I noticed that as well. England v the U.S. in the first round.

The soccer press here, what there is of it, seems to believe we are through to the second round. If you want to say that is typical American chest-beating I will agree with you. I love the World Cup no less for Americans being deficient at the world's game. IMO it is the best sports event in the world. I bought my 56 inch HDTV for the last World Cup. Not a day regretted, even though most of the time it is in service with dumb MTV or entertainment TV or "reality" crappola. My daughters are not dumb, at least I don't think so, but the stuff they watch appalls me.

>I'm going to ignore all that stuff and note that you are in our group . Looking forward to it, Capello has done a good job for England but I worry that the press here are already rating this as an easy group. Whatever happens lets hope its a good World Cup with plenty of open attacking play and I hope referees come down hard on cheating
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>>Apologies in advance to partisans of the older and more popular kind of football, diverted as you are with the World Cup draw. (I can't wait!) This is about American college football.
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>>Yesterday Florida and Alabama, both unbeaten, ranked #1 and #2 in the country, respectively, played for the championship of the SEC -- the best conference -- and a berth in the national championship game.
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>>I watched the game (delayed by 45 minutes on the DVR, as is my habit) and was cheering for Alabama. That was a change of habit, and not because I thought they were going to win. Florida has won a couple of national championships and I don't take long wanting something new. Their coach, Urban Meyer, is unquestionably a very successful coach, but his constant working of pollsters and officials has gotten very old. As has the act of their star player, Tim Tebow, who has won one Heisman Trophy (the annual award to the most outstanding player in college football, especially if they're a quarterback) and is in contention again this year. He is a bruiser of a quarterback, blessed with both size and speed, more dangerous running the ball than throwing it. He is an in your face fundamentalist Christian, to the point of grease painting Biblical references under his eyes for games. (Talk about in your face).
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>>The game? Alabama took it to Florida early, jumping out to a 9-0 lead (missed the extra point after their first touchdown). They kept Florida off balance with a mix of passes and runs, formations, and constant aggression. Florida got back into it enough to still be in contention at halftime, trailing 19-13 and due to receive the second half kickoff. The second half was all Bama. They put it away and cruised in with a 32-13 win. Florida came into the game the #1 defense in the country statistically and Alabama blew it up. From their POV this game was a coach's dream.
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>>Tebow is an interesting case. As I said, the overt evangelicism turns me off. But he seems sincere about it. After the game he was interviewed on the field by the TV reporter, crying. At first I thought wah, wah, wah, you big crybaby. But he was sincere and pulled me around. He complimented the Alabama team and coaches from top to bottom without trying to disguise his own disappointment and without sounding like a sports automaton. Classy. Where he goes from here is unclear. He will not be a quarterback in the NFL but he is athletic enough and enough of a gamer -- means someone who plays better than statistical measures would lead you to expect -- to make a contribution in the NFL. Tight end seems like a good fit in my amateur opinion. Maybe even linebacker, if some team wants to take a radical chance, something NFL teams are not known for.
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>>You know where I think he's going to wind up? Politics. He is ideally suited, especially in the southeast. My guess is he will go in that direction and be very successful.
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>>Part 2 of Alabama's beautiful day has yet to play out. Their star running back, Mark Ingram, Jr., another Heisman contender, had a terrific game. He ran for over 100 yards and turned a one yard pass into a crucial 69 yard gain in the second half, down to the Florida 3 yard line. He scored three touchdowns. Later in the day, another of the primary Heisman contenders, Colt McCoy of Texas (is that name too perfect or what?), had a miserable night as the Longhorns barely averted playing their way out of a meeting with Alabama for the championship. Amazingly enough considering their storied history and the passion for Alabama football, they have never had a Heisman winner. I think they are about to have their first.