Ultimate Warriors

That 40 year drought...

Also it was on the birthday of the now-deceased Dingo (Ultimate) Warrior. How ironic.

My 60th Anniversary ESC Tournament of Champions: And the Winner Is...

LORDI, "Hardrock Hallelujah"! The greatest champion in EUROVISION Song Contest history! To no surprise, pound for pound!

Who needs public opinion? This was my fantasy tournament!

My 60th Anniversary ESC Tournament of Champions: Championship Match

And then there were two...Lordi's "Hardrock Hallelujah" (2006) and Loreen Talhaoui's "Euphoria" (2012). No doubt about this one, so for those who think these two wouldn't be here, you are wrong. These are superior winners and two of the best winners in ESC history.

How they got there...

Loreen "Euphoria" (2012)

First round: defeated Lys Assia "Refrain" (1956)
Second round: defeated Secret Garden "Nocturne" (1995)
Third round: defeated Dave Benton and Tanel Padar "Everybody" (2001)
Quarterfinals: defeated Ruslana "Wild Dances" (2004)
Semifinals: defeated Lena Meyer Landrut "Satellite" (2010)

Lordi "Hardrock Hallelujah" (2006)

First round: bye
Second round: defeated Riva "Rock Me Baby" (1989)
Third round: defeated Dana International "Diva" (1998)
Quarterfinals: defeated Salome "Vivo Cantando" (1969)
Semifinals: defeated Vicky Leandros "Apres Toi" (1972)

Check back soon!

My 60th Anniversary EUROVISION Tournament of Champions: Final Four

As the road to Vienna continues, my fantasy 60th anniversary EUROVISION tournament of champions are now down to the final four. Four different countries represented here.

SEMIFINALS
(1) Euphoria v (3) Satellite
(1) Hardrock Hallelujah v (10) Apres Toi

Remember this is my tournament, no voting here. Only survive and advance.

Come on back and see who will be one step closer to becoming the ultimate EUROVISION Song Contest champion!

My 60th ESC 'Tournament of Champions': 'Elite Eight'

After hearing all 40 entries for this year's ESC (to be held on the third week of May in Vienna, and will start to break them down on the 5th of April), it's time for the continuation of my tournament of champions.

The quarterfinals are all set!

BUCHAREST region final
(3) Satellite v (5) J'aime La Vie

HELSINKI region final
(1) Euphoria v (2) Wild Dances

ROME region final
(1) Hardrock Hallelujah v (15) Vivo Cantando

LONDON region final
(5) Hold Me Now v (10) Apres Toi

Eight different nations represented here. Come on back and see who is in the final four!

My 60th ESC Tournament of Champions: Regional Semifinals

The 'sweet 16' of the 60th anniversary EUROVISION Song Contest Tournament of Champions is here!

Here's the matchups:

BUCHAREST region
semifinals
(3) Satellite v (10) Making Your Mind Up
(5) J'aime Le Vie v (9) What's Another Year

HELSINKI region
semifinals
(1) Euphoria v (4) Everybody
(2) Wild Dances v (6) Save Your Kisses For Me

ROME region
semifinals
(1) Hardrock Hallelujah v (5) Diva
(6) Take Me To Your Heaven v (15) Viva Cantando

LONDON region
semifinals
(5) Hold Me Now v (8) Diggi Lou Diggi Ley
(10) Apres Toi v (14) Waterloo

Come on back for quarterfinal matchups!

Congrats Stamps!

Okay Flames. Your turn!

Giants Again!

 

2nd time in five years. Madison Bumgarner got series MVP. Also great season for the Royals as well. 2043, perhaps? 

Deutscher Fussball Bund Triumphs in FIFA Men's World Cup Final

Congrats to Joachim Loew and his DFB men's national team for breaking that drought in extra time in Rio on Sunday.

Some final thoughts from this year's MWC:

• Messi got the Golden Ball. Some call it 'corruption' because adidas is a FIFA sponsor and Messi is a proud adidas ambassador (as depicted in the ads).
• Neuer got the Golden Glove. Not surprising.
• Colombia got two awards: Rodriguez gets Golden Boot as the tourney's top scorer, and the team itself gets best fair play.
• And last but not least, Uruguay's Luis Suarez would have been receiving the 'Golden Dentures' (or 'Golden Teeth' depending on how you view it) for his bite on Giorgio Chiellini during the tourney.
• Also the final is a win win for adidas, because adidas outfits DFB and Argentina. Nike outfitted Netherlands defeated Nike outfitted Brazil in the bronze medal match on Saturday.
• Bad officiating as usual.
• In the states, this was the final MWC for both Univision Deportes and ESPN, as NBC Universal and Fox Sports takes over beginning with Canada 2015 (qualifying has been underway).

What will Russia 2018 and Canada 2015 (women's World Cup) bring about?

University of Connecticut Basketball: How 'Sweep' It Is...Again!

2nd year coach (former Maverick & Sonic) Kevin Ollie with a superb job taking Husky basketball back to this point. Paid off for Jim Calhoun's protégé.

Also Geno Auriemma has his ninth D-I title tying Pat Summitt.

Third time it has been done, hopefully football and men's hockey there can have good quality championship runs in the future. Strong recruiting could help.

Seahawks Win 'Weed Bowl' XLVIII

 

First it was the Metropolitans winning the Stanley Cup, then the Sonics and Storm won theirs. Now it's the Seahawks turn. And a linebacker is MVP for the third time in game history. In a game where it is dubbed the 'weed bowl' because Colorado and Washington have already legalized cannabis.

 

Mariners and Sounders, where's yours? 

Amazing MLS Cup 2013!

 

CONGRATS SPORTING KANSAS CITY (WIZARDS)!

 

 

I feel sorry for those who either didn't watch it or forgot about this year's MLS Cup. Amazing penalty kick session with so many crucial misses. At the end, SKC won 10-9 on PK's. First trophy in KC since the Royals '85 triumph in the I-70 Series.

 

The ball is in your court Chefs...I mean Chiefs! 

Rider Pride is Alive and Well: Riders 2013 Grey Cup Champions!

Very dominating match. Kory Sheets MVP with the Grey Cup rushing record, and Chris Getzlaf with the Most Valuable Canadian. Pop open a Pilsner Saskatchewan!

 

RIDER PRIDE! 

Congrats BoSox!

 

#BOSTONSTRONG 

Heat Once Again NBA World Champions!

It seems the Heat are building a dynasty, back to back...

 

CONGRATS HEAT! 

Friday Jukebox 5.31.13

Some of you don't know that Bayern Munchen, 2012-13 UEFA Champions League champions has a theme song, called Stern des Sudens, which translates from German to English as "Star of the South." Quite possibly one of the best football songs you enjoy that is related to football.

Congrats Bayern Munchen!

 

KINGS OF EUROPE!

 

2013 UEFA Champions League Champions!