The one thing you can count on, oh, every 4 years or so at this time, is when many individuals dust off their old arguments about why they hate the World Cup. It's actually quite laughable. I don't know if it's because, heaven forbid, foreigners are involved. Lack of scoring seems to be another issue. They are "forcing it down our throats" is another belabored point.

Personally, I think that stuff is a bunch of hooey. Think about it. There really aren't many sporting events where people gather in rather large groups to have a few drinks and watch the game. The Super Bowl is king, but that's a one-off. Another one-off might be something like the USA-Canada Olympic hockey final. If you happen to be lucky and your team makes a playoff run, sure, some games are targeted, but many choose to watch the games at home. The World Cup is one event where that camaraderie lasts for a month. But let's be honest, for every USA-England game that draws people out, you have an Algeria-Slovenia that won't draw flies. I always say at tournament time, it's better if England participates.

But they don't score, who wants to watch that? Think about that the next time you are watching the Indians losing, 11-3 in the sixth inning. I dare you to watch that game in its entirety. Seriously, try it. That game may last another hour, it may go longer. Over the years, I've found myself going from watching every pitch in a ballgame, to most times, just checking the games out. Sure, I may watch an entire game, but it's rare. Lord Football, again, a different story. I'll watch those games to the bitter end. But, how can you argue with the World Cup? The early-round games are always within a two-hour window. "Idol" lasts that long every week.

They are cramming it down our throats. Pump your breaks there, Sparky. Really, at 7 a.m. on a Sunday, you are being forced to watch the World Cup? Instead of, what, the Mass for the shut-ins? Yeah, but each time I turn on ESPN, it's the World Cup! Who can blame them, if they invested the cash. Of course, ESPN overpromotes everything they cover. Or have you forgotten about poker? But there are matches on the weekends during the afternoon, isn't that overboard? Huh, the Indians are on every Sunday and there's always golf and NASCAR. Have you ever seen a Channel 5 schedule on a Sunday? How many paid programming specials or "Matlocks" can you watch? Five Sundays of soccer every four years is not "cramming it down our throats".

Geez, you'd think the Olympics or the WNBA would catch more heat.

Glenn Beck hates soccer. Conveniently forgetting his parent company has a cable network known as "Fox Soccer Channel".

And, seriously, what other event brings out funny shit like this?












































































Meal of Links

The Dead Weather absolutely tore it up at Bonnaroo last night. NPR has the audio.

BP. You have 48 hours. Are you in or out?

They may ban vuvuzelas at the World Cup. Just last week they were charming, now they are a nuisance.

Some of the inner turmoil at Activision. They only make Call of Duty, the Tony Hawk games and Guitar Hero.

Ford finally killed Mercury. I guess no one put Mercury on their list.

"Mercury Blues"/David Lindley and El-Rayo X



Exercise Yard

Case in point about watching the Tribe. Big time hype because Stephen Strasburg was in town. Additionally, it was another chance to see the Indians catching prospect, Carlos Santana. So, there were butts in the chairs and it was a decent game.

But after Strasburg left the game, and the Indians had Tony Sipp throw gas on the fire, what was the point in watching that dreck. MLB Network has it right. On, their "MLB Tonight" show, they just have every pitch Strasburg throws and you don't have to wait through the other crap. Saves a bunch of time.

Visitor

None, on a humid Sunday.