Euro 2004 kicks off...

...I have to confess, I'm a little underwhelmed by this tournament so far. Japan/Korea 2002 gripped me from start to finish, so much so that I deemed it absolutely vital to get up at 6:30 to watch Ecuador vs Romania. So far, Euro 2004 has been a bit of a turn-off. Spain and Russia played out one of the most boring games of football I have ever seen (knocking a drab 0-0 draw at Glanford Park against Mansfield - when neither team was awarded a corner - into a cocked hat). This was, miraculously, eclipsed by Croatia vs Switzerland the next day. As I write, Italy have just closed up defensively to hold Denmark to a goalless draw. Even England-France (if you don't know the result, I'm not going to tell you) failed to inspire me. Maybe I'm just getting old.

England Out on Bail

Much better viewing has been the cricket. England's series against the West Indies has been top-notch, featuring world-class bowling from Harmison and Cairns, and batting to match from Thorpe and Richardson. The third Test was a cracker - England underperformed in the first innings, but skittled the Kiwis in two excellent sessions on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Ashely Giles was devastating with the ball, hopefully silencing his critics. Then he stepped up with the bat after England wobbled and whacked his way to the Test victory, Graham Thorpe scoring a solid century in support.

Sadly, New Zealand have been hit pretty badly by injuries on this tour, so here's hoping they can muster a good squad for the ODIs. Cairns should be solid on his farewell to international cricket, and young James Franklin looks well worth his money.

Touring Out

Things are not going terribly well in the Southern Hemisphere for the domestic rugby teams. While the All Blacks steamrollered England and Scotland unsurprisingly capitulated to Australia, Ireland surprisingly failed to beat the Springboks in what should have been a tight match. Amusingly, Wales scored 5 tries against Argentina, but still lost 50-44. I shouldn't laugh, really I shouldn't.

Waistcoats off, Gloves On

I've been waiting eagerly to report on this one. Aussie snooker hardman, Quinten Hann, offered pint-size Andy Hicks to a fight at the Embasssy Championships a couple of months back. Luckily Hann's long term rival, and Hicks' mate, Mark King stuck up for him. So, the pair scrapped in a charity match last weekend. Technically mediocre, the match nevertheless produced an exciting win for the Fosters' drinker and a few thousand squids for charity, which was nice. And what's more, I'd like to see Lennox Lewis play snooker.

Columnist Salvages Credibility

OK, Michael Schumacher won the Canadian Grand Prix (from a very creditable low grid position, but I feel somewhat mollified in predicting the Williams cars to go well. I just picked the wrong driver, that's all - when was the last time Schumacher Jr did anything worthwhile?

This week's predictions return to the world of golf. The US Open starts today at Shinnecock Hills (stop sniggering, it's not a funny name at all). The US Open is traditionally a Yank-dominated tournament, and Shinnecock Hills should suit the American game, having a lot of target shots, manufactured greens, and level-cut rough. It's hard to look beyond Ernie Els, who is in stunning form of late, but if you fancy a journeyman American to win it (as has been the case with Majors of late), then Kenny Perry, who has a good pedigree at the course, could be worth a few bob each way. I predict a very poor showing from European golfers - if any of our golfers can make anything of the course, I would tip Fredrick Jacobson, who has a good target game and should enjoy the atmosphere at Shinnecock.

Hello again, you AmSports fans. The Detroit Pistons are grinding out a championship over the Los Angeles Lakers, with a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven as I tripe from here in the Belfry, watching wabbits and boids out the back window. Boids (birds) choip, but the wabbits (rabbits) don't say much of anything. They do listen to baseball with me when I bring the transistor radio out to the back yard.

And that's what this week's topic is, baseball.

I tried to play the game as a kid, and into my teens, but something about a 90-mile-per-hour fastball and me just don't jibe. Still, the game itself fascinates me, and I've spent endless hours trying to teach it, explain it, and just plain enjoy it.

There are endless statistics involved, all kinda of formulae to cite, and it still comes down to one guy with a baseball bat (usually around 34 inches long and 34 ounces weight) and another guy with an 8 1/2 ounce round three-inch baseball in his hand.

The game is based on the British cricket, and 'rounders' and was called 'town ball' back in the 1800's, until being 'standardized' by a set of 'rules' around the turn of the last century.

The official website is www.mlb.com but there are several, random, and many other websites (besides the newspapers) where baseball junkies like me lurk. Should one choose, I can be found as milo74, sometimes on the general mlb 'Fan Forum' but more specifically on the beloved Cleveland Indians Fan Forum, where I get into interesting conversations on baseball and other topics.

My screen name here isn't seldom, a/k/a random for nothing, y'know.

Anyway, as Major League Baseball reaches the 1/3 mark of the season, we have close races in all six divisions, and each definitely has a bottom-dweller, ten games off the front runners. The deadline for trading players is 31 July, so I expect some trades to be made, but do not expect any major dealings.

Since MLB guarantees contracts, the players (and their agents) pretty much control what each team's owner and general manager can do to improve their ballclubs. There is The Game, but there is The Money Game they play, as funded by us just plain regular folks (one of whom can't see a 90-MPH fastball.)

Any questions as to what I just wrote can be addressed to me, in care of 'I have no clue, USA.' and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. No cheques, money orders or charge cards required. Over and outta here.

Did I Leave The Iron On? Archive

Master B

with Several a.k.a. Random 

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