Later this gorgeous Pacific Time morning, I’ll be heading out to the LA Convention Center to check out the LA Auto Show.
I may find my next car or I may just get extremely tired walking around for hours on end. Which will it be?
STAY TUNED!
In the meantime, the UEFA Nations League group stage has ended, the mid-week Champions League and Europa League games are done for a bit, and so the Euro leagues are back again in full swing!
Here is today’s schedule of games (all times Pacific):
The big games of the day are in the Mexican league as it is one of the very few leagues (MLS among them) that utilize a seeded knockout playoff bracket to crown the champion.
Cruz Azul took a 2-0 win in Querétaro on Wednesday and now play at home to solidify their #1 seed and continue on their quest to add another trophy this year as they just won the Mexican Cup.
In the other game, Santos Laguna hosts Monterrey after narrowly losing 1-0 on Wednesday. They are a tough team at home and should be able to squeeze at least one goal out.
This would be enough as any ties are settled by finishing position, not extra time or penalties, so finishing #4 based on goal differential instead of #5 like Monterrey did could turn out to be vital.
Here’s what I suggest:
***
Before I let you go, please allow me to talk for a bit about the Copa Libertadores Final.
HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING THIS INSANE SHIT?!?
Seriously, it’s bananacakes.
To refresh your memory, the Copa Libertadores is the South American version of the European Champions League. Instead of holding a one game final at a neutral site, the winner is crowned after two legs, one game at each team’s stadium.
The two teams vying for the cup are Boca Juniors and River Plate who are bitter rivals from Buenos Aires in the Argentinian league. You’ll see soon exactly how bitter.
Let’s start with the first leg, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 10, 2018 in Boca’s beautiful stadium, La Bombonera. Unfortunately, a heavy rainstorm turned the field into this:
And so the game was moved to the following day, Sunday, November 11, 2018. This time, the weather cooperated, the field recovered, and the two teams tied in a feisty and hard-fought game that saw 4 goals and six yellow cards.
The return leg was scheduled for Saturday, November 24, but on the way to the stadium on game day, this happened:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8mVslwaWDA
The Boca bus got hit, several players were hurt, and the final was postponed.
Again, the game was rescheduled for the following day.
However, after reviewing video and getting updates on the conditions of the players (who were ok, but shook up), CONMEBOL, the equivalent of UEFA, decided to postpone the game indefinitely until they could ensure a “level playing field”.
This is, of course, subject to interpretation. Finally, CONMEBOL decided, in their infinite wisdom and not at all motivated by dollar signs, to hold the return leg in…wait for it…
Madrid, Spain.
Yup, apparently the Bernabéu is now the host stadium as the Copa for the South American Club Champion will be awarded in Europe on Sunday, December 9, 2018, making it the longest final in history.
As you may have guessed, this decision was not well-received. Both clubs have filed protests and appeals. Boca thinks the second leg should not be played and they should be crowned champions. River doesn’t want to travel to Europe and wants the game played at home as originally scheduled. Both have said they will fight this all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
It should be noted that violence in Argentinean League games is VERY common and away fans have been banned from attending road games for some time.
So, the final is in limbo, tickets are being sold in another continent to a game that may not happen, and everyone is pissed.
At least we got a classic joke out of this (courtesy of Don T):
Enjoy the games, everyone!
Texas with the score.
/the next thread has reared its head
It’s pretty wonderful to live in a place where I wake up on the first day of December and think to myself “my garden is going to LOVE the weather today.”
“Damn it’s getting hot down here.”
George HW Bush
not gonna do it…at this JUNCTURE!
Also, “Hi dad!”
/you see, Prescott Bush was a bit of a shithead
That’s pretty good
Moreso than George, it seems like. Despite his many, many, and I mean many faults, (seriously, many), at least GHWB was willing – at one point, when he was young and probably feeling invincible – to put his own life on the line for the country.
Actually, Bush Sr., Sr. sorta fought in WW1 and came under fire at least one time.
/his actions during WW2 however…
“You get used to it.”
Roger Ailes
“Ooja wooka babba noo.”
[translated from its original Hutt]
I have to say I am glad that GHWB lived for long enough to see the Republican party exposed for what it truly became after the Southern Strategy took root.
Oh look, the 10:55am beer is right on time today!
/I did clear my schedule
terribad GAMBLOR morning, saved by a cray-cray bet I put on Reading to win the first half ($70 at +586)
also found some weekend reading:
https://www.vulture.com/2018/10/the-making-of-rockstar-games-red-dead-redemption-2.html
cheesin
Up teh CHERRIES!!!
I swear to gawd that I picked up Matt LaCosse before I watched the Brandon Perna video! He was stuck on the Giants practice squad for a couple of years.
I took the draw at +950. The win was worth +2200 but even I ain’t that delusional.
Tito the Mexican pug ate 7 rice crispy squares while we were out. Thank Bleergh it was’t chocolate but I feel we will have a mess on our hands soon.
He should be fine. Just keep Tito close to the door incase he has the liquid squirts
I’d fill a flask and take Tito to the local dog park for the day.
Snowstorm here. Maybe will take him for a rip for awhile and run it out of him. Unlike Oxipug who was very old, Mexipug is fast and agile.
Unrelated to sports, my two year old daughter has taken to calling me “Super Daddy.” Meanwhile my wife remains “Crazy Mommy.” She is not thrilled about this development. But then she probably shouldn’t have insisted on giving her a name that is essentially “Lil’ Ian” if she didn’t want her to take my side on the issues of the day.
Having your thoughts/actions legitimized by your very young offspring is oddly gratifying. Before it occurred I had no clue that it carried so much weight.
4yr. old: “Daddy, you’re a very good driver.”
Me: [thinking to self] “I am a good driver!” [smiles]
That is awesome!
ah yes, the Daddy’s Girl! I had 2-3 of them, most days.
THEY GROW UP AND BECOME TEEBNAGERS
found a funny:
When you’re cutting wrapping paper and your scissors start to glide is what I imagine heroin feels like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEwd0WogJNE
“Now only three former us presidents condemn my actions instead of four.”
-Don T.
I think W has come out against him as well, so that’d be four with Carter, Clinton and Obama.
Forgot Carter was still alive… Proof that Democrats are allied with satan since they live so much longer?
Also, I am assuming you’re talking about Trump and not our own Don T.
Yeah. But they do both love Puerto Rico…
If I were ever in League 1 and played Angers, I’d spend the whole game asking my opponent “U mad bro?” Especially if I played for Nice.
Nice-Angers should be called the Bipolar Derby
oh yes, this is righteous!!
Am grocery shopping at 7 am. So peaceful totally going to get little drummer boyed though
I avoided that song! Huzzah!
There is a Countdown to Kickoff on the Dolphins homepage that has reached zero.
https://www.miamidolphins.com/
Considering it’s in Days/Hours/Mins/Secs, I hope this is somehow just leftover from Week 1.
I will never again complain about the weather in NC. Yes, that’s probably a lie, admittedly.
But I just had to scrape ice off of my windshield before going to get breakfast. I had forgotten how much “fun” it is to live in Maryland without an enclosed garage type thingy.
As an aside, Santos Laguna girl seems nice.
Also, facebook keeps sending me “friend suggestions” from girls who I’m fairly convinced are hookers.
No, I’m not complaining.
She could “pose in my stadium” anytime.
Young Boys v Thun! With a 16 pt lead we can put the Swiss league to bed.
Jamaica, Queens, New York City
November 28, 2018
Jamaica is it’s own country. If these people are casting ballors, there is your electional fraud right there!