Archive: June, 2008
Jonathan Tannenwald, Philly.com
(With apologies to Peter King...)I will admit that I don't follow the NBA nearly as much as I do the college game. But between what I saw in this year's playoffs and what I saw and read while running the website during the draft last night, I'm reasonably convinced that Marreese Speights was a good pick for the 76ers.
Granted, I heard the same questions about Speights' work ethic and conditioning from friends last night as the Daily News' Phil Jasner did, and Jasner noted them in his story this morning.
Jonathan Tannenwald, Philly.com
I guess when you're Robin Lopez and you've just been drafted by one of the NBA's best teams, it doesn't really matter how the cap sits on your head.
Still, that's pretty funny.
I'll post my thoughts on the 76ers' pick of Marreese Speights, as well as the fortunes of the local players in this year's draft, if I can actually get some spare time this weekend.
Jonathan Tannenwald, Philly.com
And I think we might fairly say good riddance without having to sticking our necks out all that far.
As the Associated Press reports:
Indiana athletic director Rick Greenspan will resign at the end of December amid new NCAA allegations that the school failed to monitor the men's basketball team.
Jonathan Tannenwald, Philly.com
A Russian fan in a sea of Oranje at St. Jakob Park in Basel. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty Images)
Let's play a little game. I have a hunch that there are quite a few people out there (yes, that assumes I have readers) who follow both soccer and college sports. So I'd like to try this comparison out on you.
I have been glued to my TV and computer (during work hours, which thankfully my boss doesn't mind) watching every game of Euro 2008, and like many soccer fans I've been enthralled by almost every minute of it.
Yet I can't help being a little bit dismayed with the teams who've made the semi-finals so far: Germany, Turkey, and Russia. We'll find out tomorrow whether Spain or Italy joins them to round out the final four.
When I watch college basketball, I like seeing mid-majors do well. I'm always thrilled by big upsets in the NCAA Tournament, even (okay, not quite always) when they blow my bracket to smithereens.
But when I watch international soccer, much like when I watch college football, I want to see the superpowers win.
In the case of college football, I think it's because I'm attracted to the big crowds and the traditions and the marching band and stuff like that. It's not something I've ever been able to feel a close connection to, which is part of the reason why I don't write about Penn State much on here.
In soccer, though, I don't know why I root for the big teams. Not least because often times -- including this year -- the supposedly 'lesser' nations play more skilful, creative soccer.
Russia has been a prime example of that of late, led by their slick attacking midfielder Andrei Arshavin (hat tip to Washington Post soccer guru Steven Goff for the video). Soccer America columnist Paul Gardner even argued this week that Russia's play has been more attractive than what was seen in the recent Brazil-Argentina game.
This year, the little guys have finally won. It's the soccer equivalent of George Mason's run to the 2006 Final Four -- but with two mid-majors still alive instead of one.
Turkey's comeback-and-penalty shootout win over Croatia yesterday and Russia's equally stunning victory against the Netherlands this afternoon sent two of the tournament's biggest names crashing out in completely unexpected fashion.
There's not much question that Russia outplayed the Dutch -- whose uniforms are among the coolest in sports -- today, and there's not much question that Turkey's series of comeback wins has made for a really thrilling storyline.
But I can't help thinking that Italy or Spain -- which thumped Russia, 4-1, in the group stage -- will have an easy time in the semis. The same goes for Germany, which will face a Turkey team minus a number of its stars who've been suspended for the game due to yellow card accumulation.
Remember how George Mason got blown out by Florida in Indianapolis? The disparity in talent isn't that big this time around, but it's not insignificant.
(For those of you who don't follow soccer, Russia is a superpower politically but not so much on the pitch. The last time they were any good, they were still the Soviet Union when they made the 1988 European Championship final -- and lost to the Netherlands on a goal by Marco Van Basten, who concluded his tenure as the Dutch coach today.)
So, you tell me: What kind of semifinal and championship clashes do you like?
Are you more attracted to George Mason or North Carolina playing in the Final Four? In the BCS, would you rather see Boise State or USC on the big stage? And in soccer, would you rather see Russia or the Netherlands playing for a spot in the final?
Jonathan Tannenwald, Philly.com
But despite it being only the first week of June, Awful Announcing has given us reason to start talking about the upcoming college football season.
So forget about the fact that we'll be sweltering in 90-degree-plus heat next week, and check out these ACC and SEC matchups that will kick off the fall. There are quite a few blockbusters, and an early one that should have some local interest.
Reach Jonathan at jtannenwald@phillynews.com or 215-854-2330.
