Yesterdays Run

Got off to a good start by sleeping until 8am. I was planing on getting to gym at 6 for my 6 mile run. By the time I got to the gym it was 1130, and I did the run. Then went to a Chicago Wolves game with my daughter which was quite a bit of fun.

Today is the first day of IHSA Soccer, and I am a referee, so I will be doing about 30-35 games in 8 weeks. I always enjoy the games and the exercise. However today's game (likely to be postponed) is one I am not looking forward to Grant at Zion on a grass field, which is likely to be a mud bath.

One thing I am looking forward to is seeing what my GPS watch calculates for how far I run during a game. My sense is that a varsity game is 2 to 2.5 miles over 80 minutes, but I literally have no idea. The maps should be interesting as well.

What does a Dedication, Queens, Soccer and a Mayor have in Common?

Why I was at all of them this weekend! We had the dedication of the Police and Public Works facility on Saturday which went very nicely. We had way to many people for me to mention here, however I would guess nearly 400 people flowed through the center. The jail cells and the public works trucks were the highlights it seemed. I told most of the kids we were having a drawing to stay overnight in the cells, which they all thought was cool. One set of parents offered me cash to make sure there kid was chosen! In reality my daughters boyfriend was always going to be the guest.

Later that afternoon I was off to my annual trip to the Round Lake Area Queens pageant where I escorted two queens onto the stage. After intermission I got the annual picture of the outgoing queens. Which for those of you have been in my office at the village hall know that these pictures hang in my office.

I did leave slightly early however to go home and see Mexico play Argentina in the second round of the World Cup. Maxi Rodriguez of Argentina broke my heart with a wonder goal in overtime to eliminate Mexico 2-1. I won't even go into how I feel about the US performance in the World Cup by the way!

By the way bonus points to the person who send me a picture of the dedication that I can use here, becuase I got nothing!

Viva Mexico and USA USA USA!

I grew up in Mexico as many of you know. It was there that I learned to play and enjoy soccer. I have attended 3 world cups (Mexico 70, Mexico 86 and USA 94) and seen many games including the final of 1994 between Brazil and Italy. The most agonizing game I have ever watched was the second round game between Mexico and the USA in the last world cup because I support both national sides passionately. Today however at 11 Mexico debuts in this world cup against Iran, Monday the USA does against the Czech Republic.

I do promise to return to Round Lake related items after my soccer obsession on the blog.

NOTE: the black and white picture in the previous post was the exact instant the ball crossed the line in the 1966 world cup final which gave England its only win. The ball hit the cross bar and came straight down and the Germans claimed it never crossed the line. The referee thought differently and awarded the goal to give England the lead 3-2 in overtime! Kudos to soccer nut Brian Brubaker for getting this almost instantly, to easy for him!

Every 4 Years-- Its World Cup Time

I am a soccer/football fanatic. Four years ago I woke up at 2 am and 4am and 6am to watch the World Cup from Japan and Korea. This year it will not be so bad since the games are on during the day! I am seriously psyched! Brian Brubaker and I are planning to watch every minute of every game he is HUGE fan of the game.

Today at 11am is the first game of the 2006 World Cup in Germany with Germany taking on Costa Rica! Mmmmm a savory match-up! Bet you can't wait Brian!

Bonus points for the person who can tell me what this picture is about. Not sure what the prize is but I will come up with something interesting!

The Manchester Derby

As many of may or may not know I am a soccer fanatic, I live and die by Manchester City. Tomorrow morning at 630am on Fox Sports Channel I am going to be watching live coverage of one of the most intense soccer rivalries in England and in the world. Manchester City versus Manchester United (preview). I will be wearing my replica jersey, purchased in China during the game. For those of you see me with a black and red scarf this winter that's Manchester City away colors.
City lie 9th and the Scum lie 2nd right now. But City is home so I am cautiously optimistic I am guessing 2-1 City!

NOTE: For those of you on pins and needles about the outcome. I was wrong City did not win 2-1 but rather won 3-1!

20,000 and climbing

Yesterday at 7:40 in the evening I got my 20,000th unique user visiting this blog. One of the interesting things I do every morning is look at the map of where the last 100 vistors have come from (ISP maps determine it). I get about 2% of my visitors from over seas, got some from england when I was featured in an english soccer blog, I get a few from Singapore from the son of someone who runs a business here in Round Lake I believe.
Since I have used movie posters before to elaborate points I thought the 20,000 leagues under the sea in Italian was interesting and had a big 20,000 on it. Oh and by the way I don't know exactly who was visitor 20,000, but it was from Kenosha.