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 - leeY AtutfKCM n!nI t. 3E1JM: ~ Ou. L-c3e1.ftLOa4t ciebt: v~e2ec1 t!o cio so&+w .ef-hv k o& it. Qon.olida -t ou.+ Sfuet loa& #iO What can cons(-idation mean foi you? Hflowabout another $450I or more il your pocket each mnth? 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