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I do not pretend to know anything about soccer and I will never claim to be anything more than a casual observer. I only watch soccer every 4 year for the World Cup. But I have a watched 4 games now and they seem to do a lot flopping. Brush up against another player, lightly bump them, even phantom contact and a player is down on the ground, writhing in pain like they just broke their ankle, only to bounce up to their feet 15-30 seconds, and running around like nothing happened. Do these teams have Vlade Divac on retainer to teach the art of the flop. I just watched the end of the Italy vs Slovakia match and saw more flopping in the last 5 minutes of the game than Vlade had in his entire career. Hyperbole aside, why do soccer players flop so much? It just makes them look weak and gives credence to those who think soccer players are a bunch of panty waists.

As quoted by Golda Meir. I think she hit the mark on this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=illF1vt5g1Q

Whether they make it or not, there is always the obligatory high-fives. It seems pointless way to support your teammates. No amount of high-fives is going to improve Ben Wallace's free throw percentage. Just once I want to see all the teammates leave a free throw shooter hanging when he misses a shot. I think even the slightest bit of negative reinforcement will have a much bigger impact on the player, perhaps not with his FT percentage, but he might make a hustle play on defense.

I am originally from Orange County and I love the Angels. They are not doing so hot right now at the bottom of the 8th. But they were the California Angels for over 30 years and I loved that name. Not very specific given that there are a few pro baseball teams in California but a good name nonetheless. Then Disney bought them and they became the Anaheim Angels. Not a great name as Anaheim is not a huge or popular city other than Disneyland but at least it makes sense. Then to attract more fans they became the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They wanted to be just LA but had to include the Anaheim. Now, I guess many people who have not grown up or lived in the Southern Califonia often confuse Orange County as part of LA. I am not sure why but LA is both a city AND a COUNTY. So it is not all the same thing as other like to say. Anaheim is a city in Orange County so the Los Angeles part of the Angels name makes no sense. And if it is to draw marketing towards the LA fans, well they already have a team called the Dodgers and they have a pretty loyal fan base so it seems ridiculous. Anyone else think this is the worst name/most confusing in pro sports?

I an Angels fan but that is the worst first name. I have seen Sean spelled many ways including Shawn and Shaun and even Shon. But Chone looks like it should be pronounced Cho-knee. Switch the vowel sounds and you have a type of men's pants.

Some of these batting helmets look so dirty and trashed as if the players have been moonlighting as firefighters. Do they play baseball by day and fight crime/fires by night? I am sure the organization can afford to buy new ones or at the least clean the dirty ones. I know more than most sports, baseball players are a superstitious bunch of guys. But if you have a hitting streak with your helmet and then go into a slump don't you then give a little shine to your helmet to pretty it up a bit (and that is not meant to be a double entendre).