Late night open thread

"The problem is that the people with the most ridiculous ideas are always the people who are most certain of them."
 -- Bill Maher

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Shake Shack in Madison Square Park is closing...for 5 months

Yes, five months. Rehabbing the old gal and all. Expanding the kitchen and what not. Still...

World Cup Today -- Day 19

Mexico deserved better. Look, the USA and Mexico are arch-rivals but that Arjen Robben diving penalty kick was bullshit and everyone on the globe knows it. Even Robben said he dove in the game but earlier (which PROVES once again and finally in his own words, Arjen Robben is a professional diver who puts Cristiano Ronaldo to shame. Mexico deserves fair officiating as does any team. Who to blame? We all know Robben's a diver, let's focus on the referees whom, if they pulled out yellow cards for simulation against a diver early in the tournament, the diver would have to make a decision if the next dive might be worth sitting out a game on a second yellow in the next few games. Until the referees hold up yellow cards for diving, it's gonna continue. Look, if NFL referees never called defensive pass interference on pass plays those guys would grab, hold and molest any and all receivers. Officials are in charge of cleaning up the malfeasance on the pitch in Johnny's opinion. They're not doing it.

Brazil is whistling past the graveyard for now but the grim reaper is at the other end and he wears Columbia yellow.

Today's matches can be called Underdog Monday. We had South American Saturday so today is Underdog Monday. Looking to revel in the success of Costa Rica both Algeria and Nigeria hope to stand tall against powerhouses Germany and France. First off the goal scoring machine of France takes on Nigeria at noon EDT. We have high hopes of wild upsets and crazy bracket busters but, well, yeah. Johnny has looked at this game and no matter how the Rubik's Soccer Cube is moved it lands on 3-0 France. But wait, there is a second game, the Desert Foxes of Algeria, playing their best soccer in their nation's history against ruh ro, Germany. Johnny has looked at this game and no matter how the Rubik's Soccer Cube is moved it lands on 3-0 Germany.

So yes, today might be not the day to overload on the soccer if you have things to do. Massive upsets DO happen but today maybe not so much. We hope for competitive matches and lotsa golazos nonetheless.

France vs Nigeria noon
Germany vs Algeria 4pm

Terrence T. McDonald hosts How well do you REALLY know Mayor Fulop...

Our favorite reporter comes out with a Top Ten Things We've Learned About Steve Fulop (Who the Jersey City Desk is grading a "B" for his first year in office) this AM in the Jersey Journal and while some results might be obvious others won't be. A fun read on a soul crushing Monday morning, last week before the 4th weekend.

Late night open thread

Well the Group of Death kept it's appointments, with Portugal and Ghana anyway. Heh heh, not today death, not today.

Right at this critical weekend in the tournament Johnny is heading north to Boston for the weekend. Badly needed stress relief is at hand. So you're going to have to look elsewhere for World Cup previews until Monday. Saturday is being called South America Saturday with Brazil playing Chile and Columbia playing Uruguay. Do enjoy.

Congrats to Team USA who had what, a 9% chance to advance when they started? Certainly was a stressful 45-60 minutes this afternoon hoping Ghana didn't get a second. When the Ghana goalie batted the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo about 20 feet in front of the Ghanaian net in the 80th minute Johnny jumped off his couch (he did) and screamed "OhMyGod." because he'd seen this Ronaldo fellow finish plays before. Sure helped everyone breathe easier. Funny some are crediting Portugal for saving the USA when it didn't happen like that at all. It saved USA soccer fans from heart attacks is all.

So until Sunday night have a great weekend, be good, and don't bite anybody.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

If you'd like to leave work to watch the USA vs Germany match you're covered

US Men's national Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has written you an excuse note to give to your boss so you might watch the game, what a guy:

Word Cup Today -- Day 15

Here we are, it has come to this. Back when the groups were drawn back in December, everyone looked at the USA draw in Group G, the "Group of Death" and said the ONLY way the USA gets out is with a win over Ghana (got that) a tie with Portugal (got that) and hold onto your ass vs. Germany. The ass holding begins at noon.

So, here's the long and the short of it. Johnny's not going into long winded tactical discussions because the Germans win most of those. The USA and Germany are tied on 4 points (Germany win any tie in the group currently on goal differential) while Ghana and Portugal each have 1. Best scenarios for the USA?

1) Beat Germany win group
2) Tie Germany come in second in group
3) Have Portugal and Ghana tie, move through
4) Have Portugal beat Ghana because the USA has a +2 goal differential on Ghana but a +7 vs. Portugal

Worst things? Ghana starts kicking the hell out of an uninterested Portugal. Germany starts crushing the USA. That's when our +2 goal difference might go astray. Still the USA has a 74.6% chance to advance according to number crunchers.

BREAKING NEWS!!! -- Ghana has sent home TWO top players from their team, from ESPN:

Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari have been suspended "indefinitely" and sent home from Ghana's World Cup camp following alleged rows with their coach and and an official.

As Syrio Forel said to Arya Stark, "There is only one Group G, and its name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: 'Not today'.”

There are two other matches today, at 4pm if you're either hiding under blankets in a huge funk or so excited and happy you just want to watch all the soccer today.

Algeria and Russia will play to see who follows Belgium out of their group. This is the group by the way that the USA's Group G will start against in elimination rounds.  The second place team in Group G will play Belgium while the winner in Group G will get either Algeria or Russia. The Desert Foxes of Algeria impressed last time out with a massive three goal surge. Fabio Capella was paid a LOT of do-re-mi by the Russian Soccer Federation to get into the knockout stages. Let's go Algeria!

USA vs Germany noon
Ghana vs Portugal noon

Belgium vs South Korea 4pm
Russia vs Algeria 4pm

Late night open thread

“Summer camp: the second worst camp for Jews.”
 -- Sarah Silverman

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

BREAKING: Mayor Steve Fulop sacks Police Chief Robert Cowan

In what our friend Terrence T. McDonald at the Jersey Journal is calling a potentially "unprecedented" move, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has fired now former Police Chief Robert Cowan. As to why he decided to make the move Fulop cited "low morale on the police force, Cowan's "refusal" to implement "structural changes" sought by the Fulop administration and a growing number of lawsuits accusing Cowan of political retaliation as reasons for the change, which takes effect in 20 days."

Fulop also said he's not done making moves. You can get much more from the story on the Jersey Journal.

Look, like the story says it's been a bloody mess out on the streets over the last couple months and summer is just starting. Fulop cannot look weaker on crime than former Mayor Healy. Sounds like a Red Wedding coming over at City Hall. Stay tuned to this infotainment outlet.

World Cup Today -- Day 14

Two weeks in and things are starting to shake out. Enjoy today, tomorrow things get nutty all over again.

The early games give you one really watchable choice. You CAN watch already eliminated Bosnia-Herzgovina play one point Iran OR you can watch Lionel Messi and Argentina try to close out group play with a perfect record over Nigeria, still in shape to make it out of the group as well. Your choice. It's your house.

The later matches bring some intrigue as chances are Ecuador is going to need some kind of result over one of the tournament's brighter teams, France. You'll remember back at the beginning Johnny said France was a dark horse to keep an eye on. They have been superb. Switzerland is playing on three points, same as Ecuador. Switzerland has a playdate with the little CONCACAF team that couldn't get over the hump, Honduras. The Hondurans will play hard and they are a big strong team that can maybe knock Martina Hingis into next week but we see Switzerland winning. Keep an eye on the Ecuador vs. France game, that'll be a firecracker.

OK, the bite yesterday. What a classless guy Luis Suarez is. He may seriously have some kind of mental issue to not just fight back by biting but to use it to GAIN the advantage. That is seriously messed up. Plus, look at him, he has giant horse teeth. Those things have to hurt. Like Johnny mentioned yesterday on the Twitter, Milton Bradley could come out with an updated version of Hungry Hungry Hippos and instead of hippos use Luis Suarez heads. He's gotta go. Liverpool is trying to desperately unload Suarez to either Real Madrid or Barcelona it is said and probably feel a lot like Duke and Duke at the end of Trading Places watching their price drop knowing he might not be playing in quite a few World Cup and Champions League games.

Argentina vs Nigeria noon
Bosnia-Herzgovina vs Iran noon

Ecuador vs France 4pm
Switzerland vs Honduras 4pm