signor_ferrari

Wall-E is solid but not everything I think the current buzz is making it out to be. I think that the first 45 minutes or so might some of the most compelling visual storytelling I've seen on film in some years (an idea I plan on developing more in my Quirkee column about it for this week). But the latter half of the film just doesn't quite have the same zip to it, and a lot of that is that I just don't care about the humans involved in this at all. It's scary and sad when my main criticism of a Michael Bay film winds up being a criticism I can level equally on a Pixar film, but it is what it is.

That said, I think the short on the front end of the movie is absolutely flipping brilliant. A riff on the classic Looney Tunes style of mischief and mayhem that feels like a true homage/send-up of a Bugs Bunny cartoon. Specifically for myself, memories of this classic, though I think the Pixar one was funnier. Seriously though, one can't go wrong with rabbits comedy gold. So one minute summary, well worth seeing, just temper your expectations a touch.

I know that as an American sports fan, I'm in the minority in actually having some passing interest in soccer. That said, made props to Spain for winning the Euro 2008 Cup, their first major championship since 1964. The Spanish side beat Germany 1-0 in the final and looked from top to bottom like the best team in the 16 nation field.

Also a note needs to be said about Turkey, who lost in the semis to Germany. I actually caught a bit of the Turks' first round match against Switzerland, and de facto home match for the Swiss as co-hosts of the tournament with Austria. I was in the gym working out when Turkey came on to score in injury time at the end of the second half on a brilliant kick from the top of the box between two defenders with a third close by. The Turks were incredibly shorthanded against Germany in the semis, having lost a number of players due to suspension for penalty cards from their quarterfinal win against Croatia or injury. They only had three players available on the bench beyond their starting 11.

That said, they gave the Germans hell the entire match, and really outplayed the German squad for most of the 90 minutes. Germany's winning goal came only when one of their defensemen (Philip Lahm) darted past a Turkish defender who collapsed as much from exhaustion as from the move Lahm put on him. Shorthanded in their defense, Lahm ran a nice give and go with another German player before darting one past the goalie.

There is something about watching a well played soccer match that moves me in a way watching other sports doesn't. A good breakaway run is a thing of beauty, especially when the attacking squad gets players back to make for a good shot on goal. And likewise, watching a solid 11 on the counter-attack when they make a steal on a solid aggressive tackle is breathtaking. The only thing that comes close for the grace of synchronized movement is maybe watching a hockey team sweep in on the power play, skaters moving in formation after the puck has been dumped behind their goal like a squadron of planes on a bombing run.

That and the language of the sport just makes me giggle hysterically. The following bits all come from the ESPN Soccernet game cast live commentary of the Germany-Spain final:

Just when you thought this was going to go down in history as one of the finest finals of recent times the organisers go and plop Enrique Iglesias on a stage and give him a microphone. All of a sudden the footballing world glazes over. Well, that's it from me, I'm going home. A disgrace.

Not really, but I must say I'm highly discomknockerated. His murder of the tournament's anthem eventually comes to a close, to a ripple of light applause. Yawn. Anyway, here come the teams!

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What a good save from Lehmann. He's a shadow of his former self in my opinion, but he can still produce the odd touch of class, as he did there.

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Now it's Germany who look a little devoid of ideas. Mertesacker lumps a long ball downfield that Puyol shepherds back to Casillas. The German centre-back's distribution is nothing short of pathetic at times.

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Klose is down, and no wonder. Marchena's swinging boot has clocked him right in the family jewels, and I'll bet the entire male population watching the replay on television made a similar, "oooaaaahhhhh," sound.

That last made me wonder if I could find the highlights on You Tube at the time, but alas, was not meant to be. Yes, I was looking for highlights of a man taking a kick to the groin. What of it?

Any, I hope Spain can build on their success in the Euro for their run in the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Hell, I'd also be happy if the US actually showed up to play for a Cup they aren't hosting.

In a rather fortuitous bit of serendipity, the Main Event at the World Series of Poker starts this Thursday at noon (PDT I'm assuming). That's right, they're starting the WSOP on my birthday, just for me ;-). Awfully gracious of them.

I've been tracking the results sort of abstractly. I listen to a couple of different podcasts on poker, both ESPN's Poker Edge with Phil Gordon and the Two Plus Two Pokercast with Mike and Adam. Two Plus Two seems to get the best interviews and has some pretty lively stuff. Most recently they were talking about the $50,000 HORSE event, which at the time they recorded it was still going on.

The HORSE event is a pretty big deal, maybe the second biggest tournament they have every year after the main event. Part of that is due to the huge buy-in (the main event is only $10K), but it is also because of the level of all around skill that is required to win the event. You play five different games in HORSE: Limit Hold 'Em, Omaha Hi/Lo Split, Razz, Seven Card Stud and Stud Hi/Lo Eights or better. In order to take the bracelet for this event you have to have some serious skills in all kinds of poker to be the top dog.

So it isn't surprising to find out that Scotty Nguyen took the whole thing down. Scotty has been at this game a really long time. He's a cocky SOB, but he's also very good (the 1998 WSOP champion) and very consistent. He was 11th at the Main Event last year, and though he's only had two cashes this World Series, I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to build this into a good showing at this year's main event. If I were to stake any money on a "name" player to get the big enchilada this year, Scotty just became my man.

Props also have to be given to another old war-horse in this game for the HORSE event as well. Doyle Brunson, who is the grand old man of the game, finished in 16th place, the last paying spot in the event. Doyle is the man in this game now that Chip Reese has passed. Though Doyle got more press for having written Super/System, Reese was widely regarded as the best all around player in the game until he passed away this past December. Chip's passing hit Doyle hard, as they were good friends. Doyle gave a eulogy at Chip's funeral, and the organizers of the WSOP opted to name the HORSE event after Chip this year in memoriam. It would have been storybook to have Doyle win the whole thing, but a cash at 16th is almost as good.

Maybe someday I'll play in one of these things. Seems like a dream, but its nice to dream sometimes,