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Royally
Screwed It's the only way to describe what happened to the USA soccer team in their World Cup match against Slovenia. It might go down as the worst call I've ever seen in any sporting event......and living in the heart of ACC basketball country, that's saying something. Despite the ending and another World Cup tie for the Americans, it all comes down to a Wednesday match with Algeria. The formula is simple....win, and you're in. I won't even bother with all the tie-breakers and other scenarios, because it's too complicated and I don't care. Plus, it seems wrong if the Americans advance to the next round without winning a single match. This is becoming like NASCAR's version of winning the Cup championship without winning a single race.....it's happened before, and it's wrong. Team USA has not won a World Cup match since 2002......we're due. Plus, unlike college basketball's Jay Bilas, I believe in make-up calls. It shouldn't hurt, knowing that every ref in the World Cup stable of officials knows that the USA was hosed in the second round. It's time for the USA to seal the deal with a victory.....and we'll all find out on Wednesday morning. Speaking of closing the deal, how else would you describe the play of the final round of the 110th US Open? Graeme McDowell out-duels Tiger, Ernie and Phil....and Dustin Johnson plays the last round like he was in the second flight of a Myrtle Beach member-guest tourney. When you think of the great champions that have won the Open at Pebble Beach, you come across Nicklaus, Watson, Kite and Woods. Now it's time to put Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell's name on the list. Somehow it doesn't quite fit, but it doesn't matter. He outlasted every player in the world to pick up his first major victory. Last week, I predicted that a Euro was going to win the US Open.....but I must admit that McDowell wasn't on my radar. It is the first European win at the US Open since Tony Jacklin did it in 1970. Let's face it: they were overdue to win this one....much like the USA soccer team is due to win one in the World Cup. It was good to see Tiger go low on Saturday, but he showed on Sunday why his game has a ways to go. I know he finished in a tie for 4th (just like Augusta), but Woods is a mere shell of himself not only in his play, but also the way he carries himself. He doesn't even look like the same person. Of course, if you knew that an expensive divorce and all the other surrounding nonsense was in your immediate future, you might have the same attitude. For Woods, he's now gone two years without a major title and his next chance is at St. Andrews during the British Open next month. The College World Series is underway, and the ACC is off to another slow start. Both Florida State and Clemson have made it to Omaha...and that is a nice accomplishment. However, the league hasn't won the CWS since 1955.....that's right, 1955, when Wake Forest brought home the championship. The ACC has had dozens of opportunities, but apparently something bad happens to them in Nebraska. Florida State and Clemson also have their arch-rivals from the SEC in the field of 8, too......both Florida and South Carolina qualified to join them at Rosenblatt Stadium. When you consider that the rivals are also bunched in the same brackets, it makes it more enjoyable. Unfortunately, Florida State and Florida both lost their opening round games and now will face each other in a "Loser Leave Town" match. The South Carolina Gamecocks lost their opening round game to Oklahoma in a rain-delayed affair, and they will wait and see if their Palmetto state buddies, the Clemson Tigers, can survive #1 ranked Arizona State. If Clemson goes down, it will be round 2 of the "Loser Leave Town" games against their arch-rivals. Needless to say, the ACC and the SEC are off to a slow start at the CWS. The NBA Draft is this week. Yawn. The Charlotte Bobcats have been working out dozens of potential players that would be hard-pressed to make a D-League team. What makes it funnier is that the Bobcats have exactly zero picks in the first or second round of Thursday's draft. Not a single pick. I guess it works out perfectly for Michael Jordan.....it means that he doesn't have to come to the office this summer. More time for the links and Chicago Blackhawks celebrations. |
Packman
on Sports Commentary
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