so if any of you might be wondering how the Italians actually made it to the World Cup final... all you need to do is watch this video detailing their rigorous training regimen:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0do5xlE9C_A&search=italian%20soccer

‘nough said

In what might just well be the ‘most amazing statistic I’ve ever heard,’ I recently discovered that Tom Glavine, one of the top 5 pitchers of my generation was selected ahead of both Luc Robatille and Brett Hull in the 1984 NHL entry draft. Now we’ve all heard of multi-sport uber-athletes Danny Ainge (baseball, basketball), Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders (football, baseball), Antonio Gates (football, basketball)… but baseball and hockey – unprecedented!

Kudos, my good man

A funny from my good friend BVM…

You may have heard that Ben Roethlisberger, the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident yesterday.  Investigators are still looking into the cause of the accident.

Regardless, the Seahawks will be penalized.

To which Michael Griffin responded…

As well they should.  Initial reports indicate the driver of the car that hit Ben fled the scene as fast as he could waddle.  Witnesses described the driver as a tall, angry, fat man who looks shockingly like a walrus only much less attractive.

The first police sketch (see picture).

Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star

"NFL executives flipped non-Steelers fans an XL middle finger.”....

DETROIT - What crime-ridden, boarded-building, automotive-industry-ravaged, snowy Detroit couldn't do, an NFL officiating crew pulled off with relative ease in front of plenty of bored-silly football fans inside beautiful Ford Field. Sports' and television's most indestructible beast - the Super Bowl - met its match in the 40th playing of the game the world stops to watch. The inevitable finally happened. A group of middle-aged executives trying to keep pace with a group of highly trained 20-something athletes destroyed America's sports holiday.

Pittsburgh's one-for-the-thumb Super Bowl will be remembered as the game when physically overmatched referees and heads-buried NFL executives flipped non-Steelers fans an XL middle finger.....

But make no mistake about Super Bowl XL, the performance of referee Bill Leavy and his crew overshadowed Pittsburgh's heroics and Seattle's blunders. Paul Tagliabue's league has an officiating crisis. Bogus, inconsistent flag-throwing and rule-interpreting is making the national pastime difficult to take seriously. So far, only Joey Porter has demonstrated the necessary courage to address what we all see. Many of these part-time, 50-year-old referees don't know what they're doing and can't keep up with the action.....

Porter fumed when the refs nearly stole Pittsburgh's playoff victory over Indianapolis by overturning a Troy Polamalu interception. Porter probably won't address the first-quarter touchdown that Sunday's referees stole from the Seahawks. Hasselbeck avoided pressure and hit Darrell Jackson in the back of the end zone with a beautiful strike. The Pittsburgh cornerback immediately turned to back judge Bob Waggoner and begged for an offensive pass-interference call. After a couple of seconds of thought, Waggoner granted the Pittsburgh request and erased Seattle's hard-earned touchdown......

The Seahawks settled for a field goal. Had they not been robbed of the four points, they would have ended the game with the ball and the opportunity to drive for a game-tying touchdown.......

The Seahawks justifiably can complain that Sunday's one-sided officiating disrupted their offensive rhythm and undermined their focus. The officiating had to creep inside their head........

Bill Leavy and his crew ruined Super Bowl XL.

Dear Steve Smith,

While $150 may not mean a heck of a lot to you (considering you can throw away $15,000 on something as frivolous as bumping a referee), it sure does mean a lot to me. Not only did you potentially cost your own team, the Carolina Panthers, a playoff spot, but you also cost the CanCoons their playoff victory in fantasy football. Our 3 point deficit (99.50 - 96.75) surely would have been overcome by our highest producing point getter on the year, had you only been able to control your demeanor. After all you were averaging 19 fantasy points per game going into last weeks contest.

I hope you understand that with the role you have, you need to start thinking more about the other people you affect and not simply about yourself. I request that you cover my $150 lost as a result of your antics, and just consider it part of your $15,150 fine.

Good luck in the playoffs (if you don’t end up costing your team a playoff spot),

rob

  Date               Place              Entrant                        Result

7/25/04                 6              PAIGE                    49:40