I promise this will be the final post on this topic...

Part II

(Trying to get my touch back after taking a month off and the creative juices are going to take a few warm up posts, so I apologize for the following)

“I have an acronym for myself. Know what it is? B.A.D... Balls, Attitude, Direction. You should give yourself an acronym... 'cause it helps you visualize your goals.”

To the Socceroos from the Land of Aus, who quickly became my 2nd favorite team during the cup, no BS, just foot to ball and head to pitch. From the three goals in 10 minutes versus Japan to the blood match versus Croatia. The Australian's brought it and defyied Ladbrokers by almost taking the evenutal champs to the brink only to find out that no one was beating Italy, you here me? No one. Australia became the US story of 2006. Here’s hoping that they can hold steady versus their new Asian rivalries and Mark-Paul Viduka can make his swan song in 2010.

And just for the record, here are my top five matches from the tourney:

5-Aforementioned Croatia vs. Australia match that featured tough, no-flopping intensity that resulted in broken homes and broken bloodlines.

4-(tie) France vs. SoKo/Brazil vs. Croatia, or aka the Fifth Element game(s), both SoKo and Croatia exerted their fan dominance during these matches. From the haunting chants of the Korean peninsula to the red flare-burning from the upper decks by the Croatians, both games demonstrated what real patriotic nationalism smells like.

3- Germany vs. Poland, if you couldn’t feel the animosity you weren’t paying attention. The drama of the little-brother almost overcoming and pulling off the biggest win in a half century of Polish football, only to be spoiled in the last minute by a Neuville finish into the back of onion bag.

2- Argentina vs. Mexico, this had the handle of a classic latin-futbol battle royale and it lived up to the billing with Mexico challenging every ball until the 2nd overtime strike by Maxi Rodriguez and highlighted by Maradona doing his patented, “thank god I’m not in jail right now” salute.

1- Championship game, 1st half PK, classic corner-->header, most famous red card in championship history followed by the Trezeguat/Elenbaas collapse…EPIC to the last final whistle.

“Well, I'm one of those fortunate people who like my job, sir. Got my first chemistry set when I was seven, blew my eyebrows off, we never saw the cat again, been into it ever since.”

Here’s to referee's Horacio Elizondo and Valentin Ivanov for loving their job too much and partially and fully losing control of their perspective games. Much like any major sporting event now, the element of officiating is becoming way too subjective and open to poor interpretation. The Lodge recognizes the difficulty and pressure of the top stage, but feels little sympathy for the scrutiny that follows from the press fall out. If you don’t want pressure, as Beano Cook would say, go work for a Software or Insurance company.

“You know, if there were gangs around like in the old days, I'd be running things, not you. You'd be second lieutenant. You might have gotten by for a while on the Motorcycle Boy's rep, but you have to be smart to run things. You ain't got your brother's brains. It's nothing personal, Rusty James, but nobody would follow you into a fight because you'd get people killed - and nobody wants to be killed.”

Here’s to the retirement of Luis Figo and the appointment of Christiano Ronaldo as the Portuguese captain for 2010. Let me know how that works out for you.

“I'm the only one who can walk in both worlds. I'm Ghost Rider.”

Who’s excited?

“I've been in L.A. for three months now. I have money, I have taste. But I'm not on anybody's "A" list, and Saturday night is the loneliest night for the week for me.”

Here’s the “A” list position by position from the last 64 matches:

GK: Gianluigi Buffon-ITA, simply stated, almost perfect, didn’t allow a goal that wasn’t a) by his own man and b) from a PK for 690 minutes

DB: Fabio CANNAVARO-ITA , I promise this is the last Italia player, but deserved Golden Ball after rock steady play in back and playing 132 more Capo minutes than ZZ.

DB: Lilian Thuram-FRA, yes I’m nominated a man with the first name of Lilian, yes I’m ok with that, yes he consistently stepped up and made things happen, or not happen in a defenders case, plays with his fellow A-teamer Cannavaro at Juventus in his spare Club time.

DB: Rafeal Marquez-MEX, the Captain and leader of the Mexican squad, protected a usually weak Mexican D, also made Train think about growing out his hair and working the ponytail.

DB: Philip Lahm-GER, textbook tackle after textbook tackle, wasn’t carded in 28 total tackles, and led a “weak” German defense and picked up M.O.t.M. honors in previously mentioned Polish game

M: (tie) Juan Riquelme-ARG/Luis Figo-POR, only giving the tie because I’m not giving Portugal their own award, Riquelme showed that he’s top 5% in the World and hopefully signing the transfer sheet to Old Trafford soon, and Figo proved that experience still wins more games than pace, and for having the wettest kit following every match then any man in the tournament

M: (tie) half-man/half-Ribery & the red discarded one: teammates, Frenchmen, silver-medalists

M: Becks-ENG, yes, this is a supporter call, but personally responsible for getting the squad through to the Quarters, and he also takes home the trophy for best on-field puking during the Cup.

M: Bastian SCHWEINSTEIGER –GER, not only because his name is fun to say, but he put the nail in the coffin of the Portuguese, with two excellent strikes from 30+, should be key in future German squads.

F: Carlos Tevez-ARG: half-man/half-Tevez, the Argentinean equivalent to Ribery, played with heart, guts and every other nonsensical sports metaphor along with a third-world story about a burned face.

F: Dwight Yorke-Trind & Tob: All Night Dwight had one more classic performance in him, too bad they couldn’t get the job done versus Paraguay, but was just as effective up front as he was in the back, and very few players during the cup gave their team as much leadership as the former ManU striker did, here's to Trinidad and down with Tobago.

“It's a cholinesterase inhibitor. Stops the brain from sending nerve messages down the spinal cord within thirty seconds. Any epidermal exposure or inhalation and you'll know. A twinge at the small of your back as the poison seizes your nervous system”

To Wayne Rooney…the cholinesterase inhibitor of English football.

“Put... the bunny... back... in the... box.”

So that’s it, I’m feeling the need to ramble more, but I’m going to save those who struggled through the last month. I can say without a doubt that I’ve tapped into a passion that I didn’t think was attainable. The socialization of the game of World Futbal is a magic entity not to be altered or exploited. I will always recognize the game of Football played locally as my natural game, and by no means has my love for the College and Pro game diminished, but I recognize that my life does have room additional sport. Here's to everyone in the Lodge and elsewhere that joined me for the greatest sports ride currently available. Preperations have already been put in place for Euro '08 and WC '10.

Cheers.