World Cup Disappointment

The World Cup is over for the US team. It was a terrible loss, 4 - 1 to the boys from Belgium. I'm not going to summarize the game, but I'm just going to offer a few insights into the world of the World Cup.

I was never a huge fan of futbol (Soccer), but after coaching it for the past 2 years, I've grown to like it. I'm going to share a few observations after watching the World Cup over the past few weeks.

1. The Argentina vs Cape Verde game was by far the most entertaining and fun game to watch. I've always loved cheering for the underdogs, and watching Cape Verde hang in there the whole time was pretty exciting.

2. There isn't any other sport where the referees can and do have a major impact on the outcome and results of the game. Yes, you still have to score goals but calling a penalty on one end but not the same penalty at the other end can give teams an unfair advantage.

3. There is way more flopping in the World Cup than in the NBA.  I've never seen a sport where so many players are constantly lying on the ground in mortal pain and then getting up and playing the rest of the game. 

4. The USA team played well except for the last game. I think they captured the love of America with how well they actually did. Most of those countries, that is their only game worth anything, this is not so in America. But they captured the hearts of America and hope they can advance further in 4 years.

5. In no other sport do you see the impact the stars have on a game. In the World Cup if your star doesn't perform you are probably losing. Messi, Mbappe, Haaland, Kane all have been making an impact and their teams are still winning.

There are my five observations from the world of the World Cup.

New York vs Chicago 1957

 Today I'm back to give a summary of a recent APBA series I played. The 1957 New York Giants versus the 1957 Chicago Cubs. A match up of two future hall of famers, Willie Mays (The Say Hey Kid) and Ernie Banks (Mr. Cub). This three game series was played using the master game addition. 1957 was the last year that the Giants played in New York. After the season they left the Polo Grounds behind and moved to San Francisco.

GAME 1: Location: New York, Polo Grounds.

Visiting team Chicago got the scoring started with a first inning homerun from Chuck Tanner. In the bottom of the 2nd New York answered with a home run of their own off the bat of Whitey Lockman. The Giants scored again in the 4th and then put up a two spot in the 6th on a two-run double by Don Mueller. The Cubs scored in the 8th on a triple by Mr Cub, driving in Tanner, who had singled. The Giants win 4 to 2 on the pitching from Curt Barclay and Marv Grissom, who got the save. The biggest Highlight of the game came in the 6th, with the Cubs threatening to score, the game referred to the RP boards and the Giants pulled off a triple play with Danny O'Connell spearing the line drive, stepping on 2nd and throwing to first. Giants 4 Cubs 2

GAME 2: Location: Chicago, Wrigley Field

This game sees a pitching match-up between Ruben Gomez of the Giants and Moe Drabowsky of the Cubs. The Cubs strike first in the bottom of the first with a run scoring double by Banks driving in Tanner. Gomez is able to shut down the Cubs until the 8th when they score three more runs. The Giants were held at bay until the 6th and 7th innings when they put up two in the 6th and four in the 7th. Willlie Mays drove in two and Hank Sauer drove in three. The Giants score 2 more in the 9th to win 8 to 4.

GAME 3: Location: Chicago, Wrigley Field

This game shaped up to be a pitchers duel between Johnny Antonelli of the Giants and Dave Hillman, Dick Littlefield, and Don Elston of the Cubs. Both teams plate two in the first inning with the Giants coming from a two run blast off the bat of Mays. The Cubs scored two when the first four guys reached and Banks and Dale Long drove in the two runs. The only scoring after the first was Gail Harris coming home on a double play. Giants 3 Cubs 2