Euro 2008 views

I gotta say I have thoroughly enjoyed the coverage of Euro 2008 so far... They are doing it right, 2 games a day, every day. If this was in the US it would only be played on Friday nights (2 games) , Saturday, and Sunday (4 games each day). Then the rest of the week would be nothing. We don't have that here....

We always say College Football is a religion in the South, with most ACC, SEC, Big 12 schools having stadiums holding 70,000+ but you know who has the most die hard fanbase??? MEAC, Conf USA, Sun Belt conference fans. Why do I say that, because they play games when no one else wants to - and they have good crowds. They play on Tuesday and Wednesday nights just to get covered on ESPN U. That's dedication. (I did see that the Clemson v. Citadel game is being televised and will garner a 3:30pm kickoff- wow, thought for sure that would be a nooner.)

Back to Euro 2008. Now I am not saying that these Eurofags aren't taking dives all over the place but in International competition like this - there are no guys writhing on the ground, close to death and calling to have their legs amputated and having to be taken off on stretchers AND THEN miraculously back on the pitch running full speed 2 minutes later. There are guys diving all over the place but at least they are getting up and going back to playing.

It has also been awesome to see the traditional powers falling out early: France and Italy are both out before the round robbin stops. Germany got the shit beat out of them the other day. The Dutch are still doing well but I like seeing Croatia giving everyone a hard time. Good for them. Poor England missed out and didn't even make the field.

The US National team plays the Carribbean powerhouse of Barbados tonight... Geez. Jamaica plays the Bahamas today and the Bahamas has to play both their home and away games in Jamcaica since none of the fields in the Bahamas meets international FIFA standards - that's embarrassing. What're they smoking?

Another soccer note: Today I get back on the Pitch for the first time since November. Tonight starts the summer 7 v 7 league. This should be a good test of my knee but more telling will be my lungs. Jesus. I got on the scale today and I am officially bigger than I ever thought I would be. If I was 6'4" I would be the perfect weight, but 5'10 1/2" is a little chunky.
Played golf last weekend, walked 1.5 hours Wednesday night, and close to 3 miles yesterday. Exercise will have to start beating out the Chicken Wings. I have learned that I can live without exercising but cannot live without Chicken Wings.