I like that the outcome of two teams playing to win is less pre-determined than in most sports. What I don't like is that poor officiating encourages teams to instead play not to lose - a slower, more conservative game in which they hope to stay within striking distance and win or tie on a late set piece often on a bad ref call.

I have this odd preference for quality athletic competition where I like to see skilled athletes displaying their talents. I don't like watching men unnecessarily falling down and acting injured. It's also wholly unsatisfying watching a great play completely unrewarded as well.

Under Darrin's theory, it would be great if some random dude with a club was allowed to run on the field a knee cap a player unexpectedly once a game just to mix things up.

infuriating

Nah. we don't need to get too self-righteous, at least those of who love the NBA shouldn't....

Yeah but if a guy flops in the NBA and his defender is called for a foul, he doesn't get kicked out of the game and his team doesn't have to play 4 on 5 and miss the next game.


For those not around a TV, pretty crazy scenario playing out right now. Uruguay up 1-0 on Mexico and South Africa up 2-0 on France. If both teams hold serve, Uruguay and S. Africa both advance and Mex and Fra are eliminated. At least I think that's what is happening......

Yeah, this group is getting really interesting. Seems like just about anyone can stomp France about now.

Also, playing a man down in soccer is no where near what playing a man down would be in basketball. And, basketball does allow for a player to be ejected even if his team isn't then forced to play short. A bad call can get your star his fifth and suddenly you're screwed.

Flopping in both sports suck.

yeah, but this never happens.

Seriously? I don't watch basketball anymore but I used to watch it a lot and players fouling out was not at all unheard of...or alternatively they'd end up on the court very little when the coach sat them down to save them from fouling out early.

yeah, I mean guys foul out, but it virtually never happens that enough guys foul out that a team is forced to play with 4 guys on the court....which is what I thought you were getting at, maybe I'm reading into what you guys were talking about though. It is a disadvantage to have to substitute in a star who has fouled out for sure...

If an NBA player is called for two flagrant 1's or a flagrant 2, he is ejected. Its not that dissimilar in that regard although you're not forced to play with a man short in the NBA. As long as the refs do their job, I like the rule. You can say that it sucks when a ref blows a call and ejects someone out based on a flop and I'd agree. But it also sucks when a ref misses a bad foul on an important goal opportunity. Really its just more important for refs to get the calls right in soccer because its so low scoring.

[/NBA talk]

The perversity of football - Yakubu's amazing miss was better than any goal that will be scored at this tournament.

He's the true hero of this World Cup, except possibly in Nigeria.

Good riddance, France. Jesus tapdancing Christ.

I couldn't get out of work for this one, hopefully we just score early and often and go through...no drama.

No such luck, the Yanks already had a goal disallowed on questionable offsides call.
That's not to say Algeria hasn't had more than a few chances to take the lead as well.

FUCK!

We are wasting way too many opportunities.

what is that constant echo drone bee hive sound?

seriously, and they NEED this win.

understatement.

Holy shit. Nice.

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Nice, way to up the drama, gents.