Brad

Scott, Florida is one state I can’t imagine living in full-time. Summers must be beastly. This week a friend of mine was trying to convince to move there. No way. We were thinking a few years about California but with the fires, the droughts and now the 100 degree plus weather, my wife says no way.

It’s like they’re giving it away: here, listen to Errol Garner for free.

When I lived in Madrid in the late 60s, they used to call the middle of July to the middle of August, “de virgen a virgen.” It was the hottest time of the year. You could only go out in the morning. The afternoons were insufferable.

I don't know about OKC but on the Knicks he did his own thing. I tend to agree with Paul, but players don't pull crap with Lebron so maybe he's salvageable.

Picked this one up and am listening to it, thanks.

Disc 1.

I've listened through disc 2 and the John Kirby cuts are a revelation, the best so far (for me anyway).

You need luck sometimes. As a famous baseball executive once said, “luck is the residue of design.”

You have to feel bad for Russia.

Brasil -- I mean Russia -- scores!

So much for my crystal ball abilities

This one will go to penalties. Russia will not permit a goal to be allowed; they will park the bus. If it goes to penalties, I'd favor Russia. Croatia has been poor in the last two matches.

You have to be kidding me! Well, never underestimate the power of a home crowd.

Congratulations to you guys. You can now resume normal breathing until Wednesday

Very done.

Sweden have to count themselves very lucky right now.

This is worth a read why Europe now seems to dominate, As Brazil Crashes Out, the Magic Appears to be Gone, too These are the salient points: “It is not a coincidence that all four of this year’s World Cup semifinalists, whatever happens in the second set of quarterfinals, are from Europe. This is, increasingly, a European competition. All four of the most recent world champions have been European. Since 1990, what might be broadly termed soccer’s modern era, there have been eight World Cups. Brazil has won two. Europe will have picked up the rest. At least one manager here has confided privately that Europe’s power — in terms of finance, influence, and physicality — has become almost impossible to compete with, certainly for Africa, Asia and North America, and increasingly for South America, the game’s other traditional stronghold. The major nations of the Old World have industrialized youth development so effectively that France, Germany and Spain can now rival Brazil and Argentina as a source of players. Its smaller countries have such easy access to best practices that their size is no longer an issue. Their players and coaches can be exported easily to the best leagues in the world. The latest developments in coaching, sports science, nutrition and the rest can be imported rapidly. It is that process that allowed Iceland to draw with Argentina, and be a little disappointed it did not win. It is that process that has left Belgium in the World Cup semifinals, and Croatia and Sweden with hopes of joining them.” The Latin American nations will need to follow suit. I recently read another article in the New York Times showing that is what Mexico is now doing.

I think the first half clearly belonged to Belgium; Brasil was probably in shock. The second half started the same way but probably midway through, as things became desperate for them, Brasil took control and, save for a few attempts to keep Brasil honest, Belgium was under constant assault. Belgium can thank Courtois for surviving. Neymar’s history of diving came to haunt them. Maybe they will learn a lesson but I doubt it. Sonetimes possession can be deceiving. Portugal won the statistical battle against Uruguay but lost the war, the only statistical battle that counts.

After a few detours, I finished this book. It’s both a crime novel and a commentary on race relations in the early 60s as the accused is a black doctor who, but for his race, would be treated differently. This is my second Hughes club and they’re well worth reading.

Thanks for the information.

The 66 World Cup is the first one I remember seeing. I was 15 then. We lived in Brasil when they won in 1962 but I have no recollections at all of that.

Scary! If Belgium go to the final, we will have a new champion that has never won before or one that hasn’t won in a very, very long time.

Brasil has had chances (a lot more than Belgium, not to mention possession) but just couldn’t get it done. I thought Belgium played ok, not great, except for Courtois, who earned his salary.

They're screwed. I've thought that Belgium was the best team in this Cup and I'm not seeing anything to prove me wrong.

Brasil is our last hope!