World Cup 2010

Ok, so we've had a few more developments in the on-going saga regarding the 2010 World Cup. According to at least one report, the preferred back-up host to South Africa in 2010 is none other than the 2014 host, Brazil. Which i guest, in part, makes some sense given the fact that Brazil already has a planning and organizing committee in place.

What's this mean for future World Cups? Well, here's where it gets interesting. According to SBI, Spain (who i threw out as a possibility for 2010 relocation) may add itself to the Portugal bid for 2018, making them most likely the favorite to land that World Cup.

And if Brazil hosts 2010, what becomes of 2014? Glad you asked. It becomes a Battle Royale between the US and England. Hard to say who the front runner would be, but it has been a LONG time since England hosted (1966 to be exact). If England were to land 2014, then it would likely push the US all the way back to 2022, though that's so far away speculating is pointless.

Speaking of pointless, this whole debate may in fact be just that, pointless. South Africa officials are still telling anyone who will listen that their country will be ready for 2010, and Sepp Blatter himself re-iterated his statement that it would only be moved in the event of a natural disaster, conveniently not making mention of stadium or security concerns...

You Have Failed At Life

Wow, i decide to put up my first 'winner' of this award this morning before taking a look around the intrawebs, and when i do i find another 'worthy' candidate for this award. So, without further adu, introducing our second winner: Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson. Yeah, that guy from the UFC who lost to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86 just 11 days ago.

So the story goes: Rampage was apparently involved in an accident that blew his tire, but fled the scene. He then drove erratically, at points on sidewalks causing pedestrians to 'dive out of the way', was chased by the police, and was eventually pulled over and arrested at gunpoint.

Now, all of this seems fairly routine, and wouldn't normally be enough to qualify one for this prestigious award. However, there are two mitigating factors here that pushed him over the edge.

One, alcohol and drugs were not, i repeat NOT, a contributing factor to any of this. Who does this sober?

Two, and my favorite part, it's kind of hard to get away with a hit and run and a police chase when you are driving a truck with your picture ON THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK:

Rampage Jackson: You have failed at life.

(H/T to Deadspin)

You Have Failed At Life

So i introduced this new feature a few weeks back, but as of yet haven't highlighted any 'winners' of this yet. That ends today. This weeks title bearer is:


For the uninformed, that is is Florida Marlin's second baseman Dan Uggla. While putting together a solid season (.286 BA, 23 home runs, 59 RBI's), and being selected to his second all-star game this season, it may be hard to point to Dan Uggla as a failure.

Then again, you only need to look at last night's all-star game to figure out why i am making him my inaugural selection. Let's take a look at his line last night:

0-4 with 3 strike outs, 1 Ground into double play, and 6 men left on base.

Yikes.

Oh, and let's not forget about his 3 errors in the field.

Let's delve a little deeper. Uggla, with his 6 men left on base, led both teams in that category. He is one of only two people (Carlos Quentin the other) who had more than 3 plate appearances with no hit. In the 10th inning, with men on first and third base and 1 out, he grounded into an inning-ending double play.

He proceeded to make errors on two consecutive batters in the bottom of the 10th, which somehow the AL didn't capitalize on. He made another error in the bottom of the 13th, which the AL again didn't capitalize on.

So, despite all he has done this season, and despite that he was at one time a Diamondback, for this one game i have to do this:

Dan Uggla, you have failed at life.

Where You Came From

It's time once again for my weekly* feature 'Where You Came From' in which i chronicle where visitors to this site come from and what search terms brought them here. Off we go!

Countries that have visited this site lately: The UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, South Africa, and India.

Search terms that brought people here, unedited and presented as typed, with number of times it appeared and my commentary in parentheses:

1) dennis green post game press conference (3) (Apparently the name of the site is good for a few hits)
2) fuck brett favre (12) (Wow... A lot of Brett Favre hatred. I love it!=). My favorite variations of this search term is the one with exclamation points behind it and the one in all caps...)
3) NFL 2008 CBA
4) vikings coach dennis quote
5) brett favre sucks t shirt (Does anyone know if these actually exist?)
6) Dennis Green press conference after the bears game
7) England 2010 Hosts- Stadiums
8) minor league coach meltdown July 10 (Thank you weekly* feature...)
9) 2010 world cup 3 possibilities
10) "Sepp Blatter" "England" "World Cup 2010" (This World Cup thing is apparently a hot issue)
11) lsu ohio state beat down (Still? It was 6 months ago!)
12) world cup 2010
13) MARWAN WILLIAMS (This guy is searched for every week*. Why?)
14) college football open tryouts kickers 2008
15) nfl nflpa cba minimum salary

So there you go. As always, thanks for stopping by. Feel free to tell some friends or leave some comments.


*Weekly is used loosely in this case...

Minor League Manager Meltdown

Like that alliteration?

Anyway, as promised, anytime a coach or manager freaks out, i will be posting it here. This one isn't quite as good as the guy who resin-bombed home plate, but it's still entertaining for its originality. Enjoy.

World Cup 2010

So, we're just under 2 years away from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Only problem is, South Africa is looking more and more like it won't be ready for the World Cup in two years (shocking!).

FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced that he has spoken to three countries about hosting the 2010 World Cup, a Plan B World Cup officials have started to put in place after concerns over stadium and security issues in the would-be host country.

See, now this is the problem with awarding the World Cup to countries that aren't world-class soccer countries: They aren't ready for it. Note that this is not unprecedented that the World Cup has been moved on short notice, though it was the Women's World Cup. It was moved from China amidst SARS concerns to the US. However, this is potentially more of a nightmare than that was.

But keep in mind that move. The US has been rumored to be in the mix for the 2018 World Cup (The 2014 World Cup is already set for Brazil), as FIFA was impressed with the last World Cup held here and the US has vastly improved their soccer structure and stadiums since then. Blatter said he had spoken to three countries, though he did not mention them. Let me take some guesses.

1. The USA. As mentioned above, they've vastly improved their soccer structure in the States, and soccer is as popular as ever here with the arrival of David Beckham last year. They also have many soccer specific stadiums (SSS) already built (most notably the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles and Pizza Hut Park in Houston), with several more in the works for the next two years (Washington and Philly most likely). Not to mention we have several other 'big' stadiums that can easily hold large soccer crowds, such as Giants Stadium, the new Dallas Cowboy's stadium, and Phoenix's own University of Phoenix Stadium. Not to mention the US has the money and the manpower to put together a package and a plan very quickly.

2. England. England last hosted the World Cup in 1966, and has been rumored to be the front runner for 2018. Like the US, England has the resources to put it together quick, not to mention the stadiums. England has a huge soccer history, and has been lobbying for each of the last three World Cup's. They are certainly due.

3. The Dark Horse. Could be a variety of countries, though almost positive it will be a country in Europe. South America is hosting in 2014, Asia had 2002, and I don't think any country in Africa has the capability to put something together quick enough. Germany hosted the last one, so they're out. Switzerland/Austria could be a possibility because they just finished hosting Euro 2008 so they have the stadiums and the know-how, but i think they will be eliminated precisely because they just hosted the Euro's.

So,we're down to two realistic possibilities. Italy, which lasted hosted the World Cup in 1990, and Spain, which hosted in 1982. Each country has the history and the ability to host the World Cup. That said, if i were taking guesses, Spain would get the nod here. It's been longer since they hosted, and right now Spain is on a roll .

So, with three choices, who's the favorite? It comes down to which continent, really. If it's Europe, i have to believe it would be England since it has been 42 years since they last hosted the World Cup.

So, it comes down to England vs. the US in my opinion. Both countries could easily pull off the feat on short notice, and both countries would be an excellent host. Whichever country didn't get the 2010 World Cup would certainly have to be the favorite for the 2018 World Cup. So really, both countries win.

As much as it pains me, if i were a betting man i would have to bet on England. It has only been 14 years since the US hosted, and England is still England when it comes to soccer.

As Sepp Blatter stated, nothing has been decided yet, and in all likelihood i think the most likely scenario is that South Africa gets its act together and is ready to host the World Cup in 2010. But, if for some reason it isn't, look for England to be the fill-in host.

Korean Baseball Fight

This is what you call an all-out brawl.



Little known fact: This is how the Korean War was started...