Enjoy Soccer’s World Cup (or Don’t)

June 22, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Sunday smorgasbord: And now a word about soccer’s World Cup. Two words actually: Who cares? The answer: a lot of people around the world. More people than who care about the NHL hockey or the NFL or the NBA or big-league baseball. Which doesn’t mean you have to be excited by the World Cup (although there likely is a fair share of folks whose interest may be recent and/or short-lived). It’s one thing to not be interested in the World Cup. It’s another to rail against the event because you don’t happen to like soccer. It’s one of those cases where “my sports is better than your sport” whining can show profound ignorance by those espousing such views. Do I have a bias toward soccer (after all, I did grow up in St. Louis, one of the American hotbeds for the sport going back decades)? Perhaps. But only because I was able to be a grade-school goalie (meaning I didn’t have to run up and down the asphalt field).

Syd Wilder video is below.

* Speaking of the World Cup, your humble correspondent will admit coverage of the event around here is mostly females tangentially related to soccer. More accurate description would be uncoverage featuring fetching females. Hey, soccer is called the “beautiful game.” And as always, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Or the person uploading photos and videos.

* Wondering how many times in his career Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo will hit a home run in a loss. Which was what happened Saturday night at Wrigley Field against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who prevailed 5-3. That might be one category he could be a league leader this season.

* Speaking of Rizzo, there was a line in a game summary from the Associated Press that said he was making a strong push for All-Star Game consideration. Really? He doesn’t lead in any offensive category. He is tied for home runs by National League first basemen (15), but Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt and Colorado’s Justin Morneau (not to mention Washington’s Adam LaRoche or Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman) would seem more likely to be selected.

* Speaking of first baseman, Chicago White Sox rookie Jose Abreu would seem a distinct possibility to be an American League reserve. Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera would seem the likely starter with Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion (who leads the major leagues in home runs and runs batted in) a likely reserve.

* The White Sox are on pace to go 76-86. And finish last in the AL Central.

* The Cubs are on pace to go 70-92. And finish last in the NL Central.

* Pirates rookie sensation Gregory Polanco has hit safely in his first 11 games. Impressive. His is the longest in the National League to start a career since 2000 when Colorado outfielder Juan Pierre (who hit safely in his first 16 games but is not headed to the Hall of Fame). Perspective.

* Speaking of perspective and hot prospects, Iowa Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in a 4-0 loss Saturday. If that doesn’t sound like he’s ready for Wrigley Field, nothing does. At least that performance should give some support for Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations (couldn’t he also have taken the title of general manager, so his title could have been shorter?) Theo Epstein’s remark the other day that Bryant would not be up with the big-league team this season. Of course, Epstein’s statement — in all likelihood — had more to do about money and control over a player than about the ability to perform.

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