World Cup Fever

Has it struck you yet? The need/desire to wake up at 4am to watch some futbol. The world's biggest sporting event and a personal favorite of mine!

This world cup hasn't been spectacular, unless you're an Argentina fan. Besides that, games are ending 1-0, 0-0, 1-1 pretty lame, not to mention referees who take goals away for some reason (1 against USA, 1 against Mexico). Games were more fun in world cups of past, but hopefully things get more exciting once the round of 16 starts. I decided to write day by day on my predictions for the next games wins. I know this is pretty late considering we're almost done w/ the 2nd round of games of the group stages, but none the less it gets me writing about my favorite time that only comes around every 4 years. There is still one game today :

Cameroon vs Denmark

and 3 tomorrow :

Slovakia vs Paraguay

Italy vs New Zealand

Brazil vs Ivory Coast

Here are my predictions:

Cameroon vs Denmark 1-0

Both of these teams lost their 1st games so it's a must win situation going into today's game. Cameroon has Samuel Eto'o one of the star players in the world cup. He started his world cup career as one of the youngest players ever at 17 years old. He's legit, and I believe Cameroon will prevail on this game winning a boring game 1-0. Denmark, just didn't have any offense against Netherlands and looked very weak.

Slovakia vs Paraguay 0-1

Paraguay managed to shock Italy by taking the early lead and played pretty well. They were very organized and I truly believe should have beat Italy. I think they go on and win this game another boring 1-0 and improve their chances of making it out of the group. Sorry Slovakia, welcome to the world cup, but your campaign isn't going past the group stages.

Italy vs New Zealand 2-0 (the Azurri vs All Whites)

Italy has never been known for having a great offense. This is especially true when the coach jacks up and doesn't take any of his best forwards, Totti, Balotelli, Toni, not to mention them dropping the American, Rossi, from the team too. I believe New Zealand is just that weak and isn't going to be able to penetrate Italy's defense although they are nowhere near the quality they were least year. Italy will win this 2-0.

Brazil vs Ivory Coast 2-2 (Seleccao vs the Elephants)

Finally the only game that is interesting this day. This is a must watch, because Ivory Coast are full of heart and Brazil doesn't seem to be playing with one anymore. I believe Brazil will be too powerful, because like Argentina they boast the best players in the world, but Ivory Coast will challenge and create some chances that Drogba will finish. This game will end in a draw, but will be exciting as Brazil hits the post at least twice. To be honest I think Brazil will win this 3-1, but am rooting for a draw. Hopefully they don't find their form against Ivory Coast, because I like rooting for this African underdog, or should I say underelephant (they are known as the elephants)

Well those are my predictions, the main reason I am doing this is because I got a fever, and the only cure is more football. I can't wait for July 11 to come (1 because of my 9 year anniversary with Bianca, and 2 because that will be the world cup final Arg vs Brazil!)

Let's hope the soccer Gods come and give Argentina a hand (get it?).

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP!

I can almost smell the fresh cut grass. I can almost feel the spit flying out of the horns that are echoing across the stadium. I can hear the chants of the fans cheering on their countries. It's almost freaking here!!! The world cup starts this Friday. I'm about to pee my pants I'm so excited.

I checked the schedule and many games are starting early morning for us. Early means 4:30am & 7am. I am pumped, because this means I won't have to miss too much work to watch my games.

The first and most exciting week of soccer to watch is going to be this Saturday. We got Argentina vs Nigeria, S Korea vs Greece, and USA vs England. I'm probably going to have some BBQs for days like this Saturday or order a pizza or something. I'm pumped.

LA Galaxy vs Boca Juniors

So the Los Angeles Galaxy is going to be playing a match against Argentina's Boca Juniors. These are two teams that I root for going head to head at the Home Depot Center. This sounds like a good time waiting to happen. I found tickets as cheap as $20 on tickemaster so the plan is a must.

Riquelme vs Beckham, Donovan vs Palermo, some big names and big fun. Who's in?

Coacheesy

So in case you haven't heard. Coachella was definitely an awesome time. Music was great, our group was fun, and the atmosphere was magical. So it is now time to talk about the best and worst things about Coachella.

Best Things

1. Muse- I don't get it. How can someone be so talented? Matt Bellamy must have been playing the guitar and piano while breast feeding as a baby and when he wasn't breast feeding he was practicing his vocals. He's insanely talented and God willing will bless us with more albums. I honestly think he is a musical genius just as Mozart was during his time. Great band, great time.

2. Thom Yorke- It's Thom Yorke. I don't think he needs much of an explanation (In case he does, he's the voice behind Radiohead). I think one cool thing about Coachella is that you get to see so many bands play so when it's time for someone like Thom Yorke to play you can just see how great he truly is. He is on a whole other level. Not to mention Flea Slapping the bass! Slappa da bass Mon! (I Love you, Man. If you haven't seen it, watch it; pretty funny). I didn't realize how good Flea was until he was jamming with Thom Yorke.

3. The house- Michelle (MVP) made a great choice in a house to rent. There was a bbq grill that Holt handled like a true iron chef and a pool & Jacuzzi that came in quite handy in the scorching heat. I got to practice my synchronized swimming with Herrera, Holt, and Karle that was good times. Air conditioning, wireless internet, the game on tv, and an infinite selection of food/snacks. Michelle (Sleecher) truly set this up to perfection.

Worst Things

1. Traffic- Come on now! Coachella has been around for a decade already. Figure out a way to get the traffic right for once. There is no reason that people have to take over 3 hours to travel 5 miles. They need to do something about this, becaues it was insane this year.

2. 15,000 extra people- I think Coachella will think long and hard about doing the whole wristband thing again. They really blew it. That place was Packt like Sardines everywhere you tried to go.

3. The tents- This may be an unfair review of the tents, since I only got to witness 2 performers. The first being that Minny Mouse singing girl. I don't know what her name was, but she had a Vanilla ice wannabe rapping along with her. Pretty terrible, I apologize for not recording here. I don't know what I was thinking. The 2nd performers were Two Many DJs I can see why people can like them, but their visuals were whack (Nicolas Cage and some little kid bobbing their heads to the beat) and I just wasn't feeling it. Maybe if I was on something I could have appreciated it, but at that point in the night I was definitely over it.

4. Stories about being wasted. Nuff Said.

Honorary Mention

Them Crooked Vultures- That was one of the best moments for me. I'm not sure if it was because the band was rocking it or if it was because at this moment our main group came together as a whole for the first time. Michelle finally made it in with Gloria, Steph and I found Jose, Holt, and the rest of them. It was a good moment that the band must have felt too, because they were just on fire at that moment.

LCD Soundsystem- They were just plain fun. We had the best dance session here (sorry Steph for not mentioning the red light being off on the camera). Everyone was going crazy, so maybe it was a good thing the camera didn't record it. We wouldn't experience a dance sesh as good as this one, but it was definitely fun.

Holt's Chicken- bawwwwwwmmm.

I'm sure there are 100s of other things to mention, but I have been writing for a while now and will leave the rest to pics and videos. Thanks for reading.

Is it finally time?

So for the first time in a long time the 49ers finally picked up a couple of players that I actually wanted. Well to be honest I didn't care about what players they were, but what position they are. Both Offensive-Line (meaning the big boys that block people).

I think we just made the 49ers a play-off bound team and I'm pretty excited about it. Frank Gore is going to have huge holes to run through (that's what she said) and Alex Smith is finally going to have some time to get the ball out of his hands (that's what he said). This is going to be a good year!

So if you want to watch any 49ers games this year just let me know. The 49ers are playing the Chargers in San Diego some time in December, so that is a definite plan waiting to happen.

Coachella

So who are the best bands around right now? That question can be up for debate for hours upon hours. One thing for sure is that a few of those bands that would be on the possible list for best bands around right now are: Radiohead, Muse, Gorillaz. All three will be peforming at Coachella. Ok, Radiohead isn't going to be there, but Thom Yorke will be and he's damn good by himself as well.

I've been to a few Coachella Music and Art festivals in the past and have enjoyed every experience thus far. I saw Bjork, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Weezer (awesome btw), Oasis, Keane and many many other band/singers. I have never been as excited to see a band as I am excited for Gorillaz (which technically isn't really a band, it's more Damon with featured guest and his house band). Plastic Beach, their new album, is insane. I liked it right away, but grew to love it. "Meloncholy Hill" will make anyone start to listen to the album and just as you think you can change the CD, you're intrigued by the strange sounds of "Empire Ants". I have like 5-6 songs that I play over and over and over again, while playing COD, driving, or simply just hanging out at home. A Great album plus the quirkiness of the Gorillaz add a few effects and this equation will call for an awesome show. I'm pretty pumped for it!

I've seen Muse perform a couple of times and am excited for them as well. They are so talented, and to this day I still haven't seen anyone perform like Matt Bellamy. Coachella is going to be awesome. I'll post up pics and videos when I can.

Michael Buble

So Bianca finally got to use the Christmas Present I got her (4 1/2 months later), which were tickets to the Michael Buble Crazy Love Tour concert in the Staples Center yesterday on Apr 9, 2010.

I was a little leery about going to the concert because as I have described Buble on numerous occasions, "he is just a glorified American Idol contestant". He doesn't write (much) of his own music and basically sings karaoke for a couple of hours (this was my whole idea of who MB was). Don't get me wrong, I enjoy his voice and have listened to his albums on repeat from time to time, but I thought he was overpaid and got too much hype. I was wrong.

Buble is a performer and was awesome. He was funny, entertaining, and had a very likable personality. He's not cocky like I thought he was and wasn't boring at all. It was definitley a pleasant surprise and I am officially a fan of his now.

He had the perfect mix of standup, as he went through a few people in the crowd and embarrassed them a little, and singing (and boy can he sing). At one point in the show he walked away from his mic and was singing out loud without one. The stadium was dead silent , but you can somehow still here Buble clear from every seat in the house. He had such a powerful voice, it was amazing to me.

MB was a pleasant experience and I'm glad that we had the oppurtunity to watch him. I'm highly considering taking vocal lessons for a while so that I can improve my singing and one day perform for my fans at the Staples Center. Is it a dream or destiny?