Joburg Chillin, June 7

Bienvenidos todos!

FOUR days unitl Futbol Time!

can you feel it?

 Our US squad stayed fresh with a 3-1 win over Australia in pre-tournament tune up game. Edson Buddle scored twice and late in the game, Herculez Gomez found some open space in the penalty box, took a rocket pass from Donovan and launched the ball past the keeper.  Nice win for the team and it gives some confidence to 2 strikers who barely made the team.

Welcome to The Grand Illusion.

Check out the amazing ancient architecture I wake up to every day!  This is the view as I walk down from my 2nd floor hotel room (which is actually the 3rd story. go figure).

 I feel like I’m in Tuscany- Cafe’s, fountains, cobblestone alleys and street performers.   AND... the inside is just as stunning!

The history of this vibrant marketplace dates waaaaaay back.... to the early part of the century! 

Yes, THIS century.  as in 2000 !!!!

It's actually MonteCasino and all it's peripheral marketplace.  Just remember, it's grand illusion (sing with me!) and deep inside we're all the same.

Ivory Coasts Didier Drogba had surgery on his arm and should be able to play, just maybe not in the opener.    He is one of the 20+ players on Chelsea that I love to hate, but in the May 24 Sports Illustrated, there is a great article about him and what he means to his team and, more importantly, his war torn country. I will now forget my shallow hatred and root for Les Eléphants of Cøte d'Ivoire!

check it!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1169762/index.htm

Take Me To The River.

The other night, Todd Kulis and I decided on Italian for dinner. We were greeted as we stepped to the hostess stand, 'We have a nice table for you on the river'.   great, can't be that bad.

Here is our view:

You call that a river?  ha! mabye 5 inches deep, running at .0000017 CFM, with fake birds hunting non-existent insects.!

So much for scenes from an Italian Restaurant!

More soccer news- Holland super stud Arien Robben has rejoined the team after an injury scare. In a warm-up game against Hungary, he scored twice and tore his hamstring. His return to the team is great news for the Clockwork Orange. Though they have other offensive firepower in VanBommel, Kuyt, VanPersie and VanDerVaart, this will help keep them exciting to watch.  The sad part is that my man Ruüd VanNistolroy will not be playing this time around  :(  But at least I have my Ruüd/United jersey here for good luck)

World Music Quest tunes of the day brought to you by Annie, one of our Media Managers. FreshlyGround is Capetown based band composed of musicians from all over Africa. They will be playing at the FIFA World Cup opening concert along with: John Legend, Knaan, Shakira, Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys and mucho mas!  check out these beats:

http://www.myspace.com/freshlygroundsa

How are you? Good, glad to hear it.  Me? Feelin great! Especially after that cussing awesome 2 hour nap!    As for having my first day off, It won’t go down in history as the most exciting adventure of all time. In fact, it was pretty gosh darn dull, which is exactly what I needed.

This afternoon I met up with Shaun Coy and his fellow graphics amigo, Ben. We enjoyed some of this:

and some of this:

                                                           It all looks very Old World European, yet this Disney-like casino is  actually in the contrived suburbia of FourWays, on the outskirsts of Joburg.  It's the SA version of living OTP- aka Outside The Perimeter for you non-ATL peeps. 

Most importantly, it was a Whitney Free Day! woohoo.

Overall, t'was a great day for groovin, on a Sunday afternoon.