How Phil Mickelson Tried To Beat Me, And Lost; And Further World Cup Excitement

My two year anniversary with Marina is June 20th, and I had a great plan in mind, a two night stay at the Dream Inn, right on the beach in Santa Cruz, a short walk to the pier and the Boardwalk, cocktails on the balcony at night while listening to the waves roll in.

It turns out, though, that Phil Mickelson had other ideas in mind. Or, rather, the entire golf paradigm had other plans in mind. Because the US Open golf tournament is being staged that weekend in Monterey, and because the Dream Inn expects a heavy overflow crowd, a three night minimum stay was required.

That's one more reason why I have no respect for golf as a sport. I have no problem with golf as a game, especially on the Wii, but until they remove their centerpiece event, the Masters, from a club that still bans women, then I have no respect for the PGA and golf in general as an organized sport.

I did, however, find a cottage for rent in Santa Cruz for that weekend, so golf has failed on a epic scale in trying to best me.

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Soccer notes that could destabilize the safety of my predictions as a form book:

I know you all are reading my posts and taking those predictions straight to Vegas to wager heavily. Here are some possible reasons why you shouldn't have been so impulsive:

Michael Essien, Ghana. The Chelsea star is set to miss the entire World Cup with a leg injury. Losing their engine could greatly diminish Ghana's ability to succeed as wildly as I predicted.

Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon. Bizarrely, Roger Milla, Cameroon's hero from their madcap 1990 dash to the quarterfinals in Italy, has been harshly criticizing Eto'o, saying he has done pretty much nothing worth mentioning for Cameroon. This seems kind of crazy to say in regards to a two-time Champions League winner and three-time African Player Of The Year. Eto'o was none too pleased, talking about quitting the international scene, saying he doesn't need this sort of treatment. This is probably just talk, but any extra pressure, or if he is unhappy, will surely be to the detriment of Cameroon's attack.

US Notes

Landon Donovan is playing as well as I've ever seen him. The US game versus Turkey was kind of bipolar, the first half being a disorganized mess, especially on defense, and the second half an example of the potential the US has to run rampant with quick passing and athleticism. Donovan, however, was strong and threatening throughout, and it was his brilliant touches that created both goals. We will have to make sure that when other countries gear to stop Landon, others step up to punish them for doing so.

FINAL DAY OF THE GROUP STAGES

DAY 15, JUNE 25TH, 2010

GROUP G

NORTH KOREA VERSUS IVORY COAST

China is not willing to blame North Korea in the recent torpedo episode, even after North Korea took responsibility/credit for it and threatened war if they were punished for it. Bad karma for both countries, and with China already not in the World Cup, North Korea racks up enough for both teams in losing 2-0 to the Ivory Coast, bowing out of the Cup meekly.


BRAZIL VERSUS PORTUGAL

Cristiano Ronald is amazing to watch, but I kind of love watching him get frustrated and pouty. Brazil shows Portugal why they won't win the World Cup this year either, 3-1. Ronaldo gets at least one yellow card for dissent.


GROUP H

CHILE VERSUS SPAIN

I really can't wait to watch this game, as many experts are touting this game as potentially one of the most entertaining of the group stages, with both teams playing a fluid, attacking style.

Still, Spain will be too much for Chile, winning comfortably enough, 3-1.

SWITZERLAND VERSUS HONDURAS

In something of a ho-hum match, Honduras pulls a surprise in winning 1-0 by stealing a late goal.

STANDINGS

GROUP G


BRAZIL 3 WINS 0 LOSSES 0 DRAWS 9 POINTS

IVORY COAST 2 WINS 1 LOSS 0 DRAWS 6 POINTS

PORTUGAL 1 WIN 2 LOSSES 0 DRAWS 3 POINTS

NORTH KOREA 0 WINS 3 LOSSES 0 DRAWS 0 POINTS


GROUP H

SPAIN 3 WINS 0 LOSSES 0 DRAWS 9 POINTS


CHILE 2 WINS 1 LOSS 0 DRAWS 6 POINTS

HONDURAS 1 WINS 2 LOSSES 0 DRAWS 3 POINTS

SWITZERLAND 0 WINS 3 LOSSES 0 DRAWS 0 POINTS