Who's Got the Fever?

We are almost at the make or break point for ALL teams in the World Cup at this point. A few teams (almost all the African teams) fate has already been decided either positively or negatively as it relates to advancing to the next round. The U.S. is still in good shape needing just a win to advance to the elimination rounds. The elimination round will be your standard playoff bracketed format. Win and advance, lose and go home. No more ties (they will play extra periods if need be and go to a penalty kick shootout after 2 extra periods if still tied). The last games of the group play will be played simultaneously in each group as to not give any team an advantage of "knowing" what they need to do to advance. As a result I will be in full 2 tv mode during the US/Algeria and Eng/Slovenia matches. Is it too early to drink beer at 830 a.m. local time?

To clear up a point from the last entry. Being that you can't return after getting subbed out, some players buy a little extra time rolling around on the ground to assess their injury when they aren't THAT injured. Don't confuse this with the 80% of players who are being exposed by these super slow mo replays in HD for taking dives when another player gets within a foot of them. It's passed the point of irritating already with the number of fouls/cards/ejections awarded for these players channeling their inner Vlade Divac.

One good thing about the ref who disallowed (wrongly) a potential game winning goal by the U.S. against Slovenia is the fact that he did it, well, against the U.S. Clearly this country is not behind soccer to the intimate levels as other countries or he may have already have needed to be placed in a witness protection program. When a Colombian player accidentally scored on his own goal (against the US) back in '94...someone decided to correct his mistake a month later...with his life.

While we're dealing with Africa, shout out to Manute Bol who passed away over the weekend. First and foremost he was quite the humanitarian for his homeland, also the tallest player (or 2nd depending on who you ask) ever in the NBA. Has also been reported he was accidentally the originator of the phrase "My Bad". Have fun with that pointless bit of information!

I'd be remissed if I didn't quickly address Kobe being almost as good as Michael Jordan. Kobe is now 5 for 7 in NBA Finals with 2 Finals MVPs and 1 regular season MVP. Jordan was 6 for 6 in the finals with 6 MVPs and 5 regular season MVPs. Jordan would never have been on the absentee ballot for 3 quarters in a game 7. For my 2 cents, he's the best thing SINCE MJ...but he ain't.no.michael.jeffrey.jordan.

That Kobe/MJ conversation reminds me of how we assign hall of fame status to good to above average players over a given period. Are we required to say, "well, he was one of the best over the past 10 years so he HAS to be hall of fame" Just because you make me choose from limited options of whether I'll eat pigs feet, day old bread, or drink spoiled milk doesn't mean they are equivalent to food at a five star restaurant. Of course I'm not speaking of Kobe's merits regarding the hall of fame....but I am pointing a long uncle sam's finger directly at you Ray Allen.

Signing off with a video of the fastest 90+ year old in the world. For my money that's like being the person with the least body fat weighing over 300 lbs but we all know I'm an idiot.