A Flawed System

FIFA released it's new world rankings with newly crowned European champion Spain sitting atop the table. No issue with that, nor with Italy, Germany, Brazil and Holland rounding out the top 5. What gets me is the American side falling all the way to 30th. I understand that the rankings are based on a point system that awards teams for winning games against highly ranked opponents. I guess it's sort of like RPI. So I get that the US beatdown of Barbados (ranked 137) a few weeks ago didn't exactly turn heads.

But really, the US isn't a better side than Scotland? I love Scotland, but their team would probably not beat the US in a match, and the Scots are ranked 16. What about Mexico? The US usually fares well against the Mexicans, especially on home soil. Yet Mexico is ranked 19. Others listed higher than America such as Paraguay, Israel and Nigeria are all sides you could honestly expect the US to beat.

The FIFA rankings need to be used, at least in this country, not as a barometer of where the US stands in relation to other countries, but simply as one poll based on one equation. Mainstream media will surely announce that American soccer is in a low period and that interest is waning in the world's game as a result. To the contrary, American interest in soccer is growing and is not dependent on the US national team. If they do well, that's good, but seeing their ranking drop to 30th will not keep those whose interest has grown as a result of the fabulously entertaining Euro 2008 tournament from tuning in in the future.

Young for Garza

Who do you think has gotten the better of this trade through the first half of the season?

Matt Garza - 7-4, 3.47 ERA, 58K

Delmon Young - .278, 2HR, 28RBI, 51K

Daily Dose of Better...

Better Derrick: Rose or Coleman?

USA Basketball

USA Basketball, in conjunction with Nike of course, released their new uniforms yesterday in New York. All things considered, they aren't that bad. But they do look a lot like these uniforms. 

I like the idea that most of the guys are wearing the same shoes, though it come as no surprise to see that LeBron, Carmello Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul are not. Those four each have shoes that have been customized just for the Olympics with either their Olympic numbers (different from their NBA ones) or an American flag on the tongue.

There still seems to be something a little off with the unis though. They could be so simple but instead just look kind of weird. The star inside the 'A' looks ridiculous and the shorts side piping angling back like that looks pretty cheesy too. Worst of all is the star on the shorts and socks (and on LeBron's headband). It's using an ABA basketball to start and looks like the ornamentation that might go on a little boy's birthday card. The unitard look is bad too, looks like of like this.

The teams looked so much better in more traditional uniforms. Even the 2004 uniforms were better than these, and I wasn't that into those either. It is good though, they appear to have moved permanently away from using a USA Basketball logo directly on the unis. That was awful.

Lastly, is this where the photo was taken? Why does it look like they're all about to bow after a particularly bad showing? And what's with Jason Kidd's face, while we're at it?

For a super-zoomed view, click here.

Andy Murray - UK's Latest Last Great Hope

Andy Murray's comeback victory at Wimbledon over 8th ranked Richard Gasquet of France (Murray is ranked 14th) was as inspirational and exciting a victory as British tennis fans have seen in years. Murray, who is of course Scottish, rallied from two sets down to defeat the Frenchman in a match lasting nearly four hours. The victory propels Murray into the Quarterfinals where he will face two-time defending runner-up Rafael Nadal.

The last British player to reach the Semifinals at Wimbledon was Tim Henman, England's former last great tennis hope. Henman last made the Wimbledon semis in 2002 (and also reached the final four in 2001, 1999 and 1998). While Murray is not English as Henman is, he is a citizen of the UK. Murray makes it very clear that he is Scottish, but he still represents a homegrown talent that would thrill the fans at Centre Court were he to advance further in the tournament. Nadal is a formidable opponent, though perhaps on grass and with the 'home' crowd behind him, Murray can keep his momentum going.

No Englishman (or Brit, for that matter) has won England's crown jewel since Fred Perry's three consecutive titles in 1934, 1935 and 1936. The run of over seventy years (though slightly fewer tournaments, as none were held during the war years of 1940-1945) weighs heavily on the British fans who long for a champion of native birth to celebrate.

Will this be the year? Doubtful, as Nadal has been increasingly stronger on grass over the past three years. But with record crowds cheering him on, perhaps Andy Murray can summon some other-worldly abilities for what would be a match for the ages for the British tennis fans.

Wizards Cursing Themselves?

Yesterday the Washington Wizards resigned Antawn Jamison to a big contract ($44 million) inching that much closer to resigning opted out Gilbert Arenas (likely in the area of $100 million). Nothing wrong with that kind of money for either guy, they're both great players and both are truly loved in DC, especially Arenas. But let's break down what they're doing for just a second. 

For the last three years, the Wizards have lost in the playoffs to the Cleveland Cavaliers. That's right, the Cavs. It's not like the Cavs are bad, but let's be honest, outside of LeBron, they're pretty average. What Washington has done is locked up two of the three best players (Caron Butler being the third) for a long period of time. How does that make this team any better or different? Especially considering Jamison is now 32 years old. That's right, 32. Even though he has a boyish face, Jamison was the 1998 National Player of the Year at North Carolina. He's a very good player and a great guy, but four more years and he'll be 36.

As for Arenas, they basically had to keep Jamison in order to keep Arenas. At least that's what he told them before negotiations began. And you have to keep Arenas.

But this team is now locked in with tons of money to just three guys - Butler for $50 million starting in 2005 and going through 2010, Jamison for $44 million through 2012 and they'll likely land Arenas for roughly $100 million through 2014. That's a lot of cash. And for what? This will be the exact same team, essentially, that has lost three years in a row to Cleveland. And their first round draft pick this year: JaVale McGee. That's right, who? Apparently his mom, a former WNBA player, knew Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. Great.

All this of course comes with the caveat that I have no suggestions to the contrary. You don't want to break up a team popular with its fans, even if they're not really in actual contention to win a title. But on the other hand, you don't want to throw away money on investments that are safe but won't yield the ultimate results. I guess we'll just have to see what happens.

Daily Dose of Better...

Better Marion: Shawn or Jones?

Tampa Atop the Bigs

The Tampa Bay Rays have the best record in baseball through their first 81 games, or the first half of this season. Granted, we've seen unlikely teams do quite well through the first half before, maybe the best example is the 2005 Washington Nationals, only to completely fall apart later in the season. I remember writing a column for the college newspaper about the Nats, and maybe this is the same thing, but...

Tampa seems actually built for sustained success. Maybe they don't finish this year on top of the American League East. Maybe they don't even get the AL Wild Card. But they've got a lineup and pitching staff that situates them in the top of the American League for at least the next few years. Nearly everyone on the team is young, with rookie Evan Longoria and youngster BJ Upton highlighting the position players. The Rays have strong starting pitching and could even be making a move to acquire CC Sabathia from the Indians before the trade-deadline. Even better, they seem to hate the Red Sox and Yankees, which puts them in the likable category with most fans around the country.

Let's hope they can keep it up and at the very least keep one of the two northeastern teams out of this year's playoffs.

Daily Dose of Better...

Better Luis: Alicea or Arangones?

What's in a Name?

Without question, there have been numerous memorable performances by individuals named Fernando:

• This guy hit two 4-RBIers in one game.
• This guy won a Cy Young and (apparently) is beloved by his fans.
• This guy was a marginally effective 2nd-baseman (and hardworking to boot?)... and now he's on TV.

Above all, however, reigns this guy, who surprised many onlookers by scoring 24 P-ship goals to firmly justify his astronomical 26-million-pound transfer fee.

And, if a world-class EPL season weren't enough, he added a brilliant game-winning goal to push Spain to the Euro 2008 title.

Apparently, the chicks also dig him.

(Note: Will there ever be a better Fernando? This guy got knocked out by a pretty boy, and this guy has nice muscles but looks like he invented the term "dookie-poo".)

(Note 2: Slight variants on the name "Fernando," as can be found here and here, were not considered.)

Of Note, and an Apology

Of Note:

None of our contributors correctly identified the score of the game, though Mr. Lee did manage to guess the right outcome.

An Apology:

To anyone who read the phrase "dookie-poo." This should be self-explanatory.

Spanish Victory

After 44 years of falling short of expectations, Spain have defeated Germany to win Euro 2008. The Germans did nothing to deserve a chance to win this match and a terrific Fernando Torres goal in the 33rd minute gave Spain all it needed to win.

Even without a last-minute goal from the Germans to tie, this tournament has to be remembered as one of the best major international tournaments. The number of late goals and upstart teams will keep Euro 2008 in mind for years to come.

Bonus Better

Better Villa: David or Aston?

Daily Dose of Better...

Better Walker: Javon or Kenny?

Oddities

It's a fact of life: Sometimes, weird shit happens.

--Occasionally, avian mortality is forcefully illustrated.

--Frequently, old dudes with moustaches are resurrected from the coaching crypt to re-lead their former teams.

--Rarely, though, does a dookie-poo team win a MAJOR LEAGUE baseball game without notching a single hit.

If such piss-poor beisbol depresses you, watch this for the zillionth time. (Just don't remember the fact that this guy used to be an owner!)

Daily Dose of Better...

Better Lehman: Tom or Jens?

Incorrect Predictions on the Euro 2008 Final

With Sunday's Euro 2008 Final upon us this weekend, we have pooled our collective thoughts, collaborated on the many possible scenarios and weighed several potential coaching moves that could impact the match between Spain and Germany. Having done so, we have reached three completely different conclusions about the outcome of the championship.

1. Mr. Lee - A 1-1 draw through full and over times with Spain winning on penalties.
2. Prizz - Germany claim their fourth European Championship with a 3-2 victory in a wide open match.
3. MAO - The Germans pull through in overtime 2-1, after a late goal equalizes the Spanish who will score early in the second half.

The most likely scenario is of course that none of these results will be the correct one, and based on the proceedings of the tournament to this point, it's very likely that no one on earth will successfully handicap this match. All we can hope for is a good, clean, open match that allows each team to exploit their particular advantages. If that happens, we should have quite a match. And if all else fails, they can at least play boring football through 120 minutes and give us an exciting penalty shootout.

Daily Dose of Better...

Better James: LeBron or David?

Unlucky No More

Conveniently for this blog's 200th post, we've had the table set for the Euro 2008 final, now between Germany and Spain. The Spanish demolished Russia for the second time in this tournament, 3-0, despite wearing their supposedly unlucky kits. Russia were never really in the game, despite a nil-nil score through fifty minutes. But the men in red never put together much of an attack and had very few shots on goal. Andrei Arshavin, the tournament's darling to this point, did next to nothing while Spain's relentless attack finally yielded goals late in the game.

So the final is set and it should be an interesting match. Two contrasting styles, the Germans strong, tough and big in the back against the much more free-flowing Spanish side.

Predictions will come tomorrow from each of us...

Unlucky Yellows?

If the Spanish truly consider yellow to be an unlucky color, why did they design one of their kits in that color? Why wouldn't they have white and red kits instead, as they did in the 2006 World Cup? Does anyone else think that this is just a built-in excuse in case they lose to the Russians?