Let the Free Agency Chaos Begin

The time is now for the most exciting Free Agency period in NBA history. July 1 has come and the free agency begins with many high profile players being up for grabs: Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Staudmire, Joe Johnson, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and the King himself, Lebron James. Others include Carlos Boozer, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce. With so much on the line, whole teams could go from zeros to heroes with all the talent out there. This free agent grab will have the Mad Hatter continuously yelling "Change Places!"

Of course the main story is on 3 players: Wade, Bosh, and King James. Many people in Cleveland and throughout the state of Ohio have been holding special events or promotions to try and keep the Monarchy. From "Lebron Day" to singing a parody of "We Are the World," they are kissing his highness' rear. However, it becomes more apparent that James will leave his kingdom and find a new land to dominate.

This is where Bosh and Wade come in as potential Knights for James to ride with to a title. There has much speculation of Lebron joining Wade, who has already won a title, in Miami with Pat Riley. The Great City of Chicago has been a buzz for a while wanting Lebron to join them and Derrick Rose. Chris Bosh comes in to play as he could join Wade and/or Lebron in either city. Other teams are also pitching their fiefdoms to the King. New Jersey is a possibility with Mikhail Prokhorov wanting to create a dynasty there and/or in Brooklyn. Dallas becomes a potential spot with Mark Cuban always being aggressive and the resigning of Dirk Nowitzki. The New York Knicks are trying to attract James with the city itself. And also I'm told that there is a second team in Los Angeles and they might be a possible destination. Who are they again?

Anyway the big shake up is underway and who knows which team will be the NBA favorites in the end. Still betting on the Lakers in most cases.

P.S. My Bold Prediction: Lebron goes to Chicago. Cleveland has no future for Lebron and I don't see him playing with D-Wade in Miami. Rose and Lebron seems like a favorable pair while Wade will get Bosh to come to Miami.

The End of Federer?

Roger Federer has dominated the Grand Slam scene in tennis for most of the last decade. He has won 16 Grand Slam titles which is the most by any man in history. However the pure dominance of Roger Federer may be over as he has been eliminated in the Quarter Finals of Wimbledon by Tomas Berdych with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. This is the second Grand Slam event in a row in which he hasn't reached the Semi Finals. Not to mention this is the first Wimbledon Final Federer won't be in since 2002. Federer's Dominance at Wimbledon may be over for good as this may be a sign that his career is coming to an end. He could still play for a few more years and he could pull out a couple more Grand Slams but his days as Number 1 in the World seem to be at an end.

P.S. Tomas Berdych will face Novak Djokovic in the Semi Finals. Good Luck to Berdych.

Paraguay Over Japan, Spain Wins the Iberian Rivalry, and FIFA Finally Does Something Right

The Round of 16 concluded today with two games, the first being Paraguay vs. Japan. This game was scoreless throughout regulation and even in added time. The only real highlights were Eiji Kawashima's Goalkeeping for Japan. Paraguay, however, would make the sun set for Japan at this World Cup in penalties, 5-3. The key miss that put Japan behind was Yuichi Komano's shot off the top bar. Japan goes home after an impressive group stage while Paraguay goes to their first quarter finals ever in the World Cup.

The second was a great match up between Spain and Portugal. The Rivalry of the Iberian Peninsula went into South Africa with each side looking to score with their top strikers which featured Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Fernando Torres of Spain. Neither would do anything in this match, however, as each player continued their international slumps. It would be Spanish footballer, David Villa, scoring after getting a great pass from Xavi Hernandez and getting his own rebound that he shot a second before the goal. Spain won, 1-0, with that goal and now goes on to face Paraguay in the quarter finals.

While these match ups were the highlights today, FIFA finally showed remorse to all the bad calls. FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, said that he has apologized to Mexico and England about the bad calls against them in their respected games and situations. He also said the matter of Goal Line Tech will be revisited at a business meeting of the International FA Board in July. However, they will only discuss Goal Line Tech and not Instant Replay. There was also news that the refs who made the bad calls against Mexico and England have been removed from the World Cup List. Finally a show of emotions from FIFA. This is a step in the right direction and I hope Goal Line Tech will be installed at all major levels of the game. Whether or not Instant Replay will be in Football is still uncertain but FIFA is at least addressing the referee mistakes.

P.S. Seriously, still some sort of Asian Characters in my comments. If you can read my blog, why do you post with these Asian Characters? Unless it's a random jerk from somewhere throwing some sort of pop up adds on every blog he can find. DAMN IT!!!

P.P.S. Then again, Blogger.com may have the ability to translate the blogs. WHO IS WATCHING ME?!?!

FIFA: FOOLS IN THE F**KING ALPS!!!

No, this is a time to be angry like Ozzie Guillen is on a daily basis. FIFA finally replies to a some of the replay controversy. They admit to a mistake and that they will try and conceal replays from the stadium crowds to hide the referee's mistakes. This is their reply? To all the controversy surrounding the bad calls, all the evidence mounting against them, and the technology to change things is at their fingertips and their response is to bury their heads in the dirt? THESE ARE THE STUPIDEST AND MOST IGNORANT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!!!

Instead of maybe embracing the future of sports or even just admitting their faults to the game, their response is to cover it up. This is unacceptable. FIFA is putting themselves in the same band wagon as President Richard Nixon. THOSE DICKS!!! Someone please explain how this is a good move for the sport? I would like to hear the argument. I really would. Otherwise, it is unacceptable. This organization would rather stay in the Dark Ages than embrace 21st century technology.

P.S. There will be no coverage of World Cup Games here today. I'M BURYING MY HEAD IN THE DIRT TO JUST SEE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE!!!!

Germany and Argentina Advance Thanks to Some Help

Germany and England played their Round of 16 game today with some more controversy. After a couple of legitimate German goals and a goal by the English to make it 2-1, Frank Lampard of England shoots the ball going off the top cross bar and then landing on the ground behind the goal line. The ball would then bounce out the goal area which led to the refs not calling it a goal even though it clearly was. This bad call would've tied the game and may have changed the momentum of it. Instead it doesn't count and Thomas Muller scores two more goals for Germany to get the victory, 4-1.

More officiating controversy would haunt the second game as well. The first goal scored by Argentina was scored by Carlos Tevez who made the shot thanks to a feed by Lionel Messi. However, reply shows that when Tevez was passed the ball for the goal, he was clearly offsides. The officials, however, did not make the call. Argentina would go on to win, 3-1, thanks to Tevez's two goals and one by Gonzalo Higuan. Argentina will go on to face Germany in the Quarter Finals.

Another day of bad officiating adds more evidence to further the case of allowing Instant Replay in Football. It is with these mistakes where teams starts to lose confidence and the whole game can be turned. Would Argentina still have won if Tevez didn't score the first goal? Could Germany still win if England had tied the game? We will never know. Momentum is everything in sports and one bad call can influence the entire match. England and Mexico now feel Ireland's pains and might change their attitude about Instant Replay in the near future (not that either country has been for or against it, that I know of).

P.S. Germany and Argentina still looked like the favorites and the better teams but they still have to earn the win. We can't assume anything in sports. That's why the games are played. But the players should make the mistakes, not the officials.

Suarez Boosts Uruguay and Why the US Needed a Win

The Round of 16 began with Uruguay going up against South Korea. Luis Suarez would be the story in this one as he scored a goal off a long pass or shot from Diego Forlan early in the game. South Korea though would strike back when Lee Chung-Yong scored in the 68' to tie the game with a header in the box. Luis Suarez would save his team one more time, however, thanks to some fancy footwork and a great curved shot into the back of the net. Uruguay beats South Korea, 2-1, and advances to the Quarter Finals.

The US played their Round of 16 game against Ghana today in what may be a heart breaker after that miracle finish against Algeria. The US were once again weak in the first 10 minutes or so and it cost them dearly as Ghana's Kevin-Prince Boateng scored a great goal off a turnover. The US would push hard in the 2nd half, though, and managed to score off a penalty kick by Landon Donovan. The game would go into overtime and, just like regulation, the US conceded a goal early on as Asamoah Gyan scored for Ghana off a long pass and brilliant goal over Tim Howard. The US couldn't mount a 2nd comeback as Ghana won, 2-1, and will face Uruguay in the Quarter Finals.

The US go home in the Round of 16 having played an eventful tournament. However, it seems like the US team fell short. Don't get me wrong. Ghana was the better team and the US was never a World Cup favorite. But US Soccer... I mean US FOOTBALL!!! needed their team to go further in this World Cup for their own benefit. Football is not as big in the US like the rest of the World. A great World Cup performance would've helped further interest in the game on all levels. The Landon Donovan Goal did help the cause but the team failed to follow it up with a win and because of that failure we may have undone the progress it would've brought.

P.S. I hope the effort by the US team does help further interest in MLS. I encourage everyone to watch the games or at least the MLS Cup in November. The more we support, the stronger we (US Football team) will get over time. GO NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION!!!

Another No Hitter? Big Whoop!!!

Edwin Jackson of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitched today against the Tampa Bay Rays. Despite his accuracy being off enough to allow 8 walks and throw 149 pitches, he pitched a no hitter. Jackson becomes the 4th pitcher this year to throw a no hitter, 5th if you count the Imperfect Game. I'm starting to think a no hitter is not special anymore. Baseball has practically seen 5 of them this year and we are not yet halfway through the season. What has happened to the hitters? Did you guys rely on steroids that much? And what gives Tampa? This is the second no hitter you've given up this year and third since last July. I'm sure Tampa Bay is happy enough that this one wasn't a Perfect Game. Still the no hitters are becoming less impressive as we go on in the season. As for the hitters themselves, keep your eye on the ball for heaven sakes.