July 19, 2010
Filed under: Sports — @ 3:00 am
Louis Oosthuizen (WUHST-hye-zen) from South Africa won the British Open by 7 strokes to etch his name into the golf history books (and on the Claret Jug). He came out of nowhere to beat the worlds best at the home of golf, St Andrews. On a week where the winds were on-again off-again, he kept his cool and never let the weather or his nerves get the better of him. He even did it on the 92nd birthday of Nelson Mandela. I guess South Africa wasn’t quite ready to slip quietly away after the World Cup.
Oosthuizen won going away.
“Who’s he?” is what many still say.
But a win for this fella
And a birthday for Mandela
Make an all South African day.
July 15, 2010
Filed under: Sports — @ 3:00 am
Check out these pics as golfers practice for the British Open in Scotland. The weather has not been a factor the past couple of years but this year looks to be much different. Wind and rain are forecast thru the weekend. It should be fun to watch, even if you’re not a golfer.
The Open is set to begin
But much to the players chagrin,
The gorse and the heather
And this year the weather
Will be factors in who takes the win.
July 13, 2010
Filed under: Sports — @ 3:00 am
All this fuss over LeBron James is just so much blather from a bunch of hypocrites. The guy has a right to play for any team he wants. He gave Cleveland seven years…that’s plenty. The Cleveland Cavaliers owner had his chance and couldn’t deliver a championship team. From what I can see, his mouth probably got in the way. As for the other teams, they should thank LeBron. Any team who plays Miami this year will see sellout crowds.
LeBron wants to win the whole thing
So he moved to Miami to bring
His talents to bear
With his teammates there
In hopes of a championship ring.
July 12, 2010
Filed under: Sports — @ 3:00 am
Tough game for the World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands. The Dutch were particularly aggressive with a ‘kung-foo’ style kick in the chest by one of their players that should have brought out a red card (automatic game ejection). As it was, their play eventually caught up with them and they lost in the last few minutes while playing a man down. Overall, it was a fun tournament to watch and I’ll miss the daily excitement. Too bad it only happens once every four years.
The Dutch and the Spaniards contended
As the World Cup tournament ended.
With yellow cards flying
And coaches decrying,
In the end it was Spain who ascended.
World Cup Foul
Spain Wins World Cup 2010
June 28, 2010
Filed under: Sports — @ 3:00 am
The USA’s Wold Cup dreams came crashing down on Saturday. A tough loss to Ghana ended their run. They had their chances and played well but a couple of defensive mistakes sealed their fate. I did not realized until afterward that Ghana booted us out of the tournament last time as well (2006). That’s the making of a serious grudge but it’ll have to wait until the next World Cup in 2014.
The strikers from Ghana made moot
Of the USA’s World Cup pursuit.
Though tied at the end
We could not defend
And their last goal then gave us the boot.
The referee’s did another particularly poor job in both the Germany-England and Argentina-Mexico games. They keep missing key plays that can easily affect the outcome of the game. A clear goal by England was dissallowed because the ref couldn’t see it. The time has passed to use technology to review key plays. FIFA needs to get off their high horse and get with the program for the good of the game.
Germany had England in the hole
By quickly twice finding their goal.
Then an English comeback
Ran sadly off track
When the ref missed a goal off the pole.
June 25, 2010
Filed under: Events, Sports — @ 3:00 am
Once again Japan stands alone in opposing any restriction or ban on whaling. There is no reason to hunt whales. Not for oil or meat or anything else. It’s a small group of stubborn people in a small, stubborn nation. If you could get people to boycott Toyota’s or Playstation’s then this practice would end in a heartbeat. That’s not likely to happen so all we have left is the Sea Sheperds. I’ll bet their show on TLC will be renewed for another couple of seasons.
Japan seems intent upon whaling
Though all of the world is still railing
Against the abuse
Of the ‘research’ excuse,
It gives the Sea Shepard’s clear sailing.
No post is complete without a World Cup Limerick. Best of luck to my fans in Ghana…you’ll need it!
The U.S. and Ghana will meet
In a World Cup match to compete
For a chance to advance
And surely enhance
Their place in the Football elite.
June 24, 2010
Filed under: Investing, Sports — @ 3:00 am
The FOMC decided today to keep interest rates steady. No big surprise given the headwinds to growth (e.g. Europe) and the lack of new jobs. We seem to be in a holding pattern waiting for the next ray of sunshine or the other shoe to drop. So let’s all stop agonizing about a future we can’t see anyway and celebrate the big win for the U.S. Soccer team!
Seems keeping rates low is just fine
As Bernanke today did opine.
With growth that’s still slow
And jobs a no-show
The fear is we wither on the vine.
In the World Cup the U.S. won big
And left us all dancing a jig.
They made us all sweat
Before finding the net,
Now we’re off to the knockout round gig.
Landon Donovan
June 21, 2010
Filed under: Sports — @ 3:00 am
I warned you more World Cup soccer limericks were coming. Here’s a new batch based on the most recent results. Enjoy!
France has had a lot of success in prior World Cup tournaments so they don’t take losing lightly…
The World Cup is just like a dance
Where all of the girls have a chance.
In the past they won all
But this time they fall
As Mexico beats mighty France.
The French team is losing the race
To advance and extend their Cup chase.
The teams disarray
Is now on display
With no thought of losing with grace.
The US made a great comeback against Slovenia and should have won except for a blown call by the referee. They need to win their next game to advance (or have England lose). It’s not over yet!
The U.S. was thought to be dead
As down 2 was too big a spread.
But a second half rally
Evened the tally
So they’re still hanging on by a thread.
Germany is another strong team that has struggled to show their dominance. They’re not in as bad shape as France but their last loss to Serbia was a shocker and should be a wake-up call.
Serbia’s Group of Death feat
Has got to be tasting so sweet.
Twas a goalie who caught
A penalty shot
And the Germans went down to defeat.
Italy were the winners in the last World Cup but have struggled this time with two ties. They need a win to advance to the next level (or a tie and a New Zealand loss).
Italy, another big name
Has yet to bring on their best game.
Their points total two
So you have to construe
Their championship play has gone lame.
June 14, 2010
Filed under: Sports — @ 3:00 am
The FIFA World Cup tournament has begun! I was never a big soccer fan (aka Football) but the World Cup is a unique sporting event similar to the Olympics. Watching nations compete and the fans celebrate is truly special. The fact that the USA are usually underdogs just adds to the drama. They got lucky on Saturday to get a tie against England but sometimes a little luck is all you need to get started. There will be more soccer limericks in the weeks to come so I hope you enjoy them!
The game against England was tough
But the USA brought the right stuff.
With one goal allowed
They wouldn’t be cowed
And tied on a goaltender muff.
May 24, 2010
Filed under: Sports — @ 3:00 am
The San Jose Sharks fell to the Chicago Black Hawks, four games to zip, in the Western Conference NHL final. Chicago goes on to play for the Stanley Cup and the Sharks go home. Damn! There were some hard fought games but every break seemed to go to Chicago…or they were just outplayed. I would have liked to have seen at least one win. The Black Hawks swam with the sharks and now rule the pool!
The Sharks gave it all to extend
And looked early on to contend,
But the loss of game four
Has slammed shut the door.
Their race for the Cup’s at an end.
May 17, 2010
Filed under: Sports — @ 3:00 am
My San Jose Sharks are still in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as it moves into the semi-finals. There is some great hockey being played! I particularly like the way they play best out of seven to advance to the next round. Not only do we get to see a lot of good hockey, but the best team usually rises to the occasion. There will be more hockey limericks if the Sharks advance to the final round so you’ve been warned.
With the end of the game in the air
Every shot on the goal is a scare.
The expletives stream
As yell at my team,
“Will you just get the puck out of there”!
May 10, 2010
Filed under: Sports — @ 3:00 am
When it rains it pours. Tiger was a picture of dejection as he walked off the fairway and out of the Players Championship with a neck problem. I guess we’ll just add this to his list of woes. His fall from grace may not be over. Of all his mistresses, fate may be the cruelest of all.
His golf swing looked more like a wreck
Which kept his low scoring in check.
His dark cloud thought lifting
Has only been shifting,
The ‘bulging’ which moved to his neck.
April 12, 2010
Filed under: Sports — @ 3:00 am
What a great golf tournament this weekend at the Masters! Great shot after great shot produced multiple contenders in the final round. In the end, Phil Mickelson (a.k.a. Lefty) came away with the winner’s green jacket for a third time. It was a poignant moment when Phil hugged his wife (whose been battling breast cancer) after the victory. It was a good contest and a good win for a good man.
The field at the Masters was lined
With the best in the world as designed.
The back-and-forth play
Concluded a day,
When Lefty had left them behind.
Phil Mickelson dons the winner's green jacket
April 9, 2010
Filed under: Sports — @ 3:00 am
Tiger came back today with a strong opening round at the Masters. The crowd was polite as to be expected at Augusta. He’s got a long way to go, however, to regain any semblance of the trust he used to wield. Good golf or no, I’ve lost a great deal of respect for the man. It’s the duration of his infidelities that rankles. Three years worth of deception is simply too much to excuse. As for the golf tournament…go Ernie Els!
Tiger’s golf game is still a strong force
Despite all his shame and remorse.
He can’t be betraying
If he’s too busy playing.
He should just try to stay on the course.
March 19, 2010
Filed under: Sports — @ 6:00 am
There’s always talk this time of year about how much productivity is lost because of the NCAA Basketball tournament. I would take those numbers with a grain of salt. This article debunks most of the estimates but it misses one important point. It assumes that all the work being done is productive. Anybody whose been in the cubicle trenches knows what I’m talking about. Spreadsheets that never get viewed, PowerPoint’s that never get shown, reports that never get read, etc. I think you have to employ the 80-20 rule here. Only 20% of work is productive vs. 80% which is non-productive. The good news is you still get paid.
Some folks are just trying to enthral
By harping against basketball.
But what is the cost
Of productivity lost
If the work had no value at all?
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