More thoughts on the FIFA muck-up

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Its a day later and there isn’t much more info out regarding the foul that cost the United States the winning goal against Slovenia on Friday.

This ESPN story has two good videos on the matter, including coach Bob Bradley’s comments. The fact that he so adamantly calls the goal a good one shows the calamity of this situation. Watching the overhead shot in the second video on that page makes me think in very extremes, fixed game extremes.

It was an opportunity for the US to complete an outstanding comeback and put themselves in a fantastic situation to advance. But, they had that taken away. Watching Maurice Edu run through the box almost unmarked and receive a foul is nothing short of embarrassing. For me, it really makes me think that Coulibaly was out to keep the US from winning that game, that is how big of a phantom call that was.

Literally, the only call that could have been made would have been to award the US a penalty for a foul committed on Michael Bradley. Instead, the US a clinging to second place in group C and must beat Algeria on Wednesday to advance.

The U.S. had a victory stolen. Plain and simple.

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I truthfully don’t know how to sum up my thoughts on the obvious missed call by FIFA referee Koman Coulibaly in today’s USA vs. Slovenia World Cup match.

Nothing, short of wild profanity, sums up the call. Terrible, brutal, awful atrocious – none of them really cover all of the bases.

Can you pick out the US foul in this picture? Didn’t think so.

The fact of the matter is, this guy screwed up. In fact, he robbed a victory from the US. This was a near must-win for the US and they didn’t get the victory. Partially because of the no call and partially because the US did not come to play in the first half.

Despite trailing 2-0 after 45 minutes, the US showed outstanding resiliency as Landon Donovan scored early on in the second half and Michael Bradley scored the equalizer on a beautiful play later in the half. That set up the now infamous play. Donovan layed a cross into the 18-yard box that was finished by Maurice Edu to give the US the apparent winning goal. But, Coulibaly called the US for a foul, but no one knows what for. The most apparent foul being committed was on Bradley, not the other way around. Continue reading →

Jaroslav Halak dealt out of Montreal

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The Montreal Canadiens have decided who their number one goaltender will be. However, it isn’t who many would have guessed. Montreal shipped Jaroslav Halak to St. Louis for Lars Eller and Ian Schultz.

Jaroslav Halak is now a member of the St. Louis Blues. Weeks after leading the Canadiens past the Capitals and Penguins in the playoffs.

So, the Habs picked up a pair of prospects in exchange for the goaltender that carried them to the conference finals. Eller spent the 2009-10 season in the minors, while Schultz has been inked to his first NHL deal but stayed in juniors last season.

The quick winner here is definitely the Blues. Chris Mason is an Unrestricted Free Agent and will obviously not be signed. They dealt two players who haven’t shown a real push to crack the lineup for a proven goaltender who is entering his prime. The Canadiens still have a year or two to see if these two prospects will pan out. But they have given Carey Price a vote of confidence and hopefully that will light the necessary fire under him.

So, now the Habs really need a good season out of Carey Price, something that has yet to be seen since his fabulous rookie campaign.

Clearly Europeans haven’t done their homework

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You don’t call out the United States. Particularly in sports. Bulletin board material is such a no-no in North American sports, you would think it would be the same in Europe.

Tim Howard didn’t really buy into what Andrej Komac had to say. Now Howard must lead the US past Slovenia tomorrow morning.

Apparently not. Slovenian midfielder, Andrej Komac, decided he would put a guarantee on the table. He said his side will defeat the United States Friday in their World Cup match. Now, the Americans are considered to be the favorites, but I don’t know how much faith I have in our side in international play. The game has certainly come a long way in the US, and it seems like our national program is making leaps and bounds. But, I don’t know if we are a team that can go out and win no matter what.

That being said, American athletes are some of the most pride-filled men and women you will ever meet. Putting that kind of guarantee out there is a dangerous move on Komac’s part. While soccer isn’t a sport that allows for serious retribution, see football or hockey, this should give the United States more than enough motivation to win tomorrow.

However, goaltender Tim Howard took the high road (sort of) when asked about the comments. Continue reading →

Dear Mr. Pronger. Shut up

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So, Chris Pronger plays a very edgy style. Some might say dirty, I say he toes the line. Either way, he creates a lot of enemies on and off the ice. You might say Adam Burish, of the Chicago Blackhawks, is among his enemies.

Now, Burish’s comments weren’t necessary especially given the situation. He just won the Cup and could have easily avoided the question, but he chose not to. In my opinion it was the wrong choice. Not to mention, if he were to fight Pronger in a game he would likely lose the fight, badly. Oh – and he didn’t see the ice in game six, or a few others.

That brings us to Pronger. Who always has carried himself with a certain arrogance that I can’t stand. He had a few particularly bad games at the end of the series and probably should have taken the high road in terms of responding to Burish’s comments.

Listen Chris, you just lost the Cup, you played really poorly in the final two games (game five in particular) leave it be. If you’re so much better than this guy why bother saying something? If anything, Pronger comes off as the bigger ass because he is the one still chirping after the loss.

A little professionalism goes a long way, seems like Burish and Pronger could use a lesson in that.

Dutch women in mini-skirts. What could go wrong?

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A lot apparently.

This was wrong, in terms of advertising.

An ITV worker, Robbie Earle, apparently gave his allotment of tickets for the Denmark-Netherlands game to a group of Dutch models in skimpy orange dresses. While I see no issue in giving out tickets to a group of attractive women, FIFA does (and ITV too).

Continue reading →

It’s too bad Sports Science went this way

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So, Sports Science is a pretty cool show. It wasn’t too bad when it was on FSN and ESPN took it and really turned it into what it should have been all along, a 2-3 minute hit, not a 30-minute show.

Of course, ESPN didn’t get their hands on the show soon enough. Because they managed to put out this beauty:

I know the results of the show say that Trent Edwards has a quicker release and reaction than a gunslinger, but seriously? I’m pretty sure if they had the chance they would go another route. The only saving grace here is that Sports Science probably did this show before Edwards entrenched himself as Captain Checkdown.

Beast Mode is back

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WGR 550 (amongst others) that Marshawn Lynch was back participating at One Bills Drive today. The biggest soap opera the Bills have had to deal with is now over with, unless Lynch is traded. The sad part is, it shouldn’t have been an issue considering the Bills’ RB depth.

Marshawn Lynch was back on the practice field with the Bills today.

After drafting C.J. Spiller, plus the year that Fred Jackson had in 2009, the Bills didn’t seem to need their 2008 first-round pick. So, Lynch stayed away, missed a handful of optional practices until today. He is back to work, but does it really matter? Right now, he is the third best running back on the team. Realistically, he is the only every down back the Bills posses. He was drafted because he is a monster carrying the ball and he can catch out of the backfield. Yet, he was rarely used as a receiving target by the greatest check-down passer the NFL has ever seen.

Either way, I feel that if Lynch can be put in the right situation he can succeed. Fred Jackson has a lot of value right now, why not capitalize on that and trade him? If you can get a fourth round pick for Lynch I bet you could get a third for Jackson, at least. I make this point because a tandem of Lynch and Spiller would be a true thunder and lightning combo for the Bills.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t really matter who is running the ball with a patchwork offensive line.

I almost forgot, Jeremy Roenick cried!

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I should preface this post, and explain that headline, by saying I have loads of respect for Jeremy Roenick. I was lucky enough to spend time with Jeremy in Vancouver at the Olympics and he is truly a great guy. The morning production meetings were always a blast with him there.

So, I digress. The fact that Jeremy Roenick was so emotional over the Blackhawks winning the Cup shows the die-hard attitude the players have in the NHL. Roenick was so close, so many times and missed his opportunity. And to see him in that state shows his dedication to the game of hockey. I know a lot of people are going to have a lot of fun with what happened in studio after the game, but I respect him for it. I know if the Sabres ever win the Cup………….I will probably experience a wave of emotion. Plus, if I were to have the hockey career similar to his, and see a former team of mine hoist the Cup, I would be happy but heartbroken too. So, my hat’s off to you Mr. Roenick. But, for everyone else, here is the video.

Musical college football teams

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A developing situation that continues to become more tangled, the college football landscape may drastically change in the coming weeks.

Amidst rumors that Missouri and Nebraska will defect from the Big-12 and move to the Big Ten, technically making it the Big 13, it seems that one of college football’s strongest conferences may fall apart. If the dominos fall as reported six additional Big 12 teams will be offered membership in the PAC-10, making that the PAC-16 (isn’t this fun?). According to the ESPN article (linked), Colorado, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech will have the opportunity to join the PAC-10. All of this will break up the second most powerful conference in college football. The Big-12 has been the only conference to challenge the SEC for dominance in Division 1-A (Football Bowl Subdivision) in recent years. Now, this powerhouse may dissolve. Continue reading →