Wow, Really?

The title is directed at both Dan Gilbert and the Miami Heat organization. For Gilbert, did you really have to make a fool of yourself by writing a letter to the fans, bashing Lebron James in the process? I always say that when you're too passionate about something, you lose your reason, and that is exactly what Gilbert did in the letter. Guaranteeing an NBA championship for Cleveland before Lebron and Company get theirs is preposterous, not only because Cleveland has nowhere near the talent to do such a thing, but because that sort of promise is something you'd hear from someone who is around the age of twelve. As for the Heat organization, was it really necessary to squirt lemon juice into the eyes of Cleveland fans the day after they had just been sucker-punched below the belt? No one but fans of the Heat really cared about the introduction celebration, so why was it necessary to broadcast it on ESPN2? Lebron did not look happy to be there, and if you were him, would you be either? The last thing he wanted to do was pour salt into the city of Cleveland's wound that, by the way, he created. Once again, I'm not saying that he should have stayed; I'm just saying that his departure created the somber mood felt in his hometown.

Now that "The Decision" is over, at least we can get back to focusing on sports that are actually in season. Today one of the bigger trade deals took place in baseball, with Seattle pitcher Cliff Lee being traded to the Texas Rangers. Early in the day, it looked as if Lee was going to be traded to the Yankees, which would have made it almost worthless to watch the MLB come September with the pitching that they would have had. However, this trade makes the American League much more intriguing. With Lee in Texas, the Rangers have a very decent shot at making the playoffs for the first time since 1999, while the Yankees cannot assume the role as overwhelming favorites to win the World Series. Had Lee gone to New York, it would have been extremely hard to contend with the pitching combination of Lee, C.C. Sabathia, Phil Hughes, and Mariano Rivera. Granted, they are probably still the team to beat, but with Lee they could have been runaway favorites. No matter how much New York fans disagree, that would not have been good for baseball.

On Sunday, the World Cup will culminate in Johannesburg when either Spain or the Netherlands will hoist the famed goblet for the first time ever. Unlike Spain, the Netherlands have been to the Finals twice before but have not yet broken through to win the Cup. I predicted that Spain would win it from the beginning, but I think that either way it should be a tremendous game. Both of these teams are well deserving of being called World Cup champions, and it should be an absolute party for whichever country comes away with the win. Something that is worth noting is that the top goal scorers in the tournament (Netherland's Wesley Sneijder and Spain's David Villa) will be playing, and the Golden Boot award winner could very well be the man who wins the World Cup for his respective nation. As long as the game doesn't come down to penalty kicks, because quite frankly it's a tossup at that point, then it should be a wonderful game to watch.

I'm thinking about making shirts to promote the blog, but mostly because I want to wear one myself. I'll be posting some more information about it on the Around The Corn Sports Blog Facebook fan page, so check that out in the next few weeks if you're interested in getting one. Also, if you have any questions or comments about anything sports, always feel free to email me at aroundthecornsportsblog@gmail.com. Thanks everyone.



- K. Becks

World Cup Preview: Groups E and F

In today's news, Rafael Nadal won his fifth French Open by defeating Robin Soderling of Sweden. Soderling beat Nadal at last year's French Open, so this is actually bigger news that most would think (in other words, Nadal was not the hands down favorite in this year's match). It is clear that Nadal is healthy now, which raises the question "can he challenge Federer at Wimbledon?" The answer to that question will come in a few weeks, when that tournament begins. As for the Memorial Tournament, the fan favorite and always colorfully dressed Rickie Fowler couldn't quite pull off the win. It was a valiant effort however, and he made sure that people will know his name from here on out with his great play this weekend, as well as his unique wardrobes throughout the tournament.

Now, onto my World Cup Groups E and F preview.

Group E
Teams: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

Match to Watch
Netherlands vs. Cameroon (Thursday, June 24th)

With Dutch star Arjen Robben's health now in question, this game could be huge. The Netherlands are favored to win this group, but without a healthy Robben, it gets a lot more interesting, with both Cameroon and Denmark capable of pulling off an upset against the Dutch. Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o makes everything exciting, and without Robben, the Dutch give away an offensive advantage that would make them the overwhelming favorite in this game.

Player to Watch
Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon

Eto'o is good, and he knows he's good. He will demand the ball in lots of key situations, and for good reason. He is the top goal scorer on the team, and is one of the best strikers in the world. If his team can get him the ball with room to work, then he will definitely produce some goals worthy of ESPN's highlight reel. Cameroon needs Eto'o to do well if they want to advance to the knockout round.

Final Standings

1. Netherlands- Whether or not Robben will be one hundred percent healthy is pure speculation at this point. With that being said, the Dutch are still the favorites to be atop the standings at the end of group play.
2. Cameroon- Cameroon has the potential to do very well in this year's World Cup, but they also could perform very poorly. Playing on their home continent will be a boost, but they will need Samuel Eto'o to score goals and hope that the defense doesn't give up too much.
3. Denmark- The Danes play a great team game. If their solid defense is too much for Eto'o and Cameroon to handle, then they have the possibility of moving on in this group instead of the Indomitable Lions.
4. Japan- Japan will need to hope that someone steps up as a scorer, because as of now, they don't have a go-to guy. With scoring happy Cameroon and the Netherlands in their group, it may be hard for Japan to keep up.


Group F
Teams: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

Match to Watch
Italy vs. Slovakia (Thursday, June 24th)

It's the old vs. the new. Italy is likely the strongest team in this group, but is an older team. Slovakia is composed of young, quick players who will be energized in every match they play. This is the third game for both teams, so it's possible that Italy may want to rest its veteran players, giving Slovakia a chance to make this one interesting.

Player to Watch
Daniele De Rossi, Italy

There are no real "global stars" in this group, so taking one of the best players on arguably the best team in the group will usually give you a decent player to watch. De Rossi will create the chances that Italy's forwards get, and considering the opposition he will face, he may look better than he really is by the time the Round of 16 is set.

Final Standings

1. Italy- The Azzurri aren't the team they were in 2006, but they are still good enough to make it out of this relatively weak group. They will likely play around with their line-up a bit, because they still need to find answers to a few questions if they plan on making a deep run again.
2. Paraguay- Slovakia could be tough, but Paraguay should be able to move on. They are a tough, physical team, and will look to intimidate the young Slovakian team into making mistakes.
3. Slovakia- In four years, this team could be serious contenders at the World Cup. However, for now, their players lack the experience to move on to the next round. They will be an exciting team to watch, though.
4. New Zealand- They should just be happy to be in the World Cup. If they get more than one point in this World Cup, they should be commended for an outstanding effort.



- K. Becks