Ingredients:
Cheers and Jeers is coming a little early so I can comment on the oncoming gladiator battle that is World Cup. Now I thought the best way to express the joys of the elite eight competitions is to compare it what we Americans know a little better College Basketball. Plus it keeps up the college basketball theme of the NBA draft.
World Cup Matchups
Germany (Duke) v. Argentina (Michigan State) - Germany is technically sound, well coached and seems to always make it to this stage in the game. However they rarely break through to actually win anything because of a lack of athleticism. Argentina is one of the deepest and most athletic teams. They have won it but tend to overshadowed by other teams.
Pick: Argentina
Italy - (Georgetown) v Ukraine - (Memphis) - Italy is a historic team that has won the tournament and once they get a lead they are tough to beat. Famous for a lockdown defense (ah the old John Thompson) Italy also has the advantage of knowing what they can away with from the officiating (witness the flop against Australia). Ukraine has great offensive talent but everyone knows they got to where they are by playing soft competition.
Pick: Italy
England - (Indiana) v. Portugal (Kansas or Florida). England is one of the other historically great teams that time has passed it by. While England has gotten to the quarterfinals four out of the past five tournaments they have failed to get out this round in three of those four chances. Portugal is the perennial underachiever. Always has talent but never wins the big game. The question is will they continue the trend of choking (Kansas) or finally break through (Florida). I say Choke
Pick : England
Brazil (UConn) v. France (Illinois) - Brazil has the best talent in the world. In fact they could field a Brazil B composed of their bench and that team would probably make the quarterfinals. However they have not yet shown an ability or willingness to actually play together. That’s a big time red flag. France is composed by former championship caliber players, who trot out really old players whose time has largely passed them by. For the record this is a rematch of the 1998 World Cup Finals.
Pick: Brazil
Some Quick Cheering and Jeering....
Cheers: Adam Morrison's Mustache. According to reliable sources (EA Sports) Adam Morrison's Mustache and possibly Adam Morrison will spend the summer in a van solving mysteries.
Cheers: David Noel getting drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks. The sole regular player that stayed at UNC following the 2005 Championship, Noel led the upstart Tar Heels to a decent showing. Glad to see he'll join the five other Tar Heels that were drafted last year.
Jeers: To corruption. The Italian Soccer League is embroiled in an investigation alleging fixed matches, point fixing, bribery and a host of other charges. On the eve of the start of the trial one of the key figures, Gianluca Pessota, fell off the top of a three story building onto a car. Nothing to see here. Move along you lookie loos.
Jeers: To Global Climate Change. Yes, remember when those crazy scientists, metrologist, climatologist and average eskimo with their "facts" and usage of the "Enlightment" claimed in the late 1990s that Global Warming was happening. Remember they predicted that the Mid-Atlantic region would see a dramatic increase in rain and possible flooding while the Western states would see increased drought and possible fires? Good thing that whole thing turned out to be hoax/false like George Will predicted. In an unrelated story The Back Seat Drivers is now available under-water in the Philadelphia area and at 451 degrees in the Nevada area.
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