We're Going to Tehran, We're Going to the Fair

...to take over another country, by water, land and air!

In last week's New Yorker, Seymour Hersh laid out the Bush Administration's plans for next phase in the war on everyone he doesn't like. This year's lucky country is Iran, where one third of the population is younger than 15 years old.

In this online piece from 2002, Joe Klein wrote on how 9/11 was perceived by both the government and citizens of Iran.

Yes, Virginia, There Will Be World Cup Qualifying

Sean Wheelock of Fox Sports World (soon to be the Fox Soccer Channel) gives his view of the Fed and Player Association's "agreement" to save World Cup Qualifying.

US Soccer May Play in NY This Summer

The Gold Cup is the Concacaf region's biennial continental championship. This year's 12-team tournament will be played in July in seven U.S. venues, including the semis and final at Giants Stadium on July 21st and 24th.

Holding this tournament in the middle of World Cup Qualifying will be a challenge, and Bruce may decide to field a "B" team to protect his starters from possible injury. However, if the US progresses to the semis, it'll be their first appearance in the NY area since they whomped Jamaica 5-0 in a World Cup '02 tuneup.

Wow! Huygens Lands on Titan

History was made today when the European Space Agency's unmanned Huygens probe landed on Titan, a moon of Saturn that scientists hope hold some of the building blocks of organic life. Launched in 1997, Huygens rode piggy-back on NASA's Cassini probe for seven years on the trip to Saturn before deploying and landing on Titan earlier today. While the Voyager space probes launched in the 1970's have reached the edge of the solar system, the Huygens probe at Titan marks the farthest point from Earth where a human probe has landed.

The Ragtag Fugitive Fleet Returns

Tonight at 9pm on SciFi, the new Battlestar Galactica series blasts off with 2 episodes. With acting heavyweights Edwards James Olmos (Adama) and Mary McDonnell (the President), this new Galactica boasts a recovering alcoholic Col. Tigh, a female Starbuck, and Cylons who look just like humans. I'll be watching... by your command.

US Soccer Labor Mess: Everybody's Wrong

Soccer America's Senior Editor, Ridge Mahoney, breaks down the ugly, ugly labor impasse that may have a huge impact on whether the US Qualifies for next year's World Cup.

The latest Fed offer, Mediation, with a promise that the players won't strike this year, was rejected by the players. What a mess.

Metro Eddie Gaven Gets His Goal On

Eddie Gaven scored a hat trick the opening twenty-five minutes of CONCACAF U-20 qualifying, leading the US to a 6-1 drubbing of Trinidad & Tobago at the Home Depot Center last night. The two other teams in the group are Panama and Costa Rica, who drew 1-1 last night. After the round robin, the top two teams will advance to the FIFA U-20 World Championship this Summer in Holland.

US Soccer Fans Are Everywhere

Another fine Galarcep piece, at ESPN Soccernet, about a 20-yr US Army soldier who's a big fan of MLS and the US National team.

The Auteur of Anime

Pick up this week's New Yorker for a fantastic profile of director Hayao Miyazaki, who created such films as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Nausicäa of the Valley of the Wind. There's a Q&A with the author of the piece at the New Yorker site.

Sharon & Abbas: Here We Go

The AFP has reported that Ariel Sharon and newly-elected Palestinian president Muhmud Abbas will be meeting in the next two weeks to discuss peace initiatives.

On Monday, Sharon called Abbas to congratulate him on his election victory.

In the 1979 film bomb "Americathon," John Ritter was president of a bankrupt U.S. in 1998. The Israelis and Arabs had made peace by identifying their common love for "blond chicks with great butts". If only.

Ruiz a Metro?

Ives Galarcep of the Bergen (NJ) Record is reporting that the MetroStars are pursing a trade with LA for Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala), the 2002 and 2003 MLS scoring champion. There's rumor of a rift between Ruiz and Galaxy coach Steve Sampson, who coached the USMNT to a last-place finish at the '98 World Cup in France. Metro may move MNT-mainstay D Eddie Pope to get Ruiz. Pope became expendable after the Metros aquired former National Teamer Jeff Agoos from San Jose to anchor the backline. Combining the dangerous Ruiz with Honduran midfielder Amado Guevara, the 2004 MLS MVP, would significantly improve an already-potent Metro offense.

BBHS Alum Scott Gurfein featured in the NY Times

Scott Gurfein's (BBHS '91) new company, Freeze 24/7, was highlighted in an article in this past Sunday's Times.

Richard Gere's Message is Lost on Palestinians

Years ago on the MTV Video Music Awards, host Jon Lovitz made an impassioned speech about why the world should listen to him on major geopolitical issues. "I'm an ACTOR," Lovitz said, "I've had extensive ACTING training, which gives me the right to speak to the world on big, important things."

Richard Gere, longtime Tibetan rights activist, recently made a television spot imploring Palestinians to get to the polls in their upcoming election. And at least one Palestinian couldn't care less.

The Fed Speaks

Jim Moorhouse, Director of Communications at the US Soccer Federation speaks to Sean Wheelock of Fox Sports World, and outlines the Fed's stance on the labor impasse, their $30MM budget surplus, and a new arbitration offer.

A Rant on the US Soccer Labor Impasse

Here's an impassioned piece on the state of the USSF/Player's Association pissing match from Soccer365.com. The first Hexagonal date is one month from tomorrow.

In other soccer news, former Metro Clint Mathis has returned to MLS with expansion club Real Salt Lake. Clint's biggest soccer moment was shaking my hand at a Metro kick-off event in April, 2003.

N.Y. Giants, NFL Opponents Set for 2005

The NFL has announced team-by-team opponents for next season, based on the final 2004 standings.

In 2005, the Giants will face the NFC East (of course), the NFC West and the AFC West, with two other 2nd place NFC teams thrown in to complete the schedule.

At the swamp, the G-Men will face Dallas, Philly, and Washington, as well as Arizona, St. Louis, Denver, KC, and Minnesota.

On the road the Giants will play Dallas, Philly, and Washington, plus San Francisco, Seattle, Oakland, San Diego and New Orleans.

Scouting the Opponents

• Six of the Giants thirteen 2005 opponents are playoff teams this season: Philly, St. Louis, Minnesota, Seattle, Denver, and San Diego.
• The Giants finished their division schedule at 3-3 this season, beating Dallas twice and Washington once.
• Four west coast trips in one season will be a challenge, though the Niners of the 80's and early 90's did just fine, thank you, with all that travel.
• Pulling Minnesota, whom the Giants have beaten four straight times since the 2000 41-0 NFC Championship Game thrashing, is a positive sign.
• The Giants were crushed, 45-7 by New Orleans, the last time the two teams played on 12/14/03, Jim Fassel's next-to-last game as coach.
• The Giants beat the Rams in both 2002 and 2003.
• Big Blue went 1-2 vs. the current AFC west in 2001, the last time the Giants played that division, beating Kansas City and losing to Denver and Oakland. The Giants beat San Diego the last time the two played, on 9/27/98 on the west coast.

Things to Watch for in Soccer in 2005

ESPN's Marc Connolly puts the Metros' Eddie Gaven on his list of 25 people to watch for in 2005.

BU's New Arena Opens to Rave Reviews

The BU Terriers opened the new Agganis Arena last night with a 2-1 victory over the top team in the nation, Minnesota.

Here's a story about the game and the Icedogs' new home in today's Boston Globe.

FINAL 2004 COMMISHKIN Standings

Congrats to Dr. Andy Brown, the winner of the inaugural Commishkin Prize. Andy won the fantasy league championship, tied for first in the Suicide league, and finished 4th in the Pick 'Em league to claim the top spot.

Final Standings

Rank: Player: Fantasy-Pick 'Em-Suicide (Standing for each game), then Commishkin Points earned for each game (x denotes not participating, t denotes tie):

1: Andy Brown: (1-4-t1) 8-13-11.5: 32.5 Points

2: David Cutler: (x-1-t1) 0-16-11.5: 27.5

3: Brian Perkis: (x-2-t1) 0-15-11.5: 26.5

4: Mark Fishkin: (5-3-t11) 4-14-3: 21

5: Dan Fox (x-5-t5) 0-12-8: 20

6: Brett Friedman (7-7-t9) 2-10-5.5: 17.5

7: Drew Sumter: (x-13-t1) 0-4-11.5: 15.5

8: Susie Fox: (x-6-t11) 0-11-3: 14

9: Mike Steele: (x-12-t5) 0-5-8: 13

10: Eric Broder (8-11-t9) 1-6-5.5: 12.5

t11: Will Caligiuri (x-8-x) 0-9-0: 9

t11: Charlie Conrad (x-16-t5) 0-1-8: 9

13: Steve Scheer (x-9-x) 0-8-0: 8

t14: Matt Feldman (x-10-x) 0-7-0: 7

t14: Anthony Palomba (2-x-x) 7-0-0: 7

16: Rob Shapiro (3-x-x): 6-0-0: 6

17: "Grande Poobah" (4-x-x) 5-0-0: 5

t18: Dana Atkinson (6-x-x) 3-0-0: 3

t18: Adam Lavinsky (x-14-x) 0-3-0: 3

t18: Adam Tarsitano (x-x-t11) 0-0-3: 3

t18: Kevin West (x-15-13) 0-2-1: 3