Cugalabanza

I'm terribly sorry. Won't happen again. Have a tolerable Monday, everyone.

http://www.skepticmoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/nadezhda-tolokonnikova-profile.jpg Yes!

Dan Carpenter?

Go Bills! (And Cowboys too I guess)

She's right. !@#$ that guy. He's a douche.

Yeah, but this wanker is 49. He did wrong 'em, but he's no boyo.

To answer the question in the subject line: The judge

Ok, now you're just talking nonsense and what the hell does it matter if it's raining or not?

I really don't see how that makes it better.

Me too, but honestly I did not know until I read Frederick Exley's A Fan's Notes about ten years ago. He mentions it throughout.

Ah, I see you're right about Mexico being in fifth. Mexico and Panama both have 8 points--I guess Panama holds the tiebreaker (I'm not even sure how that works because they have the same goal diff. too). Anyway, yes, El Tri are in deep doodoo. I agree with pretty much everything you've said, including Beckerman. He's been excellent whenever they've needed him this summer. I like the idea of Diskerud as a sub too. I really love his game. He has such great instincts with his passing. Good things seem to happen when he finds the ball. I like your picks for the final rosters. I feel good about all the positions excep the outside backs. I don't have so much confidence in these guys. Chandler has really done nothing for the USMNT. I don't know at this point when he'll get a chance to make a spot for himself. He is hugely talented though. Whatever happened to Cherundolo? Beasley deserves a special medal for all the hard work he has put in, but there just has to be something better for a starter on the left side. Against a top team, I'm afraid he will get chewed up. I think Parkhurst still has a chance to be there, but I don't know. Anyway, the U.S. is looking better than I thought possible a year or so ago.

Really like this. Fun and enlightening to get this analysis. Thanks!

Cheers and good morning, Humpriders.

Great night for the USA. At halftime, it still looked like it could go either way, but in the second half, USA just took Mexico apart. Nice work all around from this lineup. Eddie Johnson has turned into an excellent striker. Five years ago, I never would have believed I'd be saying that in 2013. He had two beautiful headers--one saved, one in the back of the net for the winning goal. Almost had a very memorable dipschitt slapstick moment from Beasley early on when he whiffed so badly on a clearance in his own box that the ball deflected off his other knee and nearly into his own net. Beasley made up for it later on though with hard work, speed and the inevitable failed final touch [sigh]. Nice work from the tandems of Gonzalez/Goodson and Jones/Beckerman to close everything down. Jermaine Jones was 100x better in this game compared to the other night in Costa Rica. I think I believe in him again. Loved seeing Mix Diskerud come in late and immediately show a flash of invention, leading to the nail-in-the-coffin second goal. I love this player--I think he has a vision and knack for playmaking that is world class. I hope he's on the plane to Brazil. Mexico is pooping in their pantelones. They sit in fourth place. Lucky for them, Honduras only got the draw last night against Panama, so Mexico is only three points out of that third place slot instead of five points out. Still, they are in panic mode. It's looking likely Mexico find themselves in a playoff situation against New Zealand for that last WC qualifying spot. Ugly and embarrassing for them. I find it amusing. Congrats to Klinsmann and team USA. It's official--they are going to Brazil!

Yup, especially for Mexico. They just fired their coach and the fans are losing patience. If Mexico loses tonight and Honduras wins against Panama, as expected, then Mexico will be five points out of the crucial third place slot* in qualifying, with only two games left. *in CONCACAF, the top 3 teams qualify for the World Cup. The fourth place CONCACAF team plays a two game (home and away) tiebreaker with the top Oceania region team (New Zealand). In other words, Mexico is in free fall and could conceivably not qualify for next summer in Brazil. USA is currently in second place, behind Costa Rica. So they're in decent shape as long as they get some points from their remaining games (Mexico, Jamaica, Panama). A draw tonight would be disappointing, but they could live with it. A loss would make qualifying sketchy, but still salvageable.

Why? It's funny.

I don't believe in Zimmerman.

"Pimply-faced dipschitt rich kid secretly plans to feverishly masturbate as soon as he gets home."

USA 1, Costa Rica 3 The Costa Rica game was a mess! It's understandable to have a letdown after a hot streak and Costa Rica is no joke, but this one was quite bad. Something about Klinsmann's lineup did not click right from the start. Bradley hurt his ankle in warm-ups (could be out a month or so) and he was sorely missed. Cameron replaced him and he and Jermaine Jones looked totally lost in the first half. Orozco at right back and Zuzi on the wing seemed like they didn't know the game had started. 10 minutes in, it was 2-0 Costa Rica and not by any fluke--that told the story. Costa Rica was just way better in this one. Donovan played well and worked hard throughout. Dempsey had a couple nice touches including one excellent strike off the post that might have changed the momentum if it was 8 inches more to the right. Dempsey was lucky on his penalty for the only goal of the game. Fabian Johnson distinguished himself by being mediocre on a night when pretty much everyone else was awful. Beasley was exposed a couple times and gets some blame on a couple goals. Not for lack of effort, but at about 93 lbs., he does not have the presence to compete with a physical attacker, especially in the air. The worst part about the night was suddently losing 4 key players from the roster for Tuesday night's Mexico game. Bradley's ankle MRI supposedly shows some ligament damage, so he might even miss the October qualifiers too. Cameron, Besler and Altidore all have to sit out against Mexico for yellow card accumulation. Altidore's blatant push in stoppage time right in front of the ref was exasperatingly boneheaded. Mexico just lost to Honduras at Azteca. They are on the ropes now and profoundly desperate. The U.S. needs to treat them like a wounded animal. If the U.S. can pull out a win withought three of their most valuable players (Besler, Bradley, Altidore), they'll be back on track and Mexico will be in serious danger of not qualifying. Tomorrow night will be a nervous one. The U.S. seems to always play well against Mexico at home, regardless of the circumstances. Hopefully they will keep that up. I'm sure they'll bring in Goodson to pair with Gonzalez in central defense. In central midfield, I'm afraid Klinsy will go with Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman. Personally, I'd rather see Mix Diskerud instead of Beckerman as he's the more creative passer going forward. Not sure about right back--probably Parkhurst, maybe Brad Evans. In any case, this game will be huge for both sides. Go USA!

Yeah, the main wall is like that twerking video where the girl sets herself on fire--except not funny or cute.

Actually, it might not be until later in the weekend. Got a lot going on this weekend. Might have to record the game & watch it later.

It's not you. That's pretty funny. Although, in a way, she was on fire right from the start.

Great news everybody! After I watch tonight's USA soccer game, I'll update the soccer thread with some comments and observations. That is, as soon as I can find it--it's probably halfway down page 3 by now.

Yeah, I re-checked it and :04 gets it.

At :05 I'm a yes.