Dirty, dirty Mexicans.
How do you feel about the Saudis? I have to say that I was pumping my fist during their match with Tunisia when they pulled ahead. When I returned to the office from lunch, I felt disappointed by news of the tie, in spite of oil gouging, hatred of us and Israel, women not driving, etc. Maybe I was just blind-sided by the sight of players celebrating goals together, with real emotion.
We root against the Spanish Menace, since they're not really in decline, but only sleeping to lull you into a false sense of security.
And fuck the Saudis. One of our favorite moments in WC history was watching Germany crush them 8-0 in 2002.
I don't have any antipathy towards the Saudis for a few reasons: Saudi losses don't help the USA; no Saudi player has ever tried to break a USA player's leg; there's no history between the sides. I generally hold the guys on the pitch blameless for the politics of their governments. Hence, I rooted like hell for Iran, especially because when Iran wins there tend to be exposed ankles in public places -- as sure a sign of freedom as any.
Also, um, I was born in Saudi Arabia. My dad was working for an oil company and I left when I was one year old, but it's the homeland, man! Sort of.
I love Mexico. I even love Mexicans. But I hate their soccer team. They all must die. Starting with Rafa Marquez. I've never seen a bunch of sorer losers since the US lost at basketball...
You need to add Shep Messing to Vitale, Balboa, Walton and Smith. Sweet merciful crap is that guy awful.
Great 2nd half between Saudi Arabia and Tunisia today, and an epic beatdown of the Ukraine by Spain earlier.
I've really enjoyed the tournament so far, only a few clunkers (England, USA, Portugal).
The best thing about Mexico's team is that their coach is getting so much crap for playing Argentine-born, naturalized citizens. He says, "our constitution says they are citizens, so they are citizens." Why is this funny? For the first time, people are trying to sneak IN to Mexico...(insert off-color, slightly racist finish here).
"their country which is smelly and poor"
Actually, did you know that Mexicans are a clean and industrious people?
The More You Know... (points to those who caught the reference)
Oh, and Brian, the TV has an "off" button. When poker and Moto-X come on, that's God's way of telling you to do something outside.
BTW, an Irish guy born in Saudi Arabia? Don't that beat all...
Dude you are spot on with your take on the screwjob the US got from the seeding committee. Even if they pull off 2 victories against Ghana and Italy they will most likely face Brazil in the next round. What a farse.
The US situation would be completely different right now if they had gotten what they deserved, a top seed. They would be almost a guaranteed quarterfinalist.
What happened to them vs the czechs could have happened to any of the 3 great squads in that group.
The only way Arena should be shown the door is if they quit on him in the last 2 games. He's done too much for the National team and rarely has the team gotten soundly beaten.
The poker-watching doesn't bother me nearly as much as does the soccer-watching.
The U.S. deserved a top seed? Good Christ did you actually watch that game? The U.S. doesn't have one player other than Keller who would have any chance of starting for any of the top teams in the tournament.
The 2002 run was very nice, and U.S. soccer has come a long way, but the hype that this team had a real chance to make serious noise in the WC was always absurd.
Sure they might have been able to qualify for the knockout round if they had gotten a good draw, but they would have been crushed the first time they ran into a real team. Just wait to see what happens against Italy, and I wouldn't be expecting a win against Ghana either.
But how could they hand MEXICO a damn top seed? They lose to us with hilarious regularity and have exhibited, like, ZERO VIM over the last 8 years on the pitch.
There is but one conclusion. We are being punished for our hilarious cartoon send-up of Mexican culture, which the world has deemed racist. Mr. Gonzalez, speedy though he may be, has cost us dearly.
Did anyone witness the beating the US received from a friendly against Germany some time before the Cup started? We definitely don't deserve the top seed after that. And didn't Mexico beat us last time we played (granted it was in Mexico City and it was March '05 - I wasn't impressed by the US Team at this point, but we did get a lot better as the qualifying continued)
We beat Mexico the last time we played (last fall in Columbus). We beat them everywhere but in the Azteca.
But Holland or the Czechs probably deserved Mexico's seed, not us.
My personal pet peeve with ESPN's coverage is all the talk of Kasey Keller as the world's top goalkeeper. In reality, he's the third best keeper in the group.
Brian, did you catch any of the world dominos championships on one of the E.S.P.N. networks this afternoon?
No, I am not kidding . . . and I'm not talking about competitive pizza delivery (which would be cool, by the way). Guys were on T.V. playing dominos competitively.
It had announcers and everything. In fact, I'm halfway certain it was being announced in Spanish.
Honestly, I'm not joking around about any of this! Did anyone else see it?
Just to prove to myself that I wasn't hallucinating, I went and looked it up:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espntv...spntv/
espnGuide
There it was . . . 5:00 p.m., June 14, E.S.P.N.2: The World Dominos Tournament at the Las Vegas Hilton.
I'm just wondering if Brian's sickness is so advanced that he watched that, too.
Er... yes. But only for about five minutes. I couldn't understand what was going on so it wasn't interesting.
re: seeding. Realistically, the US does not deserve to be seeded, but the FIFA system makes it possible.
I agree Brian, but since Mexico was deemed worthy of a seed, and the US won the region and owns Mexico, they should have gotten Mexico's seed. I think we all agree on that.
To clarify that loss against "Ze Germans":
I don't believe even half of the current squad even played in that game. I think that was a "bring the young guys overseas for some international flavor" type of game. I could be wrong. I've been wrong before...once.
Cmon Angola!
Go Black Impalas.
Insert Ford/Chevy jokes at will.
"You call the INS on anyone you see rooting for Mexico"
This is funny, because my summer job has me working at a warehouse where all the non-english speaking employees left early to watch Mexico play.
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