Getslow

Belgium was my second pick for this tournament and it looks like they might be pulling a France right now and seem happier to float through this thing than actually try and play together. Should still beat Sweden and Ireland but that was disappointing.

Happy Birthday, CWB. Hope it's a great one.

Only caught the one match yesterday but I've got this IRE/SWE game on my computer at the office. Really nice goal by Wes Hoolahan of Norwich City to put the Irish ahead just minutes into the second half. They already look ten times better than they did in their disastrous Euro appearance four years ago. Apparently supporters on the Emerald Isle have taken to calling him the Irish Messi or "Wessi". :lol2:

The whole Arya storyline always felt like it was just spinning in place this season. The most interesting thing that happened was when she decided she was done with it and to go out on her own and that made it all of two episodes before they said "Okay, we're done pursuing you now", but at least the five-episode training montage is over. The nature of the show necessarily means that all the storylines are going to get the short shrift on details and full unity, but hers felt especially hollow this year. One episode of the Hound and Ian McShane wasn't nearly enough. I didn't get much out of that all told unless we see a true reformation now that he appears to be with the Brotherhood and it can adequately be traced back to him. And yeah, I definitely agree that the Blackfish story get chopped in a way that was pretty unfulfilling.

Saw "The Lobster" on Friday. Really enjoyed it. Colin Farrell was unexpectedly really funny. It's weird and funny and disturbing and I get why it won the Jury Prize at Cannes.

I remember the catcher coming out but can't recall if a coach went with him at any point. I'm less upset about Burdi than I am about this lineup of drafted players that's been hammering the ball all season failing to hit well over two games, only generating five total runs. And giving away outs by being foolish on the base paths. This whole thing went down a lot like last year with giving away outs and failing to generate runs.

Pull Burdi in the ninth? No way does any coach pull the best closer in college baseball in that situation. It was a freak thing but he struck out the first batter of the inning and then fell apart. I don't think there was any coach that would have made that call and brought in a fresh arm with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. Strikeout, single, walk, walk, HR. It was rough, but I'd have made the same call as McDonnell. Can't imagine anyone wouldn't.

The team we played two weeks ago was a shadow of what Ecuador is really capable of. Like the last few games, I think Ecuador will give us their best shot right out of the gate. If they grab an early goal like Columbia, we're in trouble. If we can withstand it and grab a few early chances on the counter, it might force them back to cover rather than press. If we can turn that into an early goal like against Costa Rica, we'll be in the driver's seat.

The soccer gods have a way of evening things out. Only reason Brazil didn't lose to Ecuador in their first game was a missed call. It's been a little sad to see what's become of Brazil in the years since they won that Confederations Cup. I know this was a secondary roster, but it's becoming part of a really disappointing trend for Brazil. They need a complete reformation.

Burdi couldn't throw a strike in the ninth. Walked the bases loaded. Then finally found the zone but hung one over the plate badly and the guy smashed it over the right field wall. Walk-off, series-clinching grand slam.

Germany systematically dismantling the Ukranian defense here in the first half. As good a first 30 mins as I've seen from An international team this summer.

UCSB beat Louisville in two games in which they scored four runs each. Burdi blew it to be sure, but the Louisville offense failed its pitchers this weekend.

Disaster. Complete disaster.

Absolutely amazing day for him. Much needed with the Louisville hitters faltering a bit against the UCSB pitching staff. A few mistakes on the base path too. That killed them last year against CSF in the super regional. Burdi headed back out in the bottom of the ninth. Cards three outs away from forcing a third and decisive game.

It's amazing to see what two more years as a Bundesliga starter has done for Brooks just since the 2014 World Cup. He's a really talented center back.

My day is going to be crazy busy tomorrow which is almost a shame because that whole card is AMAZING. Lots of good racing at Belmont tomorrow.

"Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum..."

I have more postsecondary education than most folks and you're not bursting any bubbles over here. Quite frankly, my college experience was wonderful and I wouldn't trade a day of it, but from an educational standpoint it had little practical effect except as a requirement for getting into graduate school. Now, the non-practical or indirect or tangential rewards of my college education are innumerable. Far too much is placed on a college education from a training/practical standpoint and it shouldn't be. I really enjoy your outside the box thinking when it comes to recruiting new law enforcement by broadening the pool in the ways you describe. I feel like there's a lot more work to be done in bringing police departments into the 21st century but that the funding and the foresight isn't there. But as you say, a lot of that is on local politicians and foresight is generally not a specialty of city councils and statehouses.

France has trimmed a lot of the fat and left some high-profile players off the team because they were personal and locker-room distractions (Benzema, Ben Arfa, etc). Still have Giroud, Griezmann, Pogba, and an experienced defense. Plus they're playing in front of some home crowds. They're my No. 1 pick to take it. I'll go with Belgium as my second choice. I think they're loaded. Could potentially be set against Germany in a quarterfinal

Ultimately, I like where you're at on this. It doesn't take a degree or some courses to be a good officer. It takes something else. Quick thinking, problem solving, the ability to talk to people, grace under pressure... I think most folks have these things or don't by the time they're 19 or 20, with or without college. I do like the idea of that helping to broaden the pool of new candidates and then, once they're a part of the local police force, being able to then identify promising candidates for promotion and offer programs, training, education, etc. that will help them be better leaders or administrators. I'm a huge fan of increasing the budget not only for officer pay, but for continuing education for those already on the force in a way that can make higher-ranking members of the department more effective. Does that make sense or am I rambling?

"I liked their first album better." Their first album was inevitably released on a local indie label and no one's ever heard it.

Agreed. Panama had a nice win against Bolivia, but I expect that Chile will pour it on against them tonight and run up a differential that will force Panama to attack Chile the final game, which is something they simply can't do. Brazil bringing a seriously weakened side to the tournament might just make that quarterfinal interesting. If the semifinals are somehow USA/Mexico and Colombia/Argentina, they'll be a sight to behold. Paraguay only has one point in Group A. If the US can withstand what I imagine will be significant early pressure, like both Colombia and Costa Rica tried, then we should be all set. Maybe snag something early on a counter play like we did against CR.

Mr. Hockey is gone. Guy played an insane number of games in a career that stretched across four decades.

Venezuela! Wow! The last ten minutes of that game were outstanding. Edison Cavani would like another shot at his two chances. Should have put that first one away. But he didn't and the 77th ranked team in the world is through to the Copa America quarterfinals. Outstanding.

Louisville City defender Ben Newnam given a well-deserved three match ban by the USL Disciplinary Committee yesterday for throwing a punch at an Orlando City B player during last Sunday's game.