Rapid Reaction - US Men's Soccer

I got the feeling the entire game that the US was going to break through at some point. They were the better team, thoroughly outplayed Algeria, and deserved to advance. Yet, I remained on the edge of my seat waiting for that moment to come. And when it came, it was the big names for the United States, which is a very encouraging sign. Tim Howard comes up with the stop, followed by an incredible toss to Landon Donovan, who slotted it wide to Jozy Altidore. Jozy turned on the burners and then slotted it right to Clint Dempsey's foot. The Algerian keeper came up with a nice save, but then it was the veteran Donovan who came back into the picture, having not given up on the play and sending the Yanks through to the next round.

So what does it all mean? We live to fight another day. Our opponent will be decided this afternoon. With the pressure of winning our group added, we go into Saturday's match with the stakes raised even higher. The US can celebrate this evening, but then it's back to business. I expect a renewed sense of confidence to be very prominent in the knockout stage. As long as this doesn't crossover into the brash, cocky stage, the US will be in good shape. We need those four who combined on the final goal to play as good as ever. We need our back line to be solid. We can't get lost in transition. (Michael Bradley played incredibly in this regard today. Hustling the entire game. Won't show up in the box score, but greatly impacted this game.) But most of all, we need to make the most of our chances.

Bob Bradley needs to be commended again on his substitutions. I liked starting Herculez Gomez, to see if he could break through in the first half. But when it was clear Algeria was going to lock down in the back, moving the scrappy and creative Clint Dempsey to the front was the right move. Feilhaber comes into the midfield on that switch, and then Bob brings in the more offensive-minded Edson Buddle for Maurice Edu. That move, and then the final move of the vet Damarcus Beasley proved that Bobby B was moving all-in. And it worked. We'll see you Saturday.

Hypothetical Roster - Bucks 2010-11

Here's who the Bucks currently have (at least in their hypothetical playing rotation):

Guards - Brandon Jennings, Luke Ridnour, Carlos Delfino, Chris Douglas-Roberts

Forwards - Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Ersan Ilyasova, Corey Maggette

Center - Andrew Bogut

Here's what we need:

1) Legit 2-guard that can shoot. Not a small 3 or a shoot-first PG. A shooting guard,

Answer: Xavier Henry in the first round of Thursday's draft.

2) Backup big men, to play behind Bogut

Answer: Tiny Gallon, 2nd round pick

Possibly resigning Kurt Thomas, if he doesn't retire.

3) Veteran point guard, if Ridnour signs elsewhere

Answer: Keith Bogans/Travis Diener, because both would be kind of funny

4) Glue guy/Spark (I really hope the Bucks pick up this guy somehow)

Answer: Greivis Vasquez, 2nd round

If this all holds true to form, with Ridnour and Thomas sticking around, our rotation would be as follows:

PG - Jennings

SG - Delfino

SF - Maggette

PF - Ilyasova

C - Bogut

2nd team guards: Ridnour, Henry, CDR

Reserve big men: Gallon, Thomas, Mbah a Moute

Glue guy: Vasquez

Assuming everyone stays healthy, I see a team that is not only dangerous but respected in the East. There's no way of knowing what the East will look like, with Wade/LeBron/everyone else still unsigned, but there's no reason this team can't repeat as a 4 or 5 seed in the East.

Summer Update - Quick Hits

Well. It's been an eventful couple of weeks, trekking from La Crosse to Waukesha and back a handful of times. That, coupled with my laptop crashing, have prevented me from blogging in recent weeks. Anywho, here's my return with some quick hits on college football realignment, the Brewers, the Bucks! the Bucks, and the World Cup.

(I don't know who I aimed that paragraph at. Let's say it was for the baby, Christopher David Adamczyk.)

College Football Realignment

1) Happy for the Big Ten, getting to 12 teams, especially with a quality school (both academically and athletically) in Nebraska. They'd be reaching if they expanded any further, especially because it seems like Notre Dame isn't going anywhere.

2) Pac 10: Solid addition with Utah, to bring the conference to 12 as well. Colorado doesn't add much, at least for football. The conference as a whole seems like losers in this whole thing, as they were apparently oh-so-close to adding Texas, Oklahoma, and whomever else from the Big 12.

3) The Big XII survives, and may actually be stronger. They're going to form TV networks, which will bring in more money and now they don't have to share it with as many schools. They still have Texas so they'll be fine. Big props to Dan Beebe for keeping the Big XII afloat.

4) Boise State's move to the Mountain West doesn't seem all that great anymore now that they don't have all three of the current really good mid-majors in Boise State, Utah, and TCU.

Brewers

Like what the offense is doing, especially Rickie Weeks at the top of the lineup and Corey Hart's hot stretch. Braun and Fielder are heating up too, which is nice. Could use a little more production out of Escobar, Gomez, and Kottaras/Lucroy. Pitching is a different story. Not good enough, but I like that we no longer have to watch Suppan don the Brewers uniforms.

The Bucks! The Bucks!

WE GOT RID OF MY TWO LEAST FAVORITE BUCKS!!!!! And, we acquired a 20-point scorer in Corey Maggette. Fills a role we don't have, and hopefully we can pair this trade with a solid shooting guard (resign Johnny Salmons or get someone else). I applaud John Hammond. Save about a million in salary, get rid of two terrible players, and get a very effective, versatile player. Plus we get an additional second-round pick, which I hope is going to be used to move up in the first round.

World Cup

Not going to say anything about the United States, other than they better freaking beat Algeria. I'm surprised by the likes of Chile, Switzerland, and Uruguay, and I'm happy France crashed and burned. The best teams to me right now are Argentina, Brazil, and the Dutch. I'd still pick Spain and Germany to do well, despite their losses in pool play. I don't think Italy and England are going to do much if they advance. My sleeper is Uruguay: Diego Forlan is having a hell of a tournament so far. And props to the Bufana Bufana for being classy hosts. Congrats on beating France, and I wish I could have seen you break through into the knockout stage over Mexico.