KFW's Take on La Copa Mundial y Otras Cosas

Blogowers, I apologize it has been awhile since you’ve last heard a peep out of me, Kevin Frey Wannabe. Just because I’ve been mute though does not mean that I haven’t been paying close attention to what has been happening recently in the wonderful world of sports. That actually is the farthest thing from the truth as I have a confession to make: I’ve watched more Sportscenter/ESPN shows this week than I have since probably 7th grade. I am currently typing in the condo my family rented out down here in Siesta Key (Sarasota), Florida (Former Spring Training Home of Your Cincinnati Reds). We’ve been here since Saturday of last week and for me that has meant more than sufficent beach time as well as posting time in front of the television watching sports and hearing people talk about sports.

First, we’ve got the Reds in first place at the latest point in the season in over ten years as well as ten games above .500, which is their season high thus far. How fun is it watching Baseball Tonight highlights after a Reds win? Bringing back memories of the summer of ’99. Speaking of that team and Baseball Tonight, you get to see Aaron Boone each night biasedly boast about the Reds.

Secondly, Wimbledon certainly has caught the eye of even the casual sports fan with the marathon match from last week. Kudos to those guys. Two average tennis players who were just very evenly-average. Then you have the clock ticking midnight last night on July 1 and one would think all hell has broken lose on the NBA free-agent market is about to occur….or has it? Exciting stuff to come in the next week or so in the league and look for big-time shake-ups taking place that will change the landscape of the game for the next decade.

All content leading up to this point was written on Thursday, June 30. The following was written on Saturday, July 2

And then finally, last but not least, the greatest tournament in all sports, the global championship of the” beautiful game”, the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. I must say, whether you are a soccer fan or not, an American soccer supporter or not, the group stage and first knockout round have been nothing short of exhilarating.The champions (Italy) and the runners-up (France) of the most recent World Cup in Germany in 2006 both didn’t even make it out of the group stages of play this tournament. Italy was just overrated in my opinion whereas the French did their best representation of their country in general and kicked and screamed and when they didn’t get their way, just quit. This display, an embarrassment and waste of world-class talent, was the complete opposite of the American squad, a team that absolutely played its heart out and represented its country with great pride and dignity, laying it all out their on the pitch….and oh boy, did they entertain.


I hope that the general American sports viewing public’s opinion and perspective on soccer during the Yanks valiant effort in South Africa. If you didn’t yell out a giant, patriotic roar when Landon Donovan followed up Dempsey’s blocked shot in extra time versus Algeria, you aren’t human. That was unreal and will go down as the most emphatic and improbable goal in United States soccer history. Just incredible. I, as I am sure many of you, was heart-broken after the US’s loss to the Black Stars of Ghana last Saturday. Ghana was good but I know we were the better team and it just sucks to be on the losing end of a game like that, of that proportion, especially when it goes to an overtime to decide the winner. You’ve got to hand it to Ghana though, that was one hell of a shot that they won on. Too bad that douchebag couldn’t make a simple PK yesterday.


As for the remainder of the Cup, you’ve got to like the way both Germany and the Netherlands are playing. Both “upsetting” South American powers Argentina and Brazil respectively. I am in a World Cup tourney bracket contest with some college buddies and I can proudly say I had the Dutch winning it all: partially because I am partial to the Men in Orange because I studied in the Netherlands a couple of summers ago and less on the world of potential they had leading up to South Africa. Does it make me more of a fan if I went to their last Euro Cup friendly versus Denmark? Being over there, especially right in the middle of the Euro Cup made it nearly impossible not to fall in love with the pride and devotion of the Dutch faithful and their football squad. And let me tell you, those people know how to party in the name of soccer. Did they ever! Woooo-Weeee. For what it’s worth, I heard the announcers say yesterday that 40% of the country took off work yesterday to watch them defeat Brazil. Standard.

And finally while I mention announcers, can we all just agree that the announcers ESPN has had throughout the World Cup have just the sickest vocabulary and accents? I mean, I’d watch Women’s Croquet if these guys were commentating. At the very least, can we agree that they put to shame voices of the likes of Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, John Madden, Dick Vitale, Chris Berman, insert extremely overrated American Sports announcer here. These guys are "cheeky" to say the least.

Happy Fourth Yankees. Enjoy, be safe, and don't do anything I wouldn't do pyros. -Kevin Frey Wannabe

And the Beat Goes On....

First of all, thanks to El Fuerto for the NIT breakdown. Great to see some of the local teams getting some exposure in there. Good for Mick Cronin and Brian Gregory continuing their schools' traditions of mediocrity and underachievement. I aint complaining. The real team in Cincy is live in living color as we have now finally entered the best month of the year: MARCH BABY! (By the way, stay tuned for a CBI breakdown next week from El Fuerto)

The 2009-10 Xavier University Musketeers Men's Basketball team. Another coach, another year of doubters, haters, nay-sayers, and........another "to-be' Atlantic 10 regular season Conference Championship. That's what the Muskies and Mike Bobinski do: get rings (fat rings) and hang banners. I love Chris Mack as the head coach of this team. I will wait until after the season is over before I say why I think he's in for the long run. As for now, I am focused on the here and now, and thats wrapping up a league title for the 4th year in a row! and trying to get the best seed possible. (I say that like I have any control in it. At the Richmond game, I lost my voice, so theres my contribution).

Looks like all the talk about the A10 getting 5-6 teams is dwindling down as everybody is beating up on eachother (aside from Temple, Richmond, and Xavier). I must admit, the Atlantic 10 has been fun to watch this year...for once. The conference doesn't get enough national exposure on ESPN but after last week, I have a ton of respect for the young squad at SLU and for the grittiness of Richmond. Look for the Spiders to be playing in the second weekend of the tourney...you heard it here first!

Finally, just some thoughts on three individual Musketeers:

1) Below is my post on Cincinnati.com (http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100228/COL03/302280010/1007/SPT/Lights++camera++action+...++XU+s+Holloway+) on Terrell "Tutu" Holloway:

TRADITIONX09:

I've been saying it since the great game in the Shootout this year: when all is said and done, Holloway will be the best point guard in XU history. Lavendar was great but didn't play four years, Chalmers always will have a soft spot in my heart but more because of his play during the Run because his career was somewhat inconsistent.

Holloway is still inconsistent but man oh man, when he wants to play, he cannot be stopped. It's the biggest stage that Tutu relishes and the deeper into the game and OT's, the better plays. Crawford has been stellar all season. He had a bad half and it is awesome to see the Muskies step up when their offensive leader was off the mark. Great win.

I like where this team is headed going in to March. #12 RPI and the squad is battle-tested....there is no doubting that!

2) Jason "Buddy" "Lovely" "J Boogie" Love

Has there ever been anyone that exemplified what a Xavier student/basketball athlete is better than Jason Love? He came from D1 bball school-rich Philly and chose Xavier in the midwest, mainly because none of those schools really offered him (no Philly schools, althugh Penn St. and Providence did). He came here overweight, uncoordinated, and basically a big oaf who couldnt walk and chew gum at the same time. He came in though and from Day 1, worked his balls off and got better every season, considerably better at that. I'll give it to him, he had a ton of room for improvement but to go from 20ish % body fat to now like 6ish% or something stupid low is just absolutely unbelievable. That shit doesn't happen overnight. Neither does developing an offensive game or being one of the most dominating rebounders in the conference. All things that Love has become his senior year. A year where he is the lone-senior, he has taken the load on his shoulders and done an exceptional job leading these young Muskies.

I think I speak for all Xavier fans and maybe just basketball fans in general in saying that come Saturday, I am going to be sad after the game knowing that I will never see @LoveJ31 (www.twitter.com/lovej31) play at Cintas ever again. It has been a pleasure watching him grow, battle, and bust his ass all while shutting up and putting up for the Xavier program for 4 years. Thats what Xavier does: recruit those guys that the big boys pass on but who are willing to work harder than most, bring their lunch pale to work, and when they graduate people say "I'm going to miss having that guy in line-up night in and night out."

Thank you J Love for all your hard work. You will be missed. Let's finish strong. After tonight, he will be the WINNINGEST PLAYER IN XU HOOPS HISTORY!

3) Finally, last but not least, Coach Chris Mack and Coach Pat Kelsey

I just wanted to quickly acknowledge these guys for the job they have done. Xavier Nation was fumed after Miller bitched and hitched for Zona. A year later, I thank him because finally, since Skip, we have two coaches in Mack and Kels that CARE about Xavier bball. They are alums, are from Cincy, and have invested interest in the program. Great to have them here.

I just want to note that at the beginning of the season, we were all wondering how Xavier was going to makeup for the loss of CJ, Derrick, and BJ (our top three scorers and 60+ percent of our offense from the Sweet 16 team). Also if you can remember Sean Miller and Thad Matta's rookie seasons, those Xavier teams were hard to watch many times. They struggled and lost games they shouldn't have lost, naturally I guess with new coaching. Thad had D West and lost in the 2nd round...that was unacceptable for the team that he had. Sean had lost Chalmers, Sato, and Myles BUT didn't even make the NIT! People were calling for him to get fired! (Lets face it, that ONE bad year is the norm over there in Clifton).

Mack (www.twitter.com/@coachchrismack) and Kels are on the verge of winning the A10 title in arguably the deepest and toughest the conference has ever been with a ridiculously low 2 losses! (Im assuming we win the next 2 games). Best of luck to the boys and lets hope they can remained focused with their eye on the A10 prize....it's so close! (This is what we do. Good find BG.... http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/20283529?tag=comBlogEntryListCnt;entry20283529)

Over and out,

CLICK CLACK

Ps. Make sure to tune in to the USA soccer squad take on the Dutch today at 2:30 pm. The World Cup in June will be unreal and today will be a little precursor of how it will be. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXHmTJrPaXQ)