December 6, 2010
Welcome to the world Bennett!!
I am a terrible blogger, I know. While we have been busy since July, there is no excuse for me never to have posted since then! I figured I would make my grand reintroduction to blogging by welcoming our son, Bennett Arthur Lysse, to the world. More details will come shortly, including our fantastic birth story, but here are some vitals. He weighed 6 lbs even, and was 19 and 3/4 inches long. Not too shabby for a little boy who was 25 days early!! Right now mommy and son are resting comfortably and we are excited that tomorrow night they will spend their first night home at Casa de Lysse. If Bennett is all we get for Christmas, then we will be the happiest parents in the world!!
July 14, 2010
Baby Boy Lysse
Well, a lot has changed since my last post.......and the biggest development is that Lebron James went to Miami!!!! Ok, seriously though.......Erin and I are having a baby boy!!! We are both very excited at the prospects of raising a future soccer star. We are also both very excited to let Ellie know that she will be a big sister to a little brother. More info to come......
July 2, 2010
The Belly and Beyond...
Here is our 1st ultrasound photo of Baby Tom Brady Lysse. His head is on the right. We were told he/she has a big butt likes it mommy!!
Here is a picture (crudely taken w/ our webcam) of Erin as she enters into her 2nd Trimester
July 1, 2010
Bye Bye First Tri-mester
Erin is now officially at the 14 week mark which means that she is into her 2nd trimester. I believe she is hoping that her morning sickness will automatically stop today (so far it has not) but I am sure she will settle for it slowly going away :-) Little Tom Brady Lysse is about the size of a lemon and is doing such things as sucking its thumb and peeing!!!! Hooray for pee!! We had an ultrasound 2 weeks ago and will have another one in about two more weeks. Once I am able to scan a good picture I will post these to the blog. For now, feel free to go to this link for a cpu rendering of what Tom Brady Lysse will look like:
http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-14-weeks
http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-14-weeks
Quarterfinal Thoughts plus Power Rankings
Ok, we have moved into the Final 8 of the World Cup and we have a few surprises (the dominance of South America) but the 4 teams that I thought would be the favorites (Dutch, Brazil, Spain, Argentina) are still standing. Lets get to my updated power rankings shall we?
8. Paraguay: How in the world these guys have made it this far is a question that cannot be answered. I thought Japan deserved the victory over them, anything can happen (and did) in PK's.
7. Ghana: Not surprised they took out the USA. They are very athletic and fast. They won the under-20 World Cup last year and many of those players start for Ghana now. Look for them to make a better run in Brazil in 2014.
6. Uruguay: Playing great, 2 of the best strikers in the tournament (Forlan and Suarez) and a good matchup against Ghana. Look for them in the semis.
5. Germany: Only here b/c they only seem to play great every other game.....thus we should expect a let down against Argentina. When clicking, their attack is marvelous. Mueller and Ozil are young stars.
4. Netherlands: Now that Robben is back they are finally knocking it around better. Their defense is the big question mark, and brazil is not the team you want to face with a shaky back 4.
3. Argentina: Any of the top 3 can be switched with the others. Argentina is 3 b/c their defense is shaky and Romero is a wild card in goal. However, there are no better attacks than Messi, Tevez, Higuain, and Millito.
2. Spain: If they can get Torres going, they may be the favorites. David Villa is nearly unstoppable.
1.Brazil: They now have a defense that matches their offense, rendering them nearly unbeatable. You must play the perfect game to be them.......something the Dutch, Spanish, Germans, and Argentinians are capable of ding.
Final 8 Predictions:
Uruguay over Ghana
Brazil over Netherlands
Spain over Paraguay
Argentina over Germany
8. Paraguay: How in the world these guys have made it this far is a question that cannot be answered. I thought Japan deserved the victory over them, anything can happen (and did) in PK's.
7. Ghana: Not surprised they took out the USA. They are very athletic and fast. They won the under-20 World Cup last year and many of those players start for Ghana now. Look for them to make a better run in Brazil in 2014.
6. Uruguay: Playing great, 2 of the best strikers in the tournament (Forlan and Suarez) and a good matchup against Ghana. Look for them in the semis.
5. Germany: Only here b/c they only seem to play great every other game.....thus we should expect a let down against Argentina. When clicking, their attack is marvelous. Mueller and Ozil are young stars.
4. Netherlands: Now that Robben is back they are finally knocking it around better. Their defense is the big question mark, and brazil is not the team you want to face with a shaky back 4.
3. Argentina: Any of the top 3 can be switched with the others. Argentina is 3 b/c their defense is shaky and Romero is a wild card in goal. However, there are no better attacks than Messi, Tevez, Higuain, and Millito.
2. Spain: If they can get Torres going, they may be the favorites. David Villa is nearly unstoppable.
1.Brazil: They now have a defense that matches their offense, rendering them nearly unbeatable. You must play the perfect game to be them.......something the Dutch, Spanish, Germans, and Argentinians are capable of ding.
Final 8 Predictions:
Uruguay over Ghana
Brazil over Netherlands
Spain over Paraguay
Argentina over Germany
June 25, 2010
World Cup Power Rankings
Well, we have finally reached the 2nd round meaning win or go home for the 16 remaining teams. I will get into the matchups in a later post, but right now here are how I rank the remaining 16 teams, based solely on my thoughts in the 1st round and nothing to do with their upcoming match:
16. Japan: Looked good in wins over Denmark and Cameroon and solid in a loss to the Dutch. They are a team that can counter attack on anyone.
15. Ghana: The one African team remaining, and the only team left that has not scored a goal during the run of play, only on PK's. They would be ranked much higher if Michael Essien were available.
14. South Korea: Exciting Asian team that counter attacks with the best. J.M. Park who plays for Manchester United is one to watch. Their only loss was a blowout to Argentina.
13. Slovakia: Do not know what to expect from this Euro squad. They have great young players like Hamsik and Vittek but their defense can fall into lapses. When on like against Italy, they play a great team game.
12. Paraguay: Only above Slovakia b/c they beat them 2-0. Never underestimate any South American team.
11. Mexico: Looked good against France before France imploded, but not too great against Uruguay. When their coach plays their good young forwards they can be very dangerous. When they get behind, they lose composure easily.
10. Chile: Almost won Group H even while playing down a man to Spain. The South Africans play a very exciting style of soccer that can produce goals in the blink of an eye.
9. USA: The cardiac kids crack the top 10 due to the fact that they have probably the best goal keeper in the tournament. Unfortunately they may have the worst overall defense of the World Cup, a defense that just gives up too many goals. They are exciting to watch when Bob Bradley lets them open up play.
8. England: The bigest underachiever that made it to the 2nd round. They gave a tie to the US, could not score on Algeria, then squeaked by Slovenia to qualify. They have keeper issues and striker issues. Rooney is turning into the Wayne Rooney of old, the guy who is a malcontent....and no other striker has stepped up their game, outside of a Jermaine Defoe goal. They do have a very good midfield though and are capable of winning 4 straight games.
7. Uruguay: The darkhorse who has a dream draw to make it to the semis. The one team that has won a World Cup that no one ever mentions. They had to win a playoff to get into the World Cup but are peaking at the right time. Diego Forlan is the break out star of the first round.
6. Portugal: Finally scored some goals against North Korea. They are a team that is fun to watch, but have too many players that are crazy in the head to win a Cup. Also, they dive so much that the refs often times miss actual fouls against them.
5. Germany: When they are cliking they are great, but they have lapses of mediocrity. Ozil and Podelski are awesome young goal scorers. This is a young team that will be a favorite in 2014 in Brazil.
4. Netherlands: A great team that always seems to fall short once the 2nd round starts. They have big name players that just do not get along with each other. If Arjen Robben is healthy they can win the entire tournament.
3. Spain: have yet to play a great 90 min game which is scary. They are the world #1, but they have always fallen short in the World Cup. Overall they have the most talented team in the world and not making it to at least the final will be a disappointment.
2. Argentina: You can never count out a team that has the best player in the world, along with the best strikers in the world. There is something about Maradonna in the World Cup. Messi has yet to score a goal, but he has dominated everyone he has played against.
1. Brazil: A great offensive team that now has a rock solid defense and goalie behind them. They have enough weapons to outscore you or keep you from scoring. It will take a perfect game or lots of luck to beat them.
16. Japan: Looked good in wins over Denmark and Cameroon and solid in a loss to the Dutch. They are a team that can counter attack on anyone.
15. Ghana: The one African team remaining, and the only team left that has not scored a goal during the run of play, only on PK's. They would be ranked much higher if Michael Essien were available.
14. South Korea: Exciting Asian team that counter attacks with the best. J.M. Park who plays for Manchester United is one to watch. Their only loss was a blowout to Argentina.
13. Slovakia: Do not know what to expect from this Euro squad. They have great young players like Hamsik and Vittek but their defense can fall into lapses. When on like against Italy, they play a great team game.
12. Paraguay: Only above Slovakia b/c they beat them 2-0. Never underestimate any South American team.
11. Mexico: Looked good against France before France imploded, but not too great against Uruguay. When their coach plays their good young forwards they can be very dangerous. When they get behind, they lose composure easily.
10. Chile: Almost won Group H even while playing down a man to Spain. The South Africans play a very exciting style of soccer that can produce goals in the blink of an eye.
9. USA: The cardiac kids crack the top 10 due to the fact that they have probably the best goal keeper in the tournament. Unfortunately they may have the worst overall defense of the World Cup, a defense that just gives up too many goals. They are exciting to watch when Bob Bradley lets them open up play.
8. England: The bigest underachiever that made it to the 2nd round. They gave a tie to the US, could not score on Algeria, then squeaked by Slovenia to qualify. They have keeper issues and striker issues. Rooney is turning into the Wayne Rooney of old, the guy who is a malcontent....and no other striker has stepped up their game, outside of a Jermaine Defoe goal. They do have a very good midfield though and are capable of winning 4 straight games.
7. Uruguay: The darkhorse who has a dream draw to make it to the semis. The one team that has won a World Cup that no one ever mentions. They had to win a playoff to get into the World Cup but are peaking at the right time. Diego Forlan is the break out star of the first round.
6. Portugal: Finally scored some goals against North Korea. They are a team that is fun to watch, but have too many players that are crazy in the head to win a Cup. Also, they dive so much that the refs often times miss actual fouls against them.
5. Germany: When they are cliking they are great, but they have lapses of mediocrity. Ozil and Podelski are awesome young goal scorers. This is a young team that will be a favorite in 2014 in Brazil.
4. Netherlands: A great team that always seems to fall short once the 2nd round starts. They have big name players that just do not get along with each other. If Arjen Robben is healthy they can win the entire tournament.
3. Spain: have yet to play a great 90 min game which is scary. They are the world #1, but they have always fallen short in the World Cup. Overall they have the most talented team in the world and not making it to at least the final will be a disappointment.
2. Argentina: You can never count out a team that has the best player in the world, along with the best strikers in the world. There is something about Maradonna in the World Cup. Messi has yet to score a goal, but he has dominated everyone he has played against.
1. Brazil: A great offensive team that now has a rock solid defense and goalie behind them. They have enough weapons to outscore you or keep you from scoring. It will take a perfect game or lots of luck to beat them.
June 8, 2010
World Cup 2010 Predictions
Having played soccer all my life and having been a fairly successful high school soccer coach........I am 0% qualified in making predictions for the upcoming World Cup. That being said, no journalist in the world is qualified in making predictions so I may as well amuse some people and give it a shot. Remember 1 thing......only 7 countries have ever won the World Cup (Germany, Italy, Brazil, England, Argentina, France, and Uruguay) and never has a team won with a foreign born coach (the coach was not born in the country of the team he is coaching.) Ok, lets do the damned thing!
Group A prediction: Mexico, France, Uruguay, South Africa
Group B prediction: Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, South Korea
Group C prediction: England, USA, Slovenia, Algeria
Group D prediction: Germany, Serbia, Ghana, Australia
Group E prediction: Netherlands, Cameroon, Japan, Denmark
Group F prediction: Italy, Slovakia, Paraguay, New Zealand
Group G prediction: Brazil, Ivory Coast, Portugal, North Korea
Group H prediction: Spain, Chile, Switzerland, Honduras
Round of 16 Games
1A v. 2B (Mexico over Greece)
1C v. 2D (England over Serbia)
1E v. 2F (Netherlands over Slovakia)
1G v. 2H (Brazil over Chile)
1D v. 2C (Germany loses to US)
1B v. 2A (Argentina over France)
1F v. 2E (Italy over Cameroon)
1H v. 2G (Spain over Ivory Coast)
Quarterfinals
England over Mexico
Netherlands over Brazil
Argentina over US
Spain over Italy
Semi-Finals
Netherlands over England
Spain over Argentina
Final
Spain over Netherlands
Of course, Spain and the Dutch never seem to show up for big tournaments save for the 2008 Euro Championship (won by Spain.) All I can guarantee is the best 1 month of sport you will ever see!!
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