Category: Sports

  • England v Germany and Euro 2020/21 In General

    Today at noon, in Wembley Stadium, England will play Germany in the knockout round of Euro 2020/21. I’m pretty excited about this. I will also be pretty excited if Harry Kane shows up in a dramatic way today. I don’t need him to score all the goals. He can assist Sterling all day, and I’ll be happy with that result.

    I’m almost on the level of excitement as if I were watching the World Cup. I don’t know a whole lot about the teams, outside of England, but I’m enjoying the drama of the matches. Switzerland defeating France was exciting. The same thing with Belgium knocking out Portugal. There’s even part of me that hopes Italy does well, but I know that’s a long shot.

    I’m a little surprised at how much I have gotten into international football. I’ve started reading up on Premier League trade rumors, keeping an eye on qualifying matches for the World Cup, and in a weird way, I’m really looking forward to season two of Ted Lasso. (It’s all connected.) Either way, I’m enjoying myself, and that all that matters.

  • ODDS and ENDS – England v Germany, REI Again, and SCHOOLS OUT!

    “Odds and Ends” is my continuing series of random thoughts and follow ups…

    So, England made it out of the Group Stage at EURO 2020/21, and is in the Knockout Round. It’s not a clean path. First, they have to play Germany, who isn’t playing like Germany of old, but at the same time, Germany is never easy. If England gets past that, my guess is that they will have to play Sweden, which I think they should win. After that, all bets are off. In the semi-finals, England will play either the Dutch or the Czech Republic. Sadly, I don’t see Wales or Denmark beating the Dutch or the Czechs. Am I getting ahead of myself? Oh, yes! But, as of this moment, EURO 2020/21 is the only sport that seems interesting to me. (And I am fully aware that Cubs threw a combined no-hitter against the Dodgers last night.)

    Last week, I talked about going to REI to exchange my boots for a half size larger, and I was curious if their 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed return policy was real. It’s real. They exchanged my boots, no questions asked. And in my excitement, I bought a day pack. Now, the kid-o is saying that her boots are too small as well. So, Saturday, we are headed back to REI for another exchange. And I might pick up a small first-aid kit for the day pack. (Yes, I keep buying hiking stuff.)

    And today was the last day of school! I never want to do a remote school year again! I know I am not alone on that, but man, never again. SO starts the adventure of a real Summer Vacation, of Day Camps, road trips, museum runs, and sleeping in. All Hail Summer!

  • Ah, man… The Knicks

    All things must come to an end.

    And the Knicks were eliminated from the playoffs last night by Atlanta.

    I shouldn’t pick on them. The Knicks did a lot better than so many people thought, including myself. It was fun to have faith, and some hope, in a group of people you want to see succeed. I kept hoping they would find a way to break out of the first round. Just a little faith was needed so that they would find a way.

    See, my family is from Illinois, just south of Chicago. We have been Cubs fans since pretty much the beginning of the team. Following a team that has no real chance is how I was raised. I’m suspicious of teams, and people for that matter, who succeed all the time. (I never was a fan of the Bulls for that reason.) There was an indescribable joy I experienced when the Cubs won IT in 2016.

    And, being that they haven’t been back, sort of makes me think the Universe has returned to normal.

    To me, no team is on top forever, and to a certain degree, neither is a person.

    That sounds a bit darker than I wanted…

    I guess what I am trying to say is that I enjoyed the Knicks’ struggle this year, I enjoyed them making the playoffs, and winning a playoff game. I hope they can do better next year, and maybe the will.

    Not that I’m becoming a Knicks fan.

  • The Knicks Won!

    I don’t know if you know this, but last night, the New York Knicks won a playoff game! It is the first playoff win for the Knicks since 2013. After the game, a crowd formed in the street outside of Madison Square Garden to chant, jump on cars, be unruly New Yorkers, you know…

    Sure, the Knicks haven’t won the series, and the odds are still against them, but hey, they got a win in the playoffs…

    Not unlike when the Cleveland Browns won a game in 2018, after their 0-16 2017 season. It’s on that level of fan excitement.

    The other thing to remember about the game from last night was that the Knicks had a crowd to play for, and I think it helped. Especially after halftime when Rose and Gibson started in the lineup. People cheering, yelling, getting excited. The home crowd being rowdy when their team plays well. You know, normal stuff.

    I’m not a Knicks fan, but if I start saying that I am, then clearly I’m jumping on the bandwagon. I should be called out on that.

  • Behind the Scenes Drama of the Super League

    Here is the New York Times story about how the Super League died. Stories of greed and hubris are as old as Greek drama.

    www.nytimes.com/2021/04/22/sports/soccer/super-league-soccer.html