IntergaLActic Planetary

The Los Angeles Galaxy saw action twice this week, once in an official capacity, the other an international friendly. Saturday night the Galaxy welcomed Real Salt Lake to the HDC in hopes of keeping their recent winning streak alive. And what I had hoped would happen, did indeed happen. The Galaxy was able to come together as a team, and not just a group of Donovan supporters. The first half went scoreless, the Galaxy looking in pretty good shape. Newbie Josh Gardner quickly stepped up to the stage, and became a key figure in the 1st half, providing many of the Galaxy's early attacks. The lockers must have provided the Galaxy with a newfound inspiration or strength, because they came out swinging. Donovan was the key playmaker this half, and he managed to set up both Herculez Gomez and Josh Gardner for the Galaxy's 2 gamewinning goals. It was nice to see the teams defense dominating the 1st half, and the offense the 2nd. This was a team win this time around, and Donovan showed a glimmer of the team leader that he could one day become. 3 straight wins in a row, let's keep it up fellas!Last night, the Galaxy played a friendly match at the HDC against Mexico's Necaxa. Not being an official game, Coach Yallop saw fit to start many of the supplementary and reserve players in this match. I guess he was looking for them to gain some experience on a different level, seeing that the Necaxa team started many players that would be starting in Mexico's Primera Division (1st or Primary Division). It was quickly apparent that a victory was out of the question, and despite Cobi Jones trying to mobilize the midfield, there was nothing to be done. Necaxa, on the other hand, quickly found an opening against Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin. That goal in the 11th minute would be all it would take to seal the deal. Galaxy falls 1-0. (Good for them that this doesn't count, but still must hurt nonetheless).

Next up: The Galaxy are once again visitors in their own home as they take on Chivas USA for the 3rd time this season, attempting to break the 1-1 tie against the hometown rivals. These matches are always heated, so it should be a great game. Let's support all those brave fans that venture forth into the vast sea of red and white stripes.

Danke und Auf Wiedersehen

The end has come and gone. The world has a new World Cup champion, an old World Cup champion, but a new one nonetheless. Let's take a look at the final two games of this thoroughly entertaining tournament. Saturday afternoon saw the Portuguese and the Germans facing off in Stuttgart, Germany for the glory that is 3rd place. I was really disappointed to see the Portuguese team fall apart during the latter part of this tournament. Even though they did make it this far, there was a feeling of shame or disappointment that loomed heavily over their heads. And that was such a shame coming from a team that I had grown to admire and root for. On the completely opposite side of the spectrum, the Germans, who had been nothing but gracious and amazing this entire tournament, continued to fuel the home crowds enthusiasm and love for this wonderful game. The Germans came to play, even if it was only for 3rd place, and they gave it their all. This game belonged to one man, and one man alone, Bastian Schweinsteiger. His name was one that I had come to enjoy hearing the announcers scream, if only because they sounded silly doing it. But there was nothing silly about his skill and level of play. He was a strong competitor, and a powerful force for the German team. And he made his presence known in their final match this time around scoring twice on the uninspired Portuguese team. And an autogoal made by Petit on the Portueguese side seemed to be the final nail in their coffin. They did manage to score once (in the right net) late in the 2nd half, very late, but it was too little too late. Final 3-1. On to Sunday, which brought with it the big game that would pit Italy vs. France in the historic Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany. The venue would once again witness history in the making as two European greats squared off for the ultimate prize. I was conflicted with this final. On one hand we had the Italians, who played a crucial role in eliminating the United States from this World Cup. And on the other hand we had the French, who are generally disagreeable to begin with. There is just something about the French that didn't sit right with me. I was never impressed by them this World Cup, but perhaps I'm in the minority. I would have rather seen the 3rd Place game be the final, but what can you do? It is what it is. The game was heavily contested on both sides. I hate to admit it, but it was pretty exciting and engaging. The French opened up the scoreboard early in the 1st half off of a penalty kick by Zinedine Zidane. This would be his Swangsong match, and it looked like he was going down in a blaze of glory. Not shortly thereafter, the Italians retaliated with a goal of their own. The game was all tied up at one apiece into the half break, and it would continue to be so straight through the end of regulation and 2 halves of extra time. This final would be decided by Penalty Kicks. Unfortunately for the French, they had lost many of their key players to injury, substitutions, and a red card. (The red was assigned to Zinedine Zidane for unsportsmanlike conduct when he headbutted one of the Italian players in the chest, seemingly unprovoked. That was definitely the wrong key to end his career on!) This definitely hurt the French, and the Italians, with the best goalie in the world on their side, had it pretty much in the bag. After all was said and done, the final score 6-4 (with goals and penalties). So, after 30 action packed days, 32 teams, 64 matches, and countless hearts broken, the Italians would emerge victorious for the 4th time in their illustrious history. At the end of it all, here are your top 4:World Cup Germany 2006 Champions: Italy

2nd Place: France
3rd Place: Germany
4th Place: Portugal

Thanks to everyone who was interested enough to follow my coverage of this awsome event. Now is the time for soccer withdrawls. The shivers, the shakes, and the cold sweats will last four agonizing years as we eagerly await the debut of the African Continent's 1st ever hosting of the World Cup. We've got a date 4 years from now for World Cup South Africa 2010. Thank You Germany!

Wer Wird Der Champion Sein?

The stage is set. The invitations to the finals have been sent out, and two teams have RSVP'd. This weekend brings the final 2 games in World Cup Germany 2006. Yesterday and today saw the Semi-Final games put all the players into their proper slots, and some, quite frankly, were a little surprising to me. Yesterday we had the host nation, Germany, square off against the Italians in Dortmund, Germany in the first of the Semi-Final matches. One of these two teams would go on to the World Cup Final on July 9th in Berlin, Germany. By all intents and purposes, it should have been the Germans. They have had the homefield advantage this entire tournament, and have played some exceptional soccer, with the combined forces of Klose, Podolski, and Coach Juergen Klinsmann (who is rumored to be in contention for the USA National Team coaching position!). The Italians, who currently boast the greatest goalkeeper in the world, have, in my opinion, been extremely lucky in this World Cup. They are a very powerful force in soccer, ranked #13 internationally going into this tournament, but a lot of the officiating seemed to be on their side. As these two European powerhouses faced off, it was obvious why they had made it so far. As it has been with these final round matches, 90 minutes would not be enough to decide who would move on. And it seemed that neither would the extra 30 minutes played thereafter. But you would be wrong. 3 minutes. 3 minutes was all it would take to decide who was going to Berlin, and who was going to fight for 3rd. In this case, it would be the Italians who find the net not once, but twice, in 3 minutes deep into the second half of extra time. The home team would have to settle for either 3rd or 4th. Today we found out who would be meeting Italy in Berlin on Sunday, as Portugal faced off against France in Munich, Germany. Personally, I was rooting for Portugal to go all the way. I've enjoyed their playing style, and their skill level. They are the only survivors of the group that held Mexico, and the only one of the 4 teams left with any ties to Latin American heritage. Unfortunately, my hopes were not enough to help them overcome the French squad. A lousy penalty kick was more than enough to help the French garnish a ticket to the big showdown in Berlin, Germany. France begins to taste the glory that once was back in 1998, while Portugal must play through the tears on Saturday against Germany in Stuttgart, Germany. So, here's the schedule for the final 2 games:

Saturday, July 8th:
Portugal vs. Germany (Stuttgart, Germany)

Sunday, July 9th:
Italy vs. France (Berlin, Germany)

It's been an exciting month of international level soccer. Let's just hope that that finals don't disappoint. I'll be back to wrap the whole shebang up on Sunday night.

Superheroes On Screen

Well, I got around to seeing Superman Returns this past Friday, and despite certain distractions (spanish subtitles and annoying talking moviegoers), I thouroughly enjoyed this movie. I wasn't quiet sure what to expect. I was a little up in the air on the casting on the Man of Steel (seemed too young), and Bryan Singer's choice for Lois Lane seemed a bit farfetched. (Erica Durance, anyone?) But I am here to say that I gladly eat my words. The casting couldn't be more perfect, and pretty soon you lose track of the actors, and you become deeply entrenched with the characters. The story was great, and Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor was pure genius. He was the perfect balance of camp and menace. This is easily one of the greatest comic book genre movies ever made. But where does it place on my list?? We'll, I've given that a lot of thought, and here's my Top 10 List of Superhero Movies:


#10: Hellboy
For never having read the comic book or having been intimately familiar with the characters, I enjoyed the HELL (pun intended) out of this movie. Ron Perlman as Hellboy is very enjoyable, and the overall tone of the film was enjoyable.





#9: Batman Returns
Having dealt with the origin and backstory in the original Batman, Tim Burton manages to create a darker toned sequel, that still maintains a whimsical, yet menacing auora about it. The Penguin and Catwoman characters create an ecclectic triptych with Batman that was not achieved by the Joker alone. Here we see Batman and Bruce Wayne deal with the villains in both their lives simultaneously. (With sexy results!)




#8: X2: X-Men United
Like with Batman Returns, the origin and backstory are readily out of the way, letting you jump right into the action without backpedaling. My favorite new character was by far Nightcrawler, played to perfection by Alan Cumming. (I was sad to not see him in X3). The story was much more developed and intriguing than the original X-Men, and the human factor was handled brilliantly. (And Wolverine still kicks so much ass!)



#7: X-Men
The original is still the best. You cannot argue the brilliance of Bryan Singer after watching this film. He managed to take a completely ludicrous concept and infused it with pure believability and humanity. He was able to ground the story in our world, and made us accept everything we saw as fact. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine was brilliant casting.




#6: Superman (1978)
The one that started it all. You cannot have a list like this and not have this movie be on it. When I first saw this movie, I truly believed a man could fly. And even though the costume seemed a bit ridiculous, you never question the respect that you give it. Superman is an icon because of this movie, and because of Christopher Reeve. Amazingly enough, he managed just earn just as much respect and admiration in real life, as he did in the movie. That's what makes legends.



#5: Batman (1989)
Tim Burton, Micheal Keaton, and Jack Nicholson. The holy trinity of comic book movies. It was very difficult to see anyone else as Batman since Keaton donned the cape and cowl. And I don't think anyone will ever be able to touch Nicholson's Joker. This movie was dark, campy, and thoroughly enjoyable. I remember standing for hours at the theatre with my mom waiting to see this movie. That's the first moviegoing experience I remember.



#4: Superman Returns
Just released, and it is already this high up on my list. This movie further establishes Bryan Singers moviemaking prowess, especially with such a tricky genre. He managed to do the seemingly impossible, by resurrecting a franchise that was thought long dead, despite numerous failed attempts to revive it. I honestly believe that this film was waiting for Bryan to make it. It was amazing to look at, emotionally involving, and extremely compeling. Can't wait for a sequel!


#3: Batman Begins
Again, the resurrection of a seemingly dead franchise. Ever since the stench-ridden corpse that was Batman & Robin was laid down by Joel Schumacher, fanboys have feared a reappearance by the Dark Knight. But again, just like with Superman Returns, this movie was just waiting for the right director. And THANK GOD that they decided to go with a reinvisioning of the Caped Crusader, rather than a revisit to the camp that were the last 2 Batman movies. This film gave the comic book movie genre a sense of respectability and believability. This world was very much real, and plausible, not like the surrealistic Gotham that Tim Burton gave us. This gives us proof positive that a man dressed up as a giant bat is no laughing matter.(Unless you're the Joker that is, which is vaguely alluded to as a possible villain in the sequel!)


#2: Spider-Man
What can I say? Spider-Man has been one of my all time favorite comic book characters ever since I can remember. There is something so appealing about the concept of swinging through skyscrapers and catching crooks in webs. Spider-Man/Peter Parker seems to be the polar opposite of Batman. He's a poor, young, kid with nothing but super smarts on his side. He survives on his wits, and he never lets the glory of his superheroics get to his head. He's the everyman within us all, and that is why most people identify with him. Thank God for Sam Raimi. He understood the appeal of the comic book, the nature of the character, and the burden of his inner conflict, and managed to completely convey all those elements in a feature film. It still gives me goosebumps to watch Spidey swinging through New York, especially the last few minutes of the film culminating on the flagpole. This film is awe-inspiring, and, until my #1 pick came along, the epitome of the comic book superhero movie. So, what can topple Spider-Man off the top of the list?? Well, none other than it's sequel!!




#1: Spider-Man 2
Sam Raimi did the impossible. He created a masterpiece with the original Spider-Man, and not only tackles the prospect of a sequel, but far surpasses it. Like most of these sequels, he eliminated most of the origin and backstory (you can't have Spidey without Uncle Ben), and helped to flesh out the character of Peter Parker, his battle with his dual identities, and the balance (or lack thereof) with his numerous relationships. In this movie we see Peter begin to lose his powers, confess to his aunt that his uncle is dead because of him, see a mentor become a villain, lose his best friend, and have his identity discovered by Harry, Mary Jane, and an elevated train full of people. What's a hero to do? This movie is what all these comic book movies should aspire to be. Faithful to the source material, straightforward with the story and characters, and respectful to the moviegoers. Most moving scene: When Peter saves the elevated train from certain doom, and his body is passed along by the grateful passengers as they stare in awe that Spider-Man is "Just a Kid". (And again, the last few minutes of the movie where Spidey swings through New York amongst the rescue helicopters...Simply Amazing!)


Well, that's my list. Feel free to disagree, but that's how I see it. In case you're wondering what's on the other side of the spectrum: Daredevil, Elektra, Fantastic Four, and Hulk just to name a few. All comments and opinions are welcome.

Happy 4th Of July (Thanks to the L.A. Galaxy!)

Happy 4th of July everyone! In grand fashion, the Los Angeles Galaxy celebrated with their second straight victory, this time at home for the 4th of July crowd, against the New York Red Bulls. And, once again, Landon Donovan was the hero of the game, scoring the match's solitary goal while being sandwiched by two defenders. There were few other opportunities, but none reached fruition. It's becoming abundantly clear that this "team" rides on the back of Donovan, but unless they learn that they are a "team" and not a supporting cast of characters, we may still be a long way from a repeat championship. Donovan needs to be more of a leader, than a showoff. Let's hope the message comes in sooner than later. Next up, the Galaxy welcome Real Salt Lake to he good ol' HDC on Saturday. Let's see if we just can't keep this streak alive, but this time let's make it more of a team effort. What do you say guys? Good Luck!

Good Ol' #10

Galaxy was in action once again today. This time they faced off against the Kansas City Wizards on their home turf. It also saw the official return of Landon Donovan to the field. The Galaxian defense was in top form, and all plays seemed to be Donovan-ized, seeing how he took control of the ball, advancing the Galaxy towards the Wizard's net. Apparently this tactic worked out for them, seeing how Donovan was able to connect, not once, but twice. The first was scored in the 36th minute of the 1st half, and the second was in the 2nd minute of stoppage time in the 2nd half. (Cutting it close!) Looks like Donovan returning was just the shot in the arm that the team needed. Hopefully this win (the first since April 29th) will mark the return of the Championship L.A. Galaxy that we've been expecting to see all season long. Final score 2-0. (YAY!) Next up, we come home to the HDC for the 4th of July match-up against the New York Red Bulls. (Who now have Todd Dunivant, who was traded in exchange for some allocation [money] to strengthen the Galaxy. Also let go was Marcelo Saragosa) Let's keep our fingers crossed that the post game fireworks will also be celebrating our 2nd victory. Good Luck!

Und Dann Gab Es Vier

And now there are 4. Yep, after yesterday and today's games, 4 more teams have been given the boot (some very surprising!), leaving only 4 hopeful nations to settle it amongst themselves who will be the 2006 World Cup champion. Quarter Final action was truly exciting. Yesterday, we had Germany and Argentina square off in Berlin, Germany, while Italy and the Ukraine settled it in Hamburg, Germany. The Germans have been a force to be reckoned with this tournament, and they have the added pressure of being the host nation resting squarely on their shoulders. Argentina is one of only 2 remaining Latin American nations that we can root for (Brazil, being the other), so they had the hopes of many Latins and Hispanics on their side. Quarter Finals sees most of these teams shine under pressure, and this was no exception. Both teams had put their best foot forward, and gave just as well as they took. So well, in fact, that the regulation 90 minutes ended in a 1-1 tie. And extra time saw very little change, other than added fatigue, than what was shown in the first 2 halves. So, once again, we were off to settle it in penalty kicks. This always stressful and nerve-wracking situation seems to narrow down to luck, more than skill. (Although I guess you can call skill to the kickers ability to fake out the goalie, and the goalie's ability to read the kicker!) Ultimately, Germany was more skillful, and ended the whole she-bang 4-2. Argentina, after scoring 6 goals in one game, never returned to that level, and because of that, they were sent home. Next, Italy faced of with the Ukraine who, in my opinion, had no business advancing this far. And the Italians made that perfectly clear to them. Italy showed once more why they are always a force to be reckoned with, ending the heavily one-sided match 3-0. Take a hike Ukraine. That brings us to today's matches. We had Portugal vs. England early this morning live from Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and Brazil vs. France in Frankfurt, Germany. The last 2 teams to move on, and to go home, would be decided here. Again, the Portuguese and the Brits were evenly matched, to the point of a 0-0 draw at the end of 90', and then again after the extra 30'. So, once more, we go to the agony that is the penalty kick. The Brits were off to an early lead, Portugal missing one and getting one blocked by the post, but fortune had something else in mind, and the Portuguese found their rhythm. In the end, Portugal takes the cake with a 1-3 win, thanks to #17 Cristiano Ronaldo. (Beckham, we hardly knew ye!) That only leaves the champs, Brazil, to defend against the French. Where do I begin? The Brazilians are known for their awesome soccer skill. They have bred some of the best players in the world, and they currently have two of them in this national team, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. We were promised great things from this team. Throughout the World Cup, up to this point, we have not seen that Brazil that we've all heard or read about, and that all national teams fear. Sure, they've won most of their games, but narrowly, and ususally after trying to deal with far more inferior teams. True, Ronaldo got his 3 goals, which were more than enough to let him break the record, but Ronaldinho was nowhere to be seen. On the flip side, here's France, who has been playing far below their performance in the 1998 World Cup, where they defeated Brazil in order to gain the cup. Now, here we are, 8 years later, and not much has changed. Both teams tried very hard to outplay the defense, but only the Franch, off of a free kick from Zidane which connected with a completely undefended Henry, found the back of the net in the 2nd half. Try as they might, the Brazilians had no such luck, to the shock and amazement of most, and the complete satisfaction of others. It all ends 1-0, and incredibly, Brazil heads home. So, the Semi-Finals have all been set up, and they are scheduled as follows:

Tuesday, July 4th:
Germany vs. Italy (Dortmund, Germany)

Wednesday, July 5th:
Portugal vs. France (Munich, Germany)

Four more games and the whole thing comes to an end. On July 9th, we will have a new World Cup Champion, and it will be one of the 4 teams above. Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen, winner takes all!

MORE Than Meets the Eye!

So, in the shadow of yesterday's Nerdom News, comes today the announcement that Dreamworks has released what is being referred to as an "Announcement Trailer" for the Transformers movie on their official site. You can check that out here. Also, there have been a few images leaked out from the filming location at the Hoover Dam. So far, Bumblebee has been the primary focus of theses images, and you can see how radically different his design is. Gone is the beloved Volkswagon Beetle that we've all come to know and love (Like a warm hug!). He's been replaced by the 2007 Camaro Saleen which you can check out here, and you can see a partial image of a fully transformed Bumblebee here. I'm still just looking forward to seeing the full on body shots of Optimus Prime and Megatron, it should be sweet. (Please God, don't let them f#%k this up!)

This Week in Nerdom!

This week is a big one for Comic Book fans, and movie fans, worldwide. Not only is Superman Returns released in theatres today, but yesterday saw the premier of the Spiderman 3 movie teaser trailer, which is said to be attached to certain prints of Superman Returns. Watched it yesterday on Attack of the Show on G4, and it looks freakin' awesome! But don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself here.

Auf Den Viertel-Finalen

Yesterday the Group of 16 officially came to a close, and that means that the Quarter Final confrontations are all in place. Today we had Brazil take on Ghana in Dortmund, Germany, and Spain faced off against France in Hanover, Germany. Although I had high hopes for the Ghana squad, when you meet up agains Brazil, you're as good as gone, especially when it all comes down to winning or going home. And this was definitely no expection. The Brazilians were in fine form, and Ronaldo even managed to become the new record holder for most World Cup goals by any player, with 15. He opened up the scoreboard, and it was all Brazil from that point on. Ghana, of course, played their hearts out, but we definitely saw why Brazil is the reigning World Cup champion. The South Americans found the net twice more during the match, and ultimately it all came to an end for the Africans. Final score, 3-0. (Thanks for the show Ghana!) Next, Brazil awaits its opponent, which would emerge in Hanover, Germany as Spain battled France for Quarter Final advancement. Personally, I was really liking the way the Spanish team had been playing, especially their opening game against the Ukraine where they won 4-0. They had one of the most beautifully executed plays leading up to a goal that I've seen in this World Cup. That being said, I was not surprised when they opened up the scoreboard almost 3/4 of the way through the 1st half. I was already celebrating their advancement, when the French managed to connect before the half was through. They went into the locker rooms all tied up at 1 apiece. But as the Spanish team took the French goal as a fatal blow, the French seized the opportunity to take it as a victorious one. I was never very impressed by this French team. A lot of hype and expectation, but not very much delivered. But they certainly brought their "A" game this time around. The Spanish team never truly recovered from the French goal. Before the end, the French would find the Spanish net 2 more times. And, in what I thought to be an upset, the French win it 3-1. Spain, always a strong World Cup contender, is sent home. So, at the end of Group of 16 play, here is the Quarter Final schedule:

Friday, June 30th:
Germany vs. Argentina (Berlin, Germany)
Italy vs. Ukraine (Hamburg, Germany)

Saturday, July 1st:
England vs. Portugal (Gelsenkirchen, Germany)
Brazil vs. France (Frankfurt, Germany)

By weekends end, 4 more teams will be sent home. Then, its on to the Semi-Finals.

Dynamo-Mite!!

The Los Angeles Galaxy was back in action on Saturday night, as they welcomed the Houston Dynamo. And, of course, we were in attendance. It was a very eventful night, one that didn't entirely have to do with soccer, but more on that later. So, we get to the good ol' HDC (Home Depot Center, to you and me!) at around 6:30pm, an entire hour before the game was supposed to start. So we did a little wandering around the stadium, and I snapped a few pictures of the trophy displays that they set up before the games.We got our little Family Pack deal, which includes drinks and dogs for all, and had purchased seats on the Stadium Club side of the HDC. (We usually sit on the opposite side, under the lawn). So, already we were living it up. Our assigned seats were pretty close to the tunnel leading into the locker rooms, so we had some good views of the players coming out of and entering the tunnel. We were excited to hear that Donovan and Albright were back in action that night, so I had my camera ready to snap some pics. So, I waited...and waited...and waited...Ooooo, there's Albright!...Waited some more...still waiting...Snapped pictures of Cobi and Herculez Gomez...getting tired, but still waiting...and FINALLY, the game begins and no Donovan to be seen. It looks like we had been lead on, and Donovan wasn't going to show.The game proceeded fairly well. The Galaxy looked to be in top form, and they managed to keep the Dynamo in check. Herculez Gomez had a few close calls, but no luck finding the net. John Wolyniec also had a pretty good game, coming close to the Dynamo net but, again, not being able to connect. During half time we were treated to something rather bizarre. There were two different presentations made by two different teams, both of them had to do with GNC (General Nutrition Centers). The first one had to do with a boxing ring, and how GNC revitalizes you and helps you knock out your problems. The next one was a sort of GNC obsticle course with people dressed up in GNC logos, looking like fools. The highlight was having Cosmo, the Galaxy mascot, chase after these fools with their own props. Anywho, at the end of it all, I told my girlfriend that it reminded me of the stunts they do on The Apprentice, but didn't think much of it.The second half started, and it was more of the same. A couple of close calls. Herculez Gomez, and Cobi Jones, who had just been put in, mostly moved the ball to the Dynamo net, but try as they might, there was no pay off. Hartman had some pretty spectacular saves as well. (You know, I kept thinking to myself that this MLS stuff is NOOOOOOWHERE near the level of play that I have been seeing for the past month in the World Cup! And the field seems so much smaller!) The clock quickly wound down, and it looked like the Galaxy would at least come out of it with one point.Near games end, there seemed to come some commotion. As I turned to see what was going on, I saw not one, but two very surprising things. First of all, I looked towards the Stadium Club that was directly above us, and through the windows we could clearly see that Landon Donovan had taken a seat by one of the window tables and was watching the game perched from above. He looked rather pensive and meloncholy, perhaps regretting the fact that he didn't perform as expected in Germany. (Either way, we're still proud of him, and we're sure he's got a least 2 more World Cups in him!) The second very surprising thing that I saw, directly to the left of the Stadium Club from our vantage point, we saw none other than The Donald himself, Mr. Trump, doing a bit of filming and publicity up on the balcony.So, it turns out that my initial hunch was right. That would explain the helicopters that kept hovering over the HDC, as well as the signs that were posted at every entrance stating that if you didn't want to be on TV, that you shouldn't enter he venue. I didn't give them a second thought, because the games are usually broadcast on TV anyway, so I thought it had to do something with that. I managed to snap that picture of Donovan standing next to Trump. Meanwhile, the game progressed to its inevitable end. Tie score, 0-0. One more point for the Galaxy. (At least it isn't a loss!) All in all, a very unique night at the HDC. Next up, Galaxy travels to Kansas City to meet up with the Wizards on July 1st. A win would be nice, wouldn't it? Come on guys, what do you say? Good Luck!

Sagen Sie Auf Wiedersehen

Very exciting weekend of World Cup competition. Since Friday, 6 more teams have been sent packing. We've seen some very exciting match ups, some heartbreaking moments, some horrible officiating, and some last second miracles. Let's see how the Group of 16 is looking like now. Early Saturday morning, the Group of 16 kicked things off with Germany taking on Sweden in Munich, Germany. The Germans, despite being the home team, clearly demonstrated just why they deserve to be there, and why they deserve to advance. 2 goals, both early in the 1st half, was all the German team needed to make short work of the Swedes. The final score, 2-0, sends Sweden home, and Germany into the Quarter Finals. Now, to find Germany's next opponent, we go to Leipzig, Germany where two Latin American powerhouses, Argentina and Mexico, squared off. It was a tough choice trying to pick a favorite between these two, it is always nice to see a Latin American country advance. Mexico wins by proximity, but it was up to them to win by goals. Mexico opens up the scoreboard early in the 1st half, and it seemed like they were giving the Argentinians a run for their money. Then, off of a corner for Argentina, one of the Mexico defenders, in an attempt to knock the ball out of the area, instead connects with the back of the net. Mexico is left bewildered, and ultimately unable to score for the rest of the match. At the end of the regulation 90 minutes, the score stood at one apiece, and off we went to our first Extra Time in this World Cup. 8 minutes into the 1st half of Extra Time, Argentina, in what has to be the most beautiful, and also perhaps the most miraculous, goal of this entire tournament. Again, Mexico found itself dumbfounded, along with the rest of the world after such an amazing goal, and it never recovered. Final score, after Extra Time, 2-1. Argentina moves on, and Mexico packs its bags. Sunday, bright and early, England met with Ecuador in Stuttgart, Germany. This game was a little difficult to watch. Not only was the officiating terrible, but also, the weather was taking a very big toll on the players. Both teams were sweating heavily, and I think I even saw Beckham throwing up a little bit. Both teams were giving it their all, and in the end England, off an awesome free kick by Beckham (bending it like only he can!), put the Brits in the Quarter Finals. To find their opponent, we head to Nuremberg, Germany where Portugal faced off against Holland. This game, again, was evenly matched, the two teams playing their hardest. But, yet again, the officiating played a crucial role in this match, seeing 2 players leave on either side. In the end, Portugal found a hole through the Dutch defense, and ended the match with a final score of 1-0. Portugal meets with England next, and Holland watches safely from home. That brings us to today. First thing this morning, Italy took on Australia in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The Aussies, who were my pick to advance, met the Italian offense head on, and, although they were not on the same level in terms of skill, they managed to keep the Italians at bay. And talk about getting down to the wire, 30 seconds before the end of the regulation 90 minutes, the ref hallucinates and sees a foul within the box that wasn't there. The Italians, out of sheer luck, and a nicely executed penalty kick by Totti, advances to the Quarter Finals. G'day Aussies! Thanks for puttin' another shrimp on our barbie! The Italians now get to sit back and watch Switzerland vs. Ukraine straight from Cologne, Germany. I wasn't really expecting much from this game, other that thinking that the Ukraine would easily take out the Swiss. But what I was expecting to be a slow game...ended up being 10 time worse. It was long, boring, uneventful, and ultimately disappointing. Perhaps the most lackluster performance by both teams in any World Cup game thus far. (Or ever!) The only thing that made it worse is that it plowed through 90 minutes of regulation time PLUS 30 minutes of Extra Time, and straight into Penalty Shoot Outs. The Swiss were all over the place, except where they needed to be, which is on target. In the end, the Ukraine found the net 3 times, and won their ticket into the Quarter Finals, 3-0. So, at the end of this very eventful weekend of play, we see the Quarter Final match-ups starting to take form. One more day of Group of 16 play, followed by 2 days of rest for all teams involved. Quarter Final play kicks off on Friday morning. But we still have to get through tomorrow. Scheduled to play: Brazil vs. Ghana, and Spain vs. France. This should be good!

Und Dann Gab Es Sechzehn

Despite our personal loss today, the World Cup still goes ever on. And today was the final leg of the initial elimination round. From here on in, 16 teams will battle head to head for ultimate dominance. They will push, tackle, kick, and scream through the ranks for the chance to become the ultimate soccer champion. From here on in, it's one team at a time, one game at a time, winner take all. Groups G and H were set to close out the initial qualifying round, the Round of 16 kicks off tomorrow. On deck to play this morning, Saudi Arabia vs. Spain in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and Ukraine vs. Tunisia in Berlin, Germany. Spain was looking to remain undefeated, while the Saudi's sought an additional point to add to their single one earned from their tie against Tunisia. An early goal in the 1st half from Spain would turn out to be the only one of the entire match. With that, the Saudis earn their ticket home. Final score, 1-0. Meanwhile, the Ukraine, seeking to clench the coveted 2nd place slot in order to advance, had to first make its way through the Tunisian defense. Like Saudi Arabia, Tunisia was looking to add to their single point, but, again, like Saudi Arabia, was unsuccessful in that venture. Final score, 1-0. On to Group G, who anticipated action from Togo vs. France in Cologne, Germany, and Switzerland vs. Korea Republic in Hanover, Germany. France, who had been a great disappointment in the last World Cup, was seeking their first win following 2 ties, as well as redemption from their abyssmal performance 4 years ago. Togo, on the other hand, was just looking for their first win, period! But just when it was looking like France had nothing more to offer this time around, they manage to find the Togoan net, not once, but twice. Final score, 2-0. Switzerland, leader of this group, had anticipated heading into the next round with Korea in tow. France, pulling an upset, and Switzerland scoring their 2 goals against Korea, opened the door for France to advance. So, ultimately, Ghana becomes the only African team to advance to the Round of 16, and Asia is completely out. So, at the end of today's competition, Groups G and H look like this:

Group G:
1. Switzerland (7 pts.)
2. France (5 pts.)
3. Korea Republic (4 pts.)*
4. Togo (0 pts.)*

Group H:
1. Spain (9 pts.)
2. Ukraine (6 pts.)
3. Tunisia (1 pt.)*
4. Saudi Arabia (1 pt.)*

(* Indicates eliminated team)

Tomorrow: ROUND OF 16! Germany vs. Sweden, and Argentina vs. Mexico (Go Tri! Hey, we gotta root for someone now that the USA is gone!)

S.I.P. Gandalf the Blue

Today, I awoke to a very painful realization. Our betta, Gandalf, had passed away during the night. I hope he didn't suffer, and I hope that he is happier where he is. He will be missed. He was serene, regal at times, and had come to accept me as his caregiver. (He had grown accustomed to our daily feeding ritual. He almost seemed to anticipate them) Maybe I'm just reading too much into it, but I like to think that we bonded. I know he definitely bonded with my girlfriend, who will mourn along with us. To Gandalf the Blue, may you Swim In Peace through crystal blue waters.

Todunglücklich

The world moves on, and yet for some, the dream is over. Today was a very dramatic day of World Cup competition, with more than a few nation's getting their hearts broken. And how did the USA do?? We'll get to that in a second. Group E was first up today, which had on the scheduled USA vs. Ghana in Nuremberg, Germany, and over in Hamburg, Germany, Italy was set to take on the Czech Republic. This had been the tightest group of all thus far. Even with just 1 point, the USA still had hopes of advancing to the Group of 16. In order for that to happen, Italy had to beat the Czech Republic, and the USA had to overcome the Africans. I know it was a lot to hope for, but miracles do sometimes happen. After a rather impressive debut against the United States, the Czech Republic have been unable to regain their momentum. Ghana plowed right through them with a 2-0 victory, and Italy was no different. The Italians, always a strong threat in World Cup competition, showed no mercy, and quickly disposed of the Czechs. Final score, 2-0. Things were looking promising for the USA. All that stood in their way of advancement was the Ghanan squad. The 1st half saw the Africans open up the scoreboard 1-0 against the Americans. But deep into the end of the 1st half, the USA managed to get their timing just right, and tied things up in the 44th minute. But just when our hopes had once again been raised, Ghana finds an ally in the referee, who calls a Bulls**t foul within the goal zone, and awards the Africans a penalty kick. Trouble is, there was no foul, and many believe that the US was robbed. The second half, although filled with many possibilities, didn't fare any better. It remained scoreless throughout, and we bade farewell to Claudio Reyna, and possibly Bruce Arena, from their final appearance in World Cup competition. (At least now Donovan and Albright might come and rescue the suffering L.A. Galaxy!) Final score, 2-1. Next up, Group F gets a chance to define themselves. Croatia met up with Australia in Stuttgart, Germany, and the defending champs, Brazil, face up against Japan in Dortmund, Germany. Australia has been a constant surprise in the initial phases of competition, returning from a defeceit against Japan to win the match 3-1, and despite a loss in the end, they managed to give Brazil a run for their money. The Croatians, on the other hand, came in with high expectations, and perhaps that was too much pressure for them to overcome. I remember Croatia back in France '98, and how much of a powerhouse they ended up being. They have lost most of that since then, and it showed today. Although the match ultimately ended up in a tie, Croatia gets left behind, while the Aussies advance. Final score, 2-2. And in the final game of the day, Brazil and Japan squared off, and fans were still dying to see the Brazil we've all come to know as Maestros De Futbol. Japan opened up the scoreboard late in the first half, and it seemed that the Brazilians were being outplayed by the Asians. But deep into stopage time (AGAIN!) in the 1st half, Ronaldo, finds the net to tie it all up as they head into the lockers. The 2nd half saw a newly invigorated Brazil, and fans finally got a chance to see what soccer was really about. Brazil dominated the 2nd half, and poor Japan struggled to keep up. We saw 3 more goals scored during the 2nd, including Ronaldo's 14th goal in a World Cup, which ties the record with German Gerd Muller. Final score, 4-1. So, at the end of all of today's drama, Groups E and F look like this:

Group E:
1. Italy (7 pts.)
2. Ghana (6 pts.)
3. Czech Republic (3 pts.)*
4. USA (1 pt.)*

Group F:
1. Brazil (9 pts.)
2. Australia (4 pts.)
3. Croatia (2 pts.)*
4. Japan (1 pt.)*

(* Indicates eliminated teams)

Tomorrow: Groups G and H take center stage, and close up the initial qualifying round. On the schedule, Tunisia vs. Ukraine, Saudi Arabia vs. Spain, Switzerland vs. Korea Republic, and Togo vs. France.

Zwei durch Zwei durch Zwei

These past two days have been very eventful. I've got two days to recap (It was my brother's birthday yesterday). Some very important games were played, and the final standing into the Round of 16 are being established. We're beginning to see the schedule for the next set of matches starting to set up, and it will not disappoint. Many hearts were broken these last few days, but many of the big names are still in it. There were 8 games since the last post, many played for show, and other played for very high stakes. I will try to keep recaps as brief as possible. The schedule has been doubling up the matches, meaning that there are 2 going on at the same time. 4 groups have already been defined, they just await their opponents. So, here we go. The two top teams from Group A met up yesterday morning in Berlin, Germany. The host nation took on the South American powerhouse that is Ecuador. Simultaneously, Costa Rica faced off against Poland, in what was mostly a ceremonious game played to complete the initial round of qualifying in Hanover, Germany. The big battle was between Germany and Ecuador as they fought for the coveted 1st place slot. However, the South Americans proved that they were nowhere near the level of the Europeans, as they fall 3-0 against the German might. On the flipside, Poland finally found the rhythm they were so desperately lacking in the face of the total collapse of the Costa Rican team. They finally managed to earn 3 points, while sending the Ticans home with 0 points. Final score 2-1. Up next, we move to Group B as they look to define the final standings of their group. First, we had Sweden vs. England in Cologne, Germany, while on Kaiserslautern, Germany, we had Paraguay vs. Trinidad and Tobago. England was looking to get their third win, while the Swedes were looking for their second. The Brits played a very dominant game, very strategic and offensive. But the Swedes were not easily pushed aside. They gave as well as they took, and in the end, both teams had to settle for a single point. 2-2 final score. The second match saw the Tobogans looking for their second point after a tie against Sweden, and the Paraguay was looking for their first. The Paraguay that the entire Latin American community was hoping to see this World Cup finally decided to show up, and despite it being too late, they went out in a blaze of glory. Final score, 2-0. That leads us to today's competitions. Early this morning Mexico took on Portugal in Gelsenkirchen, Germany while Iran faced off against Angola in Leipzig, Germany. Mexico was in serious danger, as the Angolan team posed a considerable threat. All they had to do was win by at least 2 goals, and Mexico would be sent packing. Needless to say, it was a very stressful morning. The Portugese opened up the board early, playing superior to "El Tri", and demonstrating that superiority when they find the net yet again in the 1st half. 5 minute later, the Mexicans retaliate, and manage to find an opening the Portuguese defense. Ultimately, the score remains frozen all through the second half. Final score, 2-1. On the flipside, Angola finds the net early in the second half, but the Iranians desperately wanted their first point, and earn it. Final score, 1-1. A few hours later, we move into group C where Argentina met with Holland in Frankfurt, Germany and the Ivory Coast took on Serbia and Montenegro in Munich, Germany. The top two teams, Argentina and Holland, tied at 6 pts. a piece, were looking to be the superleader of the group, while the Ivory Coast and Serbia and Montenegro sought their first point. Argentina and Holland both played a great game, probably the most exciting of the tournament so far, but despite their hardest efforts, the match remained scoreless throughout. Final score, 0-0. The other match saw a newly invigorated Ivory Coast, who I believed played a great World Cup despite their inability to gain any points, take on an inspired Serbia and Montenegro. This did not seem like a ceremonious game, but rather more like a championship one. Both teams managed to find the net as they desperately sought out their first win. In the end, the Africans were just too much to overcome, and the final score ended in favor of the Ivory Coast, 3-2. So, at the end of these past 2 days of action (8 games played, 4 teams advance, and 4 teams go home), Groups A, B, C, and D look like this:

Group A:
1. Germany (9 pts.)
2. Ecuador (6 pts.)
3. Poland (3 pts.)*
4. Costa Rica (0 pts.)*

Group B:
1. England (7 pts.)
2. Sweden (5 pts.)
3. Paraguay (3 pts.)*
4. Trinidad and Tobago (1 pt.)*

Group C:
1. Argentina (7 pts.)
2. Holland (7 pts).
3. Ivory Coast (3 pts.)*
4. Serbia and Montenegro (0 pts.)*

Group D:
1. Portugal (9 pts.)
2. Mexico (4 pts.)
3. Angola (2 pts.)*
4. Iran (1 pt.)*

(* Indicates eliminated teams)

Tomorrow: 2 more groups will be defined! Scheduled for action tomorrow: Italy vs. Czech Republic, USA (Come on Guys!!) vs. Ghana, Croatia vs. Australia, and the champs, Brazil vs. Japan

And still to come: Round of 16 kicks off this weekend people!!! This time it is down to only one game. This is where the men get seperated from the boys. It's "Win or Go Home!" in the most severe way. The excitement is only getting started!

Das Ende von Runden Zwei

Very exciting day of competition today as Round 2 drew to a close, culminating in a very dramatic match between Spain and Tunisia, but more on that later. First, we head on over to Dortmund, Germany where Togo, seeking their first ever point in a World Cup, met with the Swiss, who were looking to grasp the top spot in Group G. The Swiss took an early lead in the 1st half, spend the rest of the period trying to stave off the Togo team. Try as they might, the Africans were not able to come together as a team long enough to produce a goal. And when the Swiss scored once more in the 2nd half, it seemed like their coffin was finally nailed shut. Final score, 2-0. (Togo returns home empty handed). The 2nd match of the day, which took place in Hamburg, Germany, pitted Saudi Arabia against the Ukraine. The Ukraine was looking for something better than their disappointing 0-4 loss against Spain, seeing how so much seems to be expected from them. (They were supposed to be one of the European Powerhouses this World Cup). The Saudis were just looking to move ahead to the next round, and their previous tie to Tunisia wasn't going to do it. Both teams had much at stake, but only the Ukraine stepped up. They completely turned the tables on the Arabian team, and redeemed themselves from their initial loss. Final score, 4-0. Despite the result, the Saudis may still have a chance. It all comes down to their final games. And finally, the match of the day, Spain vs. Tunisia in Stuttgart, Germany. The Spanish came out with both barrels blazing on their opening match against the Ukraine, so there were high expectations for this team. 8 minute into the match, Tunisia is the first to draw blood, and suddenly it seemed like it would be a completely different game than the first. That 1-0 score carried through the first half, and through most of the 2nd. During the 72nd minute, the Spanish finally managed to find the net, and tied it all up at 1 apiece. 5 minutes later, they managed to do it again. Suddenly, it seemed like an entirely new Spanish team had emerged on the field. It seemed like that was how this one was going to end, but just 1 minute into stoppage time, Spain gets fouled inside the box. Penalty kick is awarded, scored, and the match is over. Spain comes back to win it, 3-1. So, at the end of all of today's matches, Groups G and H look like this:

Group G:
1. Switzerland (4 pts.)
2. Korea Republic (4 pts.)
3. France (2 pts.)
4. Togo (0 pts.)

Group H:
1. Spain (6 pts.)
2. Ukraine (3 pts.)
3. Tunisia (1 pt.)
4. Saudi Arabia (1 pt.)

Tomorrow: THIS IS IT!! Round 3, final standings will be determined, and we will soon find out who will move on to the Group of 16. Scheduled to play tomorrow: Germany vs. Ecuador, Costa Rica vs. Poland, Paraguay vs. Trinidad and Tobago, and Sweden vs. England. That's right 4 games! 2 Groups will be defined, and 4 teams will move on. It's Clutch Time! (So Exciting!)

Red Bullied!

Galaxy was back in action yesterday, after a tie with the D.C. United last Sunday. It gave most Galaxy fans a faint glimmer of hope, that this would be the end of a steep downward spiral that the team had recently to be incapable of escaping. After a long string of losses, this tie was somewhat of a welcome relief, and under the management of a new Head Coach, we all hoped for the best. So, going into this game against the New York Red Bulls in their home, we were cautiously optimistic. Even more so when, out of nowhere, Herculez Gomez, managed to put one deep into the New York net. But our joy would be short lived, as two minutes later, the Red Bulls caught Hartman off guard. Now we were tied, but no big deal right?? WRONG!! Just 69 seconds later (69 SECONDS people!), the Red Bulls found the back of our net yet again!! Try as they might, the Galaxy just couldn't find an opening anywhere. (Not to mention the lousy offitiating that was taking place!) The game ends 2-1, Galaxy loses again. Next week the Galaxy is back at the HDC as they welcome the Houston Dynamo. This is the first time these two teams will meet, and hopefully that spells victory for L.A. Go, Galaxy!

Der Ton der Samba

It's the second Sunday of competition, and the excitement is certainly in the air as everyone anticipated the 2nd game for Brazil. But more on that later. First up, we head to Nuremberg, Germany where Japan met up with Croatia. The game was fought hard by both sides, but it was ultimately futile. Final score, 0-0, which gives both teams their first point. Next up, was the real talk of the town. The yellow shirted Brazilians taking on the... yellow shirted Australians? Actually, Australia sported an all blue uniform, which looked pretty cool. The Australians, just another of the many surprising teams of this World Cup, definitely gave the Brazilians a run for their money. And, despite a briliant effort by the Aussies, or at least I think it was, and the goal post being in top form, all their hard work was not enough to overcome the Brazilians. Final score, 2-0 Brazil. Next, we head on over to Leipzig, Germany for the final game of the day, where France faces the Korean Republic. The French, looking to end a very long scoreless streak, went in with high expectations. And, with an early goal by France, it was looking like they were also on their way to precuring their first win as well. (Having tied previously with Switzerland 0-0). For most of the game, it looked like a sure thing for France, despite Korea's best efforts (and there were many). But in true World Cup 2006 fashion, the Korean's score deep into the 2nd half. Final score, 1-1. So, at the end of today's competition, Group F looks like this:

1. Brazil (6 pts.)
2. Australia (3 pts.)
3. Croatia (1 pt.)
4. Japan (1 pt.)

Tomorrow: Togo vs. Switzerland, Saudi Arabia vs. Ukraine, and Spain vs. Tunisia

Noch Lebendig

Very impressive day of soccer today. There was blood, there was sweat, and there was definitely tears. How did the US fare?? More on that in a moment. But first off, we head to Frankfurt, Germany where Portugal and Iran would close out the second round of play for Group D. The Iranians desperately needed a win to secure any hopes of advancement. Ultimately the superior Portuguese were just too much for Iran to overcome. Final score, 2-0 (Iran is going home). Second on today's schedule, the Czech Republic (who cut the USA down to size in their fisrt match), took on the team from Ghana in Cologne, Germany. Although no one was really expecting much from any of the participating African nations, mostly everyone appears to be rooting for them. I guess we all just like an underdog story. That being said, Ghana blew me away today. With their level of ball control, teamwork, and enthusiasm, they easily outplayed the Czech team, who was looking oddly uninspired. (What happened to the team that took down the US?). In the end, despite so many advances by the Ghana team, the final score was ONLY 2-0 in Ghana's favor. (It could have easily been 4 or 5). And finally, in the match of the day, Kaiserslautern, Germany bore witness to USA vs. Italy, in where the US was desperately clinging on for dear life. It was "Win or Go Home" for the Yanks, and they definitely demonstrated the desire to win. This was a completely different team than the one the Czechs demolished 3-0. There was talk of dissidence amongst the players and Head Coach Bruce Arena, where the Coach singled out various players as cause for their initial loss. But today, the US knew they needed any points in order to keep their World Cup dreams alive. It was a very exciting game, both teams playing extremely well. There were casualties on both sides (1 red card for Italy, and 2 for the US), blood (McBride got an elbow to the face), spectacular saves (Keller was in rare form today), and miracles (USA is still in this due to an Auto-Goal by the Italians). Final score, 1-1 tie, which gives the US a much needed point. We need to win against Ghana next week, and Italy needs to win against the Czech Republic in order for us to have any hopes of advancing to the Round of 16. So, at the end of today's games, Groups D and E look like this:

Group D:
1. Portugal (6 pts.)
2. Mexico (4 pts.)
3. Angola (1 pts.)
4. Iran (0 pts.)

Group E:
1. Italy (4 pts.)
2. Czech Republic (3 pts.)
3. Ghana (3 pts.)
4. USA (1 pt.)

Tomorrow: Japan vs. Croatia, Brazil vs. Australia, and France vs. Korea Republic