Morning Link Dump - 08/20/10
Obligatory Sports Babe
This morning, for no reason in particular, we're going to go with Luli Fernandez, girlfriend of Boca Juniors player Pablo Mouche. Because... um... wait, I totally said it was for no reason in particular, didn't I? Because that's it.
Quote of the Day
"For all those people there saying it was my fault about Jim Thome [not being on the White Sox this year], yes, it's my fault. If those people don't like that, fuck them." - Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen being Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, via ESPN.
South African Elephants
"Too small for cricket and missing suites for rugby, the stadiums that cost South Africa more than $1-billion for this year’s World Cup already are in danger of turning into white elephants," says an Associated Press piece, via the Globe and Mail. "Both rugby and cricket are more commercially successful than soccer in South Africa, and both sports need to move into the new stadiums – built and renovated for Africa’s first World Cup – to stay financially healthy."
What's Wrong with the Premier League?
"Not so long ago, the top division of English soccer was among the most open and competitive in all of sports, a fluctuating free-for-fall in which anybody could beat anybody. Nowadays, it's starting to look like a large bunch of nobodies and a couple of elite teams way out in front," explains the Wall Street Journal. "Just a week into the new campaign, some coaches, fans and former players are beginning to wonder whether the Premier League title race has already lost its element of uncertainty. 'When it comes to the championship this year, there's Chelsea and United and then there's the rest,' said Tony Cottee, a former West Ham United and England forward. 'It's impossible to look past anyone else.' "
Paul The Octopus For England
"He made his name predicting Germany's 2010 World Cup results, but now Paul the Octopus is returning home to help England's bid to stage the 2018 tournament," explains a CNN report. "England's campaign came off the rails in May when former Football Association chariman David Triesman was forced to stand down after being secretly taped accusing Spain and Russia of bribing referees.
"His comments put a big dent in the considerable goodwill that had been built by the addition of soccer superstar David Beckham to the campaign team in 2009.
"Now Paul, who was hatched at an English aquarium in 2008, is lending his particular talents to the bid despite having retired from psychic predictions."
Quote of the Day II
"I would love to face him. Unless his game rapidly improves in the next month or so, I think anyone in the European team would fancy his chances against him." - 21-year-old Golfer Rory McIlroy on Tiger Woods and the Ryder Cup, via The Big Lead (who then, laughably, say that, because "there's simply no fear" of Tiger from other golfers anymore, clearly he's washed up-- because, you know, it wasn't being a well-honed golfing machine that made Tiger a winner before his scandal, it was just that all the other golfers were scared of him).
Quickly
An article on ESPN calls LeBron and Favre "drama kings." In other news, a heroin addict called heroin "kind of a downer."
And speaking of unapologetic narcissists, Jason Whitlock of FOX Sports wonders if there's a racial double-standard when it comes to Favre.
Fang's Bites goes across every sport and lists the best announcers of all time, probably incorrectly.
Here's an awesome look inside the world of the NHL's most underrated mascot, Louis the Bear of the St. Louis Blues, according to Puck Daddy.
Candace Parker Don't Play That!
Say you're a WNBA player and you really want to promote your league, and your team, and encourage people to buy season tickets. What's the worst thing you would possibly do to help create awareness for your team? Would you go as far as letting your baby daughter think she's about to adorably score a basket on a mini net, then knock the ball away from her with authority and then get all up in her face about it? Candace Parker would.
