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Sunday, June 27, 2010

An Embarrasing Day For Soccer

FIFA—the World’s soccer federation lives by a mantra of “Play Fair”. The mantra should be “We Apologize”. This World Cup has been overshadowed by one bad call after another. Sunday’s two games were no different and shows why this sport is in the dark ages when it comes to the others.

While I doubt Germany would have beaten England, it would have been a different story if a goal by Frank Lampard which was clearly in would have been allowed thus tying the game at two. It wasn’t even close when you saw it on replay. England was robbed. As I said, England didn’t deserve to win as Emma Peel had a better back end than the British defence on this day, but you just never know.

Argentina was a better side than Mexico, but their first goal from Carlos Tevez was clearly offside. Again, there was no question about this. I understand human error is part of the game (see Jim Joyce and the perfect game that wasn’t), but in this day of modern technology, the call on the field or the ice or the hardwood has the ability to be changed by instant replay. Soccer has turned its head on instant replay in the past, but they can’t turn away any longer. The sport has been embarrassed at its biggest event---not once, but several times. One can only imagine the firestorm that will result if a controversial goal is allowed or disallowed in the final. The rule can’t be changed midway through the event, but FIFA needs to do something to correct these mistakes. If the buffoonery continues by the men in charge, one might have to start wondering if Tim Donaghy is involved.
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I saw the last little bit of Sportsnet’s CFL preview on Sunday night as it aired on the East channel. When does it air on the West channel? At the end, the experts gave their picks and I believe all that were asked chose the Eskimos to be the Western rep. The Eskimos? Really! Am I so much in the box here that I am missing something? How the Riders can’t be the overwhelming favourite to win the West just astounds me. Is this yet another sign of disrespect being shown to the football team. They have a quarterback who is slowly rising to the elite level, the best receiving core and the best o-line in the game, they have a defence that while taking some huge hits is still very good. Then again, looking at my poll question, a lot of you think this team will win 10 or under games this year. I don’t even know if I have Edmonton 2nd in the West. Despite their woes on the o-line, I still think Calgary is the Riders top competitor in the West. I guess we’ll find out starting Thursday.
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The ESPN 30 for 30 series is simply must watch TV if you are a sports fan. I missed the original showing of it, but I saw the repeat of how “rotisserie baseball” was invented and how the guys who invented it never imagined what it would evolve into thus they never got a dime out of fantasy sports as we know it today. It really was a great episode, and somewhat sad as well knowing the gentleman who dreamed the idea up has not benefitted in any way. Yeah, its his own fault, but still.
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The Red Sox brought out the big bats again. They smoked Weyburn 16-5.
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My wife loves Papa Roach. That being said, she was quite excited when she found out they were going to be performing at ‘The Drink’. We went to see them a couple of years ago and she loved it. She loved it again tonight, but I’m getting to be a little too old for places like “The Drink”. I can’t believe I just wrote that. Its true though! SIGHHHHH!!!! What has happened to me?
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Good on Toronto police for not taking any crap yesterday. I heard one woman on Global trying to defend the actions of those who ran amok downtown yesterday by saying those who went around shattering store windows weren’t harming anyone. ?????. How can someone actually justify what took place yesterday? It really is beyond comprehension. By the way, do you think Toronto police are glad the Phillies-Jays series got moved to Philadelphia. I can’t imagine the chaos that could have been caused had that series gone on at the Rogers Centre. Baseball fans would have been right in the middle of that mess yesterday.
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My good friend Tom “Mongo” Pura in Grande Prairie asked a good question yesterday. If you take away the four main sports(hockey, baseball, football and basketball), what is the one sport you would watch the most on TV?After thinking about it, I would have to answer curling.
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Memo to the city of Regina. If you want to repair Fleet Street that is fine, however, maybe you should put up a sign for eastbound drivers on Dewdney telling them they can't turn right on Fleet. Many people go to do that and then try and swerve back into traffic just about causing an accident. I think I saw that happen about three times this weekend.
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Does anyone watch “The Cleveland Show”?
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Do Roman paramedics refer to IV’s as “4’s”

4 comments:

Mike from Vita, MB said...

The Riders will always be seen as the Rodney Dangerfield's of the CFL "We get no respect". That's OK...the so called experts will have egg on their face (again) when the Riders are the class of the west.

Anonymous said...

Sportsnet? PFFT!! What football knowledge do they have! Just look at who they have covering the Riders. Just something else for "The Ego" to brag about.
It will be Sask, Cal, Edm, BC just the way it was last year. In the East, it will be Mtl, Ham, Tor, Wpg


Rick W

Anonymous said...

Refereeing or umpiring just keeps getting worse and worse. What happened to England yesterday was criminal. They likely wouldn't have won, but you can't say that for definite.

Edmonton? I'd really like to know the thought process on that one. I see them last in the West.


Darrell

Anonymous said...

Since when did Sportsnet decide to get back into the CFL? Sorry, their opinions mean nothing. The Riders will finish first and will face Montreal again in the GC.

What sport would I watch the most outside of the four main ones. That is a good question. I watch a lot of golf so I guess that would be my answer.