International Flavour

A short sports update with more to come later. The Raptors' announcers are going to have a fun time this upcoming season (and seasons to come) in terms of pronouncing players' names (maybe even more so for those who announces the games for the other teams). The addition of Spanish forward Jorge Garbajosa to the team, he will join the first overall pick of 2006 Andrea Bargnani, former Spurs Rasho Nesterovic as the new international players the Bryan Colengelo added to the Raptors this off season. Imagine a fast break with Jose Calderon, Jorge Garbajosa, Nesterovic and Bargnani involved. I imagine it will go something like this:

Nesterovic with the defensive board, quick outlet pass to Calderon with Bargnani and Garbajosa on the wing with him. A 3 on 1, Calderon with the bounce pass to Garbajosa, and Garbajosa tosses it up to Bargnani for the two handed jam, are you kidding me?!

I bet you can't say that 5 times fast! =D Have a good one!

-wes

Refocus

I think I've been learning alot lately, and going through so many things leads into frustrations. Some that may have been caused by the actions around me, and more importantly, I think I need to take some time and really discover myself again. I think its more along the lines of re-discovering my motives, and my intentions in this ministry. If I'm going to contribute positively to the ministry, should I really care about things I can't control, or should these things even matter at all? At the same time, taking the competitiveness away is really ripping away the core of the activity. Should it really come down to something so small, if the difference isn't that big? If my motives is contribute to the ministry in a positive way, should I even be having these thoughts and feelings to begin with?

Need to spend time to refocus and really rediscover my motives again.

-wes

World Cup

This world cup has quickly turned into one that I don't really care about who wins anymore. Nothing against Italy and France, but their play so far this world cup haven't convinced me (and alot of other people) that they are worthy of being the world champions. I guess this applies more to France, since they barely got into the 16 with a win over Togo. I mean in a group with Switzerland, Togo, South Korea, they were able to manage 5 points? A little disappointing for sure. Italy's defence has been impressive as always, only giving up the one goal, but their road to the finals isn't exactly a tough one facing Australia in the 16 and then Ukraine in the quarters. In any case, I don't even know who I am cheering for in this final. On one side, it is ZZ's final game, and he has got to be one of the best players to have played the game, and as a soccer fan, I would like nothing more but to have this world cup be his swan song, leaving his final match of his career holding the trophy above his heads. On the other hand, I just cannot justify cheering for an Arsenal player, as good as Henry is..lol. Seriously though, lets hope we see some scoring, having a game of 0-0s isn't helping this game at all, despite the suspence of penalty kicks. After all, this is a team game, and using penalty kicks to resolve the finals takes the entire team element out of the sport. How about a prediction of a balanced, well-played, no-diving *cough Italians*, exciting match.

I'm sorry ZZ, as much as I enjoyed watching you throughout your career, I really can't bring myself to cheer for France, so Italians it is...I think. On the side note, with the Italian win over Germany, I officially became the winner of the World Cup pool that I played with a few (few being 35 other..I think) friends. I am tied with the league leader in match outcomes correct, but a couple of ties and correct scores I got launched me to the top of the leaderboard. Now I have the bragging rights for the next 4 years =D. So yes, predictions..

Finals:
Italy 2 - 0 France
3rd Place:
Portugal 2 - 1 Germany

Semi-Finals

One of the most disappointing days with Brazil and England losing in the same day. Now my #1 and #2 team is out, my emotional ties leads me to cheer for Germany. Klinesmann was one of my favourite players during his playing days, and nothing is stopping me from cheering for them now.

Semi-Final predictions:
Germany 3 - 1 Italy
Portugal 1 - 1* 3 - 1 France