59 thoughts on “June 12, 2014: World Cup”

      1. That will be when we read anonymous quotes in Souhan's columns about Ricky not actually tearing his ACL a couple years ago.

    2. I don't understand this whole thing. Why does he "have" to be traded if he is going to opt out? Does he just want to be traded? I don't remember NBA teams trading players just because they have only 1 year left on a contract. When his deal is up, you can re-sign him or sign somebody else, right? The max contract rules mean they won't have to worry about a bidding war past a certain point. In fact, they'll have the advantage with Love in being able to offer more than anybody else. Why not keep him, build the best possible team around him to get in the playoffs and hopefully go deep into the playoffs so that he knows he can do it with the Wolves. Even if they flop and Love walks, so what? Use the money to sign somebody else. I just don't see how the Wolves are going to get good enough value in a trade to justify it. The Wolves traded a better player in Garnett with a better track record of winning and that rebuild job went so well they haven't made the playoffs since.

      2. If some team is going to offer that is something off the charts, go ahead and trade him. Otherwise, the should keep him and hey they might make the playoff because they have an All Star player on their team!

        1. The whole point of the Bird rights in the new CBA was so that a team the size of the Wolves didn't get strong armed into a sign & trade like the Cavs/Raps did during The Decision. If he wants to walk away from the guaranteed 5th year with a higher salary, so be it. He's played 2 years on his contract, one of which was injury marred. I dunno. On the one hand I don't want this to be another Dwightmare. But on the other hand, I don't want them to trade him for David freaking Lee. I'm torn. But I think making him walk away from that money is bigger. If he does, fine. Sign someone else.

          1. I like what you're saying, Zack. Make Love have to walk away from the extra money if he chooses to go. The Wolves already dug themselves a big hole and maybe wrecked any chance they had to keep Love around longer-term, but maybe- just maybe- try leaving the choice up to him and see what happens?

  2. It's bugging me how various reporters, such as the dude on NPR just now, are saying Brazil "haven't win the World Cup since 2002" and make it sound like a 12 year drought. When really a more accurate way to frame it is "Brazil didn't win either of the past two World Cups, but they won the one before that".

      1. 'Spoiler' SelectShow

      2. Heh, I like how similarly people decipher some of these, even when we're way off.

    2. Uhh...

      'Spoiler' SelectShow

      Time to look at the hint!
      Well, that was unhelpful.
      Time to look at the answer!
      Oh. Huh.

      'Spoiler' SelectShow

  5. Sheenie and I have two extra VIP tickets to the Sunday Rock the Garden (June 22). Spoon, Guided by Voices (so, of course, freealonzo), Dessa, Kurt Vile, and Valerie June. If anyone is interested, they're $100 a pop.

  6. I don't want to clog the front page with World Cup posts, so how does this sound - an open thread for the opener today, one for Friday-Sunday, then one on Monday when the US plays, then as needed until the US plays again, one for the US match, repeat until end of group stages?

    1. It doesn't bother me if you clog the front page with World Cup posts. After all, I clog it every day with baseball posts.

      2. From my perspective, clog away Jeff! Love, love, love your posts. Thanks for giving us a quick look at the info it takes me too long to find on my own.

  7. At 1:35 this afternoon my sister Anna passed away. She was at peace, and surrounded by her entire family.

    I want to thank everyone for all the prayers and support throughout. It means the world to me. Thanks for a second home I can always come to.

    4. I can't imagine... so sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers to you and yours.

    6. I'm sorry Phil. We'd had her in our morning family prayers off and on for some time. I remembered to mention her today.

    15. That's some really tough news, Philos. I'm glad she was surrounded by loved ones. Wishing your family strength & solace, saying prayers for the same. Hang in there.

    22. Such a sad thing. You are in our prayers. If there's anything we can do, or if you need someone to talk to, you know how to reach me. I'm' sure we all want to be here for you and provide any help and/or support we can.

  8. Trey's season came to a disappointing end today in the semifinals. His Mets team avoided the upset on Tuesday, but he had to pitch up to his pitch limit, which meant he wasn't available to pitch today. His team lost 9-1 to the Rays, who finished in second place, one spot ahead of the Mets. The most disappointing part was the Mets just didn't hit. Trey got one of their two hits and got the out on the only ground ball hit to him. He'll start practicing next week with his All-Star team, which plays in a double-elimination tournament that lasts up to two weeks. He won't pitch, though, since the tournament is all pitching machine.

    1. Part of what we learn from sports, of course, is how to deal with disappointment. Good luck to Trey in the all-star tournament.

      1. Aye to that. For all the hype that Paul George (justifiably) got this year for his emergence, Kahwi Leonard is at least as important and impressive a talent.

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