Tool Time: 2010 Edition

It was just a couple of months ago while I was out with some friends, I reminisced at how awesome the 4th of July was last year for a few of us. It all started with no real plans but things just all fell into place and it turned into an extremely fun time. It all started with a buddy coming from out of town to see Les Claypool, so I and a few others decided to get tickets and go as well. The show was awesome and after the show, while enjoying beers in the bar, we decided we would drive to Bismarck and go hang on the Missouri river on the 4th of July. That too was just an extraordinarily great time...the weather was fantastic, the beer was cold...we ended up watching fireworks and partying until dawn.

As I was saying to my friends, I am not sure why last year's Fourth of July seemed so awesome but I do know going to a concert seemed like a perfect way to kick the holiday weekend off, but at the time there was no concert worth seeing anywhere near where I am at...that was until May. In May it was announced that TOOL would be playing at the Xcel Center in St. Paul this Thursday, July 1st. This couldn't be any better! Tool, one of my all-time favorite bands...one I have seen live 9 other times, is coming to the Xcel just prior to the Fourth of July weekend? To say I am excited to go to this show is an understatement. Tickets and hotel rooms have already been obtained ... now all that is left is to make the pilgrimage to St. Paul and see one of the greatest live bands put on another awesome show, which should then hopefully kick off another awesome 4th of July weekend!

Reason Number 1,324 Why Americans Don't Like Soccer

Every 4 years ESPN and ABC relentlessly promote the World Cup Soccer tournament. Every 4 years American sports fans are "coddled" and coaxed to tune into the World Cup...the most watched sporting event in the WORLD. Every 4 years Americans are told Team USA likely won't win the entire tournament but should do well and be competitive. Then every 4 years Team USA disappoints...but not this year... No, this year the American sports fans that are tuning into the World Cup got treated to something every sport is plagued with ... poor officiating.

Soccer is no different than the NBA ... when a player goes in for a layup and there is contact the ref just blows his whistle and calls a foul... no matter what. The same goes with soccer...players flop and make exaggerated gyrations and whether or not there was an actual infraction or not, a whistle is blown and a foul called. Of course Team USA got screwed on an offside call..which is kind of funny, there are so many angles of the play with images of at least 2 American players being held...which apparently isn't a foul?...and then the Americans, of course, no offsides at all.

So in four years when ESPN/ABC are trying to sell the World Cup to American viewers again, they can say "Remember Oh-Ten when America got screwed? They are back for revenge this time!" The end result, though, is the same... soccer is boring. Trying to sell Americans a boring sport and then throw in some shady officiating...yeah, that will catch on like wild-fire....NOT!

VJ and McNeill: Holdouts

Yesterday was the deadline day given to Charger players Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeil to sign their 1 year contract tenders or else have them reduced. Both Jackson and McNeil had stated they were prepared to hold out the entire season, if needed, until they got a new contract deal with the Chargers so neither signed their tenders.

Vincent Jackson is coming off a career year, but also is likely to be suspended for four games for his most recent DUI conviction. Jackson was also cited for driving under suspension the morning of the AFC Playoff game against the Jets...in which the Chargers lost.

McNeil, like Jackson, has spent his entire career with the Chargers. McNeil had been fairly impressive in his first few years with the Chargrs but like much of the offensive line last year, didn't seem impressive last season.

I think both these players have more to lose by having an extended holdout with the Chargers ... I do think that both will get signed by the first game of the season...hopefully the talks don't get to contentious so that the players will want to be committed to the team.

LT's New Tattoo

LaDainian Tomlinson got a Jets tattoo on his calf...he does have a lightning bolt on the other one...but you haven't even played a down for the Jets and you are getting a tattoo already?

LT, continues to do his best to peeve Charger fans...he should realize it wasn't the Charger fans that cut him and by continuing to do these type of things just goes to show that he may be appropriately labeled as a whiner...something I never wanted to previously admit...