The Sports Thread: Olympics, Euros, Professional Yatzhee ...

Uncle Taylorbell · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 3191 Location: Northern England

Hi hi ... occaisionally a thread devoted to sport crops up on the forum. It's rare, but it happens. And since there are currently two major world sporting events happening right now, I figured another wouldn't go amiss. So, post here your commentary and opinion and argument on the sports issues of the day, if you like. Hey, it's a free country, apparently.

soccer

I mentioned two major sporting events ... of course, there are the current UEFA European Championships (of football). The tournament consists of sixteen European nations, decided by a rigorous qualifaction campaign, playing firstly in four groups of four, and then on a knock-out basis. The tournament is held quadranually (???). Current holders of the title were 2004's unlikely winners, Greece, who played horribly and continue to do so.

Favourites for this years tournament were the perennials of European soccer, Germany, France, and Italy. Portugal and Spain are highly favoured, also, despite regular underachievement. The first round of games produced little in the way of shocks.

An experienced French team were unable to beat a well-drilled (ie, dull) Romanian side. Germany, Portugal and Spain were impressive. The Italians, my personal tip to win the whole shebang, also played well, yet contrived to lose 3-0 to a dynamic Netherlands team packed with offensive talent. Germany played their second game of the tournament today and lost, surprisingly, to a talented but untested Croatian team. In fact, despite their strong performance against Poland, the Germans seemed hilariously clueless, and were lucky to lose only by a 2-1 defecit.

I could go into greater depth, but I'm trying to write this in a way an idiot (or as we in England call them, 'American') could understand. More of my partisan opinion next time, eh?

basketball

the second major sporting event currently going on is the NBA finals (OF THE WORLDS!). My beloved Boston seemed quite comfy against the Lakers in games 1 & 2, disappointed but still pushed hard in game 3 and ... well ... are any of you watching game 4? The Celtics couldn't hit a basket from three inches, if it were guarded by Helen Keller. Awful display. I write at the end of the first quarter, and the Lakers (spit spit spit) are up further than any other team at any point in any finals game with a 21 point lead.

So, any thoughts? Any other interesting sports stories? Anyone going to give me all that 'sports are for dumb jocks and is stoopid ner ner ner WOW is were its at LOL' shite?

Like, let's totally talk balls, yeah?

Darqcyde · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject:

I was in Berlin when Germany qualified for the finals in '96 and in Munich the night they won it. The atmosphere was teh AWESOME. As such, I'm hoping They kick Austria's ass on Monday.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but Germany will need to tie and have Poland not win or Germany will need to win to advance, correct?
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Mindslicer · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:39 pm Post subject:

Re: NBA Finals.

I don't want to hear another peep from Kobe or Laker fans about the lopsided foul calling in the games in Boston. Ever.

nathan · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 6312

All my sports are over and I'm experiencing withdrawal. "Football" isn't shown on my USian stations, baseball is boring, and NBA basketball (which I watch only reluctantly and with disdain) is a game or two from finished.

My life has lost all direction and meaning.
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Mindslicer · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:55 pm Post subject:

Wow, Boston comes back from being down by 24 points to win game 4 and take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. This fits right in with past Lakers-Celtics finals meetings in that game 4 is usually the pivotal game of the series.

Uncle Taylorbell · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 3191 Location: Northern England

Mr_Moustache · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:06 am Post subject:

LOL @ poland austria....

Anyways, we'll teach those frogs a lesson.
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Mr_Moustache · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:10 am Post subject:

Oh, and taylorbell, what chances do you give England?

Laughing

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reasonablymad · Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 6799

I don't really care for basketball at all, but I would be happy if the celtics win. more precisely, if the lakers lose.
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Mr_Moustache · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject:

Woot ! 4-1 !!
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When life gives you lemons, some people make lemonade. I just eat them and make a sour face.

mouse · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 20626 Location: under the bed

you forgot golf. the u.s. open is this week, and apparently it is a Really Big Deal. with Tiger Woods. and other people.

....i guess i could check and find out what's happening. i _do_ know there are balls involved.
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Celaeno · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 3039 Location: Kzoo

I'll be able to contribute to this thread when hockey season begins again.

Uncle Taylorbell · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 3191 Location: Northern England

nathan · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 6312

Again?

How many hockey seasons do they have in a year?
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Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil. ~ Ellen Degeneres

Michael · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 11036

what about portugal?