France FIFA World Champions
The French are celebrating like never before along the Champs Élysées in Paris after their favourite sons won the World Cup in Russia by defeating Croatia 4-2 before hundreds of millions of fans around the world. That score is equivalent to a 10-8 shootout in hockey.
They were the overwhelming favourites going into the gold medal game and they certainly didn't disappoint. Congratulations to "mon amis" across the pond but I cannot leave the sport without commenting on some of the blatant theatrics that were despicably displayed on the pitch over the length of the three-week tournament.
I'm referring of course to all the fake injuries and dives that were taken by some of the (so called) professional football players, many of them worthy of an Oscar nomination. This is similar to but not quite in the same category as some of their NHL brethren, who have been known to exaggerate the effects of a body check or high stick to gain an advantage.
The hands-down winner of that Oscar would surely have to go to one of the best players in the world, Neymar, the Brazilian superstar who, after barely being touched by an opposition player, floundered on the field like he was shot by an elephant gun, accompanied by loud audible screams. Truly embarrassing from a world class player who, by the way, recently signed the biggest contract in football history (more than Messi or Ronaldo) when he joined PSG (Paris) for $350 million over five years. That's not a typo, that's $70 big ones a season plus there was a record $260 million transfer fee.
I ask you, is our sports society insane? Don't answer that rhetorical question because it does go to show how absolutely insane our world has become with sadly no sanity in sight.
Tennis
It was great to see The Joker (Novak Djokovic) win his fifth Wimbledon singles title with a three-set win over South African Kevin Anderson but it was Anderson's five-set win over John Isner in the semi-finals that people were talking about.
That match took over six and a half hours to determine a winner because the grueling fifth set was won by final incredible score of 26-24. That's what you get when two of the most powerful servers on the WTA face each other.
Changes should and hopefully will be made soon to avoid this situation from occurring again as it benefits no one and is actually a detriment to the players queueing in the wings and the integrity of the game.
CFL
Just when you think you have momentum on your side, the football gods turn against you, aided by a stupid call from your offensive coordinator. The Blue Bombers had their game versus the BC Lions well in hand (17-0) but for some ridiculous reason, on a third and one call late in the fourth quarter, they decided to run the ball East-West instead of North-South. End result, a turnover and eventually a loss.
MLB
The boys of summer held their annual MLB all-star game in Washington, DC and once again it turned out to be a fairly entertaining match won once again by the American League for the sixth consecutive time. This is important because now the AL gets home field advantage during the World Series.
SWBL
We're now down to four teams and into the second round of the playoffs and there's no question that there will be some good exciting baseball yet to be played in the coming weeks.
In the North, we have the Hamiota Red Sox meeting the Oak River Dodgers while in the South, the odds-on favourite Boissevain Centennials will do battle with the determined Deloraine Royals.
Also, it should be noted that this year's AA Senior Provincials will be played in Neepawa from Aug. 10-12. Once again Boissevain, the defending champions, will represent the SWBL.
Until next time....
