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Another close game in the series between WNBA New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx. Lynx win to send the series to game 5 which will be the deciding game.
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personDon't believe everything you thinkThe liminal spaceVeteran
@Jeffrey said: @person yeah I'm curious about how they match up. Sadly Detroit lost an important player, Aidan Hutchinson. He's probably the second most important player for their team aside from their quarterback. Vikings lost their rookie QB to injury, but their back up QB (as I'm sure you know) has played exceptionally well so far.
Good game. First time I've watched the Lions and they're a very good team. I'm probably just a jaded Vikings fan but I worry that teams looked past the Vikings early on, but now they're paying attention and figuring them out. The mid game let downs they've been having the past several games are their biggest problem.
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JeroenLuminous beings are we, not this crude matterNetherlandsVeteran
The first game of the baseball World Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers was a bit of a classic… the Dodgers are down 3-2, it’s the bottom of the ninth with 2 outs, the bases are loaded, and Freddy Freeman comes to the plate… he hits a walk-off grand slam, the Dodgers win 3-6 to take game 1.
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JeroenLuminous beings are we, not this crude matterNetherlandsVeteran
The Dodgers also won Game 2 behind a strong start by Yamamoto, by a score of 4-2… the best-of-seven series now travels to New York for three games at Yankee Stadium.
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personDon't believe everything you thinkThe liminal spaceVeteran
edited December 2024
Just saw this and I'm exited what the future holds for this young Aussie. He just beat Usain Bolt's 200 time at 16 years old. His last 100 meter speed is just insane, it doesn't look real.
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JeroenLuminous beings are we, not this crude matterNetherlandsVeteran
Juan Soto has landed a 765m dollar, 15 year contract with the New York Mets. For that kind of price tag, he had better be as billed a “once-in-a-generation talent”.
I've been following the World Chess Championship. It's a 1v1 14 game match with 4-7 hour games (ie. classical/long time controls). Obviously, few watch the actual games, since they are too long, but there are many recaps online.
We have Gukesh from India. He is 18 and if he wins will become the youngest chess champion. He might be young but talks, is stable under pressure/praise/blame, and wise several decades beyond his age. So far, he has underperformed, since the expectation was that it would be an easy match for him to win, maybe due to pressure/nerves and playing such a match for the first time.
We also have Ding Liren from China, the defending champion. They should literally make a Holywood movie about this guy! It's a "against all odds, the underdog, losing the whole time, manages to win at the last second" kind of story that keeps repeating itself.
It's currently 6-6 after 12 games with 2 more classical games to go and then the playoffs of 4 rapid games ie. games with faster time controls (20 minutes each).
JeroenLuminous beings are we, not this crude matterNetherlandsVeteran
There is a new Champions League summaries programme on Dutch tv. I’ve been very much enjoying getting out of bed at 1 am and watching an hour long condensed version of all the goals. It’s like getting the spectacle without all the boring bits…
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JeroenLuminous beings are we, not this crude matterNetherlandsVeteran
Ajax lost 1-0 to Riga Futbol Eskola, a team which had never previously won a European match. Quel domage.
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JeroenLuminous beings are we, not this crude matterNetherlandsVeteran
The Champions League is down to the Quarter Finals…
Arsenal v Real Madrid
Bayern v Inter
Barcelona v Dortmund
PSG v Aston Villa
Aston Villa are a bit the odd ones out, they don’t have the same pedigree as the other teams, and PSG knocked out Arne Slot’s Liverpool, so they are strong contenders for the title. Hopefully Arsenal will knock out Real Madrid.
The first leg is played 8th and 9th of April.
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JeroenLuminous beings are we, not this crude matterNetherlandsVeteran
Arsenal defeated Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie, that should be enough to knock them out although you can never rule out Real. Real were at full strength, with Vinicius and Mbappe and Bellingham and Rodrygo. And they had Camavinga sent off in the dying seconds.
And Bayern lost 2-1 at home to Internazionale, so it looks like Bayern may not get the dream final in their home stadium this year.
But tight defenses and quality attacks in these first two matches. If the rest is like this it’s going to be a real slugfest who will lift the title this year.
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JeroenLuminous beings are we, not this crude matterNetherlandsVeteran
The two goals scored by Declan Rice in the Arsenal game were exceptional. Both of them were from free kicks, from a player who had never scored from a free kick, and from quite a long way out, well outside the 16-yard box.
The curl, the power, the placement of these were just outstanding, and reminded me of some of the great free kick takers of the past. Players like Ronald Koeman, Roberto Carlos or Ronaldinho Gaucho. Great names.
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JeroenLuminous beings are we, not this crude matterNetherlandsVeteran
Barcelona defeated Dortmund 4-0, it was incisive, quality attacking play by Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Lewandowski, and solid defending when Dortmund came forward. Dortmund are only in 8th place in the Bundesliga at the moment, while Barcelona are number one in Spain.
And PSG won 3-1 at home against Aston Villa, beautiful goals by Doué and Kvaratshkelia. We will have to see if that’s enough after the home leg but it’s a sizeable advantage, and PSG managed to beat Liverpool away in Liverpool too.
So at the moment it looks like the semi finals would be Barcelona v PSG and Arsenal v Inter.
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JeroenLuminous beings are we, not this crude matterNetherlandsVeteran
edited April 16
I decided to watch all of the Real Madrid v Arsenal return leg, thinking that it would be an explosive game, but in fact Arteta’s tactics for keeping this game quiet and under control were spot on. It was a highly technical and strategic encounter, with the Arsenal players taking all the pace out of the game and drawing a lot of fouls while still keeping the ball. It requires a lot of discipline and maturity to play like that.
In the end Arsenal won 2-1, with goals from Saka (a lovely chip after a flowing move which undid the Real defence) and Martinelli (a breakaway goal slotted in the far corner). It was thoroughly deserved, to crown their aggregate 5-1 win with victory away in the Bernabeu. I have seen many more exciting games, but few with this level of control.
0
JeroenLuminous beings are we, not this crude matterNetherlandsVeteran
The other game tonight was a 2-2 draw between Inter and Bayern Munich in Milan, Bayern being unable to get the away victory they needed to go through against the Italians.
So the semi finals will be
Arsenal v Paris Saint Germain
Barcelona v Internazionale
I fancy Arsenal to play Barcelona in the final, and Arsenal to win, I just have a good feeling about the gunners this year. Although it has to be said, the PSG front line with Kvaratskhelia and Dembele is very strong and they are defensively very solid. All four of the teams that remain are among the very best in the world, and it will be a pleasure to watch the last few games.
Comments
Another close game in the series between WNBA New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx. Lynx win to send the series to game 5 which will be the deciding game.
Good game. First time I've watched the Lions and they're a very good team. I'm probably just a jaded Vikings fan but I worry that teams looked past the Vikings early on, but now they're paying attention and figuring them out. The mid game let downs they've been having the past several games are their biggest problem.
The first game of the baseball World Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers was a bit of a classic… the Dodgers are down 3-2, it’s the bottom of the ninth with 2 outs, the bases are loaded, and Freddy Freeman comes to the plate… he hits a walk-off grand slam, the Dodgers win 3-6 to take game 1.
The Dodgers also won Game 2 behind a strong start by Yamamoto, by a score of 4-2… the best-of-seven series now travels to New York for three games at Yankee Stadium.
Just saw this and I'm exited what the future holds for this young Aussie. He just beat Usain Bolt's 200 time at 16 years old. His last 100 meter speed is just insane, it doesn't look real.
Juan Soto has landed a 765m dollar, 15 year contract with the New York Mets. For that kind of price tag, he had better be as billed a “once-in-a-generation talent”.
I've been following the World Chess Championship. It's a 1v1 14 game match with 4-7 hour games (ie. classical/long time controls). Obviously, few watch the actual games, since they are too long, but there are many recaps online.
We have Gukesh from India. He is 18 and if he wins will become the youngest chess champion. He might be young but talks, is stable under pressure/praise/blame, and wise several decades beyond his age. So far, he has underperformed, since the expectation was that it would be an easy match for him to win, maybe due to pressure/nerves and playing such a match for the first time.
We also have Ding Liren from China, the defending champion. They should literally make a Holywood movie about this guy! It's a "against all odds, the underdog, losing the whole time, manages to win at the last second" kind of story that keeps repeating itself.
It's currently 6-6 after 12 games with 2 more classical games to go and then the playoffs of 4 rapid games ie. games with faster time controls (20 minutes each).
For anyone that might be interested to follow the last leg of the match, the Guardian has good text recaps, while this Youtube channel has good and wholesome video recaps.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/world-chess-championship-2024
There is a new Champions League summaries programme on Dutch tv. I’ve been very much enjoying getting out of bed at 1 am and watching an hour long condensed version of all the goals. It’s like getting the spectacle without all the boring bits…
Ajax lost 1-0 to Riga Futbol Eskola, a team which had never previously won a European match. Quel domage.
The Champions League is down to the Quarter Finals…
Arsenal v Real Madrid
Bayern v Inter
Barcelona v Dortmund
PSG v Aston Villa
Aston Villa are a bit the odd ones out, they don’t have the same pedigree as the other teams, and PSG knocked out Arne Slot’s Liverpool, so they are strong contenders for the title. Hopefully Arsenal will knock out Real Madrid.
The first leg is played 8th and 9th of April.
Arsenal defeated Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie, that should be enough to knock them out although you can never rule out Real. Real were at full strength, with Vinicius and Mbappe and Bellingham and Rodrygo. And they had Camavinga sent off in the dying seconds.
And Bayern lost 2-1 at home to Internazionale, so it looks like Bayern may not get the dream final in their home stadium this year.
But tight defenses and quality attacks in these first two matches. If the rest is like this it’s going to be a real slugfest who will lift the title this year.
The two goals scored by Declan Rice in the Arsenal game were exceptional. Both of them were from free kicks, from a player who had never scored from a free kick, and from quite a long way out, well outside the 16-yard box.
The curl, the power, the placement of these were just outstanding, and reminded me of some of the great free kick takers of the past. Players like Ronald Koeman, Roberto Carlos or Ronaldinho Gaucho. Great names.
Barcelona defeated Dortmund 4-0, it was incisive, quality attacking play by Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Lewandowski, and solid defending when Dortmund came forward. Dortmund are only in 8th place in the Bundesliga at the moment, while Barcelona are number one in Spain.
And PSG won 3-1 at home against Aston Villa, beautiful goals by Doué and Kvaratshkelia. We will have to see if that’s enough after the home leg but it’s a sizeable advantage, and PSG managed to beat Liverpool away in Liverpool too.
So at the moment it looks like the semi finals would be Barcelona v PSG and Arsenal v Inter.
I decided to watch all of the Real Madrid v Arsenal return leg, thinking that it would be an explosive game, but in fact Arteta’s tactics for keeping this game quiet and under control were spot on. It was a highly technical and strategic encounter, with the Arsenal players taking all the pace out of the game and drawing a lot of fouls while still keeping the ball. It requires a lot of discipline and maturity to play like that.
In the end Arsenal won 2-1, with goals from Saka (a lovely chip after a flowing move which undid the Real defence) and Martinelli (a breakaway goal slotted in the far corner). It was thoroughly deserved, to crown their aggregate 5-1 win with victory away in the Bernabeu. I have seen many more exciting games, but few with this level of control.
The other game tonight was a 2-2 draw between Inter and Bayern Munich in Milan, Bayern being unable to get the away victory they needed to go through against the Italians.
So the semi finals will be
Arsenal v Paris Saint Germain
Barcelona v Internazionale
I fancy Arsenal to play Barcelona in the final, and Arsenal to win, I just have a good feeling about the gunners this year. Although it has to be said, the PSG front line with Kvaratskhelia and Dembele is very strong and they are defensively very solid. All four of the teams that remain are among the very best in the world, and it will be a pleasure to watch the last few games.