World Cup 2010 Blog: Women’s World Cup: It’s A(n Underwater) Jungle Out There

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Women’s World Cup: It’s A(n Underwater) Jungle Out There Posted: 24 Jun 2011 07:38 AM PDT Paul the Octopus, while nice, created something of a problem: Wherever there is money to be made, marketing potential to be achieved and publicity to be Houdini’d out of midair, advantage shall be taken. Give ‘em a foot, take 20,000 leagues or so. The Women’s World Cup is in Germany this year, once the home to Paul the ‘Pus. You can absolutely see where this is going. Eight octopi have been tasked with proving/disproving the presence of medium capabilities in mollusks. Or perhaps proving extraordinary luck is capable by even those who taste delicious with a nice tartar sauce. A German aquarium's new octopus oracle has gone out on one of her eight limbs by choosing underdog Canada to beat Germany in the opening match of the Women's World Cup on Sunday. Octopi at Sea Life's seven other German aquaria were divided in their picks for Sunday's match: Three chose Germany, one other took Canada and three made no choice at all. The octopus with the most correct choices at the end of the nearly monthlong tournament will be anointed the next "official" oracle. As someone who hasn’t seen a single female game in their lifetime, this can be said: This mollusk is an idiot. The chances Canada beats Germany, by all accounts the supreme power and playing at home, are about the same a Mesut Ozil with a decent tuck job is allowed to score two by the half. Not happenin’. Also: there is an oracle elephant. Which supposedly chose Germany, despite the mass of confusion fluttering about my brain at this very moment.

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World Cup 2010 Blog: Copa America Markets Itself With Cartoons

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Copa America Markets Itself With Cartoons Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:58 AM PDT The battle for South American supremacy will likely come down to a matter of two: Argentina and Brazil. The two don’t quite like each other, if you hadn’t noticed, thus escalating matters quite a bit. To the point where the tournament itself is being marketed as a watered down version of Tom & Jerry or Wil E. Coyote and the Roadrunner, constantly doing battle in cartoon, across (very brief) four episodes thus far. And Argentina seems a bit…aggressive. Expectations for this tournament suddenly increase.

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World Cup 2010 Blog: “Copa America Goes To YouTube” plus 1 more

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Copa America Goes To YouTube Posted: 16 Jun 2011 10:35 AM PDT The despite the emptiness and hollow being of having to traverse the rolling hills of the summer sans a World Cup or European Championships, there are a number of tournaments going on, including the Women’s World Cup, u17 World Cup, u21 European Champions and, of course, the pseudo-tournament of several formalities before Brazil & Argentina inevitably play each other in a one-off trophy game Copa America. So there is ample football to be viewed, and YouTube is doing their part as well, offering up the Copa America to be streamed – the whole thing. Presumably with rubbish commentary, but we musn’t be greedy. YouTube, which began live-streaming Indian Premier League cricket matches last year, announced Wednesday that it will show all 26 matches in next month’s Copa America. YouTube said matches from the Copa America, which begins on July 1 and is being held in Argentina, will be live-streamed at youtube.com/copaamerica and available in more than 50 countries around the world. “Fans will have access to all 26 matches including pool play, semi-finals, quarter-finals and the championship match, live streaming as they happen with exclusive-to-YouTube commentary,” YouTube said in a blog post So does this mean Messi will be on YouTube? That’s new.

Germany Tells Michael Ballack He’s Surplus To Requirements Posted: 16 Jun 2011 06:24 AM PDT There are things which are done and things which are not done. Informing Michael Ballack that he is retired not of his own choosing seems like it’d fall into the latter category. But oh, they did it. Jogi Loew & Co. announced that Mr. Ballack was no longer in consideration for a spot in the national team. Presumably without asking for or receiving his thumbs up beforehand. Now, Ballack doesn’t seem like a homicidal maniac, but he is certainly a strong character and though he hasn’t played for quite some time, and was removed as captain by this move effectively – and done so while sitting on 98 caps. How ruthless. There is every chance this does not go well. “The past months have shown that many young players are brought into focus and have good prospects. With them developing the national team since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the run [has been] completely positive,” the 51-year-old is quoted as saying on Bayer Leverkusen’s website. “After I had discussed this issue with Michael Ballack at our last meeting in late March 2011, together in the open and then we talked on the phone several times, [we] have now taken a clear position before the start of the season. “In our conversations, I had the impression that Michael definitely understands our vision. Therefore in everyone’s interest [there] is now an honest and clear decision attached,” he continued. But did they let Philipp Lahm tell him the news first?

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