Ok, let me jump right in here. As to wines, I'm a red only guy and I have two pinot noirs to tell you about. At the $15 price level you absolutely cannot to wrong with Traveaux de vin, it is a fruity wine but not over the top and reasonably complex especially in this price range. One of my very favorites and at the $25 price level is Maysara Jamsheed from McMinnville Oregon. Very nice mouth watering acididity, fruit presence is noticeable and has the funkiness and complexity of a great burgundy.

As to the Gentleman popping the beer above, I had a couple of pints of Boulevard Two Jokers Friday night. Sweet, tart funky, flavor bursting from many directions. This may be the best beer brewed in these here United States.

I'm also a bourbon expert (in my own mind) ;-)

I love the game. There was certainly no opportunity to play the sport in rural middle TN in the 60s and 70s when I was a kid. My kids however had ample opportunity to play soccer and they did. I admit it was a learning experience for me but I'll be darned if I'm not going to learn what my kids are doing. If you have half a clue what's going on, it isn't "slow" at all. Soccer is by far, without any competition, the largest sport in the world, both with actual participation as well as number of fans. Folks, it didn't get there from being boring. Yes, we, especially in these here southern states stereotype the sport and make a mockery of it but we are only fooling ourselves. My children's generation, who grew up playing soccer will take the sport to a much higher level in the USA than you'd have thought a few years ago.

The Nederland win over Spain likely improved their chances a lot. Certainly the home nation team is the favorite. I like Germany unless the Schweinstieger injury in practice limits him. While it's iffy if the USA gets out of the group of death, I really like this team and I like the direction Klinsmann is taking them in. Another noticeable fact is the growth of popularity of the sports here in the states.  In Iurmingham, AL of all places, there are quite a few venues competing to draw soccer fans and the fans are showing up in large numbers.