Greece Will Not Repeat

Greece played better and got a lot more shots, but unfortunately lost to Russia 0-1 on Saturday.  The loss means that Ellas will not advance out of their group and thus not repeat as European champions.  

Unlike in the loss to Sweden on Tuesday, the Greek squad probably out played Russia.  But the defending European champions gave up a terrible goal on a terrible and confusing play by veteran keeper Nicopolidis (whose nickname is George Clooney in Greece) to trail at half 0-1.

Greece came out in the second half much more aggressive and active but could not score. Late in the game Charisteas and my man Fani Gekas appeared to score, but Gekas was called off sides on a very dubious call.   Greece should have won one-nil, or should have at least gotten a point after a tie game.  But they didn't, so now they play Spain in a meaningless game on Tuesday.  Hopefully Greece will at least score - Evan's goal for the team - and hopefully win so they can salvage some self respect and go back home with at least some points.

I didn't expect Greece to repeat - no one in European football ever has - but advancing out of their group was a realistic goal.  Still, qualifying for back to back European championships - to say nothing of winning the championship in 2004 - is a major accomplishment for a small, 11 million person country like Greece.  The Hellenic football squad has only qualified for 4 international tournaments ever - the 1994 World Cup and the 1980, 2004, and 2008 Euros - so back to back tournaments is pretty big.

Now it's on to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.  Greece is in a pretty good, meaning winnable, group so hopefully will qualify.  My friend Niko, who just moved to the US from Crete a few months ago, reminded me over the weekend that the Greek squad is loaded with some good young talent.  That's the good news; the sad news is that Euro 2008 may be the end for some talented Greek veterans like Nicopolidis, Basinas, etc., players who did so much for Greek football and for Hellenism when they were crowned European champions in 2004.

With Greece out of the running, I am now on the Dutch bandwagon.  I picked Germany, now think Portugal will probably win it, and have Romania as my dark horse, but look for me in an orange shirt rooting for Netherlands from now on.

 

Speaking of Euro, does anyone look more European - or have more of a modern Continental aura - than Pau Gasol?  Every time I look at that guy I hear techno music and smell sweat and cigarettes.

More Random NBA Musings

Interesting to see how many Celtics stand up, shout and clap their hands, actively try to affect Lakers when they shoot in front of the Boston bench.  At best it's bad sportsmanship, and worst it's crass.

The Lakers are so soft.  Gasol, Odom and Radmanovic have been pushed around all series.  But at least Gasol has made some plays tonight, even some tough ones.

Carolina Off to Good Start in CWS

Carolina scored early and often to defeat a very good LSU nine today 8-4 to win their opening game in the College World Series.  Starter Alex White looked especially sharp.

The Tar Heels play Fresno State, who bombed Rice in the first round, on Tuesday.  Carolina is the overall number 2 seed.  Number one seed Miami lost on Saturday, as did overall 4 seed Florida State.   The two in-state and ACC rivals play in an elimination game on Monday.

So on Tuesday two Carolina and Hellenic blue squads will play.

Nats Update

The Nats swept the Mariners over the weekend in Seattle (including Sunday's win in front of Joe Pillow), their first sweep of the season.  The series was notable for some decent hitting, led by my man Ronnie Belliard and their only legit hitter this season, Jesus Flores.  Elijah Dukes and Cory Kasto also had key hits in the other Washington this weekend.  We hope to go to a Nats game next weekend when Washington hosts the Josh Hamilton and the Texas Rangers. 

Another big sports weekend

Greece tries to bounce back today against Russia in EURO 2008.  The Hellenes looked terrible on Tuesday in losing to a lackluster Swedish team 0-2.  Of course, taking the long view in the millenial-long competition called 'civilization' Greece continues to dominate Sweden, whose contributions - Ingmar Bergmann, pornography? - are buried under dubious and terrible ones such as ABBA, IKEA and pillaging vikings.  And don't forget Ace of Base.   Anyway, it's tough when one of your top two contributions is pornography.  Sure, Greeks have always liked and produced pornography, but it's not even in our top 100.

Anyway, today Greece has to defeat Russia if they want to advance out of the group stage. Their best scenario is to beat Russia and tie Spain for a 1-1-1 record and 4 points.  That's how they advanced in 2004, when coincidentally they tied Spain but lost to Russia (after upsetting Portugal in their first match).

For those in town I will watch that game at Yanni's in Cleveland Park with Evan and Niko from my MeetUp group. Call my cell if you want to join us.

Interesting day of football yesterday, as Netherlands dismantled France and Romania tied World Cup holders Italy. I picked Romania as my dark horse and also predicted France would not advance.

NBA FINALS

Looks like I should stick to football since I was wrong - again - in my NBA predictions.  Remember, I picked the Zards over the Cavs and Celtics.  Instead of the Lakers in six it looks like the C's in 5.  

What a terrible loss by the Lakers.  Once again I fell asleep on the couch in the third quarter, and felt like Rip Van Winkle when I awoke to hear it was a two-point game heading into the fourth quarter.  

You have to give Doc Rivers credit, an ex-Hawk who I liked as a player when my sports team fandom was exclusively NC and FL driven and Atlanta-centric.  Not only did he keep his team focused in the first half, throughout the series and season he has used his bench wisely.  How clutch has James Posey been?  He's the kind of player you need to win a championship - a clutch performer who comes off the bench confident and willing to take on responsibility.  He obviously reminds me of Robert Horry, who has built a crazily-successful career around such a skill set.

Carolina back in the College World Series

The Tar Heels are in Omaha for their third College World Series in a row, something hard to do.   The Heels have a difficult opening game on Sunday against LSU, who has won 25 of their last 26 games.  Nonetheless, brother and Baseball America editor John Manuel, who is in Nebraska for the weekend, picks our alma mater to finally win the national championship.    

As some of you know, the Heels lost in the finals of the CWS the last two seasons to Oregon State, primarily because they could not field simple plays like bunts or run the bases.  Let's hope they've ironed out those problems and win Carolina's first ever baseball National Championship.

Random Carolina and Hellenic Notes

• So I testified in Congress this week (though all you C-Span 3 viewers already know that) on the Future of Oil. and am proud to note that I mentioned being Greek American and quoted Homer Simpson in both my written and oral testimony.   Next time I'll be sure to complete the trifecta by mentioning Dean Smith or Michael Jordan.
• Not only is it a big sports weekend, it's a weekend to celebrate the two most overlooked holidays on the calendar - Happy Flag Day to all the Father's out there!

 

 

Rules Changes I'd Make

After a day of running around between 2 soccer games (Ariadne's game was on a turf field on a hot day; field temp had to be over 100), Evan's baseball game (a blow out loss in the heat), Ariadne's dance recital (she was great and the choreography was cool), I'm sitting in the basement cooling off and getting ready for our school's picnic.

While watching Croatia play Austria in EURO 2008, I'm reminded of a handful of rule changes that I think would improve some of our major sports.   Here are my random recommendations:

• In baseball, one one pitching change - or maybe two - a game with NO pitching changes during an inning (unless a player is injured, of course).  Baseball stops every three innings; why stop the game between those 3 outs?  It would speed up the game, force pitchers to re-learn how to pitch themselves out of a jam/deal with adversity, and save pitching staffs' arms.  Adopting this change could solve the perennial problem of teams never having enough pitching.  A team could have 4 or 5 starters, 3 or 4 relievers who could go 2 or 3 innings, and perhaps one speciality one-inning closer if you had enough starting pitching. And now that the steroid era is over this change could result in more offense.  But the best aspect is it would force pitchers to be players, not delicate flowers who expect others to clean up their mess.
• Also, it almost goes without saying but get rid of the DH.  Both of these rule changes would strike a blow against overspecialization in baseball and sports.
• In football, eliminate punting.  This might be the best rule change that is never discussed. Does anyone care about watching a punt?  I would still allow punting, but no punting formations.  If teams wanted to quick kick they could do so with their quarterback, running back, etc.
• This one is impossible, but as they do in Arena football, make all players go both ways.  As it is in baseball, there are not enough skilled players in the NFL.  And unlike baseball, football, hockey, every single other sport in fact, there is no foreign pipeline of talent to fill in the talent gaps that result from expansion and expanded schedules.  By making players go both ways, you half the number of players you need for a roster.
• Basketball is in relatively good shape, ruleswise.  The one change I'd make is to adopt the international trapezoid lane, which is wider than the NBA lane.  Doing so would open thing up down low.  I'd also state that you can not take a charge in the painted area.  If I had my druthers, I'd never call a charge; I would always call a foul on the defense - or simply not make a call - and favor the offense.  But widening the and lane and also banning charges in the lane would dramatically open things up and make basketball what it is supposed to be - a fluid, moving and graceful game. 
• For soccer/football, I'd either make the field bigger or have fewer players, or maybe a wider goal, anything to ensure more shot and more scoring.   Some soccer games have too few shots, let alone goals, so making the field smaller while dropping a player would help generate scoring chances.
• A wider goal could help, too.  But in my opinion the goal isn't the problem, it's a lack of shots.   One other change would be to emulate hockey, and eliminate off-sides.  That too would facilitate more shots.  And bottom line, soccer needs more shots.
• One last change I would make to all sports: eliminate the national anthem before games.  Cheap nationalism when it's prior to a league game, jingoism when it's during a competition like EURO 2008.  If folks are determined to sing a song prior to game time, how about "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (of course, you ARE at a ball game) or rapping "Basketball" by Kurtis Blow?
• Finally, regarding golf - which as some of you know, in my opinion, is not a real sport. Actually, I'll leave it at that.

Big Soccer Day

We have a relatively big soccer day ahead of us today (Saturday).  It's the final day of the regular season for Stoddert soccer, and Evan claims this is his last season of playing.  We'll see if today is indeed the end of that era. Ariadne, on the other hand, still wants to play and has indicated an interest in going to goalie camp.

The other big football news is the kick off of EURO 2008.   The first game is at noon eastern between host Switzerland and the Czech Republic.  Turkey and Portugal play later today, and Greece debuts on Tuesday.  

Greece, the defending champs, are getting absolutely no respect by prognosticators.   They were huge underdogs in 2004 and won and are getting similar treatment even as the tournament holders.   I still have them winning their group. 

Finally, if I'm known for anything it is my bold soccer predictions.  It's not much of prediction, but don't be surprised if Fani Gekas leads Greece to the final four.  Gekas led the German Bundisliga in scoring in 2007, so in addition to their usual tough defense I think Ellas will score more this tournament.

NBA Finals

I am definitely rooting for the Lakers in the Finals. I went in to game 1 agnostic, but as soon as they tipped off I was cheering for LA. WARNING: NAME DROPPING ALERT:  I was reminded that in the 80s I often rooted for the Lakers - in the Finals - first and foremost because of my old drinking buddy James Worthy (true story; got drunk with him a few times when we dated women who were roommates) and second because of my boy Chuck Todd, a long time Laker fan who canvassed with me back in the olden days.

As much as I like Boston the town, etc. I simply can't root for the C's.  

Hats off to Paul Pierce though.  He played a terrible first half, but came out of half time determined to carry his team, and he did with that four-point play and quick six points.  And that was before he sprained his knee.  KG justifiably gets much of the press for the Celtics, but that is Paul Pierce's team and he reminded the basketball world of that fact on Thursday.

As well as Pierce played, Kobe Bryant played that bad.  That probably means it's curtains for the Celtics.  Kobe seems to be as competitive as Jordan, so look for his to have a huge game 2 for the Lakers, and don't be surprised if LA wins four straight to take the title.

Nats Update

Man, the Nats look terrible.  Their starting pitching is relatively decent, and closer John Rouch has been good, too. But their offense reminds me of a Double A team.   How many major league teams have used players like Dimitri Young and Aaron Boone at clean up!? Both of those guys  are serviceable major leaguers, but not clean up hitters.  The Nats have guys who are natural seventh place hitters batting fourth.  Not good.

Not that they have much choice among the myriad Reds rejects (Pena, Kearns, etc.) on their roster and the injuries.  But even when healthy, the Nats don't have a power bat in their lineup.  Before he got hurt, Nick Johnson, a natural second-place or maybe a guy who could bat third, hit clean up.  

Sounds like the Nats picked up a nice pitcher in the first round of the draft on Thursday, a guy who could be a number 2 starter in one or two years.  But it's also hard to understand how they could ignore drafting a power hitter.    Jim Bowden, the inadequate Reds reject GM of the Nats, simply does not inspire confidence.

Off to soccer! Zito H Ellas!