Italy is the only team she has left in the cup pool.
Here’s a somewhat amusing defense of soccer divers that Off the Ball suspects is more devil’s advocate sophistry than anything else.
This is good analysis on the officiating crisis and the lineup of referees for the quarterfinals, plus the 14 whistle-blowers who had the whistles blown on their Cups.
Anybody Down Under gonna flog Guus Hiddink for saying the same thing about Aussie footy that The Bruce says about the Yank game?. Ah, but he’s headed off to Russia, where such dissent can be a little more dangerous than it is in say, Melbourne.
All of a sudden, Frank Deford is starting to take off the blinders about certain American sports traditions that largely go unchallenged on these shores. Yes, national anthems do make perfect sense at the World Cup and not at a Marlins-Tigers game, and enough with the fighter jets flying over the stadiums.
Off the Ball cringed at the ‘99 Women’s World Cup when U.S. naval jets screeched over the Rose Bowl. Why weren’t the Chinese jets invited? And why did FIFA allow this jingoistic display to take place at all?
If your withdrawal, like mine, still can’t be treated by the above, contemplate this possibility: It’s only two years from Euro 2008. In Austria and Switzerland. Off the Ball watched footy mate Marco Sloquinho’s eyes pop out of their sockets when she presented him with that tidbit of information.
I’m there.
Comments
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By Chris
June 28, 2006 8:54 PM | Link to this
With ESPN committed to covering the major international men’s and women’s soccer events through the next 10 years, continued improvement in the coverage will occur. Answers to questions will be common, such as “What kind of training do the officials receive prior to this kind of competition?” and “Why have there been so many yellow and red cards?”
“It’s a huge event that we’re doing double and triple ratings over what we’ve ever done before with soccer,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN’s executive vice president for production. “As this country continues to diversify, you’ll continue to see the sport grow.”
By Henry
June 29, 2006 8:15 AM | Link to this
Well that is is last of my bellyaching comments. There are only two people that can actually cover a soccer gameproperly. All the other ones seemed to be coaching and telling coaches, teams and players what to do. They, the teams, are sure listening to them. On the commentator stance at the halftime and posttime commentary, only Judy Fowley (hope I spelled her name right) acctually knew what she was talking about. A tru proffessional, just like she is as a player. Here, I said it.
Can’t wait for the next round doosies.
Germany vs Argentina, should be a great game, hope the reffs don’t blow it.
Italy vs Ukraine, if you like defence and bunkering this game’s for you.
England vs Portugal, to many missing stars (thank to the referees and FIFA), so it will be so so but entertaining
Brasil vs France, I wonder how Brasil is going to beet France with their lackdasical performance. I hope France will give them some pressure so the Brasiliens have to show how they can play. They are comming together as a team, much to slow so, lets hope they will be forced not to play that way. But I have little expectation with France being their opponent. I always stated soccer is 50% tallent and Brasil have it all and 50% luck and Brasil has it all from the draw thru the games. The hardest part of this world cup season was for them to qualify.
By Chris
June 29, 2006 12:01 PM | Link to this
Klinsman the entertainer:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/worldcup2006/teams/germany/5128246.stm
By Ted Kellerman
July 13, 2006 3:59 AM | Link to this
Wendy, why do you have so much anger about rooting for Team USA ? We already know how much you hate President Bush—-but are you not capable of divorcing the person in the White House, from the country, its ideals and institutions ?
Like I said, you have a lot of anger there, honey.
It’s no wonder you get on so well with LA Times blowhard (and closeted homosexual) Grahame Jones—-Jonesy really harbors an animus toward USA & Israel, as you do.
To answer your question about the fighter jets flying over the Rose Bowl prior to the ‘99 World Cup final between USA & China…there’s a little something called NATIONAL SECURITY which prohibits foreign fighter jets from flying over OUR AIRSPACE. The fact that you even question that reflects poorly on your knowledge about general international protocol, and reveals how little you follow international politics—-other than what you learn from “The Daily Show.”
Secondly, the USA was the host nation—-duh !
Did you notice during the course of the last month, how jingoistic the Germans were ??
Oh, no, of course not—-you’re only animated by anger for the USA—-not Germany.
That’s why the playing of the national anthem prior to a baseball game is upsetting to you.
(Psst…let me tell you a secret…there are a lot of Americans who LOVE their country.)