SPORTS The Michigan Daily - Monday, June 19, 2006 - 15
Three men, one mission: a World Cup diary
With the United States playing for its life in the
World Cup, Sports Editors Scott Bell and H. Jose
Bosch, along with Editor in Cheif Jeremy Davidson
decided to watch the game and keep a running diary.
2:31 p.m. - It's time for the United States vs.
Italy! Remember, one game changes everything
(at least that's what ESPN and ABC tells us). A
special Daily Sports congratulations is presented
to Ghana for its 2-0 upset of the Czech Republic:
That's what you get for coming out of retirement,
Pavel Nedved!
2:39 - Let's not kid ourselves. Any advertise-
ment for MLS is a joke. No one is going to watch a
league that gets fewer viewers than the NHL when
the World Cup ends.
2:41 - Alexi Lalas calls a 2-1 U.S. win. Since
the preview for "Superman Returns" is now run-
} ning, we'll take the time to make our pre-game
predictions. Jeremy Davidson says the United
States will win 1-0. H. Jose Bosch is going with a
2-1 Italy victory. And the always optimistic Scott
Bell says it'll be 43-0 Italy.
Go U.S.A.!
2:47 - Brent Musburger says, "It's put up or
shut up time." Well, now we know it's really seri-
ous. One wonders how awkward it was for ABC to
ask Musburger to cover this event.
ABC exec: "Hey Brett, do you mind sitting at
the desk for halftime during the World Cup?"
Musburger: "The what?"
2:52 - Color commentator Marcelo Balboa is
definitely just the Undertaker without the makeup.
From now on, he will be known as the Undertaker.
Hopefully he randomly pile drives Dave O'Brien,
the game's play-by-play man.
2:58 - Nothing is goofier than fans who go
nuts when they realize they are on television. Act-
ing like you're suffering an epileptic seizure is not
a good way of showing true passion for your team.
Just hold up a sign.
3:00 - And the United States jumps out to a
2-0 lead ... in penalties.
3:06 - The Undertaker thinks the United
States has come out of the gate energized and
strong. Good thing it has resulted in a quick
goal for the United States ... Oh wait, that
hasn't happened.
3:08 - The team that scores first is 27-2-2 in
this year's World Cup, and the United States has
never won a World Cup Game in Europe. Just
some food for thought.
3:12 - O'Brien talks of Clint Dempsey's
cockiness and praises it. Somewhere in the United
States Joe Buck is screaming at his television.
3:16 - And Bobby Convey has the first real
good scoring opportunity of the game but fired a
shot high. The last 10 minutes have looked solid
for the United States. Maybe the Undertaker was
right after all.
3:22 - Spoke too soon. The Italians draw first
blood off of a set piece in the 21st minute. The U.S.
is 0-14-1 when scored upon first. Now would be
the best time to make your mid-day snack, and stay
away from the television for the rest of the day.
3:27 - And the U.S. catches a huge break as
Cristian Zaccardo tries to clear acorner and scores
on his own goal. One minute later, Italy loses Dan-
iele De Rossi for the game after he received a red award. The Michigan Daily Mike Tirico Award
card for jacking Brian McBride in the face. Can goes to the Undertaker for his relentless work criti-
you hear that? It's the tide starting to turn. cizing bad officiating.
3:37 - Italian goaltender Gianluigi Buf- 4:17 - Interesting factoid: Italy is one of just
fon is considered one of the top goaltenders in two teams in the World Cup in which all its players
the world, but is currently being investigating by play club soccer domestically. The other country:
Italian authorities for his gambling habits. He has Saudi Arabia. We learned something today.
admitted to gambling on soccer games outside 4:19 - And the referee has just given out
Italy and various other Italian sporting events such another red card ... just kidding.
as horseracing. He gets The MichiganDaily Pete 4:22 - DeMarcus Beasley scores a gooooooo
Rose Award for Athletic Integrity. ooooooooooooooool ... waitnopeoffsides onthe
3:44 - The United States's luck has hit a wall U.S.A. The one time the referees make the right
as Pablo Mastroeni receive a very questionable red call, the United States still catches a tough break.
card which now means the United States has lost 4:30 - Kasey Keller makes an amazing save
its man advantage. to keep the game tied at one. For a team that has
3:47 - And the game is tied 1-1 after 45 just nine players on the field, the United States is
minutes of play. But the United States lost seri- playing well in the second half. On an unrelated
ous momentum with that red card. It should be note, thanks to Ghana, the United States cannot be
interesting to see how they react in the second eliminated with a loss or tie in this game.
half. Stay tuned! 4:36 - This is weird to bring up during the
4:02 - Because we at Daily Sports know 77th minute, but why is Italy's uniform blue when
that not everyone is perfect, we're going to have its flag's colors are red, white and green?
a pre-second half prediction, completely ignoring 4:38 - After O'Brien mentions how Keller
our original predictions. Bosch stays with his 2-1 has made a few big saves in the second half, the
win for Italy. Davidson now believes the game will Undertaker chimes in with this gem: "Yeah, that's
remain at 1-1. And Bell changes his prediction to what goaltenders do." Yes, thanks for that one.
43-1, Italy. His optimism is inspiring. 4:42 - Trivia time! How many teams in World
4:04 - Another horrendous call by the referee Cup history have scored with nine men? Zero. So
as Eddie Pope is given a weak yellow card, which let's get this straight: Just two teams have won this
is his second, resulting in a red card. Now Italy has year when not scoring first, the United States has
the man advantage. For the record, the U.S. has 20 never won a World Cup game in Europe and no
fouls to Italy's seven. The Undertaker is ready to team has ever scored a goal with nine men. There
unleash the Tombstone Piledriver on the referee. is a better chance of Britney Spears winning the
4:08 - We would like to hand out another See WORLD CUP, Page 16
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