Saturday, March 21, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
How many teams should MLS have?
Major League Soccer has announced its 18th franchise, Portland.
The quality of play in the MLS leaves a lot to be desired -- the best players in the world will want to play in Europe, where they can make much more money and play against the best players. But I think that the quality of MLS can be improved, by hiring quality managers (basically the 'head coach' position), and by taking advantage of the expanding talent base in the United States, as soccer becomes more popular.
I can envision the MLS eventually capping out with thirty teams, divided into three divisions. Every team would play every team in their division twice per season plus every other team once, for a total of 38 games per season, which is quite reasonable for a soccer season. Then for the MLS cup tourney there can be wild-card games and so forth.
Regardless, I would like to see soccer return to the southeast (especially Florida). Plus I believe St. Louis and Montreal should join the league.
The quality of play in the MLS leaves a lot to be desired -- the best players in the world will want to play in Europe, where they can make much more money and play against the best players. But I think that the quality of MLS can be improved, by hiring quality managers (basically the 'head coach' position), and by taking advantage of the expanding talent base in the United States, as soccer becomes more popular.
I can envision the MLS eventually capping out with thirty teams, divided into three divisions. Every team would play every team in their division twice per season plus every other team once, for a total of 38 games per season, which is quite reasonable for a soccer season. Then for the MLS cup tourney there can be wild-card games and so forth.
Regardless, I would like to see soccer return to the southeast (especially Florida). Plus I believe St. Louis and Montreal should join the league.
Champions League Draw Held
1. Manchester United against Porto: Manchester United are favorites.
2. Villareal against Arsenal: Two somewhat evenly matched teams. Flip a coin.
The Winners of 1 and 2 face each other in the semis.
3. Liverpool against Chelsea: Flip a coin, either team could win this one.
4. Barcelona against Bayern Munchen: Barcelona are favorites.
The Winners of 3 and 4 face each other in the semis.
Champions League Draw with tables.
2. Villareal against Arsenal: Two somewhat evenly matched teams. Flip a coin.
The Winners of 1 and 2 face each other in the semis.
3. Liverpool against Chelsea: Flip a coin, either team could win this one.
4. Barcelona against Bayern Munchen: Barcelona are favorites.
The Winners of 3 and 4 face each other in the semis.
Champions League Draw with tables.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Obscene blindness
Zucker criticizes Stewart's criticism of CNBC, calling it absurd and unfair.
Based on this news story I would wager that Zucker wouldn't know what financial journalism was if it came up and hit him square in the face.
Based on this news story, I would say the same about the journalist who wrote the piece.
Based on this news story I would wager that Zucker wouldn't know what financial journalism was if it came up and hit him square in the face.
Based on this news story, I would say the same about the journalist who wrote the piece.
Cissé
Maybe I'm crazy, but I have a great deal of respect for Djibril Cissé. I hope Sunderland survive this season and sign him on a permanent basis.
Egads
Some idiot, in response to a post at Political Animal on the Pope's anti-condom stance (because condoms don't prevent AIDS, unintended HIV-infected babies do), says this:
For the record, humanism is not the idea that every human has an inalienable right to life.
Humanism is the idea that people have an inalienable right to live their own lives.
Quite a difference between the two.
FWIW, the Catholic Church has the most expansive view of pro life. It is essentially humanism taken to its logical conclussion. The differences we draw between ourselves are meaningless, every person, regardless of stage of development or current human condition, has an inalienable right to life.
For the record, humanism is not the idea that every human has an inalienable right to life.
Humanism is the idea that people have an inalienable right to live their own lives.
Quite a difference between the two.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Gainesville a solar mecca?
An article about my old home town, in a national magazine, that does not mention the local university or its storied athletic teams... I am amazed.
The article is well worth a read, apparently Gainesville has become a hot-spot for solar power, thanks to innovative and left-leaning city policies (what the article does not mention is that the city owns the major energy utility in the area).
The article is well worth a read, apparently Gainesville has become a hot-spot for solar power, thanks to innovative and left-leaning city policies (what the article does not mention is that the city owns the major energy utility in the area).
Monday, March 16, 2009
Robinho
Every time I read about personnel problems at Manchester City I experience sublime schadenfreude... very bitter, slightly sweet, with just enough zest and effervescence to make it pleasing.
The idea that Robinho's reputation as an inconsistent trouble-maker would make any trade for a world class unappealing doesn't seem to enter these people's brains.
The idea that Robinho's reputation as an inconsistent trouble-maker would make any trade for a world class unappealing doesn't seem to enter these people's brains.
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