[EC] General Discussion

[Croaker]

Baseball is easy. 3 strikes and your out. 4 balls (pitches not in the strike zone) and you are "walked" to 1st base. Foul balls are balls hit outside the baseline. Fouls only can count as two strikes. You can not strike out on fouls. 3 outs per inning, 9 innings.

I just bought a new Yankees hat last week.

Just as bad. The Colorado police have cotton swab drug test for the inside of your mouth. Then you will be taken to the hospital for blood work.

Maybe we have some different ideas of the term "easy"

Look for team USA to dominate.

We're getting better at soccer.


I read that Germany's favorite Octopus died

Since octopus don't live that long, that's hardly a surprise He already died before European Championship 2012 in Ukraine and Poland.
But you would be quite optimistic for team USA to play any role in the championship...

[SanMarco]

Aren't these interesting times?

Strange days indeed.

Your family and more reputible establishments now have two no smoking signs. One with a cigerate on it, and one with a subdued pot leaf on it.

[bubi]

it pains me to say it, the spanish team looks very strong (in recent matches). if basil can play their style of football without having those uncharacteristic, un-brasil like mistakes, then yeah, Brasil could go all the way, become the second country after France to win on their home turf. i also like Germany, i'm saying that not because i'm a DFB fan, but i've seen the way they played. i don't think they play their best football yet. what worries me is the team defense, the primary suspect.

[SanMarco]

Yes, in a Greek restaurant!^^

What's up Helmar? How have you been?

Nice avatar

[bubi]

Your family and more reputible establishments now have two no smoking signs. One with a cigerate on it, and one with a subdued pot leaf on it.

[Helmar]

Hi SanMarco,

By now, almost everything is good again, I had torn my cruciate ligament and had to stay at home for four months, but now it is much better and I have gone back to work. Nevertheless, it will take a while until I'm fit again!

[SanMarco]

I will cheer for U.S.A., Germany, Italy, and Austria

[Croaker]

it pains me to say it, the spanish team looks very strong (in recent matches). if basil can play their style of football without having those uncharacteristic, un-brasil like mistakes, then yeah, Brasil could go all the way, become the second country after France to win on their home turf. i also like Germany, i'm saying that not because i'm a DFB fan, but i've seen the way they played. i don't think they play their best football yet. what worries me is the team defense, the primary suspect.

In my opinion, a big problem is the narrowminded approach of the DFB-coach. He always sticks to players from teams with big names, even if they aren't the best players for a given position. For example Jerome Boateng from Bayern Munich... he is miles away from being a good defensive player, but since he plays for the "best team of the world", he is set, no matter what. Same goes for the goaly, Manuel Neuer... he spent the last two seasons behind a brickhard wall of defense, impersonated by defensive player Dante, which results in his abilities significantly degenerate... There are a bunch of german goalies better than him at the moment, since they were tested. On the few occasions Neuer got tested in the early past, he tended to fail... which was quite obvious on national team matches...

[SanMarco]

Hi SanMarco,

By now, almost everything is good again, I had torn my cruciate ligament and had to stay at home for four months, but now it is much better and I have gone back to work. Nevertheless, it will take a while until I'm fit again!

Glad your on the road to a full recovery. I hurt my ligament in late 2000, und had to go physical therapy three times a week. My exercises used resistance bands, water aroebics, and putting my hurt leg on a trampoline. It was a small medical trampoline built at a 45 degree angle. I would have to bounce a 10 to 15 pound heavy ball off of it and catch it. Hence building up my leg stabilization muscles.

[bubi]

.....players from teams with big names,

if my memories served me correctly, it didn't work too well with Lionel Messi, or players from the Manchester United. kinda like A-Rod of footballing.

[bubi]

i have question: after the injury and a long road of the recovery, is there any long term/lingering effect? like when you play certain sports you can't fully exert yourself (like you used to) because of your previous injury?

[SanMarco]

Sounds like the coach is set in his ways. It sucks when better players don't get a shot. It only hurts the team. Or in this case, the country.

[Croaker]

if my memories served me correctly, it didn't work too well with Lionel Messi, or players from the Manchester United. kinda like A-Rod of footballing.

Well, it depends. Messi had a bad season, bad luck injurywise... But what I meant was: even bad players could count on being picked for german national team, if they only play for the right club and are therefore overrated...

Sounds like the coach is set in his ways. It sucks when better players don't get a shot. It only hurts the team. Or in this case, the country.

exactly...

[SanMarco]

i have question: after the injury and a long road of the recovery, is there any long term/lingering effect? like when you play certain sports you can't fully exert yourself (like you used to) because of your previous injury?

My knee used to float when I would run long distances. This went on for a year or two. But eventually 3 cycles of some grey area supplements rebuilt the ligament. My problem went away when my legs built up. I didn't have a tear like he did. My injury was an extreme hyper extension/twist. Fun times

[bubi]

great conversation guys, i think i'm going to take a nap now. later.