at Hebrew Union College
June 28, 2006 at 12:30 am (J333)
Today I was on a lunch panel with the Jewish Communal Services program at Hebrew Union College (near USC). Neil Cole was there. So was Spencer Burke. Plus Don Miller from USC’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture. I dragged along some youth from the Chapel Hill Bible Church (they are at Harambee this week, serving and helping in myriad ways). We ate lunch at In ‘N Out afterward. At the panel we said a bunch of stuff that seemed important enough at the time, but now I can’t remember any of it. We did talk about pentecostals a bit. Plus I held up a draft copy of Spencer’s coming book, A Heretic’s Guide to Eternity.
In other news, did you see Ronaldo’s goal today? That’s how I play soccer. And Spain disappointed, greatly. And now it’s a rematch of the 1998 World Cup final, Brazil versus France on Saturday, July 1. I bet you Brazil hammers the French and gets some revenge. Four goals. But the real war is this Friday when Germany and Argentina square off. What a shame that that’s a quarterfinal game. Should be a semi, even a final.
In other other news, I was gonna do this book chapter a few months back, for some compilation anthology thingy, but couldn’t pull it off timewise. But I just got word and they’ve still got a little time, and right now my time has (sort of, kind of) opened up. So I’m back in on the project. Dig it. I’ll let you know soon enough what’s up.
Nick said,
June 28, 2006 at 6:20 am
The quarter finals feature the usual suspects. Let’s face it, Brazil has yet to be really tested. Their side of the bracket was snoozeville. Ghana tried, but boy did they miss Essien. He does the nasty work in the middle winning balls with hard tackles, disrupting the opposition offensive flow and setting up his forwards up front. Without him, the likes of Ronaldinho and Ze Roberto were running all over the place, and turned the whole thing into a practice session (did you see the minor tantrum Ronaldinho pulled when someone tried to shoot right through Kingson and missed? the ponytailed one was open in front…”I want one! I want one!”). When Gyan got his marching orders for that dive in the box (come on man. A little stretch, and you have only Dida to beat, and that is not saying much…he is shaky on high shots) it was all over.
The French will be Brazil’s first real match, for crying out loud. Note: Brazil has surrendered one (yes one) goal, to the Japanese, of all people, and that probably woke them up. There is a chance that Zazou, Viera might have one more great match in them, and Henry has a habit of exposing lacklustre defenses (the Brazilian “weak” spot). Their best bet: score first, preferably toward the end of the first half, and make sure Viera closes Ronaldinho down. Otherwise it could be a long afternoon.
If they get past France, they will probably meet Italy, who is facing Ukraine. The latter team is an argument for atheists. Snow White (Andriy Shevchenko, one of the world’s best strikers) and the 10 dwarfs. They got out of their group by highway robbery of a tough Tunisian side. A Tunisian free-kick was heading for the corner of the net, Beckham style, when Ukrainian striker Voronin blatantly hand-deflected the ball…and the ref did not call it (and he was throwing his hands out on many an occasion, to make matters worse). On the next play, Shevchenko runs into the Tunisian box, and does a perfect Greg Louganis dive to get a penalty. 1-0 Ukraine. They have been winning ugly, and everyone knows it. Italy should apply the proper corrective (I’m thinking 3-0), and will restore balance to the universe.
Final note: Figo got lucky big time. He will play Saturday against England, despite a blatant head-butt that is a red card anywhere, anytime. That match might have some fireworks to it.