You Talkin' to Me? No Italy, no France - it's a different Cup
Japan joins South Korea in the round of 16 (go watch a movie, Kim Jong-Il). And Italy's national production of Pagliacci can begin, now that the Azzurri are out. Who would have bet that both 2006 finalists, Italy and France, would go out in the first round, and the United States would still be in it?
From: Harrington, Michael
To: Fox, Ashley; Gonzalez, John
Subject: Brand new day
Japan joins South Korea in the round of 16 (go watch a movie, Kim Jong-Il).
And Italy's national production of Pagliacci can begin, now that the Azzurri are out.
Who would have bet that both 2006 finalists, Italy and France, would go out in the first round, and the United States would still be in it?
England beat Slovenia to advance, though you'd never know that from my English buddy Jon: "Second half, we went backward and started to look panicky, Defoe went AWOL, Milner got tired, Rooney went off, and only Upson making a crucial tackle saved us." England fans are the Philly fans of soccer.
From: Fox, Ashley
To: Gonzalez, John; Harrington, Michael
Subject: Brand new day
Before we get to the U.S. team, how rough a World Cup has this been for the Europeans? Italy and France are the big boys who are out, and Spain and Germany have lost games, while South America is kicking tail. Probably means we'll have an all-European final. At least that's what Mike Jensen has been telling me.
As for the Americans, I still have goose bumps over the win over Algeria. What an awesome sports day. Team USA wins at the wire, and then I got sucked into that unbelievable tennis match that I think they'll still be playing come Sunday. (OK, I know Isner won, but you get my drift.) And then J-Roll has a walk-off homer to beat the Indians. Incredible.
From: Harrington, Michael
To: Fox, Ashley; Gonzalez, John
Subject: Brand new day
It all ran together for me - I could have sworn that Rollins knocked in an ace past the Algerian keeper to end that tennis match.
France's Nicolas Sarkozy canceled a meeting on the G-20 summit to meet with Thierry Henry over the World Cup crisis. Here, it's the general who is summoned to the White House; there, it's the soccer star who has to meet with the president.
From: Gonzalez, John
To: Fox, Ashley; Harrington, Michael
Subject: Brand new day
Yes, the world cries for the Europeans - particularly the French. The World Cup was a lot more fun when we had them to, uh, kick around.
From: Harrington, Michael
To: Fox, Ashley; Gonzalez, John
Subject: Brand new day
Wait, Jensen knows something about soccer? What am I doing here?
From: Fox, Ashley
To: Gonzalez, John; Harrington, Michael
Subject: Brand new day
Yeah, Jensen does know a little something about soccer. He's covered three World Cups. That piece of information eluded Cohen.
From: Harrington, Michael
To: Fox, Ashley; Gonzalez, John
Subject: Brand new day
What's Jensen expecting, an England-Slovakia final?
Could you ask him to write in and discuss his theory in a lengthy e-mail, something that can run in a series until, say, July 12? It can be conversational. You know, just talkin'.
Now I know why you real reporters hide under your desks when Cohen comes by.
From: Gonzalez, John
To: Fox, Ashley; Harrington, Michael
Subject: Brand new day
You have it only half right. Ashley is the real reporter. Jensen, too.
If the old adage is true that the sports section is the toy department of any newspaper, then Page 2 is the Dumpster out back. If you look around a while, you might even find something without mold on it.