Fanatic Futbol Friday.

HERE WE GO! I hope you woke up early to watch this one.  US vs Slovena at 7a PT ESPN.  Pregame at 6:30a YO!

 Well hot-dang! my day just got a bit more interesting.  

don't hate me.

Ellis Park hosts today's match.  Students of cinema and sports history will recognize this as the site of the 1995 Rugby World Cup depicted in the movie Invictus where the recently integrated South African Springboks team, inspired by Nelson Mandella,  defeated New Zealand. As the first major sporting event held in the country after the end of apartheid, it helped South Africa heal some historic wounds.

 Apparently, another sport crowned a new champion.  Lakers over Celtics in 7 games.  but the real story here is crucial free throws in the final seconds by Sasha Vujacic, who is Slovenian—first good omen of the day for Sovenia, asks ESPN’s Mike Tirico?   I say nay!  just  a bit of luck that will NOT continue on the soccer pitch. 

However, it did earn Sasha a spot on my All NBA Soccer team. He'd start at Left Midfield next to Nash, Ginobli and Parker.  Gasol, Duncan, Dragic and Luol Deng are defenders.   Up front would be Kobe and Rudy Fernandez. Novitzki minds the net! D'Antoni would be manager.  I can dream, can't I?

Let's hope the US team is not delayed on it's way today's match like it was before it's England game with this traffic stopping critter:

 (actual photo taken from team bus)

...and, let's hope they don't have a delay in scoring.

I expect Altidore to get ticked off and use his body to punish defenders...and I hope Edson Buddle starts as forward to add some speed and what we called in the South- Gumption!

Congrats to Mexico as they trounced a flat footed France 2-0, their first ever win vs Les Bleus.   Greece came from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1 and Argentina unleashed four great goals to trounce South Korea, 4-1.   Zalo Higuaín  tallies the 1st World Cup hat trick since Portugal's Pauleta  vs Poland in 2002.

Spoiled Little Brat

Argentine coach Diego Maradona received  letter from Platini concerning comments Maradona made about him and Pele. He then apologized for remarks and added, "but not to Pele".

what a schmuck!  I'm getting tired of watching that little Ooompa Loompa jump around the sideline.

Doesn't everyone need a magical TV Bar?

Rich in trendy Omega 3s, buzzword antioxidants and fancy stuff like that.  Keeps editors hyped up for at least 15 minutes!

 This just in.....  our crew on another network:

http://www.cnn.com/video/

search 'Behind the scenes with ESPN at World Cup'.  Keep a sharp eye out for the schmuck in the yellow Brasil jersey.

Musica del dia : Dr Albon from Nigeria sings 'Hello Africa'- one of the theme songs we hear quite often around the city, on TV and the radio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZskByJVPaY

The Vuvuzela sound is spreading like the Swine Flu, across continents and into your ear!

reports out of Yankee Stadium that this musical instrument was confiscated from a fan by security.

Getting headaches? Need less Buzzing? Teeth starting to rattle to the frequency of Vuvuzelas?

French TV may have your answer:

A French cable TV channel is offering vuvuzela-free broadcasts for all WC games, using frequency-separating technology to block out the trumpets’ buzzing drone while letting other sounds come through. Canal+ TV says the system was first tested Tuesday. Cyrille Linette, the TV’s head of sport, says the sound was “nearly perfect” for when Argentina beat South Korea 4-1 on Wednesday. The technology, based on splitting frequencies, reduces the vuvuzelas’ buzz but allows other crowd noises and commentators’ voices to be heard. It is developed by Audionamix, which works on sound effects for the cinema industry. The company that provides the broadcast feed for the World Cup has doubled its audio filters to reduce the buzz. 

I wonder if they can make an Iphone app like that which would eliminate those pesky in-flight announcements that always come just after I fall asleep?

hmmmm.  Looks like Grandpa's Little Helper has been exported, repackaged and placed on shelves of the local Spar grocery store.