The Cards left my beloved Mets at the alter of of the World Series. Since I'm feeling jilted and frustrated I decided to pay my bet/debt as quickly as possible.

So for the next week, or until The Tigers handily and quickly slaughter the Cards, this logo will remain prominently displayed on my sidebar.

Posted by: Michele at 12:27 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 60 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Tigers in 5.

Posted by: Ogre at October 20, 2006 06:54 AM (oifEm)

2 Unfarookin' believable! I stayed up to watch and actually got excited in the bottom of the 9th, bases jammed, 1 out, and *choke.

Posted by: Sgt Hook at October 20, 2006 07:00 AM (ZkBlA)

3 Ahhh. I would have been nice to see a win for y'all last night. Interesting use of the word "Destiny". I listened to an interview with a '68 Tiger this morning and he is excited about this being a "re-match" of then. I was 2 at the time.

Posted by: _Jon at October 20, 2006 07:42 AM (g9Y9+)

4 Go, Tigers!

Posted by: Roses at October 21, 2006 01:52 PM (bBBTs)

5 Agreed. Tigers in 5. They were a little rusty in Game 1, but they'll take the next four. The AL is just much better than the NL.

Posted by: Shawn at October 22, 2006 03:53 PM (621cV)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

This is why I love this team so much. The things these men can do with their legs is amazing!

Posted by: Michele at 01:46 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 24 words, total size 1 kb.

The US men's soccer team got a huge reality CZECH yesterday! You can read about the travesty here.

Comments on this post are closed as I'm not up for a discussion on this topic.

Posted by: Michele at 12:39 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 38 words, total size 1 kb.

Dear Teresa,

I figured with this post I'll kill 4 birds with one stone: to let you & everyone know that the U.S. plays the Czech Republic today at 11:55am (which is being broadcast on ABC), to answer the remainder of your questions, to let you (and anyone else who might stop in) know how my technical setup is working for me, AND to opine on what the USÂ’ chances are in their up-coming matches.

To answer your question about my viewing: yes, IÂ’m a very lucky girl because IÂ’ve been able to alternate between viewing live feed online (with some problems) and watching them on tv. OtherÂ’s have not been so lucky as the demand on the the feed providers have been overwhelming: a million and a half on US servers alone.

Imagine that many people logging in simultaneously as a match begins in almost every country around the world. That's is what happened with the England vs Paraguay game. There were reports that servers were crashing everywhere across the globe. It seems the planners and broadcasters forgot that England is an empire, with subjects worldwide. I watched that game on TV and got to see Beckham play his legs off and go on to win 1-0. This surprised a lot of people as they expected the Brits to do much better. It didnÂ’t surprise me though because I knew the respective clubs had not released key players (including Beckham) in time to allow for enough practice sessions. I was able to see at times the lack of cohesion, hesitating briefly before a passing to make sure a mid-fielder or defender was in position. In essence, they were playing an individuals rather than as a team.

The most exciting game, which I was forced to give up watching on my pc and went in search of my tv (the live feed kept dropping), was Sweden and Trinidad. That was the 8th game on the schedule and the most exiting so far. 16th ranked Sweden thought that playing the 47th ranked Trinidad would be a piece of cake. After all, Sweden has had 6 World Cup appearances and this is TrinidadÂ’s first. Going into the game Sweden had a lot of advantages and were well prepared. So what happened? How could they not capitalize and score against a team that was 1 man down (from a penalty ejection) the entire 2nd half? A hefty combination of 2 things: over confidence and underestimation. In their minds Sweden had already handed themselves an easy win and even bragged about it. They had underestimated the hunger, drive, tenacity and experience of many of the players on the Trinidad team (which have trained in the US and elsewhere. A few of the Trinidadian players have also played in leagues in Europe and Africa.

Then there was Shaka Hislop, the goal keeper, the Howard University graduate who trained extensively during his college years in NJ. And a player that has always been amazing to watch. He really stunned the Swedish team by anticipating and blocking every shot with unbelievable effectiveness. In fact, for every goal shot Trinidad attempted, Sweden made 3 times the number of attempts. So why couldnÂ’t they get the ball in between the goal posts? Answer: Hislop. He and he alone kept Sweden from advancing and in so doing, kept the hopes and dreams of a million and a half Trinidadians from dying a premature death. It was simply an unbelievably hard fought game. I believe it will go down as one of the most memorable of this Cup.

As for the U.S., if truth be told, when I saw the World Cup rankings, I was shocked. FIFA had The Netherlands with a ranking #3 and the U.S. as #5 in the world. Yes, I know the U.S. has beaten major teams in high profile matches (like Mexico, who won yesterday against Iran 3-1 – Yeay!). But they’ve also lost to teams so unbelievably in-experienced and of lesser skill that it’s too embarrassing to even mention here (winning 1-0 over 70th Ranked Latvia does NOT inspire confidence).

On the other hand, having watched the US Soccer Federation support and nuture women's and men's soccer for the past 20 years coming from nowhere to achieve the rankings they have today (USA Women are ranked #2) is amazing. This is our 5th straight World Cup qualification and our toughest games yet.

As for the players, all eyes are on the veterans: Landon Donovan, Brian McBride (both of which scored 2 goals in the last world Cup), Eddie Pope, Ed Johnson, John O'Brien and Claudio Reyna, the rebel from NJ, who has been chomping at the bit to get out more and garnered a few snippets of illicit press coverage while partying in Germany. Having watched (Brooklyn-born) Bruce Arena coach the US Men's soccer team to 99 wins out of 127 international matches inspires much confidence and fills me with great hope. Arena, has kept all the playerÂ’s focused by keeping them secluded and out of the pressÂ’ sight. But overall, the team has finally been able to come together in the last week and they do seem like a cohesive group. This was evident during the team's press conference where players were even finishing each other's sentences. Bruce is a phenomenal coach and I know (fingers and toes crossed) that he's prepared them well for this game. It's going to be a heart breaker for me as I've got to attend a F#$%&*@# meeting at work which I've been trying to get out of. On top of all that our division head will be working from our offices. AHHHHHHHHH! I should have taken the day off like some of my work colleagues.

BTW, some of the playersÂ’ impressions, etc. are being blogged by the staff on the teamÂ’s web log. Here's a link to the US Men's Soccer Team's stats and history.

The US matches are:

06/12/2006
11:55 AM/ET U.S. Men vs. Czech Republic Live on ESPN2 and Univision

06/17/2006
2:30 PM/ET U.S. Men vs. Italy Live on ABC and Univision

06/22/2006
9:55 AM/ET U.S. Men vs. Ghana Live on ESPN and Univision

How they do in the first 2 matches will determine their fate: they either win or tie to get the 4 points to move on or they go home. I'm hoping they reach the semi's because otherwise it'll be the first time out of their last 4 World Cup that they don't make it. A very sad thought indeed!

Well, it's almost 2:00am so I best sign off now. I do hope you watch the game, who else will I have to compare notes with if you don't (are you feeling the pressure?).

Hug,
m/

P. S. BTW, did you see Markos of Daily Kos being interviewed on Meet the Press re: his convention in Las Vegas and the upcoming elections in 2008?

Posted by: Michele at 12:47 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 1164 words, total size 7 kb.

LIVE from Germany it's World Cup '06. Can't be in Germany rooting for your favorite country? Then sit in front of your PC . Yes, the madness, the intensity, the passion of World Cup games can be seen up close and personnal by watching live streaming video into your home.

I've been carefully planning my technical needs for this event for the last 4 months, just so that I could hook up my new laptop to my widescreen tv and WATCH THE MATCHES I WANT, WHEN I WANT TO, AND HOW I CHOOSE TO and not the matches ESPN signs up for and decides to broadcast.

I was so pissed off during the last world cup with both cable and tv coverage, that I decided to cut their cord permanently. My sporting independence begins today!

more...

Posted by: Michele at 08:00 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 675 words, total size 4 kb.

Well it seems that it's time for me to pay off of a bet according to the rules set forth by Rocket Jones' - Hockey Whoopass Jamboree rules.

As a few of you might know, the Red Wings beat the Rangers 4-3 in a very agressive but fair game. Unfortunately for the Rangers, Brian Shanahan, having scored 2 goals, got out of his slump just in time to contribute to a win.

Unfortunately for my Rangers, Darius Kasparaitis absence due to a freak injury during the pre-game warmup, as a result of what I like to call it the curse of the Red Wings, was one that affected the Ranger line up and psyche through out the afternoon. All I saw during the game was a Rangers team that didn't play their usual masterful game, becoming instead a team that reacted to the aggressive Red Wing offense. This allowed the Red Wings to dominate the ice and ultimately the game. Proof of this can be seen in the high number of shots on goal the Red Wings had versus the Rangers. In spite of the loss though, I did enjoy the game and the frenzied/mad trash talk via text messaging w/Jon. Until the next one!

See, and you all thought I was just another pretty face in the family that just had some good fashion sense and not much else. Fooled you didn't I?

Anyway, being the kind of gal that I am, I will be paying my Jamboree dues and holding up my bet with Jon by displaying the Red Wing logo not for 1 day, as per the rules, but for 3 days as Jon and I agreed to in our bet. Yep, for the next 3 days I'll have to live with the logo on the left. I can put up with it only because it reminds me of a Harley Davidson logo and not that of an opposing hockey team.

Posted by: Michele at 01:48 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 332 words, total size 2 kb.

1 The red, it burns.

Posted by: Ted at January 15, 2006 08:16 PM (+OVgL)

2 That's an awesome logo. I gotta save that one. Thanks! btw, it's *Brendan* Shanahan. My mom calls me every time he scores. She called me twice that day, ThankYouVeryMuch.

Posted by: _Jon at January 15, 2006 10:43 PM (/R7YK)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

First I need to say that I'm sorry to see Messier retire, he will be missed!

I'm spending quality time with my son watching while teaching him all about hockey. It's the first publically televised game of the season so I'm really glad for this opportunity, aside from the fact that it's expected to be a very good and agressive game.

Personally, I hope the Rangers draw blood first and get their 8th straight win! Lundquist is expected to protect our turf magnificently. It's been seven years since the Rangers have won on Detroit dirt and I pray today's the day!

My two main reasons for wanting to see the Rangers win: ice/league supremacy AND to see their beautiful logo on my opponents website. Jon, has already accepted my challenge, what about you Machelle? And maybe, if you guys are not too afraid, loser gets to sport a tshirt or jersey provided by the winner? What say you????

Score right now: Rangers 2 - Wings 3

Posted by: Michele at 04:10 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 180 words, total size 1 kb.

1 heh, I didn't realize you meant hockey at first. "Blood wings", in the Army, is part of the tradition of the promotion ceremony. Basically, the rank is pinned to your collar, but the backs are not put on. Then the officer conducting the ceremony hits your rank badges hard enough to push the pins on the back through your shirt and break the skin. It's a "how tough are you" type of thing. Anyhow, sometimes it's also called "red wings" or "blood stripes". It took me a minute to adjust my thinking after I got past the post title. :-)

Posted by: Eric at January 14, 2006 05:24 PM (KBCux)

2 Your goalie kept it from being a blow-out. The Wings always seem to bring the best out of an opponent. I can't tell you the number of times I've heard that a goalie has played his "best game all season!" - against us. It was a tough break losing Darius during warmups. That hurts the NYR defense a lot. I'm spoiled - not just with a winning team and TV every game and tickets to 15 home games - but with good play. Detroit plays a "puck possession" style (vs "dump and chase" - which I think sucks eggs). I enjoy watching us play - as long as the refs let us play. I'm rejuvinated this year because the new rules are working. It was fun taunting you during the game. I'll dig up a logo for you straight away....

Posted by: _Jon at January 14, 2006 09:52 PM (/R7YK)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Logos to follow soon... once the shock of seeing the last Monday Night Football game being broadcast on tv wears off.

Man, none of the local teams won this weekend.

Posted by: Michele at 12:25 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 40 words, total size 1 kb.

Now that I'm amongst the living, and as per the rules of the game, I'm posting the logo of Derek's Avalanche who beat my beloved Rangers. Just remember guys (Ted/Derek), it ain't over till the fat lady sings!






More Hockey Sucky news:
Going to Torino as part of TEAM USA are 3 team members of the Devils and 3 from the Islanders. What the hell happened to selecting some from the Rangers? I guess leading the Atlantic Eastern conference isn't good enough to get into TEAM USA. Nope you have to be from such loser teams as the Devils to get in or an over the hill type like 43-year-old Chris Chelios (Red Wings).

Well, they deserve to lose in Torino for picking such sub-par players!

Posted by: Michele at 02:46 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 130 words, total size 1 kb.

1 hey! Hot damn, someone's paying attention! y'know, anytime Sakic gets a penalty shot...He's just money.

Posted by: Derek at December 19, 2005 03:26 PM (FloaD)

2 It's because all the good players on the Rangers are playing for European Olympic teams

Posted by: Victor at December 20, 2005 10:33 AM (L3qPK)

3 I've always liked Chelios... he's from around here. Yeah, he's getting old, for a player. Only thing I can think of is that they are looking for a leader with tons of experience...

Posted by: That 1 Guy at December 20, 2005 06:58 PM (UuXC9)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

I couldn't stay away! I had to do one last post before hiatus! Yep, I'm back in love with my NY sports teams (Giants, Knicks and Rangers), but most especially, I have a heart thumpin thing going on with Larry Brown. Wow! Detroits' loss is definitely NY's and my gain.

Brown was masterful last night! GW could learn a thing or two from him about how to handle the press. Herm Edwards (Giants coach) could also learn a thing or two from Brown on how to deal with less than humble super star players.

Yes the Knicks lost. Yes there were some errors. But as Mike Lupica wrote, "A lot of things did work for the Knicks last night as they stayed in there with the Celtics before dying in overtime like a fighter running out of legs and out of gas in the last minutes of the 12th round."

For me, who was watching the game as I was working through the frustration of pc troubleshooting, it was looking at the excitement of 2 really good times going head to head and battling it out for court supremacy. Damm, it was the best B-ball I've seen in... in... years.

I have hope people! For the first time in many, many years... I have hopes and dreams that my NY Teams will reign SUPREME!

Posted by: Michele at 01:30 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 234 words, total size 1 kb.

Or it will be as of opening day, Oct 5th. So, if you haven't joined yet, Ted of Rocket Jones, has thrown down the gauntlet in a menacing way, (eww, I'm very afraid) for hockey fans to join in his Whoopass Jamboree Roster.

I've joined but I must tell Ted that he needs to think about a new name for this crew. One that conveys the speed, action, passion and agressiveness that is hockey. Whoopass Jamboree doesn't cut the mustard for me. Instead, it gives me an imagery of young boy scouts hitting each other on their naked butts with wet towels at the edge of a river. Sorry Ted but that's what comes up in my head... not appealing at all!

On the other hand, if you say hockey to me, the image I get is of panting, hot sweaty guys, sporting black and blues with splotches of red steaks on their faces. oh wait, I think that was last night's dream.

Anyway, I think something along the lines of Bloody Hockey Smackdown or BodySlam Countdown would be a more fitting name. But that's just me thinking out loud.

Anyway, if you care to join us, read the 4 simple rules and drop your team's name in Ted's comment box. So far I feel so unchallenged! There's only Victor of Publius for me to spar with, and he has a rat's chance in hell of beating me. That's a long 7 months with only 1 opponent.

I went for the Rangers as soon as I learned that RP of Random Penseur was being a poseur while having a geographic identity crisis. That's the only reason why I think he didn't choose the Rangers.

If you decide to participate, think of the bragging rights you'll have if you win.

So here's your opportunity to help me pick the logo that will be on my side bar for the next 7 months. Go to the extended entry and vote for which will look better. Thanks! more...

Posted by: Michele at 01:40 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 340 words, total size 2 kb.

Blogging will be light this week as I'll be engrossed in the European Soccer Championships. Real Madrid will be beating somebody into a pulp on Tuesday, while AC Milan will be kicking the lights out of some other opponent on Wednesday.

This is timely break as my carpel tunnel has returned and has been getting worse since I cooked up a storm on Friday.

This is Maldini from AC Milan and Raul from Real Madrid, two of my favorite players.

Posted by: Michele at 07:15 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 84 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Let me guess... scantily-clad goalies? ;-)

Posted by: Harvey at September 28, 2004 11:42 AM (tJfh1)

2 ooo! Nice legs!

Posted by: Boudicca at September 29, 2004 07:09 AM (OfXwr)

3 I've drifted away from watching soccer on TV. I really should start again, as I love it. It's just not the same as being there. And it's really not the same as playing. When I was 10 my cousin came home from Brazil and was trying to teach me to play. He gave up and said I'd never learn, because I was a "stupid American girl". Yeah, that went over real well. We didn't have much opportunity to play in the states back then, but I joined every league I could and actually played in college. But I loved to watch the guys play. My college had many that it was their national sport - and it was a true joy to watch. And, yeah - I really like the legs too!! Enjoy yourself. We'll be here when you get back!

Posted by: Tammi at September 29, 2004 08:41 AM (UOdfZ)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

And the US wins the game! The US womenÂ’s soccer team in double overtime, manages to narrowly defeat Brazil 2-1, to attain the gold medal in Women's soccer. Congrats to O'Reilly for her Olympic performance and goal. To Brandi Chastain, Mia Hamm, Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy and Kristine Lilly, I say thanks for the incredible memories these past 13 years. I was elated to the point of intoxication, knowing that you were going out in a blaze of glory! more...

Posted by: Michele at 02:01 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 517 words, total size 3 kb.

Since I was rained in yesterday, I did a bit of digital walking around the blogosphere. One of the things I learned was that the ancient literal translation of gymnasium means "going naked" [in order to exercise that is]! more...

Posted by: Michele at 10:50 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 826 words, total size 5 kb.