Comments for SportsLeft http://www.sportsleft.com By Big Tent Democrat and TalkLeft Sat, 12 Jun 2010 13:07:27 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on World Cup: Greece v. S. Korea, Argentina v. Nigeria by Grey http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=117&cpage=1#comment-124 Grey Sat, 12 Jun 2010 13:07:27 +0000 http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=117#comment-124 South Korea came out to play: they're not messing around, are they? They're doing very well against a seemingly flat-footed Greece that's playing very joyless football. South Korea came out to play: they’re not messing around, are they? They’re doing very well against a seemingly flat-footed Greece that’s playing very joyless football.

]]> Comment on World Cup Preview: Groups A and B by LatinoDC http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=108&cpage=1#comment-123 LatinoDC Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:00:18 +0000 http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=108#comment-123 How about the Netherlands? even without Robben (who is not that injured) they are a machine. I don't think South Africa has a chance...their terrible back line makes them so vulnerable to Suarez and Forlan...I do expect Francve to be out though. Do you think we'll see 2002 all over again for Argentina or 2006? How about the Netherlands? even without Robben (who is not that injured) they are a machine. I don’t think South Africa has a chance…their terrible back line makes them so vulnerable to Suarez and Forlan…I do expect Francve to be out though. Do you think we’ll see 2002 all over again for Argentina or 2006?

]]> Comment on World Cup Preview: Groups A and B by HenryFTP http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=108&cpage=1#comment-122 HenryFTP Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:33:47 +0000 http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=108#comment-122 Looking up and down the French line-up, it's hard to believe that they could struggle to get out of the first round, but I think we're looking at 2002 all over again. Raymond Domenech vies with Maradona for the dubious distinction of being the worst team manager in the world. With Zinedine Zidane leading the way, les Bleus were able to overcome their managerial handicap to reach the final in 2006, beating Spain and Brazil convincingly. Without Zidane, Thuram, Viera et al. this time around to counteract Domenech's stultifying schemes, I think they'll crash out ignominiously, but probably bring joy to South Africa in the process. With France imploding, the key match in the group will be South Africa v. Uruguay. Who needs <em>telenovelas</em> when you've got <em>la selección Argentina</em> live in HD? I'm stocking up on popcorn. If they somehow manage to make it through the first round, they just might be the most dangerous team in the tournament, given how the Brazilians have gone all Italian on us and how nicked up the Spanish are (Torres, Iniesta, Fabregas). Looking up and down the French line-up, it’s hard to believe that they could struggle to get out of the first round, but I think we’re looking at 2002 all over again. Raymond Domenech vies with Maradona for the dubious distinction of being the worst team manager in the world. With Zinedine Zidane leading the way, les Bleus were able to overcome their managerial handicap to reach the final in 2006, beating Spain and Brazil convincingly. Without Zidane, Thuram, Viera et al. this time around to counteract Domenech’s stultifying schemes, I think they’ll crash out ignominiously, but probably bring joy to South Africa in the process. With France imploding, the key match in the group will be South Africa v. Uruguay.

Who needs telenovelas when you’ve got la selección Argentina live in HD? I’m stocking up on popcorn. If they somehow manage to make it through the first round, they just might be the most dangerous team in the tournament, given how the Brazilians have gone all Italian on us and how nicked up the Spanish are (Torres, Iniesta, Fabregas).

]]> Comment on World Cup Preview: USA! by HenryFTP http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=105&cpage=1#comment-121 HenryFTP Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:27:40 +0000 http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=105#comment-121 England should be a quarterfinalist under ordinary circumstances, but they are an odd bunch -- some terrific players, of course, but Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have never managed to get on the same page in a competitive international match, Ashley Cole goes missing at times in big games, the goalkeeping has been erratic at best, and the best pairing for Wayne Rooney up front has been Emile Heskey, past his prime and not even a first stringer for his club, Aston Villa. While these issues may prevent England from advancing to the semis or final, they shouldn't prevent the English from fending off the Yanks. Onyewu's match fitness is still suspect and he appears particularly vulnerable on set pieces, where the English can count on aggression in the box from Rooney, John Terry, Glen Johnson and even Ledley King, coupled with some highly accurate deadball kicks from Gerrard and Lampard. Tim Howard is going to need some serious help from his back four, and the absence of the rock-steady athleticism of the often-maligned Eddie Pope will be keenly felt. But England will be vulnerable to the counter from Donovan and Dempsey, particularly if the forwards can tire Ledley King, whose match fitness is also suspect, and if Glen Johnson has one of his periodic concentration lapses at right back. Unfortunately, John Terry seems to have fully recovered from his mid-season sex scandal funk, but the suspect English keepers behind him still give us cause for hope. England should be a quarterfinalist under ordinary circumstances, but they are an odd bunch — some terrific players, of course, but Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have never managed to get on the same page in a competitive international match, Ashley Cole goes missing at times in big games, the goalkeeping has been erratic at best, and the best pairing for Wayne Rooney up front has been Emile Heskey, past his prime and not even a first stringer for his club, Aston Villa. While these issues may prevent England from advancing to the semis or final, they shouldn’t prevent the English from fending off the Yanks. Onyewu’s match fitness is still suspect and he appears particularly vulnerable on set pieces, where the English can count on aggression in the box from Rooney, John Terry, Glen Johnson and even Ledley King, coupled with some highly accurate deadball kicks from Gerrard and Lampard. Tim Howard is going to need some serious help from his back four, and the absence of the rock-steady athleticism of the often-maligned Eddie Pope will be keenly felt.

But England will be vulnerable to the counter from Donovan and Dempsey, particularly if the forwards can tire Ledley King, whose match fitness is also suspect, and if Glen Johnson has one of his periodic concentration lapses at right back. Unfortunately, John Terry seems to have fully recovered from his mid-season sex scandal funk, but the suspect English keepers behind him still give us cause for hope.

]]> Comment on Good Ratings For Vancouver Olympics by Cliff http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-120 Cliff Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:44:23 +0000 http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=95#comment-120 Are they counting those watching on the internet? Personally I prefer the internet as you can choose events to watch at will rather than being stuck with the one event featured on the network. BTW I'm watching from Canada via CTV, TSN, Sportsnet. NBC is blacked out for us. Are they counting those watching on the internet? Personally I prefer the internet as you can choose events to watch at will rather than being stuck with the one event featured on the network. BTW I’m watching from Canada via CTV, TSN, Sportsnet. NBC is blacked out for us.

]]> Comment on College Football Signing Day by Teresa http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=82&cpage=1#comment-118 Teresa Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:25:36 +0000 http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=82#comment-118 Ok, that's what I thought you meant & it makes sense. I'll pay more attention to ESPN next year. You guys got an awesome class. Ok, that’s what I thought you meant & it makes sense. I’ll pay more attention to ESPN next year. You guys got an awesome class.

]]> Comment on College Football Signing Day by BTD http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=82&cpage=1#comment-117 BTD Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:01:11 +0000 http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=82#comment-117 Precisely what I told you. their ranking are based on the rating of the average rating per recruit. So a school that signs 28, including 5 5 stars, 15 4 stars and 9 3 stars is considered to have a worse class than a team with 19 recruits, 6 5 stars, 10 4 stars and 3 3 stars. Rivals is absurd. Precisely what I told you. their ranking are based on the rating of the average rating per recruit.

So a school that signs 28, including 5 5 stars, 15 4 stars and 9 3 stars is considered to have a worse class than a team with 19 recruits, 6 5 stars, 10 4 stars and 3 3 stars.

Rivals is absurd.

]]> Comment on College Football Signing Day by Teresa http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=82&cpage=1#comment-116 Teresa Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:13:21 +0000 http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=82#comment-116 Are you saying Rivals doesn't weight it for the number of players you sign? Like if you sign 17, they can rank you above a class of 25 based solely on stars & ignoring the total group? Because a few lower star players can take your average down? I'm not sure I understand what you meant by Rivals places no value in numbers if not that? Are you saying Rivals doesn’t weight it for the number of players you sign? Like if you sign 17, they can rank you above a class of 25 based solely on stars & ignoring the total group? Because a few lower star players can take your average down?

I’m not sure I understand what you meant by Rivals places no value in numbers if not that?

]]> Comment on College Football Signing Day by BTD http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=82&cpage=1#comment-115 BTD Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:23:07 +0000 http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=82#comment-115 There is value in numbers. Rivals places none. 1 5 star recruit would make you 1 for Rivals. There is value in numbers. Rivals places none.

1 5 star recruit would make you 1 for Rivals.

]]> Comment on College Football Signing Day by Teresa http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=82&cpage=1#comment-114 Teresa Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:06:56 +0000 http://www.sportsleft.com/?p=82#comment-114 Sorry, not directed to your school, just your coach. I loved Pete Carroll but LK has NO personality, just a big mouth. His dad is a hoot though. On Jim Rome he said the kids didn't come to Tennessee for the "yellow" jerseys, they came for the coaches. That says all anyone needs to know about him to me. Sorry, not directed to your school, just your coach. I loved Pete Carroll but LK has NO personality, just a big mouth. His dad is a hoot though.

On Jim Rome he said the kids didn’t come to Tennessee for the “yellow” jerseys, they came for the coaches. That says all anyone needs to know about him to me.

]]>