Jules

Feyenoord gave away a 3-0 lead at home in the final qualifying round for the Europa League, only to score the game winner in the 92nd minute. That was close.

In Amsterdam... and yeah, that makes it extra awful that I can't be there. It just took a little longer than we had hoped to get travel authorization.

YEEEES! Grace and the USA women's quadruple sculls boat have qualified for the World Championship Final this Saturday. They lost their semi only to China (but top three advances) and Germany were top of the other semi race, but the USA had the third fastest time out of a dozen boats and have every chance to take home a medal. I am five years older now though and Saturday already freaks me out.

Arsenal got away with two fouls on Ba that could've been penalties. He was overall a terrible referee, but it's not like Arsenal was only one hurt.

A strong first day for Team USA at the World Championships of rowing in Amsterdam today. Most athletes and boats are through to the next round. Grace's boat won their heat this morning and get to race the semi final on Thursday.

Yeah, sure. We chatted about the job and who they test and what's next. They aren't out to get you, they just want to keep competition clean.

I asked the same thing. Apparently you can apply for it and most people are referred by current employees. I mean, you get paid to sit around and wait until athletes have to pee and then you have to watch them pee and check if their urine isn't too diluted.

We had an unannounced guest at the house for three hours tonight. Grace is getting a USADA unannounced drug test and couldn't immediately pee. So, they wait, and wait, and wait and don't let their eye off you for hours until you can. She just finally went. Hooray.

If you aren't to attached to RBNY, why not? I've never really fallen in love with them. It's just so blatantly corporate right now. The Mets objected to their Flushing stadium plans and they have since announced they are investigating a new stadium site in the Bronx, near Yankee Stadium. It'll be at least until 2018 at the Yankee Stadium though.

I'm always happy for small teams to make the Champions League, but some big names drew each other here and that feels unfair. Lille and Porto should be in, as for Napoli and Bilbao probably. Now it's more Eastern teams who will end up getting crushed and play in boring, quiet stadiums on dangerously frozen fields. Meh.

It's another huge step. The difference between where her career was last year and where it is now is night and day. It's really exciting to see this happen and to know what could follow if she keeps it up. They are an outsider for the world title, with the German quad truly dominating this boat class for years now, but a medal should be within the realm of possibilities.

I am super proud that Grace has been named to the USA rowing crew for the upcoming World Championships next month in Amsterdam. She will competing in the quadruple sculls (four people, two oars per person, no coxswain), which is an Olympic class boat. Unfortunately, because the USCIS doesn't do things on a days notice (or a month's, really), I can't be there to see it, but this is so so awesome and I'm happy to see her hard work pay off.

If they are still attacking you nearby right now, it helps to spray them with really soapy water, because it makes them struggle to fly and you can stomp them wearing boots. Be safe taking care of it, these guys are nasty.

:rofl: I'd go to visit Kings Island amusement park, but yeah... wait, how did you even fill eight hours there?

This sport wouldn't be this sport if something hurting a big club with money wasn't miraculously overturned at some point. ;)

That was some thunderstorm tonight. Wow.

:chug:

My local Dick's Sporting Goods (Princeton on US1) is clearing racks full of hockey merch, including Rangers shirseys and SCF shirts at under $15. Can't really pass up on a McDonagh SCF shirsey for $16, really.

It sucks not to be there to celebrate with them, but my goodness is this a proud moment. Grace won a silver medal at this year's second World Cup event (in France) in her national team debut. A fantastic result for this boat, of which only one is a former Olympian and two are novices at this level. The British commentary crew - you can watch it via Sky Sports UK on the events website - called it a "breakout performance for these youngster" and penciled them in as a potential medal winning boat at the World Championships later this year. They only lost to a very experienced German crew, who are the current reigning world champions, but beat last year's silver and bronze medalists (Poland and Canada). Grace is in the bow seat, on the right: http://i.imgur.com/GSrubPt.jpg Here she's on the left. So proud. :) http://i.imgur.com/A3nBDEq.jpg

This was really the only thing I would've changed from how it was done. It would've been epic to see "the morning after" a little more and maybe leave a cliffhanger on the armies coming in, but at least a little more than what it was. I just binge watched the last four episodes to catch up and it was a fantastic run. I mean, I really feel like the show hasn't hit a wall yet, there are several storylines I"m really interested in by now, but it was a season that saw us lose some fantastic actors in the long run and that's disappointing. The Hound, Tywin, Oberyn, they all made for such absolutely fantastic scenes and they just popped off the screen in whatever moment they were in. It'll be interesting to see where it goes from here. A fantastic season once again. Loved it.

That'd be an insanely entertaining acquisition for the Gunners.

I know everybody is occupied by Rangers nerves, but now that it's out there: Grace made the US national rowing squad for the upcoming World Cup event in France. :cool:

That weird nervous excitement when a three and a half year dream, that often seemed far away and was often labeled impossible and crazy, is happening tomorrow. Yep. Coming to America tomorrow. And staying. And aiming to make the next meet-up. :chug:

YEEEEESSS!!! Against all odds Fortuna Sittard has qualified for the promotion playoffs to fight for a spot in the Eredivisie. They are a long shot to even get out of the first round, let alone win in all three, but it's great that they made it.

I just clicked on an innocent Buzzfeed article about "see the GoT actors out of character and being normal" and ended up with a picture that, not until I had scrolled along, clicked as being a massive spoiler, because those two actors have not had a scene together yet and they were both in their full attire for the show. LOL. Fuck.