I once made a no-look suicide pass to my wing and he got fucking smashed, I ran over to make sure he was OK and he said "Oh Gosh what was that" I'm afraid I started laughing before I realised that he was concussed.

 

When the "World Series" was coined, there was no one else to play against. The United States was it.

Today, what I WOULD agree with is a set of series that actually sent representatives of countries that HAVE professional baseball leagues. I admit that I do not know how many there are, but I would bet there are at least eight.

The winner of the U.S. series would enter against the winners of similar series and play (suppose) three rounds (a round of 8, a round of 4 and a round of 2) to determine the REAL "World's Champion".

It will never happen, though, because there is too much money riding on baseball and the World Series as it stands now in the U.S.

The baseball season lasts 9 months, from training camp to the end of the playoffs. There is no way that U.S. baseball owners OR the Players Union would go for playing another month or six weeks of ball; and the only other way to manage it would be to cut the current baseball season by six weeks, which would literally cost owners, television stations and U.S. concessioners more than a BILLION dollars in revenue.

Nice idea, though.

 

No way, they will bottle it as they always do. Nothing can pain me more but I think the aussies will take it, hopefully the boks can stop that. One things for sure, northern hemisphere rugby wont be making an appearance in the finals.

 

It's the name. I don't think they can change it now.

The soccer season here in the Europe runs from August to May. . . and every 2 years there's either a World Cup or a European Championship, which means the players (the ones who play for their national team) have another month to play. Next year there's a European Championship AND and Olympics.
The team owners don't like it but, they don't have a choice but to release players to their national teams.

 

Ah, you mean the pile-y on bit just before they start stamping on each other?

In fairness I do watch the Internationals that they show on the BBC, although it does still bemuse me sometimes. Look at Scotland v Ireland this weekend past. Only one team were trying to play 'proper' Rugby and that was Ireland. They scored 3 tries to 0 and only won by a couple of points. It was stated during the game that Scotland haven't scored a try in the 6 Nations at home for over 2 years. In the same game it took over 3 minutes to form a scrum properly, and even then the scrum finished with 1 side being penalised.

In the Rugby Union Aviva Premiership a team gets awarded a bonus point if it scores four or more tries in a game. Now half way through the season only six of the twelve teams have managed it, and the team that is second in the table is one of those that hasn't.

I'm sorry but that doesn't equate to thrilling entertainment for me. I understand there is a big impetus put on the skill of penalty kicking but seriously if they reduced penalties to two points, RU would be transformed.

Having said that International Rugby League is dire outside of Aus vs NZ but that, like Premiership wendyball is largely down to the involvement of Sky's money and attempt to reinvent the game NFL style during the 90's.

You can still watch Rugby League on terrestrial TV in the UK but it is only the latter stages of the Challenge Cup and (if you live in the North or are awake until 4am on a Sunday/Monday) the highlights of the week's Superleague matches.

 

Ok chaps,

What's everyone's predictions for tomorrow?

I think Wales will beat Ireland, since the match is in Cardiff, England will beat Scotland since the boys are doing awfully well so far this year, and France will beat Italy because they always do.

I'll miss most of the games because I'll be at work, but I will get to catch up with all those lovely legs and bums later.

 

I wouldn't be confident of Wales beating Ireland - the boys in green will still have their eyes on a Triple Crown, and could even sneak the title if they can beat England by a big enough margin.

The other two matches will be tantamount to walkovers, I suspect; although it's never beyond England to louse things up against the Scots.

 

Wales to beat Ireland but they may have to come from behind.
France to beat Italy
England to beat Scotland, it may be ugly but it could also be a rout

 

I think Mike as hit it on the nail head, maybe a bit iffy for the Welsh if the Irish are up for a game, France Italy is a given, England will have their toughest test against the Scots as they always pick there game up for us, it will either be ugly and close or we will run rings around them and look beautiful.

 

Okay, who had Italy to win? I sure as hell didn't.

A magnificent fighting performance, recovering from an 18-6 deficit, and kudos to Bergamasco who actually made a high-pressure, none-too-easy kick ... for the first time since I've been watching him.

 

how many times was he going to reset that final scrum??

amazing!!!

 

Well done Italy! What a great win for them

 

Good heart and discipline from Italy, close match and good to watch. And I called it wrong.:excited:

 

You'll do well to find anybody who called it right. Even the Italian players and coach didn't hold out much hope.

 

I hope the Irish just shade it now, but the Welsh are the more disciplined side.

 

Come on Wales!

 

I'm well happy that Italy won't be going home with the wooden spoon, I know they're consistently the worst team in the tournament, but they played too well this year to go home with no wins. At least in my opinion.

I don't know about that welsh try a moment ago, kind of a technicality really, but I still would prefer it if Ireland didn't go up against England coming off a win, they're not gonna be easy to beat.

 

The rules say you have to use the same ball on a line out, Wales didn't, the touch judge made a mistake.

 

Yeah, but it is kind of a technicality if you see what I mean? The play itself was good, so it's kind of a shame to have to take away a try when there was no infringement in the actual play, but hey, rules is rules!

 

Well that was an ugly win for the Welsh, a try that shouldn't have been and the Irish failed to score at the death, damn.