Z.I.P.

Lance, I wont be drawn into yet again, but I'd start by "deep-six"-ing anyone who writes: "Dosen't matter!" (See top) Spelling does matter.

I know I was not the only ZN.o observer taking in the World Cup post-game on Sunday. How about studio host Bob Ley's remarkable comeback in explaining his guest's indescribable description of events at the France non-training session? "I thank you for your directness..." Apparently, they have different rules of conduct on French television. "Hello, ABC? This is the FCC calling."

May even be familiar with Zipsnation.org... So, what's Ianello's handicap? Hope I got that name right.

Let's put these in order of likelihood: 3,4,1,2. Now two of them are at least fifty-fifty to occur in the next 6 months. The other two, well... Sorry, I ain't holdin' my breath.

$30!!!! That's too funny! Do you think we could find the hidden subsidies that show Can't is actually paying people to attend?

There are few recruiting pipelines more interesting than the Jamaica-to-Akron one! Maybe we can get Michael Reghi to report this. That would be "irie".

I have a picture somewhere of his girlfriend, who was a cheerleader -- from UA basketball trip to HI in 1990. The epic, "I have Zippy's tail, where did you put his head" trip.

Now we're talking!

This makes sense. If Nebraska goes to the PAC-10, the are middle to low level team. If they go to the Big Ten, they will compete for the conference championship next year. GP1! ??? Did you mistakenly flip your conferences above? Nebraska might be a once-in-a-while contender in the Big-10, as they were in Big-12. In the Pac-10, they are a constant threat to win it all (even if SC were allowed to compete). We are talking about American football, aren't we? Nebraska is like the Boise State of the Great Plains. Except their WBB team was awesome last year, and VB ain't bad -- that's it. I'm sure our Great One follows the LadyHuskers fortunes.

Alright, now I'm beginning to understand why someone contradicted me when I predicted Yoram would be our leading scorer this year. Next question: Will he be VCU's leading scorer? Secondly, the loss of Josh will also be felt. Yes you can say, "He's just a backup goalkeeper", but we lose one third of our strength at that position, and someone who a year-and-a-half ago was the presumed starter. Kudos to Giffard, and VCU. With Shaka Smart down there, and now Giffard, this is becoming an interesting inter-regional rivalry. And, BTW -- this could help set up what I presaged yesterday -- with the vacancy for a backup, could it be MONSTER HANDS time in the net? What says you Uncle DREALSCOUT1?

To call anyone in England a "real man" is hilarious. Have you convinced any of those Pac Islanders on the Big Island that they should put down the pads because they aren't "real men"? Those Pac Islanders don't NEED no pads, Brah! You ask DREAL1SCOUT, Doze Polys bring dere own MONSTER HANDS to the game. Which makes me wonder, is Caleb in need of a backup goalkeeper?

Not a special snowflake here... But there is something comforting in that. Not being original or vastly different is acceptable; a feeling of shared destiny and humanity I guess. Now back to hating on Rand Paul. Working Man Rand Paul lost an Anthem. Can no longer play Rush songs note: Ayn Rand inspired some of their music. Just to show that Rush is treating all parties alike, they didn't even allow Tom Sawyer to use the song "Tom Sawyer"!

But Akron MEN do. Go watch a bottom barrel MAC football team or go to a sold out Pouch and watch one of the country's premiere soccer squads. Your choice. I know where I will be. The Pouch? lol.... That's like saying go watch the country's premier bowling team. That's wonderful that they're successful and all, but who really gives a f***? The success of the athletic department will always hinge on football and men's basketball. I've said it before and I'll say it again.... Football and basketball could win MAC Championships, every other athletic team could not win a game, and nobody would bat an eye. TW would be the toast of the town. But if football and basketball lost every game, and every other sport won a national title, TW's ass would be grass, and Proenza would be smokin it. Ole Tom would have the first ticket out of town. It's great that you like soccer, and I support them and love to see them succeed just like I love to see rifle and any other Zip sport succeed, but those sports will always take a back seat to football and basketball, regardless of success. The bottom line is, 95% of people in Akron and UA alumni would rather watch and pay for bad football than nationally ranked soccer any day of the week. Well, I'm glad that I was able to drag ITZ away from his Guinness at the Cock & Bull Pub for long enough to stir up a conversation. So ITZ, have you been able to convince your neighbors in the Midlands there that real football is played by real MEN with enough padding for a team of hookers in London's East End? That it would be more interesting if Wayne Rooney and his mates would stand around in a circle before each kick of the ball so that everyone is aware of the "snap count"? But anyway, congratulations again on matriculating to a country which has its sports priorities better sorted. Cheerio, ITZ. I'll let you get back to imagining how you'll be the toast of the town after Clint Dempsey's game winner come Saturday night around 8:30 in the evening, live from South Africa. Just don't offer to buy a round of Budweisers at the ol' Cock & Bull. They drink ale, like real MEN.

Gentrifying indeed. I'm sure that's DaveinGreen's neighborhood. Chenoweth Drive it appears.

These "workshops" are becoming commonplace across the college football landscape. My first reaction when the U of Hawaii started it several yrs ago was, "what a sexist idea" -- they exclude men from these events to make the ladies "more comfortable". Now my wonderment is elsewhere: It may be time for Coach Porter and the athletic department to begin workshops exploring the finer parts of The Beautiful Game. Unfortunately, it appears it is too late to time it in concert with the World Cup. But something needs to be done to increase interest in our national power team to the point that tickets must be purchased in advance for every game, because a sellout is likely. Go Zips. in waiting.

I'll bet the same post (with a different President's name) is on the Toledo Rockets' BB this morning!

I like the way you envision it. Did you pick that up somewhere or make it up yourself? Actually, that's the same "conservative center" rhetoric that you get to hear and read every day from the so-called "mainstream media". The owners of that media work very hard to ensure that as few truly "outside the box" ideas as possible ever hear or see the light of day, regardless of whether they come from the right or left (though the right is very much better represented on network news, and that one cable hole). Sorry for my skepticism, but I've been paying close attention to this subject since my days of specializing in "sociology of knowledge" at Olin Hall. Yes, there is a connection between access to power and access to information. Both are controlled by the same forces, and that is not a conspiracy theory, just reality.

Well, in part this is a perceptive statement on GP's behalf. After a quarter-century of liberalism and neo-liberalism (from both parties, but especially the GOP), Democrats have been shaken awake by the grassroots of their party to realize that the gap between rich and poor is the greatest it has been in over a century of wealth and opportunity maldistribution. The last time that inequality was this great, we had a progressive era (led in part by that icon of Republicans, Teddy Roosevelt), and a populist movement that was brutally opposed by fed troops. But on the other hand, one of my favorite (comedic) statements from American "conservatives" is the deadpan remark, "The US is a center-right nation". Well of course it is dummy! There are only two political parties allowed in the US, one in the center, and one on the right! America will change if and when it is permitted to have a full political spectrum, instead of two thirds of one. And don't get me wrong, I'm not personally a supporter of "left-of-center" (by international standards) politicians. But, the influence and impact of having the involvement of a real left would be huge. Even a "tiny" and relatively irrelevant left-of-center party like the New Democrats puts Canada to the left of the US, even though their other two parties are center (Liberals) and right (Tories). This lack of a "real left" is what allows out-of-this-world rhetoric like calling middle-of-the-road Democrats, like the current POTUS the 'S' word. The other effect of that is to legitimize some of the elements of the far left who are often as loony as their opponents on the Tea Party right.

Thanks Carman, George is one of the Good Guys!

THEY didn't.

Hey LA Zip, How's about joining me on August 14 at the Tool Box? The Sounders and Steve Zakuani are in town to face Chivas USA and their two Zips, Blair and Ben. Not positive yet, but I may be there. Let me know if you're interested. Maybe we can get tix via the Zipvine.

I was on-line this morning, shopping for my official World Cup vuvuzela when I came across this. Steve, Blair and Sinisa jerseys on sale from BigSoccer. What, no Ben Zemanski? We gotta correct that, he's playing better than any of them right now.

I like Jozy's better!

Oh all people Zach, you're missing a FOOTBALL game to watch Soccer? That's just wrong. Welcome, fellow subversive!