world cup - game 18

ecuador vs costa rica.

should be a good match to watch. i going with ecuador, but i'd like to see costa rica do well.

world cup - a big game

germany vs poland.

hard to see how poland can win this game or stay alive to get through to the second round.

world cup - games 15 & 16

spain vs ukraine.

spain. easily

tunisia vs saudia arabia

tunisia

i'm not going to be able to watch either of these games, but i'll be back for germany vs poland this afternoon.

world cup - at last a good match-up game

brazil vs croatia.




this game will not be a 0-0 draw. should be a good one to watch.

brazil.

well done switzerland!

"it's a choice..." - whose? your family and friends?...

he wears a helmet on grass, but not on the road.

a few things don't sit right with ben roethlisberger's motorcycle accident.

1. pennsylvania had a mandatory helmet law, but repealed it in 2003.

you repealed a mandatory helmet law?!!! the state of pennsylvania must have had the fullest support of police, local hospitals and doctors, along with the motorcycle safety foundation.

2. he was riding a hayabusa at the time of the accident.

this is a big, heavy, very fast motorcycle capable of 190mph. ben must be one of a very select few individuals that feel it's o.k to pilot such a potent bike with no head protection.

3. "it's a choice." roethlisberger added, referring to his riding without a helmet. "i just get out there and relax, i don't try to take too many risks. i just go out and enjoy myself."

"i just get out there and relax!!!"
i think ben has just had a crash course in the realities involved with motorcycling. here's one for ya ben to chew over while you're waiting for your broken jaw to heal: while 20 % of car crashes result in injury or death, an astounding 80% of motorcycle crashes result in injury or death.

wearing a helmet whether required by law or not, is a reflection of your attitude toward riding motorcycles. you think ben and his family and friends feel the same way now he's just had a very painful demonstration of the importance of wearing a crash helmet?

riding a motorcycle is an immensely rewarding experience. successfully piloting a motorcycle is however a much more involved task than driving a car. this may come as a shock to some, but riding a motorcycle, especially a top sports bike demands constant vision and concentration. it is anything but relaxing.

i know, because i had an accident that resulted in concussion, amnesia, a dislocated hip, multiple fractures in my pelvis and back, internal bleeding, and i have spent a total of 4 years on crutches. i was riding with full protective gear, and had completed an advanced rider training course. was the accident my fault; no. could it have been avoided; absolutely yes.

sober up, ben, and take this opportunity to promote the wearing of crash helmets and personally campaign for their mandatory use in all states. you're a public figure that guys will listen to. you have a golden opportunity to do some real good with your life; actually saving some real lives. what you do off the field can have a huge impact on attitudes to motorcycling. become its champion, now you've joined the club as one if it's countless victims.

get well. heal up. forget about whose fault it was; it doesn't matter. you're the one in hospital. she got out of the car, shocked, but unscathed...a lawyer can campaign for compensation. no one can ever take away that awful sound of the huge BANG! you heard and felt, at the slow-mo moment of impact.

world cup - game 13

france vs switzerland.

being english, i have to root for anyone that plays against france.

the french are going to win easily.

world cup - game 12

south korea vs togo.

i'm rooting for togo, even though they have less chance of winning than usa does of going through to the second round.

i'm stupid!

hi,

my name is big ben. in case you didn't know, i'm a superbowl quarterback with the pittsburgh steelers. i also ride a big heavy motorcycle without wearing a crash helmet (he he).

you know, it's the nfl rule that makes me wear a protective helmet on the field. wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle isn't against the law in pennsylvania. look at me; i'd look ridiculous wearing something that might save my life. totally not cool! the nfl is right to make us wear safety helmets; no professional would consider going into the game without one.

heck, i'm much more likely to get hurt on a football field, playing a game with medical attendents on the sidelines of lovingly-maintained grass, being hit by another highly paid professional football player, travelling at a breathtaking 8 mph, than i ever am on gentle asphalt-soft and friendly, danger-free public roads, that are full of highly trained and educated, considerate drivers, carefully in command of their lightweight environmentally-friendly vehicles, who are always paying attention, never talking on their cell 'phones, and always travelling well under the posted speed limit...i mean, if that wasn't he case, you'ld have to be absolutely barking to go out on a 700lb motorcycle. i've talked it over with my head coach and he's completely happy.

i'm ben roethlisberger; i'm stupid! (and in hospital!) gotta go. swab time.

world cup - game 10

italy vs ghana.

no, this isn't a typo. these two teams will actually play.

italy need at least 3 goals to match czech's beating of usa.

nutty loses his body while dj'ing in georgetown!

for anyone thinking of dj'ing at mate (accent on e), in georgetown, my advice is very simple: don't...

i'm still looking for my soul...

usa vs czech republic

12 of the 24 man usa squad play for european teams. that's a pretty telling statistic, countries that have half or more of it's squad playing in foreign leagues define just how strong their home competitions are when compared with the world standard.

i think the americans are capable of pulling off an upset here against the czechs, but it certainly won't be easy. the czechs are capable of beating anyone, anytime.

i give this one to the czechs, but it should be a very interesting and fast-paced game to watch. the ridiculous fifa ranking given to the usa will be severely put to the test here against a very strong european national team. then comes italy...

japan vs australia

i'm going with japan.

world cup - game 7

iran vs mexico.

i'm rooting for iran here, given all the negative publicity this country's been getting.

should be an easy win for mexico.

world cup - game 6

netherlands vs serbia & montenegro.

is this really fair, first thing on a sunday morning?

if holland lose this, i know even less about football than i do...

world cup - game 5

i am so rooting for the ivory coast squad against the hated argies, here.

they have no chance, but if only the 'hand of god' would interven...

world cup - game 4

as much as i'd like to see trinidad & tobago win this game, i'm picking sweden.

england crush paraguay

that would make my 9 o'clock tomorrow morning cup of rosy extra special.

world cup - game 2

poland vs ecuador.

i'm going with poland on this one.

world cup - game 1

germany vs costa rica.

hm, that's a toughie. i'm taking germany...

the catholic church - still oppressing freedom

China Bans 'Code' After Warning From Catholics

BEIJING, June 9 — Chinese authorities ordered theaters nationwide to stop showing "The Da Vinci Code" today after Chinese Catholics warned that the film could threaten social stability.