Whaddaf**k; RB Leipzig in the last round and now Borussia Dortmund in the round of sixteen. At least we (FC Bayern Munchen) are at home this time.
Houston Astros go 3-2 up in the best-of-seven Baseball World Series Final against the LA Lakers, and are on the brink of their first-ever World Series win. Here video clip of the 5th game slugfest which Houston won in the 'extra' 10th innings. 6th and next game tomorrow (Tuesday) in LA. I wish Houston Astros luck, but it ain't over yet! In football, there's a Turkish team who welcome visiting clubs with the words 'Welcome To Hell'. I like the Houston equivalent, 'Welcome To The Haunted House'. https://www.mlb.com/
In New Zealand there was until a few years back, a rugby ground in Dunedin call Carisbrook. It was better known as the House of Pain. The All Blacks dished out some severe torment there. I had a quick look at some famous nicknames. The one I liked was the one lumped upon the former captain of the Irish Rugby team, Keith Wood. Because of his bald head, the hooker was sometimes called Uncle Fester, but the name that stuck like glue was The Raging Potato. please log in to view this image
My favourite though was Whispering Death. One of the truly great West Indian bowlers. Below is 30 minutes of destruction he dished out in Perth. The names are a real blast from the past.
In the lead up to the Rugby League World Cup, a **** storm had broken out between New Zealand and Tonga, in regards to player participation. In some cases, players have the option of representation the nation of either their birth or heritage. A number of Kiwi players have deserted NZ, the country of birth, and opted to play for Tonga. The result has been profound. It has even lead to clashes between supporters in the streets of some cities in New Zealand. Passion abounds. Today the two teams clashed in a pool game in Waikato. Highlights below.
Interesting to watch this Pathé News report from 1965 of Leeds beating Manchester United in an FA Cup semi-final replay. What would today's media make of such a match? Irate tweets, players on facebook expressing their disgust, government ministers calling for an inquiry............................ the referee probably taking legal action. The commentary at the end is brilliant: "One more drama .............. the referee is knocked out by a fan. An unusual touch this, but he soon recovers. Its Leeds to meet Liverpool in the final" Sometimes I miss the simple "just get on with it" approach to life.
England a 9 point favourite next weekend against the Aussies. That's a mistake. I'd have them a slight fav. 9 points is a bloody landslide. I'll be loading up on Australia until that is corrected.
Cannae stand Sauerkraut with my Nurnberger Bratwurst; thankfully most 'Gastatte' will let me have potato salad or 'Petersilienkatoffeln' with my spicy bangers! You may recognize the image on the right from your 'home' city. . Pseudo, moi!
You could tell just from watching how important the FA Cup was back in those days. Not sure what the keeper was doing for the goal though
Well no one has retained the World Cup for over 50 years, so it's a big ask. You've got a chance though, in what looks a wide open tournament. I just keep looking at the Belgium line up, and then see they are 14/1, and think to myself surely they are going to click in a major tournament at somepoint. As on paper (I know footballs not played on paper) I do think they have the best squad in the world at the moment. Got to laugh at the Italians being out though, it must be a huge shock to the system for them
My judgement is that currently France have the strongest squad although Belgium's first eleven or so would be a match for anyone. Think right now it is between four European teams and Brazil; not very original as they are five out of the first six in the betting!
That's my choice too, exactly, BK., never could stand Sauerkraut. On our visits to Regensburg in the Summer we love to sit by the Danube at that well-known 'banger' restaurant (by the old bridge) and enjoy their celebrated Regensburger Bratwurst. Wife has the dreaded Sauerkraut, and I mashed potatoes, plus a nice beer or two from the old barrel, and for the missus, a Rosé or two! http://www.wurstkuchl.de/tavern.html
I don't know too much about the round ball game, but I'd have thought South American teams would struggle in Russia. I suppose Brazil's runaway win in the qualifiers makes them a chance. I did notice though that Uruguay finished second only to Brazil when it came to finding the back of the net. 36-1. Anyone know which of the European sides seem to fare well when visiting Russia?
A touch of bad taste levity (?) follows. Suppose you should count out France (Napoleon's Grand Armee) and Germany (Third Reich; Stalingrad. Kursk ..... ).
Not a word to BayernKenny, Cyc, but the current champions Germany will be very hard to overcome; France look the goods and tonight's friendly with the champions should be interesting; Belgium have many world-class players in their squad; Spain are top class; European champions Portugal? I don't think so; Croatia are always dangerous; Sweden are stubborn but score too few goals for my liking. As for England, slowly improving and probably will not be quite ready for a really good showing, although I am hoping they will make it past the group stage. Future does look much brighter for my old country though, as they are Under-20 and Under-17 World Champions at the moment. So, IMHO, a European country looks odds-on to win the lot next year in Russia. Not a particularly brilliant forecast!
