Two Minnesotans are representing Minnesota in the All-Star Game! Old news, sure, but I forgot to mention it yesterday.
34 thoughts on “July 8, 2013: Home Grown”
Mexico lost to Panama in the Gold Cup group stages yesterday. Not a huge deal, since most of the best Mexican players were still recuperating from the Confed. Cup in Brazil, but it's still always fun to see them lose. I would be so happy if they bombed out of both the WCQ and Gold Cup in the same summer.
On the other hand, Canada's got no excuse. They lost to Martinique, who aren't even full FIFA members.
For a team that 3 years ago seemed poised to enter the upper echelon of international teams, Mexico's troubles in 2013 have been fun to watch. That US-Mexico game in September is going to be huge!
We'll always have Benny Feilhaber!
I'm only passively interested in soccer, which is to say I follow the U.S. during the World Cup. I understand how the World Cup works, and I know the points system, but the sites I go to don't seem clear to me on what's happened and what's going to happen. Has the U.S. guaranteed a spot in the WC yet with their lead? How many matches are left? I read that 3.5 teams from North America make the WC and some team plays New Zealand? Is that the 4th place team from our bracket?
The final round of CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Associated Football - regional governing body of all international football north of Panama) is a 6-team home-and-away round robin, commonly called "The Hex(agonal)". Each team will play a home game and away game against the other five teams - 10 matches total.
The top 3 teams after The Hex are in the World Cup next summer. Fourth place will play New Zealand in an additional playoff. The winner of that match is also in the WC.
Everyone has played 6 matches, and the US has 4 wins and a draw for 13 points (and a loss for 0). The 2010 fourth place team had 16 points, the 2006 team had 13. So with four matches to play, the US has to win one to guarantee at least playing NZ.
Right now, I'd say the US has (as a rough analogy) a 5 run lead in the bottom of the 9th. Sure, it's mathematically possible they might blow it, but the chances are so incredibly small. They need to lose 4 games in a row, three against teams they've already beaten and one against the team they drew against (Mexico, in Mexico, which was an insanely good result.) They have Mexico in Columbus (DOS A CERO!) and Jamaica in KC. Two home wins would give them 19 points, which is plenty to qualify for 2014. Really, 4 draws would still be 17 points, which is enough.
There is too much violence in soccer. I expect it to disappear in the next five years.
Violence? Or Soccer?
Soccer!
I only ask because neither seems likely, and I'm honestly not sure which scenario is less likely - a world without mob violence, or a world without fútbol.
as best as I can tell, the Federation has no fútbol in the 24th century, but appears to have occasional mob violence. Also, it appears that MLB expands outside of North America in or around 2042.
also, I am looking forward to Buck Bokai's MLB debut in 2015, but somehow doubt that London will have a team by then.
This gives more details. I was thinking the ref stabbed the player in self-defense, but this sounds like he was just thrown down, then stood up and stabbed the player, so I can't see how that was self-defense. Sounds like there were three assaults with the two killings being far worse than the initial assault that started it all. Of course, the initial assault was inexcusable for reacting to a ref's ejection. Apparently, a lot of overreacting.
As long as Will Johnson is Canada's captain, I will hope for them to lose by 5 goals per game.
Martinique dominated Canada too. Even though they aren't FIFA members, Martinque have a former Premier League striker in Piquionne, which by itself is more than what Canada has.
In my opinion, it's Mexico that has no excuse. They were in front of the most pro-Mexico crowd this side of the border, and their B-squad should at least be at the level of the US one that beat Guatemala 6-0 Friday night. This Gold Cup could be very interesting.
What would be more romantic than winning basketball championship's in the same city? Durant needs to force this trade now before it destroys his marriage.
I saw today that li'l Mychal Thompson is going to be on the Twolves' Vegas summer league team. Yes, that's Junior. Which sent me down the rabbit hole to this fabulous piece.
Mexico lost to Panama in the Gold Cup group stages yesterday. Not a huge deal, since most of the best Mexican players were still recuperating from the Confed. Cup in Brazil, but it's still always fun to see them lose. I would be so happy if they bombed out of both the WCQ and Gold Cup in the same summer.
On the other hand, Canada's got no excuse. They lost to Martinique, who aren't even full FIFA members.
For a team that 3 years ago seemed poised to enter the upper echelon of international teams, Mexico's troubles in 2013 have been fun to watch. That US-Mexico game in September is going to be huge!
We'll always have Benny Feilhaber!
I'm only passively interested in soccer, which is to say I follow the U.S. during the World Cup. I understand how the World Cup works, and I know the points system, but the sites I go to don't seem clear to me on what's happened and what's going to happen. Has the U.S. guaranteed a spot in the WC yet with their lead? How many matches are left? I read that 3.5 teams from North America make the WC and some team plays New Zealand? Is that the 4th place team from our bracket?
The final round of CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Associated Football - regional governing body of all international football north of Panama) is a 6-team home-and-away round robin, commonly called "The Hex(agonal)". Each team will play a home game and away game against the other five teams - 10 matches total.
The top 3 teams after The Hex are in the World Cup next summer. Fourth place will play New Zealand in an additional playoff. The winner of that match is also in the WC.
Everyone has played 6 matches, and the US has 4 wins and a draw for 13 points (and a loss for 0). The 2010 fourth place team had 16 points, the 2006 team had 13. So with four matches to play, the US has to win one to guarantee at least playing NZ.
Right now, I'd say the US has (as a rough analogy) a 5 run lead in the bottom of the 9th. Sure, it's mathematically possible they might blow it, but the chances are so incredibly small. They need to lose 4 games in a row, three against teams they've already beaten and one against the team they drew against (Mexico, in Mexico, which was an insanely good result.) They have Mexico in Columbus (DOS A CERO!) and Jamaica in KC. Two home wins would give them 19 points, which is plenty to qualify for 2014. Really, 4 draws would still be 17 points, which is enough.
Thanks!
I'm now rooting for New Zealand to beat Mexico.
I hear there is an opening for a soccer referee in Brazil.
Sweet, merciful crap.
What the fuck century is this?
what, here? or in Brazil?
!
There is too much violence in soccer. I expect it to disappear in the next five years.
Violence? Or Soccer?
Soccer!
I only ask because neither seems likely, and I'm honestly not sure which scenario is less likely - a world without mob violence, or a world without fútbol.
as best as I can tell, the Federation has no fútbol in the 24th century, but appears to have occasional mob violence. Also, it appears that MLB expands outside of North America in or around 2042.
also, I am looking forward to Buck Bokai's MLB debut in 2015, but somehow doubt that London will have a team by then.
This gives more details. I was thinking the ref stabbed the player in self-defense, but this sounds like he was just thrown down, then stood up and stabbed the player, so I can't see how that was self-defense. Sounds like there were three assaults with the two killings being far worse than the initial assault that started it all. Of course, the initial assault was inexcusable for reacting to a ref's ejection. Apparently, a lot of overreacting.
As long as Will Johnson is Canada's captain, I will hope for them to lose by 5 goals per game.
Martinique dominated Canada too. Even though they aren't FIFA members, Martinque have a former Premier League striker in Piquionne, which by itself is more than what Canada has.
In my opinion, it's Mexico that has no excuse. They were in front of the most pro-Mexico crowd this side of the border, and their B-squad should at least be at the level of the US one that beat Guatemala 6-0 Friday night. This Gold Cup could be very interesting.
Minnesota Twins: Road Trip Could Sink Team to Last Place
P.J. cleared waivers. Can still decide to become a free agent.
Baseball America ranks Buxton number one on their midseason list. Sano is third and Meyer number 32.
Maybe Kevin Durant will force a trade to the Wolves???
a girl can dream.
What would be more romantic than winning basketball championship's in the same city? Durant needs to force this trade now before it destroys his marriage.
I saw today that li'l Mychal Thompson is going to be on the Twolves' Vegas summer league team. Yes, that's Junior. Which sent me down the rabbit hole to this fabulous piece.
Jose Valverde in a hot dog jersey?
Jose Valverde in a hot dog jersey.
That. Is. Awesome.
Want video of him dancing in it.
Vote for Pedro.
GOGO just robbed Votto to end the game. Fantastic. He also didn't show the ball the entire way into the infield to the umps. Hilarious.
Goofball + Baseball Skills = Awesome.
Did he even realize that someone wanted to see the ball?
seen on salon.com: Cleveland man's dying request is for six Browns to be his pallbearers so that the Browns could "let him down one last time."
not an Onion article, apparently.
here's the obit in the Columbus Dispatch
It's an old joke I've heard many times, but this is the first I know of someone actually requesting it.