The 2010 World Cup is a week away. I like to get warmed up for it by watching my two favorite Pele clips from the classic WWII Nazis vs Ally POWs Soccer Flick, Victory:

This, This, This, This, This, This. Goal. Easy.

Bicycle Kick. Nazi Applauding.

Today we are kicking off the 2010 Take The Connolis World Cup Coverage. Stay tuned to TTC If you want to the latest, most important World Cup news and opinion. More to come soon. For now, here is an interesting list. Too bad Marco Materazzi didn't make Italy's squad this year. This is what a tough guy is:

How am I suppose to take this list seriously? Pato nowhere to be seen: Espn's Top 50 Player of the World Cup

Typically during tough economic times, employers tend to tighten up the hiring process and make the criteria for employment more stringent. Not so with the NFL, specifically the Dallas Cowboys. Watch this ESPN interview, where the first reason Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gives for retaining Wade Phillips as head coach is, "He's got great incentive. He's a head coach who as never won a Super Bowl."

Now call me crazy, but if I am looking for a coach to take my team to the promised land, "Never won a Super Bowl" is not going to be high on my list of qualifications. Jones also goes on to praise the fact that Phillips is not a "walk around" head coach. Not sure what that means, but looking at Phillips, he probably could stand a little more walking around and maybe an occasional salad.

...so I had a shoe on one foot there and a boot on the other. A shoe and a boot. So the kids call me 'Shoebootie'.

I know I am a little late to the party in commenting on the Colts' incomprehensible decision to quit on a perfect season.  But after hearing Colts management explain their reasons for pulling the starters in the middle of the 3rd quarter in a close game, I have questions.  How did they determine when to pull them?  Do they have an actuary on staff that crunched the numbers, and determined that 2-1/2 quarters is the ideal balance to avoid injury while still keeping players sharp for the post season?  Is the risk of injury greater in the last 1-1/2 quarters of a "meaningless" game than the first 2-1/2?  Just wondering.

...so I had a shoe on one foot there and a boot on the other. A shoe and a boot. So the kids call me 'Shoebootie'.

Today, at noon eastern, 32 teams will be placed into the 8 groups for the 2010 World Cup. You should be interested in this. This is the most important tournament in all of sports. If you don't follow Football (aka The Beautiful Game), start now. There is a reason it is the most watched/followed sport in the World.